Reddie Research Fall 2014

7/18/2019 Reddie Research Fall 2014

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event can be seen on page 9 of

the newsletter.

In October, members of the

faculty from biology, chemis-

try, and physics participated

in Family Science Night along

with the Biology Club,

Chemistry Club, and the

Society of Physics Students.

This annual event features

interactive demonstrations,

snacks, and a planetarium

show for kids and adults

from the local community.

The event is always a big

hit, and we are all looking

forward to the Fall 2015

event. Pictures from the

New Faculty in Member in the Chemistry Department

Looking For Undergraduate Researchers in Computational

Studies.

The chemistry department

at Henderson State Univer-

sity is please to announce

that Brad A. Rowland, Ph.D.

has joined the faculty for

the Fall 2014 semes-

ter. Rowland hails from

Austin, Texas, where he

previously held academic

appointments of Assistant

Professor of Chemistry at

Huston-Tillotson University

and Lecturer at the Univer-

sity of Texas at Austin. He

is a theoretical chemical

physicist by training, obtain-

ing his Ph.D. under Robert

E. Wyatt, Ph.D. at UT-

Austin. At Henderson,

Rowland teaches Physical

Chemistry I and II, Physical

Chemistry for Life Sciences,

Freshman Chemistry cours-

es, and is planning on intro-

ducing a "Mathematics and

Computation for Chemists"

course. His area of re-

search interest is broadly in

the area of scientific com-

putation and modelling,

with a specific focus of

Bohmian inspired quantum

trajectory tech-

niques. Quantum trajecto-

ry calculations allow the

incorporation of quantum

effects into simulations in a

computationally feasible

way. These methods pro-

vide an alternate solution

pathway for time-

dependent Schrodinger

equation processes. Row-

land's research interests lie

in developing and applying

quantum trajectory tech-

niques to areas as diverse as

chemical reaction dynamics,

nanoelectronic circuits, climate

change, and financial mar-

kets. All computer codes are

written in the Fortran compu-

ting language. Rowland's inter-

ests are broadly interdiscipli-

nary, as his group makes use of

topics from physics, mathemat-

ics, and computer science in

conducting this research. As

Rowland is new to the faculty

at Henderson, his research

group is just getting started,

and he is actively seeking chem-

istry, biochemistry, physics,

mathematics, or computer

science majors to conduct this

research with. Interested stu-

dents should email him at

[email protected] for more

information.

Reddie Research Sub-

missions Open to All

Disciplines.

This newsletter wasstarted in 2013 to show-case the tremendousresearch being conductedby undergraduate stu-dents across campus un-der the direction of dedi-cated faculty mentors. It

is open to all disciplines,and any scholarly endeav-or engaged in by under-graduates under the guid-ance of a faculty mentor.That said, I can only tellthat story with submis-sions from the facultyinvolved, otherwise I,along with most of thecampus community, amcompletely unaware thework exists.

So, in the spring I will bewriting the 2nd issue ofReddie Research for thisacademic year, and Ihope you will considercontributing. Please sendme any awards, grants,presentations, etc. re-garding students con-ducting any research/detailed projects, etc. tobe included in the springnewsletter. Also, send a

write up about any ofyour graduating research-ers and their future plansto share with the rest ofHSU. Thank you in ad-vance for your contribu-tions.

T. David Bateman , Ph.D.

Director, [email protected]

Inside this issue:

REU, AAS/AURC

conference

Arkansas INBRE

Conference

Chemistry Re-search in the Field

Posters at the Cap-

itol 2014

Junior Academy of

Math and Science

Family Science

Night

5th Annual Family Science Night 2014

T . D A V I D B A T E M A N

December, 2014

Volume 2,

Undergraduate Research Newsletter

Dr. Bradley A. Rowland



membrane that was fairly permeable for N2

and CH4 but selectively blocks CO2.

Mary also examined the swelling/

absorption powers of certain straight chain

ImidazoliumPolyionic liquid polymers. Since,

they absorbed hazardous organic solvents

such as DMSO, these polymers could be

useful as cleaning agents for grease and oil

(Oil spill clean-up), and as packing for haz-

ardous chemicals in shipping. Mary has con-

ducted research at HSU in Dr. MartyCampbell’s Lab for the past two years, and

this research also looks at the development

of imidazolium based ionic liquids. She has

presented research at numerous state and

national research conferences in the past

two years.

Senior Mary Andrews participated in an REU

program at the University of Alabama Chemi-

cal and Biological Engineering Department

funded by the National Science Foundation in

the summer of 2013. She conducted research

with with Imidazolium-based Ionic Liquid

Polymers in the lab of Dr. Jason E. Bara.

