Digital Commons Network^™

Bowl-O-Matic, Nathan Lin, Luis Torres, Jill Worthington, Aiden Foote

Mechanical Engineering

Adaptive physical education presents the unique challenge of accommodating individuals with diverse physical and cognitive abilities. Instructors and program designers must often integrate specialized equipment, fixtures, or features to ensure activities remain safe, inclusive, and user-friendly. Beyond accessibility, adaptive physical education highlights the importance of empowerment— enabling every participant to experience personal growth, confidence, and connection through movement. Friday Club, a local San Luis Obispo program supported by Cal Poly’s Kinesiology Department, embodies these values by providing adaptive physical activities that promote health and well-being for individuals with varying abilities. One of the most popular and regularly held activities is …

Cosmetic Clamper, Daniel Peter Gates, Bruno Roberto Martinez, Samantha Remy, Zachary Joseph Roeber

Mechanical Engineering

Cosmetic Clamper Mechanical Engineering Senior Project was a senior project at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in the College of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department. The project ran from September 2025 to June 2026. The project developed the Cosmetic Clamper device, an accessibility product designed to help individuals with unilateral upper extremity motor deficits open, use, and close cosmetic containers independently.

Me3329 Modular Phonograph Gearbox, Garrett Andrik Leighton, Preston Robert Hupe, Gavin Carter Ebner, Andrew Renato Reyes

Mechanical Engineering

The Mechanical Engineering Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), seeks to develop a laboratory tool allowing students to reinforce concepts of gears for Mechanical Systems Design (ME329). Some current laboratories do not provide students with hands-on interaction, and the department lacks equipment and documentation to support a standardized lab. With ME329 expanding from ten to fifteen weeks, there is an opportunity to create a physical gearbox design lab allowing students to reinforce lecture material in engaging ways, while standardizing student learning. This senior project is presented and sponsored by Professor Alan Zhang. It will be …

Canyon Ferry Reservoir: A Regional Recreation System In Montana, Kika Bradford, Melissa Weddell

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This study examines recreation use, visitor behavior, and infrastructure demands at Canyon Ferry Reservoir, Montana, using a combination of visitor surveys, automated counts, and systematic observations conducted between February and October of 2025. Results indicate that Canyon Ferry functions primarily as a high-frequency, locally driven recreation system characterized by repeat visitation, small travel groups, and short-duration trips. Use is highly concentrated at a limited number of sites and during predictable peak periods, creating localized infrastructure pressures despite relatively stable overall visitation levels. Findings show that parking areas and campgrounds experience more consistent capacity constraints than boat ramps, and that perceptions …

Celebrations 2026, University Of Mississippi Writing Program, University Of Mississippi. Office Of Pre-College Programs

Celebrations: A Literary Magazine

No abstract provided.

Detection And Evaluation Of Hazardous Mercury Contamination In Various Biological Samples, Krish Italiya

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Mercury is a toxic environmental pollutant that threatens ecosystems and human health. This study investigates mercury contamination in Lactuca sativa (lettuce) and selected fish species, including tuna and salmon, focusing on plant responses and the limitations of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. In a controlled experiment, lettuce plants were exposed to mercury to evaluate uptake and toxicity, and XRF spectroscopy was used for quick, non-destructive elemental analysis. Results confirmed mercury accumulation in lettuce, along with visible stress symptoms such as leaf yellowing, purple pigmentation, and tissue damage. Mercury was not detected in tuna and salmon samples, likely due to concentrations below …

The Fellowship Of Christ's Sufferings: Toward A Practical Philosophy Of Worship For Missions In The Latin American Church, Moriah Hope Joseph

Senior Honors Theses

Within Latin America, evil and suffering are ever-present realities that cannot be concealed, and the Hispanic society is aching for relief. Liberation Theology and the prosperity gospel – and their accompanying worship practices – have been offered as tools to help alleviate the experience of suffering. But these theological perspectives and practices have accomplished little in edifying the Church by way of truth. Thus, the call for the modern missionary is to instead preach worship that is a response to the incarnate Christ in suffering. The missionary must advocate for worship practices that provide space for biblical lament, reveal a …

