Digital Commons Network^™

Dynamic Inversion And Backstepping Controller Robustness Analysis For A Reusable Launch Vehicle, Janet M. Coakley

Master's Theses

The Air Force has been working towards developing technology for operationally responsive space (ORS), which is the ability to launch military assets into space without the long set up time currently required. Part of the solution to ORS is to develop a reusable booster vehicle capable of sending any vehicle into orbit, then descending back to the atmosphere and landing unpowered so that it may take another vehicle into orbit with a 48 hour turnaround time. Currently classical gain tuning techniques are used to design a controller for a specific mission, which may hinder the vehicle’s ability to perform multiple …

The Testing And Future Developments Of A Nerve Stimulation Device For The Treatment Of Migraines, Alyssa Erin Hopkins

Master's Theses

The development of neural stimulations devices may help treat many patients who suffer from migraines and chronic headaches via an electrical stimulation to the patient’s nerve. The electrical stimulation will mask the pain associated with these diseases. The system is subcutaneously implanted into the back of the neck and recharged via inductive coupling. Discussed is the transmission of signals in nerve fibers and the testing involved with neural stimulation implantable devices. Research was performed for preliminary testing on the charging rates, tests to analyze the heat dissipated during recharging, ergonomic factors to be considered, developing a model to simulate an …

Utilization Of Geographic Information System For Research, Management, And Education In The Natural Resources Management Department At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, David In Yun

Master's Theses

Geographic Information System (GIS) is “an organized collection of computer hardware, software, geographic data, and personnel designed to efficiently capture, store, update, manipulate, analyze, and display all forms of geographically referenced information” (ESRI, 1997a). The Natural Resources Management Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California, hereafter NRM, was one of the early users of GIS technology. Although GIS was primarily used as an educational tool, it was also used for cataloging and displaying resource information for management planning and research projects. As the computing technology advanced, GIS became more powerful and easier to use. NRM faculty and …

Laser Etched Pmma Microfluidic Chip Design And Manufacture With Applications In Capillary Zone Electrophoresis, Evan Allen Barbre

Master's Theses

This thesis encompasses a feasibility study of using low-cost materials to manufacture microfluidic chips that can perform the same functions as chips manufactured using traditional methods within an acceptable range of efficiency of chips created with more exotic methods and materials. The major parts of the project are the selection and characterization of the fabrication methods for creating the channels for fluid flow, the methods for sealing the channels to create a usable chip and the electrophoretic separations of carboxylated microspheres of different potentials. In this work we seek to answer the question if laser-etched PMMA microfluidic chips are comparable …

A Microsimulation Of Traffic, Parking, And Emissions At California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, Steven Michael Kilbert

Master's Theses

Traffic and parking congestion are significant issues at many universities nationwide. The delays experienced result in wasted time, money, and fuel for students, faculty and staff, not to mention the negative contributions to the environment. This paper quantifies the amount of vehicle emissions generated during an average morning peak hour in the university environment. Using VISSIM and CMEM microsimulation packages, a model is created for California Polytechnic State University- San Luis Obispo to aggregate the collective transportation behaviors and practices of the campus and recognize the implications these behaviors pose on the transportation network as a whole. Reasonable estimates are …

Sar Map Of Gel Phantom In A 64mhz Mri Birdcage By Fiber-Optic Thermometry And Fdtd Simulation, Chirag Mukesh Patel

Master's Theses

As implantable medical devices are being used more often to treat medical problems for which pharmaceuticals don’t suffice, it is important to understand their interactions with commonly used medical modalities. The interactions between medical implants and Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines have proven to be a risk for patients with implants.

Implanted medical devices with elongated metallic components can create harmful levels of local heating in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) environment [1]. The heating of a biological medium under MRI is monitored via the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). SAR, defined as power absorbed per unit mass (W/kg), can be calculated …

Kickin' It With God: Clerical Behavior, Denominational Meaning, And The Expression Of Emotion In Ritual, Christopher M. Donnelly

Master's Theses

In the contemporary West, religious worship is very much a collective, guided phenomenon. Based upon interviews and participant observation in Catholic, Congregationalist, and Evangelical services, this paper examines congregant emotional displays influenced via micro behavioral techniques utilized by church officials versus macro denominational meanings during religious ceremony. In particular, the argument is made that while performance acts used by church officials do have some impact upon the emotional expression of the congregation, it is the shared meanings expressed through the denominational tradition that exercise a significant influence upon emotional displays in rituals. Therefore, while ritual is guided, it is more …

