Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Analysis Of The Impact Diffusion Helmet Through A Finite Element Analysis Approach, Steven Paul Warnert

Master's Theses

By applying the finite element approach to the design and analysis of the impact diffusion helmet, many helmet configurations were able to be analyzed. Initially it was important to determine what design variables had an influence on the impact reducing abilities of the helmet design. The helmet was run through a series of Abaqus simulations that determined that a design with two oval shaped channels running along the length of the helmet was best. Next, these options were optimized to generate the helmet that produced the greatest impact reduction. The optimization simulations determined that a helmet that pushed the channels …

Executive Committee - Agenda 9/27/2016, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Traversing Swanton Road, 23rd Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Incorporated within this botanical overview but technically not part of the watershed sensustrictu, are the adjacent environs, ranging from the coastal strand up through the Western Terrace to the ocean draining ridge tops..... with the Arroyo de las Trancas/Last Chance Ridge defining the western/northwestern boundary and the Molino Creek divide, the southern demarcation. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over …

Academic Senate - Agenda, 9/16/2016, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Eye Tracking Food Cues In Subjects Who Are Overweight/Obese, Weight Loss Maintainers, And Normal Weight, Carrie A. Petro

Master's Theses

Adult obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Increasing success in weight loss maintenance will decrease the prevalence of overweight and obesity, and therefore help control the adverse health effects of excess weight. Much is known about the behavioral characteristics of successful long-term weight loss maintenance, but less is known about the cognitive processes behind weight loss maintenance. The purposes of this study were to (1) identify differences in visual attention to high-energy dense foods between individuals who are normal weight, weight loss maintainers, and overweight/obese in a high-risk (food-buffet) situation; (2) to evaluate differences in food choices from …

Physician-Patient Communication: Building A Better Relationship To Improve Medication Adherence, Yolanda Fisher

Journalism

The following study investigates the problem of medication non adherence in the United States and how to create a more effective physician-patient relationship could help to remedy the situation. This paper addresses the need for better communication skills between physicians and patients. Several communication barriers and communication traps can be overcome with increased education. Trust is critical in a relationship. This paper explores ways to increase trust between physicians and patients by using public relations as a tool to provide awareness of the problem and to build a partnership to improve adherence.

A Comparison Of Solvent And Water-Borne Alkyd Coatings And The History Of Voc Regulations In The United States, Molly Elise Burns

Master's Theses

A Comparison of Solvent and Water-Borne Alkyd Coatings Abstract

Conventional solvent based alkyd coatings have gone out of favor due to concerns over volatile organic compound (VOC) content. However, due to recent focus on renewable raw materials, alkyds are making a comeback in waterborne form. Water based alkyd coatings are known to have poor shelf stability and corrosion resistance, as well as other problems during the formulation process. This project focused on comparing solvent borne to two types of water-borne alkyds, water reducible alkyds and alkyds emulsions. The purpose was to understand the differences between the three types of alkyds …

Optimizing Gdna Purification And Qpcr Techniques For Specific Detection And Enumeration Of Probiotic Bacteria, Katelynn C. Lee, Jennifer Vanderkelen, Christopher Kitts

STAR Program Research Presentations

Probiotics are live microorganisms, like bacteria and yeast, which are thought to provide health benefits when ingested. Large manufacturers produce blends of probiotics for supplementing the diets of agriculturally important animals. Commercial probiotic products are labeled with the number of cells present at the time of manufacture. Our assignment was to develop an assay which can be used to quantify the number of specific lactic acid bacteria present in certain probiotic products, thus verifying the number reported on the product labels. This quantification process involves isolating genomic DNA (gDNA) from the given samples and then running the DNA through a …

A 3-D Multiplex Paper-Microfluidic Platform, Mitchell Patrick Young

Master's Theses

3-D paper-based microfluidic devices (micoPADs) are small and portable devices made out of paper that offer a promising platform for diagnostic applications outside of a laboratory. These devices are easy to use, low cost, require no power source, and capable of detecting multiple targets simultaneously. The work in this thesis demonstrated the ability of a 3-D paper-microfluidic platform to simultaneously detect 5 targets. Rubber cord stock was used in conjunction with an acrylic housing unit to apply pressure along the edge of the channel. The indirect pressure application was successful in promoting vertical fluid flow between layers. Average channel development …

