University Of Tennessee Research Foundation

THE SOUTHEAST DAIRY BUSINESS INNOVATION INITIATIVE (SDBII) WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE VALUE-ADDED AND CONVENTIONAL DAIRY INDUSTRY ACROSS 12 SOUTHEAST STATES (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA). WE HAVE CREATED A SUPPORT NETWORK ACROSS: 1) UNDERSTANDING VALUE-ADDED DAIRY OPPORTUNITIES (ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FARM SUSTAINABILITY), 2) DAIRY FINANCES AND DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS, 3) FOOD SAFETY AND PRODUCT INNOVATION PROJECTS, 4) MARKETING AND TRAINING TOOLS, AND 5) LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THIS CURRENT APPLICATION WILL FOCUS ON EXPANDED AND NEW INITIATIVES AROUND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FARM SUSTAINABILITY, DAIRY FINANCES AND DECISION-SUPPORT TOOLS, AND LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT. THIS FURTHERS OUR OVERARCHING GOAL OF CREATING A HOLISTIC SUPPORT SYSTEM, BENCHMARKS, AND RESOURCES ACROSS ALL ASPECTS OF THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. OUTCOMES WILL INCLUDE: SURVEYS OF AUTOMATED CALF FEEDER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. APPLIED RESEARCH ON BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CALF BEHAVIOR FOR AUTOMATED CALF FEEDERS. OFFSETTING HERD GENOMIC TESTING COSTS AND SURVEYING PRODUCERS. ASSESSING TRADITIONAL AND NOVEL FEEDING METHODS IMPACT ON DAIRY CATTLE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND PRODUCTION. EXPANSION OF THE DAIRY GAUGE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE MILK FAT AND PROTEIN, PREGNANCY RATE, CULL RATE, OTHER FARM MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, AND GREENHOUSE GASES. REFINEMENT OF U-DAIRE PROGRAM CURRICULA AND EXPANSION. EXPANSION AND REFINEMENT OF MILK PROGRAM ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. CREATION OF CURD PROGRAM TO FOSTER PRODUCER COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION AND ENGAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LEADERSHIP AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DAIRY BUSINESSES. COMPETITIVE SUBAWARD PROGRAMS FOR SOUTHEAST DAIRY BUSINESSES. CREATING EXTENSION FACT SHEETS, PUBLICATIONS, DECISION TOOLS, AND VIDEO RESOURCES.

AWARDED UNDER BAA W911NF-17-S-0003-03

EFFECT OF PRENATAL COMPOUNDS ON ADULT LUNG FUNCTION VIA NEONATAL DNA METHYLATION

INFANT VOCAL COMMUNICATION: TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT AND AUTISM RISK

CAVITATION EROSION: MODEL TO FULL SCALE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

APPLYING BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS TO PREDICT ALCOHOL TRAJECTORIES DURING THE TRANSITION TO ADULTHOOD

EQUIPMENT: MRI: TRACK 2 ACQUISITION OF A HPC CLUSTER FOR FOSTERING INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION ON AI-DRIVEN AND DATA-INTENSIVE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN WEST TENNESSEE -THIS PROJECT WILL ACQUIRE, DEPLOY, AND OPERATE A HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING (HPC) CLUSTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS (UOFM). BY SHARING THE PROPOSED EQUIPMENT ACROSS THE WEST TENNESSEE REGION AND THROUGHOUT NEARBY STATES (E.G., MISSISSIPPI AND ARKANSAS), THIS CLUSTER WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE RESEARCH QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY, ENABLE NEW AREAS OF RESEARCH EFFORTS, PROMOTE TRAINING HPC WORKFORCE, AND ENHANCE THE EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT OF AT LEAST 10 PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS IN THIS REGION. THE CLUSTER ENCOMPASSES MULTIPLE TYPES OF OVER 100 STATE-OF-THE-ART GPUS (NVIDIA 4090, A6000, AND A100) THAT FIT THE DIVERSE NEEDS OF REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT. THE CLUSTER WILL SUPPORT TEACHING AND RESEARCH FOR UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS IN THE REGION ACROSS INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH FIELDS, HELPING PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION OF AI SCIENTISTS AND HPC OPERATION WORKFORCES. EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CLUSTER FOR FEMALE STUDENTS, UNDERREPRESENTED RACIAL GROUPS, AND THOSE FROM OTHER MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES WILL BROADLY PROMOTE THE DIVERSIFICATION OF THE AI AND HPC WORKFORCE IN THE REGION. THE CLUSTER WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR REGIONAL COLLEGES, SUCH AS LEMOYNE-OWEN COLLEGE AND CHRISTIAN BROTHERS UNIVERSITY, WHICH LACK A COMPUTING FACILITY. THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF DEEP LEARNING ACROSS RESEARCH COMPUTING COMMUNITIES HAS FACILITATED INCREASINGLY MASSIVE NEEDS FOR COMPUTING CAPACITY TO DEVELOP AI APPROACHES AND BIG DATA APPLICATIONS (E.G., CHATGPT). THE GPU CLUSTER WILL SUPPORT AI RESEARCH AND APPLICATIONS ACROSS FIVE RESEARCH AREAS: INTELLIGENT HEALTH, CYBERSECURITY, EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY, SMART TRANSPORTATION, AND COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY. EACH THREAD WILL ENABLE FUNDAMENTAL AND APPLIED RESEARCH IN MANY AREAS, SUCH AS 1) PEDIATRIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS; 2) SECURING REAL-TIME SYSTEMS; 3) AI-DRIVEN TUTORING SYSTEMS; 4) AUTO-DRIVING NAVIGATION SYSTEMS; AND 5) COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATIONS FOR THE EVOLUTION OF INSECT-PLANT INTERACTIONS. THE RESEARCH WILL PUT WEST TN AT THE FOREFRONT OF INTEGRATING AI AND DATA SCIENCE INTO ADDRESSING THE TIMELY RESEARCH OF SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL ISSUES AND PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF AI SCIENTISTS AND HPC ADMINISTRATORS. THIS CLUSTER WILL INVOLVE MORE THAN 37 FACULTY MEMBERS WITH 193 STUDENT ADVISEES FROM A DIVERSE POPULATION FROM OVER 10 RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS AT WEST TN, PARTICULARLY BENEFITING THE UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES IN STEM (E.G., FIRST-GEN AND WOMEN). FINALLY, THE PROPOSED CLUSTER WILL ENABLE TEACHING AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, WHICH WILL EMPOWER TO BETTER EQUIP STUDENTS WITH AI AND HPC OPERATIONS SKILLS; IN TURN, THIS WILL BENEFIT AND DIVERSIFY THE FUTURE WORKFORCE OF AI RESEARCH, HPC MANAGEMENT, AND REGIONAL INDUSTRY. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

