Dr. Savary and Dr. Vasu present research
Dr. Brett Savary, Protein Chemistry, College of Agriculture and Technology/ABI, and Dr. Prasanna Vasu, Biochemical Technology, College of Agriculture and Technology/ABI, recently presented a co-authored research paper, "Characterization of a thermally-tolerant pectin esterase for plant biomass processing and structure modification" at the 32nd Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals held in Clearwater Beach, Fla. The paper reviewed progress on evaluating the utility of an enzyme with novel properties for treating plant material for biofuels production and value-added products. Drs. Savary and Vasu also visited Winter Haven, Fla., to give talks at the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Center (USDA-ARS) Citrus and Subtropical Products Laboratory. Dr. Vasu presented recent progress on the preparation of a papaya pectin methylesterase from a commercial enzyme product. This work is part of a United States Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service National Research Initiative (USDA-CSREES-NRI) competitive grant on Improving Food Quality and Utilization. Drs. Vasu and Savary serve as co-investigators with USDA scientists at that location. Dr. Savary presented an overview of the MidSouth/Southeast Bioenergy Consortium, a research program in ASU's College of Agriculture and Technology sponsored by the United States Department of Energy (US DOE) Biomass program. The program includes co-operators at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville and the University of Georgia-Athens. ASU's program objective is to develop economically viable and environmentally sustainable bioenergy systems for the Arkansas Delta Region. Other ASU faculty leading projects include Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, director, Ecotoxicology Research Facility, Dr. Steve Green, Soil and Water Conservation, Dr. Kevin Humphrey, Agricultural Education, and Dr. Jianfeng (Jay) Xu, Biochemical Engineering, College of Agriculture and Technology/ABI.

Museum presents two exhibitions in 'Summer of Science'
Two new exhibitions, now open at the Arkansas State University Museum, offer great summer fun and learning for families or for group field trips:  “Science and Art” and “Illusion Confusion.” “Science and Art” features artists integrating scientific principals into their art and includes hands-on science activities. “Illusion Confusion” also offers hands-on activities for children and adults, allowing them to learn more about how perceptions can create illusions. “Science and Art” includes the mathematical principals of origami; the physics, mathematics, and computer science of 1-bit digital music; electrical engineering and computer science in wearable art; and nanotechnology and computer science in a multimedia interactive experience. “Illusion Confusion” plays with the sense of perception—things are not always as they seem. Most of the exhibit is hands-on, encouraging visitors to explore and play with the perception of light and optical illusions. “Illusion Confusion” investigates how light refracts and reflects and how mirrors and mazes can create confusion or conflict with images. "Science and Art” and “Illusion Confusion” are both brought to the ASU Museum through its membership in the Arkansas Discovery Network, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The ASU Museum is open Tuesday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday afternoon from 1-5 p.m. The museum is closed on Mondays and university holidays. For more information, visit the ASU Museum online, or call Lenore Shoults, assistant director, ASU Museum, at ext. 2074.

ASU alumnus publishes book in Japan
ASU alumnus Noguchi Takayuki, a Japanese native, has recently published his first book, "Escaping with North Korean Defectors," detailing his experience helping North Korean refugees escape, via China, to a third country. Noguchi, now a director for Life Funds for North Korean Refugees (LFNKR), attended ASU a dozen years ago and received his BA in Political Science. His mission to guide North Korean defectors to freedom ended with his being jailed in China for 243 days six and a half years ago. Noguchi notes that the human rights situation in North Korea remains largely unchanged since 2003, and he also observes that the public’s interest in the North Korean human rights issue is fading. He stresses remembering the millions of suffering people in North Korea and in northeastern China, and says he sincerely hopes his book will help raise the world’s awareness of this issue. A portion of all book sales will be donated to the LFNKR organization. Noguchi's book is available  in bookstores throughout Japan.

Lady Antebellum tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.
The ASU Convocation Center will welcome the reigning Academy of Country Music Top Vocal Group of the Year and the CMA Vocal Group of the Year, Lady Antebellum, on Friday, Oct. 1, as part of the celebration of ASU's Centennial. The group has enjoyed back-to-back chart topping singles since the trio’s first number one hit, "I Run to You," from their first self-titled album. The band's most recently released cd, "Need You Now," includes the number one hit singles "Need You Now" and "American Honey." Lady Antebellum has cracked the top 10 of Billboard magazine’s all-genre Hot 100 and even went No. 1 on iTunes all-genre singles chart. As part of the Centennial Celebration, 100 V.I.P. tickets will be sold for $100 (plus applicable fees). V.I.P. tickets will includea commemorative 100th anniversary concert Lady Antebellum-autographed chair to take home after the concert. The V.I.P. tickets, located on the floor of the first five or six rows, will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis only at the Central Box Office or by phone at 870-972-ASU1 or 888-ASU-FANS. All other tickets are $39.50 (plus applicable fees). Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. Friday, June 4. Purchase tickets online (http://www2.astate.edu/tickets/), at the Convocation Center's Central Box Office, the concierge desk at the Mall at Turtle Creek, which takes cash only, or by phone at (870)972-ASU1 or 888-ASU-FANS. For details, contact Frances Hart, director of marketing, Convocation Center, at ext. 2236.

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