62970 research outputs found
Sort by
Plan & Elevation: A Transcription for Chamber Winds and Percussion
No full textThe wind band world has long been known for its history of commissioning new works. However, one should not forget the long history of transcriptions as well. By transcribing contemporary music, wind bands can get newer works while also honoring the tradition of transcriptions. This dissertation focuses on the transcription of Caroline Shaw’s Plan & Elevation, a work in five movements originally written for string quartet, now set for chamber winds and percussion. The analysis of the piece provides insights into Shaw’s use of texture and space, along with her use of musical borrowing throughout. The writing also discusses how the transcription was made with consideration to orchestration, the treatment of the idiomatic string writing, and what changes needed to be made from the original to make it achievable by the chamber ensemble
Optical Detection of Particulate Matter Growth on Exploration Air Pre-Filters
No full textJuan H. Agui, NASA Glenn Research Center, United StatesJeffrey R. Mackey, HX5 LLC, United StatesGordon M. Berger, USRA, United StatesICES510: Planetary and Spacecraft Dust Properties and
Mitigation TechnologiesThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.A new optical technique is being investigated to determine
its feasibility in detecting gradual increases in particle
deposition/loading on air pre-filters, a technology not
available in the market. The proposed new technology will
enhance the optimal use and replacement cycle of
pre-filters and, specifically, will enhance the performance
and detection capability of an exploration filter system
developed under the Life Support Systems project under the
Moon to Mars program. While pressure-drop sensors can also
be used to monitor loading on pre-filters, their
sensitivity may not be sufficient or accurate enough to
detect changes in pressure drop under certain conditions.
For example, the pressure drop may be too low to detect
through a mesh screen loaded with fibrous particulate
matter (PM) with a highly porous structure. In a recent
2024 International Conference on Environmental Systems
(ICES) paper the authors presented preliminary results on a
pre-filter coupon study using simulated fibrous simulant
and different types of miniature optical sensors. This
past work reported that the use of a miniature ambient
light sensor correlated well with the PM layer buildup with
sufficient sensitivity. The current work explores the use
of additional sensors and light sources to increase the
sensitivity and accuracy of the detection technique, and
its implementation on a prototype flight filter
Advancing LC-MS/MS Bioanalytical Techniques to Investigate Glycomic, Glycoproteomic, and Proteomic Alterations in Complex Biological Systems and Diseases
No full textLiquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is a powerful analytical tool for both the quantitative and qualitative investigation of biologically complex systems. One of the most common and functionally significant post-translational modifications of proteins is glycosylation, which influences a wide range of biological functions, including protein stability, function, cell-cell signaling, immune response, and cell-cell adhesion. Alterations in glycosylation patterns have been implicated in various diseases and disorders, underscoring the need for advanced analytical approaches to characterize these modifications.
This dissertation applies state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS techniques to explore glycomic, glycoproteomic, and proteomic alterations first in Sertoli cells (SC) and followed by Alzheimer’s disease. SC are immune-privileged and play a crucial role in xenotransplantation research. By characterizing the biological landscapes of SC, this work provides insights into their resilience against the human complement system, addressing critical challenges in organ transplantation, including immune rejection and organ shortages. The Alzheimer’s disease work analyzing brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and plasma samples to identify shared molecular signatures and potential blood-based biomarkers with diagnostic utility.
Additionally, this research includes the development of an R-based computational framework to ensure robust, reproducible, and well-documented data processing, statistical analysis, and visualization. The integration of advanced bioinformatics tools enhances the accuracy and efficiency of large-scale LC-MS/MS data interpretation, paving the way for more precise biomolecular discoveries in biomedical research. This work contributes to the broader understanding of disease pathophysiology, immune evasion mechanisms, and translational applications of glycomics and proteomics, reinforcing the role of LC-MS/MS in modern biomedical science
The Competitive Standing of State-of-the-Art PLSS Technologies Given Prospective EVA Cadence
No full textJim DiSabito, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesDave Graziosi, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesGreg J. Muller, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesLuke Szrama, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesEric Valis, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesMatt Buffa, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesDaniel Probst, ILC Astrospace LLC, United StatesICES402: Extravehicular Activity: PLSS SystemsThe 54th International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Prague, Czechia, on 13 July 2025 through 17 July 2025.The Apollo-era Life Support System (LSS) utilized carbon
dioxide (CO2) scrubbing canisters that were mechanically
passive, reliable, and mass efficient in the context of the
lunar mission parameters. Since Apollo, CO2 scrubbing
technologies have been developed in an attempt to expand
EVA capability. This paper will discuss the future
applicability of these State-of-the-Art Primary Life
Support Subsystem (PLSS) CO2 scrubbing approaches given the
prospective cadence of manned exploration supporting
commercial Low Earth Orbit (LEO) destinations, Lunar
campaigns, and Martian campaigns. One of the primary
metrics investigated is launched system mass to these
destinations, a proxy for the operational cost
effectiveness of each approach. Despite large investitures
over the past 50 years into novel spacesuit life support
approaches, flight-proven alternatives remain uniquely
competitive and cost-effective options for certain mission
regimes. By understanding the scope of future manned
exploration and EVAs, we can prepare the most robust and
efficient technical solution to meet humanity’s actual EVA
need
Ethan Fasnacht's MM Baritone Recital 1
No full textRole of "Sid" in Albert Herring by Benjamin BrittenRelated performance for this degree -- Ethan Fasnacht's MM Baritone Recital 2: https://hdl.handle.net/2346/103710Recital recordings are archival copies for educational purposes only. Members of the TTU community may request to listen/view them for educational purposes via the PDF link to the left
Cropland restricts occurrence and alters spatial ecology near the mule deer geographical range limit
No full textBackground:
Habitat fragmentation can influence the spatial ecology of wildlife populations, with downstream effects on population dynamics and sustainability. Row-crop farming is a common anthropogenic landscape alteration, yet the effects on animal movement and space use is understudied in some species. Cropland can benefit wildlife nutritionally but may result in habitat loss because of changes in landscape composition and human disturbance.