Mary was invited back to the Bara lab in 2014

to continue work with these polymers fund-

ed through a different source. The focus of

the group’s research on these polymers is

their usefulness as membranes for CO2 sepa-ration. By varying the side chain on the imid-

azolium group, different permeabilities and

selectivites for Nitrogen, Methane, and Car-

bon dioxide can be achieved. In particular,

Mary’s research focused on the search for a

Mary Andrews with her research poster.

Summer Undergraduate Research in 2013 Results in

Request for Encore in 2014.

HSU Will Host a Combined Arkansas Academy of Sciences/

Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference in April.

an audience of their peers and to

hone their public speaking skills in

a non-threatening environment.

We really want to make this event

very special, and leave a lasting

impression on those who partici-

pate. To do that, we need as many

participants from Henderson as

possible, so we hope you will

consider having your students

submit an abstract through the

Undergraduate Research Page onthe HSU website. Abstract sub-

mission will open in January. Any

questions regarding the confer-

ence can be directed to confer-

ence organizers Dr. David Bate-

man ([email protected], 230-

5306), and Dr. Martin Campbell

([email protected], 230-5150).

The Arkansas Academy of

Science holds its 99th annual

meeting April 10-11th 2015 on

the campus of Henderson State

University, along with the22nd

annual Arkansas Undergraduate

Research Conference. The com-

bined conference will provide a

large venue to accommodate a

large variety of student submis-

sions from any discipline. Anyone

interested in organizing a specificsession to better suit their area of

expertise can contact me, and I

will be happy to assist in working

out the details. Also, we will need

several volunteers to chair the

various sessions for student oral

presentations, and for the Poster

sessions as well. This venue pro-

vides intimate sessions for stu-

dents to present their research to



Volume 2, Issue 1

Dr. David Bateman, Dr. Vincent Dunlap, Dr.

Martin Campbell, and Dr. Bradley Rowlandfrom the HSU Chemistry Department and Dr.

James Engman, Chair of the Biology Depart-

ment at HSU, took 13 undergraduate research

students to the 2014 INBRE Conference in

Fayetteville November 7-8, 2014. The Arkansas

IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excel-

lence (Arkansas INBRE) is funded by a grant

from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences

(NIGMS), under the Institutional Development Award(IDeA) Program of the National Institutes of Health

(NIH). The IDeA program was established for the pur-

pose of broadening the geographic distribution of NIH

funding for biomedical and behavioral research. The Ar-

kansas INBRE builds on the successful Arkansas Biomedi-

cal Research Infrastructure Network (BRIN) program

that was established in 2001 under a gran

from the National Center for ResearchResources (NCRR). The Arkansas BRIN

established a statewide network that links

Arkansas institutions of higher education

to establish a statewide infrastructure in

support of a growing effort to build a bio-

medical research capacity in Arkansas.

HSU Undergraduate Research Students Present at 2014 Idea Networks for

Biomedical Research Excellence Conference in Fayetteville, AR .

Oktawia Clem

Detection of Mercury in Water, Sediment, andBiological Samples From Historical Mining

Sites in Arkansas. Dylan Campbell, Hunter Wayland, James Lowe, T.

David Bateman, Ph.D.

Cinnabar mining for acquisition of

mercury was one of the foremost

industries in Arkansas from the early

1930s to late 1940s. The southwest

quadrant of the state alone has over

250 documented historical mining

sites. This project is focused on col-

lecting samples of water, sediment

and soil from all over these sites, as

well as biological samples statewide,

and analyzing the mercury content

with a cold vapor atomic absorption

instrument. Using the results, the

group seeks to trace modern effects of

the historical cinnabar mining in Clark

and Pike counties.

Natural Product Discovery through Bioassay Methods in Ilex decidua. Oktawia Clem, Cynthia

Holland, Martin J. Campbell, Ph.D.

Natural Products obtained from locally harvested plants

are an important source of common medicinals, and

nearly half of current pharmaceuticals were initially dis-

covered in plants. A large portion of earth’s flora, how-

ever, has not been chemically investigated. One such

unexplored plant species is ilex decidua, or deciduous

holly, a small shrub that is native to the southeastern

United States. The other species in the ilex genus have

shown cytotoxic, antioxidant, or other medicinal activity,

and the leaves of various hollies, such as ilex paraguensis

are used in preparing medicinal teas, with yerba mate as

a flagship example. In an effort to explore bioactivity of I.

decidua, the plant samples have been col-

lected, dried and separated into stems,

seeds, berries, root and bark. Some of the

components have been extracted with a

series of solvents of varying polarity.

