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Prediction of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Regions using Machine Learning Methods
No full textMany biologically active proteins/protein regions fail to form a stable three-dimensional structure, yet they exhibit biological functions. These proteins are called Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), and the regions are called Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). They play vital roles in various biological processes. These disordered regions have significant implications in properly annotating function and drug design for critical diseases. IDRs are structurally and functionally very different from ordered proteins and therefore require special experimental and computational tools for identification and analyses. Thus, the identification of IDRs is a time-consuming task. This research aims to develop a machine learning method to predict disordered regions (IDRs) of proteins. The structural properties of proteins, i.e., secondary structures information, backbone angles, half-sphere exposure, contact numbers, and solvent accessible surface area (ASA), provide useful information about disordered proteins. Furthermore, we incorporate other features, i.e., Position-Specific Scoring Matrix (PSSM), Close Neighbor Correlation Coefficients, to enrich the feature set. We explored some well-known classification algorithms, i.e., Light Gradient Boosting Machine, Logistic Regression, Extra Tree Classifier, Extreme Gradient Boosting method, to select the best machine learning method. We evaluate the proposed method with a training dataset using 10-fold cross-validations and test the model with two independent test datasets. The obtained results are comparable with the existing methods
The Relationship between the Practice of Martial arts, Anxiety, Wellness, and Self-efficacy
Get PDFAlthough anxiety is a frequently researched topic, the growing numbers of diagnosed cases and the state of the present outcomes warrant the study of alternative approaches to address the causes and conditions of its prevalence, as well as possible adaptive strategies and tactics to improve outcomes for clients with anxiety. Counseling distinguishes itself in part due to its focus on well-being rather than mere alleviation of diagnosed symptoms. As such, it may be useful to measure the likelihood of some strategies and tactics associated with improved well-being in attempting to reduce symptoms of anxiety.
This study measured the practice of martial arts and the perceived importance of martial arts practice as a possible practice that might lower anxiety as well as increase well-being. This was measured through a Kruskal Wallis test and Spearman correlation to compare the practice of martial arts and its importance against scores on the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Wellness Self-Efficacy Scales, with demographic variables of age, gender, ethnicity, US geographic region, and education level among 527 adult participants residing within the United States or its territories.
Practice of the martial arts and its perceived importance displayed significant relationships on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (p \u3e .05 & p \u3e .001, respectively), and significant relationships on the Wellness Self-Efficacy Scales (p \u3e .001 for both values). Significant relationships ranged from extremely weak to moderate between the practice of martial arts, its importance, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Wellness Self-Efficacy Scales, where a significant and very strong relationship was displayed between the practice of martial arts and its perceived importance to well-being
Studies directed toward the development of transition metal@halloysite nanocomposite materials for organic transformations
No full textA reliable method for the encapsulation of copper nanoparticles (2-4 nm) in halloysite nanoscrolls (Cu@Hal) has been developed. The nanocomposite was prepared using a green wet chemical synthetic method which involved reduction of Cu(NO3)2•3H2O with NaBH4 in the presence of trisodium citrate and halloysite. The new Cu@Hal nanocomposite was employed in the azide-alkyne Huisgen Click cycloaddition reaction to afford 1,2,3-triazoles. The Cu@Hal nanocomposite was found to be a highly efficient room temperature catalyst for the synthesis of a diverse array of triazoles in water within 1-2 hours. Cu@Hal was used in catalytic amounts and demonstrated high selectivity for the 1,4 disubstituted triazole isomer with the absence of byproducts. The Cu@Hal catalyst has remarkable stability in water and air and can be easily recovered. Details of the synthesis of the nanocomposite Cu@Hal and the scope of the Cu@Hal catalyzed azide-alkyne Huisgen Click cycloaddition reaction will be presented
A Novel Variable Reluctance Resolver With Simplified Winding Arrangement and Adaptive PI Controller
Get PDFConventional variable reluctance resolvers require a complicated winding arrangement (i.e., one set of excitation winding and two sets of signal winding), high-frequency ac supply, extra circuit component to demodulate the high frequency induced voltage (i.e., amplitude demodulation circuit), and a resolver-to-digital converter with the PI controller. The thesis presents an innovative design solution to reduce the structural complexity of the resolver and improve the functionality of the controller unit. The proposed novel design simplifies the winding arrangement and eliminates the necessity of the demodulation signal processing circuit component. In addition, the conventional PI controller is being replaced by the adaptive PI controller to automatically adjust the controller setting for different operational speeds. The performance of the proposed design is compared against the conventional resolver via 2-D Finite Element (FE) software package
The role of hearing loss in physiological and psychological stress and attention in children and adolescents with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
No full textStudies of geriatric, profoundly deaf, and syndromic hearing-loss populations demonstrate significant negative consequences of hearing loss including poorer cognitive function, difficulties in social interactions, and increased risk of psychiatric disorders that compromise quality of life. To date, there are several empirical studies that have assessed the long-term effects of hearing loss on physiological, psychological, and socioemotional problems in children with chromosome 22q11.2DS. We measured different types of hearing loss in relation to attention, affective symptomology, physiological markers of stress, listening abilities, and balance in 22q11.2DS. Results revealed that children with 22q11.2DS have greater hearing loss in all frequencies and lower dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) compared to controls. Hearing loss in all frequencies increases auditory attention but lowers executive attention. High frequency hearing loss (HFHL) has a negative impact on hearing acuity while speech window hearing loss (SWHL) increases audio-visual integration and sound discrimination. Children with chronic sinus infections or cleft palate are more likely to be at-risk for auditory attention problems. Hearing loss did not affect externalizing problems, but it negatively affected depression and withdrawal and increased social skills. Mild hearing loss within the speech window and high frequencies tend to have the greatest negative effect on internalizing disorders. Future directions should investigate why children with 22q11.2DS and hearing loss appear to have better social skills and auditory attention but have poorer executive attention. Vestibular balance could not be maintained when eyes were open or closed, so more investigation is needed to determine the effects of hearing loss on visual and proprioception systems
Having a high-activity catechol-O-methyltransferase allele is associated with elevated anxiety and lower salivary dehydroepiandrosterone but also lower alpha amylase in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.
