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Mustang Daily, February 16, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

February 10, 2010 Cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Mustang Daily, February 10, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Mustang Daily, February 9, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Cal Poly Kennedy Library Science Café Presents “Jurassic Beer: The Making Of A 45 Million Year Old Brew” On Feb. 10, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Mustang Daily, February 4, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Mustang Daily, February 3, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Mustang Daily, February 2, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Hormones And Reproductive Cycles In Snakes, Emily N. Taylor, Dale F. Denardo

Biological Sciences

The study of the hormonal regulation of reproduction in snakes is in its infancy. Studies have disproportionately examined temperate zone viperid and colubrid snakes, especially the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). Indeed, extensive observational and experimental studies on T. s. parietalis form the basis for our understanding of the hormonal regulation of reproduction in snakes. This review focuses on seasonal hormone concentrations in snakes in relation to events in the reproductive cycle; the limited data available on hypothalamic hormones, gonadotropins (GTHs), hormone receptors, and binding globulins; the neuroendocrinology of reproduction; and the environmental, social, physiological, and embryonic aspects of …

A Natural Missing Link Between Activated And Downhill Protein Folding Scenarios, Feng Liu, Caroline Maynard, Gregory E. Scott, Artem Melnykov, Kathleen B. Hall, Martin Gruebele

Chemistry and Biochemistry

We propose protein PTB1:4W as a good candidate for engineering into a downhill folder. PTB1:4W has a probe-dependent thermal unfolding curve and sub-millisecond T-jump relaxation kinetics on more than one time scale. Its refolding rate in denaturant is a non-linear function of denaturant concentration (curved chevron plot). Yet at high denaturant concentration its unfolding is probe-independent, and the folding kinetics can be fitted to a single exponential decay. The domain appears to fold via a mechanism between downhill folding and activated folding over several small barriers, and when denaturant is added, one of these barriers greatly increases and simplifies the …

The Presence Of Micropterus Salmoides (Largemouth Bass) Influences The Populations Of Rana Draytonii (California Red-Legged Frog) And Pseudacris Regilla (Pacific Treefrog) In Two Ponds In Santa Barbara County, California, Kenneth Lee Gilliland

Master's Theses

Alien fish have been implicated in the decline of Rana draytonii (California red-legged frog) and Pseudacris regilla (Pacific treefrog) populations. Micropterus salmoides (largemouth bass) is a common sport fish that has been introduced into the sympatric range of these two anuran species; however, no studies have investigated the individual influence that this alien fish has on these two species. I conducted M. salmoides control or eradication experiments during a four year study in two ponds within the Transverse Mountain Range of Santa Barbara County, California. Changes in the densities of all life stages of R. draytonii and P. regilla were …

Studies On Real-Valued Negative Selection Algorithms For Self-Nonself Discrimination, Shane E. Dixon

Master's Theses

The artificial immune system (AIS) is an emerging research field of computational intelligence that is inspired by the principle of biological immune systems. With the adaptive learning ability and a self-organization and robustness nature, the immunology based AIS algorithms have successfully been applied to solve many engineering problems in recent years, such as computer network security analysis, fault detection, and data mining.

The real-valued negative selection algorithm (RNSA) is a computational model of the self/non-self discrimination process performed by the T-cells in natural immune systems. In this research, three different real-valued negative selection algorithms (i.e., the detectors with fixed radius, …

An Investigation Of Humeral Stress Fractures In Racing Thoroughbreds Using A 3d Finite Element Model In Conjunction With A Bone Remodeling Algorithm, Ryan James Moore

Master's Theses

The humerus of a racing horse Thoroughbred is highly susceptible to stress fractures at a characteristic location as a result of cyclic loading. The propensity of a Thoroughbred to exhibit humeral fracture has made equines useful models in the epidemiology of stress fractures. In this study, a racing Thoroughbred humerus was simulated during training using a 3D finite element model in conjunction with a bone remodeling algorithm. Nine muscle forces and two contact forces were applied to the 3-dimensional finite element model, which contains four separate load cases representing fore-stance, mid-stance, aft-stance, and standing. Four different training programs were incorporated …

Mustang Daily, January 28, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

January 27, 2010cal Poly Report, Public Affairs Office

Cal Poly Report

No abstract provided.

Mustang Daily, January 21, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Layered Organization In The Coastal Ocean: An Introduction To Planktonic Thin Layers And The Loco Project, James M. Sullivan, D. Van Holliday, Malcolm Mcfarland, Margaret A. Mcmanus, Olivia M. Cheriton, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Louis Goodman, Zhankun Wang, John P. Ryan, Mark Stacey, Charles Greenlaw, Mark A. Moline

Biological Sciences

No abstract provided.

Integrated Measurements Of Acoustical And Optical Thin Layers Ii: Horizontal Length Scales, Mark A. Moline, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Ian C. Robbins, Maddie Schroth-Miller, Chad M. Waluk, Brian Zelenke

Biological Sciences

The degree of layered organization of planktonic organisms in coastal systems impacts trophic interactions, the vertical availability of nutrients, and many biological rate processes. While there is reasonable characterization of the vertical structure of these phenomena, the extent and horizontal length scale of variation has rarely been addressed. Here we extend the examination of the vertical scale in the first paper of the series to the horizontal scale with combined shipboard acoustic measurements and bio-optic measurements taken on an autonomous underwater vehicle. Measurements were made in Monterey Bay, CA from 2002 to 2008 for the bio-optical parameters and during 2006 …

Integrated Measurements Of Acoustical And Optical Thin Layers I: Vertical Scales Of Association, Kelly J. Benoit-Bird, Mark A. Moline, Chad M. Waluk, Ian C. Robbins

Biological Sciences

This study combined measurements from multiple platforms with acoustic instruments on moorings and on a ship and optics on a profiler and an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to examine the relationships between fluorescent, bioluminescent, and acoustically scattering layers in Monterey Bay during nighttime hours in July and August of 2006 and May of 2008. We identified thin bioluminescent layers that were strongly correlated with acoustic scattering at the same depth but were part of vertically broad acoustic features, suggesting layers of unique composition inside larger biomass features. These compositional thin layers nested inside larger biomass features may be a common …

Mustang Daily, January 11, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Mustang Daily, January 5, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Mustang Daily, January 4, 2010

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

Student newspaper of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Swamp: Surface Water Monitoring Project, Arron Apperson, Vern Vanderbilt

STAR Program Research Presentations

The objective of the Surface Water Monitoring Project (SWaMP) is to design a constellation of satellites, based on the properties of sun glint, for timely monitoring of surface water bodies globally. The project examined several characteristics of surface waters, including the specular reflecting properties of varying sized water bodies, combined with their relative global abundance in order to evaluate several possible orbital tracks. This non-traditional use of sun glint should open new avenues of research and resource management on local, regional and global scales. By using a constellation of micro-satellites, our design should be able to reduce mission cost, present …

Acoustic Health Monitoring Of Electronic Devices, Tim Smith, Morris Good

STAR Program Research Presentations

Tests are being conducted to monitor key electrical components. One such component class is DC to DC converters which are used to change a low voltage current source to a higher voltage. They are common in portable electronic devices such as lap top computers and cell phones that are primarily powered by batteries. Studies show that DC to DC converters produce acoustic waves while in use. Acoustic sensors were used to compare sensitivity and bandwidth. Time versus frequency signatures were constructed from the data collected by a digital oscilloscope. The digital oscilloscope collected raw data from various acoustic sensors and …

Examination Of Thin Layers Of Phytoplankton And Zooplankton With Emphasis On Bioluminescence, Jordan Anderson, Ian Robbins, Mark Moline

STAR Program Research Presentations

Thin layers of plankton are commonly found in coastal environments, with a vertical scale ranging from centimeters to a few meters, but extending horizontally over kilometers. These layers are highly productive and can contain 50-75% of the total biomass of the water column2-4. A two-week study was conducted in San Luis Obispo Bay comparing a traditional sampling method, Niskin bottles, with a recent advancement, autonomous profilers. Diversity Indexes were calculated for all species sampled in both methods. T Tests were conducted to compare the diversity indexes between methods and were not statistically significant (P(T<=t) one-tail=0.15). The abundance of a bioluminescent species, Noctiluca was compared at three different depths (shallow, within a spike in bioluminescence, and deep) and was found to be statistically significant (P(T<=t) one-tail=0.0177 for the shallow depth vs. spike and P(T<=t) one-tail=0.048 for the deep depth vs. spike). Future work could examine the vertical migration of phytoplankton and zooplankton throughout the night as opposed to one nightly sampling. This would allow interpretation of thin layers based on the behavior of the organisms comprising the layer, as opposed to the physical processes forming thin layers (as examined in this study).

A Seed Infecting Fungus (Tilletia Ehrhartae) Could Provide A Partial Biological Control Mechanism For Invasive Veldt Grass (Ehrharta Calycina), Briana Overman, Fritz Light, Francis Villablanca

STAR Program Research Presentations

Invasive species can disrupt or alter the natural ecosystem function, composition, and diversity of an area. Veldt grass, (Ehrharta calycina), is an exotic species causing plant diversity in areas to decline. The hypothesis tested was that the Veldt grass individuals would show a response to a host-specific pathogen, Tilletia ehrhartae. This study was conducted at two locations Los Osos and Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (GNDNWR) in California. We established four quadrats in Los Osos and six within GNDNWR using the nearest- neighbor method to collect infected/uninfected individuals of Veldt grass. All results were analyzed with t-tests and chi-squared statistics. …

Settlement In Fouling Communities Of San Fransisco Bay, Jacqueline Hill, Sarah Cohen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Settlement among native and invasive marine organisms in fouling communities was observed at various time intervals in the San Francisco Bay. Many of these well-known, globally invasive organisms grow rapidly and often outcompete or overgrow natives. Settlement plates were placed at three different protected areas within the Bay (Richmond Marina Bay Yacht Club (1), Berkeley Marina (2), and Fort Baker (3)) and scored once a week for 5 weeks. The two larger East Bay sites (1 and 2) showed considerably greater species diversity and abundance in comparison to the smaller site near the mouth of the Bay (site 3). Furthermore, …

Yersinia Pestis Proteomics And Vaccine Development, Rebecca Paddack, Lindsey Evans, Jr-Shiuan Lin, Stephen Smiley, Brett Chromy

STAR Program Research Presentations

Pneumonic plague, caused by the gram-negative bacteria Yersinia pestis, has led to millions of human causalities during several major pandemics and has the potential to be employed as a deadly biological warfare agent. For this reason, it is vital that an effective vaccine against Y. pestis be created. Currently, a subunit vaccine exists which works by stimulating B-cells (humoral immunity), but it has failed to protect primates in aerosolized bacterial challenges. In an effort to complement the existing vaccine, an alternative vaccine strategy can use both B-cell stimulation and the targeting of T cells (cell-mediated immunity) with an antigenic peptide …

Animal Science Stock Report: Spring/Summer 2010, Animal Science Department California Polytechnic University - San Luis Obispo

Stock Report

No abstract provided.

Bridging The Sport And Recreation Divide, Laurence Chalip, Keri Schwab, Daniel Dustin

Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration

In this article we examine sport and recreation's collaborative potential. We begin by identifying some differences between the two fields of study and by acknowledging what heretofore have been some inherent incompatibilities. We discuss how these differences and incompatibilities might be overcome through a paradigm shift based on the fields' common appreciation of the importance of play. We then demonstrate the collaborative potential by illustrating the relevance of play to ameliorating the pervasive obesity problem confronting contemporary society. We conclude by suggesting that an alliance between sport and recreation may result in synergistic effects that strengthen their respective standing within …