Digital Commons Network^™

An Educational Display: "Succulent S.A.E. Projects", Erica L. Guido, Lauren E. Moss

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this senior project was to create an educational display about succulent Supervised Agriculture Experience (S.A.E.) projects. This display was presented at the Idea Show of the California Agriculture Teachers' Association (CATA). This show was part of the CATA's annual summer conference hosted by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The goal was to provide high school agriculture teachers throughout the state with creative ways to implement S.A.E. projects in their programs. The project included extensive planning and designing of the display, as well as photographs, 3-Dimensional projects and numerous teaching materials in handout form.

Response Of Cabernet Sauvignon And Chardonnay To Fungicide Applications And Deficit Irrigation, Theodor Andrew Hudson

Horticulture and Crop Science

No abstract provided.

Strider: Manufacturing Processes, Michael Warren-Angelucci

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

The goal of the Strider Project is to create a mobility device that can support a person with weakened leg strength and enable them to be supported and maintain a standing position. A prototype of the Strider was created by three Mechanical Engineering students as their senior project. The topic of this senior project was to analyze and create a manufacturing process for the manufacture of the Strider that will be ergonomic and cost effective.

There were many things that needed to be accomplished in order to create the manufacturing process. The first step was to verify that the prototype …

Watering The Seed: A Model For Change In Jinotepe, Nicaragua And Beyond, Andy Douglas

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Using Player Profiling To Enhance Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment In Video Games, Aaron Burke

Computer Engineering

Video games have certainly come a long way since the days of pong. From humble beginnings of the first arcade machines they have bloomed into a multi-billion dollar industry and a global force to be reckoned with. Just like with movies there are enough genres out there to fit any demographic of gamer, and that’s not even just the game’s content but also the gameplay.

Unlike other types of media though, games are meant to be interacted with and played, which brings up new issues with accessibility and keeping things interesting for different levels of skill. Dynamic game difficulty adjustment …

Low Cost Neurochairs, Frankie Pike

Master's Theses

Electroencephalography (EEG) was formerly confined to clinical and research settings with the necessary hardware costing thousands of dollars. In the last five years a number of companies have produced simple electroencephalograms, priced below $300 and available direct to consumers. These have stirred the imaginations of enthusiasts and brought the prospects of "thought-controlled" devices ever closer to reality. While these new devices were largely targeted at video games and toys, active research on enabling people suffering from debilitating diseases to control wheelchairs was being pursued. A number of neurochairs have come to fruition offering a truly hands-free mobility solution, but whether …

Effect Of Short-Term Estrogen Depletion On Compact Bone Microdensitometry In The Ewe, Cailyn Bugbee

Master's Theses

Osteoporosis affects the human skeleton through the direct effects of the disease on the function and structure of bone. Individuals who are affected by osteoporosis may be subject to serious fractures and it is estimated that annually approximately 1.5 million fractures can be attributed to this disease [1]. The disease is categorized as the direct side effect of increased bone porosity and bone loss and is directly linked to estrogen deprivation [2]. Animal models are often used to make initial conclusions about the effects of the disease or pharmacological treatments. In this study, sheep were chosen as a representative animal …

Circulator Shuttle Implementation Plan For The City Of Pittsburg, California, Justin Shiu

Master's Theses

This study examines how a shuttle system can meet transportation needs in Pittsburg. A circulator shuttle connecting major commercial nodes, public facilities, and residential locations, can increase travel options and improve accessibility to key locations. A review of best practices and transit planning standards provides a means to determine the cost of a shuttle service. The base costs of service are then applied to three alternatives for different shuttle route alignments: 1) a north-south route along Railroad Avenue only, 2) a north-south route along Railroad Avenue and an east-west route to Century Plaza, and 3) a north-south route along Railroad …

