- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees ride Tour de Rock in honor of vice chancellor’s brother

Ajani Oyindamola — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 15:32:11 +0000

Nine employees from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock rode nearly 550 miles in honor of a vice chancellor’s brother who is battling cancer. Steve McClellan, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock vice chancellor for finance and administration, sponsored the employees to ride the on June 1 in honor of his brother, Bruce McClellan, who is battling lung cancer. CARTI’s 16th annual Tour de Rock supports CARTI’s continued fight against cancer by providing the most advanced forms of treatment available while also meeting the needs of patients and their families. Nearly 1,000 cyclists rode one of four routes of 25, 50, 62, or 100 miles. This is the second year that McClellan has sponsored a team of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock cyclists to ride the Tour de Rock and raise money for cancer. Last year, the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock team rode nearly 500 miles in honor of Bruce McClellan. “One of the most touching things about the event is that you get to write the name of a person who is fighting cancer on your shirt,” said Martial Trigeaud, business consultant with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and faculty advisor of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cycling Club. “This year, we wrote the name of Steve’s brother, Bruce. Many people also wrote the name of another friend or relative, someone they love, who has faced cancer.” ��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees and students who rode in the Tour de Rock include Alex Biris, director of the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences; Thomas Bunton, associate vice chancellor and chief information officer; Molly Castner, deputy athletic director and senior woman administrator; Emilie Darrigues, a Ph.D. student of applied science; John Evans, senior associate athletic director for facilities and events; Ian Hadden, director of energy management services; Ashton Hale, a criminal justice graduate student; Sean Orme, a Ph.D. student in computer science; and Trigeaud. One of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s riders, Hadden, even took on the special challenge of riding in the pace group, where cyclists complete 100 miles in under 5 hours. Hadden finished 100 miles in 4:54:03 and burned 8,680 calories in that time.

Faculty, staff, and students from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock rode the Tour de Rock in honor of Steve McClellan’s brother, Bruce.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student wins awards for research into treatment of pancreatic cancer using nanomedicine

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 12:58:48 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock doctoral student is receiving accolades for her research studying 3D models for the treatment of pancreatic cancer using nanomedicine. Emilie Darrigues, a doctoral student in applied science-chemistry, studies how plasmonic nanoparticles, some designed to deliver medicine targeting cancer cells, interact with cell cultures in a 3D model through her work as a graduate research assistant in the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences. Since the center receives funding through the Arkansas EPSCoR program, the center’s researchers participated in the Center for Advanced Surface Engineering (CASE) conference, where Darrigues received the first place award in the graduate student poster competition. In addition to the award, Darrigues received a $1,500 travel grant to attend the national EPSCoR conference in South Carolina in October. The Arkansas National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR program is a multi-institutional, interdisciplinary, statewide grant program leveraging $24 million over five years to expand research, workforce development, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational outreach in Arkansas. The Center for Advanced Surface Engineering (CASE), is designed to strengthen research in Arkansas with national significance and major economic development. Darrigues received bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and rheology/functional materials in France, followed by four years of industrial work in research and development and lean manufacturing. While pursuing a master’s degree in engineering in France, Darrigues interned at the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences in summer 2013. She was so impressed with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock that she knew she wanted to pursue a doctoral degree here, which she began in 2015. “You have very skilled people here with a lot of knowledge,” she said. “I have a lot of support that allows me to build a very good research project, but I can also be very independent. I was very happy to discover that with ��Vlog��ý Little Rock. I am very lucky to work at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock and the nanotechnology center, and I was lucky to find a mentor like Dr. Alexandru Biris (director of the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences). He trains us to be researchers, not just Ph.D. students.” Darrigues also presented her research project, “Interaction of Drug pH-Responsive Gold Nanorods in ‘Big’ 3D Pancreatic Microtumors Using Fluorescence, Photoacoustic and Photothermal Microscopies,” at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s Research and Creative Works Expo on April 18. She received first place in the graduate life sciences category. Darrigues plans to graduate in May 2020. Afterward, she plans to find a postdoctoral research position where she can continue her research using nanoparticles to treat cancer. She is inspired to improve treatment for pancreatic cancer since the disease has low survival rates. According to the American Cancer Society, pancreatic cancer is considered largely incurable with a five-year survival rate of just 5 percent. “The goal of 3D models, spheroids, or organoids mimicking the human body or real cancer tumors is really to try to have an additional ex-vivo step before we go to in-vivo; 3D might support ‘precision medicine’ or personalized therapy,” Darrigues said. “Our next job will be focused on the functionalization of the nanoparticle to increase its interaction with the 3D cancer system in order to optimize our therapeutic approach to treat efficiently the pancreatic cancer cells.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cycling Club members ride Tour de Rock in honor of vice chancellor’s brother

