Faculty pair publishes book on surviving school violence
Two ASU faculty members have recently published a children’s book with a very important message. Dr. Natalie Johnson-Leslie and H. Steve Leslie’s “The ABC’s of Surviving School Violence,” available now from AuthorHouse, educates, informs, and emphasizes practical, common-sense strategies that could save lives. The issue of school violence, in school settings from daycare centers to universities, continues to be a concern for parents, teachers, administrators, and the public at large. Because violence prevention is one of the primary responsibilities of today’s teachers, and teachers are expected to seamlessly integrate violence prevention skills seamlessly into and across the curriculum as their students develop, “The ABC’s of Surviving School Violence” is targeted to early learners to encourage them to make the right choices. The book can help its young audience develop critical and divergent thinking skills as they learn to reason, solve problems, make decisions, and weigh consequences. Early learners will be helped to resolve small conflicts, listen to each other, talk to each other, work cooperatively, and make non-violent decisions. Parents and teachers can use this 20-page full-color book to provide children with a course of action for every letter of the alphabet to help them know what to do in the case of school violence. The authors hope this book will be a catalyst for meaningful change in the curriculum by addressing school violence early and eliminating it in the school setting altogether. For details, see the NewsPage release, contact Dr. Natalie Johnson-Leslie, Teacher Education, at ext. 3947, or contact H. Steve Leslie, Interactive Teaching and Technology Center (ITTC), at ext. 2307.

Dr. Medina-Bolivar and Dr. Dolan receive U.S. Patent
Dr. Fabricio Medina-Bolivar, Plant Metabolic Engineering, Arkansas Biosciences Institute/Department of Biological Sciences) and Dr. Maureen Dolan, Biochemistry/Molecular Biology, Arkansas Biosciences Institute, received a U.S. Patent on “Production of stilbenes from plant hairy root cultures.” The patent was issued in February of this year. The invention relates to a novel production system of stilbenes (also known as stilbenoids). The most studied of these polyphenolic compounds is resveratrol, a natural product that has been associated with a multitude of health benefits affecting various cancers, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging. The invention describes a way to produce distinct classes of natural resveratrol analogues by exposing plant hairy root cultures to stress-inducing chemicals. These resveratrol analogues are not commercially available, and in nature they are produced in very low amounts. By using the hairy root culture technology, large quantities of these natural products can be produced and easily purified. The invention has multiple applications in areas such as drug discovery. The work was conducted in the laboratory of Dr. Medina-Bolivar at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute. Additional ASU co-inventors in this patent are Dr. Medina-Bolivar’s Ph.D. student Jose Condori and ABI research associate John Hubstenberger.

Nursing graduate students present posters
Three Master's of Science in Nursing graduate students recently presented posters at regional, national and international conferences. Jessica Wynne Armstrong presented "Caregiver Stress: Knowledge is Power," at Sigma Theta Tau Tri-Chapter Research Day in Jonesboro on April 1 and at the 10th annual Nurse Educator Institute, Branson, Mo., April 13-15. Supervising faculty for Armstrong's poster were Dr. Angela Schmidt, Nursing , Dr. Charlotte Young, Nursing, and Dr. Phyllis Skorga, Nursing, and director of the MSN program in Nursing. Kathleen Prinner presented "Caregiver Stress," at Sigma Theta Tau Tri-Chapter Research Day in Jonesboro on April 1 and at the 10th annual Nurse Educator Institute, Branson, Mo., April 13-15. Supervising faculty for Armstrong's poster were Dr. Angela Schmidt, Nursing , Dr. Charlotte Young, Nursing, and Dr. Phyllis Skorga, Nursing, and director of the MSN program in Nursing. Melanie New presented "The Effect of Music Therapy, in the Form of Ocean Sounds, on Open Heart Surgery Patients' Comfort Levels." This poster was presented at the 35th annual meeting of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, April 22-25. Supervising faculty were  Dr. Angela Schmidt, Nursing , Dr. Charlotte Young, Nursing, and Dr. Phyllis Skorga, Nursing, and director of the MSN program in Nursing.

Creative Writers' Retreat is slated for June 7-11
The Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center has scheduled its summer Hemingway-Pfeiffer Creative Writers' Retreat is scheduled for Monday-Friday, June 7-11. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants. This will be the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center's thirteenth retreat for adults since the center opened July 4, 1999. Dr. Robert Lamm, English, will serve as mentor for the participants. For details, including information on registration, contact Deanna Dismukes, education coordinator for the Hemingway-Pfeiffer Museum and Educational Center, at (870) 598-3487.

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