Help for First Responders Dear Friends: I Hope You Enjoy This New Format for Communicating the Research and Creative Activity at Oklahoma State University

Research, scholarship, and creative activity at Oklahoma State University INAUGRAL ISSUE

Help for First Responders Dear Friends: I hope you enjoy this new format for communicating the research and creative activity at Oklahoma State University. Vanguard replaces the annual Research Report, which focused solely on sponsored research. Our goal is to have a readable and informative publication that highlights the multi-faceted endeavors of a talented faculty. Quality faculty is the most important part of any research program. OSU is fortunate to have dedicated, highly productive scholars who collaborate in teams that transcend the boundaries of discipline, college, and university. They also conduct research jointly with personnel from government agencies and private companies. You will note a thread of collaboration weaving through these pages. As we continue our quest to be more competitive for federal funds, we must concentrate our resources in selected research areas, and we must have a critical mass of faculty, excellent facilities, state-of-the-art equipment, and a supportive infrastructure. One such area of focus is homeland security. Long before the tragic events of September 11, 2001, OSU faculty were engaged in sensor-related research to help ensure the safety of food, the environment, and first responders. Work in this area not only has continued, but has expanded. We feature a few of those research projects in this issue. The 2002 Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation that will bring $19 million to OSU over the next four years for homeland security research. These funds will be used to renovate laboratories and purchase additional equipment necessary to enable our faculty to make significant contributions to homeland security, attract outside funding, and create high- technology companies and jobs for Oklahomans. As a result of the passage of State Questions 680 and 681, OSU faculty are better positioned than ever before to share in the financial rewards of their inventions. During the past two years we have seen a significant increase in patents and licensing agreements with private-sector companies. We celebrate the entrepreneurship of the faculty and the long-term contributions they make to the vitality of OSU, the state, and the nation. I feel most fortunate to be associated with this wonderful institution and believe our most productive days are yet to come.

J. W. Alexander Interim Vice President for Research

David J. Schmidly President Member, University Research Magazine Association Contributing writers Tom Johnston, Marla Schaefer, Dottie Witter, Adam Huffer, Carolyn Gonzales, Jim Mitchell and CEO Vanguard is published annually by Oklahoma State Uni- versity. It is produced by the cooperative work of the Editorial consultant Eileen Mustain Joseph W. Alexander Interim Office of Vice President for Research and the Office of Assistant Vice President for Communications. For details about research work highlighted in this magazine or reproduction permission, contact the editor.

Vice President for Research V

Editor/Writer Shari Dunn Shari Dunn ANGUARD Natalea B. Watkins Assistant Art Director/Designer Mark Pennie Editor, Vanguard Vice President for Communica- 221 PIO Photographer Paul McEntire, Entirely Creative (unless Stillwater, OK 74078-6604 tions otherwise noted) 405.744.5827 | [email protected]

Research at Oklahoma State University 21 VANGUARD Research, scholarship, and creative activity at Oklahoma State University Inaugural issue

2 High Tech in the Park Long before the terrorist attacks of Partners in the Oklahoma Technology and September 11, 2001, OSU faculty Research Park expect it to attract existing were conducting research on sen- firms, grow new ones, and add 3,000 new sors to detect explosives as well as jobs. biological and chemical warfare agents. Since then, our efforts in homeland security research have expanded. 4 A New Look at an Old Society We feature a few in this issue. An anthropologist challenges a long-held Star Trek on the High Seas view of the socioeconomic organization of 12 Aztec society. A futuristic, multifunction communications badge for sailors will revolutionize shipboard Unlocking the Brain’s communication and has potential for many 6 commercial uses.

Mysteries STORY COVER Regulating glutamate receptors may hold Help for First Responders the key to new treatments for degenerative 14 OSU researchers are developing a cooling brain diseases. vest that will help emergency workers stay 7 Ethics and Designer Babies cool—and on the job—longer. The Ethics Center provides a forum for 16 Bacteria as Sensors discussion of contemporary issues from a Bacteria engineered to glow when they moral and ethical perspective. encounter specific organisms can help identify biological warfare agents such as 8 Sci-Fi on the Farm anthrax. A revolutionary approach to fertilizer application increases producers’ profits and 18 Collaborating for the decreases environmental pollution. Homeland OSU veterinary scientists are teaming with 10 Exercise and the Immune an advanced technology company to produce System fast and extremely sensitive detection sys- An exercise physiologist is investigating tems for chemical and biological warfare the relationship of cytokines, the optimum agents. amount of exercise, and the role mouthpieces may play in increased illness of athletes 20 Protecting Privacy during the competitive season. Mathematical transformations protect individual privacy yet fend off hackers and 11 Starting Early enable law enforcement officials to use data Freshmen learn the fundamentals of sets that have been off-limits in the past.

Oklahoma State University in com- research from faculty mentors. pliance with Title VI and VII of the Vanquishing Terrorists’ Bombs Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive 21 Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments OSU chemists are perfecting a spray-on solu- of 1972, Americans with Disabili- ties Act of 1990, and other feder- tion to neutralize terrorist bombs, making al laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, disposal safer for emergency personnel. color, national origin, sex, age, re- ligion, disability, or status as a vet- eran in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This includes but is Back Reese’s Pieces not limited to admissions, employ- V ment, financial aid, and educational ANGUARD services. This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Vice President for Re- search, was printed by the Audio Vi- About the Cover Huantian Cao wears a hazmat suit sual Center, University Printing Ser- while testing a cooling vest that keeps first responders vices at a cost of $$7,042.4M/April 2003/ 5442 cooler and more comfortable.

Research at Oklahoma State University 1 Community leaders expect the Oklahoma Technology and Research Park to add 3,000 high-tech jobs in 10 years.

High Tech in the Park

Oklahoma State University and its consortium partners are Construction is also planned for a 12,000-square-foot betting that their economic development efforts will pay building expected to house the Park’s teleconference center off handsomely in the coming decade. and tenant offices. The facility is to be named for state OSU, Meridian Technology Center, and the City of senator Mike Morgan, who shepherded acquisition of state Stillwater are partners in the Oklahoma Technology and bond monies for the building. It also will be available to Research Park. They expect the Park to be the catalyst multiple tenants. for the creation of about 3,000 high-tech jobs in Stillwater Companies that base their business on advanced tech- during the next 10 years. nologies are attracted to research parks because of the Joe Alexander, interim vice president for research at opportunity to collaborate with university scientists and OSU, says, “It is difficult to attach a price tag to the value of to share facilities and costly, sophisticated equipment. Not the research and public service aspects of the University’s only is this available here, but OSU is the home of the only mission, but this project has a distinct possi- patent library in the state. All of this engenders a fertile bility for a high payoff to Stillwater, the state, milieu for research and development of new technologies and the world.” and spinoff companies. Located about two miles west of the main Klein says, “I have over 30 years experience OSU campus and adjacent to Meridian, the Park in higher education, and I am familiar with comprises 160 acres in a campus-like setting, research parks around the world. The with small lakes, trees, pathways, and benches Oklahoma Technology and Research adding to the ambiance. When fully developed, Park is a very unusual resource.” the Park will accommodate about 25 buildings. She says it is the only The first—and anchor—tenant, Nomadics, one of which Inc., moved into its new she is aware facility in 2000 and is now that has a expanding its quarters. The partner such firm specializes in turning as Meridian. emerging technologies into practical applications, some Meridian, of which include land-mine through its Center for Business and explosives detection, Development, assists businesses during the chemical and biological agent detection, and medical. early, vulnerable stages of the entrepreneurial Nomadics and OSU scientists and engineers cooperate on process. The Center helps the fledgling firms a number of projects. with business and technology development and provides access to shared office equipment, cleri- Two additional buildings are in the offing. Ground will cal assistance, and meeting facilities. A start-up be broken in April for a 36,000-square-foot building, which company can begin operation in the incubator, will be built by Idea Partnerships, LLC, developers of the stay as long as three years, and then expand Park. Eva Klein, a higher education consultant, and Bill into its own facility in the Park. Morlock, an architect and real estate developer, are the principals. They developed Penn State’s research park and Meridian also provides workforce train- have worked with numerous such parks. ing tailored to the specific needs of a company. Through the state-funded Training for Industry V OSU will occupy the entire second floor of the build- V ANGUARD Programs, Meridian works with executives to ANGUARD ing, leasing both research and administrative space. The determine needs and then ensures that a pool first floor will be available to multiple tenants and will be of trained workers is in place when the business configured to suit specific requirements. ANGUARD is ready to open. V

