Digital Commons Network^™

A Business Plan For The Implementation Of A Green Gardener Certification Program In San Luis Obispo County, Laura Anne Ramage Hebert

Master's Theses

The intention of this thesis is to create a business plan for the implementation of a Green Gardener Certification Program in San Luis Obispo County. There is a need locally to conserve resources and to reduce pollution. Landscape maintenance professionals need the opportunity to receive further training in their field for licensing purposes as well as to get an edge in a competitive industry. The public of San Luis Obispo County deserves the opportunity to select a landscape maintenance professional that has been certified “green”.

In 2000, Santa Barbara City and County Water Agencies implemented a Green Gardener certification program …

The Behavioral Ecology Of Estrus Signaling In Humans, Kylie Breuer

Social Sciences

When female primates are the most fertile, they show it by a swelling of the estrus, which is easily visible to other primates. The purpose of this is to demonstrate to male primates when the females are most likely to conceive, and therefore to reveal the best time for copulation. Human females, on the other hand, do not express as obvious of clues as to when they are the most fertile. As of recent, general knowledge has been that female humans have concealed ovulation, but there have been several studies that seem to prove otherwise. My senior project question is: …

The Social Contagion Of Violence; A Theoretical Exploration Of The Nature Of Violence In Society, Kayla Kirkpatrick

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Social And Cultural Perception Of The Timber Industry, Eugene Wright

Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Menarche Ceremonies & Social Change In Fiji, Anna Clauson

Social Sciences

Fiji is undergoing rapid urbanization. Over fifty percent of Fiji’s population has moved from traditional villages to the city. Changes in lifestyle associated with urbanization bring challenges to traditional Fijian values and ways of life. The occurrence of menarche ceremonies in Fiji is a lens by which to explore the implications of these social changes on Fijian women. Inductive interviews with sixteen Fijian women reveal that birth order, proximity to home villages, and maternal agency are three general factors that determine the occurrence of menarche ceremonies. Education is also identified as an impacting force on first menstruation events in Fiji, …

Fire Protection Analysis Of The Orfalea College Of Business Building (#3), William Fletcher

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

A performance and prescriptive based analysis was performed on the Orfalea College of Business Building (#3) on Cal Poly’s Campus. The building was originally designed to meet the 1985 Uniform Building Code (UBC). The building’s original design and current existing condition will be examined. The business building will be evaluated using the California Building Code, California Fire Code, NFPA 101 Life Safety code and other relevant NFPA Codes. The fire protection systems will be separated and evaluated into systems by Egress Components, Fire Alarm and Detection, Water- Based Suppression and Structural Fire Protection. The combined interactions of the systems are …

Identifying And Reducing Potential Risks Of Contamination In Food Packaging, Jeffrey Daniel Stollenwerk

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study was to identify the possible health hazards in food packaging and evaluate each component of food packaging for risks and potential improvements. There have been recent cases in which contaminants have been identified in various food packaging products that pose potential harm to consumers. National authorities, like the Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Standards Agency, regulate these contaminants and create regulations for industry standards.

Contaminants travel from food packaging to the food-surface through a process called migration. Migration varies depending on the usage of different substrates, inks, varnishes, and printing technologies. Each …

The Sustainability Movement And Its Effects On The Trends Of Beauty Product Packaging, Sarah Danley

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study is to examine industry professionals’ standpoints along with consumer demands and expectations pertaining to sustainable packaging, materials currently used in beauty product packaging, and advances in emerging trends within this sector. Using the information derived from these examinations, this study will predict the industry’s future direction and identify how the industry leaders should change in order to adapt their business practices to remain competitive and profitable within the industry.

This study made use of several research methods to gain insight on the impacts that the sustainability movement has had on the beauty and health packaging …

Socio-Economic Position And Lower Dietary Moderation Among Chinese Immigrant Women In The Usa, Marilyn Tseng, Carolyn Y. Fang

Kinesiology and Public Health

Objective: To examine associations of education and occupation, as indicators of socio-economic position (SEP), with dietary intake and diet quality in a sample of Chinese immigrant women.

Design: Cross-sectional. Data collection included four days of dietary recalls and information on education and current occupation for participants and their spouses.

Setting: Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Subjects: Chinese immigrant women (n 423) recruited from October 2005 to April 2008.

