Food science graduate students win 10 awards in Arkansas food protection contest

By Robby Edwards
Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Nine University of Arkansas graduate students in food science combined for 10 awards for their presentations at a poster contest sponsored by the Arkansas Association of Food Protection.

FOOD PROTECTION — Gayatri Dhulappanavar, Arshpreet Khattra, Kaushik Luthra, Abass Oduola, Samuel Olaoni, Faith Ouma, Evans Owusu, Erin Ramsay and Surabhi Wason combined for five first-place awards and 10 of the top 15 spots in an Arkansas Association of Food Protection contest. (Courtesy photo)

The competition took place at the 14th Annual AAFP Conference held in September in Fayetteville.

Kaushik Luthra, Abass Oduola, Faith Ouma, Evans Owusu and Surabhi Wason all won first-place honors, while Wason claimed first- and second-place awards.

Luthra won the Post-Doctoral and Technical Staff category with "Impact of Storage Conditions and Moisture Content on Growth of Pathogenic Fungi in Rice."

Oduola won the Pet Food Safety category with "Impacts of Different Infrared Heat Intensities on Growth and Aflatoxin Production of Aspergillus flavus on Corn."

Ouma won the Interventions, Pre- and Post-Harvest division with "Deterrence of Microbes on Rough Rice using High-Power Short-Duration Microwave Heating Technology."

Owusu claimed top honors in the Other and Miscellaneous area with "Microwave-Cooking of Rice in Steam-Venting Packages: An Evaluation of Quality Attributes."

Wason won the Food Safety, Including Fundamental Understanding of Pathogens section with "Effect of Mild Heating and Relative Humidity on the Antimicrobial Efficacy of Chlorine Dioxide Gas."

Wason was also second in the Interventions, Pre- and Post-Harvest area with "Radiofrequency Pasteurization of Dried Basil Leaves Using In-Package Steaming," while Gayatri Dhulappanavar was third with "Persistence of Salmonella Javiana, Listeria spp. in Hydroponic Nutrient Solution at Different Temperatures."

In the Food Safety, Including Fundamental Understanding of Pathogens category, Erin Ramsay was second with "Survival of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli on In-Shell Pecans Contaminated with Soil" and Arshpreet Khattra third with "Use of Monte Carlo Simulation to Calculate Kill Ratio in Milk Powders."

Samuel Olaoni was second in the Other and Miscellaneous category with "X-Ray Imaging as a Technique to Evaluate Seed Germination and Vigor of Rice Seeds."

Luthra, Oduola, Olaoni, Owusu and Ouma are all advised by Griffiths Atungulu, associate professor and agricultural engineer and director of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station’s Rice Processing Program.

Khattra and Ramsay are advised by Jennifer Acuff, assistant professor of food microbiology and safety.

Wason is advised by Jeyam Subbiah, professor and head of the food science department, and Dhulappanavar by Kristen Gibson, professor of food safety and microbiology and director of the Center for Food Safety. 

Atungulu, Subbiah, Acuff and Gibson are all faculty members in the food science department and, along with their graduate students, conduct research for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station.

To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.

Governor Sanders Announces $4.34 Million to Support Local Recreation Facilities

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced that the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism is awarding $4.34 million in Outdoor Recreation Grants to projects within 29 counties across the state.  The grants fall into two categories: Facilities for Underdeveloped Neighborhoods (FUN) Park grants and matching grants.

“My administration is looking for any opportunity to get kids and families off screens and outdoors. It’s a priority for our whole state,” said Governor Sanders. “This year’s multi-million-dollar investment in playgrounds, park facilities, and more will provide added amenities to communities from the Delta to the Ozarks. It’s all part of my goal to make Arkansas the best state in America to live, work, and raise a family.”

“The Outdoor Recreation Grants Program (ORGP) has provided $52.6 million in matching grants since 1988 and $16.4 million in FUN Park grants since 1991,” said Secretary Shea Lewis. “These funds have undoubtedly enriched the quality of life for Arkansans statewide, fostering greater access to outdoor recreation and bolstering the vitality of local economies.”

These awards have helped cities and counties develop public outdoor recreation facilities.

“Our team works tirelessly throughout the year to provide more access to the outdoors for Arkansans through this grant program,” said Katherine Andrews, Director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation.

“It’s amazing to see the positive impact that even minor investments in neighborhood parks can have on a community,” said Matt McNair, director of the ORGP. “Visiting a community after one of our park projects has been completed can be absolutely stunning.”

Project officers make recommendations regarding the feasibility of proposed facilities, eligibility for grant monies and other facets of the planning process.  Each year, nearly 200 site visits are conducted to assist local communities.

The 2024 matching grant recipients are:

• Alma (Crawford County) to install play equipment, construct a restroom facility, and provide amenities and access at Christello Park. – $210,000.00

• Camden (Ouachita County) to install inclusive play equipment and accessibility improvements at Carnes Park. – $210,000.00

• Crawford County – to construct a walking trail and associated accessibility improvements at Diamond Center Complex. – $135,705.00

• Daisy (Pike County) – to install new play equipment and improve accessibility at Daisy City Park. – $24,857.00

• Delaplaine (Greene County) – to construct a basketball facility, ballfield fencing,, ballfield seating (incl. shade structure), access (incl. pedestrian bridge), and accessible parking at Delaplaine City Park. – $73,300.00

• Forrest City (St. Francis County) – to provide access to restroom and programming facilities (priority), and other access and amenity improvements as funds allow (optional) at Dennis Memorial Park. – $62,241.40

• Hot Springs (Garland County) – to construct a bicycle playground at Velocity Park. – $80,000.00