These extracts are being evaluated for

bioactivity using a variety of assays, includ-

ing brine shrimp bioassay, microbial toxici-

ty assay, TLC, HPLC and GC-MS analysis.

Series of other tests such as Folin-

Ciolteau antioxidant activity assay and

hematoma tumor cytotoxicity tests are

planned to broaden the array of assays and iden

tify the fraction with highest beneficial activity.

The samples will then be isolated for a detailed

study in an attempt to purify the active com-

pound. Where possible, the structures of themolecules responsible for a new activity will be

identified and studied. Investigating the phyto-

chemistry of unexplored plants will allow for an

increased knowledge of the bioactivity of plants

in the Arkansas flora and could potentially lead

to the discovery of next generation pharmaceu

cals.



Progress towards the synthesis ofselectively fluorinated curcuminanalogues, using various methodsof indirect aromatic fluorination isreported. Curcumin, a constitu-ent of the widely used naturalproduct tumeric, has been shownto possess significant biologicalproperties including anti-cancer,antioxidant, and anti-inflammatoryactivity. It suffers significantly

from poor bioavailability, however, and often requires hugedosages to obtain significant medicinal benefit. Replacing oneor more hydrogens with fluorine has become an increasinglycommon and beneficial approach to seeking enhanced bioavail-ability in pharmaceuticals. Novel methods of fluorinating vanil-lin, a key building block in the total synthesis of curcumin willbe reported. The fluorinated vanillins will be used to preparefluorinated curcumin analogues bearing one fluorine atom oneach ring providing a way to attempt to make the well-documented properties of curcumin more accessible.

Preparation of fluorinated vanillins: efforts towardsselectively fluorinated curcumins James Thomas and Martin J. Campbell Ph.D.

Determination of Croton Oil and Bioactivity in Croton capitatusAlyssa Barnes and Martin J. Campbell, Ph.D. Henderson State University

James Thomas

The plant genus Croton (Euphorbiaceae) is wide‐

spread and many of its members have been used in

tradional medicines. Bioanalysis of some of those

species has several biologically interesng mole‐

cules, including a variety of phorbol esters. In addi‐

on, “croton oil” a term usually used to describe oil

obtained from Croton glium, has found widespread

use in naturopathic medicine. Croton capitatus is a

member of the genus that grows abundantly over a

wide area of the southeastern United State.

Chemically unexplored, it seems like a viable b

untapped source of new, potenally useful co

pounds. Thus we began a systemac invesg

on of the oils and extracts of various parts of

the plant. We report our inial findings in re‐

gard to the chemical composion of the oils a

the bioacvity of some of the plant extracts. Alyssa Barnes

This Project is using molecular genetics tech-

niques to survey the bacterial flora of Blanchard

Springs Caverns, Arkansas. Although consid-ered the most biologically diverse cave in the

Ozark Plateau, no previous survey of its mi-

crobes has been published. The project has

recently been expanded to the bacteria of cave

crickets, Ceuthophilus gracilipes. A survey of

cave organisms’ bacterial flora has the potential

to identify previously unreported/undescribed

bacteria. Samples were collected from cave

crickets taken from undeveloped portions of

the cave. Samples from cave formations were

taken from areas with varying conditions, including wet

and dry surfaces, with and without sediment, and from a

bat carcass. These samples were plated on selective me-dia, with resulting cultures stored at –80OC.. A con-

served region of ribosomal DNA (185 subunit) from

these colonies was amplified by PCR and sequenced

using universal bacteria l primers. Sequences were com-

pared with those in the GenBank database using the

BLASTN program, allowing identification to genus and

species level. Work to date has resulted in the identifica-

tion of 12 taxa, some apparently new to science. Current

work consists of identifying the bacteria collected from

the body surface and digestive tract of cave crickets.

Genetic Analysis of Bacteria from Cave Formations and Cave Crickets from Blanchar

Springs Caverns, Arkansas. Itzela Cruz, Leah Efird, Taylor Lee, Charlotte Wetzlar, and James Engman, Ph.D.

Itzela Cruz



Volume 2, Issue 1

More of the 2014 INBRE Conference

Dr. Mar n Campbell with May 2014 HSU graduate

Erika Bass, now a gradu‐

ate student in the Chemis‐

try and Biochemistry De‐

partment at the University

of Arkansas.

Univeristy Of Arkansas Chem‐

istry and Biochemistry Depart ‐

ment Chair Dr. Wes S tes



Undergraduate Research Project Takes Students to the Field and

the Past.

