Digital Commons Network^™

Cal Poly Grad Student Takes First With Dairy Products Research, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Structural Damage Detection Using Artificial Neural Networks And Wavelet Transform, Arthur Shi, Xiao-Hua Yu

Electrical Engineering

With the ever-increasing demand for the safety and functionality of civil infrastructures, structure health monitoring (SHM) has now become more and more important.

Recent developments in computational intelligence and digital signal processing offer great potentials to develop a more efficient, reliable, and robust structure damage identification system. In this paper, the application of artificial neural networks and wavelet analysis is investigated to develop an intelligent and adaptive structural damage detection system. The proposed approach is tested on an IASC (International Association for Structural Control)-ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) SHM benchmark problem. Satisfactory computer simulation results are obtained.

Stressors And Threats To The Flora Of Acadia National Park, Maine: Current Knowledge, Information Gaps, And Future Directions, Tanner B. Harris, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Sarah J. Nelson, Peter D. Vaux

Biological Sciences

Acadia National Park is a center of plant diversity in northeastern North America. The Park's varied habitats and flora are sensitive to a number of natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Stressors such as invasive plants, pest and pathogens, ozone, acidic fog and sulfur deposition, nitrogen deposition, heavy metals, fire and fire suppression, over-browsing, visitor use, hurricanes, and climate change have all had effects on the Park's habitats and plant species at some point and it is unclear how many of these stressors are currently affecting the flora of Acadia National Park. We discuss the botanical diversity of Acadia, assess the natural …

Slow Tourism At The Caribbean's Geographical Margins, Benjamin F. Timms, Dennis Conway

Social Sciences

The Caribbean tourism industry owes much of its success to beneficial geographical site and situation factors. Yet these geographical advantages have also contributed to the mass tourism-related pressures of economic dependency, social division and environmental degradation. We argue geographically marginal locales in the Caribbean have the potential to develop alternative tourism models that ameliorate these negative repercussions. With its conceptual roots originating from the slow food movement and theoretically rooted in Herman Daly’s ‘soft growth’ development, we propose slow tourism as a viable soft growth model that is a more culturally sensitive and sustainable genre of alternative tourism. This new …

Hypoxia-Sensitive Gene Expression In The Gastrocnemius Muscle Following Chronic Hind Limb Ischemia, Andrew Tilton

Biological Sciences

Chronic ischemia, caused by the formation atherosclerotic plaque occlusions in major conduit arteries, is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in western societies. Vascular remodeling can help compensate for the adverse effects of atherosclerotic plaque formation. Vascular remodeling relies heavily on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a critical protein that contributes to all forms of vascular formation and remodeling including angiogenesis, arteriogenesisand vasculogenesis. VEGF itself is up-regulated by the transcription factor, hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), which becomes activated in low oxygen environments.

Through the use of animal chronic hindlimb ischemia models, these genes can be evaluated as …

Tissue Engineering A Blood Vessel Mimic While Monitoring Contamination Through Sterility Assurance Testing, Navid Djassemi

Master's Theses

Tissue Engineering A Blood Vessel Mimic While Monitoring Contamination Through Sterility Assurance Testing

Navid Djassemi

Tissue engineering blood vessel mimics has been proposed as a method to analyze the endothelial cell response to intravascular devices that are used in today’s clinical settings for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Thus, the development of in vitro blood vessel mimics (BVMs) in Cal Poly’s Tissue Engineering Lab has introduced the possibility of assessing the characteristics of cellular response to past, present, and future intravascular devices that aim at treating coronary artery disease.

This thesis aimed at improving the methods and procedures utilized in …

Nuclear Waste Policy Act: Where We've Been And Where We're Headed, Kevin Flournoy

Physics

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act is analysed in its practical and political impact. A policy recommendation is made of greater state and regional autonomy of on-site waste storage.

Parental Diet And Risk Of Retinoblastoma Resulting From New Germline Rb1 Mutation, Greta R. Bunin, Marilyn Tseng, Yimei Li, Anna T. Meadows, Arupa Ganguly

Kinesiology and Public Health

We conducted a case–control study of sporadic bilateral retinoblastoma, which results from a new germline RB1 mutation, to investigate the role of parents' diet before their child's conception. Parents of 206 cases from nine North American institutions and 269 controls participated; of these, fathers of 184 cases and 223 controls and mothers of 204 cases and 260 controls answered a food frequency questionnaire administered by phone about their diet in the year before the child's conception. Cases provided DNA for RB1 mutation testing. We assessed parents' diet by examining 19 food groups. Father's intake of dairy products and fruit was …

South El Camino Real Vision Plan, City Of Atascadero, Spring 2012, Crp 553 Project Planning Lab

City and Regional Planning Studios and Projects

No abstract provided.

