Untitled Document

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

NOTE ON FORMATTING: When stories are transferred from the Web, certain punctuation marks and other marks in this report don't carry over and result in symbols and other formatting errors. To see or print the story in full without these translation errors, simply click on "full story" at the end of each item."

Total Clips: 6

	Date	Outlet
AU architecture group wins award for design	11/14/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
New review plans evoke discontent from AAUP	11/14/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Time for UA to step up in food drive race	11/14/2006	The Tuscaloosa News
Rx Filling	11/14/2006	The Dothan Eagle
Committee recommends Alabama hire first female state forester	11/13/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Researchers from Auburn University, U.S., publish new findings	11/13/2006	Health & Medicine Week


AU architecture group wins award for design 11/14/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Staff report		Return to Top
Auburn University School of Architecture professors David Hinson and Stacy Norman and their students won the Alabama Council of the American Institute of Architects' 2006 Honor Award for their work on the DESIGNhabitat2 House in Greensboro. The DESIGNhabitat program is an ongoing partnership between AU's School of Architecture and the Alabama Association of Habitat Affiliates. For the award-winning DESIGNhabitat2 project, the AU architecture group and the modular housing industry formed a partnership to find ways Habitat could build more homes with fewer volunteer resources to meet the housing demand generated by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. The AU students designed the 1,100-square-foot house with a focus on energy efficiency. They used alternative siding and roofing materials that were both durable and energy efficient, and placed the house to minimize the amount of heat generated from direct sunlight while still taking advantage of natural light from the sun. The modular sections of the DESIGNhabitat2 house were produced by Palm Harbor Homes in Boaz and transported to the project site. The students completed the house in two weeks as part of the Habitat volunteer-based mission. "It's terrific for our students to get this recognition in a professional design awards program," Hinson said. "With this award, the AIA is affirming both the quality of the building and the sustainable design principles that guided their approach. These students were a fantastic team, and we’re very proud of their work." The DESIGNhabitat 2 House was one of only two recipients out of 49 nominations for the Honor Award, which is the highest award presented by the Alabama Council of the AIA in recognizing "exemplary design." The house, completed in June of this year, was built for Dorinda Crews and her three children in Greensboro, who were displaced from their home by Hurricane Katrina. The School of Architecture is housed in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. The components of the CADC are annually regarded and ranked among the best in their respective disciplines nationally for the quality of education and quality of students.
Full Story

New review plans evoke discontent from AAUP 11/14/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Ginny Farmer		Return to Top
This story is about post-tenure review at AU. The words fear and distrust were on the lips of members of the Auburn chapter of the American Association of University Professors Monday night as they debated at a called meeting whether to publicly censure Auburn University's president, provost and board of trustees for moving "prematurely and without documentation" regarding a post-tenure review policy. The consensus finally reached by those present at the Alumni Center was that the timing is not right for a censure, but the chapter's executive committee will draft a document in the style of a censure to be held as a reserve - "just in case" it's needed. The feeling expressed by many AAUP members was that Auburn's trustees, president and provost are moving too quickly on a post-tenure review policy the faculty has concerns about, especially in the midst of a presidential search. "We wonder if it might not be a good idea to write to our accreditation body, SACS, to ask if the policy, as it has developed over the last year, represents another example of Board of Trustees micromanagement, which led to the university being placed on SACS probation for a year," wrote AAUP chapter president-elect Bill Trimble in a recent AAUP newsletter. AAUP members are concerned that data has not been shown exhibiting post-tenure review systems that have worked at other universities, and that university faculty will be portrayed as the cause of any resulting problems. "We're reacting, not causing the problem," said journalism professor Judy Sheppard. "We are only reacting the way we have to, to defend the academic freedom process." Also included in the motion that passed unanimously was to create a list of lawyers who can assist faculty in the due process of a dismissal, to outline the AAUP's stance on the post-tenure review issue and to offer to work with the university’s next president on a post-tenure review policy. "We're not a random sampling of the faculty, we’re the AAUP," said Dudley McGlynn, a psychology professor. "We should rather err on the side of being too activist rather than too pacifist. "If anyone is going to take action, we must," McGlynn said. "If we don't, no one will." Other AAUP members suggested creating an alliance with students and informing the public about everything faculty members contribute to the university. The faculty members present emphasized they are not opposed to a post-tenure review process, but the situation at Auburn is unique. "It's not the right time," said history professor David Carter, "coming on the heels of distrust and just escaping (SACS) probation." The AAUP members also expressed interest in recruiting more of the faculty to be members of the association to better represent the faculty as a whole and to send a message to the administration. "If we can't stop post-tenure reviews, we can at least influence the design," said David Sutton, a professor in the Department of Communication and Journalism.
Full Story

