Digital Commons Network^™

Seasonal And Interannual Variability Of Phytoplankton Abundance And Community Composition On The Central Coast Of California, Alex Barth, Ryan K. Walter, Ian C. Robbins, Alexis Pasulka

Physics

Variations in the abundance and composition of phytoplankton greatly impact ecosystem structure and function. Within the California Current System (CCS), phytoplankton community structure is tightly coupled to seasonal variability in wind-driven coastal upwelling, a process that drives changes in coastal water temperatures and nutrient concentrations. Based on approximately a decade (2008-2018) of weekly phytoplankton measurements, this study provides the first characterization of the seasonal and interannual variability of phytoplankton abundance and composition in San Luis Obispo (SLO) Bay, an understudied region within the CCS. Overall, the seasonality of phytoplankton in SLO Bay mirrored that of the larger CCS; diatoms dominated …

Cal Poly Students Struggle For Gay Rights, Dio Capilla

Cal Poly's History: Student Research Reports

This paper follows the gay rights movement at Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo through the 1970s. Cal Poly’s Gay Students Union (GSU) was first proposed in 1972, but had to undergo a series of legal battles before Cal Poly administration finally granted the organization official school recognition four years later. University President Robert E. Kennedy only signed the Union’s bylaws under the direct advisory of the State Attorney General. Kennedy claimed his opposition to the club was only for legal reasons, but this claim did not hold up against previous statements made by the administration. Further discrimination was faced …

Similarities Between The Second Generation Of Female Psychologists And Female Students In Cal Poly’S Child Development Program, Jenny Delk

Cal Poly's History: Student Research Reports

This essay aims to uncover the similarities between female students in Cal Poly’s Psychology and Child Development Department and the second generation of female psychologists in American society. The department’s history will be examined in order to establish its importance at Cal Poly, a traditionally vocational institution. Additionally, this essay will consider how female students in the department argued its importance and validity through on campus advocacy and their senior projects. The essay will close with a section detailing faculty perspectives on the validity of psychology and child development as a true science amongst other disciplines at Cal Poly. The …

Thermal Ecology Of The Federally Endangered Blunt-Nosed Leopard Lizard, Kathleen N. Ivey

Master's Theses

Recognizing how climate change will impact populations can aid in making decisions about approaches for conservation of endangered species. The Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia sila) is a federally endangered species that, despite protection, remains in extremely arid, hot areas and may be at risk of extirpation due to climate change. We collected data on the field-active body temperatures, preferred body temperatures, and upper thermal tolerance of G. sila. We then described available thermal habitat using biophysical models, which allowed us to (1) describe patterns in lizard body temperatures, microhabitat temperatures, and lizard microhabitat use, (2) quantify the …

Valorization Of Carrot Processing Waste, Alexandra M. Duval

Master's Theses

Commercial carrot processors produce up to 175,000 tons of carrot waste annually. Carrot Mash (CM) is the term referring to the waste by-product of peeled baby carrot processing. Transportation of carrot processing waste is expensive due to its high- water content (approx. 83-95%). High in bioactive compounds (carotenoids) and dietary fibers, it is expected that its conversion into a value-added by-product is of interest to the carrot processing industry. Hemicellulose-rich plant materials have proven to be a source of oligosaccharides, which are known for their beneficial prebiotic activity. The objectives of this research were to: 1) determine the effect of …

Subject-Specific Finite Element Models Of The Human Knee For Transtibial Amputees To Analyze Tibial Cartilage Pressure For Gait, Cycling, And Elliptical Training, Jonathon Stearns

Master's Theses

It is estimated that approximately 10-12% of the adult population suffers from osteoarthritis (OA), with long reaching burdens personally and socioeconomically. OA also causes mild discomfort to severe pain in those suffering from the disease. The incidence rate of OA for individuals with transtibial amputations is much than average in the tibiofemoral joint (TF). It is well understood that abnormal articular cartilage stress, whether that be magnitude or location, increases the risk of developing OA. Finite element (FE) simulations can predict stress in the TF joint, many studies throughout the years have validated the technology used for this purpose. This …

Fruit, Flower, And Thorn: A Phenological Study Of 'Wonderful' Pomegranate, Kylie M. Mendonca

Master's Theses

‘Wonderful’ pomegranate flowering and fruiting habits are not well understood. Characterizing any relationship between flowering habit and fruit size and quality could lead to effective cultural practices for producing high-value fruit. Five mature ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate trees were monitored every 5-14 days throughout the 2015 growing season. Newly emerged flowers were tagged and characterized with respect to sex (determined by ovary shape and style length at anthesis), clustering habit, age of wood on which floral buds were borne, and direction of wood growth. More than 1,100 hermaphroditic flowers were identified and ovary/fruit diameter was recorded throughout the season. In addition to …