NURSING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY

CC* INTEGRATION-LARGE: MGUARD: A SECURE REAL-TIME DATA DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM WITH FINE-GRAINED ACCESS CONTROL FOR MHEALTH RESEARCH

TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN AN APEX ACCELERATOR TO SERVE AS A RESOURCE FOR LARGE AND SMALL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING NEWLY STARTED BUSINESSES, TO OBTAIN PROCUREMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.

CAREER: ENABLING THE ACCURATE SIMULATION OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CORE-LEVEL SPECTROSCOPIES IN MOLECULAR COMPLEXES USING TIME-DEPENDENT DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY -WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CHEMICAL THEORY, MODELS AND COMPUTATIONAL METHODS (CTMC) PROGRAM IN THE DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY, DR. DANIEL NASCIMENTO OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS IS DEVELOPING COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES TO SIMULATE HOW MOLECULES INTERACT WITH X-RAYS. THESE SIMULATIONS PROVIDE VALUABLE INFORMATION ON HOW MOLECULES BEHAVE, AND BY EXTENSION, HOW THEY CAN BE USED AND MANIPULATED IN TECHNOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS RELEVANT TO MEDICINE, MATERIALS SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY. DR. NASCIMENTO AND HIS RESEARCH GROUP WILL DEVELOP COST-EFFECTIVE ALGORITHMS TO SIMULATE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL X-RAY SPECTROSCOPIES THAT WILL ENABLE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF MOLECULAR SYSTEMS RELEVANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES. THESE ALGORITHMS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AS PART OF THE PSI4 ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE PACKAGE, AN OPEN-SOURCE, STATE-OF-THE-ART QUANTUM CHEMISTRY SOFTWARE PACKAGE FREELY AVAILABLE TO THE CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY. AS PART OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, DR. NASCIMENTO WILL LAUNCH A SUMMER PROGRAM IN COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY TARGETING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH REGION. THESE EFFORTS ARE DESIGNED TO IMPACT THE RECRUITMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTS AND ARE SEEN AS A VEHICLE TO WORK TOWARD BUILDING A DIVERSE, TALENTED FUTURE WORKFORCE FOR THE FIELD. RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN X-RAY FREE-ELECTRON LASER (XFEL) TECHNOLOGIES HAVE OPENED UP NEW AVENUES FOR CONDUCTING MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CORE-LEVEL SPECTROSCOPY EXPERIMENTS AT HIGH ENERGIES. HOWEVER, TO EFFECTIVELY INTERPRET AND MAKE SENSE OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF DATA GENERATED BY THESE FACILITIES, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO HAVE PRECISE THEORETICAL MODELS THAT CAN FAITHFULLY REPLICATE THE UNDERLYING PROCESSES. CURRENT MODELS EMPLOYED IN THE INTERPRETATION OF EXPERIMENTAL X-RAY DATA ARE EITHER TOO SIMPLIFIED TO BE PREDICTIVE OR ENTAIL EXTENSIVE COMPUTATIONS THAT ARE PRACTICAL ONLY FOR RELATIVELY SMALL MOLECULES. DR. NASCIMENTO AND HIS RESEARCH GROUP ARE TAKING A NOVEL APPROACH BY HARNESSING THE PRINCIPLES OF RESPONSE THEORY TO DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT, AND APPLY COST-EFFECTIVE ALGORITHMS FOR SIMULATING MULTI-DIMENSIONAL CORE-LEVEL SPECTROSCOPIES IN REAL-WORLD SYSTEMS, FEATURING AROUND 100 TO 150 ATOMS. THESE ALGORITHMS WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO THE PSI4 ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE PACKAGE. THROUGH THIS RESEARCH EFFORT, DR. NASCIMENTO AIMS TO DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SEVERAL CRITICAL ASPECTS, INCLUDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SECOND-ORDER RELAXATION EFFECTS IN CALCULATING EXCITED-STATE TRANSITION MOMENTS IN MOLECULAR COMPLEXES, THE UTILIZATION OF QUASI-DEGENERATE PERTURBATION THEORY TO INTRODUCE SPIN-ORBIT COUPLING EFFECTS INTO THESE TRANSITION MOMENTS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATE-SPECIFIC STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING DISSIPATION CHANNELS WITH MINIMAL PARAMETERIZATION. THE ALGORITHMS AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS RESULTING FROM THIS PROJECT ARE EXPECTED TO ENHANCE THE WAYS IN WHICH MULTI-DIMENSIONAL X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY SIMULATIONS ARE PERFORMED AND TO INCREASE THE REACH AND PREDICTIVE ABILITY OF COMPUTATIONAL CHEMISTRY IN THE NEW ERA OF XFEL-DRIVEN SCIENCE. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

