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Wednesday, October 4, 2006

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Total Clips: 3

	Date	Outlet
Different Pavement Courses Placed Simultaneously	10/04/2006	ACP
Bob Mount : Litterbugs suffer little consequences	10/04/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
AU accused of animal abuse	10/04/2006	Montgomery Advertiser


Different Pavement Courses Placed Simultaneously 10/04/2006 ACP Kurt Hixson		Return to Top
This story mentions AU's National Center of Asphalt Technology. Dynapac demonstrated its most recent innovation, which allows the simultaneous laying of the wearing and binder courses of asphalt in a single pass at the National Center of Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Over 50 spectators witnessed this new technology known as Kompact Asphalt Paving that allows "hot on hot" monolithic pavement to be laid simultaneously in a single pass. The Dynapac F-300 C/S twin-paver, used during the demonstration, consists of two hoppers: the upper hopper that has a 25-ton capacity to hold the top course (wearing course) hot mix, and a lower hopper that has a 45-ton capacity to hold the binder course material; both courses of pavement are placed simultaneously "hot on hot." The paver also consists of two screeds that are fed by the two different hoppers. The first screed has the ability to place the binder course while compacting it to a density of up to 97 percent, while the second screed places the top course directly over the freshly placed binder and compacting it to 92-percent density. The screeds can be adjusted to reduce or increase compaction as required. The designed permeable mix, formulated by the Georgia DOT, will reduce water accumulation, which will lower dangers of hydroplaning and truck back spray that reduces the visibility of vehicular drivers on rainy days. In addition, this mix will assist in reducing noise pollution to residential living areas near designated highways. The trial permeable mix pavement is placed at the assigned test section that is sponsored by research funding from the Georgia Department of Transportation, N-13, of the NCAT test track. The "hot on hot" mix consisted of an open graded mix for both the binder and wearing course. The top course (wearing course) consisted of 3/8-inch-minus material, and the binder course consisted of 1/2-inch-minus material. The desirable void content of this mix would lay between 22 percent to 26 percent. Observers who watched this first-of-a-kind operation in the United States attentively endured the humidity and 100-degree temperature. The group consisted of state DOTs, contractors, and various paving and construction associations. The implementation of this unique and precise process was managed by Dynapac USA, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. "We were glad to be a part of this demonstration that clearly displays the future of asphalt paving," stated George Platt, Dynapac vice president of Paving and Milling. "The performance of the F-300 surpassed even our own expectations and we are looking forward to implementing this innovative technology throughout the United States." Preliminary results for the permeable mix are expected to rate as "excellent" regarding its smoothness and permeability. This pavement technology will be evaluated over the next two years by the National Center of Asphalt Technology (NCAT). The test site will be subjected to numerous tests and will be evaluated accordingly.
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Bob Mount : Litterbugs suffer little consequences 10/04/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Bob Mount		Return to Top
AU faculty highlights are included in this column. As a resident in rural Lee County, my annual tax bill includes a waste disposal fee of $144. Payment of the fee allows me to dump my disposables in any one of several receptacles ("dumpsters") in the county. I deposit two or three sacks of garbage into a receptacle about once each week. I usually take recyclable materials to the Auburn Recycling Center on North Donahue. People residing within the corporate limits of Auburn, Opelika and Smiths Station are prohibited from using the dumpsters. I recently received a call from a member of the Auburn City Council, who resides in an up-scale neighborhood, who queried me as follows. "Bob, one of my neighbors has some trash he wants to dispose of and wants to know if it's permissible for him to deposit it in a county dumpster." I said "No, and if he's caught doing so, he could be subjected to a hefty fine." This led me to suspect that some city residents may be unaware of the prohibition against their using the dumpsters. Out of curiosity, I requested from the Lee County Solid Waste Authority some information on numbers of citations for violating ordinances relating to waste disposal and penalties accessed