Digital Commons Network^™

Modifying Succession: A History Of Vegetation Alliances On Swanton Pacific Ranch, Jill Wilson O'Connor

Master's Theses

This thesis conducts historical research into Swanton Pacific Ranch in the County of Santa Cruz, an interdisciplinary facility for education and research managed by Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences. The study seeks to determine whether there have been discernable changes in vegetation alliances (communities), spatially or in type, within a 110-acre Study Area from the early twentieth century to the present day and how the changes compare with other similar historical analyses in California. Historical farming and ranching uses of the area are researched, and two family case studies are presented as paradigms of potential changes …

A Methodology For Verification Of Structural Standards For A Seating System By Finite Element Analysis, Zachary Kelly Dworaczyk Wiltshire

Master's Theses

Currently California Polytechnic State University has a patent pending on a new type of seating system designed to increase the functionality of public transportation vehicles. The patent is based on the work completed by a senior project group in 2016, whose design showcased the feasibility of the idea. Further development was completed by a second senior project group, the Adjustable Seating Systems, in 2019. The intent of the Adjustable Seating Systems group was to develop a seating system with the intent of commercialization and implementation in paratransit vehicles with future development into large buses and trains.

Seating systems used in …

Development Of A Pediatric Model Of Nafld In Neonatal Iberian Pigs, Gabriella Veronica Hernandez, Victoria Alice Smith, Morgan Coffin, Daniel Columbus, Matthew Burd, Kimberly Sprayberry, Mark Edwards, Daniel Peterson, Darin Bennett, Robert Fanter, Christopher Kitts, Michael La Frano, Margaret Rice, Douglas Burrin, Magdalena Maj, Rodrigo Manjarin

Master's Theses

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in children has increased over the past decades, creating a need for animal models that recapitulate the features of the pediatric disease. Iberian pigs have a leptin-resistant phenotype characterized by hyperleptinemia, hyperphagia, and extreme adipogenesis. We hypothesized that neonatal Iberian pigs fed a high fat high-fructose (HFF) diet will develop a pattern of liver injury resembling pediatric NAFLD. In addition, we sought to determine if a mixture of probiotics would prevent the disease. Animals were fed 1 of 4 diets containing (g/kg body weight × d) 0 g fructose, 11 g fat …

Aged Graduate Internship In Agricultural Education, Darby Ann Toth

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

The AGED 539 Internship Report including the Alternative Manure Management Program (AMMP) Demonstration Project and supporting Educational Materials connects dairy operators with resources to complete California Department of Food and Agriculture Grants in order to successfully assist in reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in California.

Graduate Internship Report - Turlock High School, Kevin Mcguire

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship 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 Turlock 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 Turlock High School, the agriculture program and the community.

Graduate Internship Report - Hanford Agriculture Department, Dominica L. Clisso

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 documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Hanford Agriculture Department 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 Hanford FFA, the agriculture program and the community.

Differential Photometry Of Active Galactic Nuclei Using Time Resolved Observations With The 1m Nickel Telescope Of Lick Observatory, Chance L. Spencer

Physics

Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are exotic objects in the center of some galaxies with luminosities that can greatly outshine the stars of the host galaxy across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The origin of the UV/optical light is thought to be due to accretion of material onto the supermassive black hole in their centers. Since these objects are too far away to resolve the gravitational sphere of influence of the black hole directly, we make use of a method called reverberation mapping. We measure the lag between the AGN power-law continuum emitted by the accretion disk and the Doppler-broadened emission lines …

Proposal For A Signage And Wayfinding System For The City Of Parlier, Alejandra Janeth Alvarez

City and Regional Planning

Signage and wayfinding is a system of visuals that guide people throughout a built environment in a concise manner. It also adds to people’s understanding and experiences of the space they are in. As stated by the name, Signage and Wayfinding is comprised of two parts, physical signage and wayfinding system. Signage is the physical visuals you see on buildings and the side of streets. Whereas, wayfinding is the systematic way that these signs are placed in order to follow human intuition of following a route to a destination.