Dynamic Procedural Music Generation From Npc Attributes, Megan E. Washburn

Master's Theses

Procedural content generation for video games (PCGG) has seen a steep increase in the past decade, aiming to foster emergent gameplay as well as to address the challenge of producing large amounts of engaging content quickly. Most work in PCGG has been focused on generating art and assets such as levels, textures, and models, or on narrative design to generate storylines and progression paths. Given the difficulty of generating harmonically pleasing and interesting music, procedural music generation for games (PMGG) has not seen as much attention during this time.

Music in video games is essential for establishing developers' intended mood …

Prosthetic Thumb, Allison M. Sigdestad, Sahil Sharma, Cale Foreman

Biomedical Engineering

The Prosthetic Thumb Project is a senior design project completed by Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate students at California Polytechnic State University. This senior design project is aimed at designing a prosthetic thumb for a Cal Poly Pomona student who lost their thumb in an accident last year. The patient has ultimately lost between 30-40% of functionality of his left hand, and so we would like to give him that mobility back. Originally, the patient was worried about having a prosthesis, and wanted something more stagnant that would resemble the look of the thumb he lost. However, after working with him, we …

Gesea Biosciences - Core Shell Pellet Manufacturing Device, Claire Edelman, Maria Medrano, Rachel Longoria

Biomedical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Methods To Increase Algae Biomass Productivity In Raceway Pond Monocultures, Ryan S. Anderson

Master's Theses

The economics of algae biofuels and bioproducts would be improved by increased biomass productivity. Two studies on this potential are described in this thesis – one on a locally isolated filamentous yellow-green alga and the other on a planktonic strain genetically improved via selective enrichment.

Polycultures have been viewed as productive, stable, and, in some cases, harvestable by natural bioflocculation. Local native strains might have higher productivity than culture collection strains because they are already adapted to local outdoor conditions. In this study, the filamentous yellow-green alga Tribonema minus was isolated from a local volunteer polyculture. Its productivity as a …

Insulative (Direct Current) Dielectrophoretic Foul-Less Filtration In Microfuidic Systems, Matthew A A Whitman

Master's Theses

Filtration is a technology that is used almost ubiquitously in society from uses raging from filtration of macroparticles from water to pharmaceutical grade filtration products to remove anything larger than a protein. However, with such a wide range of uses, most filtration products have the same issue; membrane clogging (fouling) that prevents continuous use and requires frequent maintenance. This thesis hypothesizes that by applying a direct current (DC) to an insulating array of posts, they will create a foul-less insulative dielectrophoretic filter (iDEP) that does not clog since particles will levitate above the insulating array.

This thesis tested an inherited …

Electricity Price Forecasting Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Elliott Winicki

Master's Theses

Many methods have been used to forecast real-time electricity prices in various regions around the world. The problem is difficult because of market volatility affected by a wide range of exogenous variables from weather to natural gas prices, and accurate price forecasting could help both suppliers and consumers plan effective business strategies. Statistical analysis with autoregressive moving average methods and computational intelligence approaches using artificial neural networks dominate the landscape. With the rise in popularity of convolutional neural networks to handle problems with large numbers of inputs, and convolutional neural networks conspicuously lacking from current literature in this field, convolutional …

Inactivation Of Foodborne Pathogens During Cider Fermentation, In A Cider Model System And Commerical Cider, Kathryn K. Yamada

Master's Theses

Hard cider is an alcoholic drink made from fermented crushed fruit, typically apples. The popularity of this fermented alcoholic beverage has been on the rise within the last decade. Historically, hard cider has been deemed safe due to the presence of ethanol and the low pH. Although there is lack of scientific evidence to prove that hard cider will and can be safe from foodborne pathogens. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes are three predominate foodborne bacterial pathogens of concern in the food and beverage industry. Escherichia coli O157:H7 in particular has been associated with fresh produce and …

Patterns In Size Distribution And Catch Of Rockfish (Sebastes Spp.) In Fisheries-Independent And Fisheries- Dependent Hook-And-Line Surveys On The Central Coast Of California, Rose Elizabeth Dodgen

