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High School to NCAA: Predicting Freshman Impact in College Basketball with Machine Learning
Get PDFThe transfer portal, elimination of scholarship limits, and policy changes to NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), and revenue-sharing have required college coaching staffs to shift their operations akin to a professional sports team: balancing performance optimization with budget and resource constraints. Inspired by NBA-level analytics, we developed a machine learning model to predict a freshman’s contribution at the Power 5 level. (teams at Tennessee’s level). We compiled four years of game-level statistics from high school summer leagues and college basketball and calculated over 60 advanced metrics, culminating in Wins Above Replacement Player (WARP). WARP is a comprehensive measure of a player’s impact related to a “replacement-level player”. We trained a machine learning model to estimate a player’s freshman-year WARP from their high school summer statistics. These predictions were merged with recruiting rankings and information from recruiting industry leader 247Sports and deployed on a roster-management platform for coaches. This predictive model serves as a valuable tool for the University of Tennessee’s college basketball coaches to analytically evaluate high school players, make critical decisions in the roster management process, and navigate a chaotic and constantly evolving recruiting and performance environment
Cataloging Livestream Episode 1: Descriptive Cataloging for Books
No full textThe Cataloging Livestream series features SIS professor Dr. Brian Dobreski demonstrating library cataloging tools and procedures in real time. In episode 1, basic book cataloging is covered, along with the use of OCLC Record Manager
CHARACTERIZATION OF A HYPOMORPHIC ALLELE OF SPC25, SPINDLE POLE BODY COMPONENT 25, DURING MITOSIS AND MALE MEIOSIS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Get PDFAccuracy of chromosome segregation during division is vital for maintaining genomic integrity and essential for cellular function and viability. Failed chromosome segregation leads to aneuploidy, which has different consequences for mitotic and meiotic cells. Aneuploid products of mitosis often have unregulated gene expression which can cause cellular over-proliferation or apoptosis. Chromosome nondisjunction (NDJ) events in meiosis generate aneuploid sperm or eggs. If incorporated during fertilization, their presence can lead to a range of consequences from spontaneous abortion to genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome or other aneuploid-associated syndromes. In this study, we identify a unique allele of spc25, spindle pole body component 25, which generates two mutant alternatively spliced spc25 transcripts, encoding two mutant Spc25 proteins. One protein contains an amino acid substitution, D71E (aspartate 71 glutamic acid), and a four amino-acid motif insertion, which we refer to as Spc25ER. The other protein lacks its carboxy-terminal (CT) domain. Spc25, Spc24, Nuf2, and Ndc80 proteins form the Ndc80 complex, which establishes end-on kinetochore-microtubule (KT-MT) attachments. Stabilized end-on KT-MT attachments are required for proper biorientation and segregation of chromosomes. We show that the D71E substitution in Spc25ER causes chromosome NDJ events in both meiosis I and II. Analysis of Nuf2 localization in mutants that express Spc25ER shows premature loss of Nuf2 during anaphase. We propose that Spc25ER incorporation into the Ndc80 complex leads to its instability when spindle forces are exerted onto kinetochores for the poleward movement of chromosomes. Our results also support previous work that shows that the CT region of Spc25 is critical for its localization to the kinetochore region
Resisting Epicurean Therapy: On Why Death Is a Fitting Object of Fear
Get PDFWhat is the fitting attitude one should have toward her own death? Or, to put it differently, what is it about death that makes it worthy of a certain attitude? The commonsense view is that death is something that merits fear because it is arguably the most terrible harm that a person can suffer. Surprisingly, however, this commonsense view about the fittingness of fear toward death has been challenged ever since the Hellenistic period. Epicurus, an ancient Greek philosopher, famously argued that death does not merit fear because it is not bad for the one who dies. Epicurus intended his argument to have therapeutic effects—he wanted people to live a pleasant life by ridding themselves of the fear of death and believed that the correct understanding of the nature of death enables us to do that. For this reason, I call any argument attempting to show that death is not worthy of fear an “Epicurean therapeutic argument” (ETA).
