Digital Commons Network^™

Making Space For Our Own Rhythms, Lauren Mark Dr.

Feminist Pedagogy

This original teaching activity invites students to investigate dominant influences on enacted daily rhythms to arrive at a clearer understanding of their own rhythms and those around them. Students are guided to somatically sense habitual rhythms and understand how habits of accent collectively form to hold us together. Through a two-part activity, involving large group interaction and paired observation, students explore degrees of releasing or withholding natural rhythmic impulses through concession to or freedom within group rhythms and when navigating online platforms. The aim is to explore desired emotional arcs of how experiences might unfold.

Creating And Re-Energizing Communities Of Meaning Throughout A Course, Nancy A. Heise, Anum Ahmed

Feminist Pedagogy

We propose a feminist course approach wherein instructors build what Amie Macdonald (2002) called "communities of meaning" in their classrooms (p.120). Through an intentional focus on supporting students' 1) individual identities, 2) holistic well-being, and 3) epistemic "buy-in" to classroom content, students will connect more deeply not only to themselves and their classmates, but also to the course material. We suggest four community-building touchpoints as a starting point for instructors looking to integrate this course approach. We start with an activity to lessen awkwardness around first-day name pronunciation. We emphasize the importance of creating collaborative classroom expectations with students, and …

Persuasion And Critical Art Analysis: A New Approach To Student-Led Collaboration In A Communication Classroom, Melissa Cheng, Emma Mink

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Choose Your Own Reading Assignment: A Strategy To Diversify Perspectives In Class Discussion, Breena J. Brockmann

Feminist Pedagogy

This activity reimagines course reading assignments by offering students a choice between multiple texts that work together to explore a shared theory or theme. Students are invited to select readings that align with their interests or learning goals. This activity embraces the feminist pedagogical principle of collaborative learning and uses the active learning strategy of learning through teaching by asking students to work in groups to create mini lessons that teach their classmates about their selected reading. Through their discussion of multiple case studies, the class develops an understanding of feminist theory as “geographically, historically, and culturally grounded (Mohanty, 2003, …

The Feminist Frontier: Reimagining And Reenergizing Pedagogy From Osclg 2024, Karla D. Scott, Lakresha Graham, Jennifer Jackson

Feminist Pedagogy

No abstract provided.

Academic Senate - Agenda, 6/3/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Academic Senate - Minutes, 6/3/2025, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Novel Electrospinning Techniques For Fabricating Scaffolds To Model Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease In Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics, Isaac "Squeaky" Buentipo

Master's Theses

Novel Electrospinning Techniques for Fabricating Scaffolds to Model Intracranial

Atherosclerotic Disease in Tissue Engineered Blood Vessel Mimics

Isaac “Squeaky” Buentipo

Dr. Kristen Cardinal’s Tissue Engineering Lab at California Polytechnic State University specializes in fabricating customized vascular models, known as Blood Vessel Mimics (BVMs), for medical device testing. BVMs are simplified in vitro vascular models designed to bridge the gap between bench testing and in vivo evaluation of intravascular medical devices. BVMs are produced by combining a polymer scaffold with human vascular cells. Through novel scaffold fabrication techniques, such as silicone injection molding, silicone dip casting and electrospinning, the capabilities of …

Evaluation Of Antibiotic Testing Protocols For Biofilm-Forming Escherichia Coli In A Microfluidic Platform, Caleb R. Telander

Master's Theses

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections remain an ongoing clinical problem due to biofilm persistence and antibiotic resistance. Standard antibiotic susceptibility testing cannot accurately reproduce flow conditions and the spatial complexity of the in vivoenvironment and is thus questionable in relevance to device-related infections. This study examines a microfluidic device designed to simulate physiologically relevant wall shear stress and antibiotic gradients in Escherichia coli biofilms. The polydimethylsiloxane-based system integrates a 16-well culture chamber with a gradient generator. Biofilm growth was observed using fluorescence microscopy of green fluorescent protein-labeled bacteria. Simulations performed using COMSOL Multiphysics software estimated the appropriate range of wall …

Efficacy Of Monophasic And Biphasic Pulsed Field Ablation Waveforms: A Model Study, Natalia Dekock