Mapping Structural Mistrust In Medicine, Ashleigh Allgood

ETDs from 2020-2029

Much of the existing literature treats mistrust as resistance or noncompliance. A structural perspective reverses that logic. It views mistrust as a reflection of institutional behavior rather than individual belief. When systems repeatedly fail to protect or repair harm, withdrawal becomes a reasonable and protective response. Structural mistrust represents both an adaptation to inequality and a cumulative record of institutional unreliability. This dissertation develops and tests a theory of structural mistrust as a collective orientation that links institutional design to individual behavior and perceived health. It makes three contributions. First, it conceptualizes structural mistrust as a product of state institutions …

Aging Like A Pro: Altering Health Behavior Motivation Through Community Education Programs, Susan Eva Fox-Rosellini

ETDs from 2020-2029

ABSTRACT Population aging presents significant public health challenges, particularly in preventing cognitive decline and maintaining functional independence among older adults. Today in the United States, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that about 40% of people aged 65 or older have age-associated memory issues. That number is expected to more than double by 2060. Community-based education programs can represent a scalable strategy to influence behavior modification that may be linked to successful cognitive aging. This dissertation evaluated the Aging Like A Pro (ALP) community education program that focused on key aspects of health: sleep, mindfulness, nutrition, and fitness, encouraging …

Exploring Medical Mistrust In A Higher Education Context: A Mixed Methods Study, Kiera Denise Walker

ETDs from 2020-2029

Medical mistrust, a type of institutional distrust, has been identified as a social determinant of health and a barrier to utilization of healthcare services. It has been negatively associated with preventive disease screenings, vaccine hesitancy, medication adherence, organ donation, research participation, and overall lower healthcare satisfaction. This can result in a widening of health disparities, an increase in prevalence of preventable diseases, and negative health outcomes despite accessibility to healthcare. The purpose of this study is to assess how medical mistrust manifests across the higher education context and explore what factors contribute to its existence among this population. An explanatory …

Emotion In Absence: Omission, World War I, And Masculine Vulnerability In Ernest Hemingway's In Our Time, Anna Murph

ETDs from 2020-2029

This thesis analyzes Ernest Hemingway’s depictions of male-male and male-female relationships in his collection of short stories, In Our Time. By comparing heterosexual and homosocial relationships, I explore how Hemingway’s depictions of male bonds are not only unique due to his famed terseness but also rooted in shared understanding, prompting a reconsideration of how male bonds are interpreted textually. I consider Hemingway’s use of omission and focus on how his minimalistic style lends to a reading of male-male relationships as more emotionally intimate than heterosexual relationships. When analyzing omission and relational dynamics through concepts such as gesture, touch, identity, and …

The Association Of Motherhood And Maternal-Related Life Events And Cardiovascular-Related Health, Disease Events, And Mortality, Taishayla Mckitt

ETDs from 2020-2029

More than 40% of U.S. women have cardiovascular disease (CVD), and nearly half have at least one major risk factor. Sparse evidence exists related to the role of childrearing (regardless of prior pregnancy) on CVD. A recent literature review highlighted the influence of reproduction on CVD and health and identified opportunities for advancement. At present, it has yet to be discovered from prospective epidemiologic studies the extent to which parenting and maternal events have influence on cardiovascular health and clinical events. It has been demonstrated that parous women have greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., short sleep duration and …

Balancing Act: How Graduate Student Mothers Navigate Dual Roles, Jessica Seymour

ETDs from 2020-2029

Graduate student mothers represent a growing but often overlooked population within higher education. While research has examined the experiences of undergraduate student parents, significantly less attention has been given to graduate students who balance academic responsibilities with motherhood. This study explores the experiences of graduate student mothers enrolled at public four-year institutions, focusing on the institutional, financial, and social barriers that shape their academic success and participation in campus life. Using a phenomenological approach, this research seeks to understand how graduate student mothers navigate the dual roles of parenting and pursuing advanced degrees. The study employs a Borderland Theoretical Framework …

Self-Adjoint Extensions Of Symmetric Operators, Malak Mousa

ETDs from 2020-2029

This thesis introduces operators in Hilbert Space, definitions and properties. And then introduce a method for constructing a self-Adjoint extensions of a symmetric operator and illuminating the method by example.

