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Exploring The Relationships Between Mothers' Use Of Food To Soothe, Feeding Type And Mode, Maternal Feeding Style, Infant Behavior, And Infant Weight-Related Outcomes During Early Infancy, Megan K. Hupp

Master's Theses

Rapid infant weight gain (RWG) in the first six months postpartum is a strong predictor for obesity during childhood and adolescence. Although biological factors can influence infant weight gain trajectories, the modifiable factor of parent feeding practices can also have an influence. The use of food to soothe (FTS), or the act of feeding a child when he/she is upset for reasons other than hunger, has been associated with unhealthy eating behaviors and less-favorable weight outcomes in children and older infants. However, limited studies have explored the use of FTS during early infancy before the introduction of solids foods. The …

Lipid Quantification And Cryopreservation Of In Vitro Produced Jersey Cattle Embryos, Katherine A. Rhodes-Long

Master's Theses

Cryopreservation of in vivo derived Jersey bovine embryos have resulted in a 10% lower pregnancy rate compared to other dairy breeds. Poor embryo survival after cryopreservation has been partially attributed to the high lipid content of Jersey embryos. In vitro-produced (IVP) bovine embryos have darker cytoplasm than their in vivo-derived counterparts because of higher lipid accumulation. High lipid accumulation is associated with impaired embryo quality. Forskolin is an adenylate cyclase activator that regulates cAMP levels in cells and has been shown to induce lipolysis in IVP embryos. L-carnitine is required for transport of fatty acids from the intermembrane space of …

Antibacterial Coatings Derived From Novel Chemically Responsive Vesicles, Emily B. Mobley

Master's Theses

In order for a drug, or any material used for the purpose of eliciting a change in an organisms’ physical or chemical state, to be effective it must reach the intended target intact and for a sustained rate over time. Drug delivery systems encapsulate a drug to protect it from degradation, prevent side reactions, increase solubility, improve accumulation rates at target sites, and release drugs at a controlled rate. Controlled and sustained release of drugs is achieved by degradation of the carrier triggered by breaking dynamic chemical bonds caused by changes in the chemical environment such as pH or redox …

Quantifying The Ecological Drivers And Impacts Of Parrotfish Predation On Caribbean Corals Communities, Hannah Sima Rempel

Master's Theses

Parrotfishes (Scarinae) are dominant Caribbean herbivores that play an important role in reducing coral-algae competition by grazing algae; yet some species are also occasional coral predators (corallivores) and thereby can have direct negative impacts on coral growth and survivorship. There is concern that parrotfish corallivory may contribute to substantial long-term declines in targeted coral species, particularly in areas with a high biomass of parrotfishes and low cover of corals. However, the capacity of target coral species to heal from parrotfish predation and the ecological drivers of corallivory are poorly understood.

In Chapter 1, we examined the patterns of coral healing …

An Executive Functioning Perspective In Neurofibromatosis Type 1: From Adhd And Autism Spectrum Disorder To Research Domains, Taylor Smith, Jessica A. Kaczorokski, Maria T. Acosta

Psychology and Child Development

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a rare monogenic disorder associated with executive function (EF) deficits and heightened risk for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The goal of this paper is to understand how EFs provide a common foundation to understand vulnerabilities for ADHD and ASD within NF1.

Methods: A literature review and synthesis was conducted.

Results: EF difficulties in working memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and planning are evident in NF1, ADHD, and ASD. However, relatively little is known about the heterogeneity of EFs and ADHD and ASD outcomes in NF1. Assessment of ADHD and ASD …

Assessment Of The Effects Of Malaria And Anemia In Pregnant Malawian Women Before And After Treatment Of Moderate Malnutrition, William Shipley

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

Assessment of the Effects of Malaria and Anemia in Pregnant Malawian Women Before and After Treatment of Moderate Malnutrition

William Shipley

Background: Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) can lead to adverse maternal and infant outcomes and possibly further complications. Supplementary foods or treatments with high quality nutrients should be administered to those with MAM in hopes to increase the chance of healthy maternal and infant outcomes. Sometimes supplementary food is not enough to overcome MAM and disease may play a role, particularly in pregnant malnourished women.

Objective: To determine if the effects of malaria and anemia moderated the effect of …

Modeling The Evolution Of Differences In Variability Between Sexes, Theodore P. Hill

Research Scholars in Residence

An elementary mathematical theory based on a “selectivity-variability” principle is proposed to address a question raised by Charles Darwin, namely, how one sex of a sexually dimorphic species might tend to evolve with greater variability than the other sex. Two mathematical models of the principle are presented: a discrete-time one-step probabilistic model of the short-term behavior of the subpopulations of a given sex, with an example using normally distributed perceived fitness values; and a continuous-time deterministic coupled ODE model for the long-term asymptotic behavior of the expected sizes of the subpopulations, with an example using exponentially distributed fitness levels.