Time for UA to step up in food drive race 11/14/2006 The Tuscaloosa News		Return to Top
This story is about the AU vs. UA Food Drive. We've been beat. The University of Alabama has lost to Auburn the last eight years in the annual Beat Auburn Beat Hunger Food Drive. Surely we can do better. If we got as excited about the food drive as we do in Tuscaloosa about the Iron Bowl, we could feed a lot more hungry people. Each year, Alabama and Auburn compete to collect the most pounds of food to donate to the West Alabama Food Bank and the East Alabama Food Bank. UA students and Tuscaloosa residents are asked to help "can" Auburn by donating nonperishable food items in the annual food fight. The program now is in its 13th year. Executive director Craig Young said that even though Alabama leads now, things can -- and usually do -- change quickly. "We're ahead now, but they're kind of sandbagging us, I'm afraid," he said. As of Monday the Food Bank had collected 51,000 pounds of donated food. It averages about 60,000 pounds of food each year from the drive. The food always is needed during the holidays, but Young hopes this will be the best year yet -- one that will break the average. The West Alabama Food Bank works in our nine county service area getting food donations to serve a population of more than 315,000 residents. More than 15 percent of those residents live in poverty. In the last 17 years, the Food Bank has distributed more than 12 million pounds of food to households in need through 65 agencies. Why does UA continue to lose to Auburn? "I think they can get a little more community involvement than we do," Young said. “Here it's pretty much students, but the students are doing a good job." Young points out that in Auburn community-wide events, such as barbecues, are routine. So before you get out your red and white shakers for the game Saturday, get out some cans and boxes to take to the food bank. From 1994 through 2005 University of Alabama students have collected 393,967 pounds of food to Auburn University's 507,088 pounds. Winning the football game is important, but winning this contest will take UA to a new level in another realm. The winner will be announced at halftime during the Iron Bowl. Let's beat Auburn this year.
Full Story

Rx Filling 11/14/2006 The Dothan Eagle Jim Cook		Return to Top
This story is about a plan for an AU Pharmacy School satellite at the University of South Alabama. There's a pharmacist shortage and two Alabama universities are trying to do something about it. A partnership between two Alabama universities may eventually cut your waiting time at the local pharmacy. Auburn University and the University of South Alabama are working on a plan to open a satellite campus of Auburn's Harrison Pharmacy School at South Alabama, located in Mobile. The two universities are pursuing the program because a nationwide shortage of pharmacists is being felt here in south Alabama. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Bethesda, Md., hospital pharmacy vacancy rates currently stand at about 6 percent. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores in Alexandria, Va., reported more than 4,000 open pharmacy slots in July 2004, the latest data available. Philip Atkinson is the assistant director of Southeast Alabama Medical Center's pharmacy program. He says local retail pharmacies have had to cut hours of operation and require their pharmacists to work longer hours because of the shortage. Increased competition and chain pharmacies' ability to pay higher salaries are making it harder for hospitals to recruit pharmacists. There are several reasons for the shortage. It now takes six years to get a pharmacist's degree, meaning students must spend more time and money pursuing this career. Pharmacists are being asked to become more active in the care of their patients, interacting with them more and giving advice on their medications, thus increasing their workloads. America's growing aging population is increasing the demand for prescription medications and there's also an increase in the number of prescription medications on the market. "As we look at the workload issues surrounding health care the shortage is going to get worse," said Lee Evans, dean of Auburn's Harrison School of Pharmacy. The partnership between Auburn and South Alabama would increase the number of pharmacy students entering the field. Students at South Alabama would take courses taught by Auburn staff at the campus in Mobile and would also receive instruction via distance learning. Evans said the program was beneficial because graduates from the program would receive their training from a respected pharmacy school. "It takes a long time for a school to mature to the point where you see the quality present at Georgia, Florida or Auburn," he said. "We'll be able to raise the bar almost immediately so the graduates benefit from a well-established program." Evans said increasing the pool of pharmacists available would raise the chances that some would locate to south Alabama, thus increasing the number of pharmacists here.
Full Story