2 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 3 Grants for $2.9 million for infrastructure from the OSU has entered into a collaborative federal Economic Development Administration, along with matching funds and services from the partners, made the arrangement with Nomadics, Inc. of Stillwater Park possible. The City handled installation of utilities and that is expected to result in a spinoff company streets, creation of the lakes, and landscaping. in which OSU will hold an equity interest. This The Park is designed to foster collaboration. The buildings will be confi gured in clusters to facilitate interac- is the kind of partnership Oklahoma citizens tion, discussion, and generation of ideas. Walking paths, authorized by passage of State Questions 680 benches, and other amenities were added specifi cally for this purpose. and 681. Jim Mason, vice president for technology of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce and former CEO of the The agreement is based on Stillwater Chamber, was an integral part of the planning the work of Nicholas Kotov of for the Park. He says, “Growing high-tech companies is a high-contact sport. It requires opportunities to confer, to the Department of Chemistry. collaborate, to bounce ideas off one another—whether it’s Kotov is involved in the bur- Kotov during lunch, over a cup of coffee, in the parking lot, or on the volleyball court.” geoning fi eld of nanotechnology, which is the science of working with building blocks at the “Growing high-tech companies is a high- molecular level. A nanometer is one/billionth — Jim Mason contact sport.” of a meter, about a thousand times smaller Collaboration in the Park is a goal, but collaboration than the diameter of a human hair. about the Park is a reality. A joint board of directors, with representatives from each of the entities, oversees the Park. Kotov uses electrostatic attraction to cause the Fred Shultz, superintendent of Meridian and chairman of joint board, says of the consortium, “We have an excellent miniscule particles to assemble themselves into working relationship. This is truly a partnership; there the structure he wants by alternately dipping never has been any competition. Each partner steps up and shoulders a fair share.” a substrate chosen for desired properties into Klein speaks in glowing terms of the cooperative work- negatively- and positively-charged solutions. ing relationship of the partners. She says, “It’s a strong plus in the marketing of the Park.” Chuck Thomas, a city Particles with complementary shapes and commissioner and member of the board, notes that the charge patterns combine, forming layers. working relationship is “as natural as a hand in a glove.” Shari Dunn Kotov creates nanolayer after nanolayer, in the fashion of a sandwich, until he reaches the desired outcome. Starting with the uni versal, he then incorporates the specifi c, whether it’s biological, magnetic, or electronic. This enables him to work with wide-ranging applications such as implantable sensors for continuous health monitoring, electronic devices, coat- ings, and fi lms.

He says, “I want to convert these scientifi c ideas into concrete products that serve people. V V A Someday, I might need the results of these ANGUARD N G

endeavors myself.” U

▲ An Oklahoma winter sunset and one of the Park’s lakes frame the A R ANGUARD building of the fi rst tenant, Nomadics. D V

2 Research at Oklahoma State University RResearchesearch atat OklahomaOklahoma StateState UniversityUniversity 3 An anthropologist challenges one of the most influential theories in Mesoamerican anthropological research since the 1950s.

A New View of An Old Society

Some cherished theories endure. Others need revision. hold items, and exotic goods such as jade, gold, obsidian, An OSU anthropologist is challenging a long-held view and brilliantly-colored feathers from the quetzal bird.” of the socioeconomic structure of society in Mesoamerica Wolf’s theory asserts that with the Spanish Conquest, (the region of advanced civilizations such as the Aztecs colonization compressed indigenous society into a single and Maya in Mexico and Central America) following the impoverished social and economic stratum. Following Spanish Conquest. Stephen Perkins compares the organi- decimation of the native population by European-borne zation of the pre- and post-Conquest cultures during the diseases, the economy contracted, and people competed period 1521-1821 and proposes a model different from Eric for labor, land, and other resources. Previously, indigenous Wolf’s theory of the closed corporate peasant community. nobles had ruled commoners, but now all became simply Wolf’s theory has been one of the most influential in Meso- poor peasants. american anthropological research since its introduction Wolf theorized that rural Mesoamerican society then in the 1950s. coalesced into two sectors: the Spanish haciendas (large Perkins, assistant professor of sociology, notes that prior Spanish landholding estates) and native peasant communi- to the Spanish Conquest, Aztec society was very complex. ties. He thought that in an attempt to protect themselves “In some ways, it was comparable to medieval Europe, with from haciendas, indigenous people developed a closed social a formal government, bureaucracy, and a social structure system with “corporate controls.” Land could not be sold or V

within which nobles dominated landholdings and exacted passed to outsiders, although members of the community ANGUARD tribute (taxes) from commoners,” he says. “The economy could use their land as they saw fit. was highly developed, with money and markets for raw Based on research originally funded by a Fulbright ANGUARD materials and finished goods such as food, clothing, house- V Fellowship, Perkins departs from this long-standing theory.

4 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 5 ▲ Anthropologist Stephen Perkins with a page from a 16th-century Mexican codex in the background.

Based on archival data, he reconstructed post-Conquest na- Part of the impetus for these changes came from Indian tive society using Spanish colonial documents from Mexico’s commoners, who frequently alerted colonial officials to the national archive (the Archivo General de la Nacion) and abuses they suffered at the hands of their own nobility. the notarial archive of the state of Puebla (the Archivo Commoners also petitioned colonial courts for greater par- General de Notarias del Estado de Puebla). ticipation in municipal government and ownership of land. These archives house records of court cases, land titles, In response, colonial government in the 18th and early 19th wills, papers written by Catholic priests, and complaints centuries began to break up the municipal organization registered by natives for such matters as loss of land. Per- imposed in the 16th century. kins found indigenous wills to be particularly useful, since One means was to establish new pueblos. Perkins points they discuss the passing of landholdings and other property out that new pueblos in his study area seemed to be more from one generation to the next. The earliest available open to participation by all members of the community. documents date from the 1540s. “They also had lands that were more truly communal than Perkins investigated communities within the Puebla those of the past.” region of central Mexico. Studying life in several small pueblos (Spanish-imposed, self- "If the indigenous people of Mexico have taught me governing communities), he discovered that the social classes that had structured life anything, it’s that we should never take for granted in pre-Conquest Mexico persisted within where our food comes from or who controls access these colonial indigenous communities much to the land.” — Stephen Perkins longer than previous researchers, such as Wolf, had assumed. Perkins concludes that Wolf’s model remains valid but Although communities were reorganized to conform better fits rural Pueblan society in the late 18th and 19th to Spanish notions of municipal government, Perkins centuries. “In contrast to the earlier model, the population says indigenous nobles took firm control of new municipal of Puebla grew—rather than declined—during this period, offices and monopolized community landholdings. “Indian and the countryside experienced tremendous economic commoners paid tribute to nobles much as before, but they adjustments, which suggests that different factors were also paid taxes to the Spanish Crown.” at work in the creation of these communities than was Wolf believed that modern Mexican village organiza- previously thought.” He says it was out of the triangulated tion originated with these pueblos in the 16th century, but struggle for land and local power between nobles, com- Perkins says his data point to a quite different conclusion. moners, and Spanish entrepreneurs that Mexico’s modern “What we see—in certain pueblos especially—is that the indigenous communities originated during the 18th and social organization of the Aztecs endured the Conquest 19th centuries. and remained a major force in organizing the social lives Perkins is publishing the results of his archival investiga- of community inhabitants during the colonial period.” tions in several journals and is planning a book manuscript Coming as they did from Spain, where similar noble- that will treat more extensively Puebla’s colonial Indian commoner classes existed, colonial officials actually upheld society. He says that since joining the faculty in August of indigenous noble privileges through a series of rulings in 2002, he feels very much at home in a land-grant institu- the 16th and 17th centuries. Perkins also points out that tion such as OSU. early officials sought to prevent the collapse of the social “In industrial society we often forget the importance of “pyramid.” This would have greatly disrupted the flow of landholding and agriculture,” he says. “If the indigenous indigenous tribute to the Spanish Crown. people of Mexico have taught me anything, it’s that we Perkins says that over time, Spanish support for should never take for granted where our food comes from V

