Digital Commons Network^™

Game Theory Approach To Transportation Network Vulnerability Measurement, Qixing Wang

Master's Theses

The vulnerability of a transportation network is strongly correlated with the ability of the network to withstand shocks and disruptions. A robust network with strategic redundancy allows for the redistribution or reassignment of traffic without unduly compromising system performance. As such, high-volume edges with limited alternative paths represent system vulnerabilities – a feature of transportation networks that has been exploited in the past to identify critical components. In this thesis, a mixed-strategy, two opponents, non-zero sum, combinatorial game theoretical framework are presented for measuring network vulnerability. Two solution approaches (Shortest Path Algorithm with Entropy function (SPE) & User Equilibrium Assignment …

A Depolymerization Based Model Of Neuron Growth Cone Shape And Motility, Neerajha Nagarajan

Master's Theses

Cell migration is a ubiquitous process underlying critical biological mechanisms like wound healing, cancer metastasis and even neuron growth cone motility. It is a critical process for the living organisms as it ensures proper functioning of the system, for example, crawling fibroblasts endure closure of wounds during wound healing. Here we focus our interest on neuron growth cones, a sensory and motile organelle present at the tip of extending neurites, like the axons, in neurons. These are responsible for neuron pathfinding onto specific targets and synapses, in responses to various guidance cues. Interestingly, the motility of the growth cones is …

Weather-Based Damage Prediction Models For Electric Distribution Networks, David W. Wanik

Master's Theses

From thunderstorms to hurricanes, electric distribution networks are subject to a wide range of warm weather storm events. Tropical Storm Irene (2011) and Hurricane Sandy (2012) are two events in recent memory that disrupted over half of The Connecticut Light and Power Company’s (CL&P) service territory, which left some customers without power for up to eleven days. This research study investigates a damage prediction framework for both thunderstorms and hurricanes that combines two generalized linear models to probabilistically determine the occurrence and extent of damages, known as trouble spots, to the overhead power distribution network. The models are inputted with …

Ultra-Stable Protein-Polymer Bioconjugates, Kyle S. Cole

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Landscaping Israel: Power And Resistance On The Ground, Janey Kemp

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

What’S In Your Cup: A Critique Of The Fair Trade System And Its Ability To Support Qualitative Socioeconomic And Environmental Transformation, Brittan M. Stockert

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Early Forest Fire Detection Using Texture, Blob Threshold, And Motion Analysis Of Principal Components, Georges Fouad Moussa

Master's Theses

Forest fires constantly threaten ecological systems, infrastructure and human lives. The purpose behind this study is minimizing the devastating damage caused by forest fires. Since it is impossible to completely avoid their occurrences, it is essential to accomplish a fast and appropriate intervention to minimize their destructive consequences. The most traditional method for detecting forest fires is human based surveillance through lookout towers. However, this study presents a more modern technique. It utilizes land-based real-time multispectral video processing to identify and determine the possibility of fire occurring within the camera’s field of view. The temporal, spectral, and spatial signatures of …

Smart Wall Plug Design For The Dc House Project, Edward Constant Sibal

Master's Theses

The DC House project at Cal Poly State University faces a challenge of supplying DC voltage to household appliances. Each appliance in the DC House constitutes a DC load that has a unique voltage and power rating, hence the need to develop a smart DC wall plug that will automatically adjust to the operating voltage required by any DC load. This thesis entails a proof of concept design of the smart DC wall plug which can automatically detect an appliance’s voltage rating. The design employs a dc-dc converter in conjunction with a microcontroller to sense load current to properly adjust …

The Application Of Systems Engineering Principles To Model Lithium Ion Battery Voltage, George Gibbs

Master's Theses

The objective of this project is to present a Lithium Ion battery voltage model derived using systems engineering principles. This paper will describe the details of the model and the implementation of the model in practical use in a power system. Additionally, the model code is described and results of the model output are compared to battery cell test data. Finally, recommendations for increased model fidelity and capability are summarized.