Exploring The Association Between Social Media Use Frequency And Violence-Related Behaviors Among U.S. High School Students: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Luma Hammoudi

ETDs from 2020-2029

Youth violence remains a major public health concern in the United States (U.S.), with firearm injuries now the leading cause of death among children and adolescents. At the same time, social media use has become nearly universal among youth, raising concerns about how online interactions may influence violence-related behaviors. Social media platforms can facilitate peer conflict, electronic bullying, and public exposure to aggressive behaviors, which may extend into offline environments such as schools and communities. However, the relationship between social media use frequency and youth violence remains understudied. This study examined the relationship between frequency of social media use and …

Resisting The Neoliberal Postfeminist Sexual Objectification Matrix: A Critical Autoethnography Exploring Sexual Objectification, Mental Health, Relationship To Self, And Reclaiming Subjectivity, Ildiko Archer

ETDs from 2020-2029

Over the past two decades, women’s subjectivity and sexual experience have been dramatically reshaped by the rise of dating apps, the normalization of hookup culture, the popularization of BDSM, and the dominance of neoliberal postfeminist sexual discourses. In the South, this all unfolds in the lingering residues of purity culture, creating a perfect storm of sexual objectification. This autoethnographic dissertation examines a defining period of my life shaped by the mental health consequences of sexual objectification and self-objectification. During this time, I experienced two brief marriages, many sexual relationships, posed on social media, dating apps, sexted, and performed sexual ‘agency’, …

Comparative Evaluation Of Translucency, Fluorescence, And Structural Analysis Of 3d-Printed Vs. Conventionally Fabricated 3y, 4y And 5y Zirconia, Surabhi Chhabra

ETDs from 2020-2029

Statement of Problem: Additive manufacturing has emerged as an alternative to conventional milling for zirconia-based dental restorations because of its potential to reduce material waste and increase design flexibility. However, whether 3D-printed zirconia can provide optical and structural properties comparable with those of conventionally milled zirconia for esthetic applications remains unclear. Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the optical properties of 3D-printed zirconia and conventionally milled 3Y, 4Y, and 5Y zirconia, as measured by translucency and fluorescence, and to evaluate their structural characteristics, as measured by density, porosity, phase composition, and surface morphology. Materials and …

Bridging Gaps In Federally Qualified Health Centers: Examining Enabling Services And Their Role On Care Delivery, Shanequa Roscoe-Nelson

ETDs from 2020-2029

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are a vital provider of comprehensive healthcare for vulnerable and underserved communities. They serve populations that are disproportionately impacted by chronic health conditions and socioeconomic related barriers to healthcare. To provide adequate support and reduce barriers faced by patients, some FQHCs deliver not only primary and preventative care but also a range of enabling services. These enabling services range from providing transportation to health education and case management. This dissertation includes three studies that examine how environmental conditions are related to the use of enabling services in FQHCs, the relationship between enabling services and process …

How Did We Get Here? Mental Health Accessibility For Adults In Alabama, 1819-Present, Juliana Sea

ETDs from 2020-2029

Alabama remains one of the worst states in the nation for adult mental health access despite decades of reform and explicit commitments to improving care. Framing access as the ability to recognize need, locate services, reach them, enter care in a reasonable time, and continue or adjust care, this mixed-methods, three-paper dissertation examines how Alabama’s adult mental health system structures those pathways and how adults and providers navigate its constraints. It argues that inadequate access in Alabama contributes not only to suicide, psychiatric hospitalization, and disability, but also to shortened lifespan in the context of high burdens of chronic disease, …