indigenous nobles began to wane. “By the 1700s the nobles or who controls access to the land.” ANGUARD had become so powerful at the local level that Spanish Shari Dunn officials attempted to undo the privileges that their own ANGUARD

V predecessors had granted.”

4 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 5 Understanding how to properly regulate glutamate receptors could lead to development of therapies for degenerative brain diseases.

Unlocking the Brain’s Mysteries

An OSU neuroscientist’s research findings could help develop The development of therapies for these disorders is new treatments for an array of degenerative brain diseases, complicated by the essential role glutamate receptors play epilepsy, and brain damage caused by stroke. Doris Pat- in normal brain function. Drugs that either directly block or neau, assistant professor of anatomy and cell biology at the directly activate these receptors are likely to have unwanted OSU Center for Health Sciences, is investigating glutamate side effects. The most promising targets for potential drug receptors in the brain and how various drugs can regu- therapies are allosteric sites (distinct from the glutamate late their activity. Funded by a grant from the Oklahoma site), where the binding of other drugs can subtly modu- Center for the Advancement late receptor activation by glutamate. Glutamate of Science and Technology, receptors have multiple allosteric sites at which she delves into their function drugs can bind—either up or down—regulating like a scientific super-sleuth, activation of the receptor by glutamate. gathering clues to help solve A unique property of some glutamate recep- the brain’s mysteries. tors is that they rapidly desensitize and no longer Glutamate receptors open in response to glutamate. Patneau’s previous are the brain’s workhorses research has shown that many of the positive in the communication pro- allosteric modulators—those that increase the cess between its nerve cells. response to glutamate—do so by reducing receptor This process—fast excitatory desensitization. Ongoing research is examining synaptic transmission—is whether the negative modulators (those that reduce mediated by receptors that the response to glutamate) do so by promoting open in response to binding receptor desensitization. of the neurotransmitter glu- Patneau says she and her colleagues have tamate. (A neurotransmit- looked at whether the two classes of modulators ter is a chemical messenger (positive and negative) can actually affect the released by nerve cells.) The binding of the other class. They know positive receptors are critical for nor- modulators block desensitization and also slow mal development and func- the binding of the inhibitory modulators, which ▲ Doris Patneau focuses on the role of gluta- tion of the nervous system as suggests that negative modulators preferentially well as processes underlying mate receptors in brain function and how different drugs can regulate their activity. bind to desensitized receptors. “Since we can’t learning and memory. block receptors, we have to subtly regulate them. When glutamate receptors are over- stimulated, nerve cells can be damaged by “The information we gain can guide development a process termed “excitotoxicity.” Research- of new therapies—medications, gene therapy, and ers associate this damage with a variety of brain conditions and diseases. For example, transplants.” — Doris Patneau

excitotoxicity mediated by glutamate recep- Drenne Terry Photo: V tors may play a role in several neurodegenerative disor- We are trying to understand how receptor sites interact. ANGUARD ders including Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, Parkinson’s, The information we gain can guide development of new and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as well as brain therapies—medications, gene therapy, and transplants.”

ANGUARD damage after a stroke. Marla Schaefer V

6 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 7 The possibility of custom-designed fetuses and artificial wombs raises questions about how much we should interfere with our children-to-be. Ethics and Designer Babies Just because we have certain technological knowledge, should the new technology is a novelty used only by a wealthy we use it? And, if we do, how far should we go with it? few. But, soon, lab-grown babies become more affordable These are the types of moral and ethical issues that OSU’s and commonplace. Employers begin demanding that women Ethics Center wants people to think about and discuss. To use child-growing labs instead of missing work because of help get the dialogue going, the center sponsors an annual pregnancy and childbirth. Insurance companies quickly conference that brings internationally known scholars and realize the financial advantages of “unnatural” childbirth speakers to Oklahoma. Last year’s conference was called and refuse coverage to pregnant women. “The End of Natural Motherhood? The Artificial Womb The perennial abortion conundrum takes on a whole and Designer Babies,” says center director and assistant new aspect. Aborted fetuses can now be brought to term in professor of philosophy Scott Gelfand. artificial wombs. Even if you Consider the following: Two pregnant women visit their don’t have an egg or a sperm, doctors. Both are shocked and dismayed by what they learn. you don’t have to worry. Just Genetic tests on Jane Doe-One’s fetus show her unborn child drop by the cloning lab and will suffer from multiple sclerosis. Jane Doe-Two learns replicate yourself. her fetus has a genetic configuration that will make her These seemingly bizarre daughter short, dark, and introverted. scenarios may never become Both expectant mothers are distraught. Jane Doe-One reality, but with probable certainly doesn’t want her child to suffer from a chronic, future technological devel- debilitating disease. Jane Doe-Two really wants a boy, and opments, their possibility she knows statistics show tall, light-skinned, extroverted exists. In fact, scientists males are more successful and socially accepted. Of course, are already experimenting she wants the best for her child. with artificial wombs. For ▲ Scott Gelfand ponders the ethics every advance in medical of interference with fetal devel- Both women’s minds soon are set at ease by their doc- opment. tors. With a few adjustments to their unborn children’s technology that solves one genetic makeup, all unwanted problems can be avoided. problem, other problems and questions seem to arise. In fact, both children can be “designed” with exactly the “If we start changing the gene pool, we might make physical, mental, and emotional characteristics their par- changes that we don’t really understand,” Gelfand says. ents desire. “With enhancement (Jane Doe-Two’s situation), we don’t Science fiction, you say? Maybe. But maybe not. In the know what the human species would or should be like. Once near future, scientists could develop the technology for this everyone is enhanced, then the norm changes, and we’re type of human genetic manipulation. Parents may be able back to the original situation of people wanting additional to design the exact child they want. enhancement to make them above average. Where would it stop?” “If we start changing the gene pool, we might make changes It’s easy to think of endless that we don’t really understand.” — Scott Gelfand questions about what may result from the many different types of possible human “enhancement,” By this time, the artificial womb has been perfected, so but clear-cut answers about the consequences are much why should women be burdened with nine more difficult, if not impossible, to formulate. Although good months of pregnancy and the pain of answers may be scarce, Gelfand says it’s imperative that childbirth? Why not design “per- people talk about the issues and understand the complexity fect” children in test tubes and of the problems we may face. grow them to term in artificial wombs? Mom and Pop could “If nothing else, we can work for a societal consensus,” swing by the lab on their way he said. “When people on the extreme opposite sides of an issue come together to discuss some of these volatile is- home from work to pick V up their new baby. No sues, they often find that they are in agreement on more ANGUARD muss, no fuss, and components of the arguments than they would have ever no down-time for realized.”

