Digital Commons Network^™

Enabling Emg-Based Silent Speech Transcription Through Speech-To-Text Transfer Learning, Alexander T. Garcia

Master's Theses

In recent years, advances in deep learning have allowed various forms of electrographic signals, such as electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG), to be used as a viable form of input in artificial intelligence applications, particularly for applications in the medical field. One such topic that EMG inputs have been used is in silent speech interfaces, or devices capable of processing speech without an audio-based input. The goal of this thesis is to explore a novel method of training a machine learning model to be used for silent speech interface development: using transfer learning to leverage a pre-trained speech recognition model …

Survey Of Soilborne Pathogens Infecting Strawberry In Oxnard, California & Effect Of Planting Date And Chill Treatment On Yield Of Strawberry, Samantha Z. Simard

Master's Theses

Survey to quantify the frequency of the five main pathogens (Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae races 1 and 2, Verticillium dahliae, and Phytophthora spp.) infecting strawberry in the Oxnard growing district of California. M. phaseolina was the most prevalent pathogen detected in diseased plants in the Oxnard growing district, present in 67.6% of samples positive for at least one pathogen. F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae race 1 (35.3%), V. dahlia (8.8%), F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae race 2 (5.9%) and Phytophthora spp. (2.9%) followed at lower prevalence. Associations were found between fewer drip irrigation lines …

Value Of Electrical Heavy Civil Machinery In The American Construction Industry, Kaston Wong

Construction Management

Every day the construction industry is releasing an unhealthy amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The consequences may seem trivial at first because the planet is slowly deteriorating, and it is not easily discernable on a day-to-day basis; however, similar to constantly taking care of one’s home, one must take care of the planet. On the other hand, the difference between degradation of a home and planet is that the pollution released into the world is irreversible; therefore, we need to be even more conscientious of the environment. As the construction industry continues to grow, the need for heavy …

2024: An Ai Odyssey, Margaret A. Murray

Feminist Pedagogy

This critical commentary examines the potential implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on feminist pedagogy. Drawing on the work of Wellner and Rothman (2020), Toupin (2023), and Adam (1995), this paper considers how AI could be used to advance feminist pedagogy, but raises a series of concerns as well. Challenges to critical thinking and motivating students are raised. Finally, the paper concludes by arguing for bringing AI and conversations about its use into the classroom in a way that is mindful of its potential and limits.

Carceral Liberalism: Feminist Voices Against State Violence, Andrea Michaels

Feminist Pedagogy

The following book review of Shreerekha Pillai’s Carceral Liberalism: Feminist Voices against State Violence (2023) is an expansive and timely collection of essays on the carceral state in its implications for feminist educators. This review focuses on the connections and connectivity of two essays in the collection that attempt to address a minor examination of the person as political.

Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy & Cultural Humility: An Intersectional Faculty Development, R. Danielle Scott, Elizabeth A. Harsma

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

The Dildo Question: When Sex Positivity And Patriarchy Clash In The Classroom, Kate Maddalena

Feminist Pedagogy

This Critical Commentary describes how sex positivity can be a Trojan Horse for uncritical and toxic behavior in the classroom and suggests a pedagogical approach to help avoid the co-opting of sex positive ideologies for patriarchal power.

Lessons From A First Year Seminar: Teaching “Mean Girls” To Become “Nasty Women”, Elif S. Armbruster Phd

Feminist Pedagogy

This essay explores what happened in a First Year Seminar on "Nasty Women in American Literature" when a group of students, instead of embracing the strength and independence that the phrase "nasty woman" came to embody, turned into a group of "mean girls"--led by a "queen bee"--and dominated the course through alliance-building, gossip, and distraction. The Suffolk University English professor teaching the course explains the challenging environment that ensured and what she learned from the experience, enabling her to make important changes in her teaching of the course the following semester.