The Role Of T-Box (Tbx) 2 In Osteoblast Function, Nidhish Francis

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Proposed Data Qualification Procedure For The Connecticut Bridge Monitoring Network, Stephen R. Prusaczyk

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Robust Region Tracking In Multi-Agent Systems Utilizing Sliding Mode Control: Theory And Applications, Mark Bacon

Master's Theses

This thesis presents a methodology to bring controlled agents within a moving region despite agent interaction dynamics, uncertain forces and parameter variation. The logic is derived from traditional Sliding Mode Control theory with an expanded boundary layer which allows position deviation from the region center to specified bounds. As an example of the utility of this control, multiple methods of herding (controlling passive agents by appropriate positioning of controlled agents) are presented.

Food Habits Of Harbor Seals (Phoca Vitulina Richardii) In San Francisco Bay, California, Corinne Michele Gibble

Master's Theses

The diet of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardii) in San Francisco Bay (SFB) in California was examined from July 2007 to July 2008 via scat analysis. Scats were collected from five major haul-out sites; 22 species of fish and one species of crustacean were identified from 422 scats. The reliance of a non-native invasive species, Yellowfin Goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus), increased in importance in the diet. Additionally, another non-native invasive fish species, Chameleon Goby (Tridentiger trigonocephalus), was found for the first time in the diet of harbor seals in SFB. Harbor seal diet was compared between seasons, locations, and years using …

The Proteomic Response Of Sea Squirts (Genus Ciona Congeners) To Heat Stress: Evidence For Differential Thermal Sensitivities, Loredana Serafini

Master's Theses

The sea squirts Ciona intestinalis and C. savignyi have disparate distribution patterns, which may result from differences in their thermal tolerance limits. Because C. intestinalis, an almost cosmopolitan species, has a more widespread distribution, it is thought that it is better adapted to endure a wide range of temperatures. In order to compare the heat stress response between these two congeners, we studied global changes in protein expression, using a proteomics approach. To characterize the response to extreme heat stress, animals of both species were exposed to temperatures of 22°C, 25°C, and 28°C for 6 h, and then were …

Bond Behavior Of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bars Under Hinged Beam Conditions, Ryan James Sandstrom

Master's Theses

The research provided in this report examines the behavior of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars, embedded in normal weight concrete (NWC) hinged beam-end specimens, tested in accordance with two laboratory conditions. Reinforcing bars of different diameter, material configuration, and finished surface preparation were tested for bond strength parameters determined in accordance with ACI Committee Report 440.3. Bond strength parameters under the first condition were tested within NWC beams at a relatively low compressive strength and minimum embedment length; the second condition allowed testing within NWC beams at twice the design compressive strength of the first condition and moderate embedment …

Congrats: A Configurable Granular Trust Scheme For Effective Seller Selection In An E-Marketplace, Ogbonnaya Boniface Akpa

Master's Theses

Problem. The e-marketplace of today, with millions of buyers and sellers who never get to meet face to face, is susceptible to the presence of dishonest and fraudulent participants, prowling on unsuspecting trading partners to cheat in transactions, thereby increasing their profit to the detriment of their victims. There is also the multiplicity of goods and services with varying prices and quality, offered by a mix of honest and dishonest vendors. In order to participate in trade without incurring substantial loss, participants rely on intelligent agents using a trust evaluation scheme for partner selection. Making good deals thus depends on …

Adolescent Adjustment In Affluent Communities: The Role Of Goal Orientation And Motivational Climate, Lea Ventura Travers

Master's Theses

The goal of the present study was to evaluate potential sources of affluent adolescents' adjustment problems (i.e., depressive symptoms, anxiety, substance use, and life satisfaction). Specifically, two mediational models were proposed to evaluate how (1) parental 'goal orientation' and (2) adolescents' perceptions of 'motivational climate' in school lead to adolescent `goal orientation' and subsequent adjustment among adolescents from affluent communities. Participants were recruited from 10th grades at three schools (suburbs of Chicago, New York, Boston) located in communities where the median annual income is at least $100,000 and at least 30% of parents had a graduate degree. Participants and their …

Investigation Of A Pharmaceutical Compound With Artificial Streams: Effects Of The Antihistamine Cimetidine On Stream Ecosystem Function., Paul David Hoppe