Identification Of Users Via Ssh Timing Attack, Thomas J. Flucke

Master's Theses

Secure Shell, a tool to securely access and run programs on a remote machine, is an important tool for both system administrators and developers alike. The technology landscape is becoming increasingly distributed and reliant on tools such as Secure Shell to protect information as a user works on a system remotely. While Secure Shell accounts for the abuses the security of older tools such as telnet overlook, it still has fundamental vulnerabilities which leak information about both the user and their activities through timing attacks. The OpenSSH client, the implementation included in all Linux, Mac, and Windows computers, sends each …

Feeling Out Your Food: A Histological Analysis Of The Whisker System In Seals, Cameron Cooper

Master's Theses

The vibrissal (whisker) system is present in nearly all mammals and is especially important in deep-diving mammals. Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses) have highly sensitive whiskers that are used to follow hydrodynamic trails created by their swimming prey. Each pinniped vibrissa is surrounded by a tripartite blood sinus system composed of an upper cavernous sinus (UCS), a ring sinus (RS), and a lower cavernous sinus (LCS). The UCS has been hypothesized to play a thermoregulatory role, insulating temperature sensitive mechanoreceptors located within the vibrissal follicle. The aim of this study was to examine this hypothesis by measuring and comparing …

Hericium Erinaceus: Erinacine A, Ventura Villanueva

Agricultural Education and Communication

Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane)

Erinacines - component found in Lion's Mane

A variety of mushroom that has been grabbing the attention of different pharmaceutical companies is the Hericium Erinaceus commonly known as Lion’s Mane. Lion’s Mane also known as, “Sheep’s head, Bear’s head, Bearded tooth carpophore, and Yamabushitmnnake” (Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)). Lion’s Mane in nature is found growing off the dry bark of trees (Kuo, 2016). Nowadays there are many products in the market that sell Lion’s Mane mushroom powder as a superfood. Lion’s Mane mushroom is known to have the component erinacines. Erinacines as of …

Consider The Source: The Media’S Coverage Of Female Fbi Agents In The 1970s, Kali Devarennes

The Forum: Journal of History

This paper explores the representation of female FBI agents in newspapers throughout the 1970s until the early 1990s. While this subject is not widely discussed, due to lack of exposure and research, this paper reveals how crucial these women were during this period as they redefined how society and male FBI agents viewed women in previously male-dominated fields. In 1970, the media responded to these women with a variety of assumptions and stereotypes defining women as sex objects, physically weak, and mentally unable to handle the dangerous work environment. Through examination of scholarly and primary sources, this paper uncovers the …

Efficacy Of Catalytic Ozonation Advanced Oxidation Processes Compared To Traditional Ozone-Based Advanced Oxidation Processes For Degradation Of Recalcitrant Compounds, Cindy Jocelyn Sevilla Esparza

Master's Theses

This study reviews catalytic ozonation AOPs and traditional ozone-based AOPs to compare their efficiency for degradation of ozone-recalcitrant compounds. With the world’s population increasing and water becoming a scarce resource, it is important to improve current water recycling methods. Recycling water will play a large role in accommodating the increasing demand, but it will also be necessary to be improve the level of treatment in order to account for emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been developed to degrade ECs that are not effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment. The goal …

Phrenology, Physical Anthropology And Ethnology: Nineteenth-Century Race Science And The Foundations Of Eurocentrism, Mckenzie Jayne Leeds

History

This paper explores phrenology, physical anthropology, and ethnology--each a nineteenth-century scientific discipline that significantly influenced racial beliefs. These sciences were integral in forming and perpetuating racial hierarchies and the belief of perceived European superiority. The main goal of this project was to deconstruct the European superiority narrative, and to argue that these disciplines created a network of continued racism.

Towards Equitable Communication: An Exploratory Study To Guide Knowledge Translation In Kinesiology, Akuekegbe Y. Uwadiale, Jafra D. Thomas

Kinesiology and Public Health

Resources at or below the 8th grade reading level is key if behavioral resources are to support end-user health literacy, a strong predictor of prevention-oriented health behaviors and health risk. To understand how readability issues effect physical activity resources, we performed a systematic review of the kinesiology literature. A sample of 18 original studies was obtained (M publication date=2010, SD=7.45), which on average reported public resources exceeded the 8th grade reading level by at least two grades. Thematic analysis resulted in 14 general ways material readability could be easily improved. Project findings will be discussed and next steps presented.