ROLE OF THE INFRAPATELLAR FAT PAD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS FOLLOWING BLUNT IMPACT TO THE KNEE JOINT - PROJECT SUMMARY EXCESSIVE COMPRESSIVE LOAD CAUSED BY BLUNT IMPACT TO THE KNEE, SUCH AS DURING A CAR ACCIDENT OR SPORTS INJURY, IS KNOWN TO LEAD TO OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA) WITHIN THE JOINT. OFTEN TIMES, NO GROSS LIGAMENT OR MENISCAL DAMAGE IS PRESENT IN THESE CASES; GIVEN THIS, OCCULT DAMAGE IS NOT TREATED, REPRESENTING AN UNDERSERVED OPPORTUNITY TO PREVENT LATER PATHOLOGY. OUR LABORATORY PREVIOUSLY DEVELOPED A MODEL, USING THE FLEMISH GIANT RABBIT, TO STUDY THE EFFECTS OF IMPACT COMPRESSIVE LOADING TO THE KNEE. THIS MODEL HAS SHOWN THAT BLUNT IMPACTS RESULT IN: (I) CARTILAGE DAMAGE; (II) MICROCRACKS AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN CALCIFIED CARTILAGE AND UNDERLYING SUBCHONDRAL BONE IN THE TIBIAL PLATEAU; AND (III) SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS IN THE MENISCAL TISSUE, ALL OF WHICH POINT TO CLINICAL SIGNS OF POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS (PTOA). INTERESTINGLY, RECENT STUDIES BY OUR GROUP USING THE HARTLEY GUINEA PIG MODEL OF SPONTANEOUS OA HAVE SHOWN THAT EARLY REMOVAL OF THE INFRAPATELLAR FAT PAD (IFP) WAS ABLE TO PREVENT PROGRESSION OF PATHOLOGY (I.E. HISTOPATHOLOGY AND MICRO-COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY SCORES WERE REDUCED IN THE LIMBS WITH THE IFP REMOVED COMPARED TO SHAM CONTROL). IMPROVEMENT IN LIMBS WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REPLACEMENT FIBROUS CONNECTIVE TISSUE (FCT) IN PLACE OF THE IFP, WHICH DEMONSTRATED LESS EVIDENCE OF INFLAMMATION AND FEWER CHANGES IN MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF JOINT TISSUES THAN THE NATIVE ADIPOSE DEPOT. GIVEN THIS, THE GOAL OF THE PRESENT STUDY IS TO FURTHER ELUCIDATE THE ROLE OF THE IFP IN PTOA DEVELOPMENT IN OUR FLEMISH GIANT RABBIT MODEL OF COMPRESSIVE LOADING. WE PROPOSE TO DETERMINE THE ROLE THAT INJURED IFP PLAYS IN KNEE DEGENERATION AND IDENTIFY WHETHER BIOMECHANICAL AND/OR MOLECULAR PATHWAYS MAY BE INFLUENCING THE DEVELOPMENT OF PTOA POST-INJURY. WE HYPOTHESIZE THAT REMOVAL OF THE IFP WILL PREVENT/DECREASE PTOA FOLLOWING BLUNT IMPACT TO THE KNEE. WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS VIA TWO SUBAIMS: (1) CORRELATE THE PRESENCE AND SEVERITY OF PTOA TO THE TISSUE DISTRIBUTION OF INFLAMMATORY/PATHOLOGIC MEDIATORS IN THE JOINT. PROPOSED WORK WILL QUANTITATE THE PRESENCE OF KEY INFLAMMATORY AND MATRIX DEGRADING MOLECULES IN JOINT TISSUES, SERUM (SYSTEMIC CHANGES), AND SYNOVIAL FLUID (LOCAL CHANGES) VIA PROTEOMICS AND METABOLOMICS. (2) ASSESS THE BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THE BONE, CARTILAGE, AND MENISCI FOLLOWING REMOVAL OF THE IFP. BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF JOINT TISSUE WILL BE CHARACTERIZED USING: CRANIAL DRAWER TESTS; TENSILE TESTS, WHICH WILL EVALUATE THE TIME DEPENDENT AND FAILURE PROPERTIES OF THE WHOLE KNEE JOINT; MACRO-INDENTATION TESTING OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE, MENISCI, IFP, AND FCT, WHICH WILL ESTABLISH THE COMPARATIVE STIFFNESS OF THESE STRUCTURES; AND SHEAR AND COMPRESSION TESTING OF THE IFP AND FCT TO DETERMINE MATERIAL BEHAVIOR. BY PURSUING THIS MECHANISTIC RATIONALE TO EXPLAIN THE NEGATIVE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE IFP ON KNEE JOINT HEALTH, OUR WORK MAY SUPPORT EARLY REMOVAL OF THE IFP IN PATIENTS WHO HAVE SUFFERED A BLUNT TRAUMA TO THE KNEE JOINT. OUR DUAL APPROACH WILL BE HELMED BY A UNIQUELY QUALIFIED RESEARCH TEAM WITH DEMONSTRATED PRODUCTIVITY. ADDITIONALLY, THIS PROJECT WILL TRAIN UNDERGRADUATES IN MULTI-DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH RANGING FROM MOLECULAR MECHANISMS TO ENGINEERING.

DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON THIN FILMS FOR ANTI-FOG LENS COATING IN LAPAROSCOPY

EXAMINING RESILIENCE IN YOUTH EXPOSED TO ADVERSITY

TRANSCRANIAL ULTRASOUND ALGORITHMS AND DEVICE FOR RAPID STROKE DETERMINATION BY PARAMEDICS - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT TIMELY DIAGNOSIS OF STROKE (ISCHEMIC VS. HEMORRHAGIC) IS CRITICAL TO STREAMLINING APPROPRIATE TREATMENT AND ACHIEVING OPTIMAL CLINICAL OUTCOMES–MINIMIZING DAMAGE TO BRAIN TISSUE AND FUNCTION. ABOUT 87% OF STROKES ARE ISCHEMIC, WITH LARGE VESSEL OCCLUSIONS (LVOS) ACCOUNTING FOR >90% OF DEATHS AMONG THIS SUBSET. PATIENTS WITH LVOS ARE BEST TREATED WITH MECHANICAL THROMBECTOMY AT A CERTIFIED COMPREHENSIVE STROKE CENTER (CSC) HOSPITAL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT THE NEAREST NON-CSC STROKE-CARE FACILITY MAY LACK THIS INTERVENTIONAL CATHETERIZATION CAPABILITY. TRANSCRANIAL DOPPLER (TCD) ULTRASOUND CAN MEASURE VASCULAR FLOW AND DETECT LVOS, BUT CURRENT TCD EQUIPMENT HAS HIGH OPERATOR DEPENDENCE: TO ACQUIRE A TCD SIGNAL, THE USER MUST SIMULTANEOUSLY FIND THE OPTIMAL “ACOUSTIC WINDOW” OF A PATIENT’S SKULL AND PRECISELY ALIGN THE ULTRASOUND BEAM WITH THE MIDDLE, ANTERIOR, OR POSTERIOR CEREBRAL ARTERIES. WE PROPOSE TO DESIGN A TRANSCRANIAL ULTRASOUND DEVICE THAT ENABLES PARAMEDICS TO IDENTIFY LVOS QUICKLY AND EASILY AS PART OF STROKE TRIAGE, TO REDUCE THE TIME TO TPA AND THROMBECTOMY TREATMENT DELIVERY (BY TENS OF MINUTES TO >1 HOUR) AND IMPROVE ISCHEMIC STROKE OUTCOMES. THIS NEW TCD DEVICE WILL INCLUDE A CUSTOMIZED 2D TRANSDUCER ARRAY THAT CAN (1) SAMPLE AND MAP TRENDS IN ACOUSTIC PROPERTIES OVER AN AREA OF THE SKULL AND (2) DETECT ANGLED WAVEFRONTS FROM MOVING BLOOD SCATTERERS WITHIN THE BEAM. TO ACHIEVE THIS DESIGN, OUR TEAM–CONSISTING PRIMARILY OF UNDERGRADUATES–WILL TAKE THOROUGH EXPERIMENTAL ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS OF EX VIVO SKULL, ACQUIRE TRANSSKULL DOPPLER MEASUREMENTS ON A CUSTOM PHANTOM USING A COMMERCIAL ARRAY PROBE, AND PERFORM TRANSSKULL SIMULATIONS OF UNIQUE TRANSDUCER ARRAY GEOMETRIES. THESE EFFORTS WILL PINPOINT IDEAL ACOUSTIC WINDOWS AND YIELD A HIGH-RESOLUTION, DIGITAL ACOUSTIC MODEL OF TEMPORAL SKULL, PROVIDE SIGNALS FROM WHICH TO REFINE AN ALGORITHM TO GUIDE THE PLACEMENT AND ANGLE OF A TCD TRANSDUCER, AND ULTIMATELY OPTIMIZE THE LAYOUT AND OPERATION OF A CUSTOM 2D ARRAY STREAMLINED FOR TCD ACQUISITION (AND LVO DETECTION) BY UNTRAINED USERS. THIS PROJECT WILL LEAD TO FURTHER RESEARCH (PROTOTYPE FABRICATION AND IN VIVO TESTING) AND APPLICATIONS IN DETECTING AND MONITORING VARIOUS NEUROLOGICAL AND CARDIOVASCULAR CONDITIONS. LONG-TERM, WE ENVISION COST-EFFECTIVE, USER- FRIENDLY TCD USED IN AMBULATORY CARE UNITS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IMPROVED TRANSCRANIAL IMAGING AND THERAPY CAPABILITIES AS WELL. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A CLOSELY MENTORED BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE TO A DIVERSE SET OF UNDERGRADUATES, WHOSE SUCCESS AS RESEARCHERS AND ROLE MODELS WILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT AND ENHANCE THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS AND COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH.

BEHAVIORAL ECONOMIC TRAJECTORIES OF ALCOHOL MISUSE IN EMERGING ADULTS: NEUROECONOMIC AUGMENTATION VIA ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY

CATALYSTS BEARING TRACELESS TETHERS FOR SINGLE STEP META AND PARA C-H FUNCTIONALIZATION

ADDRESSING THE MODERNATION NEEDS SUPPLY CHAIN DEFICIENCES OF SMALL-TO-MEDIUM BUSINESSES IN THE TENNESSEE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE.

