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Effect Of Antimicrobials And Sodium Replacement Agents On The Survival Of Pathogenic Bacteria In Low Sodium Low-Moisture Part-Skim (Lmps) Mozzarella Cheese, Tiffany M J Taylor

Master's Theses

Recent increases in chronic cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, have put pressure on the food industry to reduce sodium levels. Dairy products, though full of vital nutrients, are perceived as being high in sodium. However, the reduction of salt in dairy products could potentially alter the microbial stability, as well as cause unfavorable changes in flavor. In order to reduce the sodium level, while maintaining acceptable flavor and microbial stability, salt replacers and alternative antimicrobial agents may need to be introduced into the food matrix. To identify potential antimicrobials for use in reduced sodium dairy products, this study evaluated the …

Changes In Soil Salinity Levels With The Use Of Recycled Water On Cool Season Vegetables, Dana Cameron Ripley

Master's Theses

Agricultural production in Monterey County, California is a multi-billion dollar industry. Near the coast, seawater intrusion has threatened to degrade the groundwater quality due to over-pumping of the aquifer. The Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA), in partnership with the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, has provided recycled water since 1998 to over 12,000 acres of prime agricultural farmland in the northern Salinas Valley in an effort to reduce groundwater removal. The dominant soil types in the region are clay loam and clay soils, which are both susceptible to sodium (Na) accumulation and water infiltration problems. Recycled water blended …

Lipid Production By Microalgae Treating Municipal Wastewater, James Edward Kelley

Master's Theses

Microalgae hold much promise as a feedstock in liquid biofuel production. Lipid content of microalgae cells range from 30-80% dry weight of biomass. It is projected that microalgae can produce between 1,000-6,500 gallons/acre/year of oil. Currently, production of industrial algae operates in open raceway ponds that use minimal capital and energy inputs to culture algae. Raceway ponds can also be used to grow microalgae from municipal waste streams. Although high biomass productivity can be achieved in these systems, there remains a large production gap between large volumes of biomass cultivation and high lipid content from microalgae cells. Low lipid content …

Protective Effects Of Sphingomyelin Against Uv Photodamage In Human Keratinocytes, Kathleen De Guzman

Master's Theses

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been demonstrated in numerous studies to be a major risk factor for non-melanoma skin cancer development. Despite the emergence of current UV-preventative strategies, such as sunscreens and skin-protective clothing, the incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer has continued to rise. This has encouraged investigations on alternative methods for UV prevention. In particular, bovine milk sphingomyelin has been studied for its potential in protecting human skin against UV photodamage. While the previous studies have suggested that sphingomyelin exhibits UV-protective properties in a human skin equivalent model, the exact mechanisms behind sphingomyelin’s photoprotective effects are yet unknown.

This thesis …

Large-Displacement Lightweight Armor, Eric C. Clough

Master's Theses

Randomly entangled fibers forming loosely bound nonwoven structures are evaluated for use in lightweight armor applications. These materials sacrifice volumetric efficiency in order to realize a reduction in mass versus traditional armor materials, while maintaining equivalent ballistic performance. The primary material characterized, polyester fiberfill, is shown to have improved ballistic performance over control samples of monolithic polyester as well as 1095 steel sheets. The response of fiberfill is investigated at a variety of strain rates, from quasistatic to ballistic, under compression, tension, and shear deformation to elucidate mechanisms at work during ballistic defeat. Fiberfill’s primary mechanisms during loading are fiber …

An Assessment Of Habitat Suitability For Pronghorn Populations Of The Central Valley Region Of California, Virginia Burroughs

Master's Theses

Efforts to reintroduce and maintain populations of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) to the California Central Valley, specifically the Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM) and the Mojave Desert (Antelope Valley) portion of Tejon Ranch, have largely been unsuccessful due to dwindling numbers of translocated animals. The objective of this study was to improve upon previous models for the CPNM using aerial survey data and then apply the model to the Tejon Ranch. Aerial survey data collected from 2000-2010 on the CPNM was used to establish “use” and “non-use” areas in the model. Model variables included vegetation type (forest, shrub, grassland, …

Mechanical Properties Of Bone Due To Sost Expression: Nanoindentation Assessment Of Murine Femurs, Amir Rafie

Master's Theses

In the human genome, the SOST gene codes for a protein sclerostin. Sclerostin is an osteocyte-expressed negative regulator of bone formation. When the SOST gene is not coded, bone formation is reduced in individuals during skeletal maturation. This study utilizes nanoindentation methods to test for the mechanical properties of bones that both express and do not express the SOST gene. 100 transgenic murine femurs were obtained from Lawrence Livermore Labs in the form of 6 and 8 month SOST transgenic mice, 6 and 12 month SOST knockout mice, and wild type control littermates for each of the 4 age groups. …

Parsing Of Natural Language Requirements, Jamie L. Patterson

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to automate verification of the software requirements for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator with minimal manual rework. The requirements were written in plain English with only loose stylistic constraints. While full automation proved infeasible, many significant advances were made towards solving the problem, including a framework for storing requirements, a program which translates most of the natural language requirements into the framework, and a novel approach to parts of speech analysis.

