discoveries to change our world - a-statebig bang theory,” a comedy centered on the happenings of...

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arkansas state university : the measure of success

DISCOVERIES TO CHANGE OUR WORLD

Arkansas State University Mission StatementArkansas State University educates leaders, enhances intellectual growth and enriches lives.

Arkansas State University is an equal opportunity institution with a strong commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its students, faculty and staff. ASU does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, gender or national origin or any other legally protected status. Any questions regarding the university’s Affirmative Action

policies should be directed to the Affirmative Action Program Coordinator, P.O. Box 1500, State University AR, 72467, telephone 870-972-3658.

WHAT IS MEASURE© ?

How do we measure our commitment to research?How do we judge successful scholarship?

How do we place value on creative expression?How do we appraise the impact of service?

• Student engagement?

• Productivity?

• Awards and expenditures?

• Comparison with our peers?

• National and international recognition?

• Influence in the field?

• Solutions to real world issues?

• Economic impact?

• Community enrichment?

The answer is: all of these, and more.

At ASU, we value each discipline and their measures of success. MEASURE© is a showcase of ASU success in a variety of disciplines.

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table of contents

ONLINE:

www.astate.edu/a/ortt

CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER

Andrew Sustich

[email protected]

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Cheryl Dison

[email protected]

SENIOR EDITOR

Rebekah Craig

[email protected]

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Carla Borden

[email protected]

GRAPHIC DESIGN

ASU Publications & Creative Services

Heath Kelly

Michael Johnson

[email protected]

PRINTING

ASU Printing Services

[email protected]

FUNDING STATEMENTS:

Research reported in the article “Seed, Soil & Oil” was supported by subawards from theMidSouth/Southeast Bioenergy Consortium through funds from the U.S. Department of Energy,award number DE-FG36-08G088036; the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Foodand Agriculture, award number 2012-70001-20163; and the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board.

Research reported in the article “Fishy Fraud” was supported by subawards from Applied FoodTechnologies through funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Small Business InnovationResearch, award number USDA2012-02159) and U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanicand Atmospheric Administration, award number NA10NMF4270197.

Research reported in the article “Waste Not, Water Not” was supported by the U.S. Department ofAgriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS),Arkansas State University and Cotton Incorporated.

Research reported in the article “Riding the Research Wave: From Reef to Reggae” was supportedby the National Science Foundation, award number OCE-1216165, the Arkansas Science & TechnologyAuthority, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and the Falconwood Corporation.

The content of this publication is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarilyrepresent the official views of the above named funding agencies.

FEATURES:

06 Seed, Soil & OilDr. Steve Green cultivates an ancient oilseed and other plants as

sustainable, renewable sources of bioenergy for Arkansas producers.

10 Fishy Fraud & Food MislabelingDr. Maureen Dolan develops DNA-based tests and services for

seafood species identification to unravel the complex problem

of seafood mislabeling.

14 Waste Not, Water NotDr. Michele Reba collaborates with producers to measure agricultural

water use and develops models and best-practices for water management.

18 Riding the Research WaveDr. Paul Sikkel discovers a new species of fish parasite in the Caribbean

and explores the dynamics of coral reef conservation.

This publication was produced by Arkansas State University. Layout and design were produced by the ASU Office of Publications & Creative Services. Printing was providedby ASU Printing Services. The paper used for this publication was produced using ecologically responsible forest management principles. The paper, including the cover, isfrom 100 percent recycled stock. The ink used is cottonseed oil and/or soybean oil-based. The printing plates are 100 percent recyclable.

06 10 14 18

SPECIAL:04 Meet the New Vice Provost for

Research & Graduate Studies

05 Institute for Research & DevelopmentORTT fosters “creative collisions” forsuperb grantsmanship

22 Create @ STATE : A Symposium of Research,Scholarship & Creativity

Showcasing undergraduate and graduatestudents in all disciplines though poster,oral and creative presentations

LETTERS:03 Address from the Chancellor

26 Address from the Director of Research Development

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( BLANK PAGE ???) Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am delighted to present the third edition of MEASURE : THE RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF ARKANSASSTATE UNIVERSITY©. This annual magazine showcases the many scholarly activities at A-State.This publication stems from the growing importance of research on our campus, and thedesire to highlight the impact of our activities to the ASU community as well as our friendsall over the globe.

In this issue, we focus on the broad and multidisciplinary field of agricultural research.Originally established as an agricultural public school in 1909, Arkansas State maintains andcelebrates its agricultural roots as it continues to educate students and embrace its emergenceas a research-intensive institution. Sustainable agricultural systems and food safety are centralthemes in the articles profiling Drs. Steve Green, Michele Reba and Maureen Dolan. And wecould not resist featuring Dr. Paul Sikkel’s Gnathia marleyi parasite, named for the Caribbeanpopular culture icon Bob Marley.

Arkansas State’s Institute for Research Development, an intensive program for facultylearning the intricacies of grant proposal preparation, is included along with an introductionof our recently appointed Vice Provost for Research and Graduate Studies, Dr. AndrewSustich. The final article focuses on the outstanding student research on our campus andreviews Create @ STATE: A Symposium of Research, Scholarship & Creativity.

