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Fire Protection and Life Safety Analysis of Christopher Cohan Center
Get PDFThis report analyzes the fire protection and life safety systems of the Christopher Cohan Center. The building was assessed from both a prescriptive and performance-based approach.
The prescriptive design analyzed the code requirements for the building based on the 2018 IBC, with some consideration for the codes in place at the time of construction. The prescriptive analysis main focus was on egress systems, fire alarm and detection, fire suppression, and structural fire protection. The egress analysis found that the exits and exit configuration were sufficient for the occupant loads that were calculated for the building. The fire alarm and detection system was found to meet the requirements for providing an emergency voice evacuation system and most of the locations of required devices. However, it was found that smoke detector spacing in some spaces was insufficient and that there may have been a lack of coordination for the placement and monitoring of duct detectors. The building is equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system and is provided with required monitoring components and was designed in accordance with NFPA 13. The initial installation of the fire sprinkler system would have met the code requirements, as the water supply with a fire pump was able to meet the most demanding remote area. However, the fire sprinkler system in the building was modified by the removal of a fire pump, which resulted in a slight deficiency in water supply. The structural fire protection was found to meet the prescriptive code requirements of the 2018 IBC for heights, areas, and occupancy separation requirements. As part of the prescriptive portion of the report, two design fires were modeled to assess the effects of fire on the strength of the steel members. One design fire found that the member may fail, although this was a worst-case fire for a single member and significant structural failure may not occur from a single failure. The main issue found in the prescriptive analysis was the lack of sufficient water supply for the fire sprinkler system, which could be addressed as described in the recommendations portion of this report.
The performance-based analysis was performed based on design fires and tenability criteria. The tenability criteria were toxicity, heat flux, temperature, and visibility. The limits were set at 683 ppm for CO concentration, 5.75 kW/m2 for heat flux, 60 °C for temperature and 13 meters for visibility. Two design fires were considered, however one design fire on the stage was chosen to be analyzed in further detail with an FDS model. The design fire considered a scenario where both the fire sprinkler system failed to control the fire and where the 2-hour rated proscenium curtain failed to activate. A Pathfinder model was also used to determine the egress time from the main hall, where the design fire was located. The performance-based analysis found that occupants would be able to egress from main hall, and that tenability would be maintained largely in part due to the activation of the smoke exhaust vents at the top of the stage. While the performance-based requirements were met, some recommendations were made including the improvement of the sprinkler system as well as the improvement of the detection system in the stage area. With the improvement of the detection system in the stage area, smoke vents could open earlier and the proscenium curtain could be activated automatically with the implementation of projected beam smoke detection
Analysis of Current and Future Flood Hazard in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Get PDFThe primary motivation of this study is to estimate the current and future flood hazard throughout the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in the context of sea-level rise. I also analyzed the effects of storm surge and river flow on extreme events to better understand how these events originate and vary spatially and in time. To address this goal, I combined digital water level records (primarily 1983-present) with archival data collected by the California Department of Water Resources (1929-1983) to reevaluate flood hazard in the Delta and investigate the possible sensitivity of the region different sea-level rise projections. Available archival records from 8 stations were digitized and quality assured, producing a length of record that approximately doubles previously available data. The records were then analyzed using the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) and Generalized Pareto distributions (GPD). Additionally, the contribution of storm surge and river flow to water level events at each station was assessed using a regression approach. Finally, the impact of future sea-level rise on the 1-, 10-, 100-, and 500-year return period water level was assessed through 2150, using recently published sea-level rise projections.
Results show that the total water level (tides + storm surge + river flow) during the 100-year event increases by roughly 0.5m between San Francisco and interior Delta stations such as Rio Vista and Venice Island. For present-day sea-levels, the 100y event increased from 2.59 meters at San Francisco to 3.08 meters at Rio Vista (river-km 100from the Golden Gate), using the GPD approach (relative to NAVD-88). Further upstream, river influence becomes an increasingly important component of high-water events. At Walnut Grove (river-km 123), more than 80% of high-water events were forced by river flow, as estimated by the Net Delta Outflow Index (on average). The water level caused by river flow was significantly higher than coastal surge, and the 100y event was estimated to be 4.71 meters (NAVD-88). Confidence intervals and uncertainty in the flood hazard increases as stations become more influenced by river flow, likely because river flow is more variable from year-to-year than the combination of coastal tides and storm surge. The largest high-water events measured in the Delta typically receive a larger contribution from river flow than smaller high-water events. Interestingly, GEV and GPD results are consistent with an earlier assessment of flood hazard in the Delta from the 1970s.