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:32:58 +0000

Steve McClellan, vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, wanted to do something to support his brother. Bruce McClellan, who lives near Alexandria, Louisiana, was diagnosed with lung cancer last year and has been fighting the disease ever since. “My brother found out that he had a pretty serious situation going on with cancer,” McClellan said. “There is not much I can do other than support him. Sometimes, you want to do whatever you can to let the person know that you are there.” His attention turned to CARTI’s 15th annual Tour de Rock on June 2. McClellan and his family members have often participated in the cycling fundraiser that supports CARTI’s continued fight against cancer by providing the most advanced forms of treatment available while also meeting the needs of patients and their families. McClellan sponsored a team of 12 ��Vlog��ý Little Rock riders who participated in the Tour de Rock in honor of Bruce. McClellan and his wife, Ladye Ann, also rode in the event. He contacted Martial Trigeaud, business consultant with the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and one of the faculty advisors of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cycling Club, who immediately put the call out on social media for club members who would be interested in riding in the Tour de Rock. “I said I was sure we could find people to ride for them,” Trigeaud said. “I posted it on Facebook. In less than five minutes, I had 10 people reaching out to me to say they wanted to ride for Steve McClellan and his brother. Many of the members were excited to ride in honor of Bruce and members of their family who were affected by cancer.”

Layde Ann and Steve McClellan ride the Tour de Rock to raise money for CARTI in honor of Steve’s brother, Bruce.

��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees and students who rode in the Tour de Rock include Alex Biris, director of the Center for Integrative Nanotechnology Sciences; Thomas Bunton of Information Technology Services; Emilie Darrigues, a Ph.D. student of applied science; John Evans, associate athletics director for facilities and events; Ian Hadden, director of energy management services; Luis Lopez; a student majoring in political science; Matthew Morton of the Department of Public Safety; Melanie Ridlon, a student in the MBA program; and Drew Smith, an adjunct instructor for the Nonprofit Leadership Studies Program. Unfortunately, Trigeaud, who was meant to be the 10th ��Vlog��ý Little Rock rider, could not participate due to an injury. Cyclists choose to ride distances of 25, 50, 62, 80, or 100 miles. The ��Vlog��ý Little Rock team members rode nearly 500 miles in honor of Bruce McClellan. Altogether, 880 riders participated in Tour de Rock, including riders from Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. “They put together a very diverse team of riders in a very short period of time, which I thought was remarkable. I’m thankful to Martial Trigeaud and Ian Hadden for putting that together,” McClellan said. “My brother was real proud and very thankful. He is a very religious person, so the ride meant a lot to him. A lot of riders sent me thank you notes, and I forwarded all those to my brother.” In the upper right photo, University of Arkansas at Little Rock employees and students ride the Tour de Rock to raise money for CARTI in honor of Steve McClellan’s brother, Bruce.

