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The Absence of Autistic Voices: Stereotypical Depictions of Autistic Characters in Music, The Good Doctor, and Atypical
Get PDFIn 1988, Rain Man was one of the first films with an autistic character that sparked conversation around neurodiversity. Throughout the past 30 years, different media texts have continued to include autistic characters to increase representation. However, there has not been an increase in representation compared to the large autistic community in the United States. As media attempts to include autistic characters, audiences must be aware of the message these characters and scenes are sending. In my analysis, I analyze three media texts that have autistic main characters. Using a visual rhetorical critique, I examine Music, Season 1 of The Good Doctor, and Season 1 of Atypical, and I argue that these media texts support stereotypes such as being a burden or a challenge for those around them, having savant skills, and focusing on a neurotypical point of view rather than providing a voice to the autistic characters. While each of these media texts were created in hopes of bringing positive attention to autism, these texts focus on certain characteristics of autism rather than neurodiversity as a whole
License to Drill
Get PDFThe goal of this project is to provide the student machine shops with an updated License to Drill (LTD) certification training, formally known as the Red Tag. The current training has two key components: a preliminary Canvas course and an in-person training with a safety tour, safety quiz, and a hands-on project. Currently, the hands-on project is outdated and unengaging. Thus, the primary focus is to replace it with an inspiring and memorable project, which includes written and visual instructional content on how to make it. The Canvas will thus be updated, a new instructional video will be created, and the certification training will be updated with the new project. Altogether, the new LTD certification training should provide students with an understanding of machine use and safety and give them the confidence to use the machine shops
Assessment of Energy Balance, Macronutrient Intake, and Training Load Using HRV-Based Wearable Monitors in NCAA Division I Female Soccer Players
No full textThis study aimed to assess energy balance, macronutrient intake, and training load among NCAA Division I female collegiate soccer players during the competitive season, using validated wearable technology and dietary analysis. 33 athletes were recruited, with 14 providing complete 3-day dietary records and 24-hour energy expenditure (EE) using the Firstbeat Bodyguard 3 device. Training load data were collected from 30 players using Firstbeat chest strap monitors across various session types and microcycle phases. Dietary records were analyzed using ESHA Food Processor software, and energy balance was assessed by comparing EE, energy intake (EI), and software-generated recommended EI. Macronutrient intake was compared against sport-specific recommendations. Internal (ITL) and external training load (ETL) variables were analyzed by session type, microcycle phase, match-day role (Comp vs Scout), and positions among field players. Players were in significant negative energy balance, with EI (2167 ± 318 kcal/day) falling short of both TEE (2656 ± 563 kcal/d; p = .036) and recommended EI (2842 ± 184 kcal/d; p \u3c .001). Carbohydrate intake (4.2 g/kg/d) was significantly lower than recommended (p \u3c .001), while protein (1.94 g/kg/d) and fat (1.28 g/kg/d) met targets. Match sessions imposed the highest training loads, followed by Practice+Lift sessions. MD-2 was the most demanding non-match day. Comp players exhibited significantly higher EE, carbohydrate utilization, TRIMP, and movement load compared to Scout players. No significant positional differences were observed among field players during match play. Despite targeted fueling strategies, female collegiate soccer players demonstrated persistent energy carbohydrate deficits during the season. Objective monitoring of EE and training load can help guide individualized nutrition strategies, especially around high-load sessions and matches. These findings underscore the need for performance-oriented fueling education and practical tools to close the gap between EI and expenditure in women’s collegiate athletics
GENESIS Station Fire Protection and Life Safety Analysis
Get PDFThis fire protection and life safety analysis evaluates GENESIS Station, a nine-story Type I-B mixed-tenant building located in Daly City, California. The facility includes business, research laboratory, and assembly occupancies. A combination of prescriptive code compliance and performance-based analysis was applied to assess the building’s overall fire safety strategy.
The building utilizes a layered fire protection strategy that combines passive fire resistive construction with active systems. Fire rated construction separate tenant suites, limiting the spread of fire and smoke, defining hazardous materials control areas, and ensuring compliant separation of egress paths.
Active fire protection systems include a fully automatic sprinkler system designed in accordance with NFPA 13, with hazard classifications tailored to each space type. The system is supported by a dedicated fire pump, on-site water storage tank and city supply. A networked fire alarm system provides occupant notification, activates smoke control systems, and integrates with the building management system to initiate emergency protocols.
Smoke control strategies are coordinated with fire compartmentation and tenant boundaries. The systems are designed to maintain pressure differentials between laboratory spaces and adjacent common areas, helping to contain smoke and protect means of egress. Pressurized stairways and lobbies further safeguard vertical exit enclosures. Laboratory spaces are subdivided into hazardous materials control areas that often align with tenant demising walls, enabling increased storage quantities per floor. This is achieved by maintaining code compliance through proper fire rated separations, exhaust or detection systems, and inventory control in accordance with applicable hazardous materials regulations.
Performance-based modeling evaluated worst-case fire conditions, including Design Fire 3, which simulated a high-output fire in Storage Room 9201 using NIST data for polystyrene-filled cardboard boxes. The scenario produced rapid smoke accumulation, reducing visibility in Hallway 9200 to untenable levels within 58 seconds, establishing the Available Safe Egress Time (ASET).
The Required Safe Egress Time (RSET), accounting for detection, notification, pre-movement, and movement, exceeded 500 seconds, primarily due to early visibility loss and delayed occupant response. Even when occupants were rerouted from Stair #1 to Stair #2 and Stair #3, the overall RSET still exceeded the ASET.
