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Academic Senate - Agenda, 12/03/2019, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Agendas

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Can Oral Contraceptives Increase Antibiotic Resistance In Escherichia Coli?, Allison Helene Clatch, Leah Van Otterloo

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing threats to public health. Intrinsic resistance to many antimicrobials in Gram-negative bacteria is accomplished by naturally occurring efflux pumps. Efflux pumps are transmembrane proteins that can extrude antimicrobials from bacterial cytoplasm. Efflux pumps recognize a wide range of compounds including antibiotics, antiseptics, pesticides, and hormones. The upregulation of efflux pump genes in response to increasing concentrations of substrates has shown to increase resistance to toxic substrates. We hypothesize that efflux pump substrates other than antimicrobials, such as steroid hormones, will also induce the expression of efflux pump genes and consequently increase resistance …

Uav Wildlife Tracking, Kevin Bender, Tyler Couvrette, Nicolas Cucinella, Katie White, Sarah Bartak, Christopher Boone, Olivia Lockhart

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Over the past year, this team has designed and prototyped the first modular aerial tracking system used with Lotek systems. Students developed new technology necessary to integrate the existing USFS collars with a drone. The design is capable of adapting with the technology allowing for future development in efficiency and automation. Looking forward, this project will enable the USFS, with the aid of Cal Poly students, to better understand collared animals like the fisher, and it will continue to push for innovative ideas to not only support other animal conservation, but to provide solutions to future challenges. Image one is …

The National Dairy Council® New Product Competition: Developing Novel Performance Nutrition Beverage Using Dairy Protein Ingredients, Tina Truong, Patricia Lai

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

According to "Statista" and “GlobalData" marketing research reports, the value of U.S. Sports Nutrition Market is forecasted to reach $21 billion; 39% of American adults and an additional 36% of consumers are in the market for food and beverage products targeted towards fitness. This market project stimulates growth for the dairy industry and the domestic market demand provides reason to develop more inclusions of dairy proteins in sports nutrition products. An ambient stable, ready to drink (RTD), high protein beverage is ideal in catering towards not only the targeted group of consumers, but anyone that is looking for convenience in …

Influences Of Fiber Length On Nutrient Digestion In Leopard Tortoises (Stigmochelys Pardalis): Evaluating Titanium Dioxide As A Fecal Transit Marker, Allison G. Mullin

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Vertebrate animals lack endogenous enzymes to break down insoluble plant fiber, and therefore are dependent on symbiotic gut microbes to utilize this abundant food source. Although chemically higher in fiber, the efficacy of fiber particles in some commercial feeds, physically reduced in size during processing, has not been quantified. A concept developed for dairy cattle, physically effective fiber (peNDF) considers fiber physical characteristics that influence mastication and the biphasic nature of rumen contents (Mertens, 1997). The importance of describing fiber’s chemical and physical effects in nonruminant herbivores has also been identified (NRC, 2007). Tortoises provide unique insights into digestive processes …

Effect Of Vine Age On Performance Of Vitis Vinifera L. Cv. Zinfandel Grapes And Wines In The Central Coast Of California, Vegas Riffle, Samantha Stauch

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

Typically, most winegrape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) are commercially planted with the expectation being economically productive for 25 years. Generally, the longer the vines are kept in production, the larger the profit margin potential. Despite the economic advantage of prolonged production at a specific vineyard site, damage and decline by the root aphid, phylloxera (Daktulospaira vitifoliae Fitch), nematodes, wood root diseases, and/or poor management practices are all factors that contribute to decreasing vineyard lifespans. In addition to the aforementioned issues, natural reproductive and vegetative decline in old vines can also contribute to this trend. As a result of the rarity, …

The Effect Of Grape Rootstock Parentage On Non-Structural Carbohydrate Establishment Factors, Samantha Stauch

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

The majority of winegrape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) are susceptible to damage and eventual decline by the root aphid, phylloxera, as well as various species of nematodes. Therefore, commercial winegrapes are typically grafted to hybrid crosses of North American Vitis species, which have evolved tolerance to these pest pressures. Rootstock parentage is carefully considered when making a commercial rootstock selection, as well as, the specific type of grafted plant purchased for use in vineyard establishment (green-growing, dormant). Dormant bare-rooted benchgrafts are grafted, callused, and then field grown in a nursery block row for one season before being dug up in …

Monitoring Of Rangeland Plant Compositions And Soil Surface Type On Cal Poly Grazing Pastures Using Assessment, Inventory, And Monitoring (Aim) Plots And The Newly Developed App, Landpks., Katie White, Sarah James

Baker/Koob Endowments Awarded Projects

The purpose of this project was to conduct field trials to determine the ease of use, efficiency, and information content of the LandPKS app, using complete AIM plots for comparison. The LandPKS app has the potential to be widely used by public, private, and nongovernmental entities to monitor rangeland conditions. This includes places that have limited access to resources and trained staff for monitoring efforts including in countries like Kenya, Namibia and Mongolia. The group concluded that the Stick Method, the methodology used by the LandPKS app, held up comparatively to the Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) Method. The group also …

A Brief History And Guide To Turfgrass Management On Sports Fields, Angelo J. Perricone

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this senior project is to provide future Cal Poly Baseball student assistants with a guide and schedule that outlines the tasks to be done weekly during baseball season as well as during the off-season. Along with the schedule, techniques for effective mowing and watering will be included. Lastly, a history of the industry and the importance of turf management will be included. By providing a guide, future student assistants will have access to job-specific information that will allow them to be effective Cal Poly Baseball turf assistants.

Parks, Recreation, And Opportunities: A Case Study Of East Bay Regional Park District's Climate Change Mitigation And Adaptation Strategies, Brett Walsh

Experience Industry Management

In the face of a global climate emergency, community parks & recreation and land management agencies are beginning to adopt a critical role in the fight against climate change. This study gathered information on efforts around the world and created a case study guide to examine the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies of East Bay Regional Park District in the San Francisco Bay Area of California in the United States. The study was conducted in hopes of shedding light on how small agencies can be proactive and contribute to larger efforts, creating greater regional impacts.

A Transfer Students Guide To Becoming A Pca, Zack J. Krueger

Agricultural Education and Communication

A transfer students guide to becoming a PCA through the AGED department as opposed to AEPS. Agricultural science majors. Classes shown and listed cooperate with the California Department of Pesticide Regulations required course list necessary to take the Pest Control Advisers exam.

Cowgirl's Night Out, Meredith L. Raynor

Agricultural Education and Communication

In order to showcase the wild and wonderful world of rodeo fashion, a western fashion and lifestyle event will be produced on the Cal Poly campus. In conjunction with the Miss Cal Poly Royal Queen Scholarship contest, the "Cowgirl's Night Out" event will aptly show the rodeo and western fashion of the San Luis Obispo community. With the aid of the Cal Poly Rodeo Team, Poly Royal apparel sponsors, local boutiques and fashion creators, western fashion will be put on the main stage.

Similar to the Miss Rodeo America fashion show, sponsors and creators of western fashion will have an …

Heavy Metal Dissolution Mechanisms From Electrical Industrial Sludge, Viraj Gunarathne, Anushka Upamali Rajapaksha, Meththika Vithanage, Nadeesh Adassooriya, Asitha Cooray, Sudantha Liyanage, Bandunee Athapattu, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Avanthi Deshani Igalavithana, Deyi Hou, Daniel S. Alessi, Yong Sik Ok

Biological Sciences

In this paper, we investigate the release of heavy metals from sludge produced from an electrical industry using both organic and inorganic acids. Single and sequential extractions were conducted to assess heavy metals in different phases of the sludge. Metal release from sludge was investigated in the presence of three inorganic acids (nitric, sulfuric, and phosphoric) and three organic acids (acetic, malic, and citric) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 mol L−1. Sequential extraction indicated the presence of Cu primarily in the carbonate fraction, Pb in the residual fraction, and Ni in the FeMn oxide fraction. The cumulative release …

Aged 539 Graduate Internship Report - O'Neals-Minarets High School, Kenna Sandberg

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship and project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The supporting material includes information to receive state and local funding, outline the goals and objectives of the program, along with an overview of O'Neals-Minarets High School, the agriculture program and the community.

2-Axis Electric Off-Road Bucket Seat Bases, Brennan K. Slater, Alexander P. Croteau, Spencer M. Kubik

Mechanical Engineering

Off-road vehicle bucket seats are currently restricted to a single position relative to the floor of the vehicle. Drivers and riders desire the ability to adjust their seat position to increase comfort and allow for a greater size range of riders to fit safely within the cabin or roll cage. To develop a viable solution, the team has gone through an extensive design process and has constructed a functioning prototype. This Final Design Report encapsulates the entire design process and concludes with recommendations for changes we would make looking both back in review as well as moving forward with further …