Master's Theses

Pharmaceutical compounds have been widely detected in surface waters but their effects on stream ecosystems are unknown. Cimetidine (Tagamet®), a widely used H2 histamine antagonist has been detected in surface waters. To measure chronic effects of cimetidine on stream invertebrates, I conducted a long-term (83d) artificial-stream experiment. A range of cimetidine concentrations (0.07 μg L-1 to 70.0 μg L-1) were added to streams supporting populations of the amphipod Gammarus fasciatus and beetle Psephenus herricki. P. herricki individual growth rates were reduced in the presence of cimetidine, but G. fasciatus individual growth rates were not different among treatments. G. fasciatus size …

The Highest Good And The Best Activity: Aristotle On The Well-Lived Life, Philip William Bauchan

Master's Theses

The question of how Aristotle characterizes eudaimonia, or living-well, in the Nicomachean Ethics has long been a contentious issue amongst Aristotelian scholars. The secondary literature has been roughly divided between inclusivist readers, who argue that Aristotle designates both theoria, or contemplation, and the practical virtues, and exclusivist readers, who argue that Aristotle singles out theoria alone. This thesis seeks to forge a middle ground between these two perspectives by focusing on the central claim of Book I that the eudaimonia is virtuous activity. Reading Book X in light of Book I's claim then allows one to show that both the …

Exploring The Mortality Salience Paradox: The Effects Of High-Risk Employment On Interpersonal Decision Making, Bella Etingen

Master's Theses

Past research concerning Terror Management Theory (TMT) has displayed self-esteem bolstering and cultural worldview validation to be the foundation of subconscious defense mechanisms against mortality salience (Solomon, Greenberg, & Pyszczynski, 1991). Recent studies have also identified intimacy and romantic commitment as form of such defense (Florian, Mikulincer & Hirschberger, 2002). The present study examines the effects of existential terror on people's intimacy-related milestone time frames, as well as the distinction between naturally occurring mortality salience (in a sample of soldiers) and the more standard form of laboratory induced mortality salience. It was hypothesized

that employees of high-risk fields will have …

Stream Restoration In A Post-Agricultural System: Indirect Effects On Density And Secondary Production Of Aquatic Insects, Lyle Stanley Dandridge Jr

Master's Theses

Restoration of stream habitats, with the goal of increasing biodiversity through increasing habitat heterogeneity, has been an ongoing trend in recent decades. Current investigations suggest most of those projects fail to significantly influence ecological structure and function when evaluated in light of their affect on species richness. In order to assess the <&ldquo>success of restoration on a prairie stream in northern Illinois traditional metrics such as community composition and density were examined in addition to macroinvertebrate secondary production. Restoration of Nippersink Creek, McHenry County, Illinois was completed in 2000 and this study was conducted 8 years post-restoration. Benthic samples were …

An Advanced Controller For A Semi-Active Wheelchair Suspension, David J. Smith

Master's Theses

An Advanced Controller for a Semi-Active Wheelchair Suspension was designed, built and tested.  The suspension consisted of a Goodyear 1S3-011 air spring, IQ Valves high speed proportional solenoid valve, and a custom made accumulator.  Several controller designs specific to semi-active suspensions were designed and tested.  The controllers investigated were skyhook, acceleration driven damping, and a combined control law employing both a dual and single sensor version.  The implementation of skyhook control suffered performance degradation from the idealization due to particular elements of hardware, however acceleration driven damping showed a marked and statistically significant improvement over skyhook control, in hardware, by …

Footprints Fill And Fade, James Conrad Beck

Master's Theses

A collection of poems with preface. Poems are inspired by Buddhist thought and the poetry of Ko Un, William Carlos Williams, Robert Creeley, and Rayomond Carver among others.

Composition And Provenance Of Sand From Wells, Santa Clara Valley, California, Karen Marie Locke

Master's Theses

Medium sand samples from well cores taken in the Santa Clara Valley, California, were studied to determine their composition and, if possible, their provenance. Sand samples were taken from various depths from five wells distributed over the western and central parts of the valley. The oldest of these samples is known to date to about 800 ka.

Thin sections of sand samples were point counted to determine quartz, feldspar, and lithic percentages. The samples are very lithic, with some quartz and very little feldspar. Common lithic grains include argillite and graywacke. Less common are metavolcanics, serpentinite, and chert or metachert. …

Effects Of Water Conservation On Evapotranspiration In Las Vegas, Nevada, Joseph Belli

Master's Theses

Las Vegas, Nevada, is a rapidly growing arid city that is experiencing significant challenges in water consumption. Most of the water is used outdoors, precluding recycling and reuse of water. With a large increase in population, the Southern Nevada Water Authority created the Water Smart Landscape Program to limit outdoor water usage. This study used remote sensing images and techniques to examine how much water was lost to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration (ET) in the Las Vegas metropolitan region from 1999 to 2009. The results showed that both extreme weather conditions and water policy influence ET rates.