Optimization Of A Genomic Editing System Using Crispr/Cas9-Induced Site-Specific Gene Integration, Jillian L. Mccool Ms., Nick Hum, Gabriela G. Loots

STAR Program Research Presentations

The CRISPR-Cas system is an adaptive immune system found in bacteria which helps protect against the invasion of other microorganisms. This system induces double stranded breaks at precise genomic loci (1) in which repairs are initiated and insertions of a target are completed in the process. This mechanism can be used in eukaryotic cells in combination with sgRNAs (1) as a tool for genome editing. By using this CRISPR-Cas system, in addition to the “safe harbor locus,” ROSAβ26, the incorporation of a target gene into a site that is not susceptible to gene silencing effects can be achieved through few …

Reverse-Engineering The Brain: The Parts Are As Complex As The Whole., Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

The purpose of this paper is to review the current state of neuroscience research with a focus on what has been achieved to date in unraveling the mysteries of brain operations, major research initiatives, fundamental challenges, and potentially realizable objectives. General research approaches aimed at constructing a wiring diagram of the brain (i.e., connectome), determining how the brain encodes and computes information, and whole brain simulation attempts are reviewed in terms of strategies employed and difficulties encountered. While promising advances have been made during the past 50 years due to electron microscopy, the development of new experimental methods, and the …

Analysis And Detection Of Hfo-1234ze, Alberni V. Ruiz, Ben R. Miller

STAR Program Research Presentations

Alberni Ruiz

Abstract

Refrigerants have been one of the causes of ozone depletion and the buildup of greenhouse gases in past decades. When the international agreements the Montreal Protocol, which has the goal of eliminating ozone depleting compounds, and the Kyoto protocol which has the goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, where implemented they paved the way to replace past and current refrigerants with alternate compounds that are less detrimental to the atmosphere. New compounds that where green-lit by the EPA for use as refrigerants in 2011 where HFO-1234ze and HFO-1234yf, both of these compounds have a very low Global …

Media Bias: How Much Does It Hurt Or Help The Media-Public Relationship?, Aidan Mathews

Journalism

The focus of this research paper is to qualify the relationship between the public and the Media and to discover how much Media bias, or the perception of Media bias affects that relationship. An important angle taken in this study is the question of whether or not bias on the part of the Media actually helps the public when forming educated opinions.

The review of existing literature on Media bias and public perception of the Media and the collection of data via interviews with expert, professional journalists have led to two conclusions about the Media-public relationship: (1) in order for …

The Effects Of 4-Nonylphenol On The Immune Response Of The Pacific Oyster, Crassostrea Gigas, Following Bacterial Infection (Vibrio Campbellii), Courtney Hart

Master's Theses

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are compounds that can interfere with hormone signaling pathways and are now recognized as pervasive in estuarine and marine waters. One prevalent EDC in California’s coastal waters is the xenoestrogen 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), which has been shown to impair reproduction, development, growth, and in some cases immune function of marine invertebrates. To further investigate effects of 4-NP on marine invertebrate immune function we measured total hemocyte counts (THC), relative transcript abundance of immune-relevant genes, and lysozyme activity in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) following bacterial infection. To quantify these effects we exposed oysters to dissolved phase …

Fluid Flow Characterization And In Silico Validation In A Rapid Prototyped Aortic Arch Model, Alexandra Mariel Knauer

Master's Theses

Transcatheter aortic heart valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure to replace a failing aortic valve and is becoming the new standard of care for patients that are not candidates for open-heart surgery [2]. However, this minimally invasive technique has shown to cause ischemic brain lesions, or “silent infarcts”, in 90% of TAVR patients, which can increase the patient’s risk for stroke by two to four times in future years [3]. Claret Medical Inc., a medical device company, has developed a cerebral protection system that filters and captures embolic debris released during endovascular procedures, such as TAVR. This thesis utilized CT …

The Preservation And Protection Of Native Biodiversity In The Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Complex, Lindsey M. Whitaker, Matthew Ritter, Scott J. Steinmaus, Jonathan Hall

