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Senior Exit Interview
Get PDFThe goal of this project was to provide graduating seniors in construction management a means to share their opinions on the department and offer potential solutions that could improve the student learning experience. Prior to COVID, the senior exit interview filled this need, but it was run by faculty and has not been repeated since 2021. The discussion was structured to cover the three topics that constitute the student experience: curriculum, student-run clubs and teams, and industry recruitment. Prior to the event, a dozen in-person interviews were conducted with graduating seniors to better understand what topics should be included in the exit interview event. The event was advertised via flyers, group chats, and emails, and it was scheduled to take place right after the senior picture and department barbeque. The discussion was geared to focus on constructive criticism towards minor, actionable items. The event saw 20 seniors, 5 professors, and the department head in attendance, and ran for 4 hours. The topics that generated the most discussion were class format, specialty subjects, recruitment for extracurriculars, and industry recruitment. In this time, participants generated ideas that will be sent to the appropriate faculty and could benefit the department in the future
Recursive Marix Game Analysis: Optimal, Simplified, And Human Strategies In Brave Rats
Get PDFBrave Rats is a short game with simple rules, yet establishing a comprehensive strategy is very challenging without extensive computation. After explaining the rules, this paper begins by calculating the optimal strategy by recursively solving each turn’s Minimax strategy. It then provides summary statistics about the complex, branching Minimax solution. Next, we examine six other strategy models and evaluate their performance against each other. These models’ flaws highlight the key elements that contribute to the effectiveness of the Minimax strategy and offer insight into simpler strategies that human players could mimic. Finally, we analyze 123 games of human data collected by the author and friends and investigate how that data is different from Minimax optimal play
Sustaining Sustainable Farming: An Evaluation Of The Reasoned Action And Comprehensive Action Determination Frameworks For Persistence
Get PDFThis paper investigates the persistence of agricultural practices funded by the California Department of Food and Agriculture\u27s Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation (CDFA OEFI). The central inquiry revolves around determining the most effective behavior model for analyzing persistence, comparing the Reasoned Action Approach (RAA), Comprehensive Action Determination Model (CADM), and CADM augmented with structural variables. The study\u27s methodology integrates literature review, analysis of OEFI-funded practices, and statistical modeling to assess persistence levels. Contrary to existing literature, our findings reveal significantly higher levels of persistence than anticipated. Moreover, through model comparison, CADM augmented with political economic variables emerges as the superior model for analyzing and predicting persistence in agricultural practices funded by CDFA OEFI. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of behavioral determinants in sustainable agricultural practices and offer insights into optimizing policy interventions for long-term practice adoption and environmental impact
The Pressure Distribution Of Rotating Cylinders Using An Onboard Wireless Data Acquisition System
No full textThis thesis presents a novel, cost-effective method for mapping the pressure distribution on a rotating cylinder in cross flow, a phenomenon central to the Magnus effect. Utilizing commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) pressure sensors, a high-resolution data acquisition system was developed and integrated into a rotating cylinder model. Compared to traditional approaches, such as slip rings or one-off designs, this method proved significantly cheaper and faster while achieving comparable or superior resolution. The experimental setup, including a modified continuous rotation technique and adaptable model design, facilitated rapid testing across a broad range of Reynolds numbers and reduced frequencies, exceeding the scope of existing literature. This provided an unprecedentedly detailed view of pressure distributions under both steady and unsteady flow conditions. The validated experimental methodology, applicable to arbitrary bluff body shapes and attitudes, has the potential to significantly accelerate research into unsteady aerodynamics. Moreover, the low-cost, adaptable nature of the setup allows its integration into educational settings, providing students with hands-on experience in experimental fluid mechanics and data acquisition
Hydrologic Response Of Meadow Restoration Following The Removal Of Encroached Conifers
Get PDFMeadows are important within forest ecosystems because they provide diverse species habitats, facilitate water cycling, help with sediment capture, aid in carbon sequestration, and create natural fire breaks in forested regions. However, fire suppression, poor grazing practices, and climate change have accelerated the encroachment of conifers into historical meadow habitat. This has led to an extensive loss of meadow habitat within the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain Ranges. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to quantify changes in percent soil moisture and groundwater levels following the removal of encroached lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) in a historic meadow habitat near Lake Almanor, California.