Master's Theses

Stock assessments are statistical models which characterize the state of a population of fish. Data for stock assessment models of West Coast nearshore groundfish come largely from fisheries-dependent sources. Incorporating fisheries-independent data would increase data availability. A potential source of fisheries-independent data which is comparable to existing fisheries-dependent data is the California Collaborative Fisheries Research Program (CCFRP), a Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring study. We are interested in understanding the context in which CCFRP could be implemented into assessments of nearshore groundfish, specifically rockfish. To investigate this, we used management-relevant metrics to examine three questions concerning the implementation of CCFRP …

Biofilm Remediation By Extracellular Polymeric Substance (Eps) Modification, Matthew Borglin

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

With the help of the Baker Koob endowment this project was able to investigate the novel application of chemical modifiers on mature biofilms as a new potential method for its removal. The major challenge that this project initially faced was the designing an experimental procedure for consistent biofilm production in order for a comparison treatment across sampling surfaces and follow up experiments. However, the consistency was hard to determine until a reliable sampling method was established. Fortunately, after interacting with industry leaders in biofilm remediation technics a methodology was discovered that was recently approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as …

Off-Label Use Of Recreational Cannabis: Acid Reflux In Colorado, Jacqueline M. Doremus, Sarah S. Stith, Jacob M. Vigil

Economics

Medical cannabis access has been shown to affect clinical health outcomes and health care spending. Unlike medical access, which requires a doctor's recommendation for treatment and only applies to the limited conditions approved under the state's medical cannabis program, recreational access makes cannabis available over-the-counter (OTC). This may create additional benefits through off-label cannabis use to treat unlisted conditions, such as acid reflux, which affects two out of three Americans. Using the roll out of recreational dispensaries in Colorado in 2014, we estimate the change in retailers' market share of antacid medications using a difference-in-differences design. Antacid market share decreases …

Automating Deep-Sea Video Annotation Using Machine Learning, Hanson Egbert, Lubomir Stanchev, Benjamin Ruttenberg

Computer Science and Software Engineering

As the world explores opportunities to develop offshore renewable energy capacity, there will be a growing need for pre-construction biological surveys and post-construction monitoring in the challenging marine environment. Underwater video is a powerful tool to facilitate such surveys, but the interpretation of the imagery is costly and time-consuming. Emerging technologies have improved automated analysis of underwater video, but these technologies are not yet accurate or accessible enough for widespread adoption in the scientific community or industries that might benefit from these tools. To address these challenges, we developed a website that allows us to: (1) Quickly play and annotate …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 1/07/2020, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Next Generation Diagnostic Devices: 3d-Printing On Paper, Aditya R. Jangid, E Brandon Strong, Oscar Mercado, Jonah Holbrook, Jacqueline Chuang

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

In an attempt to merge 3D-printing technology into the development of next generational diagnostic devices, specifically microfluidic paper based analytical devices (μPADs), we developed several hybrid 3D printed-paper devices capable of performing unique functions. We printed fluid reservoirs and pillars for larger fluid volumes, hemi and closed channels to selectively control fluid flow through the device, conductive wires for electronic quantitation, and more. Implementation of these features into traditional μPADs may allow for more robust, sensitive, and structural diagnostic devices.

Assessing Alpine Plant Response To 30 Years Of Climate Shifts In The Sierra Nevada, Charles Gibbons, Karen Bach, Kieran Althaus, Dena Paolilli

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Objective 1: Assess whether Sierran alpine plant communities have shifted in diversity and abundance over the last 30 years by resampling historic Natural Resource Inventory plots in Kings Canyon National Park (lead by Paolilli and Gibbons). Summary Objective 1: With funding provided by Baker-Koob, we completed our second of three field seasons in Sequoia and Kings National Parks. Overall, this season was very successful and quite busy – we were in the field from mid-July to September. In 2019, we sampled 7 regions within the parks and 61 plots total, expanding our dataset and gaining a wider understanding of plant …

Development Of A Lateral Flow Assay (Lfa) For The Rapid And Cost-Effective Diagnosis Of Cerebrospinal Fluid (Csf) Fistulae, Megan Mitchell, Brandon Strong, Emily Christensen

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

A lateral-flow assay (LFA) for β-2-Transferrin (β2T) was developed (Figure 1). In the assay, the target protein binds to the capture antibodies at the test line producing a visible readout. All antibody deposition was completed by reagent applicator to maximize signal localization. We found a direct LFA β2T concentration of 0.16 mg/mL produced a visible positive line in an assay that involved the direct deposition of β-2-transferrin onto the nitrocellulose-based lateral flow device. This indicated the successful capture of antibody and colorimetric indicator. No control lines were utilized in preliminary devices. LFAs were initially designed for readout by antibody conjugation …