Low Power Digital Design Using Asynchronous Logic, Sathish Vimalraj Antony Jayasekar

Master's Theses

This thesis summarizes research undertaken at San José State University between January 2009 and May 2011, which introduces a new method of achieving low power by reducing the dependency of the clock signal in the design. A clock signal consumes power even when the circuit is idle, but asynchronous circuits by default move into the idle state and involve no transition in the circuit during that state. In addition, in an active system, only the subsystem that is in use dissipates power. This work mainly focused on obtaining low power by implementing asynchronous logic. The work also studied the measure …

Carbon Electrodes With Tunable Surface Characteristics For Supercapacitors, Ramey Mohamed Abdelrahaman

Master's Theses

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of surface texturization on the electrical properties of glassy carbon based electrodes. Glassy carbon was textured using a block copolymer etch mask to introduce an ordered porous structure. Hybridizedetched glassy carbon electrodes were developed to enhance electrical properties. Electrodes were hybridized using titania (TiO₂) and cuprous oxide (Cu₂O). Physical properties of glassy carbon electrodes were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The electrical properties were investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The experimental setup included 1M potassium hydroxide (KOH), platinum foil …

Overlapping Mornings, Joshua Andrew Cembellin

Master's Theses

This thesis project, Overlapping Mornings, is a book-length collection of poetry based upon my family. Throughout the collection I examine the lives of various family members, particularly my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. In exploring the lives of my progenitors through poetry's lens, I strive to discover my own role as a direct member of this male lineage.

Comprised of four parts, the collection generally follows a chronological order that begins with poems about my childhood and ends with poems of the present. Part Two is a prose section that includes important biographical information about my great-grandfather, Edwin Schivo. This …

Water And Power: Agricultural Intensification In Windward North Kohala, Hawai'i Island, Christopher Ian Avery

Master's Theses

This thesis examines the processes of agricultural intensification in the eastern gulch region of windward North Kohala district, Hawai`i Island. The intensification of agricultural production was essential for Hawai`i's transition from a collection of loose tribelets into an archaic state. To meet the growing demands of social paramounts, ancient farmers in North Kohala innovated novel technologies to improve their capacity to produce surpluses. In windward North Kohala, the chief innovation was intricate irrigation systems that transferred water from the region's gulch beds to the adjacent elevated tablelands, first identified by the Hawai`i Archaeological Research Project in 2008 and further explored …

For All Time: An Examination Of Romantic Love Through Curse Tablets, Alicia Deadrick

Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the Greco-Roman amatory defixiones, or curse tablets, and binding spells from the fourth century BCE to the fourth century CE in order to investigate the existence of romantic love in the Mediterranean Basin. Binding spells provide a unique opportunity for cultural analysis, for they were popular with all levels of society, both genders and all sexualities. Three categories of amatory spells prevalent in ancient society (agoge, separation, and philia) undergo examination to establish romantic love as a sentiment separate from eros and philia and in opposition of the currently prevailing relationship theory of …

Differences In Eubacterial And Archaeal Soil Communities Along A Precipitation Transect In The Mojave Desert, Elaine Pressly Bryant

Master's Theses

Deserts occupy one third of the total land mass of Earth, yet little is known about microbial soil communities under conditions of low precipitation and humidity. The Mojave Desert of the Southwestern United States provides an opportunity to observe microbial communities along a precipitation transect. The diversity of these communities can elucidate which specific groups of Eubacteria and Archaea are best adapted to limited liquid water.

Two methods were utilized to determine patterns and trends of the microbial soil communities under varying precipitation levels. Viable plate counts allowed comparison of culturable microorganisms over a four-year period. Molecular techniques distinguished unculturable …

Trembler Ou Pleurer: La Révolution Française, Le Théatre Et L'Image De La Femme, Tracy Anne Cone

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the role of women in theater and their representation before, during, and after the French Revolution. In the classical theater of the 17th century, women often played strong and domineering roles. They were forceful, and men rarely questioned their authority. However, in the theater of the 19th century immediately following the Revolution, the role and portrayal of women shifted dramatically. This shift began even during the Revolution. Women's roles no longer possessed the power or influence they once had in the theatrical arena. The French Revolution resulted in a complete role reversal. Men now demonstrated their authority …