Middle Tennessee State University
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Poems of Confabulation
No full textThis creative project, consisting of ten poems, aims to illustrate the effects of confabulation on memory. In addition, each poem is accompanied by epigraphs, diary entries, and commentary sections inspired by Alexander Pope and his moral essays, also known as Epistles to Several Persons. In this way, the project attempts to make use of polyvocality, or rather, the mingling of multiple speakers surrounding each piece. This element relates to confabulated memory, as it often feels as though several versions of the past could be, or are, true all at once with no real way of discerning fact from misremembering
Characterization of Stabilization Conditions for PahZ2KT
No full textPoly(aspartic acid) (PAA) is a biodegradable water-soluble synthetic polypeptide often used as a replacement for environmentally persistent polycarboxylates used in a wide-range of industrial and biomedical applications.(1,2,3) PAA was found to be degraded by two bacterial strains isolated from river water, Sphingomonas sp. KT-1 and Pedobacter sp. KP-2.(1,3) Two enzymes purified from Sphingomonas sp. KT-1 are responsible for the hydrolytic degradation of PAA into smaller aspartic acid units.4 Poly(aspartic acid) hydrolase-1 (PahZ1KT-1) is an endopeptidase that cleaves β-amide linkages, peptide bonds between β-amino acids, while Poly(aspartic acid) hydrolase-2 (PahZ2KT-1) is an exopeptidase responsible for both α-amide, peptide bond between α-amino acids, and β-amide cleavage.2 Understanding conditions that stabilize PahZ2KT-1 may allow for protein engineering efforts that can enhance catalytic efficiency of tPAA degradation. It is reported here that with the introduction of NaCl, PahZ2KT-1 was seen to sample a larger variety of conformational states through size-exclusion chromatography and dynamic light scattering (DLS) experiments. Limited proteolysis and protein unfolding experiments visualized by fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that protein stability was independent of NaCl concentration. However, reactions containing Zn(II) were found, through limited proteolysis and unfolding experiments, to display increased stability. DLS also demonstrated an increased PahZ2KT-1 particle diameter from 9 ± 1 nm without the addition of zinc and 157 ± 13 nm with the addition of zinc. Lastly, binding affinities were determined by varying concentrations of zinc and produced a Kd within the nanomolar range.M.S
Noise Exposure: How it Affects Hearing in Music Majors Compared to Non-Music Majors
No full textThere has been minimal research comparing the daily noise exposure of student music majors to student non-music majors. There has also been limited research on the hearing of these individuals and their audiometric findings. Therefore, the goal of this study was to examine and compare the noise exposure and hearing of music majors and non-music majors. In addition, the current study compared the attitudes and perspectives of the two student populations through a qualitative interview process.
The following questions were addressed:
1. How does the noise exposure of Student Music Majors differ from that of Student Non-Music Majors?
2. Is there a difference in hearing thresholds between the Hughson-Westlake procedure (5dB step size) and the modified procedure (2 dB step size)?
3. Do Student Music Majors exhibit different hearing thresholds than Student Non-Music Majors?
4. What are the attitudes and perceptions of Student Music Majors and Student Non-Music Majors about noise exposure and how it affects hearing
The Moderating Influence of Anxiety Status on the Relationship between Social Media Use and Sleep Quality among College Student Women
No full textPrevious research has found that poor sleep quality and mental health outcomes, like anxiety, are often linked to social media use, with women seemingly being affected more than men. Given the dearth of studies related to such featuring college student samples, the present project explored the relationship among these variables. A recently collected archival dataset which featured cross-sectional data from 162 college student women was analyzed. The dataset contained self-report measures of sleep quality, anxiety, and social media use. Results revealed significant differences in sleep quality as a function of anxiety grouping. Null findings were observed related to social media use; however, given the very poor internal consistency observed among the social media use data, no meaningful interpretation of these findings can be made. Limitations and future directions are discussed.M.A
A Study of the Presence of Sahara Dust in the South Texas Sand Sheet, in Kenedy County, Texas
No full textThe South Texas Sand Sheet (STSS), located within Kenedy County, Texas, is a semi-stabilized dune system. Holocene and Pleistocene quartzose sands define the unique geologic substrate of the STSS. Dune migration and burial of vegetation have led to the development of interbedded paleosols within the dune system. Paleosols are a known repository for Sahara Dust, which has a significant impact on the geochemical makeup of sediments. This study used X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) and grain size analysis to detect the presence of Sahara Dust, grain size, and geochemistry within the study area. The grain size analysis showed a possible paleosol in Location 2 but no statistically significant results in Location 1. The geochemistry of the first location showed no real significance either. Geochemical analysis on four samples from Location 2 showed three distinct sediments. In the second location findings indicate the presence of elements found in Sahara dust.M.S
Synthesis and evaluation of antifungal peptoid derivatives against Cryptococcus neoformans