Unveiling Mechanisms Of Regeneration In A Tunicate Model Using Genome And Transcriptome Sequencing, Jack Sumner, Jenna Landy, Charlie Liou

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Through Baker-Koob funding, we obtained Cal Poly’s first long read sequencer; our subsequent research marked the first use of next generation sequencing at Cal Poly and resulted in the first-ever draft sequence of the B. violaceus genome. Whole genome sequencing for B. violaceus was completed using a dual platform approach, implementing Illumina short read and Nanopore long read sequencing technologies for single read and hybrid assembly pipelines (Fig. 1). Approximately 7.5 Gb of Illumina and 900 Mb of Nanopore data were acquired. Assembly efforts have been broken down into two phases: single read assembly and hybrid assembly. Short reads were …

Investigating The Mechanisms Of Tunable Camouflage Through Emerging Biotechnologies To Produce Previously Intractable Squid Proteins, Logan Williams, Jason Lorenz, Alissa Mullin, Quinn Reilly

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

The below report details the results of the research supported through the generous funding provided by the Warren J. Baker Endowment for Excellence in Project Based Learning and the Robert D. Koob Endowment for Student Success. Over the past year our lab has been able to make significant advances towards our goal of creating a high quality expression and purification platform for squid protein Reflectin. Furthermore, we have continued our developments in piloting that platform to synthesize non-standard amino acid incorporating Reflectin to better understand the mechanisms of tunable squid camouflage. In preforming this research, multiple Cal Poly undergraduates have …

Understanding The Persistence Of Polymorphism In Girardinus Metallicus., Samantha West

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Polymorphisms are a frequent and fascinating form of biodiversity. They occur when discrete types of individuals (“morphs”) persist in a population at frequencies above the mutation rate. Girardinus metallicus, a member of the live-bearing fish family Poeciliidae, exhibits a male-specific color polymorphism, in which males occur in multiple distinct morphs: a common “plain morph” with drab coloration, a rare “black morph” with black ventral coloration, and an extremely rare “yellow morph” with yellow ventral coloration. This polymorphism also extends to mating behavior, such that black morph males perform a display prior to copulation whereas plain and yellow morph males almost …

Volumetric Flow Measurement For Irrigation District Turnouts, Charles M. Burt, Daniel J. Howes, Stuart Styles

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

Technical assistance related to irrigation district turnout flow/volumetric measurement is provided by ITRC on behalf of California Dept. of Water Resources, USBR, and BIA irrigation projects. Throughout that work, it was apparent there was a need to organize well-established information as well as to provide new insights into irrigation flow measurement. The target audiences are irrigation districts and others who want to improve measurement accuracy for irrigation flow rates and volumetric deliveries to meet regulations, improve the efficiency of ditchriders (system operators), and provide equity and transparency to farmers and managers. The focus of this publication is on turnouts (deliveries) …

2019/2020 Robert E. Kennedy Library Annual Report, Robert E. Kennedy Library

Library Publications and Administrative Reports

Last when we re-branded our annual report as “Inside 35,” we had no idea that this year, Kennedy Library’s accomplishments would be realized largely outside 35. Since March 17, Building 35 has closed its doors to the campus community. Nevertheless, the Kennedy Library team has been successful in maintaining and supporting the Learn by Doing spirit, despite social distancing and remote work conditions.

Opendrop Software Development, Jiajun Guan

Electrical Engineering

To be able to transfer and mix solutions more efficiently and accurately during biology experiments, the Electrical Engineering department at Cal Poly University is planning to purchase or engineer the OpenDrop device. The OpenDrop device uses electro-wetting technology to control the movement of small droplets of water on a planar electrode array to transport and mix different solutions. This device is an open-source project and could be purchased online through the GaudiLab. The basic code of the system could be found in GitHub. With this code as a reference, the goal of this senior project is to develop the firmware, …

Human Path Prediction Using Auto Encoder Lstms And Single Temporal Encoders, Hayden Hudgins

Master's Theses

Due to automation, the world is changing at a rapid pace. Autonomous agents have become more common over the last several years and, as a result, have created a need for improved software to back them up. The most important aspect of this greater software is path prediction, as robots need to be able to decide where to move in the future. In order to accomplish this, a robot must know how to avoid humans, putting frame prediction at the core of many modern day solutions. A popular way to solve this complex problem of frame prediction is Auto Encoder …

Executive Committee - Agenda, 12/12/2019, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.