January 31, 2007 |
1. Portable biosensor rapidly detects bird flu virus
3. Food Science nationally ranked No. 4 in 'Scholarly Productivity'
4. Arkansas Women in Agriculture conference March 8-9
5. Food and Beverage Innovations competition
6. Academic Enhancement Program workshop schedule
7. Non-Profits career day and workshop, Monday & Wednesday
1. Portable biosensor rapidly detects bird flu virus. An interdisciplinary team of researchers led by Yanbin Li, professor of biological and agricultural engineering and a member of the Division's Center of Excellence for Poultry Science faculty, has developed a portable biosensor for in-field, rapid screening of avian influenza virus. The inexpensive device specifically and sensitively detects avian influenza H5N1 -- as low as 100 EID50/ml -- from poultry cloacal or tracheal swab samples in less than 30 minutes and could help health officials coordinate a rapid response for the eradication, quarantine and vaccination of animals.
"Rapid detection is the key to controlling the spread of avian influenza," Li said. "Techniques currently used to detect the disease are either time consuming, too expensive or not specific to subtypes of avian influenza viruses. Our device provides robust and reliable results and introduces the concept of real-time detection to facilitate a coordinated and rapid response."
The research team, composed of Li; Billy Hargis, professor of poultry science; Steve Tung, associate professor of mechanical engineering; and Luc Berghman, associate professor of immunology at Texas A&M University, combined their expertise in biosensors, virology, immunology and microfluidics, poultry diseases and micro-electromechanical systems to design, build and evaluate a prototype device that is portable and simple and provides rapid, specific and sensitive detection of avian influenza virus.
The biosensor is a portable instrument designed for field use. It can be operated as a stand-alone instrument or connected to a laptop computer through a USB cable for data acquisition, analysis and control. Li estimated that as a commercial product, the device would cost less than $8,000, and testing fees would be less than $10 per sample.
Based on Li's previous research on impedance biosensors to detect Salmonella and E. coli, the new system uses magnetic bio-nanobeads, a specially designed microfluidic biochip and red blood cell complexes to detect the virus.
Detection follows a step-by-step process. First, researchers coat the magnetic nanobeads with specific antibodies to separate and concentrate target virus within a poultry swab sample. Acting as bio-labels, red blood cells are then mixed with the captured virus to form a complex, which is filtered by a specially designed, micro-fluidic biochip. The biochip then delivers the complex to a microelectrode array for measurement.
Researchers detect the specific virus by correlating the change in impedance of the complex under high-frequency and alternating currents to the concentration of avian influenza virus in an original sample.
To optimize the research prototype, the research team is currently developing specific monoclonal antibodies to different subtypes of avian influenza viruses. Another UA researcher, Ryan Tian, assistant professor of chemistry, is developing a titanium dioxide nanofiber to modify the microelectrode for more sensitive impedance signal from the target virus. When Tian's work is completed, the research team will be ready to conduct field tests for the final evaluation of the technology. Li is also collaborating with researchers at China Agricultural University to use specific monoclonal antibodies to develop wireless communication, Global Positioning Systems and imaging for the biosensor's application to a rapid response to animal diseases networks in China.
Avian influenza virus H5N1 was discovered in the late 1990s. Animal cases have been reported in more than 46 countries, and 10 countries have reported human infection. According to the World Health Organization, 261 people have been infected and 157 have died since 2003 due to avian influenza. Recently, a draft report of the U.S. government's emergency plan predicts that as many as 200 million Americans could be infected and 200,000 could die within a few months if the avian flu pandemic reached the United States.
In the United States, a 2001 and 2002 outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza, which poses no threat to humans, resulted in the depopulation of more than 4.5 million chickens and turkeys and is estimated to have cost the poultry industry approximately $125 million. According to a World Bank report, by mid-2005 more than 140 million birds had died or been destroyed, and losses to the poultry industry are estimated to be more than $10 billion.
The research is supported by the U of A System's Division of Agriculture, the Division's Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and the Arkansas Biosciences Institute.
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2. Patrick Fenn, 1947-2007. Patrick Fenn, professor of plant pathology, of Lincoln, died Sunday, Jan. 28, at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock. He was 59.
Dr. Fenn was born July 19, 1947, at Syracuse, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home; a son, David Fenn, of Farmington; and a daughter, Elizabeth Fenn, of Nevada.
Dr. Fenn had a B.S. degree in biological science from Syracuse University and a Ph.D. degree in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He began his professional career as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Entomology, University of Sydney, Australia (1975-1977). He was a research associate, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory and Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin (1978-1979). In 1979, he was appointed assistant professor in the UA Department of Plant Pathology and rose to the ranks of associate professor in 1984 and professor in 2006.
During the early years of his career in Arkansas, Dr. Fenn conducted research in forest pathology, investigating the relationship between drought stress and fungal colonization (Hypoxylon spp.) in oak forest.
In the mid-1980s, Dr. Fenn's research focus shifted to fruit crop diseases and seed quality issues in soybean. His work on Phomopsis seed decay of soybeans, a major limiting factor in production of quality soybean seed and grains, made significant contributions in producing high quality soybean seed and grains. He and his graduate students discovered three independent dominant genes that conditioned resistance to this important disease in soybeans.
Dr. Fenn's contribution to the graduate teaching program in Plant Pathology has been in the areas of disease physiology and biochemistry, and in fungal biology. He was responsible for teaching the molecular and biochemical concepts of disease and concepts related to advances in gene-for-gene theory. Students have commented on Dr. Fenn's openness, breath of knowledge and willingness to consider different opinions.