Results: In multivariate models, both higher education level and occupation category were significantly associated with higher energy density and intake of energy and sugar. Education was additionally associated with intake of sugar-sweetened beverages …

The Role Of Historic Novels In Understanding Desertion In The Civil War, Caitlin Wright

History

Deserters made up almost 10% of both armies in the American Civil War, and yet very few Americans discuss or even know about their existence. The impact of desertion is huge, with its full army, the Confederates could have had a chance at defeating the Union, or the war might have ended sooner, lessening the impact on the nation. Using 4 different historic novels written throughout the 20^th century, this essay analyzes the American public’s perception towards deserters. The result from this close study is the understanding that the farther we get away from the conflict that shaped the …

Planning In A Troubled Economy, Brian Spaunhurst

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Rapid Battery Exchange For Electric Vehicles, Michael Cocchi, Adam Rizkalla

Computer Engineering

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Preservation Versus Conservation: The Future Of Whaling, Elizabeth Paige Fennie

History

No abstract provided.

Car Alarm System, David Lane

Electrical Engineering

This project entails the design and implementation of a car alarm system for a 1977 Volkswagen Beetle.

Rapid Battery Interchange System, Mason Borda

Electrical Engineering

As our nation strives towards a departure from widespread use of fossil fuels, we must focus on a plan for what is to be the substitute for Internal Combustion Engine vehicles as well as the infrastructure to support this. The most popular alternative to the internal combustion engine is the electrically propelled vehicle, one that can provide us with many benefits including simplified construction, lower operational costs, and for the driving enthusiasts more torque. The prevailing issue in the widespread acceptance and use of the electric vehicle thus far is “range anxiety”. Range anxiety is defined as “The fear of …

Proposal To Implement A Surveillance System At The Cal Poly Dairy, Madelyn Cobb

Dairy Science

The objective of this project is to determine how to implement a cost effective and efficient surveillance system at the Cal Poly Dairy. This system would help monitor labor, feed, and cows while increasing the biosecurity, accountability, and efficiency throughout the Cal Poly Dairy. To make this determination, I researched different types of products and the equipment necessary that will meet the needs of the dairy currently and for future projects. A list of specifications was created that help guide the search for appropriate companies and products for this project. Talking to surveillance experts also helped create a better sense …

Los Osos Valley Road Urban Design Plan, Stephanie Shaffer

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Tablet Magazines And The Affects On The Magazine Industry, Kylee Staughton

Graphic Communication

The purpose of this study is to determine the affects tablet magazines have on the magazine industry. It includes research on past and present circulation trends for print and digital magazine consumption. Interviews of industry professionals were conducted, giving their insight into the development and consumer attitudes toward iPad tablet magazines. An online survey questioning subscription, functionality and general views of both tablet and print magazines was distributed as well as an in person case study that allowed users to physically navigate, observe and compare an iPad magazine and its print counterpart. The results of this study can be used …

Ql+ Body Temperature Regulating Vest, Melissa Goss, Brittnee Cubero, Dillon Lynch, Greg Olsen, Julian Jazayeri

Biomedical Engineering

The purpose of this project is to design a thermal vest to be worn by individuals with spinal injuries to help regulate their core body temperature. Individuals with spinal injuries have impaired thermoregulation abilities which increase their susceptibility to succumbing to either heat stroke or hypothermia. This project focused on preventing heat stroke by inducing a cooling mechanism. To provide this cooling mechanism, a thermoelectric cooler was used to chill water in a reservoir. This water is then pumped through tubing sewn into the vest. The chilled water will absorb heat from the human body and return to the reservoir. …

La Traducción Del Sitio Del Slo Noor Foundation: Del Inglés Al Español, Daniah Shaban

World Languages and Cultures

This project attempts to translate the website of a non-profit healthcare clinic in San Luis Obispo called the Noor Foundation from English to Spanish. Due to the nature of the large Spanish-speaking populations in the area, there is a distinct need for a Spanish option. In order to accurately and most effectively communicate the ideas of the website in Spanish a substantial amount of research must be done on the Hispanic community in this area. Socio-economic conditions, nationality, education level, as well as other factors will be researched and considered to ascertain the style and complexity of the Spanish used …

Expansion Of A Dust Removal System For The Brae Department Plasma Table, Derek Hansen

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

This senior project discusses the expansion of a dust removal system for welding and cutting fumes. A Donaldson Torit Powercore TG8 dust collector is used to collect and process the fumes created during welding and cutting operations that take place in the BioResource and Agricultural Engineering department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Expansion of the system allows for greatly increased utilization of the TG8 and a cleaner working environment in Lab #6. Testing shows that the system fluently changes between the plasma table and the three hoods in the shop. Each hood is only capable of collecting a smoke …

Dc Dielectrophoretic Assisted Anti-Fouling Filtration System, Nathan M. Cohen

Master's Theses

Filtration processes, whether on the microfluidic, clinical treatment systems, or industrial scale (e.g., point-of-care diagnostics, dialysis, and biopharmaceutical manufacturing, respectively), are often inseparable from membrane clogging (fouling). As a consequence, most, if not all, filtration systems require frequent maintenance to maintain functionality and efficiency. The thesis of this project hypothesizes that Dielectrophoresis can be combined with standard filtration to reduce filter fouling, extending membrane life, and enabling continuous operation. This project investigates a method to reduce fouling, add specificity and efficiency, and decrease the cost and challenge of filtration based biofluid separations.

