East Tennessee Research Articles

Quantitative trait loci governing seed protein, oil, and linolenic acid concentration in soybean

AbstractSoybean is one of the most economically important crops in the United States. Produced for its oil and protein concentration, it is readily utilized in food products for both human and livestock consumption. Since soybean was first cultivated in the United States, increased yield has been the driving factor in breeding efforts. Though yield and oil have been observed to be positively correlated, protein concentration is negatively correlated with both. An increased effort has been underway recently to produce high‐yielding cultivars that have both elevated oil and protein concentration. This has been accomplished utilizing molecular markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for both traits. To assist in this effort, more information on QTL associated with quality traits is required. In this study, 180 F4:6 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) segregating for protein, oil, and fatty acids were produced from a cross between TN12‐4098 and TN13‐4303. These lines were grown across three locations in Tennessee: Research and Education Center at Milan (RECM), Highland Rim Research and Education Center (HRREC), and East Tennessee Research and Education Center (ETREC) in 2018 and 2019. Sixteen QTL were found for protein, oil, linolenic acid, and meal protein concentration. Of these identified QTL, six were novel. Developing molecular markers associated with these QTL will assist in breeding efforts to produce high‐quality elite soybean cultivars that meet the demands of both farmers and consumers.

Building Workplace Camaraderie Through Library Employee Programming

ABSTRACT Employees at libraries of all types are looking for ways to form and strengthen relationships between colleagues who may be physically and socially disconnected after a period of remote work or staff turnover. At East Tennessee State University’s Sherrod Library, some library faculty and staff formed a committee to plan monthly events to encourage community among library employees. Events have included craft and poetry workshops, music and book discussions, potlucks, and professional development sessions. Recommendations to the reader for planning similar events include considering accessibility and scheduling, drawing from local talent and resources, and experimenting with a variety of activities. The committee’s efforts have strengthened relationships among library employees, improved leadership skills for early career librarians, and inspired new outreach projects to engage the campus community.

The impact of enhanced Milieu teaching with phonological emphasis (EMT + PE) on the speech and language outcomes for toddlers with cleft palate in Brazil and the United States of America

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the speech and language outcomes of children with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP+/-L) in the USA to children with CP+/-L in Brazil who underwent intervention with enhanced Milieu teaching with phonological emphasis (EMT + PE), as there are few cross-country intervention comparisons for children with CP+/-L. Method This is a retrospective analysis of 29 participants from the USA and 24 participants from Brazil who were matched on age. The US participants were between the ages of 13–35 months (M = 23.76), spoke Standard American English in the home, and were recruited from East Tennessee State University and Vanderbilt University. The Brazilian participants were between the ages of 20–34 months (M = 25.04), spoke Brazilian Portuguese in the home, and were recruited from the Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais–Universidade de São Paulo. All treatment participants received EMT + PE from trained speech-language pathologists in hospital-university clinics. Result The treatment groups demonstrated greater gains than comparison groups in percent consonants correct, number of different words, and expressive/receptive vocabulary. There was no main effect nor interaction by country. Conclusion The application of EMT + PE in a second culture and language is a viable early intervention option for participants with CP+/-L.

Climate Change Impacts on Spatiotemporal Soil Water Extremes in Geophysically Diverse Watersheds: A Comparison between East and West Tennessee Watersheds

Climate Change Impacts on Spatiotemporal Soil Water Extremes in Geophysically Diverse Watersheds: A Comparison between East and West Tennessee Watersheds

Mapping incidence and survival of non-small-cell lung cancers stratified by mutation type in southern Appalachia: A single center retrospective study.