Students conducting research under the direction of Dr. David Bateman in the Chemistry Department have been

studying the long term effects of mining mercury in Arkansas in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Much of the mining was co

ducted at the town of Graysonia in Pike County, which was completely abandoned around 1950. Many of the

buildins associated with the old mines is still there, and on a recent sampling expedition they obtained some great

photos of what remains.

Dylan Campbell, Hunter Wayland, and James Lowe in

front of Graysonia lumber kilns.

Dr. Bateman points to a large tree growing out of

the kiln toward the sunlight.

Graysonia Scholl circa 1915. Image taken from the encyclopedia of Ar

kansas website.



Volume 2, Issue 1

The fourth annual undergraduate

STEM research Posters-at-the-

Capitol event is scheduled for

February 11, 2015 in the capitol

rotunda. Previous events have

enjoyed significant statewide par-

ticipation, and this year will be no

excepon. Invited participants

include all four-year public and

private institutions in Arkansas.

Each school is guaranteed at least

three spots in the program (with

additional spots likely). Abstract

submission closed December 12,

and abstracts selected from Hen‐

derson State will be announced in

January. The current planned

schedule for February 11 is:Inial

setup in the capitol rotunda 9:00

– 9:30 amPoster Session #1 (35

posters) 10 am – 11 am Poster

Session #2 (35 posters) 11 am – 12

pm Luncheon (Union Staon in LR)

12:30 – 1:30 pm. Pictures from

previous events can be seen be‐

low.

2015 STEM Undergraduate Research Posters at the Arkansas State Capital to

be Held February 11, 2015 in the Capital Rotunda.

Chemistry major Oktawia Clem‐

poses in

front

of

her

poster

with

state representa ve Stephen

Meeks.

Senior biology major Alyssa Barnes in front

of her poster with Oktawia Clem, and her

mentor Dr. Mar n Campbell in the Capitol

rotunda.



The South Arkansas Math and Science STEM Center at Henderson State University again conducted the Junior Academy of Math and Science

(JAMS) in July for students entering grades 6-8. More than 20 students participated in the academy that involves the students in hands-on activities in Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics. Along with the STEM center staff, Henderson faculty, including: Meredith Wright, mathe-matics; Joslyn Hernandez-Smith, biology; Dr. David Bateman and Janice O’Donnell, chemistry; and Dr. Shannon Clardy, physics participated inthe camp and developed lessons. HSU students from participating departments also assisted in the camp each day. Activities included problemsolving, creating models to scale, dissecting owl pellets, investigations into sound and light, and making slime, glue, clay and Silly Putty. JAMS wadeveloped to stimulate student interest in the STEM disciplines before entering high school, and to show them how fun and rewarding these

disciplines can be.

Junior Academy of Math and Science 2014

Top: 2014 JAMS par cipants with student assistants in the top row. Bo om: JAMS class of 2013 with HSU STEM Center, and HSU depart

ment faculty.



Any suggestions for un-dergraduate research,this newsletter, etc. arewelcome. Please sendme an email with sug-gestions,\questions, andI will be happy to get

back to you. I hope Ihave not left anyone outof this newsletter, and Iam sure there are mis-takes. Rest assured, Ihope to improve Reddie

Research with every is-

sue.

Family Science Night 2014

HSU Research

Suggestions

T. David Bateman

Phone: 870-230-5306

E-mail: [email protected]

Director of Undergraduate Research

HSU Box 7651

Reynolds 307

undergraduateresearch.osu.edu/getstarted/whyresearch.htm)

Educaonal benefits include:

Working closely with a faculty mentor

‐Learning about issues, methods, and leaders in

students’ chosen fields

‐Applying concepts learned in coursework to

“real life” situaons

‐Sharpening problem‐solving skills

‐Learn to read primary literature

Professional benefits include:

‐Exploring and preparing for future careers

‐Developing marketable skills

Undergraduate research is “ An inquiry or

investigation conducted by an under-

graduate student that makes an origi-

nal, intellectual, or creative contribu-

tion to the discipline...”(from the

Council on Undergraduate Research)

"Research" is interpreted broadly to reflect what

goes on not only in laboratories and field sta‐

ons, but also in libraries, art studios, and music

pracce rooms. The benefits of research are

numerous and benefit many areas of students

lives. (The following lists are borrowed from

Ohio State:h

p://

What is Undergraduate Research, and Why Should I Care?

‐Enhancing professional communicao

skills ‐Collaborang with others and working

eff ecvely as part of a team

Personal benefits include:

‐Growing as a crical, analycal, and in

pendent thinker

‐Meeng challenges and demonstrang

the ability to complete a project

‐Discovering personal interests

‐Developing internal standards of excel

lence

Reddie Research Fall 2014

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