We hope you enjoy this edition of MEASURE© and welcome your comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Tim Hudson, Ph.D.Chancellor

Dr. Tim Hudson

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Meet the New Vice Provost forResearch & Graduate Studies

Institute for Research DevelopmentThis May, the Office of Research & Technology Transfer(ORTT) launched their third annual Institute for ResearchDevelopment. Full-time faculty and postdoctoral fellows wereinvited to apply for the competitive fellowship, and topcandidates were recommended by college deans. Seventeenfellows, representing seven of ASU’s 11 colleges, were accepted tothe rigorous three-week institute.

PICTURED, FROM LEFT (DEPARTMENT): Back Row: Dixie Keyes (Teacher Education), Phillip Tew (Economics & Finance), David Gilmore (Biological Sciences),Temma Balducci (Art), Jonathan Merten (Chemistry & Physics), Virginie Rolland (Biological Sciences), Kat Carrick(Social Work), Michael Bowman (Radio-TV), Chris Harper (Communication Studies), Susan Whiteland (Art)

Front Row: Kat Lecky (English & Philosophy), Jie Miao (Mathematics & Statistics), Daniel Milton (Political Science),Holly Hall (Journalism), Frances Hunter (English & Philosophy), Joy Good (Communication Disorders), Koushik Biswas(Chemistry & Physics)

Congratulations to each of our2013 Institute for ResearchDevelopment Fellows!

The institute aimed to assist selected faculty tocraft and submit grant proposals while learningthe intricacies of the grant-making process.Program components included research andevaluation design, grant writing, budgeting andplanning, compliance responsibilities, and other“tools of the trade.” By the institute’s end, nearlyhalf of the fellows had submitted proposals orpre-proposals.

Fellows reported they left the institute armed withthe knowledge needed to submit a successfulgrant proposal and believed the institute will havea tremendous impact on their future grantwriting. Many expressed appreciation that theinstitute facilitated increased interactions andcollaboration with other faculty and helped thefellows develop a comprehensive understandingof the grant process.

One fellow was eager to recommend the instituteto other faculty because it both “demystified thegrant process for inexperienced faculty andfocused on how to be successful for more-practiced faculty.” Others said, “It helped me seepotential collaboration points with facultyoutside my college and department,” and “Theinstitute is an excellent opportunity to educatefaculty, not only in the process of grant writing,but also the resources available here at ASU toaid faculty.” Another fellow recommendedfaculty take advantage of the opportunity early intheir tenure at ASU: “The sooner the better. Iwould have done better [in grantsmanship] if Ihad this training right at the beginning.”

Faculty gain theknowledge, tools and

collaboration needed todevelop successful

research programs.

Andrew Sustich

From theoretical physicist tochief research officer, ASUwelcomes Dr. Sustich to hisnew role.

Dr. Andrew Sustich is the recently appointed vice provost forResearch and Graduate Studies. Andy, as he prefers to be called,joined the faculty at Arkansas State University as an assistantprofessor of physics in 1991.

He was promoted to full professor in 1999 andby 2001 began his administrative career asassociate dean of what once was the College ofArts and Sciences. His calm demeanor andcollaborative nature made him the perfect go-toperson when the university called on him foradministrative duty. Thus, he began asuccession of administrative roles, includinginterim dean of the College of Arts andSciences, interim dean of the College ofHumanities and Social Sciences, interimassociate vice chancellor for Research andTechnology Transfer, before being appointeddean of the Graduate School and dean of theHonors College. He also served as interim deanof the College of Sciences and Mathematics fornine months concurrent with that appointment.“I have really benefited from the opportunity toexperience university administration from manydifferent perspectives over the past dozen years,”Sustich said.

To say Andy is a busy man is an understatement.As vice provost for Research and GraduateStudies he is responsible for the Office ofResearch and Technology Transfer (ORTT), theGraduate School and the Arkansas BiosciencesInstitute. A recent move to the sixth floor of theDean B. Ellis Library eased some of thechallenges posed by maintaining multipleoffices, as he now has ORTT and the GraduateSchool located together in the library. Thosewho know him can attest to his characteristicallyphysicist-like personality traits: focused, careful,observant and fact-finding. It may not be asurprise that his favorite television show is “TheBig Bang Theory,” a comedy centered on thehappenings of academics (mostly physicists) at aresearch institution. Though he probablyunderstands the highbrow jokes and can solvethe equations written on the whiteboards of theset backgrounds, it’s the personal interactionsamong academics that evoke reminiscences ofpast real experiences in his career.

Andy has seen a lot of change at Arkansas Stateover the past 22 years. “While the physicallandscape of campus has changed considerablyduring this time, the changes in how we educateour students and our ability to provide learningexperiences beyond the standard classroom areeven greater,” he said. “Our students areimmersed in working side-by-side with facultyto tackle real-world issues that impact our lives.This is at the heart of what a research universityis all about, looking for solutions for today’sproblems while training the problem solvers forthe future.”

Dr. Sustich engages faculty and students at Arkansas State’sannual research symposium.

arkansas state university : the measure of successarkansas state university : the measure of success

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It has often been said history repeats itself. That may be true of

resurging interest in an ancient Bronze Age oilseed crop, Camelina

sativa, which is being cultivated for modern uses by faculty in the

ASU College of Agriculture &Technology.

SEEDSOIL&OIL

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produced responsibly and developed as part of anintegrated approach to sustainable, renewable,efficient energy, biofuels have importanteconomic, environmental and national securitypotential. Biofuels can be sourced and consumedlocally, creating jobs, boosting rural economiesand reducing the need for fuel transport. Inaddition to decreasing carbon and greenhousegas emissions, growth of winter crops for biofuelproduction can enhance soil health andsustainability, improving year-round crop yieldand reducing pesticide and herbicide use.Incorporating biofuels into our transportationfuel supply will reduce our nation’s dependenceon imported, non-renewable fossil fuels and helpmoderate fluctuating oil prices that arevulnerable to a myriad of global political crisesand natural disasters.

