Standard fog collector and dual FM-120 comparisons

For the first time in the northern hemisphere, extended measurements of fog droplet sizes and numbers were measured both upstream from and on the leeward side of a standard fog collector (SFC) using FM-120 optical spectrometers. These measurements, coupled with the water recorded by the standard fog collectors and accompanying meteorological data, have yielded efficiency measurements for field-based fog collectors for the first time in the northern hemisphere and only for the third time ever that we are aware of. Of note, two of these efficiencies are the ‘collector efficiency’ and the ‘mesh efficiency’. The collector efficiency is the ratio between the water draining from the collector and the upstream liquid water content (LWC) flux. This value describes the efficiency of the fog collector in collecting fog LWC. Using multiple-regression analysis, the collector efficiency has a significantly positive relationship with the mean volume diameter (MVD) (p = 0.0019), is negatively related with upstream LWC (p = 0.0012) and positively related with leeward LWC given all other variables held constant. The adjusted R-square of this regression model is 0.431. If we account for the interaction between upstream LWC and leeward LWC, which is statistically significant (p = 0.0219) given all other variables held constant, the adjusted R-square increases to 0.538. This interaction indicates that the positive relationship between collector efficiency and leeward LWC is significantly positive especially when the upstream LWC is low, but the positive relationship becomes weaker when the upstream LWC is high. The mesh efficiency describes the efficiency of the mesh in removing the fog LWC and it was calculated to have an average value of 35 % ± 19 %. It is equal to the difference between the LWC arriving at the surface of the SFC and what is measured behind the mesh all divided by the LWC arriving at the surface of the mesh. Like the collector efficiency, the mesh efficiency has a significantly positive relationship with the MVD (p = 0.0016), is positively related with upstream LWC (p = 0.0024) and is negatively related with leeward LWC (p = 0.0009) given all other variables held constant. In addition, the mesh efficiency is significantly related to the wind direction (p = 0.0003) in that it increases as the wind direction becomes more aligned with the SFC direction. This model has an adjusted R-square of 0.780. The interaction between the upwind and leeward LWC was not statistically significant for the mesh efficiency (p = 0.6521). Measurements from both FM-120 units generally indicate a clear reduction in the droplet numbers, MVD and LWC from the unperturbed ‘free-stream” fog on the upwind side of the SFC to the fog on the leeward side of the SFC, as would be expected. While the numbers of ∼5 μm droplets are reduced by the SFC to in some cases 50 % of their counts in the open-air fog, the volume of fog water reduced by the SFCs experiences its greatest reduction by the loss of relatively fewer droplets but at larger diameters that peak at around 25 μm. The droplets observed at this semi-coastal, low-elevation California location tend to have higher average diameters than those fog droplets observed at higher elevations in other studies done in Chile. Furthermore, the droplet numbers tend to be much lower at these sites compared to the higher-elevation sites at which studies in Chile took place, often close to 100 droplets per centimeter as compared to 300–500 droplets per centimeter in the Chilean studies. Similarly, despite the larger droplet sizes in the current study, the LWC in the coastal fogs observed in this study is typically at least a factor of 2 lower than that associated with the orographic fog observed in the Chilean studies

Effects of Afterschool Programs on Elementary School Students’ Behaviors, Social Interactions and Learning

This capstone research examines the effects of afterschool programs on elementary school students’ behaviors, social interactions, and learning. Motivated by four years of experience working in such programs, after-school programs influence students’ academic performance, social skills, and behavior. Through a literature review, and interviews with teachers, administrators, and parents, the research findings indicated that after-school programs enhance students’ behaviors, promote positive social interactions, and foster academic engagement. After-school programs also provide a safe, structured environment where students can explore interests, build life skills, and develop stronger peer relationships. Despite the challenges, such as scheduling conflicts and limited recent research, after-school programs are important in supporting students’ overall development

Curated dataset of asphaltene structures

Asphaltenes, a distinct class of molecules found in crude oil, exhibit insolubility in nonpolar solvents like n-heptane but are soluble in aromatic solvents such as toluene and benzene. Understanding asphaltenes is crucial in the petroleum industry due to their detrimental effects on oil processing, resulting in significant economic losses and production disruptions. While no singular structure defines asphaltenes, two major molecular architectures, namely archipelago and continental models, have gained wide acceptance for their consistency with various experimental investigations and subsequent use in computational studies. The archipelago model comprises two or more polyaromatic hydrocarbon entities interconnected via aliphatic side chains. In contrast, the island or continental model features a unified polyaromatic hydrocarbon moiety with 4 to 10 fused aromatic rings, averaging around 7 rings. To establish a comprehensive collection, we meticulously curated over 250 asphaltene structures derived from previous experimental and computational studies in this field. Our curation process involved an extensive literature survey, conversion of figures from publications into molecular structure files, careful verification of conversion accuracy, and structure editing to ensure alignment with molecular formulas. Our database provides digital structure files and optimized geometries for both predominant structural motifs. The optimization procedure commenced with the PM6 semi-empirical method, followed by further optimization utilizing density functional theory employing the B3LYP functional and the 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. Furthermore, we compiled a range of structural and electronic features for these molecules, serving as a valuable foundation for employing machine learning algorithms to investigate asphaltenes. This work provides a ready to use structural database of asphaltenes and sets the stage for future research endeavours in this domain