e20568 Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is often a mutation-driven disease with variability in incidence and survival depending on location as seen in population-based cohort studies. Our study aims to delineate these differences based on molecular testing for these mutations in our study cohort at East Tennessee State University - Quillen College of Medicine, which is based on patients from east Tennessee, western North Carolina, and southwestern Virginia. Methods: We obtained pathology results of 294 patient samples with advanced/metastatic NSCLC from our cancer center/health system database over a 5 year period. PDL-1 was tested in all patients. Fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) testing for common pathogenic driver mutations such as EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET and PTEN were performed as is standard of care. Molecular sequencing was performed and included over 40 genetic mutations and 2 biomarkers, several of which today are considered targetable for advanced NSCLC, per standard of care. Incidence of different mutations was measured in our patient population. Overall survival was calculated with date of diagnosis available based on pathology report and date of patient expiration obtained from electronic medical records. Data analysis was performed to ascertain which mutations carried an increased risk of death. Results: The TP53 mutation was very common, seen in 85% of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) histology and 55% of adenocarcinoma. Similarly, incidence of PTEN deletion by FISH was noted to be 52% in SCC and 31% in adenocarcinoma. EGFR mutations were rare, seen in only 3% of tested patients. We had an incidence of KRAS G12C mutations at 11% overall, but it was present in up to 18% of adenocarcinomas. BRAF was seen in 4.8% of all cases, 8% of adenocarcinomas and 2% of SCC. Since there were more than 2 predictors, Cox proportional-hazards regression model was fit. Due to either having all negative values or very few positive values, the variables CCND1, CDKN2B, ERBB2, ERBB4, FGFR, FGFR2, MET, MSI, NRAS, PDGFRA, RET, RS01, SCR were excluded from analysis. A total of 156 samples were used in final analysis. After model building, it was found that BRAF and KRAS G12C mutation were significant predictors of survival by hazard ratios for death. Conclusions: In our unique patient population, there was a greater incidence of deleterious TP53 mutations and PTEN deletions compared to the general North American advanced/metastatic NSCLC population. Although BRAF and KRAS G12C mutations were not at a greater incidence in comparison to the rest of North America, they were notably significant predictors of survival, conferring nearly 3.4 and 2.7 times increased risk of death in our study. [Table: see text]

Comparing Chest Tube Thoracostomy in East Tennessee Trauma Centers: A Prospective Study Highlighting Differences in Urban vs Rural Locations.

Chest tube thoracostomy (CTT) is essential for lung expansion, but protocol discrepancies exist across trauma centers. This prospective study compared CTT protocols between an urban (center 1) and rural (center 2) level 1 trauma center in East Tennessee from June to August 2023. 66 trauma patients required CTT (51 from center 1 and 15 from center 2). Diagnostic practices and post-pull chest X-rays (CXR) differed significantly. Center 1 favored CXR for diagnosis (P = 0.012), while center 2 relied more on clinical presentation (P = 0.012). Post-pull CXR was less common at center 2 (P = 0.012). Center 2 had lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (P = 0.028), shorter tube duration (P = 0.044), and more needle thoracostomy use (P = 0.393). These findings underscore the need for regional protocols considering pre-arrival factors, hospital practices, and injury patterns. Protocol adjustments aim to improve adherence and patient outcomes, with ongoing data collection exploring factors influencing protocol evolution.

Assessing Pregnant Patients' Postpartum Contraceptive Plans After the SCOTUS Dobbs Decision in a Highly Restrictive State [ID 2683439

INTRODUCTION: The June 2022 SCOTUS Dobbs decision removed federal protection to abortion access. In August 2022, a Tennessee trigger law made ending a pregnancy for any reason a felony. We hypothesized that this change would result in more pregnant patients desiring highly effective (long-acting or permanent) contraceptive methods after delivery. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis used electronic health records to capture demographic and pregnancy data for pregnant patients admitted for delivery in one East Tennessee hospital. Documented contraceptive plans chosen during pregnancy were categorized as highly effective (long acting or permanent) or moderate/least effective. Data were extracted from July 2019 to April 2020 (baseline) and compared to July 2022 to April 2023 (post-Dobbs). Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression were conducted in SPSS. RESULTS: One-half (50.6%) of 7,489 records analyzed were post-Dobbs; 90.4% had a documented contraception plan upon hospital admission. Record of choosing a highly effective contraception plan during pregnancy decreased significantly baseline to post-Dobbs (47.2% to 39.6%; P<.001). Logistic regression was used to further analyze the relationship between the Dobbs decision and highly effective contraception plan desired postpartum. Patients who delivered after the Dobbs decision had lower odds (adjusted odds ratio 0.726; 95% CI [0.652, 0.809]; P<.001) of having highly effective contraception plans after controlling for age, number of living children, race/ethnicity, and insurance. CONCLUSION: A lower percentage of patients from the post-Dobbs cohort desired highly effective contraception after delivery. Further investigation should explore these surprising results. Regardless, patients should participate in patient-centered contraceptive counseling during prenatal care to make informed decisions after delivery.