the violators. Following is for the period Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006. Unlawful disposal, 146; scattering trash, 22; unauthorized dumping, 14; giving false name, 1; haulage, 4; failing to pay commercial fee, 2; public nuisance, 43. Total, 232. Fines collected, $3,410; court costs, $18,812; restitution costs assessed, $920. The solid waste authority has its hands full monitoring use of the dumpsters and investigating illegal dump sites. Meanwhile, the scumbags who litter our roadsides with their paper cups, cans, bottles and fast-food containers are seldom if ever brought to justice by law-enforcement authorities. Fines of up to $500 can be assessed for littering, and monies collected can be claimed by the authorities making the arrests. Makes me wonder why so few, if any, of the litterbugs are ever arrested. • • • Good news and bad news. First the good news. Perry Hooper Jr., the Republican candidate for a seat on the Public Service Commission, is trailing his Democratic opponent, Susan Parker, by a few percentage points. Anyone familiar with Hooper's background should be pleased. The bad news is that, according to a report by Bob Ingram, in Sunday's edition of the Opelika-Auburn News, Democrat PSC commissioner Jan Cook holds a "double-digit lead" over her Republican challenger, area resident John Rice. Perhaps with all the bad publicity Cook's been receiving in the media, John thought he would be a shoo-in for the seat without firing a shot. I thought he would be too, but apparently I was mistaken. • • • Auburn University administrators, faculty, alumni and students can just be justifiably proud of some of its faculty members: Dr. David Bransby, a professor in the College of Agriculture and a nationally recognized specialist on bio-fuels, was asked to share his knowledge on the subject with President Bush on his recent visit to Alabama. Dr. Geoff Hill, a nationally acclaimed bird specialist, assisted by his graduate students, has discovered a population of ivory-billed woodpeckers in the forest along the Choctawhatchee River in Florida, not far south of the Alabama boundary. Dr. George Folkerts, widely recognized as a leading authority on wetland ecology and acclaimed for his narrative in the coffee-table book "Okefenokee," deserves our appreciation. I salute these and the numerous other AU faculty members whose accomplishments reflect favorably on my alma mater. Bob Mount is emeritus professor of zoology and entomology at Auburn University and writes a weekly column for the Opelika-Auburn News.
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AU accused of animal abuse 10/04/2006 Montgomery Advertiser Tatiana Richards		Return to Top
Auburn University is investigating employees in its College of Veterinary Medicine after an animal rights group claimed it found evidence of animal abuse during a hidden-camera investigation. From February to October 2005, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals conducted a hidden-camera investigation at an Auburn research lab, said PETA spokesperson Kate Turlington. During that time, Turlington said, PETA's operative discovered researchers were not giving animals proper veterinary care, including administering insufficient amounts of pain medicine after surgeries. PETA also claims Auburn misrepresented the success rate of its dog kidney transplant procedure. Auburn researchers said the procedure, which involves transplanting organs from one unrelated dog to another, allows dogs to possibly live out their lives without taking high doses of immunosuppressive drugs. Turlington said she believes the claim to be false and that every animal that underwent the $14,000 procedure died. Brian Keeter, director of public affairs at Auburn, said the university is looking into the matter. "We are reviewing the situation to determine if any Auburn employees acted inappropriately, but it's very important to remember these are unsubstantiated allegations and Auburn was providing a service to people whose pets were very sick," Keeter said. Karen Smith, an Ohio woman whose dog, Apache, died a few days after undergoing the procedure, said Auburn veterinarian Michael Tillson told her the procedure had a 70 percent success rate. "I would've been happier to let Apache die at home with his family instead of 800 miles away with strangers," Smith said. While Keeter did not have specific statistics about the program, he said the school is known for its services to animals, not for animal cruelty. "Auburn University is a national leader in improving the quality of life for animals," Keeter said, adding that the school is accredited by the American Veterinary Association, which he said is considered the "gold standard" in veterinary education. PETA has filed claims with the USDA as well as the Alabama Attorney General's Office, Turlington said.
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