Through interaction with local farmers, Greenhas learned “Arkansas farmers want to grow theirown fuel so they can better predict their fuelcosts. If they plant a winter bioenergy crop andlocally refine it into biofuel, farmers can predict

and plan for fuel costs with much greateraccuracy than when using diesel alone.” Arkansasrice production in 2012, for example, consumedan estimated 28 – 41 million gallons of dieselfuel. At that level, a spike in the price of a barrelof oil can have tremendous economic impact – animpact that can be cushioned by incorporation oflocally produced and refined biofuels.

A priority, then, is finding bioenergy crops thatcan be grown reliably in Arkansas. Historically,camelina hasn’t been cultivated in North America,but biofuels research has led to a recent surge ofinterest in the plant. “As a cold-hardy wintercrop,” Green explains, “I see possibilities for asoybean – camelina rotation. When rotating withwinter wheat, soybean yield is often lower becauseby the time wheat is harvested, the soybeans get alate start. But camelina has a very short maturitycycle, which allows soybeans to be planted ontime for optimal yield.” Of the plants grown onGreen’s bioenergy cropping systems farm,camelina holds great promise for improvingenergy efficiency. And it could potentially serve asthe energy source for its own production byreplacing up to 100 percent of the fuel in existingdiesel equipment. As such, this plant thatpowered ancient Greece and Rome may be asolution for our 21st century energy needs.

Camelina has broad commercial potential. Theseed can be processed into oil and meal. The

almond-flavored camelina oil contains anexceptionally high level of omega-3-fatty acidsand is rich in vitamin E and natural antioxidants.To utilize the oil, Green says, “The easiest thingto do is make biodiesel fuel. It has been testedand can run farm tractors. The conversion processis feasible and cost-efficient ... and the oil can alsobe used to make camelina-derived jet fuel.” TheU.S. Air Force and Navy have already tested50/50 blends of camelina biofuel and jetpropellent in flight demonstrations. Camelinameal, used as livestock feed, also has a highprotein and omega-3-fatty acid content, whichnaturally enriches the resulting animal products.Animal waste may then be cycled back as aresource in camelina production.

Green and his colleagues are raising awareness ofcamelina and reaching out to Arkansas farmersthrough a capacity-building project funded bythe U.S. Department of Agriculture. It featuresfield days and demonstrations for farmers andother potential end users, with the expectationof establishing a camelina farmer network andoilseed cooperative. In addition to biodiesel, oiland meal production, Green sees other nichemarket opportunities for camelina, includingextraction of specialty chemicals for use incosmetics and hair care products. “But rightnow,” Green explains, “we’re not at thecommercialization stage – now we’re trying togrow the right variety of camelina for Arkansas.”

Steve Green

For more informationabout this researcher,scan this QR code withyour smart phone.

Camelina sativa in bloom(top) and mature for harvest(middle). The initial harvest

product must be processed toseparate the tiny oilseeds

from hulls (bottom).

An ASU graduate student with agrant from the Arkansas SoybeanPromotion Board, is growing“energy beets” – not to be used fortable sugar, but for bioenergy. Theproject will determine the harvesttiming and yield impact of asoybean – energy beet crop rotation.

SEED, SOIL & OIL...

From ancient times until the early 1900s,camelina was commonly used to produce lampand cooking oil, animal feed, and tosupplement food grains. Dr. Steve Green,associate professor of Soil and WaterConservation, is reviving production ofcamelina, experimenting to determine whichvarieties are best adapted to Arkansas.

Green’s main research interests are in bioenergycropping systems and soil sustainability. Withfunding from the U.S. Department of Energy,Green launched a bioenergy cropping systemsfarm where he is testing several types of plantswith bioenergy potential, including 16 – 20varieties of camelina. The research team is alsoexploring the effects of different inputs (i.e.chicken litter, municipal biosolids) on soilquality and the dynamics of plant nutrient use.Green explains the questions driving hisresearch, “Can we take a waste product fromanother sector of society, use it as a resource, andget better or same yields as chemical fertilizer?Or in doing so, can we at least enhance thestructure of the soil, reduce erosion and getenvironmental benefits that are useful to society?How will these modifications affect bioenergycrop yield and soil quality, and how can we bestbalance these needs?”

All plants grown on the bioenergy farm couldpotentially be used for biofuel production. When

�

Arkansas farmers want to growtheir own fuel so they can

better predict their fuel costs.

Green’s multidisciplinary research team is comprised ofresearchers from five different fields. Collaborators include Drs.Paul Armah (Agricultural Economics), Greg Phillips (PlantBiotechnology), Kevin Humphrey (Agricultural Education) andElizabeth Hood (Cell Biology and Plant Biotechnology). The teamnot only engages farmers throughout the state, but byintegrating undergraduate and graduate students in research,they are also “growing new farmers.”

One technician working with Green is starting a cover cropdemonstration field. She will examine winter and summer covercrops and optimal termination times for potential cover crops toprovide farmers with more crop rotation choices. “A criticalprinciple of sustainability is rotation, rotation, rotation,” Greenexplains. “This provides some winter alternatives to break updisease cycles, weed cycles and pest cycles. It gives the soil a restand a chance to activate different microbial activity.”