Evaluating Contraception Counseling and Desire for Immediate Postpartum Long-Acting Contraception in Publicly Insured Adolescents [ID 2683512

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent pregnancy is associated with a high prevalence of short interval birth and unplanned pregnancy, along with other risks. Immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (IPP LARC) has the potential to improve these outcomes. This study aimed to examine the presence of counseling, desire, and obtainment of IPP LARC during hospitalization. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis used electronic health records to capture demographics, pregnancy details, and contraceptive discussions and plans for pregnant patients admitted for delivery in one East Tennessee hospital. Exclusion criteria included those with private insurance or received permanent sterilization during hospitalization. Adolescence was defined as age less than 20 years at the time of delivery. Data were extracted from March 2018 to June 2023. Chi-squared tests were conducted in SPSS. RESULTS: 10,492 patients that met inclusion criteria delivered between March 2018 and June 2023. Of these, 10.8% (n=1,128) were adolescents. Desire for IPP LARC upon admission was higher among adolescents (31.6% versus 25.1%; P<.001). IPP LARC placement was significantly higher among adolescents (overall, 24.0% [n=2,523]; adolescents, 27.5%, versus age 20 and older, 23.6%; P=.005). Adolescents who self-reported receiving contraceptive counseling during prenatal care were more likely to receive IPP LARC (66.5% versus 42.4%; P<.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, prenatal contraception counseling increased patient obtainment of desired postpartum contraceptive plan, including IPP LARC. Adolescents both desired and obtained IPP LARC more frequently than their older counterparts. Improved contraceptive counseling and access to all contraceptive options, including IPP LARC, may improve teen pregnancy and birth rates.

Using forensic intelligence as a model for determining future toxicology methods: TBI forensic toxicology and forensic drug chemistry nitazene identification.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) serves all 95 counties of Tennessee, but the data included in this article are primarily focused in Upper East and East Tennessee (the parts of the state included in the eastern time zone). The forensic chemistry (seized drug) unit of the TBI began reporting nitazene analogues in late 2019. The primary analogues found in forensic chemistry cases were isotonitazene and metonitazene. After discussion and review of reporting statistics, the forensic toxicology unit began to monitor for these compounds in toxicology samples by using ion characteristics with the nitazene analogues. Between March 2021 and December 2023, TBI toxicology received 49,639 cases statewide. Of those, 20,105 (40.5%) received toxicology testing. Approximately 95% of TBI toxicology cases are related to Driving Under the Influence (DUI)/motor vehicle-related incidents. Fatal overdoses and cases from the medical examiner office comprise <5% of TBI toxicology caseload. The toxicology section utilizes the SCIEX 3200 Qtrap with a SCIEX Exion LC AC autosampler system to monitor multiple reaction monitoring transition of nitazene analogues. The ion monitoring for two nitazene analogues, isotonitazene and metonitazene, started in March 2021. Ion monitoring should not be construed as a confirmed result but rather as an indication that a drug may be present. A comparison of this data from the forensic toxicology and forensic chemistry units revealed the rise of new drugs that required a more in-depth review to understand the magnitude and scope. This article is also intended to encourage collaboration between forensic toxicology and forensic chemistry (seized drug) units.

