University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville: TraceNot a member yet
47048 research outputs found
Sort by
English Representations of Muslim Characters in the Drama of the Renaissance
No full textThis dissertation examines how Muslim characters are portrayed in English literature from the medieval to the Renaissance period, focusing on early modern drama. It traces the shift from the stereotypical Saracen villain in crusading literature to the more complex figures of the Turk and the Moor. The study explores how English playwrights used these characters to express anxieties and address questions of identity, empire, and religious difference.
Focusing on Christopher Marlowe’s Tamburlaine the Great and William Shakespeare’s Othello, this research argues that Renaissance drama moves beyond the simple negative depictions of Muslims found in earlier works, offering more nuanced and complex portrayals that still reflect ideological tensions. These plays use storytelling to engage with power, race, religion, and cultural difference. Drawing on historical context, theology, and recent scholarship in medieval and early modern studies, this study shows how Muslim characters act as both reflections and contrasts to English concerns about power, morality, and cultural identity
Dynamic force measurement for milling using a constrained motion dynamometer and time domain signal analysis
No full textThe work in this dissertation describes a new milling force measurement method utilizing a constrained-motion dynamometer (CMD), an optical displacement transducer, and processing of a time-domain displacement signal. The research objective is to produce a testing system that accurately measures milling forces using (1) displacement, (2) derived velocity, (3) derived acceleration, and (4) the structural dynamics of the CMD, which is used to measure the displacement of a flexure supported platform due to milling forces. The new knowledge obtained is the ability to derive dynamic force from time-domain displacement and the mass, damping, and stiffness modal parameters for a constrained-motion dynamometer. The outcomes will be new milling force measurement capabilities that: 1) are relevant to industry; 2) provide the foundation for a low-cost, commercially viable dynamometer; and 3) supports Industry 4.0/5.0 efforts.
This approach expands prior low-cost methods based on frequency domain filtering analysis by using time domain displacement signals and modal parameters of the dynamic system [1]. In short, measured displacement and derived velocity and acceleration will be converted to individual force components using the modal mass, damping, and stiffness values and then these force components are summed to predict the milling force. The velocity and acceleration signals will be acquired by deriving the time-based displacement signal.
The new approach will be evaluated with multiple workpiece materials and cutting tools to validate its performance. Results will be compared to identical milling force tests conducted on a commercially available dynamometer system that cost two orders of magnitude more and requires detailed knowledge of digital filtering techniques to make the best use of the data. Additionally, a comparison to the prior frequency domain inverse filtering approach will be compared to determine validity of both low-cost dynamometer approaches
Retrospective review of dystocia in South American camelids
No full textWe describe case management of 30 South American Camelids (7 llamas and 23 alpacas) presented to our tertiary care hospital for dystocia. Assisted vaginal delivery was successful in 80% of llamas and 50% of alpacas. Due to unique camelid anatomy, equid dystocia practices were modified. For llamas and alpacas, neonatal survival rates were 71 and 69%, respectively and nearly all dams (100% [7/7] and 96% [22/23]) were discharged from the hospital. Furthermore, 90% (18/20) of cria survived for at least 1 year. It is important to advise owners of potential complications and the need for rapid and appropriate veterinary intervention (including surgical) if a favorable outcome is desired (for both dam and cria)
Head Over Heels for HAPIs: Prevention in Critical Care
No full textBACKGROUND: A pressure injury (PI) that occurs during a patient’s admission is called a hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI). HAPIs result in loss of revenue, increased length of stay, and greater mortality risk. PIs occur most frequently in critical care, at a rate much higher than in any other setting. The Braden scale is commonly used to assess PI risk for all patients, but does not include risk factors associated with medically complex care.
LOCAL PROBLEM: The setting for this quality improvement project was a 30-bed Long-Term Acute Care Unit (LTAC), a critical care hospital where medically complex patients receive intense treatment for extended periods. In 2023, there was an increase in heel-specific HAPIs at the project site. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to implement an evidence-based risk assessment on admission and allocate a Repose flex cushion to high-risk patients. The project\u27s aim was to reduce the occurrence of heel-specific HAPIs by 100%.
METHODS: The Evidence-Based Practice Improvement (EBPI) model was used as a framework to guide this project. A review of current evidence reflected the inferiority of the Braden scale alone when assessing PI risk for those who are critically ill. In previous studies, preventative cushions have proven effective in reducing HAPIs in similar patient populations. Heel-specific HAPIs were measured and compared pre- and post-implementation. Staff compliance with risk assessment and cushion compliance were also measured.
INTERVENTIONS: All patients were screened on admission for PI risk based on Braden score and ICU-specific risk factors. Patients who were positively screened received a preventative cushion on the same day.
RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were admitted to the LTAC unit. Based on ICU-specific risk factors, 58 patients (52.7%) qualified for a Repose cushion on admission and 54 patients (93%) received a cushion on the same day. No heel-specific HAPIs were identified during the five months of project implementation.