A critical principle of sustainability is rotation, rotation, rotation.

Camelina seed ready forprocessing into meal and oil(top). Livestock consume thecamelina meal, passing on itsrich protein and omega-3-fatty acid content toconsumers (bottom).

GROWING NEW FARMERS

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Mislabeling of food fish is a complex problem impacting public health,

conservation efforts, economics, politics and industry. Importation taxes

are just one reason a seller might fraudulently substitute a cheaper fish

species. But economics aside, substitution raises important concerns about

allergens, toxins and environmental contaminants in our food supply.

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FISHY FRAUD & FOOD MISLABELING

Recently a large nationwide study reported morethan one-third of seafood samples they testedwere mislabeled. White tuna, for example,frequently used in the sushi market, has a closerelative, escolar, which contains toxins and cancause serious illness when ingested. Mislabelingof escolar as white tuna was reported in 84percent of the retail outlets tested.

For nearly a decade, Maureen Dolan has been atthe Arkansas Biosciences Institute (ABI)designing solutions to complex problems such asseafood species identification. Early in her career,Dolan realized she could take emergingtechnology and apply it to medical and biologicalproblems. It is important “to find a niche thatworks for you,” she says. Dolan, now associateprofessor of Molecular and Cell Biology, hasfound her niche in the merger of plant science,molecular biology and innovative technology.

ASU and ABI seek to foster translation of basicresearch into commercial applications andtechnology. In that environment, where scienceand entrepreneurship comingle, Dolan and hercollaborators founded several biotechnology

companies. Among these is Applied FoodTechnologies, Inc. (Alachua, FL; AFT) where sheis a co-founder and chief scientific officer. AFT isa molecular diagnostics company that specializesin developing DNA-based tests and services forseafood species identification and verification.

With the passion and energy of an entrepreneur,Dolan explains the mission of her research, “Thespecies of fish actually can make a difference,but once you pull skin off a fish it is very hard toidentify.” AFT and Dolan have been integrallyinvolved in the development of the DNA-basedtesting methods that are currently used in theseafood industry. Still, there is room forimprovement. “Seafood distributors andimporters are often required to hold fish in coldstorage until the current testing confirms thespecies identity,” says Dolan. “Thousands andthousands of dollars can be at stake with eachday of storage, so there is interest in coming upwith faster, more streamlined testing methodsand better screening tools.”

The research team is currently developing amore rapid molecular identification system toauthenticate the species of seafood. When theystarted out about 12 years ago, there was noprior industry-recognized database forcombining molecular and morphological traitsto identify fish species. Dolan and hercollaborators worked to build a fish DNA

database that both industry and science wouldrecognize. Using this validated database (madeup of close to 2,000 reference food fish), theyare then able to establish a DNA barcode foreach fish sample tested to confirm it is indeedthe species it has been labeled to be. AFT, whichbegan as a basement experiment, has beenawarded over $2 million in federal SmallBusiness Innovation Research grants in supportof developing fish species ID diagnostics. Otherfunding from the U.S. Department ofAgriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce,and National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration also supported this technology.

In addition to her work with AFT, Dolan andfellow ABI scientist Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar founded Nature West, Inc., a biotechcompany in Jonesboro. Of their experience incommercializing technology developed atASU, Dolan says, “We have an incrediblebreadth of scientific expertise here on thiscampus. With the merging of thetechnological know-how at the ABI and ASUfaculty who are world-experts in classicdisciplines, the opportunities for innovationare vast. The incubator [Catalyst InnovationAccelerator] has an interesting mission that Ididn’t fully appreciate until we started tointeract with them. They offer a dynamicmodel and paradigm for commercializingbasic research discoveries that is very different,but needed, in industry.”

Utilizing the best available science in regulatorydecision-making is considered mission criticalby the FDA. But Dolan and her partners aren’tstopping at the best available. They arecontinually improving this methodology anddeveloping new platforms to make the testsfaster and more accurate, and expand its utilityto the seafood industry. “We are really interestedin blazing new trails,” says Dolan. “Developingscience that has valuable applications has alwaysbeen a driving force for me. Pure science isgreat, but it’s pretty cool to be able to repackageit to solve real world problems.”


Pure science is great, but it’s pretty cool to be ableto repackage it to solve real world problems.

Roughly two percent of imported seafood receives aquality inspection before sale, compared with nearly 97

percent of beef steaks. Dolan’s team is developing a rapidmolecular species identification tool that may allow a

sizeble increase in quality assured seafood.

Maureen Dolan

Dolan is devoted to developing the future STEM workforce byproviding undergraduate and graduate students with authenticresearch experiences. Contracts to ASU from AFT have allowedDolan to train student interns like Jenna Worsham and employASU alum Garreth Clines,’11. This spring, instead of having CellBiology lab students replicate lab exercises designed solely tolearn techniques, Dolan took them into ABI labs where theyconducted “real” experiments for which even she didn’t know

the answer in advance. Her students responded with genuineenthusiasm, saying:

Dolan broke new ground by involving an entire class of studentsat ABI, but she was building on a strong tradition at ASU. Of hertenure at ASU she notes, “I see more undergraduates inresearch labs here than I’ve seen at any otherinstitution I’ve been.”

“I feel like I now understand more abouthow a lab works and how experiments

are really set up.”

“Working on a real scenario that’sapplicable and tangible was very nice.”