OXYTOCIN PROJECTIONS MEDIATE SOCIAL AND DRUG REWARD - PROJECT SUMMARY SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER (SUD) IS PREVALENT IN THE US WITH OVER 10% OF ADULTS FITTING THE CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSIS. UNFORTUNATELY, SUD TREATMENTS ARE OFTEN UNSUCCESSFUL, WITH UP TO 75% OF PATIENTS EXPERIENCING RELAPSE. SUD IS ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEMATIC REWARD PROCESSING, LEADING TO DRUG USE AT THE EXPENSE OF NATURAL REWARDS AND DESPITE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES. ADDICTION RECOVERY PROGRAMS OFTEN REQUIRE DRUG ABSTINENCE WHILE REINFORCING ENGAGEMENT WITH NATURAL REWARDS SUCH AS SOCIALIZATION. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT OXYTOCIN ADMINISTRATION COULD HELP WITH THIS PROCESS AND IMPROVE TREATMENT OUTCOMES FOR SUD. ALTHOUGH THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF OXYTOCIN IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED IN CLINICAL TRIALS WITH ENCOURAGING OUTCOMES, THE EFFECTS OF OXYTOCIN ON REWARD- RELATED NEURAL CIRCUITS ARE NOT UNDERSTOOD. MOST STUDIES POINT TO OXYTOCIN DECREASING THE REINFORCING EFFECTS OF DRUGS BUT INCREASING THE SALIENCE OF SOCIAL STIMULI. THE DETECTION OF REWARDING STIMULI IS REGULATED IN PART BY THE MESOLIMBIC DOPAMINE SYSTEM, WITH DOPAMINERGIC CELL BODIES IN THE VENTRAL TEGMENTAL AREA (VTA) THAT PROJECT TO THE NUCLEUS ACCUMBENS (NAC). EMERGING EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT DIFFERENT CIRCUITS FACILITATE DRUG VERSUS SOCIAL REWARD, WITH DRUG REWARD DEPENDING ON PHASIC (FAST BURSTS) DOPAMINE RELEASE AND SOCIAL REWARD ON TONIC (SLOW, STEADY) DOPAMINE RELEASE IN THE NAC. OXYTOCIN’S THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS FOR ADDICTION MAY BE A RESULT OF OXYTOCIN SHIFTING DOPAMINE RELEASE PATTERNS FROM PHASIC TO TONIC, THUS REBALANCING THE PATHWAYS FACILITATING DRUG AND SOCIAL REWARD. THE CURRENT PROPOSAL WILL ASSESS THE ROLE OF OXYTOCIN PROJECTIONS AND OXYTOCIN RECEPTORS LOCATED IN REWARD-RELATED BRAIN REGIONS ON PREFERENCE FOR DRUG VS SOCIAL REWARD AND PHASIC VS TONIC DOPAMINE RELEASE. THE PROPOSED STUDY WILL BE THE FIRST TO SYSTEMATICALLY INVESTIGATE THE NEURAL PATHWAYS AND RECEPTOR SITES UTILIZED BY OXYTOCIN TO MEDIATE REWARD PROCESSING. THE PROPOSED STUDY INCORPORATES CONTEMPORARY TECHNIQUES FOR MANIPULATING NEURAL CIRCUITS (DREADD AND CRISPR/CAS9 TECHNOLOGIES) AND INVENTIVE TWISTS ON CONDITIONED PLACE PREFERENCE TESTING AND IN VIVO DOPAMINE QUANTIFICATION. CLARIFYING THE MECHANISMS BY WHICH OXYTOCIN MEDIATES DRUG AND SOCIAL REWARD IS CRUCIAL FOR HARNESSING THE FULL THERAPEUTICAL POTENTIAL OF OXYTOCIN FOR SUD.

CAREER: THREE-DIMENSIONAL SUPER-RESOLUTION LIGHT MICROSCOPY OF THICK, UNPROCESSED BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

NEUTROPHIL RESPONSE TO TISSUE TEMPLATES IN VITRO: IMPLANT IMPLICATIONS

COMMUNITY FACILITY

FARMERS OFTEN DIRECTLY MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS TO CONSUMERS. THIS INTERACTION IS UNIQUE TO MANY MARKETED FOOD PRODUCTS AND OPENS UP MARKETING STRATEGIES NOT AVAILABLE TO OTHER ENTITIES. CONSUMERS MAY GAIN PRESTIGE OR SOCIAL STATUS BY PURCHASING FOODS IN THIS MANNER AND SUGGESTS FURTHER MARKET SEGMENTATION WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT FARMERS. IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF THESE UNDERSERVED MARKET SEGMENTATIONS MAY IMPROVE FARMER PROFITABILITY WHILE IMPROVING THE VALUE DELIVERED TO CONSUMERS. IDENTIFICATION OF EXISTING MARKETING STRATEGIES OF FARMERS WILL AID THE PROJECT TEAM AS THEY SEEK TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES APPEALING TO CONSUMERS SEEKING PRESTIGE OR SOCIAL STATUS FROM THEIR FOOD PURCHASES. BEHAVIORS OF CONSUMERS SEEKING PRESTIGE OR SOCIAL STATUS FROM FOOD PURCHASES THAT INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS AND NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES WILL BE DETERMINED IN AN EXPERIMENTAL AUCTION OF FOOD FROM FARMERS. FOLLOWING COMPLETION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AUCTIONS, FIELD EXPERIMENTS WILL BE CONDUCTED WITH FARMERS' MARKETS TO SEE HOW PURCHASING PATTERNS CHANGED. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE MARKETING STRATEGIES WILL BE DETERMINED. STRATEGIES FOR FARMERS WISHING TO MARKET TO PRESTIGE-SEEKING AND SOCIAL STATUS ACHIEVING CONSUMERS WILL ALSO BE IDENTIFIED. THIS PROJECT ASSISTS SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED FARMERS IN DEVELOPING NEW MARKETING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND PROFITABILITY IN AN EVER CHANGING CONSUMER LANDSCAPE.