To resolve this gap, the most effective recommendation is to upgrade Hallway 9200 to a fully fire-rated corridor. This includes 1-hour rated walls and ceilings, automatic door closers, and smoke-sealed, latching fire doors. Where a full rating is impractical, strategic compartmentation can limit smoke migration. These improvements extend tenable conditions and better align the building’s fire protection strategy with performance-based life safety goals
The Northern Elephant Seals (Mirounga Angustirostris) of the Piedras Blancas Colony: A Story of Recolonization, Monitoring and Movement
Get PDFNorthern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are large, ocean migrating carnivores that have a wide distribution along the west coast of North America. Like other pinniped species, northern elephant seals spend considerable time out at sea foraging and return to land to molt and breed. Northern elephant seals were hunted to near extinction in the late 1800s. Due to conservation efforts they have since rebounded, and they currently occupy 27 known terrestrial breeding colonies. Much literature has documented the recolonization, population dynamics, and dispersion of this species. Currently, Piedras Blancas (San Simeon, California) is the largest mainland breeding colony of northern elephant seals. Though there is one study that describes estimated births at the Piedras Blancas colony from its recolonization in 1992 through 2010, not much else is known about its more recent growth, beach dynamics, or the movement of breeding individuals within the colony.
To better understand the long-term growth patterns at Piedras Blancas, we fit both an exponential and a logistic growth model to female northern elephant seal counts obtained from yearly censuses. We used survey data collected 2017-2025 to visualize total colony abundance by week, and further examined the data by age class presence, seal abundance, and seal density across nine breeding beach locations. Additionally, we investigated female northern elephant seal beach choice during two breeding seasons to determine if individuals were prospecting for optimal beach habitat. To do this, we marked and resighted 121 females and used a logistic regression to examine potential trends relating female beach switching probabilities to variables such as seal density, year, and time of arrival.
When we examined present and historic female elephant seal presence, a logistic growth model conferred a better fit than an exponential model, supporting the notion that the Piedras Blancas colony may be slowing in growth and reaching carrying capacity. Seal abundance and density by breeding beach exhibited patterns that suggested central, protected beaches may be more sought after by elephant seals and that recently colonized northern beaches may offer opportunities for further expansion. Furthermore, we observed female elephant seal movements between breeding beaches, and their timing of arrival may influence the probability of switching beaches. This is a novel observation supporting the idea that female northern elephant seals are exhibiting prospecting behavior when choosing a breeding beach. In summary, the results of this study illuminate the historic and present trends of an important breeding colony and support the possibility of female beach prospecting within a single colony
Myceli-Yum: Elucidating Structure-Property Relationships for Polymer Degradation by Mycelial Digestion
Get PDFSince the industrial entrance of polymer plastic materials, plastic has become ubiquitous in both everyday use and waste. Due to inefficiencies and knowledge gaps, current recycling methods are not able to account for the high scale of plastic waste, resulting in the bulk of this waste being landfilled, mishandled, and deposited in the environment. Mycelium, the microorganism responsible for fruiting mushroom bodies and mold growth, holds potential to reduce plastic waste and can potentially be utilized as a method of industrial recycling. Following a drug-design approach, the active site of mycelial enzymes responsible for natural biopolymer degradation have been assessed for their binding properties, and these enzymes’ potential to bind synthetic polymer has been evaluated. In vivo experiments inoculate synthetic polymers including PET, polyurethane, and latex to validate these models. Polymer samples are analyzed for changes in functionality, molecular weight, thermal properties, and surface topology. Successful degradation of commercial PET and a polyurethane-polycaprolactone blend was observed, and experiments to determine degradation kinetics are proposed
Design, Test, and Comparison of a Photovoltaic Thermal Hybrid Solar Collector Utilizing a Thermosiphon, and Theory and Analysis of Related Predictive Computer Model
Get PDFDesign, construction and testing of a photovoltaic thermal collector, or PVT, was completed to determine efficiency improvements of this system compared to a conventional solar panel and to find the thermal energy gained through hot water storage. Flow, driven by density changes from solar radiation, creates a thermosiphon, moving water without the use of a pump and ultimately drawing heat away from the solar panel. This is done to create a more efficient solar panel as well as decreasing potential damage due to high temperatures. Evaluation of electrical efficiency, thermal efficiency and flowrate allow for comparison between other PVT systems. Finally, a computer model of the constructed PVT system was also created to predict solar panel, heat exchanger manifold and plumbing temperatures as well as electricity generated by using starting temperature data and transient measures of ambient temperature and solar radiation. Multiple full day tests were conducted to determine performance characteristics of this system compared to a standard solar panel. Results from this thesis show little electrical efficiency gains but show a noticeable heat generation rate that was comparable to other studies. As a result of this heat removal, panel temperatures in the PVT are lower than a conventional solar panel. Flowrate was measured and fell between expected values. Finally, model error was minimal and predicts the behavior of the system with most error below 10%
Introduction of an Industial Construction Topics Course in the Cal Poly CM Curriculum
Get PDFThe industrial construction sector represents a significant portion of the construction industry, yet it remains underrepresented in many academic programs, including the Construction Management (CM) curriculum at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). This research investigates the feasibility and interest in introducing a dedicated industrial construction elective course to bridge this gap. A student survey was conducted to assess interest levels and determine relevant topics for the course, while an industry interview provided professional insight into necessary competencies. Survey results indicated strong student interest, with 71% expressing a willingness to take the course. The study identified key topics such as energy and power, manufacturing, data centers, and military facilities, alongside critical industrial processes like permitting, maintenance of plant operations, and startup commissioning. Safety topics, including hazardous materials and confined space procedures, were also highlighted. The findings informed the development of a proposed 15-week course structure, incorporating industry partnerships, hands-on learning, and certification opportunities. By integrating this course, Cal Poly’s CM program would not only enhance student preparedness for the industrial sector but also strengthen industry relations and increase hiring opportunities. This research serves as a foundation for expanding industrial construction education within construction management curriculums