Graduate Internship In Agricultural Education Report, Molly Sasha Miller

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This document outlines the purpose and creation of a training resource used by members of the California Association of Standards and Agricultural Professionals (CASAP). The training resource is hosted on the CASAP website and focuses on content included on the eight licenses issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for County Agricultural Biologist Inspectors and County Weights and Measures Inspectors.

Respectfully Submitted,

Molly Sasha Miller

Graduate Internship Report - Central High School, Yesenia A. Ramirez

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship report includes reflections and supporting documentation required in meeting the twelve quality criteria for secondary-level Agriculture Education Programs in the State of California. The quality criteria are used to evaluate the quality of an agriculture program and determine its eligibility for Agriculture Incentive Grant funds. The supporting documentation includes information used to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Central West, the agriculture program, and the community.

Graduate Internship Report: Golden West High School, Amber R. Nagel

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes documentation required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Golden West High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of Golden West High School, the agriculture program and the community.

Analysis Of Biofilm Remediation Capacity For Octenyl Succinic Anhydride (Osa), A Bioactive Food Starch Modifier Compound, Matthew R. Borglin

Master's Theses

Matthew R. Borglin

This thesis demonstrates efficacy of Octenyl Succinic Anhydride (OSA), as a biofilm sanitizer. Biofilms allow bacteria to adhere to solid surfaces with the use of excreted polymeric compounds. For example, surfaces found in food production or processing facilities such as the interior of a raw milk holding tank, are some of the most susceptible to biofilm contamination. When present, biofilms can cause a variety of negative effects, which include; reduction of product shelf life, corrosion, and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses. The close association of biofilms with the majority of foodborne illness cases led the US Environmental Protection …

Investigation Of Experimental Variation Of Bovine Sphingomyelin As A Novel Ingredient For Ultraviolet Protection, Esther Chen

Master's Theses

Skin cancer is a prevalent disease that globally affects 2-3 million people per year [1]. This number is expected to grow tenfold as depletion of the ozone layer contributes to harsher rays reaching Earth’s surface [2]. A common way to protect against those ultraviolet waves is to apply sunscreen, however, recent reports call into question the safety of some active ingredients as they can enter through the skin into the bloodstream [3]. This thesis aims to investigate an alternative solution that uses bovine sphingomyelin (BSM) as photoprotective solution against UV irradiation.

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of BSM against …

A Floristic Study Of The Cal Poly Swanton Pacific Ranch And A New Combination In Sanicula Crassicaulis (Apiaceae), Sanicula Crassicaulis Var. Nudicaulis, Reed J. Kenny

Master's Theses

Globally we are experiencing a biodiversity crisis and potentially a sixth mass extinction event. Plant specimens are one of the best, most concrete records of biodiversity that we can create. Despite this, the rate of plant collecting has declined steeply since World War II. Now more than ever, plant collections are vital, both for the purpose of quantifying the plant biodiversity in an area and for discovering previously unrecognized diversity.

In Chapter 1, we conducted a floristic survey of the Cal Poly Swanton Pacific Ranch. The Swanton Pacific Ranch (SPR) is located north of the small town of Davenport California, …

Attacking Computer Vision Models Using Occlusion Analysis To Create Physically Robust Adversarial Images, Jacobsen Loh

Master's Theses

Self-driving cars rely on their sense of sight to function effectively in chaotic and uncontrolled environments. Thanks to recent developments in computer vision, specifically convolutional neural networks, autonomous vehicles have developed the ability to see at or above human-level capabilities, which in turn has allowed for rapid advances in self-driving cars. Unfortunately, much like humans being confused by simple optical illusions, convolutional neural networks are susceptible to simple adversarial inputs. As there is no overlap between the optical illusions that fool humans and the adversarial examples that threaten convolutional neural networks, little is understood as to why these adversarial examples …

Host Plant Resistance In Strawberries To Anthracnose And Colonization Of Crown And Root Tissue By Verticillium Dahliae And Macrophomina Phaseolina, Omar A. Gonzalez-Benitez

Master's Theses

Strawberries are considered an important crop in California where in 2018 it was in the top 5 valued fruit and vegetable commodities valued at $2.84 billion accounting for 88% of the total U.S. production. Strawberry production can be severely impacted by soilborne pathogens that can affect strawberry roots, crowns and leaves which can result in plant mortality. As much as 50 to 60% mortality can occur in one field. Pathogens responsible for such losses include Colletotrichum acutatum (syn.C. nymphaeae), Macrophomina phaseolina and Verticillium dahliae. With the phaseout of methyl bromide, host resistance and an understanding of host-pathogen interactions …