Master's Theses

Cardiac arrhythmias are conditions where the heart’s normal sinus rhythm is interrupted by accelerated or premature rhythms. The most prevalent of these rhythms is atrial fibrillation (AF), where disorganized impulses cause the atria to quiver and pump blood inefficiently. As of 2025, AF affects over 10 million people. Aside from invasive surgical treatments, antiarrhythmic drugs, or one time cardioversions, atrial fibrillation is treated with catheter ablation. The longstanding ablation solutions for AF have been the cryoballoon or radiofrequency catheter ablation. However, limitations for these two ablation modalities are due to the nature of cell destruction; both thermal methods pose a …

Effect Of Foot Strike Pattern On Joint Kinetics On A Downhill Slope, Evan Manley

Master's Theses

With recent increases in participation in outdoor running events, there is a need for research in downhill gait biomechanics. One change that could impact joint loading is foot strike pattern. Foot strike patterns have been categorized into rearfoot-strike (RFS), midfoot-strike (MFS), and forefoot-strike (FFS) [1]. While 75-99% of distance runners naturally RFS on level surfaces, they tend to move towards FFS when it is necessary to reduce vertical loading conditions at the knee [1]. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in peak vertical knee and ankle forces, knee moment, and ankle power, as well as cumulative force …

Balance Assessment Of Disc Golf Players By A Smartphone, Joshua Paul Kannankunni

Master's Theses

Disc golf is an underrepresented sport in biomechanics research, even though it could have effects on gait and balance. Forward and side lunges performed while throwing discs can improve static and dynamic balance. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of playing disc golf on various static and dynamic balance metrics. Static and dynamic balance experiments were done on 20 disc golf players and 20 control participants to record their RMS of acceleration during the double leg, tandem, and single leg static poses, as well as their gait speed, cadence, stride length, right step length, left step …

Smart Glove Pitch Type Discrepancy Detection Algorithm For Youth And Collegiate Baseball Pitchers, Ethan B. Hemmerlin

Master's Theses

Pitch tipping refers to unintentional variations in a pitcher’s motion that reveal the pitch type, often due to inconsistent arm speed when throwing off-speed pitches like changeups. This issue is common in youth players with underdeveloped mechanics and makes it easier for batters to predict pitches. Wearable sensors, such as Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), provide a non-invasive way to quantify these subtle motion discrepancies. This study analyzed linear acceleration data from a glove arm IMU for 14 pitchers, evenly split between high school-aged (13-15 years) and college-aged (18-23 years) groups. The aim was to examine the linear accelerations of the …

Effects Of Spirulina And Nannochloropsis Supplementations On The Meat Quality And Sensory Properties Of Broiler Carcasses, Shreyash S. Patel

Master's Theses

Microalgae are a promising feed ingredient due to their high content of proteins, lipids, polysaccharides, vitamins, pigments, and enzymes. This study evaluated the effects of algae as a dietary supplementation on the appearance, quality, and sensory attributes of broiler carcasses. In each of experiment I and II, a total of 54 Ross-708 broilers were randomly obtained from the pool of 270 broilers in the 18 floor pens of soybean-mealbased diets at 0, 2.5%, and 5% Spirulina (Experiment I) and Nannochloropsis (Experiment II) supplements in the Poultry Unit at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA). Broiler carcasses …

Caed Shop Entrance Wall Redesign, Ellen Elizabeth Untalan, Joelle Schalesky, Katherine Evalyn Timbes

Architectural Engineering: Graduate Reports

This project involved the replacement and redesign of the north wall at the CAED Support Shop at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The redesign aligned the wall with the adjacent Engineering West building. The original concrete wall was designed with jagged recesses to accommodate large trash bins. These recesses no longer serve their intended function due to the permanent relocation of these bins. The replacement CMU low lift grouted wall optimizes courtyard space, enhances aesthetic cohesion, and maintains architectural features consistent with the existing structure. The following report outlines the process necessary to complete this project, including the permitting process, …

Opensim Analysis Of The Aymara Indigenous People Performing Ancestral Tasks: Exploring Trends Of Muscle Activity With Tiwanaku Skeletal Indicators, Noah M. Taylor

Master's Theses

The Tiwanaku civilization (AD 500-1100) of the Andean highlands exhibited occupational specialization in communities, with archeological evidence suggesting the existence of labor- and residential-communities, or “taskscapes”, based on an individual’s livelihood. Prior bioarcheological studies have examined Tiwanaku skeletal remains for musculoskeletal stress markers, osteoarthritis, and cross-sectional geometry to infer activity patterns. Their descendants, the Aymara Indigenous people, currently live in the same highlands and until recently lived a lifestyle like their ancestors. Over the past 20 years, the global quinoa demand has risen, thrusting the Aymara into globalization and moving them away from the traditional tasks previously performed. This study …

