Untitled Document

Monday, November 27, 2006

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Total Clips: 16

	Date	Outlet
Taking care of business	11/27/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Auburn to offer pharmacy degrees at South Alabama campus	11/27/2006	Gainesville Sun
Auburn to offer pharmacy degrees at South Alabama campus	11/27/2006	Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Quarreling parents need to fix their marriage	11/27/2006	Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA
Testing ground: MeadWestvaco sees worldwide market for new asphalt additive	11/27/2006	Charleston Regional Business Journal
Basics of Holiday Food Safety	11/27/2006	The Signal (Santa Clara)
Report rates UA low on minority enrollment	11/26/2006	Tuscaloosa News, The
A model for agricultural growth	11/26/2006	The Anniston Star
Metro briefs	11/25/2006	Birmingham News
Med school enrollment hits record: 10% gain puts UAB in top 9 for growth	11/25/2006	Birmingham News
A bird named Tiger wows kids at Homewood Library	11/23/2006	Birmingham News
Stroke of Luck	11/23/2006	Opelika-Auburn News
Volatile U.S. cattle market expected to continue in 2007	11/22/2006	Delta Farm Press
Testosterone Gives Male birds Their Color, Scientists Say	11/22/2006	National Geographic News
Cover story: HOLIDAY FOOD PLAN: Devilishly good	11/22/2006	Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Alabama suffers engineer shortage	11/07/2006	Birmingham News - Online


Taking care of business 11/27/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer BY ANDREA V. HERNANDEZ		Return to Top
The AU Small Business Development Center is mentioned in this news roundup. In Columbus, Russell County and Harris County, local businesses have a useful resource right at their fingertips: their local chamber of commerce. Three area chambers of commerce can be found in Columbus, Phenix City-Russell County and Harris County. While each's focus may vary, the three organizations recruit, work with and advocate for their local businesses members. We talked to the presidents of all three organizations. Here's what they had to say about recruiting, how the chamber benefits a business, and what they had in store for 2007. Interviews were conducted via telephone and e-mail. Responses were edited and/or paraphrased for length and context. History: The Greater Columbus Georgia Chamber of Commerce was established more than 160 years ago to help grow the Columbus business community. The chamber has taken on a variety of projects through the years, including the recruitment of then-Camp Benning in 1917, better roads in the 1920s, the Adopt-A-School program (now Partners in Education) in 1987, Need for Land -- an exchange of 3,000 acres with Fort Benning for future business growth -- in 1988, and the Valley Partnership Joint Development Authority. The chamber has continuously advocated for public-private partnerships and the recruitment of new businesses to the community. This month, the chamber received a five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, making it one of 27 accredited chambers nationwide with this top rating and the first in Georgia. The Columbus chamber is also one of 13 chambers across the country that has been accredited for 35 continuous years. Phone: (706) 327-1566 Web site: www.columbusgachamber.com What does your chamber do for local businesses and why should they join? We are the voice of business. We maintain and enhance the environment to ensure that the Columbus region will continue to be a place of choice for existing and new business. In essence, we "take care of business" -- small, medium and large. How do you recruit new businesses? We maintain relationships with consultants, state and national economic development agencies, direct marketing to selected areas, working with existing companies to find companies that can supply the gap in goods and services needed. Taking care of existing businesses is the best recruitment tool that we use. They are our biggest resource in recruitment. What is your chamber's priority for 2007? We have a five-year business plan with specific short-term and longer-term goals as part of it. We have just received a five-star rating by the U.S. Chamber, the first in Georgia and one of only 27 nationally. Our goals, objectives and organization to accomplish have been rated as one of the best in the nation. How does your chamber's focus fit into the regional economy? We developed the Valley Partnership nearly 10 years ago. It was patterned after the Carolinas Partnership in the Charlotte, N.C., and Rock Hill, S.C., area. It consists of six counties and three cities. One of the cities is Phenix City, making the Partnership the first bi-state economic development organization in Georgia. We believe that what is good for one part of this region is good for all the region. We work with local leadership and public authorities and governments to attract capital investment and jobs to our region. The final success depends on whether the specific location will be competitive to win the selection. What else do you want to tell us? Unlike some businesses, our competition is global. We compete for new jobs and capital investment from a global perspective. One of the most important elements of this recruitment is education attainment as it relates to specific work force skills. Without a skilled, trained work force we will never be able to reach the potential that is possible. Being 49 or 47 in the nation and meeting state averages will not get the job done. We must be bold, creative and hold everyone accountable to ensure that our region does not allow "average" to become the acceptable level of attainment. PHENIX CITY-RUSSELL COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE President and CEO: Victor Cross History: The Phenix City-Russell County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1938 by president (now known as chairman of the board) W.W. Hunt Jr. Nine years later, the organization became incorporated as a chamber of commerce. In 2000, the chamber became a nationally accredited chamber of commerce. Current president and CEO Victor Cross said its mission is to "form a connection among business, industry and education that fosters the cultural, economic and educational development of our community." Various task forces and committees handle membership development, small business development, leadership programs and more. Phone: (334) 298-3639 or (800) 892-2248 Web site: www.pc-rcchamber.com What does your chamber do for local businesses and why should they join? The Phenix City-Russell County Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary pro-business organization made up of businesses, industries, professionals and individuals. We do as much as we can to promote chamber member businesses. If someone calls looking for a certain type of business, we recommend chamber members. We also provide networking opportunities; our monthly breakfast meeting lets 100 or so members network with each other. We have relationships with the Small Business Administration and the Small Business Development Center at Auburn University and at the University of Georgia in Columbus. If our members have business concerns, we hook these folks up with the people who can help them. How do you recruit new businesses? We go and talk to them. Through the city, we also can get information on new businesses that are coming into the area. We show them what we're doing and offer them an opportunity to be a part of that. What is your chamber's priority for 2007? To try to help our business members go into business, stay in business and be successful. We're working in various areas, including education, transportation, health care, tourism, economic development -- the full gamut to have what it takes to make a business and community successful. How does your chamber's focus fit into the regional economy? We work very closely with the Columbus chamber. We have a number of joint committees we work on together. We're both members of the military council, along with Fort Benning. The council