A before-after control-intervention (BACI) study design was used, with Marian Meadow (MM) as the control and Rock Creek Meadow (RCM) as the restored meadow. Soil moisture and groundwater level data was collected one year before (water year 2019), and three years after (water years 2020-2023) the removal of lodgepole pine from RCM in the fall of 2020. This data was then analyzed using multiple linear regression and estimated marginal means (EMMs) models.
Percent soil moisture increased each year after restoration, with significant increases from pre-restoration values occurring in year 2 and year 3 post-restoration. The overall mean soil moisture content increased from 30.69% (pre-restoration) to 40.42% by the 3rd year post-restoration. Groundwater has had a much more mixed response to restoration, with the 1st year post-restoration seeing a significant decrease in groundwater availability. Years 2 and 3 showed gradual recovery of groundwater levels, although on average they were still less than pre-restoration groundwater levels. This can likely be attributed to moderate drought occurring in the 2020 and 2021 water years.
Sources of variability include the 2021 Dixie Fire which burned through both meadows at different severity levels, gaps in the data due to issues with the data loggers, differences in snowmelt timing, and differences in soil attributes. Collectively, however, all these factors converge toward a wetter meadow habitat. Hopefully, the results of this research will help promote a better understanding of how meadow restoration can improve California forestland management
Optimizing Web Delivery: The Impact Of Rendering Methods On User Experience Across Network Conditions
Get PDFIn an era where web applications are pivotal for global information dissemination and user engagement, ensuring the performance and accessibility of static web content is paramount. This need is particularly significant given the diverse accessibility requirements worldwide, influenced by varying network generations and the real-time rendering of static elements such as text, images, and videos on devices ranging from laptops to cell phones. This thesis embarks on a comparative study of client-side rendering (CSR) and server-side rendering (SSR), two fundamental techniques determining how various platforms present static content. Through detailed examination, the study aims to shed light on the nuances of web performance optimization, particularly how CSR and SSR affect content loading times, interactivity, and overall user experience. This investigation covers popular web browsers like Google Chrome, Brave Browser, and Microsoft Edge while considering network generations from 2G Good to 4G/LTE Regular. The analysis will utilize performance metrics such as First Contentful Paint (FCP), Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS), and Finish Time to provide a comprehensive evaluation. These metrics are essential for assessing the performance impact of CSR and SSR under different network conditions, offering a tangible measurement of user experience. By exploring the interplay between rendering techniques, device capabilities, and network environments, the research seeks to demystify the complexities of web performance optimization, ultimately offering strategies to enhance web application performance across different digital ecosystems
Shadows of Virtue: ‘The Abolition of Man’ in Modern Context
Get PDFC.S. Lewis\u27s The Abolition of Man stands as a remarkable examination of the mid-19th century shift towards moral subjectivism. With a detailed study of this text, this essay will utilize ideological and Postmodern criticism to reveal how Lewis builds his defense of objective morality, or what he calls the Tao, against the educational spread of relativism. The heart of the analysis is the examination of Lewis\u27s use of ideographs. Terms such as the Tao, Men without Chests, and the Abolition of Man\u27\u27 not only criticize the philosophical trends of the time but also tap into a deep cultural current of the wartime era. These ideas themselves serve as a battleground for the ideological conflict of the time, embodying a wide variety of connotations and meanings to the reader. This essay additionally utilizes postmodern criticism to reveal the real-world implications of Lewis\u27s arguments in a contemporary context, especially in an age of skepticism towards universal truths and grand narratives. Overall, Lewis\u27s central thesis for the preservation of past moral guidance continually asks us to consider the foundations upon which our society is built. By analyzing his diction, rhetorical strategies, and ideological undercurrents, this essay seeks to critically assess Lewis\u27s literary defense of objective moral truth