Digital Commons Network^™

Controlling The Uncontrollable: A New Approach To Digital Storytelling Using Autonomous Virtual Actors And Environmental Manipulation, Matthew J. Colon

Master's Theses

In most video games today that focus on a single story, scripting languages are used for controlling the artificial intelligence of the virtual actors. While scripting is a great tool for reliably performing a story, it has many disadvantages; mainly, it is limited by only being able to respond to those situations that were explicitly declared, causing unreliable responses to unknown situations, and the believability of the virtual actor is hindered by possible conflicts between scripted actions and appropriate responses as perceived by the viewer. This paper presents a novel method of storytelling by manipulating the environment, whether physically or …

Near Real-Time Exercise Machine Power Statistics Reporting, Brendan C. Asche

Master's Theses

Cal Poly’s Recreation Center expansion project provides an opportunity to implement Energy Harvesting From Exercise Machines (EHFEM). Part of this implementation is a system that reports the exercise machines’ energy production. Although products capable of reporting exercise machine energy harvesting statistics exist, they have limited capabilities. This thesis project defends a system capable of reporting exercise machine power statistics in near real-time.

The system consists of display, database, and power measurement modules. The display module presents statistics in an interactive, graphical, and widely-accessible way. The database module provides an efficient way of organizing and accessing stored statistics. Multiple power measurement …

Exploring The Relationship Of The Closeness Of A Genetic Algorithm's Chromosome Encoding To Its Problem Space, Kevin Mccullough

Master's Theses

For historical reasons, implementers of genetic algorithms often use a haploid binary primitive type for chromosome encoding. I will demonstrate that one can reduce development effort and achieve higher fitness by designing a genetic algorithm with an encoding scheme that closely matches the problem space. I will show that implicit parallelism does not result in binary encoded chromosomes obtaining higher fitness scores than other encodings. I will also show that Hamming distances should be understood as part of the relationship between the closeness of an encoding to the problem instead of assuming they should always be held constant. Closeness to …

On The Complexity Of Scheduling University Courses, April L. Lovelace

Master's Theses

It has often been said that the problem of creating timetables for scheduling university courses is hard, even as hard as solving an NP-Complete problem. There are many papers in the literature that make this assertion but rarely are precise problem definitions provided and no papers were found which offered proofs that the university course scheduling problem being discussed is NP-Complete.

This thesis defines a scheduling problem that has realistic constraints. It schedules professors to sections of courses they are willing to teach at times when they are available without overloading them. Both decision and optimization versions are precisely defined. …

Assessing Body Composition Among Male Collegiate Runners And Swimmers Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Dxa), Christopher Patrick Borgard

Master's Theses

This observational study investigated whole body and regional differences in bone mineral density and soft tissue amounts (fat mass versus lean mass) among collegiate runners and swimmers using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for body composition measurement. A data subset was gathered for post-hoc analysis on a group of Caucasian male Cal Poly swimmers (n=20) and Cal Poly track and field runners (n=20) of similar age (18-25 years) and race. In addition to their sport-specific training, both teams had engaged in free weight training and running for approximately 12 weeks prior to their DXA scans. Group mean values for total …

St. Jude Medical: St Monitoring, Anna Marie Kinney

Master's Theses

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of death in the western world. Time is critical when treating patients with myocardial infarction. The major problem is that many patients who are symptomatic wait too long before seeking medical attention, and some patients have no symptoms at all. In order to improve patient outcome there needs to be a better way to diagnose myocardial infarction. One solution is the continuous monitoring of the ST-Segment of the intrinsic ventricular beat morphology, called the QRS complex. There have been many studies that show that there are detectable shifts of the ST-Segment during coronary occlusion. …

Autonomous Satellite Operations For Cubesat Satellites, Jason Lionel Anderson

Master's Theses

In the world of educational satellites, student teams manually conduct operations daily, sending commands and collecting downlinked data. Educational satellites typically travel in a Low Earth Orbit allowing line of sight communication for approximately thirty minutes each day. This is manageable for student teams as the required manpower is minimal. The international Global Educational Network for Satellite Operations (GENSO), however, promises satellite contact upwards of sixteen hours per day by connecting earth stations all over the world through the Internet. This dramatic increase in satellite communication time is unreasonable for student teams to conduct manual operations and alternatives must be …

St Monitoring On The Programmer For Implantable Cardioverter Devices, Sarina Satya

Master's Theses

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most prevalent causes of death which has a high mortality rate. If identified early and treated appropriately, the mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease can be hugely reduced. For several decades, 12-Lead ECG has been the standard technique used to identify ischemia, and recent studies have shown that intracardiac electrogram has many benefits over external monitoring such as holter. ST Monitoring feature has been added to St. Jude Medical intracardiac cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) to leverage the ECG technology for identifying cardiovascular disease. This algorithm monitors the intracardiac electrogram to detect and report patterns which …