2023 Kahramanmaras Earthquake Sequence: Geospatial Visualization And Analysis Of Multiple Building Damage Datasets, Alejandra Bravo, Jerry Hue Truong Luong, Anahid Behrouzi

Architectural Engineering

To learn from past earthquake events, a critical task is validating observations with data. After a significant seismic event like the 2023 Kahramanmaras Türkiye earthquake series, various organizations perform reconnaissance efforts to collect building response data. Some reconnaissance missions focus on visiting fewer buildings and recording detailed information (high-resolution, HR), while others aim to visit as many buildings as possible recording basic information (low-resolution, LR). Both dataset types are vital for learning, and the next step is analyzing and visualizing the data to validate in-field observations. This paper has three purposes: 1) examine a HR dataset by Degenkolb with 138 …

Development Of An Undergraduate Course On Women In The Design Of The Built Environment, Anahid Behrouzi, Kira Hope Tolman, Paige Van Rossum

Architectural Engineering

The Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) Architectural Engineering (ARCE) department has seen significant progress in reaching gender equity as evidenced by recent student enrollment numbers. However, ARCE-affiliated technical and history classes still lack discussion of notable female practitioners or the value of input from women as project stakeholders. This educational shortcoming is likely true at many other civil or structural engineering, construction management, and architecture programs. To address this gap, the authors developed a new 1-credit hour course offered in Spring 2024 to Cal Poly Honors and ARCE students to expose them to the contributions and concerns …

Robert E. Kennedy Library Dei Action Plan, Robert E. Kennedy Library

Library Publications and Administrative Reports

No abstract provided.

Unraveling Communication Failure: Room For Revision, Jill Fredenburg

Feminist Pedagogy

"Unraveling Communication Failure: Room for Revision" delves into the intricacies of communication breakdowns, both at macro and micro levels, within the context of a general education public speaking course. Rooted in feminist pedagogy, the assignment encourages students to critically reflect on their least successful speech performance of the semester, analyzing societal and hegemonic influences impacting their communication dynamics. Through reflective analysis, students explore power dynamics shaping academic standards and their own positions within these norms. The assignment fosters an inclusive learning environment, empowering students to challenge hegemonic knowledge production and engage in self-directed learning. This paper outlines the rationale behind …

Academic Senate - Agenda, 6/4/2024, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Engineering An Injectable Hydrogel With Self-Assembling 3d Vasculature, Kendyl Cohn

Master's Theses

This research developed methods for culturing self-assembling capillaries in an injectable gel as a potential method for vascularizing tissue-on-a-chip models to mimic physiological drug delivery. Additionally, a mathematical model was developed as a tool for understanding nutrient delivery and comparison of potential delivery systems. Organs-on-a-chip provide novel platforms for studying biology and physiology in 3D, allow exploration of tissue engineering on a manageable scale, and serve as models for drug screening and drug-delivery testing.

Methods were first developed for co-culture of endothelial cells and fibroblasts (3T3s or HDFs) in 2D, evaluating culture time, seeding density and ratio of HUVECs and …

Thermal Preconditioning Effects On Perforation Propensity Of Transvenous Implantable Cardiac Leads Used For Pacing And Defibrillation, Diane Muff

Master's Theses

Thermal preconditioning to simulate shipping, handling and storage conditions did not affect distal tip stiffness values for permanently implantable cardiac leads used for pacing and defibrillation. Leads that were subjected to extreme temperatures and temperature cycling did not show changes in buckle force values compared with control specimens which were maintained at ambient room conditions. Absolute differences between all measurements were small, generally under 0.05 N and were attributable to measurement variability.

Buckle force values are used to assess the propensity of leads to perforate the heart, a rare but potentially serious complication of implantable pacing and defibrillation systems. Since …

Cal Poly Masters Program Projects, Caslyn M. Weidenbener

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

Through participating in an agricultural education master's program and competing on the university rodeo team, I gained valuable leadership experience that will benefit me in my future career. I learned how to motivate and engage students of diverse backgrounds and learning styles in the classroom setting. I was also responsible for producing projects that required facilitating, researching, and reaching out to different groups from Cal Poly.