Recognizing Patients In Places: A Multilevel Analysis Of Severe Heat-Related Illness Risk In Birmingham, Al, Andria Cimino

ETDs from 2020-2029

Socially marginalized people face a higher risk of adverse health outcomes from extreme heat—as many as 12,000 U.S. deaths a year are attributable to heat-related illness (HRI), a preventable but multifactorial condition. Where one lives plays a critical role in HRI incidence, with evidence linking historically segregated and disinvested urban environments to a higher risk. The literature also suggests that Black adults experience worse HRI outcomes than non-Hispanic White adults, and that men are often, though not always, at higher risk than women. Individuals with heat-sensitive conditions and socially isolated adults also face elevated risk. Yet the mechanisms by which …

An Examination Of Physical Activity And Arterial Stiffness Among Urban And Rural Older Adults, Michael J. Hankes

ETDs from 2020-2029

Rural populations in the United States experience a disproportionate burden of cardiovas-cular disease, yet how rural‑urban context shapes physical activity (PA) and vascular health is not fully understood. Because vascular dysfunction links PA to cardiovascular risk, rural‑urban differences in movement may help explain disparities in cardiovascular health. Rurality is often treated as a static, binary exposure, which may obscure meaning-ful geographic variation and accumulated life course influences. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to examine associations among rural‑urban exposure, objectively measured PA, and vascular health using national cohort data and a pilot study. This dissertation begins with a conceptual …

Design, Build, Fly 2026, Unique Barnes, Dante Black, Kyle Greiner, Gabriel Kern, Justin Mayer, Charles Olsen, Jack Quinn, Ben Randall, Tate Schurman, Mark Williams, Brendan Yarusso

Mechanical Engineering Senior Theses

This thesis follows the design, manufacturing, and testing of Santa Clara's 2026 AIM Design, Build, Fly Team. The project is built on one main system with multiple subsystems related to the payload and integration of payload. The main system is the Wings of Theseus which is a 5 ft span electric remote controlled plane designed to complete 4 four missions: rapid loading and unloading of payload, airworthiness, internal payload flight, and towed payload flight. Each of these missions is directly related to the aforementioned subsystems. The Wings of Theseus incorporated a rectangular wing with geometric twist as well as a …

Short Arc Angles-Only Initial Orbit Determination For Reliable Reacquisition Of Low Earth Orbit Objects, Isabella Rackemann

Master's Theses

Low Earth orbit (LEO) is becoming increasingly congested, furthering the need for accurate tracking and catalog maintenance. Initial orbit determination (IOD) is the first step in this process, providing a preliminary estimate of an object’s state given observations. When it comes to LEO optical observations, a large portion of them are inherently short in duration. Angles-only IOD methods struggle with this data, often producing highly inaccurate solutions that limit reacquisition capabilities. This study expands on prior short arc IOD research, testing seven classical and assumed circular orbit (ACO)-modified angles-only IOD algorithms on real LEO observational data spanning 0-4 degrees of …

Experimental Methods For Cryogenic Rare Event Detection: Cuore And Cupid, Alessandro Libenson

Physics

This senior project was written with the primary purpose of serving as a introductory guide for undergraduate students learning about the experimental methods used in the CUORE and CUPID Collaborations. In particular, this project is geared towards getting students in Dr. Gutierrez's research group at Cal Poly up to speed on what CUORE and CUPID actually do. I wrote this as an undergraduate aiming to help future undergraduates. For Cal Poly students, I would suggest the following prerequisites before reading this paper: Electronics and Instrumentation, Quantum Laboratory 1, and the equivalent of the coding/analysis class. It is also important to …

Mars Mini Rover Sample Retrieval Robotic Claw, Cami Chambers, Ani Lachikian, Alexa Ramirez, Alex Power