ANGUARD Carolyn Gonzales

V Mom. At first,

6 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 7 NATIONAL AWARD The GreenSeeker ™ team received the prestigious Secretary’s Honor Award for 2002 from the US Department of Agriculture for expanding economic and trade opportunities for US agricultural producers.

▲ Aerial view of GreenSeeker ™ with 30' booms extended. Sci-Fi on the Farm A team of OSU researchers in collaboration with a commer- 33 percent. The remainder of the applied nitrogen is lost cial firm has developed a revolutionary product that seems to air and runoff. more like something from science fiction than traditional Each one percent increase in NUE is worth $400 mil- ™ agriculture. GreenSeeker is an integrated optical sensor lion globally. GreenSeeker ™ can increase NUE a minimum and fertilizer sprayer that senses the nutrient needs of each of 20 percent, although there is evidence to suggest a more 2-foot by 2-foot area of a field and automatically applies substantial increase. The implications of this are staggering exactly the right amount of nitrogen as it moves across when one considers the ramifications of inadequate food the field, all in one seamless operation. The sensors and worldwide. Each day, 33,000 people die from starvation nozzles are mounted on booms and can be configured to or the effects of malnutrition. Bill Raun, a member of the accommodate various sizes and types of sprayer vehicles. A handheld version is now available. The advantages of such a product are both numerous and substantial: It increases yields and reduces fertilizer Team Building costs because the optimal amount—and only the optimal ate soil fertility expert with amount—is applied, resulting in an average additional profit rogressing from a con- a world view stemming from of $18 per acre. Because there is little wasted fertilizer, P cept to a commercial runoff is significantly reduced, and the result is cleaner product (GreenSeeker™) was his six years experience in surface and groundwater. It can operate in a wide range of not easy. Melding into a team Mexico and Guatemala; Gor- light conditions—from bright sunlight to complete darkness. a group of professors who by don Johnson, the deliberate, It operates in real time, with no waiting for results of a soil nature are very independent layperson-oriented extension sample or data from a satellite or airplane. and who have different per- specialist; and Greg Bell, the turf specialist with a business The optical sensor measures the green material (stems spectives took time. Add to and leaves, called “forage biomass”) of the plants in the 2' these inherent differences perspective (a former owner of x 2' segment of the field, compares that to an index, com- the various personalities: a golf-club manufacturing and putes the amount of nitrogen required for optimal growth, John Solie, the contemplative repair firm), who joined the chooses from one of eight application rates, and sends a engineer/attorney familiar team about mid-point. signal to the applicator. The nozzle immediately sprays with intellectual property The team members candidly the designated amount of nitrogen. issues; Marvin Stone, the admit there were periodic practical, internationally- Nitrogen needs can vary widely throughout a field, so intense arguments arising V using the historical practice of applying an average amount recognized electronic com- from different assumptions ANGUARD of fertilizer per acre is wasteful and does not produce maxi- munications engineer; Bill and from a commitment “not mum yields. At present, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in Raun, the intense, passion- to take anything at face value, ANGUARD

V cereal (wheat, corn, maize, rice, etc.) production is about

8 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 9 GreenSeeker ™ development team, says, “Having to squeeze electronic communications technology.” NTech is manufac- by 33,000 skeletons every day when you come to work can turing the sensor/sprayer at its facility in Stillwater and keep you motivated.” expects to establish a larger plant elsewhere in the state In 2001 OSU and NTech Industries Incorporated, of as volume grows. Ukiah, California, signed a license agreement as well as The algorithm (step-by-step instructions to the com- an agreement for continuing research. Norman Borlaug, puter) for wheat is complete. Development is underway the only Nobel Peace Prize recipient in agriculture and for algorithms for corn, barley, and turf, to be followed by “Father of the Green Revolution,” delivered the keynote cotton, peanuts, and soybeans. address at the licensing ceremony. The GreenSeeker ™ project has brought many benefits to OSU. D.C. Coston, associ- Sensors detect the fertilizer needs of small areas ate director of the Oklahoma Agricultural of a field and automatically apply the required Experiment Station, says it has engendered amount, resulting in increased profits and decreased funding for continued research and development for the other crops and will bring environmental contamination. royalties to the University. Research leading to GreenSeeker ™ began at OSU nine The project incorporates all aspects of years before it was licensed to NTech. John M. Mayfield, Jr., the land-grant university mission: teaching, research, and NTech’s CEO, owned an agricultural services firm in Cali- extension. In addition to research and technology trans- fornia and was aware that OSU researchers were working fer, it resulted in the development of a course in precision ™ on technology similar to his firm’s herbicide sensor/sprayer agriculture, taught by members of the GreenSeeker team. marketed as Weed Seeker™ . He realized that a cooperative It also broadened the understanding of 33 students who venture would be in the best interests of both. studied at the International Maize and Wheat Improve- ment Center in Mexico and who spoke with awe of the Beginning in 1999, OSU researchers and Patchen opportunity to associate with Borlaug. personnel collaborated on integration of technologies. John Solie, the biosystems and agricultural engineering It has provided a learning experience for over 100 stu- professor responsible for overall coordination of the project dents, 40 of them graduate students. It has led directly says, “They brought certain patents they developed for to employment for some, as NTech hired some of the stu- lighting technologies and the knowledge and experience to dents who worked on the project. Coston says the students’ manufacture and market sensors. We brought the science team experience is a definite advantage when they apply to make the determination of how much fertilizer and other for jobs. materials to apply as well as improvements in sensor and Shari Dunn

but to question,” to which There is a synergy in the Raun attributes the suc- group.” Stone says a clear cesses of the project. He says sense of mission guided the that in academia, it’s easy to interaction and there were avoid conflict by working in a no issues of department or solitary situation. “But I’m will- territory. Raun says the team ing to deal with a lack of har- members merged into a unit mony because I am interested that became much like a fam- in delivering a better product. ily and that this extended to Forced communication leads the graduate and undergradu- to improvements.” ate students and the support staff involved with the project. ▲ Gree nSeeker ™ team members, from left, Greg Bell, Gordon Johnson, Despite technical differences, John Solie, Marvin Stone, and Bill Raun. the team members always D. C. Coston, associate di- had immense respect for rector of the Oklahoma Agri- members thought John Solie, the award. He found fund- each other personally and cultural Experiment Station, the unofficial team leader, ing so all could attend, then professionally. Johnson says, has been a champion of the should be the one to travel presented the plaque to the “The team members respect cross-disciplinary approach to Washington, DC, to accept team at a special ceremony the award. Coston had other hosted by the Division of Agri-

each others’ discipline; the to research throughout his V ag engineer doesn’t try to tenure at OSU. When the ideas. He was determined cultural Sciences and Natural ANGUARD make a soil scientist into GreenSeeker™ team won that all members of the team Resources. an engineer, and vice versa. the USDA award, the team should be present to accept ANGUARD V

8 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 9 Cytokines help us heal and fend off invading organisms, but long-term production can cause cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

