Production And Analysis Of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, And Applications, Mary Zoeller

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the …

Steam Distillation Of Jasmine, Mikayla Hulvey, Meliah Martin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This experiment aimed to isolate various components, including benzyl acetate, linalool, indole, and farnesene, from jasmine buds. The functional groups include an ester in benzyl acetate, an alcohol in linalool, an amine in indole, and alkenes in farnesene. Jasmine buds were combined with distilled water and steam distilled using a standard distillation apparatus. The distillate, containing hydrosol and trace amounts of essential oil, was then collected for extraction using methyl tert-butyl (MTBE) for a liquid-liquid extraction. The organic layer was then separated, washed using brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then transferred for later analysis. The essential oil obtained …

Adaptive Phishing Url Detection Using Hybrid Fuzzy C-Means Clustering And Xgboost, Muntadher Mohammed Kareem, Rawaa I. Farhan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Phishing attacks continue to evolve in sophistication, rendering static detection methods increasingly ineffective. Existing URL-based approaches suffer from limited adaptability to emerging phishing patterns, mislabeled training data, and insufficient validation protocols. This paper proposes a hybrid phishing URL detection system that integrates Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering with XGBoost classification, enhanced by a novel Micro Adaptive Feature Extractor (MAFE). The system employs a multi-stage pipeline: feature engineering generating 36 statistical and interaction features, MAFE producing 15 adaptive features through class-aware dynamic weighting, micro-pattern detection, and entropy analysis, and FCM with K=2 clusters providing soft membership features to XGBoost. A two-pass confidence-based …

Development Of Minimalist Trifunctional Building Blocks For Chemical Biology Probe Synthesis, Luke E. Bohrer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003 generated expectations that genomic information would accelerate the discovery of new protein drug targets and FDA-approved therapies. However, many small-molecule drug candidates continue to fail in clinical trials, and much of the human proteome remains undercharacterized in terms of structure, function, and disease relevance. Chemical tools are therefore essential for defining protein function, mapping protein interactions, and identifying disease-associated molecular mechanisms. Among these tools, small-molecule chemical probes provide a powerful strategy for connecting biological activity with target identification, functional analysis, and the development of effective therapies.

This dissertation describes the development …

65th Annual Rocky Mountain Conference On Magnetic Resonance

Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance

Conference program, abstracts, and information about the 65th annual meeting of the Rocky Mountain Conference on Magnetic Resonance. Held in the Snowbird Resort and Conference Center, Snowbird, Utah, August 2-6, 2026.

Single Fluorogens And Orientation-Localization Microscopy For Quantifying Chemical And Biomolecular Dynamics At The Nanoscale, Yiyang Chen, Yuanxin Qiu, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Many chemical systems look uniform only because ensemble measurements average over their most interesting molecules. Electron-transfer rates vary across electrode surfaces; lipid membranes contain nanodomains with distinct packing and fluidity; peptide aggregates exhibit local polymorphism; and biomolecular condensates contain transient networks of interactions that are blurred in ensemble images. A central challenge in chemical imaging is not simply to see smaller structures, but to measure chemical variables such as polarity, redox potential, and molecular confinement at the single-molecule level. In this Account, we describe how fluorogens, molecules whose brightness, blinking, spectral shifts, orientation, rotational mobility, and motion are directly shaped …

Crystal Structure Of New Polar Rare Earth Borates Na2.62Ln2.12(Bo3)3 (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm) Containing Isolated Bo3 Groups, Alevtina A. Maksimova, Mark D. Smith, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Three new rare earth borates, Na2.62Ln2.12(BO3)3 (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm), were synthesized via a high-temperature solution reaction using a BaCO3–H3BO3–NaF flux and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The compounds crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Amm2 with lattice parameters a = 5.0985(10) Å, b = 11.180(2) Å, c = 7.1483(14) Å, and a unit cell volume of 407.48(14) ų (Z = 2) for Na2.62Pr2.12(BO3)3, a = 5.0983(10) Å, b = 11.181(2) Å, c = 7.1491(14) Å, and a unit cell volume of 407.51(14) ų (Z = 2) for Na2.62Nd2.12(BO3)3, and a = 5.08630(10) Å, b …