Results show that future flood hazard is likely to be significantly influenced by sea-level rise, particularly in the western Delta region which is more coastally influenced. Under the assumption that sea-level rise will linearly add to existing flood hazard, I find that the 100-year event could reach 4.09 meters at San Francisco and 6.21 meters at Walnut Grove by the end of the century, under the “Intermediate-High” sea-level rise scenario. Based on available flood datums, the first flood stage datum may get exceeded once every 10 years by 2150, under the Intermediate scenario. However, since much of the interior Delta is subsiding, individual locations may reach actionable hazard levels earlier. More analysis with sea-level rise, changing precipitation patterns, and vertical land motion should be done to increase the accuracy of projected flood hazards
Live Cell Imaging Gas Control
Get PDFThe following document outlines the entire process for designing and manufacturing a Live Cell Imaging Gas Control subsystem in tandem with the Heated Stage subsystem to make a CO2 and temperature-controlled chamber for use with the Olympus IX73P2F Microscope. It highlights the current literature and patents surrounding live cell imaging and touches on the existing live cell imaging setups currently being used by other entities. Following this, it defines the scope of the project, key customer requirements, and engineering specifications to ensure the design meets all the needs of its users. This document includes project planning steps to establish important deadlines and a budget for project completion. As the project has progressed, additional documentation has been added such as morphologies of possible design functions, conjoint analyses, conceptual evaluations, and conceptual models for development of the final design. To note, these initial designs highlighting a drawer like chamber were soon dismissed as it would not allow imaging within the device due to objective focal length. The design evolved into the final chamber with a removable lid of a polysulfone chamber with aluminum base. The manufacturing process instructions and design history file show the exact steps taken to manufacture the chamber prototype. Similarly, circuitry diagrams and instructions on the Arduino controlled CO2 system are outlined. In depth test plans were outlined, including testing for the materials, chamber itself, CO2 control system, and fully combined system with the Heated Stage subsystem. Material testing showed that polysulfone, glass, and aluminum withstand autoclave sterilization and laboratory cleaning agents. Chamber testing highlighted the compact size and usability of the device with a multitude of culture vessels. CO2 control system testing showed that the control system effectively keeps CO2 concentration between 4.5% and 5.5% during imaging, with the system being able to re-establish CO2 concentration within 2 minutes of the lid removal, and the system establishes required CO2 concentration about 5 minutes after setup. The entire Live Cell Imaging Device was shown to keep cells alive compared to an ambient air flask for a period of 3 hours. Finally, this document outlines the next steps for this device, including finer tuning of the CO2 control system and increasing cellular viability in the chamber for longer periods of time with the addition of humidity control
The Threat of Returning to “Normal”: Resisting Ableism in the Post-COVID Classroom
Get PDFThe abrupt switch to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted pervasive ableism; accommodations that had been “impossible” were suddenly available. This critical commentary draws from interviews with 16 students and our own ethnographic accounts as student/professor to understand how COVID shaped disabled experiences in the classroom. As a student with a disability, Elizabeth was hyperaware of her vulnerability to illness, but also experienced herself as less impaired online. She could control her learning environment to minimize sensory and mobility challenges. Additionally, professors’ flexible policies helped her to manage energy, time, and symptoms. However, Elizabeth and her peers feared an uncritical return to “normal.” As we witness students’ struggles for inclusion, how might professors resist returning to rigid, ableist practices
Invitational Pedagogical Approaches to Sharing Examples of Witnessing in an Intercultural Communication Course
Get PDFThe Importance of Health Literacy: A Student-Led Workshop on Lay Communication
Get PDFThe purpose of this experiential senior project workshop was to advance the knowledge and practice of health communication by (a) delivering a training workshop to Cal Poly undergraduate students and (b) by exploring the relationship between health literacy and effective communication through completion of a rapid review of the literature. The reviewed literature served the purpose of helping the student further design the workshop to elicit a foundational understanding of the elements of effective communication of health information as well as the history and evolution of health literacy as a concept. The workshop revised and delivered by the student was first developed by Dr. Jafrā Thomas (2020) with the stated goal to provide undergraduate students with an awareness of health literacy, the role of plain language in promoting health literacy, and to equip students with practical skills for effectively communicating health information to a lay adult audience. This submission presents the student reflection on their experiential project, the rapid review of literature produced by the student, the elements identified for a successful workshop on the topic, evaluation and analysis of participant pre-and post-workshop surveys, and finally, suggestions for ways to improve the workshop which was guided by the student’s review of literature and experiential reflection. After the conclusion of the workshop, student participants were successfully able to define health literacy and identify at least two tips for effective communication of health information. Some proposed improvements for future workshop revisions include the addition of personal anecdotes and health-related case studies