REU SITE: MULTIDISCIPLINARY PHYSICS RESEARCH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

WORKFORCE TRAINING

THIS PROPOSAL WILL PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD) FOR MAURY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, HAMPSHIRE UNIT SCHOOL, AND COLUMBIA STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FACULTY TO INCREASE COMPETENCIES IN FOOD, AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND HUMAN SCIENCES (FANH) TO IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES. THESE INSTITUTIONS AND THE RURAL TENNESSEE COMMUNITIES THAT SUPPORT THEM ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING QUALITY FANH EDUCATION THAT PREPARES STUDENTS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE AND PURSUE POST-SECONDARY TRAINING IN FANH CAREERS. HOWEVER, THE FACULTY LACK THE TRAINING AND BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE ESSENTIAL TO INCORPORATE EFFECTIVE FANH INSTRUCTION IN THEIR STATE MANDATED CURRICULUM. TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, A PD MODEL THAT WILL BE DELIVERED THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE, EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT EMPOWERS FACULTY TO CONNECT FANH CONCEPTS THROUGH PROJECT-BASED LEARNING PEDAGOGY. THE CONFLUENCE THESE COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DEEPLY ENGAGE UT EXTENSION WHILE LEVERAGING COMMUNITY AND INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE MEANINGFUL PD AND BUILD SUSTAINABLE CONNECTIONS TO SUPPORT LONG-TERM INSTRUCTIONAL CHANGE. THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROPOSAL ARE TO: 1) INCREASE TEACHER CAPACITY TO IMPLEMENT PROJECT-BASED INSTRUCTION IN FANH SCIENCES; 2) DEVELOP EXTERNSHIPS FOR FACULTY TO ENGAGE WITH EXTENSION, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRY PERSONNEL; 3) IDENTIFY HIGH-QUALITY CURRICULA AND SUPPORTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF PROJECT-BASED FANH INSTRUCTION; AND 4) PROVIDE STIPENDS AND COURSE RELEASE TIME FOR GRADE LEVEL AND DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT TEAMS. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PROPOSAL WILL RESULT IN AN EXEMPLAR MODEL OF FANH INSTRUCTION MEANINGFULLY EMBEDDED IN K-14 CLASSROOMS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED BY OTHER SCHOOL SYSTEMS THAT SHARE A COMMITMENT TO FANH EDUCATION.

INTEGRATION OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL ECONOMIC MODELS OF REWARD AMONG HEAVY DRINKING EMERGING ADULTS

THE ROLE OF ORBITOFRONTAL CORTEX IN RISKY DECISION-MAKING

1. AWARD PURPOSE:THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS CAPS WORK PLAN IS TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCTSTATEWIDE SURVEYS IN TENNESSEE TO DETECT TARGETED HARMFUL ANDECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANT PESTS. IN 2022, THESE SURVEYS INCLUDEEXOTIC BARK BEETLES, OAK PESTS AND FIELD CROP PESTS. EXOTIC PESTSREPRESENT SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND OVERALLBIODIVERSITY IN NATURAL AREAS. DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE TO EXOTICINTRODUCED PESTS AND WEEDS IS IMPORTANT FOR CONTINUATION OF TRADE,HOMELAND SECURITY, AND PROTECTION OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURALRESOURCES.2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CONDUCT A STATEWIDE TRAPPING SURVEY TO ASSESS THEPRESENCE OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF EXOTIC WOOD-BORING BARK AND OTHER TYPEBEETLES (9 TOTAL TARGETS), OAK LEPIDOPTERAN PESTS (5 TOTAL PESTS), ANDFIELD CROP PESTS (COTTON AND SOYBEAN – 5 TOTAL PESTS) IN TENNESSEE.3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR EXOTIC PESTS OF COMMODITIES AND NATURALRESOURCES IMPORTANT TO TENNESSEE AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. THIS DATAWILL HELP FACILITATE SAFE TRADE, POSSIBLY LEAD TO EARLY DETECTION ANDERADICATION OF EXOTIC PESTS AND IMPROVE OVERALL PLANT HEALTH. OUTREACHEFFORTS WILL RESULT IN MORE STATE RESIDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF EXOTICPESTS WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SPREAD INTO UNINFESTED AREAS.4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES):TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROMTHE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THERESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT INTN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY ENOUGH TO INITIATE ANEARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE.5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD:N/A.

