FIRST PRINCIPLE DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY CALCULATION FOR PROTEIN BASED MATERIALS IN THE APPLICATION OF LITHIUM ION BATTERY

Chargeable lithium-ion battery has been tremendously important in current society, spanning from electronic vehicles, electronic devices, and large-scale power grids etc. First-principle density functional theory can help with identifying fundamental mechanisms like lithium transport, ion interactions, molecule binding, thus facilitating the nano-scale design of the materials in lithium-ion battery. Previously, tremendous effort has been put into improving electronic performance of traditional polymer based materials, which is a potential candidate for solid electrolyte. In comparison, protein based materials harness some natural properties which is essential in designing lithium ion transport and alleviating problems that prohibit long cycling performance. In this work, density functional theory method was applied thoroughly to study lithium ion transport mechanism in protein-based materials, designing efficient ionic transportpathways, utilizing amnio acids materials to elongate cycling life through lithium polysulfide anchoring, solid electrolyte interface formation etc

PERSPECTIVES OF GENERAL EDUCATION AND SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS IN SAUDI ARABIA TOWARD SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES PROVIDED TO STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Teachers are the architects of students’ learning experiences as they help decide classroom-type placement, interpret curriculum, choose classroom practices and strategies, and manage the school day. The teachers’ role is even more pronounced when students have learning disabilities and demands special intervention measures. This mixed method study explored the perspectives of general and special education teachers in Saudi Arabia regarding special education services provided to students with learning disabilities, identified what general and special education teachers prefer as the best suitable placement for educating students with learning disabilities, explored challenges that hinder the provision of appropriate education to these learners, and defined whether there are significant differences in their perspectives. Survey data were collected from 150 general and special education teachers and 10 teachers were interviewed. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the responses and convert the raw data into actionable information. Independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance were also employed to determine the relationship between the variables and the given responses. The result of the study indicated that the majority of the teachers found special education services to be beneficial. The study also found that most teachers supported the use of general education classrooms with resource rooms as the best placement for students with learning disabilities. The results also indicated that the lack of an appropriate curriculum, poor parent-teacher relationship, lack of administrator support, and proper training for teachers were key challenges that teachers of students with learning disabilities faced in Saudi Arabia. Teachers recommended some strategies to improve the instructional delivery and effectiveness of teaching students with learning disabilities. Based on the study findings, a comprehensive discussion about the implications for practice from this study, and overall recommendations for future research are offered

Finding Your Voice

The process of developing a compositional voice is not a clearly defined sequence of events. It is an experiential process that occurs when a composer creates a unique synthesis of compositional techniques that expresses their creativity while engaging the listener with a story that is sometimes entirely musical. The ability to use music to convey complex emotions or abstract ideas is not new territory. How that goal is achieved is something that is unique to each composer. Discovering the methods and techniques that create a person’s unique sonic voice/identity is a crucial part of the creative journey composers undertake and is a process of research, listening, and creating. This project covers all these aspects of compositional development that result in a performable product that not only shows the development of a choral composer but also a storyteller.This project is a culmination of research, composing, and writing that will result in a song cycle for SATB choir. The song cycle will feature the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Sara Teasdale, chosen for their writing style, and accessibility in the public domain. The purpose of this project is to synthesize research and discuss the compositional choices made while composing a song cycle for choir. The process of selecting poetry that evoked a theme or concept I wanted was challenging due to the large bodies of work from each poet, and narrowing those catalogs down to two poems by each composer was a highly involved process

