Evidence for a Potential Pre-Pandemic SARS-like Coronavirus Among Animals in North America

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus began circulating within humans in central China. It was designated SARS-CoV-2 because of its genetic similarities to the 2003 SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Now that SARS-CoV-2 has spread worldwide, there is a risk of it establishing new animal reservoirs and recombination with native circulating coronaviruses. To screen local animal populations in the United States for exposure to SARS-like coronaviruses, we developed a serological assay using the receptor binding domain (RBD) from SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2's RBD differs from common human and animal coronaviruses allowing us to identify animals previously infected with SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2. Using an indirect ELISA for SARS-CoV-2's RBD, we screened serum from wild and domestic animals for the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2's RBD. Surprisingly pre-pandemic feline serum samples submitted to the University of Tennessee Veterinary Hospital were ~70% positive for anti-SARS RBD antibodies. This was independent of prior infection with a feline coronavirus (FCoV), eliminating the possibility of FCoV cross-reactivity. We also identified several white-tailed deer from South Carolina that were also positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. These results bring up an intriguing possibility of a circulating agent (likely a coronavirus) with enough similarity to the SARS RBD to generate cross-reactive antibodies. Finding seropositive cats and white-tailed deer prior to the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, further highlights our lack of information about circulating coronaviruses in other species.

Serpent Handling: Toward a Cognitive Account – Honoring the Scholarship of Ralph W. Hood Jr.

The ritual handling of serpents remains an unnoticed cultural form for the explanatory aims and theoretical insights desired by cognitive scientists of religion. In the current article, we introduce the Hood and Williams archives at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga that contains data culled from Hood’s 40-plus year career of studying serpent handlers. The archives contain hundreds of hours of interviews and recordings of speaking in tongues, handling fire, drinking poison, and taking up serpents by different congregants and congregations. The archive remains a rich but untapped source of data for building, testing, and refining cognitive theories of ritual in general, and serpent handling in specific. We connect Hood’s work to current cognitive theories and engage critically with research on the social functions of ritual. Finally, we discuss several further reasons to pay more attention to SHS communities and practices in cognitive theories of ritual.

Scientist acquitted on China ties

Anming Hu, a former professor of medical, aerospace and biomedical engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has been acquitted on all six counts in a case that charged him over his links with China.

Coding-Complete Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 Variant Obtained from Raw Sewage at the University of Tennessee—Knoxville Campus

Reported here is a coding-complete genome sequence of a SARS CoV-2 variant obtained from raw wastewater samples at the University of Tennessee—Knoxville campus. This sequence provides insight into SARS CoV-2 variants that circulate on large college campuses but remain mostly undetected.

Effectiveness of Blended Learning Modules as Correlates of Self-Efficacy of ALS Students: Basis for an Action Plan

The study determined the effectiveness of blended learning modules as correlates to students' self-efficacy among students in the Alternative Learning Systems in Tagum, Davao del Norte during the second quarter of 2021. Findings will serve as bases for a proposed action plan. The researcher utilized quantitative, descriptive-correlational and predictive designs among 211 students in the Alternative Learning System in different centers in the Central Cluster in Tagum, Davao del Norte selected through random sampling. The researcher used adapted-and-modified questionnaires from the following: "Evaluating the Quality, Usability, and Potential Effectiveness of Online Learning Modules: A Case Study of Teaching with Technology Grant Recipients at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville" from Goode (2003) and “Self-Efficacy as an Engaged Learner” from Schunk and Mullen (2017). The researcher utilized mean and standard deviation, Pearson-r, and linear regression for data treatment. The effectiveness of blended learning module is high. Moreover, the student’s self-efficacy is also high. Both are manifested most of the time. There is a significant relationship between effectiveness of blended learning and student’s self-efficacy. Student’s self-efficacy is influenced on the following domains of effectiveness of blended learning modules: quality of content, usability, and potential tool for effective learning. The researcher recommends seminar and training for teachers particularly on creating and enhancing contents in the blended learning modality to improve the student’s self-efficacy.

The effect of postoperative oral antibiotic therapy on the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis after phacoemulsification surgery in dogs: 368 eyes (1997–2010)

Purpose To assess the effectiveness of postoperative administration of oral antibiotics at reducing the incidence of endophthalmitis following phacoemulsification cataract extraction in dogs. Methods Medical records of the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine were reviewed for cases having undergone phacoemulsification and divided according to whether or not they had received oral antibiotics postoperatively. Records were then evaluated for a diagnosis of endophthalmitis and incidence rates between the group receiving postoperative oral antibiotics and the group not receiving postoperative oral antibiotics were compared. Results A total of 215 patients (368 eyes) were identified by the search. One-hundred twelve patients (197 eyes) were treated with oral antibiotics postoperatively. One-hundred and three patients (171 eyes) were not treated with oral antibiotics postoperatively. Three cases of endophthalmitis were identified, with one in the antibiotic-treated group and two in the non-antibiotic treated group (P > 0.05, Fisher’s exact test). Conclusions The overall incidence of endophthalmitis at the University of Tennessee from 1997–2010 was 0.82%. The rate of post-phacoemulsification endophthalmitis was unaffected by the postoperative administration of oral antibiotics.

Serpent Handling: Toward a Cognitive Account-honoring the scholarship of Ralph W

The ritual handling of serpents remains an unnoticed cultural form for the explanatory aims and theoretical insights desired by cognitive scientists of religion. In the current article, we introduce the Hood and Williams archives at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga that contains data culled from Hood’s 40-plus year career of studying serpent handlers. The archives contain hundreds of hours of interviews and recordings of speaking in tongues, handling fire, drinking poison, and taking up serpents by different congregants and congregations. The archive remains a rich but untapped source of data for building, testing, and refining cognitive theories of ritual in general,and serpent handling in specific. We connect Hood’s work to current cognitive theories and engage critically with research on the social functions of ritual. Finally, we discuss several further reasons to pay more attention to SHS communities and practices in cognitive theories of ritual.