The agricultural education master's program and rodeo team provided a fertile training ground for leadership growth. The skills I cultivated in communication, organization, emotional intelligence, and responsibility to self and others will allow me …

Cultivating Agriculture - Cultivando Agricultura: Content Creator, Sophia L. Garcia

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

Agriculture is rooted in culture, yet we rarely discuss the people who drive the industry today. Many voices have yet to share their stories of influencing or making a difference in the agriculture industry. As a result, the idea of a podcast arose as a free, convenient, and accessible way for everyone to hear and communicate stories. During the project, my co-host, Daniela Ramos, and I will work together to address this issue. To diversify and separate the workload, we will each host three episodes individually. As part of my role, I will also be responsible for marketing, including creating …

Modeling A Hydropower Plant Powerhouse Based On Hebgen Dam, James Savella, Paul De La Cruz

Electrical Engineering

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) invited California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) to participate in the 2024 Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) to research and design ways to convert non-powered dams (NPDs) to hydropower plants to contribute to a clean energy future. The Cal Poly HCC Electrical Engineering team used information gathered for the competition to create a simulated hydropower plant model of Hebgen Dam, in Montana, using a salient pole synchronous generator and a PID governor for an Electrical Engineering Senior Project. The simulated hydropower plant model allows a user to control the …

Digital Audio Synthesizer, Philip A. Schremp, Alexander J. Elliott

Electrical Engineering

With more and more of the modern music production and live performance workflow becoming digitized synthesizers are the perfect middle ground between the traditional instrument layout and the progressive electronic sound. Despite the fact that synthesizers have made their place in the modern music pipeline they have one significant drawback. Synthesizers are expensive. Whether they are analog or digital, many of the synthesizers produced today are not affordable for the average musician or synth hobbyist. We will be designing a cost effective digital audio synthesizer that will still have enough versatility and a high enough quality to be useful in …

Innovative Housing Solutions: A Toolkit To Utilizing Recycled Spaces As Transition Shelters For The Unhoused, Kristel Jened Alianza Mallari

City and Regional Planning

Increasingly, the challenges of homelessness in urban areas have necessitated innovative solutions that leverage existing infrastructure. This project explores how repurposing underutilized spaces, such as vacant offices and hotels, into transitional shelters can provide immediate relief and long-term support for unhoused individuals. By focusing on inclusive design and strategic planning, this toolkit offers a comprehensive approach to addressing homelessness through adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

Urban areas in the United States face a persistent homelessness crisis exacerbated by economic instability, lack of affordable housing, and systemic barriers. Traditional shelters often fail to provide the necessary support for long-term stability, highlighting …

Exploring The Effect Of Interactivity On Zoom Fatigue And Student Learning, Kendall N. Baebler

Communication Studies

The present study aims to address the immensely popular alternative to face-to-face classrooms in higher education that has emerged in videoconferencing, and the various challenges that it creates for students in comfort, enjoyment, and learning. While many cross-sectional studies have explored the evidence of and causes for this so-called “Zoom fatigue” (e.g., Aroaz et al., 2023; Castro & Tumibay, 2021; Fauville et al., 2021a; 2021b; Reidl, 2022), experiments testing potential alleviating factors to this fatigue are limited. The study used experimental design to evaluate the effect of interactivity in Zoom class sessions on the students’ perceived learning, Zoom fatigue, and …

Cheap Clothes And Costly Consequences: A Study On College Students’ Shopping Habits Surrounding Fast Fashion And The Theory Of Reasoned Action And Planned Behavior, Stella Rose Chamness

Communication Studies

This study investigates the impact of perceived attitudes and behaviors with regards to fast fashion and consumerism amongst Cal Poly students. Drawing on the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior, the research measures student’s perceived facilitation, beliefs, and the influence of subjective norms towards consumption of fast fashion. The literature review establishes the theoretical framework, highlighting the importance of the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behaviors. The study’s method involves a 17 item questionnaire administered to 108 participants. Half of the participants, 53, were randomly assigned to either a persuasive message or no message at all. The group …

How Political Parties Can Appeal To Voters, Brenden David Jacoby

Communication Studies

Young voters are not voting. According to the United States Census Bureau, young voters, aged 18-29, have not turned out to vote in Presidential Elections at a rate higher than 50% since 1968. Millions of ballots – with the potential to swing elections, policies, and political momentum – are left blank. It is in the interest of both parties to identify why young voters are not going to the polls. In order to understand what makes political messaging persuasive to younger voters, this study presented participants with actual campaign speeches made by Democrats and Republican candidates for office. The author …

