Digital Commons Network^™

Summer Mustang, July 31, 2008

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

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

Technical Concepts Related To Conservation Of Irrigation And Rain Water In Agricultural Systems, A. J. Clemmens, R. G. Allen, Charles M. Burt

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Forty percent of freshwater withdrawals in the United States are for irrigated agriculture, which contribute more than $50 billion to the economy. Increasing diversions of water for urban, environmental, and other uses will likely decrease water available to agriculture. Water conservation in agriculture is touted as a good method for minimizing the impact of reduced agricultural diversions on production. Because “wasted” water is often reused until it reaches the ocean, there are limitations to the true water savings that result from programs that aim to increase irrigation efficiency. True water savings can come from four areas: reduction of unnecessary evaporation …

Similarity Assessment Techniques, Michael A. Zang, Adam Gray, Michael Hobbs, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

This paper serves as a layman’s introduction to similarity assessment techniques, their distinction from contemporary computing paradigms, and their real-world applications. The following content derives from the experience gained by the authors in applying similarity assessment techniques to resolve the real-world problems of CDM customers, in particular those faced by the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM).

Pre-Conference Proceedings Of The Focus Symposium On Intelligent Software Tools And Services, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

No abstract provided.

Challenging Computer Software Frontiers And The Human Resistance To Change, Jens G. Pohl

Collaborative Agent Design (CAD) Research Center

This paper examines the driving and opposing forces that are governing the current paradigm shift from a data-processing information technology environment without software intelligence to an information-centric environment in which data changes are automatically interpreted within the context of the application domain. The driving forces are related to the large quantity of data and the complexity of networked systems that both call for software intelligence. The opposing forces are non-technical and due to the natural human resistance to change.

Based on this background the paper describes current information-centric technology, proposes a vision of intelligent software system capabilities, and identifies four …

Summer Mustang, July 24, 2008

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

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

Cal Poly Tractor Design Team Takes First, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

A Morphological And Hemodynamic Analysis Of Skeletal Muscle Vasculature, Stephanie Ann Wood

Master's Theses

The goal of this study was to develop analysis tools to assess skeletal muscle vasculature on a network level. In conjunction with this goal, this project also assessed whether the gracillis anterior muscle of a mouse was sufficiently thin to perform a comprehensive morphological analysis, and whether the data generated from these methods would yield reasonable computation of hemodynamic parameters. Horton's Law of Stream Numbers and the diameter-defined Strahler method were applied to assess the vasculature as a whole, and the results were comparable to previous work. The dimensional and branching characteristics of the network were similar to previous experiments; …

Magnetic Properties Of Marine Magnetotactic Bacteria In A Seasonally Stratified Coastal Pond (Salt Pond, Ma, Usa), Bruce M. Moskowitz, Dennis A. Bazylinski, Ramon Egli, Richard B. Frankel, Katrina J. Edwards

Physics

Magnetic properties of suspended material in the water columns of freshwater and marine environments provide snapshots of magnetic biomineralization that have yet to be affected by the eventual time-integration and early diagenetic effects that occur after sediment deposition. Here, we report on the magnetism, geochemistry and geobiology of uncultured magnetite- and greigite-producing magnetotactic bacteria (MB) and magnetically responsive protists (MRP) in Salt Pond (Falmouth, MA, USA), a small coastal, marine basin (∼5 m deep) that becomes chemically stratified during the summer months. At this time, strong inverse O₂ and H₂S concentration gradients form in the water column …

Annual Report Of Extramural Funding 2007-2008, Grants Development Office

Grants Development Office Reports

This annual report covers the period from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008.