Acoustic And Hemodynamic Analysis Of Phantoms: Roughness And Flow Dynamics, Ethan Erik Olof Sundberg

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine whether different vascular phantoms, with and without a surrogate arm, could serve as effective analogs to the human brachial artery for assessing endothelial dysfunction, an early indicator of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is characterized by plaque buildup and endothelial damage, which precede more severe clinical events and are often detectable through changes in vascular function. A 40” water tower was used to simulate diastolic pressure, enabling water flow through each phantom. Strain gauge pressure transducers were placed at both ends of the phantoms to measure pressure drop, while a microphone captured …

A Manufacturing Process For Interdigitated Microelectrodes On Glass Wafers, Wyatt W. Warfield

Master's Theses

This study presents work done to optimize the process parameters to produce interdigitated electrodes on a borosilicate wafer. Using designed experiments and statistical analysis, the error in pattern transfer was minimized using for key process steps including exposure time, develop time and post exposure bake duration. Similarly, statistical analysis was used with profilometry data to fine tune the develop times. Qualitative analysis was used to assess thin film deposition. The resulting process produced wafers with improved pattern transfer and adequate film adhesion

Video Game Hacking, A General Problem With Generalized Solutions, Luke Rowe

Master's Theses

As video games continue to get more popular and lucrative, the number of malicious actors seeking to exploit them grows with it. As this industry expands, so does the importance of securing games against cheating and abuse. This thesis aims to educate developers to help mitigate the abuse of video games by these malicious actors. The goal of this thesis is to provide a foundational framework for thinking like a hacker and how to make games harder to abuse once a hacker bypasses conventional anti-cheat software.

This thesis outlines some of the most common cheating methods and provides general context …

Lab Building With Atrium, Reagan Lawson

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report includes a prescriptive and performance-based analysis on a university life sciences building hereafter referred to as “Lab Building”. The code-based analysis includes the review of the following components: Occupancy classification and construction type, Egress, Control areas, Structural fire protection, Fire alarm and fire sprinkler systems, and Smoke control.

The Lab Building is of type IB construction and is four stories above grade with one story below grade. The building uses a non-separated mixed occupancy approach with Group A- 3 bring the most restrictive occupancy classification. Additionally, the building is fully sprinklered with a fire alarm and emergency voice …

Optimizing Microfluidic Murine Fibroblast And Human Epidermal Keratinocyte Cell Culture In 70Μm Microwells, Christian Navarro

Master's Theses

Cell culture is an essential technique utilized in biotechnology and medicine to remove systemic influences to study cellular behavior and morphological development of individual cell lines. However, conventional cell culture is two-dimensional and static meaning it can’t easily mimic in vivo conditions such as multicellular cell to cell interactions, fluid perfusion, or 3D structures which might alter cellular behavior and morphology. Microfluidic cell culture allows for the incorporation of in vivo conditions such as perfusion and chemical gradients allowing for more physiologically accurate models. The goal of this study is to develop a protocol for testing a microfluidic chip designed …

Underground Lrt Station- Final Project, Itay Mesika

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This project presents a comprehensive fire protection analysis for an underground light rail transit (LRT) station that also serves as a civil defense shelter. The station comprises two underground levels with a total area of 4,500 square meters and is designed to accommodate up to 1,470 passengers during peak hours.

Design Approach: The project adopts a hybrid approach combining prescriptive and performance-based design in accordance with NFPA 130 standards. This methodology ensures compliance with baseline requirements while enabling optimization for the facility's unique dual function as both a transportation hub and civil defense shelter.