meets once a month to keep the lines of communication open. We all work together and we know that regionalism is the way to go. If we're all working together, we get a whole lot more accomplished than if we're going off in tangents. We're also a member of the Valley Partnership. What else do you want to tell us? We encourage businesses that are not members to give us an opportunity to show them what we do. It makes good business sense to be a member of the chamber of commerce. HARRIS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President: Lynda Dawson History: The Harris County Chamber of Commerce is the newest local chamber on the scene. Founded in 1991 by a group of community leaders, the chamber focuses on economic development, especially within tourism. Under the leadership of former executive director Peggy Lyda, the chamber was instrumental in developing a tourism grant program and programs in youth and adult leadership. The chamber is looking to grow its membership and help recruit businesses to the area. Its major fundraising event is the Wheels of Fire bike ride in March, which raises money for itself and the volunteer fire departments in the county. Phone: (706) 628-0031 Web site: www.harriscountychamber.org What does your chamber do for local businesses and why should they join? We display all our businesses' information here in the office. We use chamber members for business, and refer our members to people who call in. We just try to put our chamber membership up front in any way we can. We promote them often. How do you recruit new businesses? Right now we're having a membership drive so each one of our board members has been asked to go out and recruit at least three new business members. That drive ends Dec. 4. We're just starting to explore the entrepreneur-friendly state program and how to get our community designated as an entrepreneurially-friendly one. What is your chamber's priority for 2007? We are really geared towards economic development, moreso now than ever before. We want to go into a partnership with the Harris County government and the county development authority to create a friendly business environment. As we see these new businesses coming in, we want to make it as easy as we can for them to get things started in business. How does your chamber's focus fit into the regional economy? I think it's going to fit very well with BRAC in the south and Kia in the northwest. We're sitting in the perfect position for all this economic development to really start. We're refocusing our direction on economic development and getting businesses to grow in this county. With Kia, especially, there's going to be lots of opportunities for small and big businesses to take care of the growth and population -- restaurants, insurance companies, and more. What else do you want to tell us? That pretty much covers it.
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Auburn to offer pharmacy degrees at South Alabama campus 11/27/2006 Gainesville Sun Associated Press		Return to Top
The University of South Alabama will partner with Auburn University in offering pharmacy degrees on the Mobile campus next year. Senior academic administrators at South Alabama and Auburn recently signed an agreement to establish the program. Classes are projected to start in the fall of 2007. Auburn is the only public college in the state with a full pharmacy program. Baptist-affiliated Samford University in Birmingham also has one. A formal announcement is planned for 11 a.m. today at the Health Services Building on U.S.-A's campus.
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Auburn to offer pharmacy degrees at South Alabama campus 11/27/2006 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Associated Press		Return to Top
MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama will partner with Auburn University in offering pharmacy degrees on the Mobile campus next year. Senior academic administrators at South Alabama and Auburn recently signed an agreement to establish the program. Classes are projected to start in the fall of 2007. Auburn is the only public college in the state with a full pharmacy program. Baptist-affiliated Samford University in Birmingham also has one. A formal announcement is planned for 11 a.m. today at the Health Services Building on USA's campus.
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Quarreling parents need to fix their marriage 11/27/2006 Seattle Post Intelligencer - USA Dr. Joyce Brothers		Return to Top
Dr. Brothers cites studies at AU in her answer. SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/brothers/291619_joyce1127.html DEAR DR. BROTHERS: I am writing about my wife and her behavior in front of the children. Every time I come home from work, she assaults me with complaints about her day, her mother, the boss, the kids and so forth. She provokes an argument almost nightly at dinner. Our kids are in elementary school and old enough to hear all the bitterness and arguing and understand that it is not right. Sometimes they even try to "help," and we have to send them to their rooms. Question: Since this is "normal" in our home, will it bother them? -- D.D. DEAR D.D.: People like to repeat the mantra that kids are resilient, and that background noise of parents arguing is just that -- a little noise that the kids can shut out by closing the door or turning up the music. That makes frequent quarrelers feel better. They think as long as they send the kids out of the room, or the kids anticipate the nightly battles and take cover on their own, no harm done. But this is not an attitude that will help your family stay healthy. Studies at Auburn University and Brown University, appearing in the journal Child Development, showed that 8- and 9-year-old kids whose parents were involved in even moderate levels of conflict lost about a half-hour of sleep a night. Another study, by the University of Rochester and University of Notre Dame, showed that the 6-year-olds who were tracked did not get used to high levels of parental conflict -- they got more sensitized to it. And when parents instead give each other the silent treatment, hoping the kids won't notice, it absolutely backfires. Kids do notice. So, a word to the wise: Don't be in denial -- fix your marital situation, or change it somehow, for your children's sake. DEAR DR. BROTHERS: My two children (4 and 2) are great, but I wish they had been born in opposite order. The "big sister" is not protective at all, and the "baby brother" actually begs for a little brother or sister -- there's no way that's happening! My daughter hits my son, and I always have to discipline her. I've tried telling her how nice it is to have a little brother, but it doesn't work. Will she be able to accept him at some point, or is it a lost cause? -- B.E. DEAR B.E.: I can see that you are very discouraged by your daughter's reaction to her little brother. Perhaps before he arrived, she was all excited about having a sibling. In your fantasies, she'd play the little mother and help you with the baby, all the while showering him with kisses. Then she'd be his best friend and protector as he grew bigger, and over the years the two of them would become inseparable. How sad that we have to take a reality check when these fantasies take over! I know it is very disappointing when you see the older child actually being hostile or mean to the younger one. Try not to let yourself assume that your daughter is mean or not a good big sister. Over the years, her relationship with her brother is likely to change for the better. For now, make sure you strictly enforce rules against hitting or abuse of any kind so that your daughter knows this is not going to happen. Don't threaten her with what her brother will do to her when he gets bigger, either! This might make her determined to get her licks in now, while she is still ahead. Patience, lots of attention to your daughter, some one-on-one time with her every week and an understanding attitude ("Yeah, I know he's a pain sometimes, but he's usually lovable, like you") should help.