Odor Evaluation And Gas Emission From Manure Of Dairy Heifers Fed High/Low - Forage Quality And High/Low-Concentrate Diets, Patrick A. Topper, Robin Brandt, Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Gustavo J. Lascano, Arlyn J. Heinrichs, Eileen F. Wheeler

Dairy Science

A heifer feeding trial evaluated the impact of high/low forage quality and high/low concentrate level nutrient-balanced diets on simultaneous odor and gas emissions from the manure. Gas concentration was determined using an infrared photoacoustic analyzer over a 24-hour period using a steady-state flux chamber setup containing urine:feces as-excreted from eight individual heifers. Odorous air samples were collected from chamber headspace and evaluated by six human assessors for pleasantness, intensity and detection threshold using a forced-choice dynamic olfactometer. Ammonia emission ranged from 0.64 to 3.94 mg NH3 cm-2 d-1 across diets. Average ammonia emission from the low concentrate (80% forage) diets …

It Takes A Village: Role Of Librarians In The First Year Experience (Fye), Jeanine Marie Scaramozzino

Library Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Kinetics Of The Neuromuscular Junction Simulated Using Spice: An Illustration Of Physiological Process Simulation With Conventional Circuit Simulation Software, Robert B. Szlavik

Biomedical Engineering

With the advent of modern day computational power, there is a great deal of interest in the simulation and modeling of complex biological systems. A significant effort is being made to develop generalized software packages for the simulation of cellular processes, metabolic pathways and complex biochemical reaction systems. The advantages to being able to implement and simulate complex biological systems in a virtual environment are several. Simulations of this type, if sufficiently detailed, provide experimental physiologists with the ability to visualize the dynamics of a given biological system of interest. The validity of hypotheses related to the system under study …

An Automatic Alogorithm For Detecting Stent Endothelialization From Volumetric Optical Coherence Tomography Datasets, Garret T. Bonnema, Kristen O'Halloran Cardinal, Stuart K. Williams, Jennifer K. Barton

Biomedical Engineering

Recent research has suggested that endothelialization of vascular stents is crucial to reducing the risk of late stent thrombosis. With a resolution of approximately 10 μm, optical coherence tomography (OCT) may be an appropriate imaging modality for visualizing the vascular response to a stent and measuring the percentage of struts covered with an anti-thrombogenic cellular lining. We developed an image analysis program to locate covered and uncovered stent struts in OCT images of tissue-engineered blood vessels. The struts were found by exploiting the highly reflective and shadowing characteristics of the metallic stent material. Coverage was evaluated by comparing the luminal …

Cal Poly Spring 2008 Commencement Set For June 14 And 15, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Mustang Daily, June 9, 2008

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

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

Cal Poly Announces Great Grads From Class Of 2008, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Pfps): A Systematic Review Of Anatomy And Potential Risk Factors, Gregory R. Waryasz, Ann Y. Mcdermott

Kinesiology and Public Health

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), a common cause of anterior knee pain, is successfully treated in over 2/3 of patients through rehabilitation protocols designed to reduce pain and return function to the individual. Applying preventive medicine strategies, the majority of cases of PFPS may be avoided if a pre-diagnosis can be made by clinician or certified athletic trainer testing the current researched potential risk factors during a Preparticipation Screening Evaluation (PPSE). We provide a detailed and comprehensive review of the soft tissue, arterial system, and innervation to the patellofemoral joint in order to supply the clinician with the knowledge required to …

Faculty Tenure & Promotion Awards Announced, Public Affairs Office

Press Releases

No abstract provided.

Academic Senate - Agenda, 6/3/2008, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Mustang Daily, June 2, 2008

Cal Poly Student Newspaper

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

The Seeds Of Our Stories, Ruth Ozeki

Moebius

No abstract provided.

Interview With Rob Thoresen, Helen Knight

Moebius

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Bisphosphonates On Bone Remodeling: Analysis Of Microdamage Targeting By Bmus, Bmu Velocity And Crack Surface Density, Daniel Wayne Hale

Master's Theses

Studies have indicated that microdamage in the bone matrix both activates and "steers" BMUs (Basic Multicellular Units, the groups of osteoclasts and osteoblasts that resorb and form bone respectively) toward the damage in order to replace damaged bone with new, mechanically sound bone. Also, bisphosphonate drugs have been shown to greatly suppress the remodeling process and, with such effects, are commonly used in the treatment of osteoporosis. It was hypothesized that BMUs do indeed target microdamage around them and tunnel away from the dominant lines of force in bone in order to remove the damage. Additionally it was believed that …