The Influence Of Hydrogeomorphology, Soil Redox Conditions, And Salinity On The Spatial Zoning Of Saltgrass, Salt Rush, And Cattails In Scotts Creek Marsh, Swanton Pacific Ranch, Ca, Mark D. Gormley

Master's Theses

Scotts Creek Marsh (SCM) is a small coastal wetland ecosystem in Davenport, CA. The vegetation of SCM is dominated by three halophytic zones comprised of saltgrass, salt rush, cattails. The objectives of the study were (i) to investigate the variables that influence the zoning of the three dominant halophyte communities in SCM and (ii) to the test the effectiveness of Indicator of Reduction in Soil (IRIS) tubes to indicate the reduction of S. The study examined the following parameters from April 6 to July 21, 2013: (i) the HGM of Scotts Creek Marsh, (ii) soil oxidation and reduction (redox) conditions, …

Conjugated Linoleic Acids Alter Body Composition Differently According To Physiological Age In Moulard Ducks, Jeff Fesler, Daniel Peterson

Master's Theses

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have been shown to have remarkable yet inconsistent metabolic effects in mice, rats, hamsters, chickens, cattle, and humans. In particular, effects on lipogenesis vary with tissue, physiological state and specie. In this study we tested the hypothesis that CLA would differentially affect ducks of the same genetic background but of differing age. Growing (7 wk) and maintenance (11 wk) Moulard ducks were grouped by age and fed a standard diet supplemented with either 5% soybean oil (control) or 5% CLA isomer mixture. Animals were harvested after 3 weeks or 6 weeks for assessment of body composition …

November 20, 2013 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Cal Poly Design Expo Showcases Mechanical Engineering Projects Nov. 21, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

November 13, 2013 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Decentering Anthropocentrisms: A Functional Approach To Animal Minds, Matthew C. Altman

Between the Species

Anthropocentric biases manifest themselves in two different ways in research on animal cognition. Some researchers claim that only humans have the capacity for reasoning, beliefs, and interests; and others attribute mental concepts to nonhuman animals on the basis of behavioral evidence, and they conceive of animal cognition in more or less human terms. Both approaches overlook the fact that language-use deeply informs mental states, such that comparing human mental states to the mental states of nonlinguistic animals is misguided. In order to avoid both pitfalls -- assuming that animals have mental lives just like we do, or assuming that they …

Cal Poly Choirs To Present ‘A Christmas Celebration’ Dec. 7, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Reducing Nitrogen Fertilizer In Iceberg Head Lettuce, Jason Acquistapace

Agricultural Education and Communication

The impact of Nitrogen use in Iceberg lettuce was studied by measuring the weight and size of lettuce heads. A standard nitrogen application based on traditional commercial production was determined and portions of commercial fields (401 and 406) were designated for testing. Based on the standard, three fertilizer treatments (40%, 60%, and 80% of the control) were tested against the control in fields 401 and 406. The results indicated there was no difference in the weight of lettuce heads when treated with the relative fertilizer percentages. However, the size of lettuce heads decreased as the relative fertilizer percentages decreased. This …

Phylogeography Of The California Sheephead, Semicossyphus Pulcher: The Role Of Deep Reefs As Stepping Stones And Pathways To Antitropicality, Marloes Poortvliet, Gary C. Longo, Kimberly Selkoe, Paul H. Berber, Crow White, Jennifer E. Caselle, Alejandro Perez-Matus, Steven D. Gaines, Giacomo Bernardi

Biological Sciences

In the past decade, the study of dispersal of marine organisms has shifted from focusing predominantly on the larval stage to a recent interest in adult movement. Antitropical distributions provide a unique system to assess vagility and dispersal. In this study, we have focused on an antitropical wrasse genus, Semicossyphus, which includes the California sheephead, S. pulcher, and Darwin's sheephead, S. darwini. Using a phylogenetic approach based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers, and a population genetic approach based on mitochondrial control region sequences and 10 microsatellite loci, we compared the phylogenetic relationships of these two species, as well …

Twelve Days Of Christmas Mechatronic Display, Michael Beltran, Christine Hagerman, Katie Ruhm

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

The Envenoming Pandemic And The Misguided Views Of Snakes: Developing Sustainable Relationships Between Native Poisonous Snakes Of India And The Citizens Of Maharashtra Through The Use Of The Irula Model., Destiny Villanueva