TENNESSEE IRRIGATION GUIDE SUPPLEMENT

CRII: III: TOWARDS EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT CITY-SCALE TRAFFIC RECONSTRUCTION -THIS AWARD IS FUNDED IN WHOLE OR IN PART UNDER THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OF 2021 (PUBLIC LAW 117-2). AUTOMOBILES HAVE FACILITATED SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CONNECTED NEARLY ALL SOCIAL SECTORS. HOWEVER, RAPID URBANIZATION AND EXPANSION OF THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM HAVE CAUSED MANY ISSUES WORLDWIDE INCLUDING CONGESTION AND ACCIDENTS. AS URBANIZATION AND VEHICLE PRODUCTION ARE PROJECTED TO FURTHER INCREASE IN COMING DECADES, BETTER PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF TRAFFIC BECOME IMPERATIVE. TRAFFIC IS A DYNAMICAL SYSTEM THAT PROPAGATES FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER IN A CITY. SO, IN ORDER TO OPTIMIZE IT FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES, A HOLISTIC AND SYSTEMATIC VIEWPOINT OF CITY-SCALE TRAFFIC DYNAMICS IS INEVITABLE AND NECESSARY. NEVERTHELESS, STUDIES OF THIS TOPIC ARE CURRENTLY LACKING DUE TO THE LIMITATION OF TRAFFIC DATA AND THE MULTI-SCALE INTERPRETATION OF THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM. THIS PROPOSAL FOCUSES ON LEVERAGING MOBILE DATA TO EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY RECONSTRUCT CITY-SCALE TRAFFIC. THE RECONSTRUCTED TRAFFIC CAN BE USED TO NOT ONLY PLAN AND MANAGE URBAN TRAFFIC BUT ALSO TO PREDICT TRAFFIC PATTERNS BY LEVERAGING ADVANCED TRAFFIC SIMULATION. THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO INNOVATE IN TRANSPORTATION AND TRAFFIC RESEARCH, AND THUS BENEFIT PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING COMPUTER SCIENCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING, URBAN PLANNING, EARTH SCIENCE, AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT. THE ACCOMPANYING EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH ACTIVITIES INCLUDE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND INTELLIGENT TRANSPORATION SYSTEMS, AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS AS WELL AS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT RECONSTRUCTION METHODS OF CITY-SCALE TRAFFIC USING MOBILE DATA. FIRST OF ALL, THE TRAVEL TIME OF INDIVIDUAL ROAD SEGMENTS WILL BE ESTIMATED USING THE TIME INFORMATION EMBEDDED IN MOBILE DATA. WITH THE ESTIMATED TRAVEL TIME, OTHER MACROSCOPIC TRAFFIC STATES SUCH AS SPEED, FLOW, AND DENSITY WILL BE SUBSEQUENTLY ESTIMATED. SECOND, A NOVEL MAP-MATCHING TECHNIQUE FOR GENERATING VEHICLE TRAJECTORIES WILL BE DEVELOPED IN CASE OF LOW-SAMPLING RATE MOBILE DATA. THIRD, SIMULATION-BASED OPTIMIZATION WILL BE ADOPTED TO RECONSTRUCT MICROSCOPIC TRAFFIC DYNAMICS WHILE ENSURING CONSISTENT TRAFFIC FLOWS AT THE BOUNDARIES OF DATA-SUFFICIENT AND DATA-LACKING AREAS. LASTLY, A HYBRID SIMULATION WILL BE EXPLORED WITH THE AIM TO ACHIEVE HIGHLY-EFFICIENT TRAFFIC RECONSTRUCTION THROUGH STUDYING VARIOUS ITS APPLICATIONS' REQUIREMENTS ON EFFICIENCY AND RECONSTRUCTION FIDELITY, AND AN EFFECTIVE CONVERSION METHOD BETWEEN MACROSCOPIC AND MICROSCOPIC TRAFFIC SIMULATION. THE PROPOSED METHODS WILL BE EVALUATED USING BOTH PUBLICLY AVAILABLE AND PROPRIETARY DATA. THIS AWARD REFLECTS NSF'S STATUTORY MISSION AND HAS BEEN DEEMED WORTHY OF SUPPORT THROUGH EVALUATION USING THE FOUNDATION'S INTELLECTUAL MERIT AND BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERIA.

THIS ACTION APPROVES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $30,261 TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE FOR A PROJECT THAT WILL PROVIDE ON-SITE POLLUTION PREVENTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE FOOD MANUFACTURING SECTOR. THE ACTIVITIES WILL IDENTIFY FOOD MANUFACTURERS THAT AGREE TO COMPREHENSIVELY REVIEW POLLUTION PREVENTION OPPORTUNITIES THAT IMPACT WATER AND AIR.

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NEURAL BASES OF SUCCESSFUL AUDITORY LEARNING

COLLABORATING WITH FAITH LEADERS OF THE DEEP SOUTH TO END THE EPIDEMIC OF HIV STIGMA - PROPOSAL SUMMARY THE CONFERENCE SERIES IS ALIGNED WITH THE GOALS OF THE UPDATED NATIONAL HIV/AIDS STRATEGY AND ENDING THE EPIDEMIC PLAN FOR AMERICA. THE CONFERENCE SITE IS IN A MAJOR MSA IN THE DEEP SOUTH, PRIORITIZING AT-RISK POPULATIONS (E.G., BLACK WOMEN, BMSM, YOUTH, TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS), AND ADDRESSING THE ETHE GOALS OF THE FOUR PILLARS: DIAGNOSE, TREAT, PREVENT, AND RESPOND. THE PROPOSAL DOVETAILS WITH THE MISSION OF NIMHD AND FULFILLS THE PROGRAM SCOPE FOR REDUCING HIV-RELATED STIGMA AND HIV DISPARITIES THROUGH CBPR. IF SUCCESSFUL, THE PROJECT WILL LEAD TO SUBSEQUENT GRANT APPLICATIONS TO SUPPORT CBPR-DRIVEN IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMS IN THE MEMPHIS MSA. THE FINDINGS WILL ADVANCE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE UTILITY OF PERSONAL ACCOUNTS OF INTERNALIZED HIV STIGMA AND HOW DEPICTIONS OF CHURCH HURT SHAPE THE PERSPECTIVES OF FAITH LEADERS AND THEIR CALL TO ACTION TO ADDRESS STIGMA. WHILE WE HAVE HOSTED OTHER CONFERENCES WITH FAITH LEADERS ADDRESSING HIV DISPARITIES, THE PROPOSED PLANNING MEETINGS WILL FEATURE THE PREEXISTING PHOTOVOICE DISPLAYS FROM MEMBERS OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS INCLUDING BLACK MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN, BLACK TRANSGENDER WOMEN, AND AGING ADULTS RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. DISCUSSING VULNERABILITIES OF THESE SUBGROUPS AT LENGTH IN FAITH SPACES ARE DIFFICULT GIVEN BEHAVIORS, AND THEREFORE WE ARE TAKING GREAT STRIDES TO EXTEND CONVERSATIONS TO UNFOLD REALISTIC METHODS TO DO SO. USING CBPR-BASED APPROACHES IN THESE ENDEAVORS ALLOWS FOR DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES TO INFORM AND INFLUENCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS.