THE EFFECTS OF INSULATION ON MANTLE DYNAMICS AND EARTH’S THERMAL EVOLUTION

The Earth’s mantle is bracketed by continental lithosphere above and Large Low Velocity Provinces (LLVPs) below. Both continental lithosphere and LLVPs impact the efficiency of convective heat transfer within the mantle. For example, prior studies find continents to behave like mantle insulators by buffering the amount of heat leaving the system, increasing mantle temperatures over time. Other studies suggest that LLVPs behave as core insulators, reducing heat transport from the core to the mantle and, consequently, decreasing mantle temperatures over time. Past studies focused mainly on the investigating mantle convection with one insulator (either top or bottom), however, a gap remains that considers two insulators operating in tandem. Do these two insulating surfaces cancel each other out? Or does one outcompete the other? To answer and better understand these questions, we first model the mantle with a single insulator. Here we present results from a suite of mantle convection simulations using the finite element code ASPECT. These simulations are isoviscous and use a two-dimensional spherical shell geometry with seven levels of mesh refinement. The model continents and LLVPs were imposed as two regions of constant viscosity, density, and thickness, one at the top (continent) and one at the bottom (LLVP) of the model mantle. To quantify the impact of insulation we examined two different conditions: (1) a system with only a top insulator, (2) a system with only bottom insulator. Within each of these conditions, we examined a range of surface average coverages of the two regions, from full surface area coverage to no surface area coverage. We found that continents reduce surface heat flux and heat the mantle with increasing surface area coverage. On the other hand, LLVPs inhibit basal heat flux and decreasing internal mantle temperatures with increasing surface area coverage. We then discuss the impacts of changes to internal temperature on mantle dynamics and the thermal evolution of the Earth, Finally, we discuss implications on the origin and morphology of LLVPs as well as the impacts of core-mantle boundary heterogeneity on the geodynamo and geomagnetic reversals

STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE SENSITIVITY AND ENABLE TANDEM MASS ANALYSIS OF BIOMOLECULES USING DIGITAL WAVE TECHNOLOGY

Digital wave technology (DWT) is an emerging and promising technique in mass spectrometry (MS) instrumentation, which has been alluded to as “the future of mass spectrometry.” The DWT discriminates charged ions for mass filtering using a rectangular waveform rather than a sine wave used in traditional mass filters. The unique advantages presented by the DWT, which include limitless mass range, low voltage requirement, and handling flexibility, have positioned it as a potential alternative to sinewave-driven systems. This work takes advantage of the flexibility of the digital waveform duty cycle variations of the DWT to improve the mass resolution of the digital waveform systems with a major goal of converting the so-called “low resolution” quadrupole instruments into a medium-high resolution mass filter. Hence, this work covers the development and application of a digital tandem quadrupole mass filter (DTMF) in analyzing biomolecules. A DTMF uses two low-resolution quadrupole mass filters aligned in series to create a new stability mass window whose width corresponds to the resolution of the isolated ion. This stability window can be narrowed by adjusting the duty cycle of the digital waveforms applied to the quadrupole rods to improve mass resolution. Chapter one of this work introduces the background of the quadrupole mass filters, the digital wave systems with attractive features and capabilities, and the digital tandem mass filters. A new technique that helps to improve ion transmission into the higher Mathieu stability zones – the digital pre-filter was also introduced.Chapter two focuses on developing the DTMF instrumentation and the initial testing of its applicability in analyzing low-mass molecules. This chapter covers the experimental evaluation of the DTMF principles and optimization of the operational parameters. Chapter three explored the application of the DTMF in analyzing peptides and proteins using a soft ionization technique. This chapter investigates the compatibilities of the DTMF with the native analysis of proteins and its potential in the analysis of large biomolecules. Chapter four covers the studies of the digital pre-filter (DPF), a new technique enabled by the DWT. This work presents the operational principles, performance optimization, and the experimental evaluation of the DPF. Overall, this project accomplished the use of digital wave technology to improve the mass resolution of a quadrupole mass filter through the development of a digital tandem quadrupole instrument, thereby increasing the boundary of the quadrupole instrument usage, examined a native quadrupole MS analysis of proteins with the digital wave system to enable biomolecule analysis, and developed a new method of sensitivity improvement for higher stability zones accessibility

TEACHER LEADERSHIP AND SENSE-MAKING A STUDY OF TEACHER LEADERS IN RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR ROLE IN SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Teacher leaders are widely viewed as key drivers of school improvement efforts, with the capacity to foster a positive learning environment and enhance instructional quality. Yet, much of the existing research focuses on subject-specific initiatives in larger or more resourced contexts, leaving gaps in understanding how teacher leaders operate effectively across diverse educational settings. In particular, teacher leaders in rural areas must possess a broad range of skills and adaptability (Ali, 2014) but often lack the necessary support or professional development opportunities (Hallinger & Liu, 2016). This underscores a vital need to explore how these educators make sense of their roles in schools with limited resources and a varied student population, especially in rural districts (Friedman, 2011). Uncovering how teacher leaders navigate unique challenges, enact leadership strategies, and address evolving school improvement goals will inform how districts can better develop and sustain teacher leadership for continuous improvement.This qualitative study investigates how teacher leaders in a large, rural school district perceive and enact their roles in driving school improvement, with a particular focus on sense-making. Drawing on interviews with 11 full-time teachers who also serve as team leaders, the study examines how these educators balance district-level initiatives and local school priorities, often in contexts characterized by low socioeconomic status and a predominantly Latinx student population. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of teacher leadership: participants act as bridges between district policies and everyday classroom realities, translating and interpreting directives to ensure initiatives resonate with staff and students. They proactively mitigate resistance by fostering trust, promoting inclusivity, and using evidence-based strategies, all while creating positive, supportive school cultures. The study underscores how deep cultural knowledge, encompassing both community values and student needs, empowers teacher leaders to navigate challenges effectively. These insights offer practical guidance for stakeholders aiming to strengthen teacher leadership structures, enhance professional collaboration, and promote sustainable school improvement in diverse or resource-limited settings

IMPACT OF METRITIS AND ANTIMICROBIALS ON DAIRY INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY

The objective of this thesis was to review important topics related to uterine diseases in dairy cows and highlight a project conducted as part of the MS program that aimed to evaluate the differences in lactational performance associated with antimicrobial therapy and clinical cure of metritis in dairy cows. In this study, data from two randomized controlled trials consisting of 4,744 Holstein cows from 5 dairy farms in California, Florida, and Texas was used. Five groups composed this study, clinically cured cows that received ceftiofur (CEFC); not cured cows that received ceftiofur (CEFN); clinically cured cows that did not receive ceftiofur (NTC); not cured cows that did not receive ceftiofur (NTN); cows without metritis (NMET). Risk and time of pregnancy and culling, total milk production by 300 days in milk were assessed across groups. Overall, clinical cure of metritis was positively associated with milk production and reproduction, regardless of antimicrobial therapy, warranting further investigation regarding selective therapy of metritis

Threads of Becoming

We are born into structures shaped by culture and society. From a young age, we are taught how to walk, talk, feel, and behave. These lessons are imparted through education, parental expectations, religion, laws, and governmental systems. Language frames these intricate rules and knowledge. But is it possible to question this conditioning and truly understand who we are beyond such structures?As an immigrant who moved from Vietnam to the United States nearly ten years ago, my experience of adapting to a new culture, language, and societal framework has profoundly shaped my identity. This journey has taught me resilience and adaptability. It has also shown me the importance of questioning my beliefs, unlearning what I have been taught, rethinking what has been coded into my mind, and unfolding the structures that have shaped my understanding of the world, and ultimately, taught me how to live.This thesis explores the process of self-reconstruction within the immigrant experience, examining how cultural displacement challenges notions of identity and belonging. Threads of Becoming includes works that reflect a personal journey of self-discovery and adaptation, but they also extend beyond the personal, gesturing toward a collective process of transformation. By engaging with these installations and performances, viewers are invited to participate in this unfolding: to move, to reflect, to become. In the space of art, we are free to construct new languages, new ways of seeing, and new ways of being. We can weave, unweave, and weave again, with each stitch becoming a step toward reimagining what is possible

MANAGING ALCOHOL IN THE VINEYARD AND THE WINERY UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF ETHANOL ON WINE FLAVOR AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AROMA COMPOSITION AND AROMA PERCEPTION IN SAUVIGNON BLANC AND CABERNET SAUVIGNON WINES

This work consists of two manuscripts, one published, and one ready-to-submit, that embody the same experimental purpose and design with two different well-known wine grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon blanc. A review of the literature is included beforehand. Ripening and alcohol were investigated for potential impacts to wine aroma and taste. Two different methods of alcohol adjustment, pre-fermentation dilution and post-fermentation membrane filtration, were implemented at three ripening targets for two vintages. Volatile composition was determined quantitatively for the wines and was correlated with significant sensory attributes. Volatile thiols in Sauvignon blanc and methoxypyrazines in Cabernet Sauvignon were quantified in addition to esters, higher alcohols, terpenes, and C13-norisoprenoids. Harvest and alcohol as treatment factors were compared as well as alcohol adjustment method and timing.Sauvignon blanc wine aroma and taste were significantly altered by changes in ethanol concentration but had fewer distinctive aromas at later harvests. Post-fermentationdealcoholization significantly reduced the concentration of volatile esters, as did pre-fermentative dilution of the must using water. Pre-fermentative dilution with sugar solution to increase alcohol concentration led to wines with higher concentrations of volatile esters, terpenes and norisoprenoids that had noticeably higher aroma intensities of tropical fruit, grapefruit, sour candy, and alcohol as well as a hotter mouthfeel and more bitter taste. Volatile thiols 3-mercaptohexanol (3-MH) and 3-merceptohexyl acetate (3-MHA) were affected by harvest timing, not alcohol, though no clear trend was observed for differences between harvests.Unlike Sauvignon blanc wines, evaluating alcohol adjustment effects showed many aroma attributes that remain discriminating for Cabernet Sauvignon wines throughout ripening. Retro-nasal aroma, taste, and mouthfeel were affected more by changes in alcohol than ortho-nasal aroma for Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Higher alcohol wines had more bruised fruit ortho-nasal aroma and more artificial fruit, pepper, and alcohol retro-nasal aroma. Both late harvest wines and high alcohol wines were high in dark fruit aroma but late harvest wines were not described distinctively by the artificial fruit descriptor, likely due to the increased concentrations of volatile esters measured in those wines. Methoxypyrazines 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) and 2-isopropryl-3-methoxypyrazine (IPMP) behaved incongruently. IBMP was mostly undetectable after the early harvest but was significantly higher, when quantifiable, in all low alcohol treatment wines. IPMP was significantly higher in high alcohol wines and was detected at all harvests at similar concentration ranges. Sensorially, IBMP was highly associated with both pyrazine ortho-nasal and retro-nasal aroma while IPMP associated with bruised fruit and alcohol aromas. It is recommended to harvest early and chaptalize to improve sensory qualities of these wines if more hang time presents a conflict for the vineyard or winery. Adjusting alcohol either before or after fermentation had similar effects on aroma and volatile ester reductions. However, membrane filtration offered more precision in the final outcome

THE GENETIC DETERMINANTS OF POPULATION-LEVEL RESPONSES TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE TESTS IN THREE PLANT SPECIES

A major goal of evolutionary biology is to predict how organisms will respond to future environments. Predicting these evolutionary trajectories is often accomplished by looking for patterns of genetic variation left by past evolutionary forces, revealing evolutionary histories (e.g., founder events, degrees of connectivity) illuminating how populations may respond to future environments. Above all, there must be sufficient standing genetic variation for a population to evolve and continuously form new combinations of alleles necessary to meet the demands of novel environments. Second, evolutionary histories shape current population structures and offer signposts for future evolutionary trajectories. Environments therefore not only shape extant patterns of genetic variability and structure — they also provide a means to justify important determinants of fitness. The aims of this dissertation are to (i) characterize the genetic diversity in plant species endemic to steep elevation gradients in relation to past environments and (ii) evaluate possible future evolutionary trajectories given potentially adaptive patterns of genetic diversity. These two broad aims are achieved, with varying degrees of integration, in three dissertation chapters.First, we show that, after six generations and despite severely reduced genetic variation, a highly-selfing population of Mimulus guttatus shows small but significant responses to strong selection imposed on stigma-anther distance, a morphological trait related to breeding strategy (i.e., selfing or outcrossing). Second, we assessed the influence of elevation on population structure and signatures of adaptation within six populations of Cardamine cordifolia. Here, we found that low genetic variation among all study populations likely stems from a history of panmixia; future responses among all populations are likely to be the same, though may ultimately result in opposing fitness outcomes. Third, we used gene expression differences among five populations of Boechera stricta to test the influence of stark climatic gradients that are strongly correlated with elevation on signatures of adaptation. In this study, we found that there were differentially expressed genes among the populations that coincided with elevation. Functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes revealed that these genes were related to important environmental variables that are correlated with elevation. Altogether, the results of this dissertation highlight the utility of investigating patterns of genetic variation to hone predictions of population response to future environments