Exercise and the Immune System

Melody Phillips wonders why athletes get sick so often. It Phillips says that in previous research, she found that just seems counter-intuitive that the most physically fit people 10 weeks of resistance training by elderly women decreased would become ill more frequently than the less fit. production of the cytokines associated with cardiovascular Phillips is an exercise physiologist in the Health and disease and bone degradation. Human Performance Program in the College of Education. Understanding the influence of exercise, specifically “This is what got me interested in immunology,” she says. exercise training, on cytokines in elderly and at-risk popu- “Why do athletes get sick more often?” lations may be beneficial to another growing segment of Her major research interest is the influence of exercise Photo | Jeremy Cook | Jeremy Photo on the immune system and how it affects health. She is attempting to determine both the positive and negative influences of exercise, and is especially interested in dis- covering how to maximize the positive and minimize the negative effects. She says that although exercise improves health, over- training is harmful. “Research results have shown that as weekly training volume increases above an optimal point, the risk of infection increases.” Phillips says researchers have developed “the open win- dow hypothesis,” which describes a period of time after a bout of hard or very long exercise during which the body may be more susceptible to infection. She says, “Prolonged and intense exercise may suppress the immune system.” ▲ Melody Phillips collects a mouthpiece for culturing to determine the To learn more about the relationship of exercise and the immune response of athletes. immune system, Phillips and her colleagues are studying the population. “Oklahoma has a large population at risk cytokines, regulatory immune proteins in the blood and for adult-onset diabetes,” Phillips says, citing the large saliva. There are about 80 cytokines, with various functions, American Indian population. “The cytokine most associated such as healing wounds and killing invading organisms. with insulin resistance in diabetes decreased significantly Fever is regulated partially by cytokines. after 10 weeks of moderate-to-intense resistance training by elderly women.” Prolonged and intense exercise may Knowing of Phillips’ interest in exercise and immune suppress the immune system. response, Robert Conrad, professor of microbiology, and Tom Glass, professor of pathology and dental medicine, both Cytokines are necessary for normal functioning of the at OSU’s Center for Health Sciences, invited Phillips to body, but sustained production of cytokines is associated collaborate in an investigation of the microscopic organ- with age- and inactivity-related diseases such as cardio- isms that grow on athletes’ mouthpieces. They collected vascular disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. mouthpieces from OSU football players and are running When artery walls are damaged because of high blood cultures to determine the types of organisms growing on pressure or cholesterol, the cell lining attempts to heal them. itself. This response is initiated by the immune system Phillips and her research team are measuring immune and the inflammatory cytokines and, over time, can lead markers in saliva in order to quantify the body’s immune to atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease). response to the mouthpieces. “We hope to identify any Phillips says bone cells also produce cytokines. When potential immune response that may result from wearing V

certain conditions exist, such as menopause, the bone- the mouthpieces during a single game as well as all season. ANGUARD degrading cells become more active. “Bone degrading Changing or disinfecting mouthpieces daily may be very cells are naturally active in our body, but if they are important to the health of athletes, but we aren’t certain

ANGUARD of this yet,” she says.

V over-stimulated, then people will experience bone loss (osteoporosis).” Dottie Witter

10 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 11 Freshmen work with faculty mentors to learn the fundamentals of research.

Starting Early

Derrick Herron is an OSU senior in chemistry, yet Sixty freshmen are selected he has six publications in refereed journals each year to participate in the and has made four poster presentations at program, based on their high- professional meetings. His participation in school grade point average and OSU’s Freshman Research Scholars program ACT or SAT scores. The program has jump-started his career. encompasses the social sciences, humanities, engineering, and The program has been in operation about ▲ Freshman research scholar Derrick Herron a dozen years. Joe Alexander, vice president the biological and physical sci- for research, says the primary objective of the program is ences. The Scholars work with their mentors four to six to develop and foster interest in scholarly research early hours each week. in the career of a college student. “Students work with Richard Bunce, professor of chemistry, served as faculty researchers—who function as mentors—to learn Herron’s mentor during his participation in the program, research ethics, fundamental procedures of research, and then hired him to work in his lab during summers as well as laboratory safety in those disciplines in which laboratory the academic year. Herron actively participates in Bunce’s work is involved.” research projects and publications. Herron says Bunce is very generous. “He rewards “He taught me that research is a process of discovery participation.” As a result of his experi- —making mistakes and fixing them.”— Justin Cordill ence in the program, Herron is clear about his future direction. “I want to teach—to get students interested in chemistry and have the same kind of great experience I had in high school chemistry.” Eldon C. Nelson has been a mentor in the program since its inception. A professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, he says the program is a tool for recruiting very bright students who might go elsewhere. He provides a litany of students who had offers from other universities, including some who have had full scholarship offers, but came to OSU because they could work in the laboratory as a freshman. He points out that veterans of the program are admitted to graduate programs at some of the most prestigious institutions in the country, including Duke, Johns Hopkins, and the Mayo Clinic. Nelson has over 200 advisees. When asked how he can handle such a heavy advisement load in addition to conducting research and fulfilling his teaching responsibilities, he responded emphatically, “When I’ve worked with students over four years to get them to come here and they ask me to be their adviser, there is no way I’m going to say ‘no.’” Justin Cordill is a sophomore, mentored by Nelson last year. He sums up his experience with Nelson as his mentor: “He sends a message that students are valued. He V

has helped me to know what I really want to do, and he ANGUARD taught me that research is a process of discovery—making mistakes and fixing them.”

ANGUARD ▲ V E.C. Nelson instructs Justin Cordill in laboratory procedures. Shari Dunn

10 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 11 A futuristic, multifunction communications badge for sailors will revolutionize shipboard communication and has potential for many commercial uses.

Star Trek on the High Seas Soon, communication technology aboard Navy ships will rival several times a day,” Chung says. “The badge will enable that of the Starship Enterprise. officers to know the exact location of every sailor, and the Researchers at Oklahoma State University and appropriate frequency code will allow commanders to call Stillwater-based Nomadics, Inc. are developing a wire- a particular group of sailors and issue orders when the less communications badge for sailors that is expected to need arises. The health monitoring capability will enable revolutionize shipboard communication. Referred to as “Star officers to know if a sailor is well because the badge delivers Trek,” the futuristic, multipurpose device is so adaptable health-related readings, such as heart rate.” and expandable that, in its final form, the commercial ap- Such capabilities are particularly advantageous when plications should be virtually boundless. the badges are worn by a hazardous-materials response Jong-Moon Chung, assistant professor of electrical and team, for example. Any type of sensor—moisture, chemi- computer engineering, and Nomadics engineers were awarded cal or airborne particulates, or explosive residues—could a Phase I contract by the U.S. Office of Naval Research in be attached to the badge to alert both the user and the 2000 to explore the feasibility of a communications device backbone network as to their presence. The network then as part of the Navy’s Information Technology Initiative can tell others where the user is and whether there is a for the 21st Century. The Initiative involves implementing problem. optical networks on ships and submarines and providing The Navy contract for Phase I was simply to demon- every sailor with a versatile communications device that strate feasibility of the device, but the Nomadics research- works over local area network (LAN) ports throughout ers and Chung overachieved on the study and built an the vessel. actual prototype. As a result, in 2001 the Department of Chung says the backbone (core) networks and devices Defense, through the Small Business Technology Transfer will replace wireless phones and cumbersome and expensive program, awarded a Phase II contract to the researchers hand-held radios the Navy wants to scrap. “Below deck, cell to fabricate the multipurpose device. Chung says, “Phase phones and walkie-talkies do not work well and require II funding for a project like this is very difficult to get, but wiring throughout the vessel because the steel walls do not we demonstrated our capability by building an alpha pro- allow radio waves to propagate. They are also expensive, totype and testing it over an ATM (asynchronous transfer bulky, almost impossible to repair, and have limited func- mode) optical network, when we had been asked only to tions,” Chung says. explore feasibility.” The wireless device is worn rather than carried and During the final stage of development, the researchers resembles the badges depicted on the television series, but will collect parts of the circuit board, and using chip sets will include many more features. It will be touch-activated (system-on-chip technology), will integrate multiple mod- and submersible in water and will include conveniences ules onto one chip and thus create a miniaturized version such as voice-dialing, health-monitoring and, possibly, data of the prototype. interface ports to link up to other devices such as an The badge exceeds conventional wireless imaging device or bar code reader. communications devices in its adaptability. “Because of the expense, Art Crotzer, Chung’s collaborator and not everyone can be given a manager of software engineer- walkie-talkie, so in order ing at Nomadics, says that to do head counts, the crew because the architecture must assemble on deck can grow and be adapted for a wide variety of ap- ▲

plications, the device V Sequential versions of the badge has many advantages ANGUARD prototypes (from left in the fore- ground) reflect the ongoing miniaturization over a cellular phone. of the technology. The final version will be “The technology is ANGUARD slightly larger than a playing card. V more analogous to