“The opportunity to work in the ABI labreally opened my eyes and made me realizeI would really love to work in research.”

“We are really interested in blazing new trails...”

Sitting at a dimly lit sushibar, could you recognize

which of the above sashimiphotos is white (albacore)tuna and which one is an

escolar substitute?

The DNA sequence of eachfish species can be moreeasily visualized andcompared by using adifferent fluoroscent colorfor each nucleotide.

“REEL” RESEARCH


WASTENOT

WATERNOT

Beneath the lush Delta farmlands of Eastern Arkansas lies an alluvial

aquifer stretching 32,000 square miles, from southern Missouri to northern

Louisiana. Water pumped from the shallow aquifer has nourished

Arkansas’ crops since the early 1900s, but because of unsustainable use, the

water level has declined one foot per year over the past 40 years.

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In Eastern Arkansas, where 80 percent of landuse is for agriculture, groundwater conservationis critical. Michele Reba, a research hydrologistwith the USDA Agricultural Research Servicestationed at Arkansas State University, is workingto preserve water quantity and quality in theLower Mississippi River Basin. Since her arrivalat ASU in 2011, Reba has been instrumental incollaborating with farmers, conservationists andresearchers to monitor and improve managementof agricultural water supplies.

Reba’s research group aims to incorporatetechnology into conservation science. Theirfocus is to develop best practices for agriculturalwater management that will lead to producingcrops using the least amount of water possible,while maintaining high water quality in theregion and retaining or improving crop yields.Thus, Reba’s program targets the questions offorward-thinking producers such as, “How can Iuse technology to better manage my crop?” and“Can I put a sensor in the field to tell me howmuch and when to irrigate?”

In a highly collaborative multi-disciplinaryapproach, Reba, together with ASU students andfaculty in agriculture, biological sciences andengineering, is partnering with producers atapproximately 30 field monitoring sites that span11 farms. The field measurements provide datato understand water use, water quality,

groundwater-surface water interaction and on-farm reservoir management at the plot, fieldand farm scale. For example, ASU graduatestudents are pioneering state-of-the-art sensorsto detect water levels and allow producers,whose farms may span thousands of acres, toremotely manage irrigation pumps. Improvedirrigation management could save millions ofgallons of groundwater per field with eachirrigation cycle. “Incorporation of technology isa large part of our program,” says Reba. “I’vebeen so fortunate to work with producers whoare willing to try something different.”

Several of the project sites employ “edge of field”monitoring techniques that allow Reba’s researchteam to assess the impact of conservationpractices on the region’s water resources. TheMississippi River Basin Healthy WatershedsInitiative (MRBI), a USDA-Natural ResourcesConservation Service (NRCS) program, supportsthis effort. Data collected will be used tocompare the economic, agronomic andenvironmental outcomes and determine bestpractices for water conservation. Additionally,field-specific data will be used to improveexisting modeling efforts through collaborationwith the National Sedimentation Laboratory andASU computer science programmers. Rebanotes, “Water quantity is highly variable, withflooding some years and drought in others. Wemust be smart about water management.”

Producers are asking, “How can I use technology to better manage my crop?Can I put a sensor in the field to tell me how much and when to irrigate?”

Michele Reba


In large-scale farmingoperations spread acrossseveral thousand acres,the logistics of irrigationmanagement is acommon obstacle towater conservation.

Reba didn’t always envision developing models andtechnologies for water conservation as her future. Whilevolunteering as an undergraduate summer intern with theU.S. Forest Service, Reba was exposed to the idea of acareer in hydrology. Though pursuing a bachelor’s degreein civil engineering, she was assigned to work for oneweek with a hydrogeologist in Washington’s Olympic

National Park. “We walked up and down streams all weektaking water measurements and I thought ‘This isawesome! People actually do this for a living!’” Theexperience led her into a career that spans three academicdisciplines and allows her to spend most of her time in thefield working hard to ensure there is plenty of wateravailable to keep Arkansas’ commodity futures strong.

Arkansas trails only Californiain quantity of water used for

irrigation and ranks 4th in thenumber of acres irrigated.

From 1992 to 2007, thenumber of acres irrigated in

Arkansas increased by 65percent. “Although Arkansashas annual rainfall of about50 inches, in 2008 Arkansas

producers irrigated 4.5 billionacres,” Reba explains. “If you

compare the alluvial aquifermap and the map of irrigated

acres, the two overlap.Irrigation is occurring where

there is presumed to be anabundance of groundwater.

But this has caused adocumented water-level

decline of approximately onefoot per year in the alluvial

aquifer,” says Reba.

Irrigation is occurring wherethere is presumed to be an

abundance of groundwater.But this has caused a

documented water-level declineof approximately one foot peryear in the alluvial aquifer.

MEASUREMENTS + MODELING = SMART MANAGEMENT

FUNDS FOR FARMINGTransforming agricultural practices in the Delta isno small task. The USDA provided four-yearsupport of nearly $82 million for Arkansas’ fiveproject areas that will impact 3.4 million acres.Arkansas’ general collaboration includes: ArkansasState University, the University of Arkansas, theUniversity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the ArkansasNatural Resources Commission, the ArkansasAssociation of Conservation Districts, the WhiteRiver Irrigation District and major agriculturalcommodity producers.

