Middle Tennessee State University
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Utilizing Machine Learning Techniques to Identify Autism Spectrum Disorder Using fMRI Data
No full textThis study extensively investigates Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classification by
analyzing functional connectivity derived from functional magnetic resonance imaging
(fMRI) data. ASD is a neurological development disorder affecting 1 in 36 US children,
underscoring the importance of early detection for effective intervention. Using Autism
Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) fMRI data, this research evaluates the predictive
capabilities of the Automated Anatomical Labeling (AAL), cc200, and cc400 brain atlases. Functional connectivity is assessed through correlation, covariance, tangent, partial
correlation, and precision measures. Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and a proposed
Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) are employed for classifying ASD, with the CNN
achieving comparable results: 68.11% accuracy, 73.45% AUC, 73.41% recall, and 69.27%
precision. Notably, correlation, tangent, and covariance measures show robust performance
across the assessed brain atlases. This research provides valuable contributions by thoroughly comparing various functional connectivity analyses for ASD classification, shedding
new light on their comparative effectiveness.M.S
Communicated Commemorabilia: A Creative Project Exploring Christian Recovery
No full textWhen people tell their stories, they often use spoken symbols to aid in
memorializing important events, especially experiences of healing. In this way, people
commemorate their healing in conversation. This creative project reflects on the
experiences of men and women in Christian recovery groups. As these Christians heal,
they tell stories of radical new identities, reimagined families, gradual healing,
empowering practices, and novel perceptions of God. I have translated these spoken
symbols into visual symbols, a long-established mode of communication in Christian
tradition. Through a series of watercolor stained glass windows, the sacred symbols in
these stories of healing are illuminated. These windows have been presented in an
immersive gallery to further invite viewers to experience the symbols within these stories
of Christian recoverees. Communicated Commemorabilia, as a creative project, reflects
on the intersections of religion and health and the translation of language to art
An ODE Model of A Breast Cancer Tumor: HER2+
No full textWe are developing an ODE model of a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer tumor that accounts, in a simplified way, for the tumor structure and interaction with the immune system. Mounting empirical research suggests that the tumor stroma or tumor interface zone is a critical determinate of the propensity of the cancer to invade and/or metastasize. Likewise, there is increasing interest in cancer therapies that encourage the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells. We describe tumor growth while accounting for the interface zone and the interaction between the tumor and natural killer cells (NK cells). Interactions between HER2+ breast cancer tumor cells and NK cells can be influenced by the antibody drug trastuzumab, and we use our model to investigate tumor growth (i) in isolation, and (ii) in the presence of NK cells and trastuzumab. Model predictions are compared to empirical data on tumor growth. We found that increasing the cytotoxicity of patrolling NK cells may be insufficient for the control of highly aggressive tumors (those with very fast proliferation or high density). However, if healthy tissue has high levels of patrolling cytotoxic NK cells, then the tumor cannot exist.M.S
The effect of dietary corn particle size on broiler chicken growth, development, and productivity
No full textKEYWORDS: Poultry; broiler nutrition; chicken
Guilty or Innocent?: Poland's Relationship with Jews and the Holocaust
No full textThe Amendment to the Act on the Institute of National Remembrance was passed
in 2018 by Polish President Andrzej Duda and the Polish Parliament. Through this law,
the Polish government controls the historical narrative of the Holocaust. While Poland
attempts to be seen as a victim of Nazi and Soviet rule, it is clear that the nation is not a
victim, but instead a perpetrator of crimes against its Jewish population. The slew of
pogroms during and after the Holocaust are some of the most evident ways that Poland
attacked its Jewish community and continued to be complicit in antisemitism. The
lawsuit against scholars, Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski prove that the “Holocaust
law” in Poland has become one that targets Holocaust scholarship because it adds to the
narrative that Poland is pressing about the Holocaust. Antisemitism in Poland stems back
many years. Once Poland gained independence after WWI, the allies forced a signature
of Poland on the ‘Polish Minority Treaty’. This treaty stated that Poland will give equal
rights to its minorities and that they shall not be discriminated against. However, this
treaty was broken. The goal of the Institute of National Remembrance is to erase Polish
complicity, so that they are not found guilty of breaking this treaty. Overall, the law
eradicates the problematic antisemitic actions of Polish citizens and those of Polish
nationality during the Holocaust. The importance of understanding this law is vital to
historical narrative. The larger consequences of this law consist of legal action and
antisemitic and xenophobic crimes. Such as the lawsuit against Engelking and Grabowski