Planning Methods For A Sustainable Future, Anthony Jay Herrington

City and Regional Planning

Today, climate change, pollution, poor health, and economic crisis pose a threat to Earth and its inhabitants. If these global threats are left unmitigated, serious economic, environmental, and social consequences will occur. Earth’s future currently rests in the hands of urban planners and policy makers. It is their responsibility to develop and implement methods that ensure a sustainable future. Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The current effort to achieve global sustainability needs to be improved as conditions continue to decline. Urban planners and …

Investigation Of Grout - A Comparison Of Standard Grout Mix To Self-Consolidating Grout Mix, Rachel Garcia Chandler

Architectural Engineering

Masonry is a major structural material for low rise buildings, however the design of masonry buildings is rarely taught as a formal course at most universities. As part of the educational experience and to become familiar with the specifications and testing procedures for grouted masonry, a student run experiment on varying the water to cement ratio of masonry grout was conducted. The purpose is to report on the effects of changing the water-to-cement (W/C) ratios in a standard grout mix. The typical W/C ratio is approximately 0.80:1.00. In order to show the effects of increasing water in a grout mix, …

Cable Suspended Structure-Antanas Panavas, Roger Pena, Dean Seydel Becker, Tracy Destiny Doan

Architectural Engineering

This project is based on a roof system designed by Antanas Panavas. The design of the structure is a cable supported roof system that includes nonprismatic glulam beams. The structure itself is a self stressed system that has never been constructed and is still in the analysis stage.

Project included analysis of the structure and a detailed process of how to model cables using SAP2000.

Topology And Form Finding Via Genetic Algorithms, Michael Goldenberg, Nick Coburn

Architectural Engineering

The following presents an approach to early applications of the Galapagos program as a means to optimize structural forms. The process was conducted with Rhino’s Grasshopper program, the structural analysis plug-in, Karamba, and the genetic algorithm solver, Galapagos. This topological form finding process was based on flexible parameters that modified brace and column locations, and diaphragm size and positions.

This process worked by having Galapagos modify a parametric model which had initial randomly generated variables for the genomes. After structural analysis, Galapagos was tasked with changing the form in order to minimize overall displacement of the structure. Being an evolutionary …

Axial Testing Of Makeshift Buckling Restrained Braces, Daniel T. Item, Corey Huang

Architectural Engineering

The testing of lateral force resisting systems is a concept that is very open to discussion and optimization. We seek to find the bounds of different materials as they act in a buckling restrained brace system in hopes of providing new methods of design for future structural engineering communities. By balancing budget, customization, and material availability we are able to determine what factors may benefit, or lack to benefit, the system at hand.

Timber-Strong Design Build Senior Project, Corbin S. Morisada

Architectural Engineering

The 2019 Timber-Strong Design Build Competition was developed by the American Wood Council, Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc, and APA - The Engineered Wood Association to cultivate timber design, building, and sustainability experience for students. Participating students gained exposure to performance analysis, construction management, building practices, and project bid preparation while practicing as a design construction firm. In the process of this hands-on experience, students were expected to procure all building materials and tools themselves.

The Timber Strong senior project consisted of participating in the Timber-Strong competition, then re-purposing the structure for use as a playhouse in a pre-school. The intent …

Bridge House Restoration, Adam Mcpherson Pruitt, Ben Christopher Sykes, Samantha Sophia Solow, Christopher Ryan Levy, Severin Bechtel Elste

Architectural Engineering

Bridge House was severely neglected for years since its creation. Our team’s primary objective was to rejuvenate the structure and once again make it a priority destination for the public when visiting the Experimental Structures Laboratory. With this goal in mind, we replaced the plywood barricades with guard railings designed and fabricated by the team to complement those installed on the structure by the previous group. With the elimination of the plywood barricades, the Bridge House could once again be a sense of pride in the rich historical landscape of our Cal Poly community.