Optical Tweezers Calibration And Bacterial Adhesion, Nakia Wheeler, John Sharpe

Honors Undergraduate Research Journal

In this project, we will be measuring the forces of the binding of bacteria. We will be working with Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, Lactobacillus gallinarum 33199, Lactobacillus ruteri 23272, and Bifidobacterium. These bacteria are lactic acid bacteria and are used as probiotics. We also reviewed literature on the bacterial cell wall constituents and the properties of adhesion applicable to these organisms.

A Cartilage Growth Mixture Model With Collagen Remodeling: Validation Protocols, Stephen M. Klisch, Anna Asanbaeva, Sevan R. Oungoulian, Koichi Masuda, Eugene J.-Ma. Thonar, Andrew Davol, Robert L. Sah

Mechanical Engineering

A cartilage growth mixture (CGM) model is proposed to address limitations of a model used in a previous study. New stress constitutive equations for the solid matrix are derived and collagen (COL) remodeling is incorporated into the CGM model by allowing the intrinsic COL material constants to evolve during growth. An analytical validation protocol based on experimental data from a recent in vitro growth study is developed. Available data included measurements of tissue volume, biochemical composition, and tensile modulus for bovine calf articular cartilage (AC) explants harvested at three depths and incubated for 13 days in 20% fetal borine serum …

Development Of A Laboratory Based Sustainability Course For Environmental Engineers, Samuel A. Vigil

Civil and Environmental Engineering

An understanding of sustainability is important for all engineering students, but especially for Environmental Engineers who will be taking leadership roles on sustainability issues. This paper will discuss the development of a graduate and senior level course which provides the knowledge, computational, and experimental skills in sustainability for these future engineering leaders. The course includes both lecture and laboratory sections.

Techniques For Developing Large Scale Fuzzy Logic Systems, Jon C. Ervin, Sema E. Alptekin

Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

In this paper, we describe various techniques used to make Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic Systems amenable to operating on applications with large numbers of inputs. A rule reduction technique known as Combs method is combined with an automated tuning process based on Particle Swarm Optimization. A second stage of tuning on rule weights results in improved performance and further reduction in the size of the rule-base. The entire process has been developed to operate within the Matlab software environment. The technique is tested against the Wisconsin Breast Cancer Database. The use of these tools shows great promise in significantly expanding the …

Mulched Cover Crops As An Alternative To Conventional Weed Management Systems In Vineyards, Scott J. Steinmaus, C. L. Elmore, R. J. Smith, D. Donaldson, E. A. Weber, J. A. Roncoroni, P. R.M. Miller

Biological Sciences

Conventional methods of weed management in vineyards rely primarily on herbicides and tillage. The desire to adopt alternatives to these methods is driven by environmental and economic reasons. Weed suppression and grape yield under mulched cover crop systems at two rainfed northern California vineyards were similar to, and at times exceeded, those under conventional tillage or herbicide management. Cover crop productivity was positively correlated with weed suppression and mulch decomposition rates and seemed to be determined primarily by location and then by cover crop type. The mulch from mowed cover crops averaged 603(± 94) gm⁻² at the two sites. …

Climate Change And The Future Of California's Endemic Flora, Scott R. Loarie, Benjamin E. Carter, Katherine Hayhoe, Sean Mcmahon, Richard Moe, Charles A. Knight, David D. Ackerly

Biological Sciences

The flora of California, a global biodiversity hotspot, includes 2387 endemic plant taxa. With anticipated climate change, we project that up to 66% will experience >80% reductions in range size within a century. These results are comparable with other studies of fewer species or just samples of a region’s endemics. Projected reductions depend on the magnitude of future emissions and on the ability of species to disperse from their current locations. California’s varied terrain could cause species to move in very different directions, breaking up present-day floras. However, our projections also identify regions where species undergoing severe range reductions may …