IT DOESN’T ADD UPArkansas, the nation’s leading producer of rice,third-largest cotton producer, and 10th largestsoybean producer, irrigates the fourth largestnumber of acres in the U.S., making sustainableagricultural water practices a critical concern.Agricultural irrigation pumps nearly 5,700Mgal/day of groundwater from the alluvialaquifer. The sustainable water yield is less than3,000 Mgal/day. The result is an unmetdemand on water resources of 2,700 Mgal/day,for every day that fields are irrigated.

Edge-of-field monitoring utilizeshigh-tech sensors to assist

producers in water conservationby providing practical tools suchas remote pump management.

INTERSECTING DISCIPLINES

1 dot = 10,000 acres


What do mosquitoes, malaria and Bob Marley have in common? A tiny

fish parasite recently discovered by ASU marine biologist Paul Sikkel.

The new species, Gnathia marleyi, is a small crustacean blood feeder he

observed in shallow coral reefs of the Caribbean. The species is the first

to be discovered in the Caribbean in more than two decades.

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RIDING THE RESEARCH WAVE

Sikkel named the species after Jamaican reggaeartist Bob Marley because of his respect andadmiration for Marley’s music and “because thisspecies is as uniquely Caribbean as was Marley,”he quipped.

Sikkel noticed the parasite while studyingdamselfish spawning activity in the U.S. VirginIslands and Barbados. Damselfish spawn at dawn,leading to many sleepless nights for Sikkel and hisaccompanying student researchers. But the longhours are worth it, says Sikkel. “Dawn is atransition period in the ocean. Nocturnal speciesare going down to sleep and day species arecoming up. There is a changeover like clockwork.”

Dawn is also the period when Gnathia marleyiare most active. Each morning, and afterspawning, damselfish pay a visit to cleaner fishesand shrimps that remove the parasite whichinfests damselfish skin and scales. In the past,the fish would likely carry only a few parasites,but now it can be hundreds per fish. Reefdestruction and overfishing have reduced thenumber of host fishes for G. marleyi, possiblyleading to a greater number of parasites per fish.Such conditions are potentially harmful to the

valuable fishes, which through their feedinghabits help balance diversity of algae, supportingcoral reef preservation.

Sikkel believes understanding the role of Gnathiamarleyi and other gnathiid species will help explainthe impact of haemogregarines, malaria-like bloodparasites that may weaken the immune systems ofmarine fishes. Gnathiid isopods, like G. marleyi,are thought to transmit the parasites through theirblood-sucking bite, much in the way mosquitoesand ticks are vectors for malaria, West Nile virus orLyme disease.

Sikkel’s research team spans three continents andincludes faculty in South Africa and the U.K.,who study gnathiids and blood parasitetransmission. The team also collaborates withDr. Maureen Dolan (at ASU) to identify bloodparasites in coral reef fishes. “Though G. marleyiare only in the Caribbean, gnathiid isopods areas common in the ocean as mosquitoes are inArkansas,” says Sikkel. “They are in all thewaters from the Artic to the Atlantic.”

The work of Sikkel’s research team, most recentlyfunded by grants from the National ScienceFoundation and the Arkansas Department ofHigher Education, is making waves in the field ofaquatic biology. Their findings broadly affect howaquatic food webs are viewed. “We know verylittle about parasites in aquatic ecosystems. They

have historically been completely left out ofaquatic foodweb models. This research will totallychange our view of the ecosystem for freshwaterand marine life.”

But this illustrates a fundamental change inbiology, Sikkel explains. “The new frontier inbiology now is the small things (what some havereferred to as “the smaller majority”). We know alot about the big things and now have thetechnology to study the small things.”

SIKKEL’S REVITALIZING RESOURCESikkel finds that as a researcher, he can be moreproductive by living in Arkansas rather than theCaribbean, collecting data during summer tripsto the Caribbean and returning to Jonesboro toteach, analyze data and publish findings.Though he lives in a land-locked state, he wouldnever consider giving up marine research,“Research fuels my passion for teaching. I can’tteach well without research.”

So what does he do when he isn’t refuelingthrough research? He invests in his otherpassions: basketball (still an LA Lakers fan – trueto his California roots), surfing, music andsipping strong coffee. Sikkel’s love for music ledhim to the name for Gnathia marleyi and he says,“The arts do a much better job of presenting

science to the world. In the U.S. Virgin Islands,particularly St. John, there is an art-science-conservation synergy that fuels and enhanceseach discipline.” Local artists in St. John are nowfeaturing G. marleyi on hand-painted shirts andother objects. Sikkel is even working on acollaborative music venture with Amlak Tafari ofthe reggae band Steel Pulse.

And perhaps you’re as curious as we were toinquire about his favorite pirate movie. Notsurprisingly, Sikkel enjoys any of the “Pirates ofthe Caribbean” films. “I love Johnny Depp inthat role, especially because he modeled hischaracter after Keith Richards,” a foundingmember of the Rolling Stones. “But, I can thinkof no better pirate than Geoffery Rush’scharacter – he just oozes pirateness,” says Sikkel.“In a sense, our team is like a band of piratesdriven by the thrill of discovery. Sometimes wehit the motherload of data treasure, and there isno greater thrill!”

The marleyi are as common in the ocean asmosquitoes are in Arkansas.

Paul Sikkel

To watch a video aboutPaul Sikkel’s research,scan this QR code withyour smart phone.

The new frontier in biologynow is the small things what

some have referred to as,"the smaller majority."

This research will totally change our view of the ecosystem forfreshwater and marine life.