CONCLUSION: The use of a standardized risk assessment led to improved identification of patients at risk for developing a PI. Early identification combined with preventative cushions significantly reduced the occurrence of heel-specific HAPIs in this patient population
Off-Campus Instructional Site Approval - Oak Ridge Enhanced Technology and Training Center (ORETTC)
Get PDFVisual, Near-Infrared, Short Wave Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy for Microplastic Identification and Quantification in soils and the Environment
Get PDFThis study investigates the viability of using visible, near-infrared (VNIR), and short wave infrared spectroscopy, specifically the PSR+ spectroradiometer, for the identification and quantification of microplastic pollution across various environmental matrices. Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) models were developed using Tennessee red clay soil combined with known concentrations of four plastic polymers: low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). The models yielded strong predictive performance with R² values of 0.83 (LDPE), 0.91 (PVC), 0.946 (PS), and 0.98 (PP). Environmental samples were collected from a semi-urban agricultural site in Blount County, Tennessee, and included dry atmospheric deposition, precipitation, groundwater, surface water, and soil. A total of 1,799 microplastic particles were confirmed through microscopic analysis, with fibers being the most abundant type, followed by fragments, films, pellets, microbeads, and foams. Spectral analysis identified LDPE, PVC, nylon, polystyrene, and polypropylene in the environmental samples, with the highest detection rates occurring in soil and surface water. This research demonstrates that the PSR+ spectroradiometer, when paired with properly constructed PLSR models and standardized sample processing, can serve as an effective, non-destructive tool for detecting and characterizing microplastics in terrestrial and aquatic environments
BETWEEN RESENTING AND UNDERSTANDING THEIR MOTHERS’ TOUGH CHOICES: YOUNG ADULTS PROCESSING CHILDHOOD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EXPOSURE
No full textMothering through intimate partner violence (IPV) is difficult, complex, and impactful on both the mothers and children in the home. Millions of youth experience childhood exposure to domestic violence (CEDV) while growing up, including witnessing, overhearing, or becoming victimized during the violence. Much of what we know about the mother-child relationship in the context of CEDV comes from maternal reports, with limited insight into this critical dyadic relationship from a youth perspective. Without empirical knowledge on both maternal and child perspectives, mother-child or child-centered interventions may be as enjoyable and efficacious for the participating youth. Guided by Family Systems Theory and spillover and compensatory hypotheses, I conducted a theoretical thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 25 college-attending young adults who had histories of father-mother-perpetrated CEDV on their mother-child relationship experiences while growing up through early young adulthood. The findings from this study suggest that young adults with CEDV perceive their mothers and their mother-child relationships in complex and sometimes contradictory ways that I organized into five, interconnected yet distinct themes capturing the young adults’ perceptions of mother-child communication, safety planning, seeing their mothers through a positive light, seeing their mothers through a negative light, and the evolution of how they viewed their mother and their relationship over time. This study’s participants had lingering resentment, frustration, and guilt alongside protective loyalty, empathy, and love towards their mothers, highlighting the complexity of IPV’s impact not just on the victimized parent and child outcomes but also on mother-child relationships over time. Future empirical research should continue to amplify youth voices to better understand the impact of CEDV on their familial and other interpersonal relationships, particularly during pivotal developmental transition periods, such as young adulthood. Future interventions and programs for mother-child dyads and youth with CEDV histories should be informed by mothers, children, and young adults’ perspectives to foster better communication and strategies that promote healing and bonding among victimized dyads
A Mixed-Methods Exploration of the Role of Pregnancy Planning on Maternal Physical Activity Behaviors
No full textBackground: Pregnancy is a life event that is influenced by social, emotional, and cultural factors. Research has shown that pregnancy planning may be linked to decisions surrounding health behaviors in pregnant individuals. Specifically, there are differences in how categories of pregnancy planning may be associated with an individual\u27s decision to either engage in or avoid risky behaviors such as alcohol consumption, smoking, and delaying prenatal care. Existing research has yielded ambiguous results and neglects to consider physical activity (PA) as a separate health behavior that may be linked to an individual’s pregnancy planning status. Therefore, this study aims to explore individuals in varying pregnancy planning stages—planned, unplanned, and ambivalent— and their PA behaviors.
Methods: Thirteen pregnant individuals (ages 18-40 years, ³16 weeks gestation), located in the southeastern region of the United States, participated in the study. Quantitative data were collected using a survey to provide data on participant demographics, pregnancy planning (London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy [LMUP]), and maternal PA behaviors (Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire [PPAQ]). Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Spearman) were conducted due to the non-normal distribution of data (alpha level 0.05). Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured, one-on-one interviews and recorded via Zoom. Verbatim interview transcripts were analyzed by two investigators. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed separately and integrated using a convergent, parallel mixed-methods approach.
Results: The PPAQ estimated MET-hours/week and there were no differences by LMUP category (divided into planned, unplanned, and ambivalent) Six themes emerged from the qualitative participant interviews including: overall pregnancy experience, PA education received from providers, PA during pregnancy, pregnancy-related barriers to PA, advice to other pregnant individuals, and support needs and future directions. Collectively, the results revealed variations in pregnancy planning experiences, but findings did not identify differences in PA (MET-hours/week) by LMUP category.
Conclusion: This study provides additional information for future research into maternal PA behavior and pregnancy planning tools. Although quantitative results were not significant in this small sample, the qualitative and combined findings are valuable as they could inform and improve PA-related recommendations for prenatal health and fitness