Mechanical Engineering

This project involves several key stakeholders, including the Poly1 Rover Club, Professor Rich Murray, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The primary objective is to develop an improved robotic claw capable of retrieving sample tubes left by the Perseverance Rover on the Martian surface. In tackling this challenge, the design must account for the harsh Mars climate while integrating cameras and electrical components, durable structure, and a rotational component to the Mini-Rover claw without incorporating an additional motor, sample storage unit, structural aspects or unnecessary weight. The current Mini-Rover consists of a four-degree-of-freedom robotic arm with joints often referred to …

Sensory, Light, And Sound Box, Galilea Andrea Portillo, Hannah Elizabeth Henderson, Marcus Kiyoshi Kanenaga

Mechanical Engineering

The Sensory, Light, and Sound Box senior project outlined an adaptable, mobile sensory environment designed to improve cognitive and visual processing skills for students with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) at the Oceano Education Center. Currently, the market lacks accessible solutions tailored to these non-verbal, low-mobility students, making traditional classrooms overwhelming. This project outlines the modification of an existing static layout into a functional, three-sided wooden over-bed frame that accommodates a standard hospital bed. Our team manufactured a structurally stable verification prototype under a $500 budget, integrating slow-closing outward-hinged walls for safety, dual Bluetooth speakers, and a synchronized LED projector that …

Cathy’S Catcher, Marlee Scott, Regen Worsley, Alessandra Valenzano, Aviv Ben Zeev

Mechanical Engineering

Deep-sea fishing presents significant challenges for individuals with upper-limb differences, particularly when using prosthetic devices that are not designed for recreational fishing activities. This project developed a custom prosthetic fishing rod attachment for a user who had lost her forearm and desired a safe, comfortable, and independent method of fishing. Through interviews with the sponsor and an iterative design process, a lightweight aluminum attachment was created to interface directly with the user's existing prosthetic quick-connect system.

The design process included concept generation, CAD modeling, rapid prototyping with 3D-printed models, manufacturing, and user-centered refinement. The final design consists of a welded …

Elevate Grill, Tanner Bachmann, Lance Anderson, Caden Huang, Jonathan Li, Brady Alexander

Mechanical Engineering

Santa Maria-style grills are a defining cooking tool of California’s Central Coast and are valued for their open fire cooking method and adjustable grate height. While this design provides direct control over cooking conditions, maintaining a consistent cooking temperature requires frequent manual adjustment of the grate position. This process relies heavily on operator experience and continuous attention, making temperature consistency difficult to maintain in a commercial kitchen environment. The Elevate Grill project was developed for Mike Ahrens and Wren Provisions to address this challenge while preserving the traditional Santa Maria grilling experience. The system uses temperature feedback from multiple thermocouples …

Stakblocks, Micah Satoshi Inoshita, Ava Rose Doerschlag, Cody J. Ellis, Zach M. Lawton, Fernando M. Nalin, Nicholas Humphrey, Aiden Reed Anderson, Sara Maya Suratkal

Mechanical Engineering

Researchers developing sustainable building materials from agricultural waste need a faster way to prototype and evaluate small-scale samples under controlled temperature and pressure before scaling to production. Sponsored by Professor Pete Schwartz of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, whose work focuses on sustainable technology for developing communities, this project aims to create a prototype testing device for researchers studying agricultural-waste bricks, with the University of Malawi as a potential future testing partner. The final product is intended to inform improved future designs rather than serve as a production-ready device, ultimately supporting the development of affordable, sustainable building materials for communities …

Toro Cover For Bob Packer, Bailey Smolinski, Brandon Petty, Arturo Ramirez, Kathryn Proctor

Mechanical Engineering

Small pools, spas, and hot tubs are common in residential homes, yet small pool owners face persistent tradeoffs between critical features such as weight, ease of use, and appearance in pool covers currently available on the market. Most products optimize a single attribute at the expense of others. For example, solar covers are energy efficient but structurally weak, safety meshes are cost-saving but intensive to install, and retractable covers are automated but expensive. Beyond these tradeoffs, existing solutions often demand multiple people to install, take time and effort, occupy valuable deck space, and sacrifice the surrounding aesthetic. Therefore, small pool …