Students are an integral part of Sikkel’s work. Onefactor in his decision to come to ASU was theopportunity to teach and mentor graduate andundergraduate students in the Department of BiologicalSciences, and to contribute to the development of amarine science program. Since coming to A-State, Sikkelhas maintained a productive research program by

integrating students at each step, from field datacollection through dissemination of results. Sikkel’sstudents primarily travel with him to a marine fieldstation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. There they are able tolearn not only about marine ecology, but also gaincross-cultural experience without the cost and otherconcerns of international travel.

“Research fuels mypassion for teaching.

I can’t teach wellwithout research.”

Sikkel's discovery ofGnathia marleyi is the firstnew species identified in the

Caribbean in 20 years.

Field work for thoseresearching coral reefpreservation means a dawndive to study Damselfish.

STUDENT SUBMERSION

MEASURE : 23


22 : MEASURE

Create @ STATE : A Symposium of Research, Scholarship &Creativity is an annual event dedicated to the celebration ofresearch, scholarship and creativity by students at Arkansas StateUniversity. Create @ STATE is an opportunity for undergraduateand graduate students in all disciplines to showcase theiraccomplishments through the traditional academic mechanismsof poster presentations, oral presentations and creativeperformance. Faculty members across the ASU campus serve onthe Advisory Board, as mentors to student presenters and asjudges, room hosts and enthusiastic audience members.

Program and abstractbooklet for the third annualCreate @ STATE: ASymposium of Research,Scholarship & Creativity

The third annual Create @ STATE tookplace on April 11, 2013, with a recordnumber of participants. More than 300undergraduate and graduate studentspresented their scholarly work during theday-long symposium and the ASUTrumpet Ensemble performed originalworks for the attendees. The newestadditions to the symposium included a“Video Pitch” competition and “ThreeMinute Thesis” competition. During her

welcoming address, Dr. Lynita Cooksey, vicechancellor and provost, said, “Thissymposium is a great representation of theuniversity as it continues to grow into aresearch institution.”

Awards of gift cards to ASU’s IT Store totaling$3,675 were presented to 45 students. Grandprizes were awarded to the overall best posterpresentation and oral presentation forundergraduate and graduate students. In

addition, winners of the “Three MinuteThesis,” received $500 for first place, $250 forsecond place, $150 for third place and $100for People’s Choice Award.

A new addition to Create @ STATE was the3MT© competition. Sponsored by theGraduate School, the competition was opento ASU students preparing master’s theses ordoctoral dissertations. The goal for thecompetitors was to explain their thesis to apanel of non-specialist judges in threeminutes using only one static PowerPointslide. The first place winner of thiscompetition was Rachel Welicky for herwork titled, “Direct and Indirect Effects ofthe Caribbean Cymothoid Parasite AnilocraHaemuli on Host Energetics, Behavior andTrophic Interactions.” Rachel also won thePeople’s Choice Award.

Another new addition to Create @ STATEwas the “Video Pitch” competition.Championed by the College of Business, 40student entrepreneurs competed by

preparing a 60-second video pitch of theirbusiness idea and plan. The first placewinner was Dylan Gamble for his businessidea, “Rigs-On-A-Roll: Pre-Tied FishingRigs.” Both of these events were met withgreat enthusiasm; it is expected Create @STATE will include these two competitionsas part of the annual symposium.

Create @ STATE continues to add new andinnovative ways to engage students in theeducational research experience. Deepcommitments and support from facultycontinue to add to this event and provide anexpressive outlet for students and faculty.The fourth Create @ STATE is scheduledfor Thursday, April 10, 2014, in theA-State’s Carl R. Reng Student Union.

20133rd Annual!

•••••

2013 Create @ STATE Three Minute Thesis CompetitionASU students from all

disciplines participate inthe day’s events. 2013 Create @ STATE Video Pitch Competition

Rachel Welicky, Environmental Sciences, received first place and thePeople’s Choice Award for her presentation titled, “Direct and Indirect Effects ofthe Caribbean Cymothoid Parasite Anilocra Haemuli on Host Energetics, Behaviorand Trophic Interactions.” Mike Gray, Communication Studies, receivedsecond place for his presentation titled, “The Relationship Between GenderIdentity and Flirting Style.” Swapnali Halder, Molecular Biosciences andLana Elkins, Molecular Biosciences, tied for third place. Ms. Halderpresented, “Could oral nicotine be a safer choice for smoking cessation? Let’s askthe rat.” Ms. Elkins presented, “‘Plant-Powered’ Fish Food: An EnvironmentallySustainable Immune Stimulant for Improved Aquaculture Practices.”

Dylan Gamble, Business Administration, received first place forhis video pitch titled, “Rigs-On-A-Roll: Pre-Tied Fishing Rigs.” KirstenDruckenmiller, Business Management, received second place forher video pitch titled, “Breathalyzer & iPhone App Pair to PreventDrunk Phone Use.” Bridgette Riley, Business Management,received third place for her video pitch titled, “Vending MachineOffering Travel Size/One Time Use Products.”

< Video still capture was taken from“Breathalyzer & iPhone App Pair to Prevent Drunk Phone Use.”

2013 Create @ STATE Best Overall Graduate Poster Presentation

arkansas state university : the measure of successarkansas state university : the measure of success

ASU students presentresearch findings throughposter presentations.