• Huntsville (Madison County) – to construct a splashpad, restroom facility, drinking fountains, and associated accessibility improvements in Madison County Walking Trail Park – $210,000.00

• Magnolia (Columbia County) – to install play equipment and park amenities, upgrade pavilion, and construct safety and accessibility improvements at East Side City Park. – $100,650.00

• Mineral Springs (Howard County) – to repair and upgrade concession stand and restroom facilities and install bleachers at Bridgeman Park.  – $30,500.00

• Newport (Jackson County) – to improve accessibility and safety through parking and sidewalk repair/redesign/paving and install new play equipment at George Kell Park. – $74,176.00

• Ozark (Franklin County) – for compliance and safety upgrades to the restroom facility (priority) and pavilion, amenity, and splashpad upgrades at West Side Park (optional if funds remain) – $80,000.00

• Pea Ridge (Benton County) – to construct an all-inclusive play facility at North Curtis Avenue Park. – $210,000

• Scott County – to construct pickleball and basketball courts, install park amenities, and improve/upgrade pavilion, soccer field, and accessibility at Sodie Davidson Park in Waldron. – $90,000.00

• Searcy (White County) – to install field lighting at Searcy Soccer Complex and provide ADA-compliant play equipment at Berryhill Park. – $125,000.00

• Searcy County – to repair and refurbish the pool, restrooms, and concession facility at Searcy County Civic Center and improve seating, accessibility, and lighting at Civic Center ballfields. – $110,936.60

• Sherwood (Pulaski County) – to construct a restroom and basketball facility, install signage, lighting, and park amenities, and improve accessibility and safety at Lake Cherrywood Park. – $210,000.00

• West Memphis (Crittenden County) – to purchase and install play equipment, provide access, improve safety, and upgrade the pavilion in Hicks Park. – $210,000.00

The 2024 FUN Park grant recipients are:
 

• Ash Flat (Sharp County) – to construct a new pavilion and to install lighting and accessibility features at Ash Flat Ball Park. – $100,000.00

• Calhoun County – to light and resurface existing walking trail at Woodberry Park. – $99,000.00

• Calico Rock (Izard County) – to improve accessibility and install ballfield lighting and ballfield retaining wall at Earl King Park. – $99,888.00

• Cove (Polk County) – to install new play equipment, park amenities, and accessibility improvements at Cove Memorial Park. – $100,000.00

• Crawfordsville (Crittenden County) – to construct a pavilion, walking trail, and accessibility features at Old School Yard Park and to construct a new play area, basketball facility, ,and accessibility features at Boone Street Park. – $100,000.00

• Egypt (Craighead County) – to install play equipment, outdoor exercise equipment, pavilion, walking track, and accessibility features in Egypt City Park. – $100,000.00

• England (Lonoke County) – to replace outdated play equipment and construct accessibility features at Elm Street Park. – $97,470.00

• Franklin (Izard County) – to install new play equipment, refurbish existing play equipment, and construct accessibility features at Franklin City Park. – $100,000.00

• Glenwood (Pike County) – to construct a new play area and walkways at John Benjamin Lake Park. – $99,430.00

• Grubbs (Jackson County) – to install new play equipment, park amenities, and to improve access at Grubbs City Park. – $100,000.00

• Independence County – To install new play equipment and improve access at Desha Park. – $100,000.00

• Jericho (Crittenden County) – to install new play equipment, grills, park amenities, and to improve access at Jericho Town Park. – $100,000.00

• Keiser (Mississippi County) – to install new play equipment and park amenities at Keiser City Park. – $100,000.00

• Madison County – to install new play equipment and improve access at Wesley Community Park. – $100,000.00

• McNeil (Columbia County) – to construct a play area, pavilion, accessibility features, and to install park amenities at McNeil City Park. – $99,430.00

• Newton County – to construct a walking trail, pavilion, seating, play area, and accessibility features at Parthenon Community Park. – $100,000.00

• Ozan (Hempstead County) – to install new play area, basketball facility, accessibility features, and park amenities at Ozan Park. – $100,000.00

• Pyatt (Marion County) – to construct a new play area, fencing, accessibility features, seating, and to repair the basketball facility at Pyatt Downtown Park. – $100,000.00

• Searcy County – to install playground equipment and to construct a pavilion, walking trail, seating, and accessibility improvements in Witts Springs Community Park. – $100,000.00

• Traskwood (Saline County) – to construct a new play area and access improvements in Traskwood City Park. – $97,700.00

• Viola (Fulton County) – to construct a new play area and access improvements in Viola City Park. – $100,000.00.

Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas Awards UAMS 3 Grants To Improve Mental Health Treatment

By Tim Taylor

LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) recently received three grants from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas aimed at strengthening programs treating Arkansans with mental illness.

Jessica Coker, M.D., an associate professor in the UAMS College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is the principal investigator in MAPS (Mental Health and Addiction Peer Support), a peer-support model for co-occurring substance use disorders within acute psychiatric units.

Supported by a $122,389 grant from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, Coker, along with Abigail Richison, M.D., will integrate a peer navigator assigned to the inpatient units at the UAMS Psychiatric Research Institute (PRI). The peer navigator will work specifically with patients dealing with substance use disorders.

https://news.uams.edu/2023/01/26/blue-you-foundation-for-a-healthier-arkansas-awards-uams-3-grants-to-improve-mental-health-treatment/

(From left) Jessica Coker, M.D., Abigail Richison, M.D., Nikki Edge, Ph.D., and Tisha Deen, Ph.D., are overseeing studies that received funding from the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas.