NAMES-IN-THE-NEWS
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Dr. William H. Friedman, Department of Marketing, Management and Information Systems, had his research paper titled "Virtual Absenteeism" appear in the book Internet Management Issues: A Global Perspective just published by Idea Group Publishing. The book contains 19 papers by professors from around the world. It is edited by Dr. John D. Haynes of the University of Central Florida and UCOL, New Zealand. Friedman’s paper concerns employees who are virtually absent from work because of Internet and other non-job related activities involving computers conducted during the workday.

The UCA Department of Philosophy and Religion and the Hendrix College Department of Philosophy co-hosted the annual meeting of the Arkansas Philosophical Association on Feb. 8 and 9 at Hendrix College. Charles Harvey, Department of Philosophy and Religion, was co-organizer of the conference. Jim Shelton, Department of Philosophy and Religion, presented a paper entitled "Logical Empiricism and Scientific Realism" and Gary Thiher, Department of Philosophy and Religion, presented a paper entitled "Needs True and False."

Jimmy Ishee and Carolyn Ishee, College of Health and Applied Sciences and Division of Institutional Advancement, respectively, presented a session titled "Fundraising 101: Being Accountable for the Basics" at the National Association for Physical Education in Higher Education Annual Conference. Jimmy also presented a research paper titled "The Future of Physical in Higher Education" at the National Association of Physical Education in Higher Education Annual Conference.

Elizabeth Smith, Department of Art, received Faculty Development Grant to attend the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts in Kansas City, Mo., March 13-16.

GRANTS
Name of Grant: Immunization Postage
Names of proposal author (s): Candace Welcher
Funding agency (ies): Aventis Pasteur, Inc.
Amount of funds received per year or per length of project (if different): $300
Length of Project: March 15, 2002 through Aug. 15, 2002
Department, College, or non-academic unit, in which the project will be located:  Student Health Services
Who will be involved other than the author (s)? staff of Student Health Services
What will be the outcome (s) of this grant? It will meet the state requirement for prenatal notification of meningitis vaccine availability and provide a reminder to parents of the state requirements for MMR immunization.
How will this grant benefit UCA, the students, the community, and/or the state? It will meet state law requirements and separate this information from the registration packet.

Name of Grant: Effects of the Stance Control Orthosis on Functional Walking Abilities and Heart Rate
Names of proposal author (s): Kevin Kendrick and Kent Charles
Funding agency (ies): State Undergraduate Research Fellowship - SURF (formerly known as SILO Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
Amount of funds received per year or per length of project (if different): $2,650
Length of Project: January 15, 2002 through October 31, 2002  
Department, College, or non-academic unit, in which the project will be located:  KPED and Physical Therapy
Who will be involved other than the author (s)? Amy McMillan and Reta Zabel
What will be the outcome (s) of this grant? It will demonstrate that a new type of orthotic, designed to allow knee flexing at heel strike, will improve walking gait and economy (the amount of energy required to walk) compared to the typical locked-knee orthotic.
How will this grant benefit UCA, the students, the community, and/or the state? The grant will benefit UCA because it enhances the ability to acquire pilot data for submission of an NIH grant, which would bring funding to the university and research opportunities for qualified graduate students. Also publications of findings would improve/enhance UCA reputation as a research institution. For the area/state the results of this and future study of the orthotic may contribute positively to the economy of this area/state because the orthotic under study, the only of its kind, in manufactured and sold in Little Rock.

Name of Grant: Applications of Darboux Transformations to Alpha-decay
Names of proposal author (s): Dr. Rahul Mehta and William Fendt
Funding agency (ies): State Undergraduate Research Fellowship - SURF (formerly konwn as SILO Undergraduate Research Fellowship)
Amount of funds received per year or per length of project (if different): $2,640
Length of Project: January 7, 2002 through October 31, 2002 
Department, College, or non-academic unit, in which the project will be located:  College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Who will be involved other than the author (s)? Dr. Danny Arrigo and Dr. Fred Hickling
What will be the outcome (s) of this grant? Heavier atoms have a tendency to become unstable due to the large mass of their nucleus. This causes the atom to give up mass in a proces called nuclear decay. The time it takes a nucleus of an atom to lose half its mass is called the half-time of the atom. We intend to develop a new method for predicting the half-time of atoms that experience nuclear decay.
How will this grant benefit UCA, the students, the community, and/or the state? Receiving this grant will help in demonstrating that UCA gives students the opportunity to perform research outside the classroom. This is  very important to students who wish to pursue an education beyond the undergraduate level, as well as giving the experience to those students planning to enter the work force upon graduation. The student who receives this grant is also responsible for presenting at a conference. This is another way to show that there are new and important ideas coming from the faculty and students at UCA.