The modeling theory has been previously documented in the literature but detailed implementation and application of the modeling theory is shown. The detailed battery cell test voltage profiles are proprietary; …

Automated Student Code Assessment With Symbolic Execution And Java Pathfinder, Karl Bell

Master's Theses

The assessment of student code is a necessary part of most programming courses. However, many ways of assessing the correctness of student code can be very time-consuming and may be error-prone. This paper presents JSymTester, a tool which uses the symbolic execution framework of the Java PathFinder to find test inputs for student code and uses these inputs to extensively compare its functionality to a reference implementation. This allows for automatic testing of student code, relying only on the reference implementation and the student's own implementation, eliminating the need to manually write tests. This tool was tested on small assignments …

Implementation And Validation Of Fault-Rupture Response Spectrum Analysis Procedure In Csibridge For Bridges Crossing Earthquake Fault Ruptures, Jennifer Evelyn Tures

Master's Theses

This thesis evaluates the application of a simplified analysis procedure as implemented in version 16 of CSiBridge^TM for design of bridges crossing earthquake fault ruptures. The fault-rupture response spectrum analysis (FR-RSA) approximation method has been proved adequate for both straight and curved ordinary bridges, but lacked a comfortable interface to accommodate the method users. Computers and Structure, Inc. has implemented the FR-RSA procedure into CSiBridge^TM, a user-friendly integrated 3-D bridge design software, as an added seismic design feature. By combining the response of the bridge due to the quasi-static displacement from the fault strike-slip rupture and the …

The Effects Of Color Concentrates On The Rheology Of Tint Bases, Doug James Herrick

Master's Theses

ABSTRACT

THE EFFECTS OF COLOR CONCENTRATES ON THE RHEOLOGY OF TINT BASES

Douglas James Herrick

Waterborne coatings are formulated with a number of different ingredients; water, latex polymers, pigments, surfactants, dispersants, defoamers, biocides, coalescing aids, and rheology modifiers or thickeners. Rheology modifiers are necessary in order to improve the physical properties of the coating before, during, and after application to a substrate. There are two kinds of rheology modifiers used in waterborne coatings; associative thickeners and non-associative thickeners. Coatings formulated with associative thickeners are quite sensitive to coating variations; the slightest change in the formulation has profound effects on the …

Controlling Nanoparticle Dispersion For Nanoscopic Self-Assembly, Nathan S. Starkweather

Master's Theses

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter and devices on the nanometer scale. Below the critical dimension length of 100nm, materials begin to display vastly different properties than their macro- or micro- scale counterparts. The exotic properties of nanomaterials may trigger the start of a new technological revolution, similar to the electronics revolution of the late 20^th century. Current applications of nanotechnology primarily make use of nanoparticles in bulk, often being made into composites or mixtures. While these materials have fantastic properties, organization of nano and microstructures of nanoparticles may allow the development of novel devices with many unique properties. …

Effects Of Silvicultural Management On Coast Redwood Forest Composition, Density And Structure In Santa Cruz And San Mateo Counties, Michael J. Papa

Master's Theses

The multiple-objective exploratory study investigates effects of various silvicultural management regimes commonly applied to coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens [D. Don] Endl.) forests in Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, California, USA. A temporary forest inventory was installed in 24 harvest origin stands and 4 natural origin stands throughout the study area (sample area = 1189 acres). Data from the systematic sample of 233 one-quarter acre nested cluster plots (sample intensity = 4.9%) rendered overall forest descriptions in terms of species composition, density, and structure. The common forestry measures of trees per acre (TPA), basal area per acre (BA), and …

Activation Of Alcohols Toward Nucleophilic Substitution: Conversion Of Alcohols To Alkyl Halides, Amani Atiyalla Abdugadar

Master's Theses

The conversion of alcohols into alkyl halides is one of the most important reactions in organic chemistry. Development of new methodology is still desirable in academic research. Unfortunately, the hydroxyl group of the alcohol is relatively difficult to replace under normal conditions. That necessitates the conversion of alcohols to a more activated functionality before nucleophilic substitution becomes viable. Under vigorous conditions, the replacement is straightforward. Procedures for the generation of halides from alcohols have been extensively examined, e.g., using HX or Mitsunobu inversion. However, these methods require time, strong acid, or catalysis to proceed. These classical methods suffer from issues …

The Process Of Keeping Creative Expression And Artistic Freedom Unencumbered And Uncensored: A Study Of Student Actors In The Musical [Title Of Show], Mathew B. Hagmeier

