University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture
University of Tennessee, Knoxville: TraceNot a member yet
47048 research outputs found
Sort by
Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Schools: Lived Experiences of School-Based Professionals
No full textCollaboration is an ethical duty of school-based professionals and essential to addressing student needs and maximizing student success. This phenomenological qualitative research study explored the collaborative experiences between school counselors, school-based mental health counselors (SBMHCs), and school social workers. Through semi-structured interviews, we examined the experiences of 12 practicing school-based professionals. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), we identified five group experiential themes: (a) it takes a village, (b) factors that influence collaboration, (c) advantages of teamwork, (d) challenges in collaborating, and (e) recommendations to improve collaborative practices. Implications for graduate training programs and recommendations for future research studies are discussed
Discovery of Cell Wall and Cuticle Gene Candidates for Biofuel Feedstock Improvement in Populus trichocarpa (Black Cottonwood) Using Systems Biology Approaches
No full textClimate change threatens agriculture and bioenergy production, necessitating the development of resilient, sustainable feedstocks that can thrive on marginal lands with limited resources. Understanding the genetic architecture underlying complex traits such as biomass accumulation and stress tolerance is essential for crop improvement. Populus trichocarpa (black cottonwood) is an important biofuel feedstock and model woody plant with extensive genomic resources and natural populations spanning diverse environmental gradients. This dissertation uses systems and network biology methods to characterize genomic variation in P. trichocarpa and link genetic loci with potentially impacted traits, furthering our understanding of the contribution of natural variation to environmental adaptation and identifying targets for feedstock improvement.
Chapter 2 leverages a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with cell wall metabolite concentrations. Then, network methods are used to identify novel candidate genes involved in regulation of cell wall biosynthesis – a key trait for plant growth, stress response, and biofuel conversion efficiency. High-priority candidates have since been experimentally validated, demonstrating the power of network-based approaches for gene discovery.
In Chapter 3, I use two detection algorithms to call 794,619 and 877,216 large SVs in 1,484 wild P. trichocarpa accessions. Population structure analyses revealed distinct subgroups reflecting post-glacial demographic history, with northern populations showing reduced diversity consistent with rapid expansion from refugia. This SV catalog provides a resource for further studies on the impacts of large-scale genomic rearrangements.
Chapter 4 investigates associations between SVs and climate variables such as water deficit, soil moisture, and temperature. Using relaxed GWAS thresholds combined with network filtering strategies, this approach identified 13,124 and 11,297 SV-climate associations, respectively, with different subtypes capturing distinct evolutionary signals. Network methods GRIN and MENTOR retained 5,471 biologically relevant genes, three of which (PtKCS) were identified as high-priority candidates. Located within a complex SV region, PtKCS genes encode enzymes essential for cuticular wax biosynthesis and contribute to population-level variation in drought and pathogen response.
Collectively, this work demonstrates how integrating population genomics, association mapping, and network biology can identify genetic candidates relevant for environmental adaptation in forest trees and improvement of feedstock sustainability
Assessing the Veterinary Health Care Needs of Knoxville’s Latino Community Through a Community-Based Participatory Approach: A Short Report
Full text linkThe primary objective of the study was to better understand the interests, needs, and perceived barriers to veterinary care of Knoxville’s Latino community. Investigators adapted a national survey designed to understand access to veterinary care for distribution to the Latino pop-ulation through a community-based participatory approach with an established community center. Seventy-six percent of survey respondents (n = 46) reported that they consider the pet as part of the family. Forty-eight percent said their pets were not spayed or neutered (s/n), and of these, 39% said s/n was cost-prohibitive, whereas 22% did not know where to receive services. Twenty-six percent identified an inability to obtain treatment for a sick pet, primarily due to a lack of access to affordable care. Participants expressed interest in vaccines and parasite prevention (64%), training and behavior (36%), and information on veterinary and pet care resources (29%). The survey tool (provided in English and Spanish) and community engagement approach can assist animal welfare organizations in identifying and addressing community veterinary needs and barriers to care
The Media Framing of India’s Nuclear Weapons Discourse
Full text linkThe Indian media has had an immense role in framing public perceptions of nuclear weapons within the Indian subcontinent. Examining the largely nationalistic tone of news coverage helps analyze how the media has shaped India’s idea of its status as a nuclear weapon state. Examining the sociocultural discourse around the bomb, this paper analyzes the major influence that the Indian media has in information distribution and how that influence translates to the formation of the atomic attitudes of the masses. In situating the Indian media’s approach to nuclear weapons at large, this work studied the framing of domestic nuclear weapons discourse in Indian English-language newspapers. The research also articulated the nuclear takes on iconic daily comic strips, which play an important role in gauging the moods and anxieties of the masses, or the common man, as it happened. Sidelining the technical understanding of nuclear weapons from a scientific perspective, this paper incorporates a cultural and sociopolitical understanding of the nuclear weapons policy of India by further examining the media portrayal of the nuclear weapons debate beyond print media and into 24/7 news channels, social media, and entertainment mediums, such as movies and television shows. This study concluded that the media framing of India’s nuclear weapons policy is one-sided and mostly nationalistic; the opposition to the nuclear weapons program is nonexistent or meager. This paper also prescribes that the media has to play a more constructive role in educating the public because the focus of domestic debate has moved now from weapons issues to nuclear energy and safety and security
New Program Approval - Undergraduate Certificate in American Civics - Request for Additional Information
Full text link