Importance of Diverse Curriculum Among Preschool-Aged Children

This capstone project delves into the critical need for diversity awareness in early childhood education, particularly focusing on preschool-aged children. The project outlines a comprehensive three-step diversity-based curriculum plan designed for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) children aged 4-5, implemented at Moreland Notre Dame School in Watsonville, California, a predominantly Hispanic community. Drawing on research and educational theory, the curriculum aims to foster self-awareness, social understanding, and positive identity development in young learners through hands-on activities centered around embracing differences

Increasing College Readiness and Awareness Among Hispanic/Latino High School Students

This capstone project focuses on informing low-income Hispanic/Latino high school junior and senior students, ages sixteen to eighteen years old, about college readiness and awareness. Many Hispanic/Latino students lack knowledge and resources about college, therefore widening the ethnic gap in higher education attainment. Often, Hispanic/Latino students may be the first in their families to attend college, and they may not have college-educated parents to rely on for post-secondary information. Thus, this requires them to seek post-secondary information for themselves. Leo and Wilcox (2023) indicate Latinx high school graduates are registering for college at record-high levels. Still, completion rates are low, suggesting that Latinx students encounter barriers when entering postsecondary institutions (Leo & Wilcox, 2023). In the absence of resources surrounding post-secondary success, it is vital to provide Hispanic/Latino high school students with equal educational opportunities. To confront this need, I developed a one-time college readiness and awareness workshop for Hispanic/Latino high school junior and senior students at Aptos High School in Aptos, California. It addressed three topics split into three sections. The first was students’ ability to identify the benefits of a college degree. Second, students will be able to identify the differences between higher education public institutions in California, i.e., California Community Colleges, Universities of California, and California State Universities. Lastly, students will be able to identify financial aid types available to afford college

Teaching 6-7 Year Old Children the Importance of Being Kind

Kindness is an ongoing issue seen in elementary schools. Children ages 6 to 7 years old have a hard time displaying their kindness to their peers. My paper focuses on teaching children ages 6 to 7 years old how to be kind to one another. The children are also shown examples of what it looks like to be kind vs. unkind. The overall purpose, is for the children to learn the benefits of being kind, what are kind vs unkind words, and what are kind vs unkind actions/behaviors

Benefits of Dual Immersion Programs on Elementary School Students

This senior capstone research project aims to share the benefits of dual immersion programs in elementary school years. Understanding what a dual immersion program is and knowing the different models within the program allow parents to select which program is best suited for their students. A key point in clarification is that a dual immersion program does not aim to replace an English, or standard, education program, but adds a target language to enhance the students learning. This study looks at the overall benefits that students can gain in elementary school, from kindergarten through fifth grade, sometimes through eighth grade. Through the use of literature review, teacher surveys, as well as personal experiences, the findings indicate that bilingualism, biliteracy, and multicultural competence are part of all important products of a dual immersion program

The Impact of Parental Involvement on Academic Achievement and Self-Concept of Elementary School Students

Lack of parental involvement in schools is the missing link to long-term student success at the elementary school level. Within the first few years of elementary school, parental help and support is all that students need as they begin to grow and learn new concepts at school The continuing absence of parental involvement in school can have a long-term impact on the students, hindering their growth in the years to come in their academics and self-concept. A literature review and surveys with parents and teachers indicated that the lack of parental involvement in schools contributed to students’ behaviors, lack of self-awareness, and self-regulation

Increasing Social-Emotional Competence in Preschoolers

This capstone project focused on the enhancement of social-emotional competence in preschool-aged children, typically ages 3 to 5 years old. Preschool children often struggle to express their feelings and solve social problems in stressful situations. According to Stein and Steed (2022), children with social-emotional challenges may struggle with several behaviors, including self-regulation, conflict resolution, and peer interaction. Furthermore, these social-emotional challenges are linked to an increased risk for later academic problems and mental health issues (Stein & Steed, 2022). Preschoolers need social-emotional skills to regulate their attention, emotions, and behavior. Because of this need, I developed a set of three lessons to foster preschool children’s social-emotional development, which will ultimately foster their resilience. The first lesson focused on being aware of and labeling feelings with words and expressions. The second lesson focused on preschool children learning to understand their peers’ feelings by recognizing them and showing understanding during group activities such as playtime. The third lesson focused on preschoolers demonstrating two ways to build positive peer relationships. My lessons were conducted at Marina Child Development Center in Marina, California. The participants were preschool children, ages 3 to 4 years old, in an inclusion classroom setting, including students with Individualized Education Plans and English language learners

Introduction to Educational Interpreting and Translation

Introduction to Educational Interpreting and Translation is written with the working interpreter in mind. Drawing on years of experience interpreting in U.S. public schools, author Judy Cortés, PhD, tackles the topics most relevant to educational interpreters. Learn to handle a broad range of assignments effectively, from IEPs to assessments to parent-teacher conferences, whether interpreting in-person or remotely. If you’re new to the field or simply looking to refine your approach, this book has you covered. With an emphasis on promoting language accessibility, IEIT is relevant not only to interpreters and translators, but also teachers, specialists, trainers and school administrators. Written in clear, engaging language, this book will provide educational interpreters a solid foundation in interpreter ethics, all modes of interpreting, as well as important legal requirements. IEIT is both a guide to the field and a hands-on workbook for skill reinforcement, packed with review activities, role plays and practical exercises.https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/fac_books/1083/thumbnail.jp