and the growing hate crime statistics of antisemitic and xenophobic crimes in Poland.M.A
The Interplay of Stereotypes and Emotional Intelligence Around Men and Women
No full textStereotypes can aid or destroy one’s life. Ultimately, the mind holds the power to
determine if we let stereotypes affect our day-to-day life. This is where emotional
intelligence can be useful. In this thesis, I highlight how emotional intelligence is
something that can change people’s perspectives. I provide the definition of emotional
intelligence and then break it down into sections on why it is important. I explain why
emotional intelligence is often hard to measure and the many benefits of becoming more
emotionally intelligent both in the workplace and in one’s personal life. I list common
stereotypes and societal pressures that can become such a pressure on one’s life that
people forget to enjoy the little things. I explore stereotypes of men and women and how
to retrain the brain. This thesis highlights many actions that can be done to help one
increase their ability to deal with one’s emotions as well as the emotions of others. I
research many methods that can help one gain power emotionally. Increased selfconfidence
and relational skills are key points that one is likely to achieve if one utilizes
the tools given in my research
Pionír: An Illustrated Novella Inspired by the Historical Pioneering Heritage of a Family from Transylvania
No full textKEYWORDS: Historical Fiction; Illustrated Novella; Transylvania; Romanian History; Romanian Communism; Romanian Revolutio
The Effects of Caging to Prevent Herbivory on the Pollination Ecology of the Endangered Plant Astragalus bibullatus
No full textAstragalus bibullatus is an endangered perennial herb endemic to the limestone cedar glades of Rutherford County, Tennessee. The species has been introduced into new sites; however, herbivory by mammals has led to loss of biomass of A. bibullatus after reintroduction. To prevent herbivory, 1.2-m-tall open-topped metal cages with mesh openings of 0.5 cm2 (hereafter, referred to as small mesh cages) were placed around the immature plants. Initial observations from 2021 showed that pollinators would not enter the cages, either through the mesh or from the top. The goal of my study was to examine whether increasing the mesh size would increase pollination success by allowing access to insects and preventing herbivory by exclusion of mammals. A field experiment was conducted from 2022-2023 that utilized two different sizes of mesh for caging plants to compare to no caging as a control. The size of the mesh in large cages was selected based on the average wingspan of insects visiting uncaged plants. Pollinator visitation and fruit and seed production were recorded, and trail cameras captured images of herbivores visiting plants. We observed eight species of insects visiting flowers in 2022 and the large mesh size allowed access to plants for all pollinators. Only one fruit and a single seed was produced from plants in small mesh cages during both seasons; however, plants in large mesh cages and uncaged plants produced similar numbers of fruits and seeds. Signs of herbivory observed on the uncaged plants were likely from common herbivores such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and eastern cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus). Based on the effects of caging on pollination and herbivory, I recommend that large mesh cages be used in the reintroduction of A. bibullatus to allow effective pollination and prevent herbivory.M.S
Enhancing Cloud Security and Privacy with Zero-Knowledge Encryption and Vulnerability Assessment in Kubernetes Deployments
No full textCloud computing has become increasingly significant in recent years, yet security concerns and the challenges of rapidly building, testing, and deploying systems in monolithic environments can hinder innovation. Kubernetes provides a practical approach for distributed systems. In this thesis, we investigate an integrated framework to enhance the security and privacy of a Django-based application deployed on an open-source Kubernetes cluster, adding hybrid encryption and zero-knowledge encryption, and identifying vulnerabilities. This work contributes to understanding how Django's built-in security features can be effectively combined with Kubernetes deployment to provide a potentially robust web application environment. The results demonstrate that Django and Kubernetes can be effectively combined to create an efficient application deployment platform showing minimal vulnerabilities using monitoring tools such as Kube-hunter, Datree, and Mozilla Observatory. Also, our results showcase a practical implementation of zero-knowledge encryption and how it can be applied in a real-world setting.M.S
The Prevention of Type II Diabetes in African Americans Consuming a Plant Based Diet
No full textThe purpose of this study is to investigate if type II diabetes can be prevented in African Americans by consuming a plant-based diet. This study aspires to answer the following research question: Can type II diabetes be prevented in African Americans by consuming a plant-based diet? A plant-based diet is free from all animal products such as meat and dairy and is substituted with plants such as fruits and vegetables. This is a systematic review aimed at answering the previously mentioned research question. Many black people assume that because their parents and great-grandparents were diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, or cancer, it is set in stone that they too will have the same health disadvantages and hardships. This study aims to break that stigma by examining the relationship a plant-based diet can have on the prevention of illness.M.P.H