Methods:
We quantified the influence of cropland presence and coverage on mule deer spatial ecology in the southern Great Plains. We GPS-collared 146 adult mule deer in four regions of the Texas Panhandle and monitored movement relative to spatio-temporal fluctuations in cropland and particular crop species availability for 2 years. We modeled the effects of cropland on space use and resource selection at multiple spatio-temporal scales to characterize population and individual habitat components of mule deer.
Results:
We observed a functional response in cropland use, where at low coverage, use was proportional to availability but decreased with > 20% cropland coverage at the home range and within-home range scales. Few mule deer exhibited long-distance movements towards cropland. Individuals within 1.6 km of cropland exhibited greater cropland use, whereas deer > 4.2 km from cropland rarely used these areas. At the population level, mule deer selected cropland during the winter and late summer, probably for nutritional benefit when rangeland nutrients are low. At a finer scale, step-selection functions identified individual heterogeneity in crop species selection. Winter wheat, alfalfa, and fallow fields had greater use relative to other crop types. Generally, 15–60% of mule deer with access to cropland selected alfalfa year-round, and up to 63% of deer selected winter wheat post-reproduction.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest that at a low spatial coverage, cropland alters the spatial ecology of mule deer at several spatio-temporal scales and may provide nutritional benefits, but at a cost of lost habitat when cropland exceeds 20% of the landscape. Declining groundwater resources and an exponentially growing human population will alter future farming practices. Understanding how species occupying these environments, such as mule deer, are influenced by human-induced landscape changes can enhance mitigation of human-wildlife interactions and aid conservation actions as policy and social pressures shape future agricultural practices
On Some Variational Problems in Curves and Surfaces
No full textIn this dissertation, we primarily investigate two variational problems involving curves and surfaces. We begin by introducing the variational problems in the context of curves and surfaces, followed by an overview of the spaces in which we work---specifically, spheroidal surfaces and Lorentzian 2-spaces. We then derive the first variation formula for specific Lorentzian spaces, as well as both the first and second variation formulas for surfaces, focusing on the study of special types of surfaces known as minimal surfaces within a spheroid. The first problem concerns the study of -elastic curves in two space forms. Specifically, we explore the existence and conditions for closed -elastic curves in the hyperbolic plane and de Sitter 2-space. Additionally, we investigate connections to closed -elastic curves in the 2-sphere, as well as in hyperbolic and pseudo-hyperbolic planes.The second problem focuses on free boundary minimal surfaces and their Morse index in spheroidal domains. The computation of the Morse index for free boundary minimal surfaces in convex domains remains an open problem. Here, we consider a special case as a step toward generalizing results to convex domains. We first introduce free boundary minimal surfaces in a spheroid and compute the Morse index for specific examples. To address this problem, we separate it into two simpler subproblems: the fixed boundary problem and the Dirichlet-to-Neumann map. By leveraging these, we seek an approximation of the Morse index for a spheroid with radii and , where is any positive real number. In particular, we prove the existence of free boundary minimal surfaces and compute the Morse index of equatorial disks. Furthermore, we provide numerical evidence toward the Morse index of the critical catenoid
Optimized Universal Droop Control Framework for Enhancing Stability and Resilience in Renewable-Dense Power Grids
No full textHigh penetration of green energy sources presents substantial challenges to grid stability and resilience, primarily due to inherent voltage and frequency variability, which worsens during critical events. This study proposes an integrated framework for stability and resilience enhancement in renewable-dense power grids by designing optimized universal droop controllers (UDCs) tailored for grid-forming operations under high-impact contingencies. The UDC incorporates fault localization functionality via grid-forming inverters embedded with phasor measuring capabilities (phase voltage magnitude and angle) to facilitate real-time fault detection and response, thus augmenting operational reliability. Leveraging integrated solution environments, the developed framework employs numerical optimization routines for resource allocation, load prioritization, economic dispatch of distributed energy resources (DERs), and adaptive network reconfiguration under constrained conditions and during critical events that may necessitate decentralized network configurations in the wake of main grid failures. Validation conducted on the IEEE 123-node distribution network indicates that the optimized UDC framework achieves superior voltage and frequency regulation compared to conventional droop-based methods, ensuring optimal resource distribution and sustained load support