1. AWARD PURPOSE:THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO SUPPORT THESTATE SURVEY COORDINATOR POSITION AND CONTINUE TO CONDUCT STATEWIDESURVEYS IN TENNESSEE TO DETECT TARGETED HARMFUL AND ECONOMICALLYSIGNIFICANT PLANT PESTS. EXOTIC PESTS REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT THREATS TOAGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND OVERALL BIODIVERSITY IN NATURAL AREAS.DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE TO EXOTIC INTRODUCED PESTS AND WEEDS ISIMPORTANT FOR CONTINUATION OF TRADE, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND PROTECTIONOF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES.2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:MAINTAIN THE CAPS INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO CONDUCT SPECIFIC PEST SURVEYSAND ANALYSES DESIGNED TO AID IN PREVENTION, DETECTION, SURVEILLANCE, ANDRAPID RESPONSE TO HARMFUL OR ECONOMICALLY SIGNIFICANT PLANT PESTS INTENNESSEE.3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR EXOTIC PESTS OF COMMODITIES AND NATURALRESOURCES IMPORTANT TO TENNESSEE AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. THIS DATAWILL HELP FACILITATE SAFE TRADE, POSSIBLY LEAD TO EARLY DETECTION ANDERADICATION OF EXOTIC PESTS AND IMPROVE OVERALL PLANT HEALTH. OUTREACHEFFORTS WILL RESULT IN MORE STATE RESIDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF EXOTICPESTS WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SPREAD INTO UNINFESTED AREAS.4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES):TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROMTHE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THERESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT INTN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY ENOUGH TO INITIATE ANEARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE.5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD:N/A.

IN 2015 THE STATE OF TENNESSEE INITIATED A PROGRAM KNOWN AS TENNESSEE PROMISE WHICH PROVIDES LAST DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES. CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO COHESIVE STATEWIDE STRATEGY AMONG THE UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES TO DEVELOP A SEAMLESS TRANSFER PATHWAY THAT CONNECTS ASSOCIATE PROGRAMS WITH FOUR YEAR INSTITUTIONS. AS A RESULT, THERE IS A NEED TO DEVELOP A CLEAR PATHWAY THAT LEADS TO A BACHELOR'S DEGREE AT THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE STATE. DEVELOPING A SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM AN ASSOCIATE DEGREE TO A UNIVERSITY WILL HELP INCREASE THE QUALITY OF THE STATES' WORKFORCE AND IMPROVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS.THE OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP A PLANNING CONFERENCE THAT WILL BRING KEY PLAYERS TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A SEAMLESS TRANSFER PATHWAY THAT CAN IMPROVE THE NUMBER AND QUALITY OF STUDENTS OBTAINING DEGREES IN THE FANH DISCIPLINE AREAS ACROSS THE STATE. THE COLLABORATION AMONG COMMUNITY AND TECHNIAL COLLEGES AND FOUR UNIVERSITIES WILL ENABLE BETTER COORDIANTION OF STATE RESOURCES IN HIGHER EDUCAITON AND WILL LEAD TO MORE ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITES FOR TENNESSEE RESIDENTS.

1. AWARD PURPOSE:THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO CONDUCTSURVEYS IN WEST TENNESSEE TO DETECT TARGETED HARMFUL AND ECONOMICALLYSIGNIFICANT PLANT PESTS. IN 2022, THESE SURVEYS INCLUDE EXOTIC BARKBEETLES AND FIELD CROP PESTS. EXOTIC PESTS REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT THREATSTO AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES AND OVERALL BIODIVERSITY IN NATURAL AREAS.DETECTION AND RAPID RESPONSE TO EXOTIC INTRODUCED PESTS ARE IMPORTANTFOR CONTINUATION OF TRADE, HOMELAND SECURITY, AND PROTECTION OF AMERICANAGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES.2. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:THE OBJECTIVE IS TO CONDUCT A TRAPPING SURVEY AT HIGH RISK SITES IN WESTTN TO ASSESS THE PRESENCE OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF EXOTIC BEETLES AND FIELDCROP PESTS. A TOTAL OF 11 EXOTIC PESTS WILL BE TARGETED IN THESEACTIVITIES.3. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES:PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA FOR EXOTIC PESTS OF COMMODITIES AND NATURALRESOURCES IMPORTANT TO TENNESSEE AND AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. THIS DATAWILL HELP FACILITATE SAFE TRADE, POSSIBLY LEAD TO EARLY DETECTION ANDERADICATION OF EXOTIC PESTS AND IMPROVE OVERALL PLANT HEALTH. OUTREACHEFFORTS WILL RESULT IN MORE STATE RESIDENTS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF EXOTICPESTS WHICH CAN HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTAL SPREAD INTO UNINFESTED AREAS.4. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES):TENNESSEE FARMERS, EXPORTERS AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BENEFIT FROMTHE RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHETHER THERESULTS ARE CONFIRMATION OF NEGATIVE DATA (I.E., PESTS NOT PRESENT INTN) OR THE ABILITY TO DETECT THE PEST(S) EARLY ENOUGH TO INITIATE ANEARLY ERADICATION RESPONSE.5. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES, IF KNOWN OR SPECIFIED AT THE TIME OF AWARD:N/A

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