A Comparison Of The Army Corps Of Engineers Hydrologic Modeling System And Autodesk Storm And Sanitary Analysis For Hydraulic And Hydrologic Analysis And Design, Foster Josef Heifetz Campbell

Master's Theses

Hydrological and hydraulic effects of urban development is one of the key issues of study for improved water management. The addition of impervious surfaces to once pervious land and re-routing open channels and flow paths can cause flooding or declining water levels within a watershed. Many studies of these issues have found that there can be multiple factors causing hydrological and hydraulic impacts, and it can be hard to analyze and develop effective solutions without appropriate drainage software packages. However, there are multiple software packages available for use, and determining the correct one to use for a specific challenge can …

Hybrid Iii 95th Percentile Large Male Finite Element Model Neck Alteration, Eric Riley Day

Master's Theses

The motivation behind the project was to update the Livermore Software Technology Corporation (LSTC) Hybrid III 95th percentile finite element model, such that the neck assembly response under varying simulated loading conditions equals that of the federally regulated Hybrid III 95th percentile anthropomorphic testing device (ATD).

The family of Hybrid III crash test dummies approximate the physical properties and response of the human body in a frontal automotive crash. The Hybrid III is used to assess the effectiveness of vehicle restraint systems. LSTC offers Hybrid III finite element models for use in their Multiphysics simulation software package, LS-DYNA. The Hybrid …

Development Of An Analysis Tool And Weight Estimation Method For Aircraft Wing Structures, Kevin M. Barton

Master's Theses

The goal of this effort was to build an analysis tool for aircraft wings and incorporate it into a program that optimizes the wing structure for the lowest weight for the conceptual design phase. The analysis tool calculates the internal stresses in primary load carrying members using established analysis methods for semimonocoque beams. Via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) built in MATLAB, the user can define the structural layout and material properties of the load carrying members. The program requires a degenerate geometry model built with Vehicle Sketch Pad (OpenVSP) to define the outer mold line (OML) of the wing, …

Design, Modeling And Control Of A Two-Wheel Balancing Robot Driven By Bldc Motors, Charles T. Refvem

Master's Theses

The focus of this document is on the design, modeling, and control of a self-balancing two wheel robot, hereafter referred to as the balance bot, driven by independent brushless DC (BLDC) motors. The balance bot frame is composed of stacked layers allowing a lightweight, modular, and rigid mechanical design. The robot is actuated by a pair of brushless DC motors equipped with Hall effect sensors and encoders allowing determination of the angle and angular velocity of each wheel. Absolute orientation measurement is accomplished using a full 9-axis IMU consisting of a 3-axis gyroscope, a 3-axis accelerometer, and a 3-axis magnetometer. …

Biomechanical Study Of Jumping & Landing Techniques: Ballet Vs Non-Ballet Athletes, Ashley Tornio

Master's Theses

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of ACL injuries is increasing in previous years. One of the most common studied kinematic risk factors related to ACL injuries is a resultant weak, leg axis alignment known as the dynamic knee valgus angle presented during a vertical drop jump [8, 14, 15]. Hewett et. al. concluded that a knee valgus angle was a primary predictor of the mechanism that leads to an ACL rupture [8]. By increasing the excessive knee valgus angle during a two-legged DVJ, an athlete is in turn increasing the possibility of a high knee valgus moment, which can increase the anterior …

Blood Glucose Predictor, Jessica Patterson

Electrical Engineering

For my senior project, I perform data analysis using statistical methods to determine body metrics that correlate with blood glucose levels. Working with Dr. Tina Smilkstein, I take repeat measurements from 6 different volunteers to establish trends in bodily metric data. The data taken includes weight, body fat, pulse rate, VO2, blood glucose, blood pressure, hours slept, and quality of sleep. Using these values, I use the program MiniTab to view results.

A few examples of correlations with blood glucose found in this project are:

• Systolic blood pressure for females had a regression line of 124.0 -0.3366*Blood Pressure. This indicates …

Bitcoin Price Prediction Using Neural Networks, Vladislav Killiakov

Electrical Engineering

In this project, I will investigate the performance of several major neural network architectures for the task of Bitcoin price prediction. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency that is recently becoming increasingly more popular, and more widely adopted as a financial instrument. As a result, more efforts have been made in the past several years to model and predict its price. However, to this moment a large portion of work on Bitcoin price modeling was done using statistical or classical machine learning techniques. At the same time, other artificial intelligence based prediction techniques, and specifically neural networks, have not been explored to …