Shadows Of Virtue: ‘The Abolition Of Man’ In Modern Context, Luke Thomas Soule

Communication Studies

C.S. Lewis's The Abolition of Man stands as a remarkable examination of the mid-19th century shift towards moral subjectivism. With a detailed study of this text, this essay will utilize ideological and Postmodern criticism to reveal how Lewis builds his defense of objective morality, or what he calls the "Tao," against the educational spread of relativism. The heart of the analysis is the examination of Lewis's use of ideographs. Terms such as "the Tao," "Men without Chests," and "the Abolition of Man'' not only criticize the philosophical trends of the time but also tap into a deep cultural current of …

Pismo Beach Public Market Development Proposal, William Graham Wallace

City and Regional Planning

This proposal presents a comprehensive analysis of a conceptual development project located in Pismo Beach, CA. The project aims to prepare a professional-grade document to simulate real-world development processes, enhancing knowledge and experience. The proposed mixed-use development includes retail, restaurant, residential, parking, and open seating spaces. From my knowledge I've gained from my education within the City and Regional Planning department, mixed-use is the future of development so I chose to do this to further my understanding of mixed-use development.

Sustaining Sustainable Farming: An Evaluation Of The Reasoned Action And Comprehensive Action Determination Frameworks For Persistence, Jet J. Tan

Master's Theses

This paper investigates the persistence of agricultural practices funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture's Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (CDFA OEFI). The central inquiry revolves around determining the most effective behavior model for analyzing persistence, comparing the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), Comprehensive Action Determination Model (CADM), and CADM augmented with structural variables. The study's methodology integrates literature review, analysis of OEFI-funded practices, and statistical modeling to assess persistence levels. Contrary to existing literature, our findings reveal significantly higher levels of persistence than anticipated. Moreover, through model comparison, CADM augmented with political economic variables emerges as the …

An Investigation Into Teaching Sports Analytics, Josh Havstad

Master's Theses

Sports analytics arrived in the mainstream media through the novel and film Moneyball. However, its origins date back to operations researchers following World War II. Often considered a subdiscipline of statistics, sports analytics draws from statistics but also includes concepts from data science, communication, and marketing. As a passionate fan of sports, I have pursued statistics in my undergraduate and graduate education with the dream of working in sports for my career. However, educational opportunities in sports analytics are limited nationwide, and more specifically, there is no educational opportunity at my university, California Polytechnic State University in San Luis …

Filter: Framework For Integrated Legislative Transparency And Exploratory Research, Kenny Lau

Master's Theses

Digital Democracy, established at Cal Poly's Institute for Advanced Technology and Public Policy, initially provided users access to a distinctive dataset, including state legislative committee hearings, transcripts, videos, and more. However, the discontinuation of funding ended operations for the project and emphasized the need for a streamlined application independent of third-party dependencies and capable of offering real-time and organized access to the invaluable Digital Democracy dataset. We introduce FILTER, a cloud-hosted API designed for read access to the Digital Democracy dataset through twelve distinct endpoints. The system contains two databases: the Digital Democracy Database (DDDB) and the Digital Democracy Knowledge …

Touch By Angels Café Rebrand, Hailey Choi

Graphic Communication

Touch By Angels, a local Korean-dessert café in San Luis Obispo, CA, specializing in bingsoo, taiyaki, and specialty teas, has struggled since its December 2023 opening to establish a cohesive visual identity across its B2C interaction spaces, including its website, social media pages, and on-site signage. This rebranding project aims to develop a comprehensive visual identity for Touch By Angels by enhancing its logo design, color palette, typography, and photography, revamping its social media, and on-site signage to create a unified and appealing brand image. The expected outcome is improved customer engagement, enhanced brand recognition, and business growth, positioning Touch …

2024 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition, Nora Riedinger, Miles Mikkelsen, Brendan Stratford, Derek Tom, Zach Kwast, Harmon Yanikian-Sutton, Kennedy Urcelay, Tori Thomas, Brady Caron

Mechanical Engineering

PolyWave Energy is the second team from California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo to compete in the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition. PolyWave Energy consists of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Business Administration students who have worked together from September 2023 to May 2024 on designing, building, and testing a marine power device to serve a selected market.

In response to the escalating concerns surrounding carbon emissions, climate change, and the depletion of fossil fuels, California Polytechnic State University’s Polywave Energy team has developed a sustainable and reliable energy source for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) charging. Through extensive research of …