In addition, our team hoped to …

Microcontroller Differential Gps To Subtract Signal Delay Due To Ambient Free Electrons In The Ionosphere, Diana Jane Swanson

Physics

The goal of this project is to create a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that is more precise than one GPS receiver on its own. The technique is to take the difference between a GPS receiver’s measured position and its actual position, then use radio frequency (RF) communication to send that differential value to another microcontroller GPS receiver. This differential value will be added to the measured second location to get a more accurate position for the second GPS receiver, thus creating a differential GPS.

Pseudo-Stereo Audio Processor, Zachariah David Bunce

Electrical Engineering

Due to both technical and resource limitations, non-professional audio production must often record with a single microphone, creating a mono audio signal. Even some originally multi-channel audio files often combine the separate channels into a single channel to save memory. However, this channel limitation makes any music held within the audio duller during listening. The Pseudo-Stereo Audio Processor remedies this situation, introducing a quadrature phase shift onto a given single-channel audio signal, producing multiple phase shifted output signals. These separate fixed-phase output signals are then recombined to produce a variable phase difference, emulated two-channel version of the input signal, allowing …

Apollo Photovoltaic Overview And Assessment, Andrew S. Hollis, James P. Tran, Andes Le, Regita Soetandar

Electrical Engineering

This senior project aims to take the various data sheets provided to us by PIVVIR Solar, the organization in charge of Apollo photovoltaic power plant, and perform an overall assessment as well as condensing the information into a more digestible and concise document. Currently, the documents provided to us by PIVVIR Solar are scattered and disorganized. Our goal is to take what we understand about photovoltaic power plants and combine it with the Apollo plant’s datasheets and summarize everything into one focused document that more readers can understand.

Portable Electrocardiogram Device And Signal Processing Design, Ryan F. Blaalid

Electrical Engineering

Full 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements require inconvenient and time consuming adhesive electrode placement. This project proposes a design for a Bluetooth based ECG for remote patient measurement. The device is designed to measure up to 6-leads and utilizes 5 dry (non-adhesive) electrodes to accomplish this. The device delivers the ECG data to the user’s mobile smart phone and can then be sent to the patient’s doctor for analysis. Since the contact of the dry electrodes to the skin is not perfect, low-frequency noise called baseline wandering is introduced. A signal processing technique borrowed from image processing called morphological filtering is …

Dc-Dc Buck-Boost Converter For Energy Harvesting From Exercise Equipment, David T. Bolla

Electrical Engineering

This senior project helps harvest the excess energy that exercise equipment generates. Sustainable energy acts as the main target for this project, and it attempts this through reusing the energy created when exercising on elliptical machines. An elliptical machine outputs voltages between approximately 5V and 60V, and a micro-inverter requires an input voltage of about 36V. This DC-DC converter takes the variable output voltage of an elliptical machine and brings it to approximately 36V. Re-purposing the excess energy an elliptical user creates for the grid provides a sustainable alternative to dissipating the energy as heat. This project, along with other …

Cal Poly Ee 518 Electric Power Protection Laboratory, Richard Terre, Vincent Tham, Austin Kurth

Electrical Engineering

Facing a rapidly-changing power industry, the electrical engineering department at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo proposed Advanced Power Systems Initiatives to better prepare its students for entering the power industry. These initiatives call for the creation of a new laboratory curriculum that utilizes microprocessor-based relays to reinforce the fundamental concepts of power system protection.

The electric power protection laboratory (EPPL) senior project is the validation of lab manuals written for the planned EE-518 power system protections laboratory looking to be offered in Spring 2020 alongside the current lecture class under the same designation. This report evaluates the lab manual, verifies …

Protecting The Planet: A Case Study On The Sustainability And Conservation Practices Of The National Park Service, Mikayla Myers

Experience Industry Management

Sustainability and conservation practices are becoming increasingly more important for the health of the planet. Individuals and organizations implementing these practices can help stop the planet from degrading beyond a point of recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the environmental sustainability and conservation biology practices of the National Parks Service. The organization’s website was the primary source of information in addition to third party sources including other organizations’ websites. Major findings and conclusions of the study include the National Park Service’s commitment to constantly improving the technology and techniques implemented, the organization’s dedication to sustainability and conservation …