Single Crystal Growth Of The Orthoborate Nabalu(Bo3)2 And Optical Investigation Of Eu3+ And Tb3+ Doped Nabalu(Bo3)2, Alevtina A. Maksimova, Mark D. Smith, Lakshani W. Masachchi, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Sodium barium lutetium borate NaBaLu(BO₃)₂ crystals were synthesized using a high-temperature solution method. The crystal structure of this layered orthoborate is described and corresponds to that of an extensive orthoborates family, NaBaR(BO₃)₂ (R = Sc, Y, Yb, Tb – Lu). NaBaLu(BO₃)₂ was doped by Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ to explore its performance as a host material and to investigate the luminescent properties of the Eu³⁺ and Tb³⁺ doped materials. The emission spectra of the NaBaLu(BO₃)₂:Ln (Ln = Eu, Tb) crystals are presented. The most …

Effects Of Bidisperse Gold Nanoparticles On Near-Infrared Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (Sers) In Quick-Freezing-Induced Gold Nanoparticle Aggregates (Qfiaas), Elissa M. Dojka

Forensic Science Master's Projects

Gold nanoparticle (AuNP) aggregates formed via rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen exhibit strong near-infrared (NIR) plasmonic coupling. These quick-freezing-induced AuNP aggregates (QFIAAs) form moderately sized, colloidally stable structures that remain suspended for over three months, supporting a variety of analytical applications. Mechanistically, QFIAA formation arises from the confinement of nanoparticles and ions within advancing ice grain boundaries during freeze-concentration. This mechanical crowding promotes extreme physical proximity while simultaneously elevating local ionic strength, which screens electrostatic barriers to drive the assembly of dense, tightly coupled plasmonic networks.

This study investigates the plasmonic and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) behavior of bidisperse QFIAA …

Developing Solvent Tolerant Microbial Membranes: Lipid Extraction And Laurdan Fluorescence Approaches For Biofuel Optimization, Gladstone Anku

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The high demand for sustainable energy has increased interest in advanced biofuels, though production is limited by solvent toxicity to microbial hosts. This study investigated the role of lipid composition in modulating membrane fluidity and solvent tolerance using Bacillus subtilis as a model organism. Five strains were cultured, and membrane lipids were extracted and analyzed using thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; however, inconsistent results limited compositional characterization. To address this problem, reconstituted vesicles composed of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were used as model membranes. Membrane fluidity was assessed using Laurdan fluorescence spectroscopy by measuring generalized polarization (GP) values …

Pesticide Dissipation In Agroecosystems – Exploring Pesticide Fate And Transport Mechanisms To Protect Alternative Pollinators, Calvin Luu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Honey bees are the most well-known pollinators, but there exists thousands of other bee species that contribute to pollination; one such group of bees are the solitary bees. True to their namesake, solitary bees do not live in hives like honey bees. Some solitary bees, like alfalfa leafcutting bees (ALCB) and blue orchard bees, can pollinate crops more efficiently than honey bees. However, since they live solitary lives, pesticide exposure is much more harmful to their overall population. If one honey bee dies from pesticide exposure, the hive can still survive, and the queen bee will continue producing offspring. If …

Phytochemical Analysis And Safety Assessment Of Watercress Nasturtium Officinale: Antioxidant Capacity, Heavy Metal Profiling, And Toxicity Using Brine Shrimp Model, Qurrota A’Yunin, Chamini Kasun Hemachandra, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Yoga Dwi Jatmiko, Maftuch Maftuch, Rizky Fadilla Agustin Rangkuti, Cucun Herlina, Zulfa Mahdiatur Rasyida, Moh Dliyauddin