Master's Theses

The Guadalupe Nipomo Dunes Complex (GNDC) is located within the California Floristic Province, a biodiversity hotspot characterized by high rates of endemism and exceptional loss of habitat. In 1980, the US Fish and Wildlife Service described the GNDC as, “the most unique and fragile ecosystem in the State of California,” and ranked it first on a list of 49 habitat areas needing state protection. It is the largest coastal dune area in California and it is one of the last remaining, relatively intact ecosystems of its type and size in the western United States. The growing recognition of species decline …

Functional Vasodilation And Vascular Reactivity In Arteriolar Collaterals In The Spinotrapezius Of Males And Females, Britta C. Nelson

Biomedical Engineering

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) occurs when there is narrowing or blockage of the peripheral arteries that carry blood to the extremities, most commonly the legs. The most common symptom of PAOD is intermittent claudication, or ischemic pain during exercise. Women with PAOD experience a greater extremity functional impairment than men. Since impaired vasodilation might cause the ischemic pain from PAOD, we should evaluate vasodilation post ligation in males and females in collateral vessels, which connect two arterial segments to maintain blood flow to an otherwise hypoxic area. First, we need to examine collateral vasodilation in unoperated male and female …

Integrating Indigenous Knowledge And Western Science Into Forestry, Natural Resources, And Environmental Programs, Priya Verma, Karen Vaughan, Kathleen J. Martin, Elvira Pulitano, James Garrett, Douglas D. Piirto

Ethnic Studies

A new minor titled “Indigenous Studies in Natural Resources and the Environment” (INRE) became available to students at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California, in the fall of 2013. This minor aims to bring together the principles of both Indigenous ecological knowledge and western science. Instruction in these two approaches provides students with practical knowledge, research, and critical thinking skills to address complex environmental issues and natural resources management problems facing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities around the world today. The INRE minor seeks to prepare students by providing a balanced education in the arts, sciences, and …

Carnivorous Companions And The Vegetarian’S Dilemma, Patrick J. Clipsham

Between the Species

This paper is concerned with a problem that arises within ethical frameworks that imply that it is wrong for humans to consume meat or other animal products when vegan alternatives are available. The specific problem relates to the ethical difficulties associated with beginning a relationship with a companion animal that may require at least some animal-based foods in order to survive. I follow some psychologists in referring to the ethical problems associated with such companionship as the Vegetarian’s Dilemma. After approaching this dilemma from the perspective the animal rights approach and welfarist consequentialism, I argue that some important insights can …

Design For Manufacturability: Off-Road Toyota Bumper, Drew Donlon

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The purpose of this project is to design a new off-road bumper that is improved from the stock form of a 1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner and a 1996-2004 Toyota Tacoma. The current state of the component is too weak to endure to off-road endeavors, and a kit bumper market is virtually untapped for these vehicles. The objectives of this project were met by redesigning the stock front bumper, conducting a finite element analysis on the model to test for strength, prototyping the bumper with CNC cut cardboard, and conducting a full cost analysis including the costs for waterjet and laser cutting …

The "Creative Workspace": A Comparative Analysis Of Stakeholder Perceptions, Augustina Radziunaite

Master's Theses

The rise of information technologies and creative industries formed a new class of “creative knowledge workers” with special needs for a workspace design. The recent tendency of playful and bold workspace designs for creative industries was labeled by some researchers as a “creative workspace,” but a body of knowledge about design strategies supporting “creative knowledge workers’” performance is still limited.

This master’s thesis research attempts to define “creative workspace” design phenomenon based on the three main stakeholder groups’ perceptions. The research analyzes existing literature and conducts in-depth interviews with designers and users to collect the data and compare the findings. …

The Effects Of A Uniformly Weighted Exercise Suit On Biomarkers Of Bone Turnover In Response To Aerobic Exercise In Postmenopausal Women With Low Bone Density, Haley Frances Terndrup, Alison K. Ventura, Todd Hagobian, Scott Hazelwood