Key Fire Protection Systems: The station …

Fire Protection And Life Safety Analysis Report, Ayoung Yun

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report evaluates the fire and life safety performance of the proposed building, a two- story, mixed-occupancy facility designed to serve as a civic and cultural hub. The analysis was prepared to assess compliance with the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), NFPA 13, NFPA 72, and related standards, with a particular focus on areas where occupant egress paths challenge prescriptive limitations. The project includes assembly, business, and storage occupancies, and features a large auditorium, classrooms, an exhibition hall, a restaurant, offices, and a double-height atrium. The building is designed as a non-separated mixed-use facility and is classified under Groups A-1, …

Fire Safety Design For Los Angeles County Fire Station 171, Ryan Murrieta

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This report provides a fire safety analysis for Los Angeles County Fire Station 171. To accomplish this, the fire station is analyzed using both a prescriptive and performance-based design approach. With this in mind, the report will show areas where Fire Station 171 is in compliance with codes and standards outlined in the International Building Code (IBC) and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA). This report will also recommend improvements for the fire station in areas where the building is not up to current standards and codes.

Fire Station 171 is a two-story Type IIA construction fire station that also …

Ymca Building, Tomas Lins

Fire Protection Engineering: Culminating Experience Project Reports

This project consists of the prescriptive and performance-based analysis of the fire protection and life safety features of the YMCA building in the city of Grants Pass, OR. The building was opened to the public in 1983 and was expanded in 2003. The initial construction is classified as Type IV and is not protected by a sprinkler system. The expanded section has a construction classification of Type II-B and is fully sprinklered. The main occupancies found in the building are Groups A and B. The building includes daycare room classified as Group E. The four core areas of prescriptive analysis …

Evaluating The Viability Of Shared Electric Vehicle Fleet Services For A Higher Education Campus Through An Assessment Of Current Commuter Behaviors, Gabriel Denson

Master's Theses

The transportation sector remains the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, with single-occupant personal automobile travel accounting for a significant portion of total emissions. While sustainable mobility solutions such as electric vehicles (EVs) and shared transportation services have emerged as potential strategies to reduce environmental impact, adoption rates remain slow due to behavioral, economic, and infrastructural barriers. This research explores the feasibility of a shared electric vehicle fleet service to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and improve mobility in and around college campuses, using California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, as a case study.

Through …

Transitioning The Cal Poly Quarter Horse Enterprise Curriculum: From Quarters To Semesters, Jacquelyn R. Huebner

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The Cal Poly Quarter Horse Enterprise began in 1978, when student riders brought Cal Poly-bred horses to futurity events to sell them. In 1996, Gene Armstrong brought the sale to Cal Poly, and ever since, the annual performance horse auction has broken records as one of the highest grossing collegiate horse sales in the nation. This sale not only provides funding for the care of over one hundred horses housed at the Equine Center for educational use, but also provides an opportunity for students to gain experience in starting and training young horses, as well as putting on a dynamic …

Dairy-To-Go: An Informal And Formal Education Model On Milking Dairy Cattle, Elizabeth Ann Marie Kostalnick

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

Within California, 360 schools have FFA programs; however, there are still over 2,000 high schools within the state. This equates to only 18% of California high schools having access to FFA. That number may be greater than 10%, however, access to agricultural curriculum is still limited. Considering US crop production is concentrated predominantly in California and the Midwest (USDA-ERS 2017), high schools in California, regardless of location and proximity to a farm, should have access to an agricultural curriculum. The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum where middle school and high school educators can show the process …

Ecological Footprint Analysis Of Chatgpt (Gpt-3), Isabella Boulais

Computer Science and Software Engineering

Climate change is an escalating crisis that demands immediate action from all sectors, including the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence (AI). While AI offers climate solutions, its own environmental impact raises concerns. Unfortunately limited research due to rapid development, system complexity, and lack of standardized methodologies hinders our understanding of AI’s environmental consequences. This project aims to conduct a comprehensive ecological footprint analysis of OpenAI’s GPT-3 model that is used to power ChatGPT, establishing guidelines for assessing AI systems’ environmental impact and proposing a framework for improvement. Going beyond tracking carbon emissions, this project will outline the broader lifecycle …

Enhancing Fishnet For Wireless Network Simulation, Cameron J. Mcclure-Coleman

Computer Science and Software Engineering

This report documents the senior project focused on enhancing the Fishnet network simulation library used in Cal Poly’s CPE 464 (Introduction to Computer Networks) course. The primary goal was to implement features for simulating wireless networks and introducing discrete-event simulation (DES) capabilities to increase computational efficiency. These enhancements aim to better support the curriculum transition as Cal Poly switches from quarters to semesters. The project successfully established foundational components for wireless network simulation, including node positioning in three-dimensional space, signal propagation modeling, multiple interface nodes, and wireless collision domains. While the complete implementation of discrete-event simulation and YAML configuration features …