Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, professor of plant metabolic engineering and researcher, Arkansas Biosciences Institute, and Dr. Carole Cramer, emeritus professor of biological sciences, along with collaborators from Wisconsin-Madison and Worcester Polytechnic, have been granted a U.S. patent titled “Functionalization of Plant Tissues for Human-Cell Expansion.” This technology enables the transformation of plant tissues into scaffolds that support the growth of human cells, representing a novel and sustainable approach in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This is Medina-Bolivar's seventh U.S. patent.

Dr. Shanon Brantley, associate professor of communication disorders and graduate program director, addressed the Jonesboro University Heights Lions Club. Her topic covered the speech challenges that Parkinson’s disease patients encounter. Brantley also is director of the Speak Out! Therapy Program, developed by Parkinson Voice Project, which helps people with Parkinson’s and related neurological disorders regain and retain their speech and swallowing. The treatment combines education, individual and group speech therapy, daily home practice, and continuous follow-ups.

Dr. Topeka Small Singleton (left), assistant professor of educational leadership, is lead author of an article published in the Journal of Arkansas Association of Teacher Educators (ArATE). The co-author is Dr. Jacques D. Singleton (right), professor of educational leadership. Their study explores whether comprehensive examinations adequately measure student learning and professional competency in large-scale online Ed.D. programs. The article is available online.

Dr. Jaein Lee, assistant professor of sociology, presented two papers at the annual meeting of the Population Association of America in Washington, D.C. He was a co-author of “Does Community Violence Lead to Higher Suicide Rate? The Case of Mexico,” and sole author of “Suicidal Thoughts in South Korea: Exploring the Background and Risk Factors of Suicidal Ideation.” He also chaired a session, “Navigating the Complexities of Caregiving for Older Adults.”

A paper co-authored by Dr. Tanja McKay, professor of entomology and department chair, has been published in the Journal of Stored Product Research. This study explores the potential of long-lasting insecticide-incorporated netting (LLIN) to enhance sanitation in postharvest pest management by targeting food spillage and insect control. Results show that LLIN remains effective even in the presence of food dust, with promising implications for controlling insects in storage environments.