12 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 13 a telephone system that provides connections between user would be able to dictate in an intelligent way, perhaps one person and another person or group, but without the responding to prompts or filling in a medical form.” restrictions of a channelized radio system,” Crotzer says. The voice-dialing badge will replace wireless phones The range of commercial applications for the badge is limited only by imagination, he and walkie-talkies and will enable communication says. The designers could provide intelligent and health monitoring throughout the ship. intercom systems so an employee doesn’t have to be restricted to an office. Because Although the Office of Naval Research provided the the device is a digital system tied into a network, a user initial incentive and funding for development of the device, could wear a badge, headset, or other configuration and interest from the private sector ultimately will lead to its move around the building, remaining in contact with other fruition. “We are now constructing a backbone network people as well as non-human components. Voice interaction to see how well the badge works within a large-scale would allow a maintenance technician on the job to call a environment and how well it works when it is connected trouble-shooting database or a supervisor. to the network,” Chung says. “For Phase III and completion “Another aspect we’ve considered is the badge’s use as a of the product, including miniaturization and additional portable data collection system,” Crotzer says. “While moving backbone network design, we need to identify a company through a building, ship, campus, hospital, prison, etc., the that wants to sell this technology. OSU and Nomadics will retain the intellectual property, but Phase III is about tak- ▼ Jong-Moon Chung discusses potential future applications of the high- ing the technology to the industrial sector.” tech communications system, such as data collection and interoffice Adam Huffer communication. V ANGUARD ANGUARD V

12 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 13 A team of researchers is developing a complete personal cooling system for emergency workers that will protect their health and enable them to work longer shifts in hazmat suits.

Help for First Responders

Imagine trying to do your job, but you’re perspiring profuse- ly. Your bodily processes are in turbo. Your heart rate is accelerated. Your breathing is labored. You can’t see. Your vision is obscured by a fine vapor in front of your face. These and other problems are faced regularly by emergency response personnel, frequently referred to as “first responders,” when they must wear hazardous materials (hazmat) suits to protect themselves from chemical and biological dangers. But help is on the way. Donna Branson, head of the Department of Design, Housing, and Merchandising, is leading a team that is developing a system to keep emergency workers cooler for longer periods of time while they are ensconced in the hazmat suits. The project is funded by a three-year grant ▲ Donna Branson helps Huantian Cao don a hazmat suit to test the capa- from the National Institute of Justice, administered by bility of the cooling vest developed by OSU researchers to prevent heat the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute for the stress while wearing the suit. Prevention of Terrorism. Heat stress is a potential danger, even in moderate The OSU team is using presently available textiles temperatures, for workers who must wear the airtight suits. to develop the prototype vest. Clemson is conducting The team is designing a prototype for a personal cooling research on textiles and is developing fabric for use in a system that first responders can wear under a hazmat next-generation vest. suit that will allow them to work comfortably for 30 min- Branson says the group faces daunting technical utes to an hour. Fifteen minutes is about the maximum challenges: at present. • Present cooling systems require large amounts of Heat stress is a potential danger, even battery power. in moderate temperatures. • The body produces substantial heat that must be dissipated: The coolant must extract heat from the Branson says the system is composed of a cooling unit, body while it provides cooling and while it is being a vest cooled by liquid that circulates via small plastic recirculated through the cooling system. tubes, and interface systems between both units and the hazmat suit. • Tubing presently available for the chilled liquid does The OSU team, which includes faculty members Branson, not conduct well. Cheryl Farr, and Huantian Cao (all of the Department of • Pressure drops at curves in the tubing (the tubing is Design, Housing, and Merchandising) and both graduate sewn into channels in the vest). and undergraduate students, is responsible for the development of the vest. One of the undergraduate students is a • Fabric presently available has considerable thermal fire protection major, and he frequently tests the system. resistance; it insulates more than it conducts. Branson calls him her “resident first responder.” Undeterred, the group is moving forward with its Collaborators in the project include Clemson University design for a prototype. COVERSTORY

and three private companies. Sciperio, Inc., a local company, In designing the vest, Branson says the team must V is developing tubing with better thermal conductivity than deal with properties such as abrasion resistance, thermal ANGUARD is presently available. Nanopore, Inc. and MesoSystems qualities, washability, durability, comfort, and fit. Fit is Technology, Inc., both of Albuquerque, are developing the no small matter: the vest must conform well to the body, ANGUARD

V cooling technology. with no buckling, so that the cooling features are close to

14 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 15 ▲ Ph.D. student Semra Peksoz tests the effectiveness of a prototype of an OSU-developed cooling vest as she works out on a treadmill.

the body. The design team must create garments that will fit physiques ranging from that of a petite female to that of an NFL linebacker. Last fall the OSU team conducted focus-group discussions with emergency workers from Kansas and Oklahoma who actually wear the hazmat suits. Branson says the individuals in the focus groups are eager to get relief from the heat, and they help the team by describing problems they encounter while performing their duties in the suits. She said one of the problems mentioned is that workers often must withdraw their arms from the sleeves of the hazmat suit so they can remove condensation from the interior of the face piece—much like a driver removes vapor from a windshield—because it obscures their vision. The emergency workers also offered suggestions about the cooling unit: Could it be longer and thinner? Could it be positioned nearer the respirator? Branson says, “Their input has been absolutely critical in helping us develop a system that will really help first responders.” The partners are in the second year of the project. “In late spring, we expect to have an alpha prototype that we will test on a thermal (heat-tracking) man- nequin,” Branson says. “This will include a fully-functioning vest and an integrated cooling system.

“In year three, we will improve and STORY COVER refine the system components, then we will test the system on human subjects in OSU’s controlled-environment labora-

tory. We will measure both physiological V and perceptual responses.” ANGUARD Jim Mitchell ANGUARD V

14 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 15 “Shuffling” data thwarts hackers, keeps data secure, and protects individual privacy while providing information useful for homeland security.