Bioflocculation Of Wastewater Treatment Pond Suspended Solids, Louis Lefebvre

Master's Theses

Bioflocculation of Wastewater Treatment Pond Suspended Solids

Louis Lefebvre

Wastewater treatment lagoons and high rate algae ponds (HRAPs) can provide cost effective wastewater treatment, but they commonly have high effluent concentrations of total suspended solids (TSS). In this thesis algae pond effluent was treated in a beaker testing apparatus (mixed and aerated) with various mixtures of activated sludge and primary effluent simulating differing activated sludge aeration basin compositions then was allowed to settle to assess settleability. Conventionally, microalgal suspended solids are removed by chemical coagulation followed by separation methods that often have a high cost relative to the low cost …

House Finches, Carpodacus Mexicanus: Hormones, Stress, And Song Control Regions, Katherine Olivia Ganster

Master's Theses

Song production in songbirds is controlled by parts of the brain known as the song control regions (SCRs). During spring, gonads increase in size, males sing to attract mates, and SCRs become larger. This neuroplasticity is controlled by the change in day length and increased plasma testosterone (T) levels. Plasma T can be reduced by stress through the production of corticosterone (CORT), through the production of beta-endorphin, or through direct effects on the testes via the nervous system. We determined the T, estradiol, and CORT hormonal profiles of wild House Finches by capturing and sampling blood from the finches every …

The Impact Of Outward Remodeling On Vasodilation In Skeletal Muscle Resistance Arteries, Ryan Robert Gallagher

Master's Theses

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is an ischemic disease characterized by narrowing of the peripheral arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaque in the inner lining of the vessels, which disrupts blood flow to downstream tissues. Blood can be redirected into collateral vessels, natural bypasses around arterial occlusions, causing shear-induced outward remodeling of the vessels. The enlarged vessels facilitate transfer of increased blood flow to downstream tissues. The remodeling process, however, may impair vasodilation, which in turn may cause or contribute to intermittent claudication- transient pain brought on by locomotion. To stimulate the growth of collateral arteries, the femoral …

The United Hayward Bicycle Proposal, Maurice Mcclure

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Joint Use Partnerships: Evaluating The Feasibility Of A Joint Use Partnerhsip Between The City Of San Luis Obispo And Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Kathryn S. Mineo

Master's Theses

As demand for additional athletic fields continues to increase, the City of San Luis Obispo is struggling to meet the recreation needs of the community. This project evaluated the feasibility of a joint use partnerships with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the shared use of the University’s underutilized Sports Complex, and made recommendations of strategies to address the City’s recreation needs. This project reviewed current and professional academic literature on successful approaches to joint use partnerships; conducted case study analyses on two Cal Poly facilities; and worked with City and University officials to examine the issues associated with establishing …

An Analysis Of Human Disturbance To Rocky Intertidal Communities Of San Luis Obispo County, Grant Tyler Waltz

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

An Analysis Of Human Disturbance To Rocky Intertidal Communities Of San Luis Obispo County

Grant Tyler Waltz

The number of coastal areas open to public access in California and San Luis Obispo County is increasing due to the acquisition by California State Parks of land previously owned by private entities. For example, California State Parks acquired property from the Hearst Corporation in 2005, which included 18 miles of coastline. California State Parks is responsible for providing public access in these newly acquired areas and also for maintaining the health of the natural systems found on these properties. Part of …

The Application Of Systems Engineering Principles To Model Lithium Ion Battery Voltage, George Gibbs

Master's Theses

The objective of this project is to present a Lithium Ion battery voltage model derived using systems engineering principles. This paper will describe the details of the model and the implementation of the model in practical use in a power system. Additionally, the model code is described and results of the model output are compared to battery cell test data. Finally, recommendations for increased model fidelity and capability are summarized.