Dr. Fenn actively served the American Phytopathological Society (APS). He has been a member of the Standardization of Common Names Committee, the Post-harvest and Mycotoxicology Committee, and the Seed Pathology Committee. He served on the Forest Pathology Committee and was the chairman of this committee in 1985-86. His major contribution to the APS was as Feature Editor of the journal of Plant Disease for five years (1984-1988). From 1990-1991, he was a Senior Editor for APS Press where he dealt with publication decisions, policy matters, and edited three books for publication by APS Press.
A memorial service was held Feb. 1 at Beards Funeral Home. The family requests that memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Foundation.
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3. Food Science nationally ranked No. 4 in 'Scholarly Productivity.' The Department of Food Science was ranked No. 4 in the nation for "faculty scholarly productivity" by Academic Analytics, which ranks 7,294 doctoral programs at 354 institutions.
The Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, partly financed by the State University of New York at Stony Brook, rates faculty members' scholarly output based on the number of book and journal articles published by each program's faculty, as well as journal citations, awards, honors, and grants received.
The rankings for 2005 were recently published online at www.academicanalytics.com. Data for the rankings were collected from university Web sites and the Scopus abstract and citation database for more than 15,000 peer-reviewed journals.
A Jan. 12 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education said the new index provides an objective alternative to the influential "reputation based" rankings by U.S News and World Report and the National Research Council.
The only doctoral programs ranked ahead of the University of Arkansas in the "Food Science" category were at Cornell, Illinois and Massachusetts. The rest of the top 10 list, after Arkansas, were Louisiana State, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado State, Pennsylvania State and Michigan State.
Ron Buescher, UA Food Science Department head, said the ranking recognizes both the quantity and quality of research conducted by the department's 12 research faculty members, graduate students and research support scientists.
"Scholarly research productivity by food scientists at the University of Arkansas has been a tradition and we are honored by this national recognition," Buescher said.
The rankings cited 5.9 journal publications per faculty member and 36.9 citations of UA research by other scientists in journal articles per faculty member.
The U of A System's Division of Agriculture sponsors the department's research and extension program. Undergraduate and graduate degree programs are administered by Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at UA, Fayetteville.
"Graduates of Food Science have excellent employment opportunities and they are highly successful in their professional careers," Buescher said. "A major reason for that, as this ranking illustrates, is that our students are taught by some of the top food scientists in the nation."
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4. Arkansas Women in Agriculture conference March 8-9
The 3rd annual conference of Arkansas Women in Agriculture is set for March 8-9 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.
AWIG president Janie Hipp, AEAB, said the conference theme is "Preparing Arkansas Women in Agriculture."
To register for the conference visit the Web site: www.arwomeninag.com.
A few of the many conference highlights will include a legislative panel and special legislative announcements; production issues for horse owners, cattle producers, poultry producers, fruit and vegetable producers; sessions for row crop producers, forest land owners and agricultural land owners; advanced estate and financial planning and advanced credit and financing; risk management and farm financial planning; direct marketing, agri-tourism and farmers markets information; legal issues; family and health updates; donation service projects (baby quilts & rice depot); and an evening mixer with popular horticulturalist Janet Carson.
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5. Food and Beverage Innovations Competition. Do you have an idea of a food or beverage product that should be on the grocery store shelves but isn't? Put your creative energy to work in the Food and Beverage Innovations Competition hosted by the Department of Food Science. All U of A students are encouraged to participate.
Go to foodscience.uark.edu for entry and competition requirements. $2,250 in cash prizes will be awarded to students!
Intent to enter deadline is Feb. 16.
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6. Academic Enhancement Program workshop schedule. All students are invited to attend AEP workshops in the Carroll and Sue Walls Classroom, HOEC 106, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. on the dates listed.
For more information, contact John Kelly, Ph.D., L.A.C. at 575-5716 or jkelly@uark.edu.
February 13 - How to be Successful in College
February 27 - Conquering Test Anxiety
March 8 - Learning to Manage Stress
March 29 - Rapid Guide to Job Hunting
April 12 - Rapid Guide to Interviewing.
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7. Non-Profits career day and workshop, Monday & Wednesday. Students are invited to attend a career day event, "Careers in the World of Non-Profits," Wednesday, Feb. 7, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm, Arkansas Union, 5th Floor, Alltel Ballroom.
Drop by between classes and visit with representatives of 36 non-profit recruiting organizations. An updated list of participants in online at http://career.uark.edu/careerfairs.asp#nonprofit
Students can learn the benefits of working for a non-profit and talk with non-profit organizations about full-time, part-time, co-op/internship, and volunteer opportunities.
A free of charge, "how to get your foot in the door" workshop, "Make Money Where Your Heart Is!," is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 5, 3:30 - 4:30 pm, Arkansas Union 4th Floor Multicultural Center, led by Doug Walsh and Daniel Hintz, Fayetteville Downtown Partners. Register to attend this workshop at: http://career.uark.edu/students/reg/make_money.asp
For more information, contact Beckye Bates Clark at raclark@uark.edu.
Sponsored by the University of Arkansas Career Development Center and School of Law, in partnership with Arkansas Coalition for Excellence (ACE), Washington County United Way, Fayetteville Downtown Partners, and campus partners.
AAES and Bumpers College Web sites:
http://aaes.uark.edu/
http://bumperscollege.uark.edu/