Committee recommends Alabama hire first female state forester 11/13/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Phillip Rawls, AP		Return to Top
This story mentions AU's forestry Dean Richard Brinker, and also appeared in The Montgomery Advertiser, The Tuscaloosa News, The Sun News, The Island Packet, The Herald, The Gadsden Times, The State and The Beaufort Gazette. MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A search committee proposed Monday that the Alabama Forestry Commission hire the first woman to run the state's forestry agency. The search committee voted unanimously to recommend that Alabama's next state forester be Linda S. Casey, manager of fiber supply for the east region of International Paper in Georgetown, S.C. "She's very focused and hard charging and has been able to accomplish a great deal," said Chris Isaacson, executive vice president of the Alabama Forestry Association and a member of the search committee. The Forestry Commission will meet Wednesday to consider the recommendation. If Casey is selected, she will replace Timothy Boyce, who has stepped down to assistant state forester and is planning to retire in July after 13 years of running the agency. The Forestry Commission is appointed by the governor and sets policy for the state's forestry agency, but the state forester oversees the day-to-day work involving 337 employees scattered across the state and a $35.5 million annual budget. Casey is used to breaking through the glass ceiling. When she graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1973, she was the first female forester hired by International Paper and began work in its Bay Minette office. Casey said she had offers from other companies, but they wanted her to work in public relations rather than as a forester. She said she chose International Paper because "they put me out cruising timber. I learned everything from the ground up." Auburn University forestry Dean Richard Brinker, chairman of the search committee, said Kentucky and Missouri have female state foresters, but Casey would be the first woman to hold the position in a Deep South state. Casey, 56, said she has never dwelt on breaking down barriers for women. "To me, it's just an opportunity to go out and do the very best you can and make a mark that helps people," she said. The search committee reviewed 26 applications and interviewed four finalists before recommending Casey. The committee's second choice was William F. Miller, an International Paper retiree who is a timber consultant in Savannah, Ga. Brinker said Casey was the top recommendation because she had experience managing lots of people and big budgets and had served on International Paper's diversity task force. Another committee member said she stood out in her interview. "The thing that struck me about her is she exuded a quiet confidence that will serve her well," said Dan Meissner, government relations consultant for the Westervelt Co. in Tuscaloosa. Posted on Mon, Nov. 13, 2006 email this print this Committee recommends Alabama hire first female state forester PHILLIP RAWLS Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A search committee proposed Monday that the Alabama Forestry Commission hire the first woman to run the state's forestry agency. The search committee voted unanimously to recommend that Alabama's next state forester be Linda S. Casey, manager of fiber supply for the east region of International Paper in Georgetown, S.C. 'She's very focused and hard charging and has been able to accomplish a great deal,' said Chris Isaacson, executive vice president of the Alabama Forestry Association and a member of the search committee. The Forestry Commission will meet Wednesday to consider the recommendation. If Casey is selected, she will replace Timothy Boyce, who has stepped down to assistant state forester and is planning to retire in July after 13 years of running the agency. The Forestry Commission is appointed by the governor and sets policy for the state's forestry agency, but the state forester oversees the day-to-day work involving 337 employees scattered across the state and a $35.5 million annual budget. Casey is used to breaking through the glass ceiling. When she graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1973, she was the first female forester hired by International Paper and began work in its Bay Minette office. Casey said she had offers from other companies, but they wanted her to work in public relations rather than as a forester. She said she chose International Paper because 'they put me out cruising timber. I learned everything from the ground up.' Auburn University forestry Dean Richard Brinker, chairman of the search committee, said Kentucky and Missouri have female state foresters, but Casey would be the first woman to hold the position in a Deep South state. Casey, 56, said she has never dwelt on breaking down barriers for women. 'To me, it's just an opportunity to go out and do the very best you can and make a mark that helps people,' she said. The search committee reviewed 26 applications and interviewed four finalists before recommending Casey. The committee's second choice was William F. Miller, an International Paper retiree who is a timber consultant in Savannah, Ga. Brinker said Casey was the top recommendation because she had experience managing lots of people and big budgets and had served on International Paper's diversity task force. Another committee member said she stood out in her interview. 'The thing that struck me about her is she exuded a quiet confidence that will serve her well,' said Dan Meissner, government relations consultant for the Westervelt Co. in Tuscaloosa.
Full Story

