University of Tennessee at Knoxville

Fuel cycle performance of the Fort Saint Vrain reactor

All modern fuel cycle analysis studies have not considered the historically operated high-enriched uranium (HEU) and thorium (Th) fuel cycles. This represents a significant gap in the literature as these reactors were operated both in the United States and internationally. The wo...

Mitochondrial genome-derived microsatellites reveal genetic diversity and population structure in Callery pear populations

Callery pear ( Pyrus calleryana Decne.; PC) possesses many desirable characteristics valued in managed landscapes. This has driven the release of numerous cultivars, including both hybrids and selections derived from native populations. The extensive planting of PC cultivars in m...

Modeling the impact of healthcare personnel compensation and benefits on the spread of COVID-19 in skilled nursing facilities

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of older adults. Older adults are particularly at risk when in group home settings. One particular type of group living, skilled nursing facilities (SNF), was highly impacted by COVID-19, with their residents accounting for a su...

Beta Atlas: Charting Global Production of Nonconventional β − -Emitters for Targeted Radiopharmaceutical Therapy—Part 1

β-minus particle (β−)–emitting radionuclides have long been central to targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy. Interest in expanding their repertoire beyond conventional options has grown over time, as the need for radionuclides with different emission profiles and theranostic pote...

Laboratory Investigation of the Effects of Asphalt Mixture Volumetric Properties on the Permeability and Durability of Open-Graded Friction Course

This study investigates the volumetric properties and performance relationships of open-graded friction course (OGFC) mixtures by examining the effects of interconnected air voids (IAVs), asphalt film thickness (FT), and the D 10 (particle size index) on permeability and durabili...

Analyzing Educational Video Transcripts with LLMs: Accuracy, Named Entities, and Interpretability

Digital educational media platforms such as YouTube are increasingly used by teachers and learners, creating a growing record of instructional discourse. For educational data mining (EDM) and learning analytics researchers, transcript-derived text offers a scalable entry point fo...

Asymptotic FDR Control with Model-X Knockoffs: Is Moments Matching Sufficient?

We propose a unified theoretical framework for studying the robustness of the model-X knockoffs framework by investigating the asymptotic false discovery rate (FDR) control of the practically implemented approximate knockoffs procedure. This procedure deviates from the model-X kn...

Rational Quantification of Deep Sodium Reversibility with a Utilization-Corrected N/P Descriptor toward Low-N/P-Ratio Solid-State Na–S Batteries

Abstract Solid-state Na–S batteries offer high energy density, yet their practicality deteriorates at low N/P ratios because limited Na inventory cannot compensate for irreversible loss. Under lean-Na conditions, the key issue is whether the restricted Na reservoir remains revers...

Long-term air pollution exposure and childhood ADHD prevalence

Fine particulate air pollution ( \(\hbox {PM}_{2.5}\) ) in the United States has fallen by roughly half since 2000, yet health outcomes may reflect pollution exposures accumulated over longer time scales. Using years of U.S. county-level data, we relate annual \(\hbox {PM}_{2.5}\...

The Evolution of Crystal Structure in Polypropylene as It Goes From Pellet to Powder to Print in Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing

ABSTRACT Polymer powder bed fusion (PBF/P) is an additive manufacturing technology that fabricates end‐use products for many applications. Thermal‐induced phase separation (TIPS) has been adapted to produce spherical isotactic polypropylene (PP) powders suitable for PBF/P. In thi...

Fear, stigma and Uncertainty: The short and long-term effects of Ebola on survivors, affected families, and community in Bundibugyo, Western Uganda

Abstract In 2014, Uganda was identified as a high-risk country for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), with a series of outbreaks recorded since 2000. In 2007, the second outbreak in Bundibugyo district resulted in 149 reported cases and 37 confirmed Ebola deaths. Through the outbreak res...

Fingerprinting Superconductors by Disentangling Andreev and Quasiparticle Currents Across Tunable Tunnel Junctions

ABSTRACT Tunneling Andreev reflection (TAR) spectroscopy provides a new approach to identify superconducting pairing symmetry at the atomic scale. Using atomistic superconducting transport simulations, we reveal the mechanism by which TAR can distinguish between pairing symmetrie...

Role of Acid Structure in Structure–Property Relationships of Reprocessable Epoxidized Soybean Oil Thermosetting Networks

Thermosetting polymers offer excellent thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical integrity, but their permanent covalent crosslinks limit recyclability and reprocessability. In this work, ESO-based vitrimer-like polyester networks were synthesized from epoxidized soy...

Narrating everyday harm: Constructing stories of microaggression

Experiences of victimization highlight the importance of storytelling as much as they obstruct it. Although victimology tends to focus on clearly severe and/or conventional forms of harm, this article turns to experiences that are both common and contested. Specifically, we exami...

A Mixed-Method Approach to Exploring the Role of Strategic Internal Communication in Fostering Employee Passion at Work

This mixed-method study explores how strategic internal communication in the organization can foster employee passion at work. Drawing on interviews with 23 internal communication leaders and a national survey of 1,014 full-time U.S. employees, the study identifies key communicat...

Unmet Pet Caregiving Needs are Associated with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among People Living with HIV

People living with HIV (PLWH) experience disproportionately high rates of depression and anxiety. Human–animal interactions (HAI), particularly through pet ownership, may provide emotional support and companionship; however, the human–animal bond can be threatened by structural a...

Optimal Order Time Discretizations for Stochastic Semilinear Wave Equations with Multiplicative Noise

This paper focuses on developing and analyzing two novel implicit temporal discretization methods for the stochastic semilinear wave equations with multiplicative noise. The proposed methods are natural extensions of well-known time discrete schemes for deterministic wave equatio...

The informativeness of stock price at dual-class firms

Abstract We examine whether disproportionate insider control, or the divergence between insider voting and cash flow rights at dual-class firms, influences the extent to which stock price reflects information about future firm performance. We find that current returns incorporate...

Unraveling Spatial Electrochemical Heterogeneity and Additive‐Mediated Regulation in Scale‐up Aqueous Zinc‐Ion Pouch‐Type Cells

ABSTRACT Scaling aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) to pouch‐type configurations amplifies electric‐field and Zn 2+ flux heterogeneities, causing non‐uniform Zn deposition. Here, β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) and Tween 80 (Tw80) are systematically investigated to decouple bulk transport...

Enhanced molecular diagnosis of Onchocerca lupi using droplet digital PCR in clinically suspected companion animals

Abstract Background Onchocerca lupi , a zoonotic filarial nematode documented in southwestern North America and the Old World, is associated with ocular onchocerciosis in dogs and cats. Clinical signs range from ocular discharge and conjunctivitis to chronic nodular lesions invol...