Middle Tennessee State University
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Detection of Conformation Change in Specific Residue for Membrane Protein in Monolayer
No full textMembrane proteins cause challenges for the major techniques (i.e., X-ray crystallography, NMR, and cryo-Electron Microscopy) to determine protein’s structure with high resolution. For example, it is difficult for membrane proteins to form single crystal structure required by X-ray. For NMR, the tumbling rate will be decreased substantially for membrane proteins. As a recent developed technique, cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) requires mono-dispersed and unified samples in frozen state. Therefore, coexisting conformations in residues in protein’s structure are not welcome. In addition, all the techniques above cannot provide high resolution results for monolayer structure, which is the native state of membrane proteins. α-Synuclein (α-syn) is a membrane protein with 140 amino acids in the sequence and its abnormal aggregation is related to Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the sequence of α-syn, the non-amyloid component (NAC) spanning residues 61 to 95 is critical for the aggregation. In this thesis, p-polarized Multiple Incidence Angle Resolution Spectrometry (pMAIRS) was used to examine the NAC monolayer formed at interface. After two hours compression, coexisting conformation (i.e., the transition stage of the conformation change) was detected at residue 68G in NAC by pMAIRS. With residue level resolution for coexisting conformations, pMAIRS power for monolayers was exhibited. Furthermore, 68G was found to completely change its conformation from α-helix to β-sheet after three days compression. To our best knowledge, this is the first report to detect the conformation change of a specific residue in a peptide in monolayer structure. Therefore, pMAIRS can supplement the major techniques mentioned above to address protein’s (especially membrane proteins) structure.M.S
Investigation of Transformers and Other Machine Learning Techniques for Health Data Classification
No full textThis thesis explores the application of transformer model and other machine
learning techniques in predicting outcomes based on physiological data, with
a primary focus on a unique dataset capturing physiological responses during
real-world cognitive stressors. Initially, the transformer model was applied to
an ECG dataset to understand its capabilities and evaluate the outcomes. The
primary investigation, however, centers on an open-access dataset that includes
electrodermal activity, heart rate, blood volume pulse, skin surface temperature,
and accelerometer data recorded during three exam sessions—midterm 1, midterm
2, and finals—along with the corresponding grades.
This dataset is intended to investigate physiological stress responses and assess
the effectiveness of Transformer models in analyzing such data. By applying
advanced machine learning techniques, especially Transformers, the aim is to
uncover deeper insights into how physiological indicators of stress correlate with
performance, particularly in exam scenarios. This approach demonstrates the
potential of Transformer models in managing complex, real-world physiological
data while offering meaningful insights through detailed analysis. The data was
preprocessed and initially modeled using Logistic Regression and Random Forest to
establish baseline predictive capabilities. Following this, the transformer model was
applied to evaluate its performance in predicting exam grades. Comparative analysis
between the models was conducted to assess the predictive power of the transformer
model relative to traditional methods. The findings provide important insights into
the effectiveness of Transformer models in managing complex physiological data.
While their versatility and strong performance make them a powerful tool, the results
of this study suggest that their application should be selective, particularly in tasks
like stress and performance prediction. Nonetheless, the ability of Transformers
to handle intricate, multivariate datasets demonstrates their potential for broader
applications in health-related fields, paving the way for future research in predictive
modeling.M.S
From Service Member to Student: Can Associations Between Failure to Attend and Retention Help Identify at Risk Student Veterans?
No full textStudent veterans are a unique population on college/university campuses who may face numerous obstacles associated with transitioning from service member to student. One of the most daunting challenges these student veterans face occurs when they earn a grade for Failure for Nonattendance (FA). The GI Bill ®/Post 9/11 benefits that student veterans receive is closely associated with their attendance and completion of classes each semester. Student veterans who stop attending class during a given term are required to pay back the funds associated with the class(es) they were enrolled in during a semester. This funding also includes the housing allowance that is part of the benefits package that some student veterans receive. This added financial burden that many student veterans then face, retention becomes a question for many colleges and universities.
The purpose of this study aimed to determine if there was a link between student veteran retention and frequency of earning a grade of FA during the 2015-2016 to 2018-2020 cohorts. While using retrospective data provided by a regional university in Tennessee, chi-square analyses were performed to analyze, age, race, and frequency of earning a grade of Failure for Nonattendance (FA) variables to determine if there was an impact on student retention. Although the results of the Cramer’s V test indicated a moderate association with only one test performed, conclusion could be drawn that would help to identify student veterans potentially at risk of not being retained.