System Integration And Attitude Control Of A Low-Cost Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator, Ryan L. Kinnett

Master's Theses

The CalPoly Spacecraft Attitude Dynamics Simulator mimics the rotational dynamics of a spacecraft in orbit and acts as a testbed for spacecraft attitude control system development and demonstration. Prior to this thesis, the simulator platform and several subsystems had been designed and manufactured, but the total simulator system was not yet capable of closed-loop attitude control. Previous attempts to make the system controllable were primarily mired by data transport performance. Rather than exporting data to an external command computer, the strategy implemented in this thesis relies on a compact computer onboard the simulator platform to handle both attitude control processing …

A Prediction Of The Acoustical Output Of A Golf Driver Head Using Finite Elements, Roger Sharpe

Master's Theses

A simulation was created using LS-DYNA® to determine the acoustical properties of a golf ball and golf driver head impact. LS-DYNA® has a coupled finite element analysis (FEA) and boundary element method (BEM) solver that uses the integral form of Helmholtz’s acoustic wave equation to deliver predicted sound pressure levels at predetermined acoustic points. Validation of the modeling was done on a simple plate donated by Titleist Golf. The plate was modeled and meshed using TrueGrid and impacted by a three layer golf ball model derived from “Tanka’s” paper on multilayered golf balls. The final converging model consisted of 10,900 …

City Of Davis Greenbelt Master Plan, Brandon Haydu

Master's Theses

The City of Davis is currently updating its Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. During the update, greenbelts were identified as a highly used and desired facility. This Greenbelt Master Plan serves as a plan focused on the opportunities greenbelts can provide as recreational and transportation facilities. This report has analyzed community feedback, greenbelt coverage, greenbelt capacity, and existing local, state, and federal design guidelines. The final plan is a set of goals, objectives, policies, and programs, along with a greenbelt map, which is aimed at improving the greenbelt infrastructure in Davis through the year 2020.

Space Communication Channel Emulation Using Digital And Analog Signal Processing, Tom Hickok

Master's Theses

New communication protocols intended for large distances, including low orbit and deep space, can be inherently difficult to evaluate since trial implementations are often impractical. In order to accurately measure the performance of a new protocol, it is important to evaluate it in an environment that most closely matchs that in which it will be used. This thesis demonstrates the ability to emulate a space communications channel through digitizing a transmission centered at an intermediate frequency of 70 MHz with a bandwidth of 24 MHz, digitally introducing the characteristics of a transmission through space, and reconstructing the digital data to …

Studies On Real-Valued Negative Selection Algorithms For Self-Nonself Discrimination, Shane E. Dixon

Master's Theses

The artificial immune system (AIS) is an emerging research field of computational intelligence that is inspired by the principle of biological immune systems. With the adaptive learning ability and a self-organization and robustness nature, the immunology based AIS algorithms have successfully been applied to solve many engineering problems in recent years, such as computer network security analysis, fault detection, and data mining.

The real-valued negative selection algorithm (RNSA) is a computational model of the self/non-self discrimination process performed by the T-cells in natural immune systems. In this research, three different real-valued negative selection algorithms (i.e., the detectors with fixed radius, …

Control Law Design And Validation For A Helicopter In-Flight Simulator, Brian T. Fujizawa

Master's Theses

In-flight simulation allows one aircraft to simulate the dynamic response of another aircraft. A control system designed to give RASCAL, a JUH-60A Black Hawk helicopter based at Moffett Field, CA, in-flight simulation capabilities has been designed, optimized and validated in this research. A classical explicit model following control system with a frequency dependent feedback controller was used. The frequency dependent controller allows model following of the attitude in the short term and the velocity in the long term. Controller gains were optimized using a high order, linearized model of UH-60 dynamics. Non-linear simulations of the control laws were performed, first …

An Investigation Of Humeral Stress Fractures In Racing Thoroughbreds Using A 3d Finite Element Model In Conjunction With A Bone Remodeling Algorithm, Ryan James Moore

Master's Theses

The humerus of a racing horse Thoroughbred is highly susceptible to stress fractures at a characteristic location as a result of cyclic loading. The propensity of a Thoroughbred to exhibit humeral fracture has made equines useful models in the epidemiology of stress fractures. In this study, a racing Thoroughbred humerus was simulated during training using a 3D finite element model in conjunction with a bone remodeling algorithm. Nine muscle forces and two contact forces were applied to the 3-dimensional finite element model, which contains four separate load cases representing fore-stance, mid-stance, aft-stance, and standing. Four different training programs were incorporated …