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Testing ground: MeadWestvaco sees worldwide market for new asphalt additive 11/27/2006 Charleston Regional Business Journal Dennis Quick		Return to Top
AU's National Center for Asphalt Technology is mentioned in this story. Earlier this month, Dorchester County became the South Carolina testing ground for a new asphalt-paving innovation created by MeadWestvaco Corp.'s Specialty Chemicals division in North Charleston. Called "Evotherm," the product is touted as an additive that makes the production and application of asphalt more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. With Evotherm, less heat is required to produce the asphalt. As a result, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, at the production plant as well as the pavement site, are decreased by 46% to 58%. Fumes and odors are reduced and Evotherm-mixed asphalt is more durable, MeadWestvaco officials and asphalt industry experts said. "We think roads will last longer," said Andrew Crow, business manager for MeadWestvaco's Asphalt Innovations in North Charleston. Evotherm is a sustainable product made from tree fats and oils, both waste products from MeadWestvaco's North Charleston paper mill, Crow pointed out. And the worldwide market potential for Evotherm is huge, he added. Environmental concerns, ranging from the Kyoto pact to reducing global warming by reducing carbon dioxide emissions to citizens groups opposed to the smell of asphalt produced near or applied in their neighborhoods, led MeadWestvaco to create Evotherm, Crow explained. With Evotherm, MeadWestvaco is the first U.S. company to create a "warm-mix" asphalt product, a technology originally conceived in Europe, Crow said. Of the three warm-mix asphalt technologies that have been tested in the United States, two come from European companies and the other is from MeadWestvaco, Public Works magazine reported in May. Since its 2005 launching, Evotherm has been tested in about 25 cities throughout the world, including Beijing. Commercial sales so far have been small as demonstrations and trials are still ongoing. In the majority of cases, MeadWestvaco donates Evotherm to an asphalt-production company and the state covers the paving costs, Crow said. Because of its environmental and energy-efficiency advantages over traditional "hot-mix" asphalt, warm-mix asphalt most likely will become the predominant road-pavement method in 10 to 15 years, said Chris Davis of North Charleston-based Sanders Brothers Construction Co., which applied about 400 tons of Evotherm-blended asphalt to pave a portion of road during the demonstration of the product in Dorchester County's Archdale subdivision. Generally, traditional hot-mix asphalt costs about $50 per ton, said Davis. Asphalt mixed with Evotherm costs $3 to $5 more per ton, Crow said. However, experts said the increased cost could be offset by lower fuel costs to produce the environmentally safe asphalt." "We don't know for sure how much that fuel savings will be," Davis said. "That's why more research is still needed." Usually, asphalt pavement is manufactured at temperatures between 300 and 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Using Evotherm, asphalt can be produced at temperatures more than 100 degrees lower. The savings amounts to a 55% reduction in fuel to produce asphalt pavement, according to MeadWestvaco. "We find Evotherm's ability to lower energy demands and emission levels extremely promising and welcome the opportunity to learn more about the potential for this paving innovation," said Bill Simpson, senior vice president of Sanders Brothers Construction Co. Because MeadWestvaco has a history of producing asphalt emulsifiers and other chemical products, creating Evotherm was a "natural progression" for the company, which invested between $1 million and $5 million in the product, Crow said. Asphalt mixed with Evotherm underwent a rigorous road test at Auburn University's National Center for Asphalt Technology in Alabama. Six 18-wheeler trucks drove 24 hours a day for several days on a track made of asphalt-blended Evotherm, and the asphalt showed no signs of rutting or other degradation, according to a NCAT report released in June. The South Carolina Asphalt Pavement Association, which includes about 35 companies in the state's asphalt industry, sponsored MeadWestvaco’s Evotherm demonstration in Dorchester County and wants to educate more of the state’s asphalt producers and paving contractors about warm-mix asphalt, said David Herndon, the association’s executive director. "Warm-mix ages the asphalt less and roads last longer," Herndon said. Roads that are more durable and require less maintenance save money for taxpayers, he added. Still, Herndon said he and others in his association want to see more tests done on Evotherm before they start replacing hot-mix with warm-mix asphalt. "We're still looking into it," he said.
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Basics of Holiday Food Safety 11/27/2006 The Signal (Santa Clara)		Return to Top
AU sources cited in this story are: Jean Weese, ACES Food Scientist and Associate Professor of Nutrition and Foods and Jim Langcuster, Extension Communications Specialist. There are an estimated 70 million outbreaks of foodborne illness that occur each year in the United States. And while it's true that foodborne illnesses are no more common during the holidays than at other times of the year, it seems that way because so much more food is prepared and consumed during the holidays. All sorts of potential holiday party poopers, in the form of viruses, bacteria and toxins lurking on unwashed hands and countertops may end up in the food you eat. If the pressure of all you have to do this holiday season tempts you to cut a few corners on safe food preparation practices, even for a moment, know that only one drop of juice from a contaminated turkey or chicken is enough to cause food poisoning. Wash Your Hands Washing your hands is the cornerstone of safe food handling and preparation. Hands should be washed vigorously in warm water for 20 seconds before and after handling raw products. Kitchen sinks should be used only for hand washing associated with food preparation. Hand washing related to other household chores, such as gardening, should be confined to bathroom sinks. Unless bar soaps are kept clean and on a soap dish that allows water to drain, it is liable to become contaminated with germs like any other kitchen item. Pump-action liquid soap dispensers provide strong protection against contamination, though anti-bacterial additives like triclosan offer no added benefits. Avoid Cross-Contamination Cross-contamination occurs when germs from one food are passed to another. This most often occurs when raw meat, poultry or seafood touches uncooked foods such as salads and fruits. Cross-contamination also can occur when these foods come in contact with unwashed hands, utensils or countertops that have previously been used with raw meat products. This is why raw meat products should be stored on a plate or tray to prevent juices from dripping onto other foods. Cutting boards for raw meat products should not be used for salads and other uncooked foods unless they have first been thoroughly sanitized. As an added precaution, finish preparing raw meat products and return them to the refrigerator or place them in the oven. Then, clean and sanitize your kitchen with a diluted bleach solution before starting work on other foods. If you're pressed for time, just clean with soap and water - but don't just use a bleach solution. Dirty sponges, dishcloths and towels are breeding grounds for legions of harmful pathogens. To them, rinse them in water, squeeze out the excess, and microwave at full power for 60 seconds. Or just use paper towels. Cook Safely The first rule of thumb when cooking a turkey is to allow sufficient time - up to four days, in some cases - for it to defrost in the refrigerator. Put the bird on a dish or tray on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator to ensure none of the drippings come in contact with other foods while it defrosts. Before cooking your turkey, insert a meat thermometer into the turkey's inner thigh closest to the breast to monitor its internal temperature. Whole turkeys should reach an internal temperature of165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving. Never use recipes that call for raw eggs. All egg dishes should be cooked until they reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit. The American Egg Board and other websites can provide you with recipies for cooked eggnog. During microwaving, make sure there are no cold spots in foods. For best results, cover, stir and rotate food for even cooking. Sauces, soups and gravies should be brought to a boil before serving. Leftovers should be heated to at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving. Follow the Two-Hour Rule Potluck dinners are especially popular during the holidays, but they are at risk if the food is left out for more than a couple of hours. All perishables should be returned to the refrigerator after two hours. Be sure to divide large amounts of leftovers into shallow containers for quick cooling in the refrigerator. Also, avoid stuffing the refrigerator. Cold air must circulate for the food to remain safe. As an added precaution, make sure the refrigerator temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and the freezer is zero degrees Fahrenheit. Occasionally verify these temperatures with an appliance thermometer. For further tips on preparing, serving and storing food safely consult: Seasonal Advice - www.FoodSafety.gov. Fundamentals for Safe and Festive Holiday Meals - U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service Preventing Foodborne Illness at Family Gatherings - U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Some material adapted with permission from text by Dr. Jean Weese, Alabama Cooperative Extension System Food Scientist and Auburn University Associate Professor of Nutrition and Foods, and Jim Langcuster, Extension Communications Specialist
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Report rates UA low on minority enrollment 11/26/2006 Tuscaloosa News, The Adam Jones		Return to Top
This story is about how the University of Alabama serves Alabama's low income and minority students. The University of Alabama rated a D grade in serving the needs of the state's low income and minority students, according to a national report card of state flagship institutions. UA received the D in a report published earlier this week by the Education Trust, a non-profit based in Washington, D.C. University officials contend the grade is based on flawed comparisons and that the school is doing as well as can be expected in attracting and graduating low-income students. Education Trust's report examines 50 universities - one in each state -on indicators such as enrollment of minorities compared to the number of minority high school graduates and the ability to graduate those students. The overall findings of the study show the flagship institutions are becoming "whiter and richer" by serving a disproportionately lower number of low-income and minority students. "These institutions, more than any other, have a special mission, and that is to prepare the future academic, business and political leadership of their state," said Kati Haycock, director of the Education Trust and co-author of the report. "Who they educate matters and it matters for a very long time." In 2003, 22 percent of students at these institutions received Pell Grants, federal money awarded to students from families with less than $40,000 in annual income. In 1992, 24 percent of their students received Pell Grant help, according to the report, titled "Engines of Inequality." At the 50 universities, 12 percent of students were black, Hispanic or American Indian, compared to 24 percent of all college students, the report stated. In 1992, those minorities made up 9 percent of the flagship's students, but the gain has been offset by even larger gains in the number of high school graduates from those minorities, according to the report. In other words, the flagships are falling behind in recruiting their state’s minority high school students. Haycock said the fault lies in priorities seemingly in contradiction with the mission of a state university, chiefly, to be more selective in admissions and aggressively recruit high-achieving students. "In an attempt to purchase more and more prestige every year, many universities are simply turning their backs on students of color, low-income students and are also turning their backs on their historical mission of educating students regardless of family background," she said. Of the 50 colleges, most received Ds and Fs. None received As. Of the components graded, UA got an F in minority access, which compared the percentage of minority students at UA in fall 2004 to the year's high school graduates. UA also showed no progress in the area in 2004 compared to similar figures in 1992. UA also got an F for low-income access, which compared the percentage of Pell Grant recipients in fall 2004 to the percentage of Pell Grants awarded statewide. Again, UA failed to show progress compared to 1992 data. UA did get an A for success in graduating minorities, which compared six-year graduation rates for minorities to those of white students and the entire student body. UA has made progress in that area, according to the report. But UA Provost Judy Bonner said the report grades the university in a vacuum. The state has 16 public, four-year institutions, as many or more than larger states such as Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Michigan. Among those institutions is Auburn University, nearly equal in size and offerings, along with Alabama State University and Alabama A&M, two strong historically black public colleges, she said. With so many choices, students often choose not to come to UA for a variety of reasons, such as proximity to family or wanting to work with certain professors elsewhere, Bonner said. "The flagship institution, by definition, is not expected to serve as many of the college-going citizens of the state," she said. "We believe that UA and the other institutions, working together, are making college available to any and all of our citizens who actually prepare in high school to go to college." With that in mind, Bonner pointed out that the total percentage of black college students in the state, at 29 percent, exceeds the percentage of black residents, about 26 percent. But in Tuscaloosa, Bonner said UA has seen a 6 percent increase in black enrollment since 2004, and a recent consultant hired by UA to look at the issue concluded that "UA was enrolling more black freshmen from Alabama than one would expect, considering UA's admission requirements and academic programs," she said. However, UA's black students made up about 11 percent of students this semester, compared to 12 percent in 2004 and 13.5 percent in 2001, according to university records. Also, the amount of Pell Grant money awarded at UA has slipped from a high of $10.1 million in 2003 to $9.8 million in 2005, a lower amount than in 2002. The number of Pell Grants awarded to UA students in 2005 was 3,313, down from more than 3,500 each of the three previous years and the fewest since 2001, UA data shows. Bonner said a determined campaign in recent years to recruit the "best and brightest" high school students by offering more scholarships has not hurt need-based aid at the university. More than two-thirds of aid is need-based, and she said $19.2 million more in need-based aid was awarded in 2005 than 2000. Attempting to lure the top 5 to 10 percent of high school students in Alabama and other southern states should be part of UA’s mission, Bonner said. "These academically talented students can go to almost any university in the nation, and elite universities across the nation are going to give these students scholarships," she said. "We want to keep the best and brightest students in Alabama for their college education, and we want to see them employed in the state of Alabama once they receive their degree."
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A model for agricultural growth 11/26/2006 The Anniston Star Amanda M. DeWald		Return to Top
David West of AU Extension is quoted in this story. AU's research on biofuels is mentioned. David West over at Auburn University's Extension Office in Anniston has some advice the whole country should hear: "Food space needs to be set aside in any type of urban development." The Joint Powers Authority can do just that by reserving undeveloped land at McClellan for farms. Agriculture on McClellan would protect and improve Anniston's standard of living, traditions and health while helping our environment recover from a rough and troubled past. It would set Anniston apart as a forward-thinking model for other cities to follow. Between PCBs contamination and the chemical weapons incinerator at Bynum, the city name has been linked and sometimes interchanged with environmental risk. We say we've learned from the past. Now we have a chance to take pride in Anniston's name as a model for smart use of our natural resources. McClellan's development will sway the future of Anniston and Calhoun County. It will prove how deep those lessons have really cut. • "Food space," as West suggested, is one possibility. Just southeast of Birmingham, developers set aside farm land before they planned housing projects. Mount Laurel farm provides produce, eggs, chicken, lamb, milk and bread for nearby residents and surrounding Birmingham neighborhoods. Birmingham's Jones Valley Urban Farm, which uses an entire city block for agriculture and gardens, is another model for including food growers in urban development. A similar plan at McClellan would expand existing markets for local farmers, create opportunity for research and education and strengthen local ties. A local, convenient food source would mean a distinct quality of life for the old guard as well as new residents on the base — and possibly motivate folks to move there in the first place. • Open land could be used for community gardens where residents can grow their food. Community gardens could offer plots for Anniston's residents to harvest, or could partner with local schools such as Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School at McClellan. For many Alabamians, "family activity" used to mean planting, hoeing, picking corn and shelling peas. Unlike soccer or ballet practice, garden projects don't use much gas or require much commuter time. Children who learn to grow food work hard and gain knowledge, physical strength and patience. The reward is sustenance for the family. Gardens also educate adults. It is critical that we rear more Americans who know how to grow food. This most basic survival skill is being phased out of our whole culture, and as it dies, we lose histories, health and self-sufficiency. Right now in Calhoun County, there is only one listed vegetable farmer below the age 40. Although Auburn University's College of Agriculture pumps out about 900 graduates a year for research and industrial agriculture, only a handful know how to grow produce. • Growing fuel is another possibility for smart land use at McClellan. If you just choked back a snicker, don't write it off so fast. The JPA, local and state administrations are exploring various ideas for the military — industrial or scientific research projects that are more complex and expensive than agricultural research, such as forensics and animal testing labs or an AgriBio research facility. Alternative fuels are "the future of Alabama," according to Congressman Mike Rogers, R-Saks. Six gas stations in Alabama supply ethanol and other biofuels — but none are in Calhoun County. Researchers at Auburn are working to turn Alabama's native switch grass into fuel. Hoover's police department runs its cars on ethanol. There are precedents and potential for partnership, as well as opportunities to lead. Yet, talk of agricultural innovation in Alabama — at McClellan or elsewhere — always turns to industry or processing plants. Industry is different from agriculture. It is agriculture that has built Alabama's economy and its culture. In addition to switch grass, sunflowers, soybeans, wheat, corn or other oil-producing crops could be used to make fuel — and build on Alabama's great potential for horticulture. One acre of sunflowers produces 720 pounds of oil. A few acres could supply a demonstration farm for research and education; a mid-sized farm could supply small-scale commercial production to help supply state gas stations or municipal services. Or McClellan could be a laboratory for a self-supplying fueling station. Why not sow seeds in addition to building industry? Why not create new jobs for our farmers in addition to jobs for high-tech, high-salaried employees with Ph.D.s we will have to bring in from somewhere else? "In Calhoun County, open space is getting to be something we need to talk about," according to Calhoun County Commissioner Robert Downing, who has built a reputation on the commission as a champion of the environment. Rural land is vanishing quickly, he said, and long-term economic development goes hand-in-hand with preserving natural resources. Agricultural projects could match up McClellan's vast open space with its seat between two strong universities. The strengths of both Auburn's research operations and Jacksonville State University's contributions to the state's environmental sciences could be harnessed. As a result, both institutions could benefit from funding and partnership opportunities. Calhoun County's agricultural heritage is more than quaint farms that are pretty to drive past. It's true that tomatoes, corn, peaches, melons, muscadines, okra, cow horn peppers, pink-eye peas and turnip greens all are part of why Alabama means home. But our local food is also about the people who grow it. Many of the county's residents grew up raising food - and still have skills and knowledge to teach. Yet it is not enough to say, "We know where we came from." Heritage is practiced, as well as believed. It is work to maintain. Time brings changes that can alienate people, even from their own homes - and suburban sprawl is alienating many traditions, many towns and many ways of life across our nation. Worse, it's putting us at risk. New industrial and housing development devastates some of our best farmland, just as food security in our massive industrial food system is raising concerns - like spinach, mad cows, bird flu and bioterrorism. The USDA recently found unapproved, genetically modified rice contaminating our conventional supply. The FDA is about to approve the sale of meat and milk from cloned cows - without the labels that tell us what's what. Eventually, food safety will be a question as urgent as fuel. No one expects industry and housing development on Fort McClellan to screech to a halt. But we must find ways to integrate farming into new urban development - an idea practiced by cities around the world. There is enough space on McClellan - 45,679 acres of it - to consider food space, small farms, community gardens and biofuel - all viable options for land use. If our future is truly about "development,"we must carefully consider the definition of that word. Vision works forwards as well as backwards. Urban development is already upon Anniston - although some of it yet cannot be seen. A new Interstate 20 bypass, Atlanta's trickling-in and competition with Oxford will all make demands on McClellan's open land - and change the face of Calhoun County. Before selling off to highest bidders, let us consider that fertile land, skillful hands and the daily bread they produce come before all other human needs - and are not to be taken for granted.
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Metro briefs 11/25/2006 Birmingham News		Return to Top
The AU Large Animal Clinic was a subject in this news roundup. A Birmingham man died Friday in a traffic accident on Interstate 565 in Huntsville. Jerry Dean Evans, 44, of Birmingham, died at the scene of the 12:08 p.m. accident, said Wendell Johnson, spokesman for the Huntsville Police Department. Evans was killed when a Chevy Colorado truck traveling westbound crossed the median into the eastbound lanes colliding with the vehicle Evans was riding in, he said. Details of the accident, including any other injuries, were not available late Friday, Johnson said. Kent Faulk -- Avondale merchants to host tree lighting: Merchants and artists in the Historic Avondale Art and Design District and the Birmingham Parks and Recreation Board are hosting a tree lighting at 6 p.m. Sunday in Avondale Park, near the entrance off Fifth Avenue South and 41st Street. A recently planted tree will be adorned with lights donated by the merchants and artists and ornaments decorated by participants in the Art in Avondale program. The New Hope Baptist Church Herman Stone Youth Choir will perform, and hot cider and cocoa will be served. Main Street is a nonprofit organization under contract with the City of Birmingham to help revitalize its neighborhood commercial districts. The district roughly stretches from Fifth Avenue South to First Avenue North and includes businesses mostly along 41st Street. Victoria L. Coman -- AU animal clinic bill payments missing: MONTGOMERY - More than $80,000 of customer payments at Auburn University's Large Animal Clinic never made it to the bank, according to a state audit. The audit, released Friday by the Examiners of Public Accounts, cited the clinic for not complying with university accounting policies. Auditors found that between 2001 and 2004, receipts were written for $80,322.51 of payments by customers that were not included in deposits to the bank or collection reports. In a written response to the audit, Dr. Tim Boosinger, dean of Auburn's College of Veterinary Medicine, said the employee who handled the payments had been dismissed and procedures had been changed. The employee was not named. Kim Chandler Grand Bay teen dies in Thanksgiving crash: MOBILE - A Grand Bay teenager was killed early Thanksgiving morning in southwest Mobile County in a single-car accident that left another teenage boy in serious condition. Albert Wayne Nelson II, 17, who was driving the 1997 Nissan Maxima that left the road and overturned about 1 a.m. Thursday on Old Pascagoula Road, died at the scene. Nelson was thrown from the car, state troopers said. A hospital spokeswoman said Tony W. Ryals, 17, of Saraland was listed in critical condition Friday at the University of South Alabama Medical Center. State Trooper Cpl. Joe Piggott said two other passengers were taken to Providence Hospital and USA Medical Center and apparently treated and released. Opelika teen charged in shooting death: OPELIKA - An Opelika teenager has been charged with the murder of a man found shot outside of a home early Thanksgiving Day morning. Police Capt. Allan Elkins said Andrew Johnson, 16, was charged with murder Thursday in connection with the shooting death of Cornelleus Lasae Wright, 31, of Opelika. Police responding to a call found Wright lying on the front porch of a residence about 2:30 a.m. Thursday. From staff and wire reports --
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Med school enrollment hits record: 10% gain puts UAB in top 9 for growth 11/25/2006 Birmingham News Dave Parks		Return to Top
AU collaboration with AUB is mentioned in this story. UAB's School of Medicine has posted one of the nation's largest enrollment increases in an effort to head off a shortage of physicians and get more doctors into rural areas of the state, officials say. Enrollment increased by 10 percent this academic year, which started in August, according to statistics published this month by the Association of American Medical Colleges. That increases the number of students entering the medical school from 160 per year to 176. Only nine schools in the United States posted enrollment increases of 10 percent or more, according to the AAMC. The Florida State University School of Medicine posted the largest enrollment increase at 36 percent. Dr. Robert R. Rich, dean of the medical school at UAB, said the increase takes UAB to a record high number of new medical students. He said the school is at capacity. "We've done about what we can do with our current facilities," he said. The enrollment increase came in response to an expected nationwide shortage of physicians and the state's chronic shortage of doctors in rural areas, Rich said. The AAMC has recommended a 30 percent increase in total medical school enrollment over the next decade to deal with an aging generation of baby boomers, who began turning 60 this year. Overall, medical school enrollment increased 2.2 percent this year over last year. A total of 17,400 new students enrolled in U.S. medical schools, according to the AAMC. "I think that UAB's really stepping up to try to deal with the problems not only nationally, but for Alabama, and to deliver more physicians particularly to people in underserved areas of the state," Rich said. The increase of 16 students will have a disproportionate impact on campuses in Tuscaloosa and Huntsville, he said. The two satellite campuses will get five new students each, and the remaining six will be assigned to the main campus in Birmingham. The Tuscaloosa and Huntsville campuses play key roles in programs to encourage doctors to take up practice in rural areas, Rich said. The Tuscaloosa campus has been the site of a rural medicine program since 1996. It is a collaboration between the School of Medicine at UAB and the UA College of Community and Health Sciences. This year, UAB expanded the concept to the Huntsville campus with a similar program that is being conducted in collaboration with Auburn University. The program's first 10 students entered medical school this year. They already have completed a year of study at Auburn, with courses specializing in rural sociology, agriculture and health policy. They will spend their first two years of medical school on the Birmingham campus and complete their third and fourth years of medical school in Huntsville. Both programs require that students are Alabama residents who have lived in a rural area for at least eight years and have a desire to practice medicine in a rural area.
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A bird named Tiger wows kids at Homewood Library 11/23/2006 Birmingham News KIM BRYAN		Return to Top
The man who knows War Eagle best gave a sure-fire prediction for last week's Iron Bowl game. 'The eagle will not fly,' Roy Crowe said. What Crowe meant is that Saturday's match-up was an away game for Auburn University. War Eagle VI, Auburn's 26-year-old mascot nicknamed 'Tiger' retires this year. Since 2000, the golden eagle's pre-game flight has signified kickoff at Jordan-Hare Stadium is imminent. The Raptor expert found a rapt audience at Homewood Public Library Nov. 16, where he autographed copies of his children's book, 'Have You Seen My Bird?' and shared adventures as Tiger's handler. Children dressed in orange and blue, sporting Auburn caps and miniature cheerleader uniforms, arrived filled with chatter about the eagle and Auburn football. They grew timid when it was their turn to shake hands with Crowe, who works at the Raptor Center, part of the College of Veterinarian Medicine at Auburn University. But Crowe soon had his young audience wide-eyed. The new generation of Auburn fans switched from talking football to ornithology, as Crowe unveiled the mystery of falcons, vultures, hawks and other birds of prey he works with at AU. Kids wanted to know What's in that pouch at the bottom of the field? 'Dead rats,' Crowe said. 'Eagles only eat meat, and all of it - fur, heart, intestines, teeth and toenails. If an eagle gets a fist around a quail, chicken or rabbit, that prey can't escape.' Are eagles ornery? 'They're wild animals,' Crowe said. 'It took 5,000 years to breed dogs to be domesticated pets. Eagles are one generation from the wild. A bald eagle may call your bluff. If you see a golden eagle, watch out.' The kids nodded and promised they would, indeed. Is it true War Eagle VI has cancer? 'Yes,' Crowe said. 'She got cancer of the foot four years ago. It's been removed six times, but it keeps coming back. There's not much muscle in Tiger's leg, causing her to go lame. She got through the season, but I had to say no more.' Crowe and his crew's training entails taking the birds to noisy places, like pep rallies and the campus vet school filled with barking dogs. It's worked for Tiger's successor, War Eagle VII, nicknamed 'Nova.' He's learned to soar with the roar. More stories are included in Crow's 48-page book that costs $15. It's as educational as entertaining, said Dona Smith of the Homewood Library. Any kid will know that owls fly at night, falcons are fast and screech owls are small. It teaches about being good stewards to the birds of prey, who are good for us, she said. Though eagles are officially owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crowe hopes kids will learn that the eagle really belongs to all of them. 'It's not my bird,' he said. 'It's not even Auburn's bird. When kids get to the last page, I love to hear, 'That's my bird.''