Researchers from Auburn University, U.S., publish new findings 11/13/2006 Health & Medicine Week		Return to Top
This trend article about Auburn University, U.S., is an immediate alert from NewsRx to identify developing directions of research. Study 1 Current study results from the report, Risky sexual behaviors, alcohol use, and drug use a comparison of Eastern and Western European adolescents, have been published. The current study examined to what extent cultural context moderated developmental processes, namely the patterns of association between low self-control, family processes and three indicators of health-compromising behaviors (risky sexual behaviors, alcohol and drug use) in two Eastern European and two Western European adolescent samples. School-based questionnaire data were collected from n=7291 middle and late adolescents in Hungary, Slovenia, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, scientists in the United States report. Students rated measures of self-control, family processes (closeness, support, and monitoring), and health-compromising behaviors. The data were analyzed by a series of set hierarchical regression analyses as well as follow-up z-tests for comparisons of individual regression coefficients. Findings provided evidence that low self-control was positively associated with all three measures of health-compromising behaviors in a largely invariant fashion across countries. Differences were found in developmental processes, where low self-control was more weakly associated with risky sexual behaviors in samples of both Eastern European countries as compared with Western European ones, thus providing some evidence of idiosyncratic cultural norms. also provided evidence of mostly direct effects by family processes on measures of health-compromising behaviors. With two exceptions, no differences were observed in these effects across the four samples. Low self-control explains variability in health-compromising behaviors, especially in alcohol and drug use, wrote A.T. Vazsonyi and colleagues, Auburn University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies. The researchers concluded The observed differences in the link between low self-control and risky sexual behaviors may provide some evidence of distinct norms and values among Eastern European youth in comparison with Western European adolescents related to these behaviors. Vazsonyi and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Adolescent Health (Risky sexual behaviors, alcohol use, and drug use a comparison of Eastern and Western European adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2006;39(5) 753.e1-11). For more information, contact A.T. Vazsonyi, Auburn University, Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies, Auburn, Alabama 36849 U.S. Study 2 Scientists have developed a mouse model of respiratory Chlamydia pneumoniae infection for a genomic screen of subunit vaccine candidates. According to recent research published in the journal Vaccine, An inbred A/J mouse respiratory challenge model was validated for vaccine testing against Chlamydia pneumoniae and used to screen the C. pneumoniae genome for vaccine candidates by expression library immunization (ELI). Biolistic delivery of genetic vaccine constructs elicited Th2-like immunity that was associated with inefficient elimination of C. pneumoniae, reported Dan Li and collaborators at Auburn University and MacroGenics, Inc. Delivery by injection elicited protective Th1-like responses. Since biolistic delivery of pools of ORFs was used in first round screening, the screen presumably selected against potent immunogens. Nevertheless, it was sufficiently accurate to identify three weakly protective antigens among all putative C. pneumoniae ORFs, the researchers reported. The results suggest ELI discovery of highly protective C. pneumoniae vaccine candidates requires tight control of the Th1 immunity elicited by the genetically delivered library of test antigens, they concluded. Li and associates published their study in Vaccine (Mouse model of respiratory Chlamydia pneumoniae infection for a genomic screen of subunit vaccine candidates. Vaccine, 2006;24(15) 2917-2927). For additional information, contact Bernhard Kaltenboeck, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, 270 Greene Hall, Auburn, AL 36849-5519, USA. kaltebe@auburn.edu. Study 3 Endothelin-1 inhibits adiponectin secretion through a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate/actin-dependent mechanism. According to a study from the United States, Adiponectin is an adipokine with profound insulin-sensitizing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-atherogenic properties. Plasma levels of adiponectin are reduced in insulin resistant states such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanism(s) by which adiponectin concentrations are decreased during disease development is unclear. Studies have shown that endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictor peptide, affects adipocyte glucose metabolism and secretion of adipokines such as leptin, resistin, and adiponectin. The goal of our study, proposed D. Bedi and colleagues, Auburn University, was to determine the mechanism by which ET-1 decreases adiponectin secretion. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for 24 h with ET-1 (10 nM) and then stimulated with vehicle or insulin (100 nM) for a period of 1-2 h. The data showed, Chronic ET-1 (24 h) treatment significantly decreased basal and insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion by 66 and 47%, respectively. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis by the PLC beta inhibitor, U73122, or exogenous addition Of PIP2 histone carrier complex (1.25 0.625 mcM) ameliorated the decrease in basal and insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion observed with ET-1. However, treatment with exogenous PIP2 histone carrier complex and the actin depolymerizing agent latrunculin B (20 mcM) did not reverse the ET-1-mediated decrease in adiponectin secretion. The researchers concluded, We demonstrate that ET-1 inhibits basal and insulin-stimulated adiponectin secretion through PIP2 modulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Bedi and colleagues published their study in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (Endothelin-1 inhibits adiponectin secretion through a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate/actin-dependent mechanism. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2006;345(1) 332-339). For more information, contact R.L. Judd, Auburn University, Dept. of Anatomy Physiol & Pharmacology, Boshell Diabetes & Metab Diseases Research Program, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. NOTE: No Web link was available for this story.