The Center Of Success: A Case Study On Hilton's Company Culture, Elsie G. Lamo

Experience Industry Management

Company culture is an essential element to the success of any organization. This is especially true in the hospitality industry where positive employee experiences are vital to customer satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the company culture of Hilton. Data were sourced primarily from Hilton websites, third-party websites, and academic articles. This study found that Hilton’s culture is shaped by compelling mission, vision, and value statements that drive every organizational aspect. Additionally, award-winning reward, recognition, and training programs sustain and reinforce a culture that grants Hilton a unique competitive advantage. To maintain market leadership, Hilton must continually …

Looking At Shadows: Four French Texts In English Translation, Kalena M. Hermes

World Languages and Cultures

This project present four French texts in English translation that share the theme of loss. This theme is perhaps one of the most poignant and relevant; loss is an experience that every human will encounter, and as people we continue across time to grapple with what it means for us and how to deal with it. These four texts will bring the perspectives of four authors to light in English. When we study how other countries and cultures deal with common human issues, we are able to gain new views on these issues. This project will make these texts accessible …

Marine Chemistry Control System, Natalie Weisenburger, Kathryn Turk, Julio Sierra

Biomedical Engineering

The aim of this project is to design a control system that manipulates different variables of ocean chemistry including pH, temperature, DO, N2 , and CO2 content for research by ocean chemists of marine species and their environments in 2, 5 gallon tanks.

Digital Forensics Challenge, Zoe Lie, Sydney Marie Mendoza

Computer Engineering

No abstract provided.

Party Mobile Ios Application, Zarah Therese V. Gutierrez, Anthony Jordan Olivares

Computer Engineering

The Party Mobile Application project was created in order to give users the power of a surround sound system at their fingertips. Following the ideas of apps such as AmpMe and SoundSeeder this application aims to synchronize audio between phones in order to play music. Just like surround speakers, these phones would play music throughout a room, car, or house for the enjoyment of users. Party Mobile also aims to give people the ability to share their music with the rest of the world with its playlist upload functionality. Any user can upload a playlist of their music to the …

Reach - A Community Service Application, Samuel Noel Magana

Computer Engineering

Communities are familiar threads that unite people through several shared attributes and interests. These commonalities are the core elements that link and bond us together. Many of us are part of multiple communities, moving in and out of them depending on our needs. These common threads allow us to support and advocate for each other when facing a common threat or difficult situation. Healthy and vibrant communities are fundamental to the operation of our society. These interactions within our communities define the way we as individuals interact with each other, and society at large. Being part of a community helps …

An Fpga Implementation Of Digital Guitar Effects, Carson James Robles

Computer Engineering

One of the most versatile aspects of the electric guitar is its ability to change its sound completely and on-the-fly through the use of effects pedals. Conventional guitar pedals contain one effect and can be chained together. The goal of this project is to serve as a contained multi-effects station with five popular electric guitar effects packed into one product. On top of this, the effects each have two tunable parameters to allow users to dial in the exact tone they are looking for. All of the signal processing done in this project is conducted on an FPGA which also …

Frequency Modulation Integrated Circuit For Radars, Jade S. Visutsiaz, Hue Thu Doung

Electrical Engineering

Frequency-modulated continuous wave radars are a type of radar capable of measuring the distance to a stationary object or velocity of a moving object by radiating a continuous transmission of a signal that linearly sweeps its frequency repeatedly between two set frequencies. Frequency-modulated continuous wave radar signals are generated by a high frequency voltage-controlled oscillator or digital-to-analog converter. This project is an integrated circuit that produces the frequency-modulated signal on a single chip in the analog realm. The circuit was designed using Cadence Virtuoso with TSMC 180 nm process technology model. The generated signal is intended for use with ultra-wideband …