The modeling theory has been previously documented in the literature but detailed implementation and application of the modeling theory is shown. The detailed battery cell test voltage profiles are proprietary; …

Measuring Impedance Of Tissues Using A Microfabricated Microelectrode Array, Ashwini Bhat

Master's Theses

MEASURING IMPEDANCE OF TISSUES USING A MICROFABRICATED MICROELECTRODE ARRAY By Ashwini Bhat

This thesis looks at the possibility of using impedance spectroscopy for differentiating tissue, using a microelectrode array (MEA). The thesis first discusses the background and the motivation for this thesis. It covers the certain basic concepts of the human skin starting from the top epidermis layer all the way to the deep dermis layers of the skin. Then it discusses different types of skin cancer and how they occur, in humans. It also discusses various microfabrication techniques such as oxidation, wet etching, sputtering and photolithography for the creation …

A Case Study Considering Impacts Of Active Membership In The Young Professionals Networking Group On Sense Of Community And Social Capital, Casey Albert Fodness

Master's Theses

Sense of community, social capital, and emerging adulthood are all topics of increasing interest in multiple fields over the past three decades. Both sense of community and social capital are predictors of overall well-being for individuals and communities. As emerging adults begin to establish a sense of person and place, many have begun to look to young professionals groups as an outlet for networking and identity exploration. There is limited research on the impact of these organizations related to sense of community and social capital. This case study is meant to be a starting point to expand the research on …

Graduate Internship Report- Selma High School, Jalisca Jean Thomason

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship report addresses the quality criteria of an agricultural education program and includes the supporting documents to meet the requirements of the California Department of Education specific to Selma High School. This document and the supporting evidence is intended to meet the requirements to obtain maximum funding for the Ag Incentive Grant.

The Institutionalization Of Minority Students In Education, Andrea P. Garibay

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Child Abuse In Foster Care: Risk Factors, Magali Sanchez-Gomez

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Integrating Qplm And Biomedical Test Data With An Anisotropic Fiber Distribution Model And Predictions Of Tgf-Β1 And Igf-1 Regulation Of Articular Cartilage Fiber Modulus, Michael E. Stender, Christopher B. Raub, Kevin A. Yamauchi, Reza Shirazi, Pasquale Vena, Robert L. Sah, Scott J. Hazelwood, Stephen M. Klisch

Mechanical Engineering

A continuum mixture model with distinct collagen (COL) and glycosaminoglycan elastic constituents was developed for the solid matrix of immature bovine articular cartilage. A continuous COL fiber volume fraction distribution function and a true COL fiber elastic modulus ( Ef) were used. Quantitative polarized light microscopy (qPLM) methods were developed to account for the relatively high cell density of immature articular cartilage and used with a novel algorithm that constructs a 3D distribution function from 2D qPLM data. For specimens untreated and cultured in vitro, most model parameters were specified from qPLM analysis and biochemical assay results; consequently, Ef was …

Effect Of Sustainability Package Advertising On Consumer Purchases, Ronald Ringler

Graphic Communication

This research project focused on factors influencing consumers’ purchasing behavior. Specifically, the project focused on sustainability of packaging and attempted to find if sustainability of a package (represented by post-consumer content) affected a consumer’s decision to buy that product. The specific question asked was: “Are consumers willing to purchase a product based on the environmental friendliness of its package even if it goes against the consumer’s brand preference, or if it has a higher price point than competing products?” Research data was gathered through a multi-page survey comprised of seven questions of varying complexity. Participants were primarily aged 18-25 and …

Communication Of Recycling Through Labeling And Packaging, Serena Mistry

Graphic Communication

Recycling has become a more prevalent practice in the last few decades. However, the labeling system on today’s packaging is not always clear in indicating whether something is recyclable. Recently, there has been a great deal of attention directed at a new system, known as the How2Recycle label, an innovative labeling system expected to launch in the next few years. As the population continues to grow at unprecedented levels and more strain is placed on the global environment, recycling becomes more crucial. In the United States, the lack of a standard system for recycling on labeling and packaging deters people …

Branding For A New Wellness Program: The Importance Of Brand Identity And Using Social Media, Jennifer Jenkins