A Date With Cheemis: Bullying in the Virtual Space
Get PDFA Date With Cheemis is an alternative game mode for the social platform VRChat designed in the Unity real-time 3D development platform. The project is an experience where the player meets many non-playable characters (NPCs) and makes decisions based on different scenarios. The game tells the story of a VRChat user named Cheemis who is bullied for the avatar they use and how they interact with other characters. The player must make choices of how to react to the way the NPCs treat Cheemis, whether that be defending him or being a bystander. This experience is only available through the PC version of VRChat and can be played both in VR or with a mouse and keyboard
Analysis of the Potential Structure of a Peer Mentorship Program for The Construction Management Department at Cal Poly, SLO
Get PDFThe Construction Management Department at Cal Poly, SLO has no structured peer mentorship program as of 2022. The department has attempted to implement a peer mentoring program in the past but none with longevity. This paper analyzes data collected from the students of the CM Department through a qualitative and quantitative survey regarding the need and structure of a peer mentorship program to begin again. The survey’s main goal was to gain an understanding of whether or not the students think the department should implement a peer mentorship program and the structure that the student body would find most beneficial if a program was to start. Based on the research survey that students responded to, a peer mentorship program would positively influence the Construction Management Department and most students would be willing to become a mentor. A peer mentorship program was seen as a positive addition to the department and most students said that they would use a mentor for career and internship advice, class registration and competition teams. This paper analyzes data that shows the students do not believe there should be prequalification requirements for students to apply and that most students would prefer to have 1-4 underclassmen assigned to them
Novelty Ice Cream Assembly Prototype
Get PDFCool Beans USA is a novelty ice cream startup company founded by Keith Zachow. In the winter of 2022, our team began working with Mr. Zachow to develop a machine to automate parts of the production process for his product. This product consists of two hemispherical ice-cream cone shell halves filled with soft serve ice cream and pressed together. The assembled pods are around the size and shape of a small walnut and are intended to be sold in stores as a frozen finger food. At the time of project inception, this product was in its early stages and was being assembled in small batches by hand. Our team’s task was to design and manufacture a machine that would pick up two shells, orient them appropriately such that they could be filled with soft serve ice cream, join them cleanly together, and deposit them into a freezer while meeting increased throughput and food safety requirements. Over nine months our team brainstormed and prototyped designs. This project culminated in the manufacture our final prototype assembly machine. In November of 2022, we delivered our completed machine to Mr. Zachow. The final prototype can join shells as intended and can be operated via a simple graphic user interface. We hope that this machine will remove the production bottleneck of joining shells and allow Cool Beans USA to increase their production and sell their product in stores
Impact of Primary Myoblasts on Macrophage Polarization In-Vitro
Get PDFPeripheral artery disease (PAD) is characterized by the development of atherosclerotic plaques on arterial walls, leading to the narrowing of blood vessels, resulting in ischemia in the downstream tissue. In the United States, 12% of the adult population is affected by PAD and its related symptoms. Current surgical revascularization techniques can be effective in part of the patient population, but there is a need for other options. Alternatively, collateral blood vessels, or natural bypass arteries, enlarge to increase blood flow to the ischemic tissue in a process called arteriogenesis, which has been studied as a therapeutic option. Cell-based therapies, such as BM-MNCs, have been investigated as means to enhance arteriogenesis, but have largely failed in clinical trials. An alternative cell-based therapy candidate are myoblasts, or muscle progenitor cells. Myoblasts increase arteriogenesis in murine models and are known to interact with macrophages, which are immune cells that are primary regulators of arteriogenesis. Macrophages can polarize to inflammatory (M1) and regenerative (M2) phenotypes, with the M2 phenotype promoting enhanced arteriogenesis. This interaction suggests that myoblasts may be signaling macrophage polarization to enhance arteriogenesis. The purpose of this study was to determine if myoblasts in vitro can affect macrophage polarization into inflammatory (M1) or regenerative (M2) phenotypes. Protocols for macrophage culture and polarization were implemented, and then macrophages were co-cultured with myoblasts for 24 hours to assess the effects in vitro. Concentrations of known inflammatory (TNF-a) and regenerative (IL-10) cytokines released by macrophages were measured after co-culture with myoblasts. Surprisingly, macrophages co-cultured with myoblasts showed a decrease in both TNF-a and IL-10 compared to macrophages cultured alone. Morphology changes of macrophages were also measured after co-culture, with, surprisingly, little difference in the groups co-cultured with myoblasts. Pilot experiments suggest there may be an initial lag time greater than 24 hours for myoblasts to affect macrophage phenotype. Future work ideally will include longer time points and optimizing viability and proliferation of myoblasts in co-culture settings