Protecting Privacy

Rathindra Sarathy has never been caught playing cards on original data set do not appear on a computer screen, yet the job, but he freely admits to “shuffling the deck” in his the data still can be used for analysis. position as associate professor of management science and The procedure is similar to shuffling cards in a deck, information systems. Sarathy says. “Let’s say each card in the deck contains a Sarathy and a colleague from the University of Kentucky, certain number and if you add them up, you get a certain Krish Muralidhar, have developed a process that enables sum. By shuffling the cards, the numbers in a particular organizations to share digital data without endangering pile of cards don’t change; they are just shuffled to the point personal privacy, while also fending off hackers. He says that no one knows what their original order was.” this capability refutes the argu- ment that Americans must give “The message we want to send with these processes is that up more of their privacy so agencies can share data necessary for they do not require any tradeoff.” — Rathindra Sarathy homeland security. He says, “Even though the cards are now out of order, you can still add them up and get the same sum. That’s the end result of the process: data you still can use.” Actually, the shuffling process is much more complex. It is similar to shuffling multiple decks of cards while maintaining certain relationships among the individual decks. For instance, the program can ensure that no one can match names or salary figures of individuals in a particular data set, yet it is possible to provide average income figures for the group as a whole. The data is still usable without these specifics. Sarathy says that in the past, law enforcement organizations have been unable to use some data sets because they contain information that could cause privacy concerns. “These procedures allow those concerns to be addressed up front,” he adds, “before the information is ever handed over to security authorities.” He says these procedures will be useful not only to personnel focusing on security but to others who routinely perform data mining, such as social ▲ Rathinda Sarathy explains the mathematical processes he and a col- scientists, government officials, and business analysts. league have developed that transform data to allow its use among government agencies without sacrificing the privacy of individuals. Sarathy and Muralidhar have applied for a patent and are working with officials of the US Census Bureau, The process does not rely on encryption, for a couple who have shown a strong interest in the procedure. Their of reasons. Sarathy says that although encryption allows work has also evoked interest among data confidentiality only authorized people to view individual pieces of data, researchers in Europe. They will be talking with industry the encryption can be reversed, which means the informa- leaders as well. tion can be retrieved, and thus privacy could be violated. “Besides,” he says, “you can’t perform any analysis on “The message we want to send with these processes is encrypted data.” that they do not require any tradeoff. We can use them to protect individual privacy while giving agencies the data Instead, Sarathy and Muralidhar use mathematical they need to make better decisions, including security transformations to randomly “perturb” or “shuffle” the decisions.” ANGUARD

V original data. This ensures that the specific details of an Jim M itchell

20 Research at Oklahoma State University Engineered bacteria glow in the presence of biological warfare agents such as anthrax or tularemia.

Bacteria as Sensors

The ultimate survival of our planet may depend on what is simply a warning that something harmful is present. scientists such as Robert Miller learn from their research It can be used easily in the field to test the safety of food and whether or not world governments take action to stem and water supplies. impending problems. Miller, OSU regents professor of mi- The other test is designed to identify specific pathogens, crobiology and molecular genetics, studies how bacteria or biological warfare agents. Miller and Sayler discovered react to various stimuli such as antibiotics, ultraviolet they could modify the bacterium to light up in the presence light, and potential weapons of bioterrorism. of specific organisms, such as tularemia or anthrax. They While Miller’s overall research efforts contribute accomplished this by inserting a gene that luminesces information that may help solve global when it is exposed to the particular agent, thus becoming environmental and health issues, he pres- a reporter. In addition to its use for bioremediation, it may ently is devoting a portion of his research have an unearthly use: NASA is interested in using a ver- to the war on terrorism. When the ter- sion of the sensor to monitor its water supplies in space. rorist attacks occurred on September 11, This sensor is only one application of the knowledge 2001, Miller already was working with that Miller has gained in his research on the genetics of a colleague on a sensor that uses bacte- bacteria. ▲ The blue glow of ria to detect environmental pollutants the enzyme lucif- Although many people don’t realize the importance in the soil. Miller and Gary Sayler, an erase reports the of bacteria, they affect the lives of the average person in environmental molecular microbiologist presence of an countless ways. In fact, bacteria are necessary for life to invader. at the University of Tennessee, realized exist on Earth. While we often think of bacteria only as they could use the same technology to pathogens that cause illness, they provide many positive detect biohazards—such as anthrax or the plague—that benefits, one of which is creating the oxygen we breathe. might be spread by terrorists. They soon began adapting Bacteria also recycle matter and help clean up environmental the sensor for this purpose. Their sensor uses bacteria and an enzyme called luciferase, the substance that NASA is interested in using a version of the sensor gives a firefly its glow. A luciferase gene is to monitor its water supplies in space. linked to a bacterium commonly found in all pollution. Decay processes driven by bacteria create the environments. It is called a “reporter gene” because when soil needed for plant growth and help plants use nutrients the bacterium encounters an intruder or environmental in the soil, thus enabling plants to produce much of our stress, it makes the enzyme, which causes the bacterium to food and oxygen. luminesce (light up), thus reporting an unwanted presence. Each molecule of the enzyme glows with a blue light—the Part of Miller’s previous work involved the development of stronger the glow, the more foreign material present. a sensor that is used to determine the effect of ultraviolet light

on marine bacteria. Using bacteria found in the Antarctic V

Miller and Sayler have developed two tests that use ANGUARD Ocean, Miller looks at genetic changes that might prevent the sensor, one for specific biohazards and another for a bacteria from performing their life-sustaining functions. “presumptive” test, or a first warning. The presumptive When the DNA of bacteria is damaged by ultraviolet light

ANGUARD test doesn’t report exactly which biohazard is present; it

V or other causes, their cells may mutate and die.

16 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 17 ▲ Robert Miller calculates the intensity of bioluminescence of engi- The Earth’s ozone layer is thinnest over Antarctica, neered bacteria, which indicates the levels of concentration of the which means that bacteria in the region receive more expo- invading organism. sure to ultraviolet light. Major changes to marine bacteria could have drastic consequences because they produce 50 Foundation for Microbiology. He lectures at regional meet- percent of the world’s oxygen. ings of the ASM upon invitation and is the author of several books. Miller’s research has a wide range of applications. In addition to its value in regard to environmental problems, The American Academy of Microbiology (a select group of it also can be applied to health issues. He recently studied about 300 microbiologists elected from the 50,000 members the growing problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. of ASM) asked Miller to chair a colloquium of approximately He says that if antibiotic resistance in humans continues 35 international scientists who are leaders in their various to increase, we will lose much of our ability to cure infec- fields. The group will meet later this year in Charleston, tious diseases with antibiotics. He and his colleagues hope South Carolina, to discuss such matters as the effect of to uncover information that will help solve this potentially ozone thinning and greenhouse gases on bacterial survival catastrophic problem. and nutrient cycling. The group will develop a white paper setting forth its

Miller’s work is internationally recognized in the scien- V tific community. He is a Fellow of the American Academy position on these issues. The scientists will send the position ANGUARD of Microbiology and was elected to the Waksman Founda- paper to Congress to help lawmakers make environmental tion for Microbiology Lecture Program, a joint venture of decisions that could well affect our survival. ANGUARD

V the American Society of Microbiology and the Waksman Carolyn Gonzales

16 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 17 OSU veterinary scientists are collaborating with private industry specialists to develop faster, more accurate sensors of chemical and biological warfare agents.

Collaborating for the Homeland

What does veterinary science have to do with homeland As impressive as that accomplishment may be, Nomadics security? “Very little,” you might say. But you’d be wrong. researchers are improving the sensitivity of the sensor, Eighty years of studying animal diseases has put moving toward a goal of one part or less per quadrillion. researchers in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine The OSU/Nomadics cooperative venture gained momen- in a unique position to help with the current homeland tum when the Department of Justice awarded a sizeable security effort. The knowledge they’ve gained, coupled with grant to the team through the Oklahoma City National sensor technology developed by Nomadics, Inc., a local firm Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism. This that specializes in transforming emerging technologies grant was quickly followed by grants from the Department into useful tools, will help first responders detect chemical of Defense, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of and biological agents. Science and Technology, the U.S. Department of Energy, the As early as the 1920s, well before the veterinary college National Science Foundation and the National Institutes was established in 1947, scientists and researchers were of Health. Each agency and each grant supports different studying naturally occurring, disease-causing organisms. applications of sensor technology. The researchers were fulfilling their land-grant mission After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the by helping to protect animal and human health, as well as research took on even greater urgency. Oklahoma’s agricultural economy. Their work led to the “We’re actually working on several related projects,” development of new vaccines and to new ways to prevent says Jerry Malayer, director of research and associate and treat many diseases. dean for graduate studies for the College of Veterinary Today, the state and nation face additional challenges. Medicine. “You have different working needs for different The issue of providing protection from infectious diseases sensor targets and environments.” has taken on new meaning because of the threat of bioter- Malayer, a molecular biologist, says that if the goal is to rorism. detect anthrax in a building, a rapid, sensitive, and portable Nomadics was aware of the expertise of the research scientists in the veterinary college. They approached the OSU researchers about conducting cooperative research to develop more accurate and faster sensors to detect chemical and biological agents. The OSU scientists took the challenge, and a rich collaborative relationship was born. “A marriage of strengths” is the way one OSU researcher describes the relationship between the partners. OSU brings experience in working with disease-causing organisms, and Nomadics provides experience in sensor-technology development. Nomadics has a strong track record of research and V development. It has designed a number of sensors, including ANGUARD a land-mine detection system for the Department of Defense. This sensor provides a sensitivity of approximately 100 ▲ Jerry Malayer prepares samples for analysis, using fluorescence-based, ANGUARD

V parts per quadrillion (a thousand multiplied by a trillion). real-time technlogy under development at OSU.