Journalism

In today’s world, health organizations are all about losing weight and getting into shape. While this is important to maintain one’s health, it is not the only factor in a healthy lifestyle. Lou F. saw this great discrepancy in the wellness field, and decided that what was needed was an organization dedicated to mental health as well as physical health, encompassing fitness training, nutrition, and counseling for the everyday individual as well as the corporate world. With this idea in mind, Lou set out to create this type of organization. This paper addresses the importance of creating a strong brand …

Energy Harvesting Of Human Kinetic Movement, David Marusiak, Julia Carrillo

Electrical Engineering

Development of kinetic energy scavenging applications from the human body necessitates additional research to assist in designating a mounting position for a potential device. A data acquisition system adequately provides a parametric average power comparison among four locations on the body (waist, upper arm, hand, and calf) for both a male and female subject. Experimentally, the hand-held device provided the highest average power. Thus, subsequent investigation at set speeds provides further analysis of the output’s characteristically linear behavior. The physical energy-harvesting device features a plastic tube casing wrapped with the stationary coiled wire through which a neodymium magnet oscillates. While …

Active Diesel Soot Measurement By Laser Opacity, Jonathan Audish, Brian Ko, Edward Ma, Travis Mcdaniel

Electrical Engineering

This project looks into understanding the concentration of soot being omitted by a diesel engine through the creation of an innovative opacity sensor. The system contains a receiver circuit implementing a photodiode, laser with wavelength of 405±10nm, and a microcontroller with analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. As the laser pulsates, the microcontroller collects and processes the data to calculate the amount of soot within the exhaust system. The opacity sensor in our tests will be used on an Isuzu 1.9 liter diesel engine. The elegant design of the system can be integrated into conventional manufacturing molding or casting processes for new exhaust …

Application Of Wireless Power For Charging The Battery Of A Wireless Mouse, Jacob Keast, Vincent Jison

Electrical Engineering

Electronic devices are a part of all modern homes, but restricted by available outlets and the hassle of wires. With the modern wireless mouse, this is also the case. When the battery is low the consumer has several options: it is replaced with a new battery, it can be recharged using a USB wire, or the mouse is placed on a charging dock. This project provides an alternative to these options and allows the mouse’s battery to be charged via wireless inductive coupling. The wireless power charging system that was implemented in this project was successful in its ability to …

Radio Link Analysis And Characterization Of Past And Future Cal Poly Cubesats, Brian Gilbert Tubb

Electrical Engineering

Cal Poly's satellites design team, PolySat, has three satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and four more planned to launch within the next two years. Radio communication of past and current orbiting satellites has been an exercise in frustration, prompting significant research into the satellite-side of the radio link by several other Senior Projects and Thesis papers. However, minimal effort has been spent on evaluating why these problems were discovered only once the satellites reached orbit. This paper details the downfalls of relying heavily on link budgets and improper long range test setups, then experimentally determines the sensitivity of PolySat's …

A Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave-Based Boundary Detection System In A Small Pcb Profile, Hamid R. Asgarian

Master's Theses

Falls are a cause of concern for the elderly because it can make them unable to call for help. A monitoring system can detect automatically their immobility and provide help to the elderly if they fall. Ultra-wide band signals for a monitoring system is an excellent choice since it has low enough power to not interfere with other medical and household electronics as well as being able to transmit data to a central monitoring unit. One part of this monitoring system is a boundary detection system used to verify that the monitoring system is not capturing events outside the monitoring …

Controlling Nanoparticle Dispersion For Nanoscopic Self-Assembly, Nathan S. Starkweather

Master's Theses

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter and devices on the nanometer scale. Below the critical dimension length of 100nm, materials begin to display vastly different properties than their macro- or micro- scale counterparts. The exotic properties of nanomaterials may trigger the start of a new technological revolution, similar to the electronics revolution of the late 20^th century. Current applications of nanotechnology primarily make use of nanoparticles in bulk, often being made into composites or mixtures. While these materials have fantastic properties, organization of nano and microstructures of nanoparticles may allow the development of novel devices with many unique properties. …