Tracking Mississippian Migrations from the Central Mississippi Valley to the Ridge and Valley with a Unified Absolute Chronology

AbstractAs regional chronologies become better defined, we are better able to track large-scale population movements and related cultural change. A dataset of 156 radiocarbon dates from the Middle Cumberland Region (MCR), evaluated with 199 more dates from the Ridge and Valley portions of northern Georgia and East Tennessee, enable modeling of population movements from the Central Mississippi Valley into the MCR, as well as subsequent movements and effects in the Ridge and Valley between AD 1200 and 1450. The dissolution of Cahokia is of particular interest, because the MCR falls geographically between the American Bottom and the Ridge and Valley province. This large-scale chronological perspective places key events in this part of the Southeast and Midwest into a unified historical framework that increases our understanding of the timing of cultural events. A related goal is to sort out possible external events and influences that may have affected this large region. This study makes apparent the relationships between cultural events and natural events, such as the drought sequences reported for the Central Mississippi Valley and beyond.

Building A Black Appalachian Metropolis: Black Women’s Activism And Labor In Knoxville, Tennessee

Abstract: This article explores the multifaceted roles of Black women in East Tennessee during and immediately after the First World War, spotlighting their profound impact on both local and regional politics and social structures. Positioned uniquely at the intersection of racial uplift and self-determination ideologies in the Black Belt South, these women leveraged a combination of labor and activism to reshape Black political and social thought. Through an intensive examination of archival, biographical, and historical sources, the study reveals how notable figures such as Mrs. Cora Burke, Lillian Cansler, and other race leaders navigated the complexities of the New South’s Jim Crow landscape. Their efforts not only bridged the gap between local challenges and global aspirations but also propelled them into leadership roles in movements such as women’s suffrage and the New Negro Movement. This essay underscores the essential yet often overlooked contributions of Black women from a myriad of different class backgrounds in East Tennessee, presenting them not only as participants in established movements but as architects of new frameworks of resistance and empowerment within the early twentieth-century American South.

Canopy reduction and fire seasonality effects on deer and turkey habitat in upland hardwoods

Understory conditions strongly influence the value of upland hardwood forests for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Canopy reduction can be paired with low-intensity prescribed fire to increase forage and cover. Most fire in these systems is applied during the dormant season, but there may be benefits to burning during different seasons to provide different resources throughout the year. We implemented a shelterwood harvest with reserves in four upland hardwood stands in east Tennessee in 2010, then applied fire during the early-growing season (EGS) and late-growing season (LGS) to different treatment units on approximately a 2.2-year return interval from 2012–2023. We recorded vegetation composition, measured vegetation structure, calculated deer forage availability, and tallied wildlife detections via camera traps in summer 2023 to evaluate our treatments relative to an unharvested and unburned control. We found canopy reduction and fire during either season resulted in greater understory coverage of plants, with tree and bramble coverage greatest following LGS fire, which was lower intensity on average than EGS fire. Vegetation structure following EGS fire was more open, which is typically selected by brooding turkeys. The taller structure following LGS fire provided conditions typically selected for bedding or fawning by deer and nesting for turkeys. Deer forage biomass in July was increased by both EGS and LGS relative to control, but forage of sufficient quality to support a lactating doe was increased only in EGS because of increased nutrition of recently resprouting vegetation. Deer and turkey detections were greater in EGS than control or LGS during May–June. Turkey detections remained greater in EGS during July–August, but deer use was similar between EGS and LGS during July–August. Our results indicate burning during different seasons following canopy reduction can promote different food and cover resources which are important for deer and turkeys during different times of the year.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in East Tennessee dairy farms.

The extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, such as Escherichia coli, are emerging as a serious threat to global health due to their rapid spread and their multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes. However, limited information is available regarding the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of ESBL-E. coli in the United States dairy farms. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and AMR pattern of ESBL-E. coli in East Tennessee dairy cattle farms. Rectal fecal samples from dairy cattle (n = 508) and manure (n = 30), water (n = 19), and feed samples (n = 15) were collected from 14 farms. The presumptive E. coli was isolated on CHROMagar™ ESBL and confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on the ESBL-E. coli isolates. From 572 fecal and farm environmental samples, a total of 233 (41%, n = 572) ESBL-E. coli were identified. The prevalence of fecal ESBL-E. coli was 47.5% (95% CI: 46.2-49.2). The within-farm prevalence of ESBL-E. coli ranged from 8 to 100%. Recent treatment history with third-generation cephalosporins (3GC), cow parity ≥3, and calves were the independent risk factors associated (P < 0.05) with fecal carriage of ESBL-E. coli. Overall, 99.6% (n = 231) ESBL-E. coli tested were phenotypically resistant to at least one of the 14 antimicrobial agents tested. The most common AMR phenotypes were against beta-lactam antibiotics, ampicillin (99.1%; n = 231 isolates), and ceftriaxone (98.7%, n = 231). Most ESBL-E. coli isolates (94.4%) were MDR (resistance to ≥3 antimicrobial classes), of which 42.6% showed co-resistance to at least six classes of antimicrobials. ESBL-E. coli isolates with concurrent resistance to ceftriaxone, ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, sulfisoxazole, and chloramphenicol are widespread and detected in all the farms. The detection of MDR ESBL-E. coli suggests that dairy cattle can be a reservoir for these bacteria, highlighting the associated public health risk.

Influences of Faith on Rural Appalachian Older Adult Health: An Ethnonursing Study.

Rural Appalachian older adults (RAOAs) constitute a vulnerable population and experience significant health disparities. The combination of age, poverty, rural residence, health care provider shortages, and limited transportation increases risks for poor health outcomes. Spirituality enhances older adult health; however, little is known about spirituality-health linkages of RAOAs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to discover the influences of spirituality on RAOA health. Culture Care Theory and ethnonursing method guided analysis of 32 RAOA interviews in community settings in East Tennessee. "Faith" is an integral component of RAOA culture and health. Three themes were extrapolated: (a) Relationship with God is personal; (b) faith beliefs and practices influence health, illness, death, and dying; and [the need to] (c) "Open the door" for spiritual care. Faith assessment and spiritual care recommendations contribute to culturally congruent care for RAOAs and may be transferable to care for other older adults.

Tennessee Academy of ScienceDistinguished Secondary School Science Teacher Award 2022

Tennessee Academy of ScienceDistinguished Secondary School Science Teacher Award 2022

Predictors of preschoolers’ classroom engagement: teacher–child interactions, teacher–child relationships, and child’s self-control

ABSTRACT The study examined predictors (teacher–child interactions, teacher–child relationships, child’s self-control) of preschoolers’ classroom engagement (135 preschoolers, 15 East Tennessee classrooms). Hierarchical linear regression revealed child’s self-control significantly contributed to engagement. Teacher–child closeness enhanced engagement, but reverse-coded teacher–child conflict negatively impacted it after controlling teacher-child individualized interaction. Control variables included child gender, age, mother and father education. These findings offer holistic insights into preschoolers’ engagement mechanisms, aiding intervention program design. Discussions and practical applications of results are provided.

East Tennessee older women’s perceptions of Medicare, Medicaid, and related health policies

Older women face unique challenges regarding health disparities. This study aims to provide an understanding of older women’s perceptions and situated experiences regarding the gendered health disparities they face, which are characterized by the policies related to older women’s health and the geopolitical and social norms in which they live. The purpose of this project is to provide policy and decision-makers with insights and a better understanding of older women’s experiences and perceptions of the policies that impact their health and healthcare. The data for this study was collected through semi-structured interviews with twelve women in Appalachian East Tennessee. Areas examined include: the women’s perceived impact of federal, state, and local policies on the participants, particularly of Medicare and Medicaid; the role of social norming and health narratives, particularly stigmatization, discrimination, and health marginalization of older women; and the role of place and place-based drivers on these areas. This study sought to determine if these factors impact the participants’ awareness or lack of awareness of policies related to older women. Findings showed that older women in East Tennessee lacked knowledge of health policies, that older women perceive systemic and individual discrimination in policymaking, clinical care, and health research, and that they perceive that place-based drivers have impacted their access to healthcare. These findings have implications for policymaking and intervention design in co-production with older women in order to mitigate older women’s health disparities.