Get PDFChromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) results from a hemizygous deletion located on the long arm of chromosome 22. The most common deletion sizes affect between 30 and 90 genes. Individuals with 22q11.2DS may develop serious developmental and psychiatric disorders. The phenotype is highly variable, however, and may be influenced by allelic variation of the retained copies of genes covered by the deletion. I set out to examine the effects of two genes, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) and proline dehydrogenase (PRODH), in relation to anxiety in children and adolescents with 22q11.2DS. Individuals with the major COMT allele (higher activity) have significantly higher anxiety than those with the minor allele (p=0.021). Analyses of endocrine indicators of stress suggested that individuals with the minor COMT allele may have higher levels of salivary DHEA and alpha amylase associated with dysregulation of the hormonal stress-response system, though these results were not significant after a Bonferroni correction
Machine Learning for Terminal Procedure Chart Change Detection
Get PDFTerminal Procedure Charts are a constantly updated and necessary tool for aircraft personnel to approach and take off from airport runways safely. Detecting changes within these charts is a time-consuming and laborious process. Here machine learning techniques were used to predict regions of change in charts based on detecting the charts image regions and comparing features extracted from those regions. Outlined are methodologies to detect differences between two separate charts to produce images with changed regions clearly indicated. Both more conventional computer vision and machine learning techniques were applied. For images with minor shifts, the proposed model is able to ignore them to a greater degree than the baseline
“The Very Class for Our Country”: How the Cuban Exploitation of Chinese Coolie Laborers Inspired Louisiana Sugar Planters
Get PDFSugar planters in Louisiana during Reconstruction needed to replace the enslaved labor force that had fled the plantation system after the Civil War. These Louisiana planters took inspiration from the system of coolie labor in Cuba, wherein exploited Chinese indentured servants would work on sugar plantation alongside enslaved Africans. The white Cuban planters’ goal was to racially dilute their plantation labor force, thus making the existing power structures easier to maintain while avoiding Haitian-style slave uprising. Sugar planters in Louisiana intended to recreate the Cuban system to compel Freedmen to work for less than their worth by importing Chinese laborers, whom they thought would work for lower wages than Freedmen would have accepted otherwise. The Louisiana coolie experiment was an economic failure for sugar planters due to Republican intervention, white supremacist rhetoric, and resistance from the Chinese themselves
KID smART: Relief Effort Through the Arts
Get PDFThe purpose of this internship report is to analyze the nonprofit organization KID smART through the lens of my Arts Administration education and training. I will provide a breakdown of the organization’s structure and the components of my internship that occurred during KID smART’s programmatic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Through my S.W.O.T. analysis, I connect KID smART’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to best practices of the Arts Administration industry. In conclusion, I offer recommendations of how KID smART can improve as it grows and continues to serve the New Orleans communit
Enough
Get PDFThis collection of short stories follows the themes of trauma and the feeling of not being enough for yourself or others. This includes the pressures we put on ourselves to keep trying to be “right” or what we’re “supposed to be”. The idea is apparent that reaching out instead of self- isolating benefits the characters. What also connects these works is a hint of Southern flair, family, and humor. An irreverent voice connects the work and most of the characters. The inclusion of humor to get through suffering and as a way to talk about tough subjects is a concurrent theme. Body issues, sexual trauma, and aging among other themes are all touched upon and delivered with a side of pole dancing, a GoPro on a fat beagle, a night out with Nana’s ashes and more