Identification Of Physical Changes To A Steel Frame, Daniel Eric Means

Master's Theses

The thesis utilized physical testing and computer modeling to determine the feasibility of identifying a change to the mass or stiffness of a steel frame. Physical testing was performed using an accelerometer, linear shaker, and arbitrary function generator. Two methods of laboratory testing were developed: ambient vibration testing (AVT) and forced vibration testing (FVT). AVT was able to preliminarily identify the natural frequencies and mode shapes of the frame. FVT was able to precisely identify four distinct natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping ratios. The baseline frame then underwent two physical changes: the addition of mass to its roof, and …

Merlin.Net Automation Of External Reports Verification Process, Gabriel John Wettlaufer

Master's Theses

Merlin.net Patient Care Network is a St. Jude Medical product that is used for remote patient management. The basic concept of Merlin.net is to allow the physician to view patient device follow-up information as well as general patient and device information on a web application. The Merlin.net system also interfaces with the patient and will send them notification if they miss a follow-up. All device information will be collected automatically while the patient is sleeping. This information is sent through a telephone line to a Merlin.net server to process a report package and display the collected information on the Merlin.net …

Why Does This Always Happen To Us? An Examination Of Co-Rumination In The Same Sex Friendships Of Emerging Adults, Teresa Michelle Preddy

Master's Theses

Co-rumination, which has been defined as a passive, repetitive form of problem discussion, has been linked to both benefits in terms of positive friendship quality and maladaptive outcomes such as internalizing distress. This study explored the trade-offs associated with co-rumination in emerging adult same-sex friendships both concurrently and longitudinally through the use of self-report questionnaires. Co-rumination was associated with concurrent positive friendship quality. Additionally, co-rumination partially mediated the link between gender and positive friendship quality, and was a marginal predictor of increases in positive friendship quality over time. Although co-rumination was associated with depression, co-rumination did not predict depressive symptoms …

Undo: A System For Neutralizing Nuisance Attacks, Eilbroun Waltin Benjamin

Master's Theses

In recent years, our society has seen a shift towards a reliance on digital means of data storage. This paper considers the problem of digital data integrity protection, which is defined as preventing unauthorized writing of data. Numerous examples of successful attacks against seemingly secure targets are examined to support the assertion of the author that, at least in some circumstances, the integrity of digital data is difficult to preserve.

An approach to securing data is proposed in which a security administrator first assumes that a system will be compromised. This approach limits its focus to a nuisance-type attack, which …

The San Jose Joint Library: The Development Of A Joint City/University Library, Joel Eanes

Master's Theses

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Library is the largest library building west of the Mississippi River, and uses a rare joint library structure, merging the main San Jose Public Library and the library of San Jose State University. Both the decision to construct a new library, and the decision to merge two institutions, caused enormous controversy during the development and construction of the building from 1997 to 2003.

This thesis examines the nature of joint libraries, and why the city of San Jose and San Jose State University decided to pursue the joint library option. An unusual combination of …

Learning Statistics Using Concept Maps: Effects On Anxiety And Performance, Patrick Francis Cravalho

Master's Theses

The aim of this thesis was to study the use of concept mapping in an

undergraduate statistics course in order to examine the effects on statistics anxiety and

academic performance by means of a two-group quasi-experimental design. Two

undergraduate statistics classes were recruited for this study with one serving as the

treatment (concept map) group and one serving as the control (standard instruction)

group. It was hypothesized that the use of concept mapping would decrease the statistics

anxiety and improve the academic performance of students in the concept map group

when compared with the control group. The statistics anxiety of …

Phenomenological Examination Of Depression In Female Collegiate Athletes, Alyson Jones

Master's Theses

Collegiate athletes may be at an increased risk of depression due to the pressure and stress they face. This risk is of great concern because their health, safety, and sport performance may all be affected. In addition, collegiate athletes are more likely to turn to maladaptive coping behaviors and less likely to seek help for mental health struggles than other populations. It has been suggested that a greater understanding of personal experiences would be helpful in increasing awareness and improving treatment. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to explore the lived experience of depression in female collegiate athletes. …

Deception: Analysis Of The Lying Cues Observed By Men, Women, The Self, And Others, Alysha Khavarian Kadva

Master's Theses

Lying cues observed by men and women were investigated by a combination of a 2x2 mixed subjects design and a correlational design. Fifty-nine male and 68 female fluent English-speaking college students older than 18 years of age were tasked with completing a 64-item questionnaire and observing two video clips. The participants completed the questionnaire for a self-assessment of the perception of their own lying cues, observed the video clips, and then completed the questionnaire for an assessment of the lying cues observed in the videos. Independent sample t-test results indicated that, for self-assessment of lying cues, there was a statistically …