Future research involving an expansion of independent variables such as sex, number of hours enrolled, additional age categories, and adding more qualitative data using a mixed method approach are recommended to better understand factors that may impact students not being retained. Additionally, further research based on student veterans and the challenges they face during their transition from service member to student should be continued so that stakeholders involved in higher education can better understand and support them in their academic journey including retention and eventual completion.Ed.D
Confronting a Miracle: How Americans adapted a hockey victory into a symbol of national pride
No full textThis thesis provides an in-depth analysis of the cultural phenomenon known as the Miracle on Ice. The research covers the period from the team's selection in the summer of 1979 to the present-day utilization of their story by those within various culturally significant American institutions. While the game is often remembered as a historic sporting event that profoundly impacted those living during the American Cold War era, this project examines the narrative development of the Miracle, its evolution into a myth, and the diverse ways in which individuals in different contexts have invoked it to meet their needs and interests. By defeating the formidable Soviet hockey team, the young American players not only revitalized a sense of American exceptionalism following a time of disappointment but also established a lasting self-legitimizing myth. As we move further away from 1980, the significance of this victory remains relevant, shaping a nationalistic mythology that continues to resonate with the public.M.S
The Whole Word's A Stage: An Experimentation of AoIP and Remote Collaboration
No full textThis thesis revolves around remote collaboration software and Audio over
Internet Protocol (AoIP). Throughout the course of my time at MTSU, I have been testing
different remote collaboration softwares that would allow for musicians to play their
instruments into their computer, and then the audio would be transmitted directly into my
system. My goal was to test out softwares such as Jacktrip Virtual Studio, Source Nexus
Suite, VST Connect Pro, Sessionwire Studio, Audiomovers LISTENTO, and Dante Via
to see if technology has reached a point to where we can have remote recording sessions.
I researched and tested these six different remote collaboration softwares with this
focused goal in mind and included the results in the thesis
The Capabilities of Various Search Algorithms and Design of a Micromouse Robot
No full textThis thesis compares the performance of four maze-solving algorithms—A*, Dijkstra’s, Flood Fill, and Recursive Depth-First Search (DFS)—for a micromouse robot. The goal of this research is to analyze the efficiencies of the four algorithms to determine which one can complete a random maze within the shortest amount of time, on average, over a set of trials. These tests were conducted with the aid of both digital simulations and physical time trials. The digital trials offer rapid testing for randomized mazes while the physical trials can assess real-world performance measures. Along with the assessment of the maze-solving algorithms, this thesis will also document the design and construction of the physical mouse following along with the specifications of the National Robotics Competition. By analyzing the results from this study, a better understanding can be gained on autonomous robot navigation and contribute toward the future pathfinding strategies of autonomous systems
Emotion Regulation and Sleep in School-Aged Children
No full textEmotion regulation is an important area of skill development in children, particularly those that are school-aged. The current study examined how sleep, a process known to also be vital for the functioning and development of children, is related to emotion regulation. Specifically, caregiver reports were used to investigate overall child sleep quality as well as specific sleep constructs. Participants were recruited from an online crowdsourcing marketplace. Two validated instruments were used to measure emotion regulation and sleep constructs. Correlational and regression analyses were done between total and subscale scores from each instrument. Findings suggest that overall sleep quality, psychological sleep factors, and physical sleep factors are all related to adaptive emotion regulation behaviors as well as caregiver-reported negative affect and mood lability in children. The current study has implications for education and intervention for caregivers and children alike to further assist in fostering healthy development and functioning in school-aged children.M.A
Past and Present: Preserving Dollar Dominance and the Reserve Currency Status
No full textThis study examines the influence of political events on the development of economic power pertaining to international currency usage and reserve currency usage. It considers the conceptual framework underpinning predominant empirical models for quantifying international currency usage and reserve currency usage. We point to literature on historical international currencies that indicate large shifts in international currency usage and reserve usage historically occurred due to broad shifts in economic and geopolitical dominance. Marginal shifts can also occur in connection with various empirical factors which are covered extensively by literature, but we discuss literature on the initial formation of U.S. hegemony that indicates shifts on the margin are also impacted by qualitative political and geopolitical factors. We examine some of these factors and gather them into a framework we term doctrinal enforcement. We argue that the existing empirical models considered successfully incorporate empirical factors to quantify economic dominance, but they fail to fully quantify doctrinal enforcement, which includes additional qualitative factors that do not lend themselves readily to quantification. Using doctrinal enforcement as a general framework, however, could aid in identifying the impacts of specific modern policy decisions in terms of whether they positively or negatively affect dollar dominance and the doctrinal enforcement abilities of the United States
Reimagining the "Femme Fatale" Trope Through a Cinematic Subtext: Fatale
No full textIntegrating subtext into action screenwriting, specifically within the “femme
fatale” trope, creates a more compelling and entertaining film than typical action movies.
Typical action movies are films like The Avengers, The Fast and the Furious, and
Mission Impossible franchises. Although the average action film’s bold fight scenes and
over-the-top characters distract the masses, displaying complex characters, motivations,
and dialogue can add significant depth to a movie. Action films that achieve this goal and
diverge from the norm are often some of my favorites; films such as Kill Bill, The Matrix,
and The Dark Knight have an added layer of depth beyond their action. Looking past the
flashy, candy-coated revenge story repeated countless times, I express my characters’
psychological range, interpretation of character tropes, and the destructive nature of the
revenge cycle through my feature-length screenplay, Fatale