No full textThe fungi Cryptococcus neoformans is often the cause of cryptococcal meningitis in immunocompromised individuals. High focus has been placed on searching for antimicrobial drugs that have a relatively long half-life in vivo while also retaining a low mammalian cytotoxicity. The purpose of this project is to synthesize repeat and multimeric derivatives of a known antifungal peptoid, termed β-5, in an effort to increase the potency against the fungi Cryptococcus neoformans without increasing cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells. Repeats and multimeric derivatives of β-5 have successfully been synthesized, following protocols previously reported from our lab. These derivatives have been evaluated by traditional minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays to evaluate antifungal potency. These derivatives have also been tested against HepG2 hepatocytes and erythrocytes to evaluate mammalian cytotoxicity. The future plans for this project are to begin synthesizing cyclic derivatives of β-5
Examining the Effectiveness of the Accelerated Learning Program for English in Tennessee Community Colleges
No full textThe Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is recognized as a leader in Basic Writing reform for community colleges due to their Accelerated Learning Program (ALP). The features Adams et al. adapted from various programs to better support CCBC students, particularly the central features of mainstreaming and acceleration, have helped reinvent Basic Writing at the community college level and have prompted state-wide implementation programs like Tennessee’s A-100. While ALP and similar programs have been assessed on the local level, state-wide implementation of such a program and its effects has not been examined. By attending to Tennessee’s implementation of A-100, my dissertation extends the conversation about the effectiveness of such programs and suggests strategies for successful implementation on both a local and state level. I identify the more effective features of ALP and argue that successful implementation requires knowledge of and respect for various stakeholders and their converging roles.
I examine the quasi-experimental design of Tennessee’s state-wide implementation of mainstreaming (A-100), applying regression discontinuity analysis to a sample of some 100,000 first-time freshmen from the thirteen Tennessee Community Colleges from two years before A-100 implementation and three years after. Drawing from qualitative data from each school, including surveys and interviews with individual program implementers, I use a convergent methodological approach to link the quantitative markers of success to the perceptions around implementation while attending to how each individual institution adapted features of ALP for their local context. I highlight the features of ALP that are key to student success, recommend strategies schools can adopt to facilitate a smooth implementation process and boost student success more quickly, and suggest that programs like ALP help reduce the equity gap that previous approaches to Basic Writing reinforced.Ph.D
Examining Sleep and Sleep Hygiene in a Sample of College Students and Differences Between On and Off-Campus Housing
No full textInsufficient sleep poses risks to mental health, physical health, and overall well-being but is often overlooked, particularly in young adults and college students whose academic success may also be impacted. Improving sleep health of students is therefore paramount to improving student success and well-being, but little information exists on student’s existing sleep habits. Sleep hygiene practices are associated with better sleep, but may not be common in students, particularly among those who live in dorms and have little control over their environment. This study aimed to analyze sleep habits in a sample of 74 students at Middle Tennessee State University and determine if differences exist between those who live on-campus and those who live off-campus after accounting for the impact of anxiety. Results indicated that worse sleep hygiene was significantly correlated with lower sleep efficiency. Additionally, anxiety was negatively correlated with sleep hygiene, time asleep, and sleep efficiency. No differences were found between students who live on-campus and off-campus after controlling for the influence of anxiety, although future studies should further examine this using larger samples.
Keywords: Sleep Hygiene, Insufficient Sleep, Sleep Efficiency, Sleep Quality, Anxiety, College Students, Young Adults, GAD-7, Sleep Hygiene Inde
A Wealth of Suppression
No full text“A Wealth of Suppression” is a documentary that examines the role an individuals’ socioeconomic status plays in their participation in an election.
In the fall of 2020, despite a global pandemic, one hundred and fifty-eight million Americans voted in our country’s presidential election (uselectionatlas.org). Even though there was a record turnout of American voters, there were still twenty-three percent of Americans age eighteen and older who didn’t participate in the election (census.gov).
Is it possible that an individual’s socioeconomic status has influence on whether that individual decides to vote, not for one particular candidate or another, but did they actually cast a ballot in that election
Higher Education Marketing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Facebook Content Analysis of Middle Tennessee State University and Peer Institutions
No full textPostsecondary institutions are faced with countless challenges amidst the COVID Pandemic, causing most institutions to go online in Spring 2020. A year later, with the creation of the vaccine and increasing knowledge of the virus, many colleges looked to a positive future by offering courses and events in-person in Fall 2021. This study examined how universities across the U.S. utilized social media marketing over Summer 2021 to communicate this information to prospective students.
Using a content analysis methodology, the study analyzed Middle Tennessee State University and peer institutions' main institution Facebook posts. Primarily, the author looked at the types of content strategies and message appeals used to communicate the "return to normal" message. KEYWORDS: Higher Education; College of Business; Message Appeals; COVID-19; Content Analysis; Social Media Marketing; Marketing; Content Strategie