2013 Create @ STATE Poster Presentation Winners 2013 Create @ STATE Oral Presentation Winners

Faculty and peer studentsattended compelling oral

presentation sessions.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Undergraduate

2nd Place Yachi Wu A Zone Management Approach to Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris) Control Termination in Cotton

1st Place Jennifer Roberts Plant-based Fish Protein Production as an Alternative Antimicrobial Therapeutic Strategy for Aquaculture

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - Graduate

2nd Place Swapnali Halder Long Term Oral Nicotine Exposure is Associated with Changes in Sera Cotinine and Uterine Histology butnot the Estrous Cycle in Female Rats

1st Place Cesar Nopo-Olazabal Bioproduction of Stilbenoids in Hairy Root Cultures of Muscadine Grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.)

Social Science and Behavioral Sciences Undergraduate

2nd Place Handling Techniques on Stress in Female Adolescent Rats

1st Place Assessment of Writing Across the Curriculum:Is Psychology a Writing Intensive DisciplineAccording to University Trajectory?

Social Science and Behavioral Sciences Graduate

2nd Place Immigration Reform and Higher Education

1st Place Elizabeth Snow The Impact of Developmental Play onVoluntary Nicotine Intake in Female Rats

Nursing and Health Professions Undergraduate

2nd Place The Great Escape

1st Place Educating Adolescents About Dating Violence

Nursing and Health Professions Graduate

2nd Place Eric Haertling Do Previously Deployed Soldiers in Northeast Arkansas Relate Increased Feelings of Hopelessness After Return From Afghanistan or Iraq?

1st Place Ashlee Gill Acute Bronchitis and Treatment Guidelines

Plant ScienceAgriculture

BiologicalSciences

MolecularBiosciences


Psychology

Psychology

Psychology

Psychology

Social Work

Social Work

Family NursePractitioner

Family NursePractitioner

Paula Weaver,Melissa Lee,Jalessa Cross,Melissa Russell

Melissa Bowman,Summer Corker,Kei-Lynn Swindle,Stephanie Gryner

Meggen Horwatt,David Barrera,Brandin Stehle,Susan Shelley

Amanda Harris,Molly Bryson,Trisha Arnold

Jonathan Wilson,Keri Holder,Kelly Lansford,Shannon Rogers,Brittany White

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - Undergraduate

2nd Place Zach Marsh Secondary Metabolite Enhancement in Hairy Root Culturesof Scutellaria Lateriflora by Treatment with Cyclodextrin and Methyl Jasmonate

1st Place Cheyenne Gerdes Degradation of Bat Wings by GeomycesDestructans Proteases

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics - Graduate

2nd Place Ningning Zhang Engineering Hydroxyproline-O-Glycosylated Peptide Motifs In Hairy Roots For An Enhanced Bioproduction Platform

1st Place Muhsin Aydin Rapid Identification of Salmonella Serovars by FlowCytometry-Based Multiplexing Analysis System

Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences and Nursing Undergraduate

2nd Place David Beck The Innocent Eye: Personal and Political ChangeThrough a Child's Lens

1st Place Hunter Sadler Cross-Cultural Perception of Common Colors

Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences and Nursing Graduate

2nd Place Elizabeth Snow Developmental Play and Sensitivity to Nicotine

1st Place Mark Lovins The Impact of Honesty in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall

BiologicalSciences

Wildlife Ecologyand Management



English

Psychology

Psychology

English

Best Overall Oral Presentation UndergraduateAaron Hattle Mary Sues In Literature English

Best Overall Oral Presentation GraduateAshton Erwin Bounded Area Tests for Comparing the Mathematics

Dynamics Between ARMA Series

Best Overall Poster Presentation UndergraduateBrett Shirley Assessment Of High DFW Courses: PsychologyEzra Rodgers General Chemistry I Focus GroupsDevin HarperKasha Shannon

Best Overall Poster Presentation GraduateTaylor Gregory Extending the Medicaid Program to More Social WorkBrandi Koschmann Uninsured Arkansans Will Be Beneficial toTracy Mallard the State as a WholeMelody Mccaig

2013 Create @ STATE Best Overall Presentations

Thanks to all of the participants! Congratulations to all of the winners!MEASURE : 2524 : MEASURE

26 : MEASURE


Friends:

I hope this edition of MEASURE© helped you gain a deeper understanding of the many waysArkansas State’s scholarly activities impact the local and broader economy. We are proud ofthe innovation and drive of our faculty, staff and students, who are leading us into thefuture. In research administration, we appreciate our unique perspective gained throughsupporting the variety and magnitude of intellect, discovery and creativity taking shapeacross campus. We created MEASURE© to share that perspective with you.

The Office of Research & Technology Transfer is committed to supporting discovery andinnovation through additional research initiatives including Create @ STATE, our in-depthgrant writing program, Institute for Research Development, other ongoing researchdevelopment sessions and support of new centers of excellence, and more.

On behalf of the Office of Research & Technology Transfer, along with A-State ’s artists,scholars and researchers, we extend our deepest appreciation to you. Thank you for takingthe time to read this issue; we look forward to sharing the next edition with you.

Best regards,

Cheryl Dison, MPADirector of Research Development

Cheryl Dison

Philanthropic investment is critical to advancing researchat Arkansas State University.

Please consider supporting research at ASU by making atax-deductible contribution to the ASU Foundation.

By scanning the QR Code you may give to a program of your choice.

Thank you for your consideration and support.

OFFICE OF RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERP.O. BOX 2760 • STATE UNIVERSITY, AR 72467

504 UNIVERSITY LOOP EAST • JONESBORO, AR 72401

astate.edu/a/ortt

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