Master's Theses

Creativity and the ability to freely devise and express are human capacities recognized to be highly important in today’s world. Yet, while many champion these qualities, modern society continually makes achieving them a laborious process, riddled with the pressure of success and commercial marketability. Two years of researching and devising educational methodologies surrounding the use of theatre as a tool for the development of students’ unbridled creativity, expression, and self-efficacy have led me to ask the following questions of this process: Can students achieve authentic creative self-expression inside the confines of portraying a pre-written character? How does one freely express …

Spatial And Temporal Variability Of Particulate And Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter Absorption In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Ashley Ann Lojek

Master's Theses

Coastal regions influenced by large freshwater inputs exhibit large variability in absorption and associated optical properties. Therefore, understanding coastal ecosystem processes requires intensive, ongoing sampling. Analysis of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River plumes took place on board the RIV Pelican on two separate cruises. MagMix-1 occurred from May 1 to May 8, 2008 and corresponded to the highest discharge periods for both rivers for 2008; MagMix-11 took place October 31 to November 6, 2008 and corresponded to the lowest discharge periods for both rivers for 2008. Samples were collected along four transects in the northern Gulf of Mexico and were …

Marginalization Of Mothers In The Market: A Comparative Study Of The Limits And Opportunities For Public Policy, Jennifer Mary Crosslin

Master's Theses

Despite significant gains of women living in advanced democracies over the last several decades, sex inequality in the market still exists. Women still earn less, work less, and are less likely to be found in top leadership positions in the market, especially mothers, but disparity between men and women in terms of these outcomes varies among many countries. This study explores the relationship between government policies and the market outcomes of women in the United States and other European nations to determine if the different policies explain the variances, and consequently the necessity of state intervention for achieving gender equality. …

Factors Influencing The Spatial And Temporal Distrubtion Of Primary Productivity And Community Respiration In The Mississippi Coastal Estuarine Region, Ryan Anthony Vandermeulen

Master's Theses

This study describes the spatial and temporal distribution of net primary productivity (NetPP) and respiration (RESP) in relation to the biogeochemical, optical, and hydrographic variability in the Mississippi Sound and Mississippi Bight over the course of one year. Surface in-situ measurements of NetPP and RESP were regularly determined at two stations by a time-course detection of dissolved oxygen (DO) using novel optode technology. In addition, various biogeochemical, optical, and hydrographic parameters were examined over 14 stations throughout the estuary over a year, using ground and satellite (MODIS Aqua) measurements. In this study, consistently low dissolved inorganic N:P ratios (average N:P …

Mortality Assessment Of Redwood And Mixed Conifer Forest Types In Santa Cruz County Following Wildfire, Steve R. Auten

Master's Theses

On August 12, 2009, the Lockheed Fire ignited the west slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains burning approximately 7,819 acres. Foresters and other land managers were left with challenging decisions on how to evaluate tree mortality. Big Creek Lumber Company, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly)’s Swanton Pacific Ranch (SPR), and other resource professionals familiar with this region teamed up to develop a method for evaluating damage and thereby mortality for redwood, California nutmeg, live oak, tanoak, California bay, Pacific madrone, big leaf maple, Douglas-fir, Monterey pine, and knobcone pine. Quantitative damage criteria were used to design …

Space Vehicle Testing, Charlotte Ann Belsick

Master's Theses

Requirement verification and validation is a critical component of building and delivering space vehicles with testing as the preferred method. This Master’s Project presents the space vehicle test process from planning through test design and execution. It starts with an overview of the requirements, validation, and verification. The four different verification methods are explained including examples as to what can go wrong if the verification is done incorrectly. Since the focus of this project is on test, test verification is emphasized. The philosophy behind testing, including the “why” and the methods, is presented. The different levels of testing, the test …

Calibration And Characterization Of Cubesat Magnetic Sensors Using A Helmholtz Cage, Justin Dean Foley

Master's Theses

Small satellites, and CubeSats in particular, have quickly become a hot topic in the aerospace industry. Attitude determination is currently one of the most intense areas of development for these miniaturized systems and future Cal Poly satellite missions will depend heavily on magnetometers. In order to utilize magnetometers as a viable source of attitude knowledge, precise calibration is required to ensure the greatest accuracy achievable. This paper outlines a procedure for calibrating and testing magnetometers on the next generation of Cal Poly CubeSates, utilizing a Helmholtz cage to simulate any desired orbital magnetic field that would be experienced by a …