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Medicinal plants have attracted growing attention as sources of natural bioactive compounds for sustainable aquaculture and health. This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, heavy metal profile, and acute toxicity of watercress (Nasturtium officinale W.T. Aiton) methanol extract using maceration, qualitative and quantitative (TPC, TFC, antioxidant DPPH) phytochemical assay, XRF, and BSLA. Phytochemical screening of plant extracts showed the existence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, tannins, triterpenoids, and saponins, but not steroidal. The TPC and TFC were 20.6 mg GAE/g and 10.8 mg QE/g, respectively. The extract displayed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 64.78 µg/mL in DPPH assay). …

The Study Of Hydrophobic Biomolecules With Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry And Atomic Force Microscopy, Brandy L. Perkins

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry (MS) can be used to obtain localization and chemical information of hydrophobic biomolecules on tissue samples.  A technique has been developed to modify a standard MALDI matrix that improves the selectivity for hydrophobic biomolecules on the tissue sample. The modification involves the use of a Group of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS). GUMBOS are ionic liquids (IL) that are bulky organic ions with a counter ion that can be changed for tuning.  They are more stable than traditional matrices under vacuum.  Unlike traditional IL’s, the GUMBOS melting point ranges …

Elucidation Of Spin-Hamiltonian Parameters Via Spectroscopy, Magnetization, And Computation, Joshua C. Mengell

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Molecular Quantum Information Science (QIS) is fundamentally concerned with using spin-systems as quantum bits (qubits) or as sensors. Prerequisite to using molecular systems for QIS applications, it must be understood how one can design molecules with bespoke magnetic characteristics. Herein we study various paramagnetic molecular compounds, describing their complex magnetic characteristics using a spin-Hamiltonian formalism. We utilize various (sometimes novel) methods for determining these spin-Hamiltonian parameters. Many of these molecules possess magnetic characteristics, which make them attractive as qubits or for sensing applications. These characteristics include higher total spin-states (qudits—S_T>1/2), forbidden interstate electronic transitions, systems of spatially distant …

Exploring The Nature And Role Of Local Cation Ordering In Disordered Rock Salt Cathodes For Li- And Na-Ion Batteries, You Wang

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

Cation-disordered rock-salt (DRX) cathodes provide a highly tunable platform for next-generation Li- and Na-ion batteries, but their electrochemical behavior is strongly influenced by local structural features hidden in average crystal structures. This dissertation systematically investigates local cation ordering in Li- and Na-based DRX cathodes to understand its effects on Li+/Na+ transport, redox activity, structural evolution, and electrochemical performance. In Li-based systems, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical analysis reveal that local layered cation ordering in Mn- and Fe-based DRX cathodes is closely correlated with electrochemical behavior. Over-stoichiometric Li-based DRX oxyfluorides further demonstrate that excess Li can regulate local cation ordering, improve Li+ …

Ionophore-Based Plga Nanosensor For Selective Ion Detection And Imaging, Zhiyu Tang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Accurate detection of electrolyte ions is essential for biological research, disease diagnosis, and the investigation of cellular function. In this study, we developed ionophore-based PLGA nanosensors for the optical detection of biologically important ions. The nanosensors were prepared by encapsulating ionophores, chromoionophore III, and ion exchangers within PLGA nanoparticles. The resulting nanosensors showed uniform morphology, good colloidal stability, and concentration-dependent optical responses toward Na⁺, K⁺, and Ca²⁺ over the range of 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻¹ M. Reversible fluorescence responses under repeated ion concentration changes confirmed the stability and robustness of the sensors. The nanosensors also demonstrated reliable analytical performance for K⁺ …

Hybrid Microbial-Enzymatic Electrosynthesis For De Novo Decanoic Acid Production From Co2, Yongze Wang, Wenjin Dong, Meijing Wei, Su Song, Zhiqing Huang, Yaojie Liu, Shelley D. Minteer, Hui Chen