Partition Noise Extraction Using Tcad Simulations, Carol Cui Lan Lin

Master's Theses

As Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technology scales down,

partition noise may start to play a bigger role in reducing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR)

in sample-and-hold circuits and other capacitive sensing circuits that reset the voltage

across a capacitor. Previous studies on partition noise lack a reliable and accurate

measurement method to quantify partition noise. In our study, we have developed a

method using Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) simulations to estimate

partition noise. Through simulation, we determined the transistor dimensions and sense

capacitance required to measure partition noise. Furthermore, we designed a test circuit

based on our simulation results …

Stress And Coping Due To Global Virtual Teamwork, Irina Alexandra Shargo

Master's Theses

Global virtual teams (GVTs), project teams composed of individuals working across time and space via electronic platforms, are becoming increasingly commonplace in most organizations today and in global organizations specifically. The aim of this study was to explore issues employees experienced when working virtually in GVTs in order to develop recommendations for addressing those issues and encouraging solutions to benefit the employees, teams, and organizations as a whole. This paper presents findings from 27 interviews on coping and strain reactions to participation in intercultural computer-mediated communication (CMC). Analyses of the qualitative data suggest that intercultural training were helpful in reducing …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Motivation Of Elite Female Triathletes, Alexis Smith

Master's Theses

The multidimensional theoretical framework of Self-Determination

Theory (SDT) has gained prominence in the sport and exercise field to assist in

understanding human motivation. While there is extensive research on motivation

of recreational athletes, no study has qualitatively examined the motivation of elite

female triathletes. The primary purpose of this research was to determine how

motivation to train and compete is maintained at the elite level using the Basic

Needs Theory. The participants were eight elite female triathletes who competed

in International Triathlon Union (ITU) draft-legal Olympic distance, Half-

Ironman, and Ironman triathlons. Results from the semi-structured interviews

revealed that challenges, …

The Sleeper Stretch: Effects On Range Of Motion And Injury In Baseball Players, Kendall Grow

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to provide information concerning the effects of a posterior capsule stretching program on the internal range of motion (R–O–M) of overhead athletes as well as to determine if there was any impact on the number of players experiencing shoulder injuries. Thirty–five Division I collegiate baseball players had the degree of shoulder internal rotation (IROT) assessed in both their dominant and nondominant arms (pretest) and were subsequently divided into those who exhibited GIRD (glenohumeral internal rotation deficit; n=27) and those who did not (n=8). Then the Sleeper Stretch was taught to each player and utilized …

Uncultivated Environmental Tm7 Model To Study Human Disease-Associated Tm7 Bacteria, David Barton

Master's Theses

The TM7 bacterial phylum has no cultivated species and includes members that span a broad range of environmental and human habitats, some of which are associated with human periodontitis. In this project, activated wastewater TM7 bacteria were analyzed and their relatedness compared to human-associated TM7 bacteria for the long-term goal of using an environmental TM7 to better understand TM7 pathogenesis in humans. DNA was extracted from activated wastewater and PCR amplified using TM7 16S rRNA gene- specific primers. The ~1,170 base pair PCR products were then cloned and sequenced. DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis identified environmental TM7 clones with high …

Implementation Of Risk Management In The Medical Device Industry, Rachelo Dumbrique

Master's Theses

This study looks at the implementation and effectiveness of risk management (RM) activities in the medical device industry. An online survey was distributed to medical device professionals who were asked to identify RM-related activities performed during the device life cycle. RM activities and techniques included Establishing Risk Acceptance Criteria, Hazard Identification, Human Factors/Usability, Fault Tree Analysis (FTA), Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (PFMEA), Hazard and Operability Study (HAZOP), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Risk Benefit Analysis, and Risk Assessment of Customer Complaint. Devices were identified by type (therapeutic, surgical/clinical tools, …

Riparian Brush Rabbit Habitat Requirements In Caswell Memorial State Park, Clinton Robert Elsholz

Master's Theses

With the rapid growth of agricultural and urban development in California's Central Valley in the 20th and 21st centuries, many habitats, including riparian forests, have been drastically altered. Along with these habitats, species that are dependent on them have also been fragmented and their long-term survival threatened. The riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius) is one such species that has experienced profound population contraction over the past century. This research was conducted at Caswell Memorial State Park ("the Park"), located in Ripon, California, which is the largest remaining habitat fragment within the rabbit's historical range. One objective of this research …