The Strawberry Rhizosphere Microbiome: Role On Plant Health And Nutrition, Eric Michael Boyd

Master's Theses

Microbial-root associations are important to help plants cope with abiotic and biotic stressors. Managing these interactions offers an opportunity for improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production. By characterizing the bacterial and archaeal community (via 16S rRNA sequencing) associated with the bulk and rhizosphere soil of sixteen strawberry cultivars in two controlled field studies, we explored the relationships between the soil microbiome and plant resistance to two soilborne fungal pathogens of strawberry (Verticillium dahliae and Macrophomina phaseolina). Overall, the plants had a distinctive rhizosphere microbiome relative to the bulk soil, with higher abundances of known beneficial bacteria …

Barriers To Success: Sheep And Goat Producers In The Service-Grazing Industry, Erin A. Campbell-Craven

Master's Theses

Service-grazing is a novel term for grazing done on land not owned or rented by a livestock producer or manager, for the purpose of land management, and for which the owner or land manager receiving grazing services pays compensation to the service provider. This research project seeks to gather detailed information about producers in the Western United States, providing grazing services under this project’s definition of “service-grazing”, with a focus on those operating in California, in order to discover the business models or practices necessary to be successful within a service-based grazing operation. To this end, an online survey consisting …

Exploring Opportunities For A New Community Garden In Santa Fe Springs, Camille Kelem

City and Regional Planning

No abstract provided.

Temperature And Salinity Distributions And Flushing Time Estimates In A Low-Inflow California Estuary, Sydney N. Wewerka

Physics

This study examines the temperature and salinity distributions in Morro Bay, a small, seasonally LIE located on the central coast of California. In Morro Bay, eelgrass (Zostera marina; a temperate seagrass), like all seagrasses, is a critical habitat-forming species that supports a large variety of invertebrate, fish, and bird species in the estuary (MBNEP, 2018). Since 2007, eelgrass in the estuary has declined by over 90%, with most losses occurring in the back regions (i.e., head) of the estuary (MBNEP, 2018). Near the mouth, eelgrass meadows have remained resilient, indicating that gradients in environmental conditions throughout the bay may be …

Cal Poly Pier Master Plan, Troy A. Lawson

Master's Theses

The Cal Poly Pier (Pier) Master/Facility Plan (FP) document provides the vision of the future for the Pier, a marine science research facility. The Plan facilitates project development and management of the Pier while meeting university and department research goals. Specifically, the FP document establishes goals and strategies to direct long-term development of the Pier, streamlines agency approval and permit requirements, provides context for pier management, and assists the permitting process for future development as it relates to regulatory permits and programmatic growth on the Cal Poly Pier to help meet goals of the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences (CCMS). …

Rchex: A Radio-Controlled Hexapod, Dominique Sayo

Computer Engineering

rcHex is a radio-controlled hexapod with 18 degrees of freedom, capable of positional and rotational body adjustment as well as omnidirectional travel at variable speeds using three common gaits. Its general-purpose design accessible to hobbyists makes rcHex an platform for further development, whether it be experimentation in advanced robotic movement or retrofitting sensors to utilize technologies such as computer vision and artificial intelligence. This report explores some of the design intricacies of hexapod movement, including gait sequencing and the application of inverse kinematics to multi-jointed limbs.

Pulsed Electric Field System Development For Algae Biofuel Extraction, Juan David Gonzalez Aguayo, Aspyn Bessler

Electrical Engineering

The search for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels proves necessary due to the effects fossil fuels have on Earth’s environment. These alternatives must have a minimum ecological footprint and cause no long-term harm to the environment. An environmentally friendly fuel is necessary to usher in a generation of renewable green energy.

The production of algae refined biofuels becomes a possible solution to this growing issue. Algae absorb CO2from the atmosphere during their reproduction and growth cycles, yielding a positive environmental impact. As the biofuel is refined and becomes suitable for use, the combustion of the finished fuel generates an equal …

Electrocardiographic (Ecg) Biometric Identification, Ryan Morosa, Charbel Ghantous

Electrical Engineering

Electrocardiography (ECG) is being used a lot more in biometrics for applications where protection of privacy is important. Other methods like facial recognition can be falsified by using different colored contacts to manipulate identification. For this reason, ECG is a viable option for biometric identification since it relies solely on the heartbeat to classify characteristics of an individual. The Pan-Tompkins method was used for feature extraction, and both ELM and correlation were used for classification. ELM through MATLAB achieved an average accuracy of 85%. Correlation achieved an average accuracy of 89.2%.