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The steady increase in atmospheric CO₂ levels is a key driver of anthropogenic climate change, prompting widespread global concern. In this context, the sustainable conversion of CO₂ into value-added chemicals represents an attractive route toward carbon-neutral manufacturing and green chemistry. Here, we developed a proof-of-concept hybrid microbial-enzymatic electrosynthesis system that combines microbial electrosynthesis (MES) and enzymatic electrosynthesis (EES) to convert CO₂ into decanoic acid under ambient conditions, using electrical energy. In the MES module, CO₂ was converted to acetate via the Wood–Ljungdahl pathway of Clostridium ljungdahlii, using H2 produced by electrochemical water splitting as the electron …

The Characterization Of Bridging Waters And Ions In Protein-Rna Complexes, Leslie Duong

Master's Theses

Here we explore the role of bridging waters and ions in protein-RNA complexes. From an initial set of 33 high-resolution X-ray crystal structures, 17 were identified such that protein-RNA complex and component protein and RNA chains were found within 1 pH unit as indicated by crystallization conditions and their diffraction temperatures meeting one of two ranges: above or below freezing. To define an even more realistic set, 12 unbound-unbound and unbound-pseudo-unbound complexes from the 17-set were studied, showing the large fraction of complexes indicating more protein and RNA water hydrogen bonding in their actual interfacial regions as opposed to those …

Cytotoxicity Of Bioactive Peptides From Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L. Walp) Against Breast Cancer Cells (Mcf-7), Dian R. Ningsih, Zusfahair Zusfahair, Ely Setiawan, Purwati Purwati, Kasta Gurning, Fitri A. Puspita Sari, Elya Widiawati

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Cancer is characterized by dysregulated metabolic signaling pathways, leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation. Current cancer treatments, which involve surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, still cause adverse systemic toxicities. Accordingly, one possible effort that can be undertaken is to explore safe anticancer substances from protein sources such as peptides. Bioactive peptides can be isolated by hydrolyzing cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) protein with trypsin. The objectives of this study were to isolate and fractionate bioactive peptides from cowpea, to determine the anticancer activity of peptide fractions, to identify active peptide fractions as anticancer agents using Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry …

Exogenous Ribosome Incorporation Induces Lineage Transdifferentiation In Intestinal And Liver Cancer Cells, Haoxuan Gu, Nadia Wahyuningsih, Keisuke Yamashita, Shota Inoue, Fuchao Tan, Mani Sharaki, Muhaimin Rifa’I, Kunimasa Ohta

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

It has previously been shown that exogenous bacterial ribosomes added to somatic cells and various cancer cell lines generate ribosome-induced cell clusters (RICs) capable of transdifferentiating into multiple cellular lineages. However, the scope of ribosome-induced transdifferentiation in cancer cells remains poorly understood. This study aimed to analyze the effects of exogenous ribosome incorporation on human cancer cell lines, specifically the intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 and the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2. Caco-2 and HepG2 cells were cultured with purified bacterial ribosomes in human ES/iPS cell medium after trypsinization, resulting in the formation of ribosome-induced Caco-2 (RICs-Ca) and HepG2 (RICs-He) …

Selenoprotein P And Selenium As Potential Diagnostic Biomarkers For Breast Cancer Patients, Farah A. Rashid, Rawaa A. Ali, Hanaa A. Ali

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Breast cancer incidence increases in last decade. Oxidative stress increases during cancer development causes consuming of antioxidants. Selenium and its transporting protein, selenoprotein P have an important role in redox homeostasis. This study aims to investigate whether or not selenium and selenoprotein P could be diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer patients. This study was included 30 individuals in control group who is age- and BMI-matched with 60 breast cancer patients. Selenium was measured by colorimetric assay kit and selenoprotein P was determined by Sandwich ELISA kits. The results indicate significant decrease (p < 0.0001) of serum selenium and selenoprotein P in breast cancer patients compared to control. A positive significant correlation (r = 0.6214, p < 0.0001) was found between selenium and selenoprotein P in breast cancer patients. Selenium has an excellent diagnostic accuracy with area under curve 0.9831, sensitivity 95% and specificity 100% at cut-off less than 3.54 mmol/L. Furthermore, selenoprotein P has also an excellent area under curve 0.9958 with sensitivity 96.77% and specificity 100% at cut-off less than 4.15 ng/ml. These exploratory findings appear that selenium and selenoprotein P could be potential diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer patients. Further investigations in large-multicenter populations are needed to confirm results.