Improved Numerical Quadrature Over General Two-Dimensional Domains Utilizing Curvature Based Domain Decomposition, Eva Lynn Comino

Master's Theses

Herein we improve upon QUAD2D, an algorithm for numerical quadrature on a general two-dimensional domain presented by James Lambers. QUAD2D eliminates the error of approximation inherent in general polygonal methods due to the variance between an estimated polygon boundary and the domain boundary. The QUAD2D method achieves quadrature accurate to within machine precision for sufficiently smooth integrands, but has two weaknesses which are addressed in our proposed curvature based algorithm. The first weakness is that the boundary node location method utilizes a one-dimensional change of variable, causing it to be dependent on domain orientation. The second is that the domain …

Preparation Of Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles Via Cyclization Of Pyridine-Tethered Organolithiums, Elizabeth Archer

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Design And Synthesis Of Fluorescence Turn-On Probes For Iron, Randy K. Jackson

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Human Powered Helicopter Stability Characteristics Using Multi-Body System Simulation Techniques, Sean M. Brown

Master's Theses

Multi-Body System Simulation combined with System Identification was developed as a method for determining the stability characteristics of a human powered helicopter(HPH) configurations. HPH stability remains a key component for meeting competition requirements, but has not been properly treated. Traditional helicopter dynamic analysis is not suited to the HPH due to its low rotation speeds and light weight. Multi-Body System Simulation is able to generate dynamic response data for any HPH configuration. System identification and linear stability theory are used to determine the stability characteristics from the dynamic response. This thesis focuses on the method development and doesn't present any …

Fault Mapping With The Refraction Microtremor And Seismic Refraction Methods Along The Los Osos Fault Zone, Justin Riley Martos

Master's Theses

The presence of active fault traces in proximity to any new infrastructure project is a major concern for the design process. The relative displacements that can be experienced in surface fault rupture during a seismic event must be either entirely avoided or mitigated in some way. Blind faults present a significant challenge to engineers attempting to identify these hazards. Current standards of practice employed to locate these features are time consuming and costly. This work investigates the geophysical methods of refraction microtremor (ReMi) and seismic refraction with regard to their applicability in this task. By imaging a distinct lateral variation …

Development And Implementation Of A Calibration Procedure For Complex Impedance Spectrum Measurements With Applications To Embedded Battery Health Monitoring And Management Systems, William H. Morrison

Master's Theses

Energy storage devices such as rechargeable Lithium ion batteries are assuming an increasingly prominent role in society, covering applications from electric / hybrid electric vehicles to personal portable electronics. In response to this increasing demand, technologies that monitor battery health and remaining useful life have developed. One such system is the Smart Battery Status Monitor (SBSM), developed by the Idaho National Laboratory, Montana Tech and Qualtech Systems, Inc. The SBSM utilizes impedance spectrum measurements using a subsystem called the Impedance Measurement Box (IMB). The impedance measurements are complex quantities (having both a resistive and a reactive component) and are made …

Finite Element Model Updating For Rotary Machinery, Nathalie Gotin

Master's Theses

The main approach of this thesis was to develop a mathematical model that represents a rotary machine. Experimental data was used to define a finite element model (FEM). In order to obtain the experimental data, the rotary machine had to be balanced. An impact hammer test made it possible to obtain frequency response functions (FRF). The frequency response functions were curvefitted in order to obtain the mode shapes and natural frequencies.

Mathematical models have been created with ABAQUS and Matlab. For the Matlab Model the assumption has been made that the rotor machine consists of a specific number of beam …

An Economic Analysis Of Wine Grape Production In The State Of Connecticut, Jeremy L. Jelliffe

Master's Theses

The Connecticut Wine and Vineyard industry has grown at a steady 3.9% per year over the past decade (ATTTB, 2009). Economic models estimate that the wineries sub-sector contributes $38 million dollars to the state economy and direct employment of 106 residents (Lopez et al., 2010). Programs to support and foster further growth of the industry and CT farm vineyard culture include the Department of Agriculture’s CT Wine Trail and the annual CT Wine festival (DOAG, 2010). Farmland preservation groups also support vineyard development since grape growing tends to secure tracts of farmland for long periods of time.

Investment analysis for …