Animal Science

Due to its vast population and general negative consensus regarding snakes, India is notorious for having more snakebite incidents than any other country. Snakes are simultaneously revered and feared in Indian religion and culture. This stigma is perpetuated through propaganda, family beliefs, and innate fears of snakes.These stigmas are more pronounced within rural areas, such as the region of Mahad within the state of Maharshtra. Envenoming is endemic in these areas, and others like them. The World Health Organization identified envenoming as one of the most neglected tropical diseases of the 21st century (Nature India, 2013). Additionally, both nonvenomous and …

The Animal Question In Deconstruction, Rafe Mcgregor

Between the Species

Review of The Animal Question in Deconstruction, edited by Lynn Turner (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2013)

Engineering Advantage, Fall 2013, College Of Engineering

Engineering Advantage

No abstract provided.

Fall 2013 Fact Book, Office Of Institutional Planning & Analysis

Office of Institutional Research

No abstract provided.

Agriview, Fall 2013, College Of Agriculture, Food, And Environmental Sciences California Polytechnic University - San Luis Obispo

AGRIVIEW

No abstract provided.

Identifying Chromosome Rearrangements In The Allopolyploid Brassica Napus Using Pyrosequencing, Alexandra R. Barbella

Master's Theses

Allopolyploids form through the hybridization of two or more diploid genomes. A challenge to reproduction in allopolyploids is that pairing can occur between homologous chromosomes or homeologous chromosomes (i.e.different subgenomes.). Crossover between homeologous chromosomes can result in chromosome rearrangements that lower fertility and overall fitness. Rearrangements can alter the dosage of either entire chromosomes or just parts of chromosomes. Understanding the frequency and extent of rearrangements will help to explain the evolution and genome stabilization of agriculturally important allopolyploid species. Pyrosequencing is a useful tool in the study dosage changes in allopolyploids because it allows quantification of the relative contribution …

Recognizing Nonhuman Morality, Simon J. Coghlan

Between the Species

Claims that some sorts of genuine moral behavior exist in nonhuman beings are increasingly common. Many people, however, remain unconvinced, despite growing acceptance of the remarkable behavioral complexity of animals and despite the admission that there may be significant differences between human and nonhuman moral behavior. This paper argues that the rejection of “moral animals” is misplaced. Yet at the same time, it attempts to show how the philosophical task of exhibiting the possibility of nonhuman moral behavior is often misguided, leaving claims about nonhuman morality unnecessarily exposed to philosophical rejection.

Rov-Based Tracking Of A Shallow Water Nocturnal Squid, Samuel Yim, Christopher M. Clark, Timothy Peters, Vladimir Prodanov, Pat Fidopiastis

Biological Sciences

This paper describes the use of a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) equipped with a monocular vision system to find and track the squid Euprymna scolopes, so that motion behaviors of the squid could be characterized through the use of off-line image processing and state estimation. The ROV was deployed for several nights at several nearshore locations off Oahu, resulting in 10 hours of squid footage. Using blob-tracking image processing techniques and a Particle Filter state estimator, the squid can be detected and tracked. The position, velocity, and acceleration of the squid relative to the stationary ROV can be determined. Experiment …

Culturally Speaking: Lactose Intolerance: A Condition As Old As The Stone Age, Phillip Tong

Dairy Science

No abstract provided.

Conversion Of Greenhouse Gasses Into Energy, Sarah C. Rippe

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Mechanoadaptation Of Feed Artery Smooth Muscle Cells In The Stem Of The Collateral Circulation, Allison Peck

Biomedical Engineering

Many patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) experience intermittent claudication, pain during locomotion. Previous studies suggest that this symptom could be explained in part by impaired vasodilation in collateral arteries. In this study, femoral ligation was performed on a murine animal model, stimulating collateral outward remodeling. The mechanism by which a collateral increases its luminal diameter in response to the increase in blood flow following occlusion warrents further investigation due to impaired vasodilation following collateral remodeling. Specifically, resting diameter is elevated in the stem region of the collateral circuit, but this increase in vessel size cannot be explained …

Big Babies, Big Mammas?: Relationship Of Leatherback Hatchling Size And Mother Size, Shane Morales, Violet Campbell, Kelly Stewart

STAR Program Research Presentations

Individual leatherback hatchlings vary in size when compared to individuals from other nests, as well as individuals from the same nest. It is thought that many factors affect hatchling size but that one of the most influential factors is maternal size. Of all the aspects of a mother which could affect hatchling size, evidence for question concerning influence of mother size is determinable within the field using minimal tools and basic statistical analysis. If a direct correlation exists between mother size and hatchling size then the claim can be made that larger mothers produce larger offspring while smaller mothers produce …