There are two kinds of ETAs. The traditional ETA holds that death does not merit fear because it is not bad for the person who dies. The contemporary ETA, on the other hand, acknowledges that death can in some special sense be bad for the one who dies, but it still denies that this special badness warrants fear. In light of these two kinds of ETAs, the primary goal of my dissertation is to defend the commonsense view that death is a fitting object of fear. I do this in two ways. First, I show that both the traditional and contemporary ETAs fail to establish that death is not worthy of fear. Second, I offer my own positive account of why death is a fitting object of fear
“Good in Theory. Good in Practice”: A Multiphase Mixed-Methods Exploration of Individuals’ Exercise Experiences Engaging in Flexible Nonlinear Periodization Over a Two-Week Microcycle
No full textFlexible Nonlinear Periodization (FNLP) is a person-adaptive exercise model, but its psychobehavioral components remain underdeveloped, as research has primarily focused on performance outcomes in controlled settings, neglecting fidelity and social validity. Purpose: Assess FNLP enactment and fidelity using ecological momentary assessment (EMA; Aim 1), explore perceptions of social validity regarding FNLP-based program development and exercise (Aim 2), and understand participants’ exercise-related decision-making under FNLP based exercise (Aim 3). Methods: Following an explanatory sequential multiphase mixed-method design, 24 participants (67% female, 34 ± 10 years, 79% White) co-produced a personalized FNLP-based exercise plan and implemented it over 14 days. Each session, participants self-reported readiness, situational motives, and session choices via EMA, followed by post-session affective and perceptual ratings. For Aim 1, fidelity was assessed using within-person Spearman rank correlations to examine the correspondence between readiness, fatigue ratings, and session demand. For Aim 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of the trial to capture participants’ perceptions of FNLP’s goals, procedures, and outcomes. For Aim 3, timelines of participants’ EMA data were visually presented during interviews to facilitate discussions on lived experiences and decision-making processes underlying session choices. Qualitative data was analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Physical, cognitive, and emotional readiness were positively associated with session demand in 83%, 67%, and 75% of participants, respectively (ρ’s 0.10 to 0.84). Physical and cognitive fatigue were inversely related to session demand in 75% and 63% of participants (ρ’s -0.14 to -0.94). Thematic analysis highlighted that participants valued FNLP’s flexibility, autonomy, and personalization but faced challenges overcoming rigid exercise beliefs and balancing structure with adaptability. The approach fostered reflection, enhanced motivation, and encouraged exercise instigation, though refinements and support are needed. Participants’ exercise decisions under FNLP were shaped by readiness, fatigue, personal motives, and external constraints. While some choices aligned with FNLP principles, others reflected habitual routines, social influences, or emotional coping strategies. Conclusion: FNLP was supported by participants in terms of its goals, procedures, and effects, supporting its utility as a model for promoting autonomous exercise engagement while balancing structure and flexibility. Evidence of fidelity, including explanations for deviations, were demonstrated. Longer term research is warranted to further refine FNLP procedures, enhance guidance, and support decision-making
Utilizing Second Harmonic Scattering to Investigate Antibiotic Resistance Mechanisms in Gram-Positive Bacterial Membranes
Get PDFThe living Gram-positive lipid bilayer is a complex system that mediates the entry and transport of essential ions, while also enacting mechanisms to resist harmful exogenous substances. Through repeated exposure to these dangerous molecules, bacteria can develop and facilitate additional efforts to promote their survival. One such method is efflux pumps, where bacteria can actively remove small molecules from their membrane to mitigate damage. Second harmonic scattering (SHS) is an interface-specific technique that can provide information about the local populations of small molecules between individual leaflets in the lipid bilayer. As such, exploiting SHS as a means to develop our understanding of antibacterial resistance mechanisms enacted by Gram-positive bacteria provides unique advantages. First, polarization-resolved SHS was utilized to monitor FM 2-10 dye orientational alterations within living bacterial membranes. Monitoring the efflux of the probe FM 1-43 was conducted with time-resolved SHS on Gram-positive bacteria after exposure to the antibiotic tetracycline. To further expand this investigation of carrier-mediated transport, a proton motive force disruptor, CCCP, was applied to cells to observe the impact of antibiotic resistance on its ability to facilitate probe inner leaflet transport. Lastly, probes within the FM dye series were applied to resistant and non-resistant bacteria to ascertain the structural specificity of the efflux protein responsible for their transport
Development of novel food-derived antifreeze proteins and peptides: investigating structure-function relationships in ice recrystallization inhibition
Get PDFThe formation and growth of ice crystals during frozen storage negatively affect the quality of frozen foods, necessitating the development of novel, safe, and effective ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI) agents. Protein hydrolysates are promising alternatives due to abundant raw materials and safety for consumption. The first chapter explored succinylation of zein and gelatin hydrolysates, showing that modified peptides significantly improved IRI activity by reducing ice crystal size by approximately 40%, linked to enhanced amphiphilicity. The second chapter investigated wheat glutenin hydrolysates prepared by Alcalase and trypsin. Trypsin-derived hydrolysates displayed higher IRI activity, especially under low ionic strength and in CaCl₂ solutions, with increased α-helix content correlating to improved antifreeze function. The third chapter identified two wheat flour-derived water-soluble proteins, including WDAI-3, with strong IRI activity. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that WDAI-3’s antifreeze behavior was linked to structural rigidity and protein-water interactions. The fourth chapter demonstrated that gelatin hydrolysates’ IRI activity was enhanced by xanthan gum (XG), even at low concentrations (0.1%), with stabilization above 0.4%. Molecular weight, mixing time, and secondary structure (rich in β-sheets and α-helices) further influenced the IRI activity of XG-gelatin complexes. The final chapter employed molecular dynamics simulations to examine peptides with varied chain lengths and secondary structures derived from trypsin hydrolysis, revealing a strong correlation between structural features and antifreeze efficiency. Overall, this dissertation provides foundational insights into designing and understanding antifreeze peptides for food preservation and other biomaterial applications
Textual Bodies in the Novels of Burney, Austen, Brontë, and Eliot
No full textThis thesis explores textual metaphors surrounding the female body in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century novels written by women. Spanning nearly 100 years, from Frances Burney’s Cecilia (1782) and Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey(1817) to Charlotte Brontë’s Villette (1853) and George Eliot’s Middlemarch (1871-2), I seek to trace a genealogy of female novelists who are interested in how the female body is treated as a textual object—a site of meaning that is both bound by male authority and subject to reading, interpretation, and revision from other characters and readers alike. My analysis employs a variety of theoretical frameworks—including gender studies, disability studies, and object studies—to demonstrate how this metaphor of woman-as-text merges embodied realities of female autonomy, sexuality, and identity with the material conditions of text. I ultimately seek to illustrate how Burney, Austen, Brontë, and Eliot used the textualized female body to demonstrate the capacity for textual objects, novel forms, and language itself to not only reproduce subjectivity but also reflect the materiality of the female body