An AI-Based Workflow for Fast Registration of UAV-Produced 3D Point Clouds

The integration of structure from motion (SFM) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies has allowed for the generation of very high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data (up to millimeters) to detect and monitor surface changes. However, a bottleneck still exists in accurately and rapidly registering the point clouds at different times. The existing point cloud registration algorithms, such as the Iterative Closest Point (ICP) and the Fast Global Registration (FGR) method, were mainly developed for the registration of small and static point cloud data, and do not perform well when dealing with large point cloud data with potential changes over time. In particular, registering large data is computationally expensive, and the inclusion of changing objects reduces the accuracy of the registration. In this paper, we develop an AI-based workflow to ensure high-quality registration of the point clouds generated using UAV-collected photos. We first detect stable objects from the ortho-photo produced by the same set of UAV-collected photos to segment the point clouds of these objects. Registration is then performed only on the partial data with these stable objects. The application of this workflow using the UAV data collected from three erosion plots at the East Tennessee Research and Education Center indicates that our workflow outperforms the existing algorithms in both computational speed and accuracy. This AI-based workflow significantly improves computational efficiency and avoids the impact of changing objects for the registration of large point cloud data.

Community-Academic Partnership: Intervention to Prepare Community Members for the End-of-Life Journey.

Despite research findings that rural Appalachians prefer to die at home, few people access palliative and hospice care services, and many report limited knowledge about palliative/end-of-life care resources. A community-academic partnership was formed to address this need. Train-the-trainer workshop and materials were co-developed. This study tested the feasibility and cultural acceptability of the training intervention to increase community members' knowledge about palliative/end-of-life care resources for East Tennessee Appalachian people. Community-based participatory research design and culture care theory guided the project, intervention, and research. After engaging in end-of-life training, participants completed a retrospective pretest-posttest survey. Paired samples t tests were used to compare knowledge before and after training. Means and standard deviations were used to report training material usefulness and cultural acceptability. Short-answer qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis. Sixty-six adults completed the survey. Ratings for training materials and cultural/theological acceptability were high. Participant knowledge rankings showed significant improvement after training at the P <.001 level. Qualitative feedback was positive. The training intervention was feasible, culturally acceptable, and effective for increasing East Tennessee Appalachian persons' palliative/end-of-life care knowledge. Community member expertise/collaboration integrated into every stage of the project is the bedrock of cultural acceptability and feasibility.

Evaluation of karst spring water quality in northeast Tennessee using water quality indices

AbstractEnsuring access to safe drinking water to protect public health in communities underserved or unserved by centralized water systems requires regular water quality testing and reporting. However, households depending on unregulated water systems like wells and springs, which are less routinely tested, may be unaware of their water quality. Access to easy‐to‐comprehend water quality information may be challenging. Therefore, this study utilized multiple water quality parameters to determine karst spring water quality using two water quality index (WQI) methods. This approach aggregates and summarizes water quality data into a single value or index characterizing the general health status of water at a given location in an easy‐to‐understand way. In situ measurements of physicochemical parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, conductivity, specific conductance, total dissolved solids, and oxidation–reduction potential) were taken at 50 karst springs in east Tennessee during summer 2021. Water samples were analyzed for microbial (fecal coliform and Escherichia coli), nutrients (nitrate and nitrite), and radiological (radon) constituents using standard analytical methods. WQI method 1 (Brown et al. Water Quality Index) rated 12% of springs as “very poor” water quality and 88% as “unfit for drinking.” WQI method 2 (National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index) rated 4% of the sampled springs as “good,” 92% as “moderate,” and 4% as “bad.” Given the prevalence of fecal contamination in the sampled springs, even springs rated good should be properly treated before consumption. Overall, these findings demonstrate the importance of selecting appropriate WQI for the end water use, and for water quality information that is easily understandable by water users.