To substantiate this thesis, we designed, fabricated, and …

Vitamin D Sub-Set Analysis From The Flash Study, Megan Bishop, Laura Hall, Ann Mcdermott, Aydin Nazmi

Master's Theses

Vitamin D is important to the health of college students. The objective of our study was to measure sun exposure, skin pigmentation, vitamin D intake, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) in a subset of participants from The Following the Longitudinal Aspects of Student Health (FLASH) Study to determine the best predictors of 25(OH)D status. Participants were college-aged freshman who had their blood drawn in spring (Visit 1) and fall 2010 (Visit 2) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, CA. (35.3°N). Vitamin D intake was measured using a 28-day food frequency recall questionnaire (specific to vitamin D …

An Assessment Of Expenditures By Camp Henry Patrons In Newaygo County, Amy Diane Fitzpatrick

Master's Theses

This thesis evaluates expenditures made by Camp Henry patrons during the 2005 summer camp season while traveling to and from the residential camp located in Newaygo County, Michigan. A purposive random cluster sample was collected via self-administered questionnaire on the arrival days of weeks 3, 7, and 8 of the 8 week summer camp season. The data revealed expenditures in each of the categories on the instrument; lodging expenses, food and beverages, private auto expenses, retail shopping, recreation activities, and “other”. Expenditures for the 55 participants and the individuals traveling with them totaled $4,558. The category with the greatest reported …

"I'M Bi-Winning": A Critical Content Analysis Of Bipolar Disorder In American Newspapers, Maryam Moeinazad

Communication Studies

No abstract provided.

Determining The Best Practices To Enhance The Social Media Presence And Increase Revenue For Family Care Network, Inc., James F. Cameron

Journalism

Research was conducted to determine the best practices for using social media to encourage target audiences to engage with the nonprofit Family Care Network, Inc. (FCNI). The agency had not been successful in this endeavor and wanted community members to interact with it via its social media platforms, with the end goal of increasing donations and volunteers. FCNI’s fundraiser Miracle Miles for Kids 2012 (MM4K) was the focus of this study as it was determined by the agency to be the best avenue for a social media campaign to increase financial resources. Academic papers among other sources were studied to …

Best Practices For Effective Corporate Crisis Management: A Breakdown Of Crisis Stages Through The Utilization Of Case Studies, Katelyn Smith

Journalism

In the most recent decade, there has been a shortage of effectively managed corporate crises. This study is meant to discover the reasons behind the ineffective crisis management responses through the inspection of past corporate case studies in crisis management, as well as what can be done to help corporations use crisis management more effectively. The best practices in effective corporate crisis management in the three different stages of a crisis were attained through the utilization of case studies and expert opinions. The recommendations for practice include making pre-planning and evaluation regarded as more important in crisis management plans, choosing …

Mousetraps And How To Avoid Them: The Convergence Of Utilitarian And Scientific Cases For Limiting The Mouse Model In Biomedical Research, Cynthia Townley, Brett Lidbury

Between the Species

The primary aim of biomedical research is to discover and develop new knowledge to advance human medicine. Frequently a ‘mouse model’ is taken to be a necessary step towards understanding a disease, biological mechanism or intervention. We argue for caution with respect to the mouse model: theoretical reasons, meta-analyses of empirical data, and viable alternatives all support a more restricted use of animals in laboratories than is current practice. On its own terms, a utilitarian scientific justification for using animals in biomedical research converges more closely with welfarist claims than is usually recognised.

An Introduction To The Dynamic Strategic Planning Process, Steven Slezak

Agribusiness

No abstract provided.

The Chicken Challenge – What Contemporary Studies Of Fowl Mean For Science And Ethics, Carolynn L. Smith, Jane Johnson

Between the Species

Studies with captive fowl have revealed that they possess greater cognitive capacities than previously thought. We now know that fowl have sophisticated cognitive and communicative skills, which had hitherto been associated only with certain primates. Several theories have been advanced to explain the evolution of such complex behavior. Central to these theories is the enlargement of the brain in species with greater mental capacities. Fowl present us with a conundrum, however, because they show the behaviors anticipated by the theories but do not have the expected changes in the brain. Consequently fowl present two challenges of interest to us here. …