Tapping Into The Ocean’S Hidden Energy: Feasibility Of A 5 Mw Otec Installation In North Bali, Widodo Setiyo Pranowo, Yani Permanawati, Gisela Malya Asoka Anindita, Agung Kurniawan, Albertus Sulaiman, Johar Setiyadi, Safri Burhanuddin, Ivonne Milichristi Radjawane, Hansan Park, Endro Sigit Kurniawan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Indonesia is an archipelagic country surrounded by water and faces energy challenges due to the low use of renewable energy. Among the potential renewable options, marine energy is a particularly suitable resource given the country’s geographical nature. Based on this discussion, seawater temperature can be used as an alternative ocean thermal en-ergy known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) by using the difference in sea surface and deep-sea water temperatures. Therefore, this study aimed to examine OTEC installations in North Bali waters using closed-cycle OTEC calculations for a 5 MW system. Following this objective, we examined the water conditions by …

“Innocent” Electrolytes Can Influence Organic Electrosynthetic Selectivity, Zachary A. Nguyen, Nhu H. Quach, Mayank Tanwar, Joshua A. Beeler, Kevin Mcfadden, Dylan G. Boucher, Matthew Neurock, Shelley D. Minteer

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Organic electrosynthesis has emerged as a powerful strategy for leveraging electricity in organic synthesis. Despite its growing popularity, the fundamental molecular interactions governing electrochemical systems remain poorly understood. Many electrosynthetic reactions show strong dependence on the identity of the allegedly inert supporting electrolyte, which can significantly impact yields and selectivity, yet the physical origins of these effects are largely unexplored. A mechanistic understanding of electrolyte effects would enable more rational reaction design for applications. Here, we use cyclic voltammetry to investigate cobalt-based metal–carbon bond homolysis and elucidate how common supporting electrolytes influence reaction rates. Bulk electrolysis experiments further reveal how …

Deciphering The Potential Of Monopterus Albus Protein Hydrolysate As A Therapeutic Candidate Against Cervical Cancer By Integrating Content Analysis, Network Pharmacology, And Molecular Docking, Okid Parama Astirin, Widya Mega Rahmawati, Elisa Herawati, Tetri Widiyani, Lili Pandan Sari, Sherly Octaviana

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Cervical cancer has a high incidence rate in women, making the development of cancer drugs increasingly urgent. Asian swamp eel protein hydrolysate shows great promise as an anticancer candidate. This study aimed to reveal the potential of Asian swamp eel protein hydrolysate as an anticancer candidate in the cervix. Asian swamp eel protein hydrolysate was produced by hydrolyzing flesh with the enzyme alcalase. Compounds and peptides were identified using LC-HRMS. These compounds and peptides were analyzed using network pharmacology, gene ontology, and molecular docking. The results identified 153 endogenous compounds, including fatty acids and peptides. The key proteins targeted by …

Solvent-Free Ball-Milling Synthesis Of 1,2-Disubstituted Benzimidazoles, Zachary A. Jaffery, Katherine E. Christopher, Kyle A. Grice

DePaul Discoveries

The search for sustainability in chemistry has led to the development of the field of Green Chemistry, comprised by 12 guiding principles. Existing syntheses of benzimidazoles, a heterocycle widely used in medicinal chemistry, utilize methods with much room for improved sustainability. This work presents a solventless mechanochemical synthesis of 1,2-disubsituted substituted benzimidazoles from the condensation of phenylenediamines and aryl aldehydes. The effect of milling aid on yield and selectivity was investigated and montmorillonite K10 was determined to be the best milling aid. The purification protocol was optimized as well, with a heptane:EtOAc extraction and subsequent recrystallization from EtOH found to …