Reasoning From Point Clouds, Joey Wilson

Computer Engineering

Over the past two years, 3D object detection has been a major area of focus across industry and academia. This is primarily due to the difficulty of learning data from point clouds. While camera images are fixed size and can therefore be easily trained on using convolution, point clouds are unstructured series of points in three dimensions. Therefore, there is no fixed number of features, or a structure to run convolution on. Instead, researchers have developed many ways of attempting to learn from this data, however there is no clear consensus on what is the best method, as each has …

Mobile Robot Platform, Sukhman S. Marok

Electrical Engineering

The Mobile Robot Platform is a research and development tool designed for researchers working in the field of robotics. The cost of existing mobile robot platforms can easily be in the thousands of dollars, leading many researchers to choose between spending the time to create their own platform or buying an expensive pre-existing solution. The Mobile Robot Platform proposed combines pre-existing open source software and hardware solutions, along with a strong mechanical base that is capable of navigating on flat surfaces. The robot is designed to have many of the necessary components needed for teleoperation as well as autonomous navigation. …

Free Space Optical Communication, Anuj Gohil

Electrical Engineering

Communication is key to day to day activities for all companies and people. Wireless communication has made us expect more from our tools. Radio Frequency has been the preferred medium for a couple decades, but there is a need for faster secure communication. Free Space Optical Communication is an alternate wireless communication system which uses optics to create a link. It utilizes low-power and converts an analog signal into digital pulses which are transmitted across space to a receiver. Its only caveat is its vulnerability under atmospheric obstacles. The goal of this project is to create a free space optical …

Pv Mppt Water Pump Controller, Jacob R. Lamkin

Electrical Engineering

The intention of this project is to create a low cost way to extract the maximum useful power from a PV module to power a water pump. This approach will yield maximum financial and technical accessibility for end users. The project was successful in powering a water pump from a PV module as desired, and the microcontroller driven control circuitry was capable of finding and maintaining operation at the maximum power point of the PV module. Due to the low performance of the buck converter used in this project, this approach was not as efficient as desired and would require …

Waste Gasification, Glyn D. Lewis, Nash Taylor, Nicholas L. Ordonez, David S. Mccallum

Mechanical Engineering

This document summarizes the work the IGT Team has conducted on the topic of waste to energy gasification over the Cal Poly Winter, Spring, and Fall quarters of 2019. The project is being carried out by four Cal Poly Mechanical Engineering students: Nash Taylor, Glyn Lewis, David McCallum, and Nicholas Ordonez and the sponsor of this project is Tod duBois. The team’s original goal was to successfully create a system that compiles residential solid waste on a small scale, gasifies it, and measures the typical syngas outputs, so that the team may assess the viability of gasification of household waste …

Deployable Cover For Cubesat Fuv Imager, Edwin J. Rainville, Patrick J. Rainville, Jeff Wagner

Mechanical Engineering

The goal is to develop a deployable cover for a far ultraviolet imager cube satellite that will be used to map the earth’s auroras in the ionosphere. The deployable cover is used to protect the Far Ultra-Violet (FUV) sensor and lenses, house two mirrors which are used to filter unwanted light and expose optics when deployed. The deployable cover consists of a door, an actuator, a lockout mechanism, and an “open position” indicator. This project also includes designing a fixture for testing the optical alignment of the deployable cover after launch and during orbital conditions. The subassembly is required to …

Model Block Press Design, Ben Todd Van Hamersveld, Chester Wong, Alexander Wing-Jon Giannousis

Mechanical Engineering

This project’s goal is to redesign the Center for Vocational Building Technology (CVBT) BP9 earth block press, which makes 1/3 scale compressed earth blocks to build demonstration model homes in Thailand. The full-scale block press, the BP6, provides a sustainable and affordable technique for constructing habitable homes in Thailand. The BP9 serves as a tool to inform the public of the advantages of human-powered earth block presses through demonstration. The BP9 press design has multiple problems: it is too expensive to manufacture, there is too much friction when used, it has several weak points due to users unintentionally applying excessive …

Tumble Bot, Alena Beyer, Blake Gonzales, Jensen Severance, Liam Chaffey

Mechanical Engineering

Passive locomotion is the ability for an object to move from one place to another by the means of the environment. In nature species such as tumbleweed, fox tails, plankton, and man o’ war jellyfish rely on passive modes of transportation for survival and are able to cross vast distances with little to no expenditure of their own energy. This document seeks to explore the feasibility of building a machine relies on the energy of Mars’ environment to explore the Martian surface.

The “Tensegrity Tumbleweed Locomotion” (nicknamed Tumble Bot) senior project was sponsored by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The …