Master's Theses

Current options for maintaining or slowing aging-related bone mineral density (BMD) loss in postmenopausal women primarily include pharmaceutical agents. More recently, physical activity and exercise have been suggested as highly effective, low cost alternatives. Weighted aerobic exercise, utilizing load carriage systems (LCS), is known to increase the gravitational forces impacting bone, creating a higher osteogenic stimulus than standard aerobic exercise. In response to the positive research on aerobic exercise with well-designed LCS, Dr. Lawrence Petrakis, MD, developed a unique 5.44 kg uniformly weighted exercise suit. This study aimed to examine the effects of the uniformly weighted exercise suit on serum …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 6/2/2016, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Operation Nutrition: Assessment Of California National Guard On Their Mission Toward Better Health, Nick Gusto

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Operation Nutrition was executed in June 2016. A group of 22 men and women from the 49th Military Police Brigade of the California National Guard participated in our nutrition intervention. There is currently no nutrition education program in place for the California National Guard; thus, the overall goal of this project was to a pilot nutrition education program toward improving nutritional status and reducing the risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome in a pre-select group of at-risk California National Guard Members. Criteria for a Metabolic Syndrome diagnosis include having a combination of any 3 of the following symptoms: elevated measures of …

Effects Of Oral Ingestion Of Bisphenol A On Type 2 Diabetes Risk Markers Ii. Project, Alyssa Bird, Dana Williams

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Eleven healthy adults (3 M, 8 F; 21.3 ± 0.8 yr; 24.0 ± 3.8 kg/m2) were block randomized to a single ingestion of placebo, low dose BPA (4 μg/kg-bw), or high dose BPA (50 μg/kg-bw) on separate days in a double-blinded, crossover fashion. Blood was drawn at baseline and repeatedly for 3 hours following each condition. Data collection has been completed for 11 subjects, and analyses of plasma BPA concentrations in these subjects have shown three distinct concentrations for high, low, and placebo conditions. Preliminary analyses of plasma insulin concentrations in 3 subjects appear to show differences in concentrations between …

The Effect Of Hormones And Hormonal Contraceptives On The Antibiotic Resistance Of Escherichia Coli, Chase Bowen, Rianna Flores

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Main Conclusions (Experiment 1-Hypothesis: Induction of efflux pumps by hormone) • The growth rates of wild-type and K12 E. coli strains are significantly inhibited by the presence of ciprofloxacin. The addition of 100ug/ml hormone slightly reduced the growth in the presence of antibiotic which suggests that hormone does not induce or activate efflux pumps. • The 0.0015ug/ml ciprofloxacin concentration used in this experiment was too low for CFT073, a uropathogenic strain, but 0.003ug/ml did cause some growth inhibition. Growth with and without hormone was essentially the same suggesting that the higher efflux activity of CFT073 could rid the cells of …

Army/National Guard Sport Nutrition Project: Dietary Assessments And Nutrition Education, Sofia Sanchez Porush, Selena Sharpless

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

The Army/National Guard Sport Nutrition Project was designed to address poor health status amongst soldiers of the 49th Military Police Brigade of the California Army National Guard. National Guard soldiers are on reserve duty so their physical health and dietary choices are dependent solely upon personal effort. A nutrition knowledge deficit has been identified in this particular group of 22 soldiers as they lack the basic skills necessary to choose and create balanced meals to maintain optimal physical health. The focus of this intervention was designed to identify any areas of weakness related to nutrition. Analysis of 3-day food records …

Prado Community Garden Project, Johanna Cogen

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

This project started as a dream last fall, but with a combination of multi-organizational work and funds from this grant, it was able to become a reality. The objective of this project was to create a community garden from scratch at Prado Homeless Shelter in San Luis Obispo. The goals were to both create a sustainable way to increase the available nutritious foods for homeless participants at the shelter and to create a safe space for participants to step outside of the noise of the shelter to relax and rejuvenate. Over the course of nine months we built 5 planter …

A Planner's Perspective: Liars And Slanderers, Chris Clark

Focus

No abstract provided.

A Wellness District For The City Of Ventura, Vicente Del Rio, Amir Hajrasouliha

Focus

This article describes the work by a graduate urban design studio from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s CRP Department during the Spring Quarter, 2016. Under a contract with the City of Ventura’s, the students explored the notion of a wellness district anchored by two major hospitals, and developed an urban design concept plan that is consistent with the General Plan and the city’s economic strategy.