Real-Time Image Denoising And Reconstruction Using Generative Adversarial Networks (Gans), Roa'a M. Al_Airaji, Haider Th. Salim Alrikabi, Rula Kamil, Svyd Iryna

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This paper presents a real-time image denoising and reconstruction system based on a compact Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) designed for embedded systems and edge computing. The proposed model employs a [ generator and a PatchGAN discriminator, trained using hybrid loss function that combines L1, perceptual, and adversarial terms to balance pixel and perceptual realism. Evaluations were conducted on multiple datasets, including DIV2K, BSD68, SIDD, DND, RENOIR, and PolyU at noise levels (σ = 15, 25, 50). Quantitatively, the proposed model achieves an average PSNR of 32.8 dB and an SSIM of 0.88, which is higher by more than 3 dB …

An Automated Electrochemistry Platform For Accelerating The Characterization Of Enzymatic Electrochemistry, Michael A. Pence, Zachary A. Nguyen, Luke G. Kays, Dylan G. Boucher, Joaquín Rodríguez-López, Shelley D. Minteer

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Enzymatic electrochemistry harnesses the selectivity of enzymes to enable electrochemical applications spanning sensing, synthesis, and energy conversion. However, the sequential nature of electroanalytical experiments limits throughput, restricting the scale at which enzyme-electrode systems can be screened. Here we demonstrate the capabilities of an automated electrochemistry platform, eLab, to increase the throughput of enzymatic electrochemistry investigations. We used the eLab to collect over 10,000 cyclic voltammograms across a large parameter space consisting of two enzyme variants (promiscuous and wild-type glucose oxidase), 20 saccharide substrates, 21 concentrations, and four scan rates, with measurements being made all in triplicate. The expansive dataset enabled …

Recent Advances In Phosphatidylinositol Phosphate Kinases (Pipks) And Their Inhibitors, Mengxia Sun, Jian Hu, Xuefei Huang

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

Phosphatidylinositol phosphate kinases (PIPKs) are an important class of enzymes in humans, which produce lipid signaling molecules playing central roles in pathogenesis of diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and viral infection. Consequently, they are attracting increasing attention as drug targets for disease treatment. This review summarizes the functions of the PIPK family enzymes and highlights recent efforts on designing novel inhibitors against PIPKs. These advances are extensively discussed to stimulate interest in this field and promote further development of highly potent and selective inhibitors for innovative therapeutic applications.

Principal Leadership As A Predictor Of Teacher Performance: Evidence From An Indonesian Elementary School, Irminapinem Pinem, Antonius Remigius Abi, Hamela Sari Sitompul

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Teacher performance is a critical determinant of educational quality and student achievement, making the identification of factors that influence teacher effectiveness an important area of educational research. Among these factors, principal leadership has been recognized as a key organizational variable that shapes teachers’ professional practices and instructional performance. This study aimed to examine the relationship between principal leadership and teacher performance at State Elementary School Raya Kahean, Simalungun Regency, Indonesia. The study employed a quantitative correlational research design involving 52 teachers selected through total sampling. Data were collected using two structured questionnaires measuring principal leadership and teacher performance. The principal …

Comparing The Effects Of Project-Based Learning, Inquiry Learning, And Conventional Instruction On Students' Learning Motivation In Biology, Yeyen Angraini, Irwandi Irwandi, Jayanti Syahfitri

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Learning motivation is an important factor influencing students’ engagement, persistence, and success in Biology learning. However, classroom instruction at the senior high school level is often dominated by teacher-centered approaches, which may limit students’ active participation and motivational development. This study aimed to compare students’ learning motivation across Project-Based Learning (PjBL), Inquiry Learning, and conventional instructional approaches in Biology learning. The study employed a quantitative quasi-experimental design with a pretest–posttest approach involving three groups. Participants consisted of 85 Grade XI students from SMA Negeri 1 Talang Padang, South Sumatra, distributed across three classes: PjBL (n = 28), Inquiry (n = …