18 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 19 ▲ Team members at a weekly planning and progress meeting. Clockwise system is needed. “If you’re trying to detect a pathogen in from top: Jerry Malayer, Alain Stinzi, Ken Clinkenbeard, Tim Snider, a food source in a processing plant, you’ll most likely take faculty members in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine ; Akhilesh samples to the sensor. So it doesn’t have to be portable, but Ramachandran and Nagaraja Thirumalapura, OSU graduate students; it still needs to be fast and extremely sensitive,” he adds. “If Jean Clarke and Brian Strecker, staff members at Nomadics. you’re trying to detect pathogens in water, then you have a different set of needs. We’re looking at, and working in, fluoresce (emit light at a specific wavelength), indicating all these environments.” the presence of the target organism. “We work as a team, and everyone brings “We work as a team and everyone brings a different a different piece of the puzzle to the table,” Malayer says. “We know the probes work. piece of the puzzle to the table.” — Jerry Malayer We know they are specific. Now we’re into the more technical engineering aspects of In order to develop applications for the different needs design in coupling the probes to the polymer platforms and and environments, a team with a wide range of disciplines getting them to communicate.” is needed. Specialties of the OSU team members include pathobiology, immunology, pharmacology, toxicology, In addition to the potential it holds for national protec- molecular biology, and genomics. tion and health, Malayer says the sensor research also has opened up new opportunities for graduate students. “We are The OSU researchers’ experience in working with developing expertise among the students in our lab in how DNA sequence information enables them to help design to make these probes work, and how to develop the fluors the DNA or RNA probes that detect sequences unique to and chemistries that are necessary to bring that about. We various organisms. Once unique stretches of the target all work with the students in that respect. organism’s DNA sequence have been identified, the probe V

is designed to complement that sequence. When the probe “We believe we’re not just helping to develop new tech- ANGUARD encounters the target bacteria, it binds with the unique nologies. We are also helping to develop people who will part of the DNA sequence it matches, and the structural develop new technologies.”

ANGUARD change causes the molecules tagged onto the probes to Tom Johnston V

18 Research at Oklahoma State University Research at Oklahoma State University 19 Vanquishing Terrorists’ Bombs

Homemade bombs—a distinguishing mark of terrorist The project is funded by the National Institute of Justice, activity—are contained in boxes, backpacks, and shoes. through the Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute They are stashed in waste containers. They are loaded for the Prevention of Terrorism. Apblett and Materer are into cars and trucks. collaborating with researchers from the University of Okla- They are not encased in protective shells, as are mili- homa and the University of Tulsa. The final product will tary bombs and landmines. It is this accessibility of the be tested at Sandia National Laboratories. components that makes them vulnerable to a new approach Apblett says the research project grew out of his earlier to incapacitating such bombs. work on groundwater decontamination. He developed reagents that could replace chlorine atoms in toxic chlorocarbons with hydrogen atoms, which made the pollutants relatively harmless. “Since most explosives have reactive groups that contain nitrogen and oxygen,” he says, “I speculated that the same reagents could be used to replace oxygen with hydrogen in explosive compounds, which would convert them into materials that could not be detonated.” The chemists have developed two processes that work at high temperatures. They are now testing catalysts they developed to determine which ones best generate the required reactions at ambient temperatures. One process uses hydrogen-containing materials and catalysts to neutralize nitrogen- and oxygen-containing explosives such as TNT, dynamite, plastic explosive, and fertilizer bombs. The second decomposes military explosives by reacting them with organic amines (unpleasant-smell- ing derivatives of ammonia) and converts them to non- ▲ Alan Apblett tests the power of a reagent to neutralize an explo- explosive materials that can be used in the manufacture sive compound. of plastics. OSU chemists Allen Apblett and Nick Materer are The final version of the product will be scalable—the developing a process that neutralizes bombs by convert- size will vary according to need. It can be contained in a ing the explosive materials into non-explosive compounds. small, portable kit that could become a standard part of They have created a number of chemical solutions, which an emergency team’s equipment. But when necessary, it they will test to determine the most effective. can be used on a larger scale to render harmless a car or truck bomb. They then will pressurize the solution for application. A spray device much like a fire extinguisher will be used to Maurer and Apblett know their job will not be finished neutralize small bombs. To neutralize large bombs such as when they deliver their final report to the Institute. In fact, vehicle bombs, the solution will be pumped, the way water it has only begun. They must obtain funding to enable them is dispensed from a fire truck. to further develop the product to the commercial stage and then find a manufacturer so it can become a part of the Usually after a bomb is located, first responders must first responder’s bag of tools. disarm it, remove it, or explode it in a controlled manner. It’s a dangerous operation under the best of circumstances, Apblett says, “We think the first step for our process is especially when bombs are booby-trapped to explode when for use in counter-terrorism, but we also see a use for this they are moved or if they are handled incorrectly. in the military and for environmental decontamination. The Department of Defense must destroy very large quantities Neutralizing bombs will enable emergency response of old explosives and detonate badly corroded missiles and personnel to transport the device safely to an appropriate V bombs that cannot be opened. Our process could provide a ANGUARD place for disposal. Apblett, the principal investigator, says, safer and more environmentally friendly alternative.” “ Rather than risk injury by moving a bomb that might be Shari Dunn booby-trapped or by attempting to detonate it on-site, you can neutralize it right there and then transport it.”

Research at Oklahoma State University 21 Reese’s Pieces Since childhood, Brandon Reese has been fascinated by He says the combina- grid-like structures, and the present focus of his large- tion of parts in his sculptures reveals his intrigue with scale ceramic art refl ects that fascination. His work is the elements of a relationship that connect people and truly large scale: A single sculpture may encompass as enable them to function as a unit yet maintain their many as 20 pieces, reach 9 feet in height, and weigh own individuality. His complex structures portray the 1,500 pounds. dynamics of the interaction of his twin children as well While not limited to grids, his sculptures—dubbed as that of his wife and himself. “Reese’s Pieces” by his students—are impressive not only “My work represents my belief that the best part of because of their mass and visual appeal, but because of life is the process and that true success comes when you the intangibles they express. An assistant professor of can wear with beauty and grace all the marks left by art, Reese says they are a study in relationship, depict- life, allowing them to become a part of you and to serve ing the interactions that play important roles in the as a memento of where you came from and how you got development of an individual. to where you are,” Reese says. “The pieces I make wear the fi ngerprints, cuts, dents, and other texturing as a roadmap and documenta- “… true success comes when you can wear with beauty tion of their creation.” and grace all the marks left by life…” — Brandon Reese Shari Dunn

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