The Spatial Distribution Of K-Factor Values Across A Toposequence And A Soil Survey Map Unit, Jacqueline Elizabeth Tilligkeit

Master's Theses

Rivers and streams are adversely affected by an increase in sedimentation in their waters from eroding land. High sediment loads in streams can bury fish eggs and prevent hatching, increasing nutrients in the water causing algae blooms, or even contaminating the water with heavy metals carried in or on the aggregates. The erodibility of soil is valuable knowledge to all land users so that we may predict soil loss and its potential to pollute streams. This is done by using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). By predicting soil loss from a given landscape, land managers can take mitigation …

Development And Characterization Of An In-House Custom Bioreactor For The Cultivation Of A Tissue Engineered Blood-Brain Barrier, Amin Hadi Mirzaaghaeian

Master's Theses

The development of treatments for neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease begins by understanding what these diseases affect and the consequences of further manifestation. One particular region where these diseases can produce substantial problems is the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is the selective diffusion barrier between the circulating blood and the brain. The barrier’s main function is to maintain CNS homeostasis and protect the brain from the extracellular environment. The progression of BBB research has advanced to the point where many have modeled the BBB in vitro with aims of further characterizing and testing the barrier. Particularly, …

Fiscal Year 2012 - 2013 Call For Proposals Guidelines: California State University Agricultural Research Institute (Ari) - Cal Poly Campus, David Wehner, Mark D. Shelton, Sue Tonik

California State University Agricultural Research Institute (ARI) - Cal Poly Campus

No abstract provided.

Does Family On A Label Increase Purchase Interest For A Wine, Or Just Cause A Halo Effect?, Marianne Mcgarry Wolf, Lindsey Higgins, Mary Rice

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Six Cal Poly 'Great Grads' Headed For Great Futures, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

The Amazing Library Race, Katherine O'Clair

Library Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Wireless Temperature Monitoring System For The Cal Poly Pilot Winery, Caitlin Devaney

Materials Engineering

This project, with an interdisciplinary group of two computer engineers and one materials engineer, was seeking to implement an automated temperature monitoring system which is affordable and easy to use, as well as adaptable to any arrangement and scale of a winemaker’s fermentation setup. My goal, as the materials engineer, was to design, fabricate, and test the enclosure, for the wireless nodes that are placed in the wine fermentation tanks, and the materials used for the node enclosure. For the enclosure of the system, materials selection was completed using CES software using limitations of only polymer materials which absorb less …

The Effects Of Biochar Age And Concentration On Soil Retention Of Phosphorus And Infiltration Rate, Emilie Schneider

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Changes in land use and land management practices are regarded as one of the main factors in altering the hydrogeological system, causing changes in runoff, surface supply yields, and the quality of receiving water (Tong and Chen, 2002). Phosphorus is a significant contributor to accelerated eutrophication of fresh water and is largely sourced from agricultural runoff (Sharpley et al., 1994). The dominant processes controlling solution composition in agricultural soils are primarily ‘chemical’ for P (i.e. adsorption/desorption and dissolution/precipitation) (Edwards and Withers, 1998). Biochar has chemical characteristics that have the potential to adsorb P or influence precipitation of P insoluble pools …

A Discussion Of Factors Involved In The Formation Of Slab Avalanches And An Analysis Of Avalanche Risk In The Sierra Nevada Mountains Using Gis, Kevin C. Howen

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

As winter recreational activities increase in mountainous environments, the need for a better understanding of snow avalanches is necessary. This project consists of a study into the physical factors that contribute to slab avalanche formation, and a GIS analysis of an avalanche prone area within the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The primary physical factors that contribute to the conditions that lead to avalanches include the slope of a mountain face, the aspect, and bare ground conditions lacking thick forest vegetation. ArcGIS is a powerful software tool that was used to map each of these factors, and then combine them to create …

Motivations And Constraints Of Cal Poly Rpta Students To Participate In International Group Travel, Selena Ramirez

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

The number of student travelers is increasing around the world. The purpose of this study was to determine the motivations and constraints of California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration (RPTA) students to participate in international group travel. Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Thirty-two females and five males participated in the study. Previous literature suggests that motivation can be understood through internal factors that push travelers from within and pull factors of the destination that attracts travelers. According to the findings of the study, students are mostly motivated to travel in …

Thermal Vacuum Integration For Cal Poly's Space Environments Laboratory, Chelsea Barackman, Steven Jackowski

Aerospace Engineering

The purpose of the senior project is to construct a thermal vacuum by utilizing a preexisting vacuum chamber in the Space Environments Lab, and a donated Advanced Thermal Sciences (ATS) chiller. While a thermal vacuum is already available on campus, building one for the Space Environments Lab would grant undergraduates access to the equipment, allowing a much better understanding of testing methods and procedures in use by the aerospace industry. This paper explains the design and analysis of the thermal vacuum (T-VAC) project as well as the operation and procedures required for the ATS chiller and fill/drain tank. The thermal …

A Demand Analysis For The New Dow Agrosciences Insecticide, Sulfoxaflor, Among California Pest Control Advisors, Andre Lima Alves

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

Developing An Advocacy Program For Hail Cannons In Agricultural Practices, Jacob Diepersloot

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was developing an advocacy program for hail cannons use in agricultural practices. The project was initiated to help farmers promote hail cannon usage within communities, so the farmer may protect their crops from hail damage. In order to capture a wide array of opinions, farmers throughout Kings, Tulare and Fresno counties completed a questionnaire to give background on current problems and statistics regarding hail cannons. An advocacy strategy was given to provide guidance for farmers to promote hail cannons. By utilizing the hail cannon advocacy strategy, farmers should notice their communities are more accepting of …

Enhanced Hydrocarbon Biodegradation Using Bioaugmentation With Biowish™-Aqua Fog, Michael Robert Lehrer

Master's Theses

This study was done to determine the effectiveness of a commercially available bioaugmentation product, BiOWiSH^TM-Aqua FOG, for remediating petroleum-contaminated sandy soil. Biodegradation enhancement by BiOWiSH^TM-Aqua FOG was evaluated in laboratory microcosms by directly measuring total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) and indirectly using respirometry. Attempts were made to enrich hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in BiOWiSH^TM-Aqua FOG, and the resulting enrichment cultures were screened using respirometry as well. Potential hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in BiOWiSH^TM-Aqua FOG were isolated. Experiments were performed at bench-scale using microcosm bottles containing sand contaminated with either motor oil or No. 2 diesel fuel. The …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Gold And Silver Nanoparticles In Formal And Informal Settings, Mathew Wynn

Materials Engineering

Silver nanoparticles were synthesized through the reduction of AgNO3 using NaBH4. The borohydride anions were adsorbed onto silver nanoparticles. The repelling forces of the borohydride anions prevented the aggregation of particles, but the addition of an electrolyte or agitation induced aggregation. A yellow hue was given off by the silver nanoparticle sol that, using a spectrophotometer, had plasmon resonance at 386 nm. The silver nanoparticles were estimated to be 10 to 20 nm in diameter. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized through the reduction of HAuCl4 using Na3C6H5O7. The gold nanoparticle sol gave off a red hue that had plasmon resonance at …

The Design And Fabrication Of A Silicon Membrane For Electrostatic Actuation, Elizabeth L. Brooks

Materials Engineering

An electrostatically actuated silicon membrane was designed and fabricated utilizing a siliconon- insulator wafer. The SOI wafer contains three layers- a 400μm thick “handle” layer of silicon followed by a 2μm thick oxide layer topped with a 20μm thick “device” layer of silicon. The embedded oxide layer acts as an etch-stop during silicon etching, leaving a thin membrane of consistent thickness on the device side. The device dimensions were chosen to provide acceptable membrane deflection predicted by calculations and Finite Element Analysis. A microfabrication process plan was designed to produce thin membranes appropriate for electrostatic actuation. A 700nm layer of …

Sustainability Practices For Special Events On The Central Coast Of California, Cara Richards

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

With the ever growing number of planned events around the world and the vast number of attendees, comes the potential to negatively impact the environment. The event industry is perfectly suited to reduce this environmental impact by incorporating sustainable practices into their special events. The purpose of this study was to assess the use of sustainable practices by event planners on the Central Coast of California. This study was conducted through the online survey application Zoomerang.com. The results of this survey indicate that 80% of respondents understand the importance of sustainability and15% were uncertain if sustainability is an important factor …

The Journey To Peace And Healing: Discovering Identity Through Culture, Tradition, And Indigenous Knowledege, Vanessa Baíz Soto

Ethnic Studies

An accurate account of U.S. history is that of imperialism and colonization that includes the systematic extermination of indigenous populations, development of capitalism supported by slavery, and the exploitation of labor of oppressed populations, all supported by racist ideologies and practices. These ideologies and practices have been perpetuated and continue to plague the current state of colonized peoples. History has perpetuated itself and colonized peoples remain in a state of siege in which identities have been lost and cultures, traditions, and knowledge appropriated—all contributing to the loss of peace and balance within our lives and communities. This has been my …

The Study Of Natural Composite I-Beam In A Three Point Bending Test, Abdel Shabbar

Aerospace Engineering

The objective of this experiment is to conduct a series of unidirectional tensile test on several samples of natural occurring plant fibers. Among the materials tested, hemp has proven to be the most promising candidate as the base material in creating an all-natural composite I-Beam. This I-Beam will be entered into the annual SAMPE 2012 competition to compete against other schools and universities nationwide. These I-Beams will undergo a three point bending test, and must withstand the greatest load whilst remaining in the parameters set by SAMPE. This I-Beam will go on to take third place internationally. In addition, the …

Prolepsis And The Environmental Rhetoric Of Congressional Politics: Defeating The Climate Stewardship Act Of 2003, Richard Besel

Communication Studies

As a device of argumentative anticipation, prolepsis use generally is considered a positive rhetorical strategy. Turning to the Climate Stewardship Act (CSA) of 2003, this article contributes to our understanding of environmental communication, political argumentation, and rhetorical theory by examining how proleptic miscalculation can actually produce devastating consequences against one’s cause when used as a source of invention. Proponents of the CSA relied on creating proleptic arguments grounded in a scientific understanding of climate change to such an extent that they mistakenly downplayed the economic arguments against the Act. This orchestrated miscalculation was encouraged and strengthened by key US senators. …

Factors That Create A Positive Tasting Room Experience For The Current Millennial Generation, Lucia Annalicia Janney

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.