Student research and creative works winners announced

Janea Snyder — Fri, 04 May 2018 21:47:21 +0000

The winners of the 2018 Student Research and Creative Works Showcase at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock were announced during an awards ceremony May 1 in the Student Services Center. Students presented more than 150 research and creative works April 12 in the Jack Stephens Center. Student projects were judged on the novelty and clarity of their research, the soundness of their methodology, the potential application of their findings, and the student’s ability to explain their project to an expert and lay audience. A complete list of winners and their projects include: Undergraduate Winners Art First Place: Corrie Green, “The New African-American Women:Exploring Intersectionality in Non-traditional Casting” First Place (tie): Thomas Jackson, “Concept Statement for the play Art by Yasmina Reza” Economics First Place: Abigail Resendiz, “The 1920 Merchant Marine Act: An Outdated and Protectionist Law Disturbing Economic Growth” First Place (tie): Logan Vickery and Nick Stevens, “The Cost of Responsibility: Impacts on Rental Prices of the Implied Warrant of Habitability” Education First Place: Madison Christie, “Visual Verse: Translating English Poems into ASL” Second Place: Cameryn Kirkham, “Teaching Charlie May Simon as an Author, Artist, and Arkansan” Engineering First Place: J’von Jackson, “Venturi Scrubber Design for Syngas System” Second Place: Begros Asgeirsdottir, “Utilization of Rainwater for Cooling House Interior” Life & Physical Science First Place: Davonte Hokes, “Investigation of Bio-Inspired Polymeric Coating for Improvement in ORR Activity of Amidomacrocyclic Cobal (III) Catalyst Complexes” Second Place: Emily Anderson and Cordell Gilreath, “Development for Lyme Disease” Third Place: Marina Avram, “Algal Oculata Biotemplated Water-Splitting Nanocatalysts Nickel/Iron Oxides” Social Science First Place: Abigail Resendiz, “Financial Impact of the Jones Act” Second Place: Emily Elam, “500 Fiddle Tunes: Transcriptions of Billy Mathews’ Old-Time Archive” Third Place: Cynthia Wyman, “Intellectual and Hungry: Assessing the State of Campus Food Insecurity” Technology First Place: Deepali Lal, “Are Alcohol Establishments Marketing Crime?” Second Place: Yumeng Ye, “A Project – First Approach to Teaching Entity Resolution and Identity Management” Humanities First Place: El-Noor Ahkter, “The Color of Women” First Place (tie): Michael Caysido, “Aram II’yich Khachaturian and the Use of Folk Songs in His Compositions” Second Place: Emily Junkans, “Phonetic Features of Native Spanish Speakers Learning English” Physical Science First Place: Rebecca Moreira, “Novel Renewable Resource Based Nanocomposites for Removal and Recovery of Phosphorus from Contaminated Wastewaters” Second Place: Nathan Taylor, “Ionizing Radiation Protection by Inhibition of PP2A” Second Place (tie): Samantha Macchi, “Supercapacitor application of phosphorus and nitrogen co-doped carbon materials from renewable precursor materials” Service Work and Professional Application First Place: Rebecca Moreira, “How Spanish Interpreting at the 12th Street Clinic Can Lead to Medical School” GRAD��Vlog��ýTE WINNERS Biology First Place: Diamond McGehee with M. Lahiani, F. Irwin, and M. Green, “Investigation of the Effects of Carbon –Based Nanomaterials on the Metabolomics Level in Plants” Engineering First Place: Trigun Maroo, “A Novel Gripper System for Corrugated Box Grasping and Manipulation for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles” First Place (tie): Ali Abdulhussein, “Facile fabrication of a free-standing superhydrophobic and superoleophilic carbon nanofiber-polymer block that effectively absorbs oils and chemical pollutants from water” Health Science First Place: Asween Marco, Naveen Patil, Jane Voyles, Yan Egbe, and Leonard Mukasa. “The Threat of Tuberculosis Transmission Among the US-born: Lessons from Two Outbreaks, Arkansas” Second Place: Elizabeth Burnham, “The Social (Media) Social Work(er)” Life Science Second Place: Rebekah White, “Toxic Effects of Copper and Nickel on Synechocystis PCC 6803” Life & Physical Science First Place: Amita Nakarmi and Rebecca Moreira, “Phosphate Removal From Contaminated Waters” Second Place: Dane Hudson, “Cylic Electron Flow Prevents Photoinhibition in Solanum habrochaites Under Drought Stress” Physical Science First Place: Busra Ergul, Mahbuba Begum, Nancy Kariuki, and Deborah Myers. “Oxygen Reduction Reaction Activity of Platinum Thin Films with Different Densities” First Place (tie): Daniel Nde, “Algae-Biotemplated Water-splitting Nanocatalysts for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction” Professional Studies First Place: Thu Nguyen, “Do In-house Investor Relations Professionals in Real Estate Management Use PR and Strategic Communications Principles?” Second Place: Raad Alawajji, Zeid A. Nima, Ahmed K. Hashoosh, Karrer M. Alghazali, Emilie Darrigues, Nigel Kelly (undergraduate), Ashley Strohmeyer (undergraduate), and Ali Abdulhussein (presenter). “Fabrication of Transparent Superhydrophobic Polytetrafluoroethylene Coating” Social Science First Place: Jennifer Watkins: “Why don’t they listen to me: A qualitative interpretive meta synthesis of a child’s perception of their sexual abuse” Second Place: Margaret Kealy-Machella, “What’s App: Little Rock AFB Mobile App Communication Plan” Systems Engineering First Place: Rajat Singh, “Flexible Control of Synergistic Group of Muscles” Technology First Place (tie): Tuja Khaund and Samer Al-Khateeb. “Analyzing Social Bots and their Coordination during Crisis Weather Events” Second Place: Evan Xiangwen Liu, “Deep Neutral Networks Self-taught Learning” Second Place: Chen Xu, “Monitoring Traffic through IDS on OpenStack Cloud” In the photo above right, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock student Corrie Green (right) talks about her project, “The New African-American Woman: Exploring Intersectionality in Non-Traditional Casting,” to Jana McAuliffe, who was judging student works at the Student Research and Creative Works Showcase. Photo by Benjamin Krain

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock employees ride Tour de Rock in honor of vice chancellor’s brother

����Vlog��ý Little Rock student wins awards for research into treatment of pancreatic cancer using nanomedicine

����Vlog��ý Little Rock Cycling Club members ride Tour de Rock in honor of vice chancellor’s brother

Student research and creative works winners announced

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock employees ride Tour de Rock in honor of vice chancellor’s brother

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student wins awards for research into treatment of pancreatic cancer using nanomedicine

��Vlog��ý Little Rock Cycling Club members ride Tour de Rock in honor of vice chancellor’s brother