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Stroke of Luck 11/23/2006 Opelika-Auburn News Amy Weaver		Return to Top
This story about AU's Speech and Hearing Clinic also appeared in the Dothan Eagle. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but sometimes a look can say much more. Bobby Iveys face tells his whole story. A videotaped session from six months after he started receiving speech therapy treatment from the Speech and Hearing Clinic at Auburn University shows the anguished face of the then 63-year-old man, struggling to say what should be a simple word for him, 'evaporate,' had he not lost his ability to speak after suffering a stroke about a year prior. He bows his head a few times to concentrate during the treatment session. He knows that the word he does manage to get out his mouth, 'evaluate,' is not right. 'That aint it,' he says more than once. Now, about two and a half years after the stroke, Bobbys face glows with pride and jubilance. His smile is a permanent fixture and contagious to anyone who meets him. The start The stroke Bobby suffered put him and his wife, Lillie, in awkward positions. He couldnt talk at all and had to rely on others for the first time, and she was suddenly his caregiver, desperate for help. 'Hes never let anything in his life get the better of him,' said Lillie. 'I didnt know what was going on,' Bobby added. 'I couldnt do anything.' When it happened in their Bleecker home, Lillie tried to get Bobby to a nearby hospital, but he was ornery, she said. He became cooperative once he realized he couldnt talk. To say he wanted to leave, he pointed to shoes, she said 'It was something you dont want to deal with,' she recalled. Lillie said it was six months before Bobby knew his name or hers. It was obvious to them both, though, if Bobby was ever to speak again, he needed serious help. Bobby still doesnt remember those months, not even being so out of it on medications he needed to be strapped to his hospital bed. A scar on his neck serves as a reminder of the emergency surgery he endured to fix a clogged carotid artery. Lillie said the clog, although very serious, actually saved Bobby from suffering a motor stroke. His motor skills were not affected by the condition, just his speech. Without Medicare or any health insurance, Lillie struggled to find a place that would offer Bobby the services he needed to talk again at a price they could afford. She looked all over the area, but by a stroke of luck found her answers at the Speech and Hearing Clinic at AU. Not only could they help Bobby, but cost is determined by what patients can afford. 'That was a godsend right there,' Lillie said. With help Rough doesnt even begin to describe the challenges Bobby faced at AU. Not being able to communicate was probably the hardest thing for him. He downright hated not being able to utter the words he had in his head, but hated it even more when he said something wrong or a bad word slipped out. A proper gentleman, he felt lower than dirt when that happened in front of the female graduate students assigned to his case. 'If I said any ugly word, I didnt mean it,' said the humble man. But Bobby was determined to work through the tough times so his sweet, Southern style could be heard once again. 'He could not complete a sentence when he started,' she said. Now Bobby jokes that he cant shut up. For nearly two years, the Iveys have been traveling to Auburn once a week for therapy. 'It was like being at home,' Lillie said. 'We looked forward to coming.' Bobby spends an hour each time talking to whichever graduate student has his case for the semester. Helen Marie Pursley, a speech pathology student who works with him this semester, said each student has about six clients of various ages and abilities at a time. The partnership not only provides patients with the services they need but gives the students real-world experience, said Carol Carruth, a speech-language pathologist at AUs Department of Communication Disorders. The clinic can not exist without its patients. The clinic gets about 100,000 visits a year, but it could be more, Carruth said. It is a rather well-kept secret though, tucked away on the first floor of the Haley Center. Lillie Ivey never would have known it existed if she hadnt found it in the Yellow Pages. Now the Iveys are walking advertisements for the clinic, telling anybody who listens about what the clinic has done for them. 'I think everyone needs to know there is help here,' Lillie said. 'All you got to do is ask.' Pursleys time with Bobby has been focused on maintaining his progress and continuing to improve his speech. She said Bobby can be discharged at any time, but as long as he continues to benefit from treatment, he is welcome. The Iveys say they dont plan to stop anytime soon. The Iveys havent been able to visit the clinic much this semester because Lillie, who drives Bobby, has had to go to Columbus often for treatment of her own. She was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Bobbys treatment hasnt stopped, though. He still works at home with Lillie. Bobby jokes that the 'pretty ladies' at the clinic are easier to work with than his own wife of 19 years. Success Other than the occasional omitted 'the,' 'and' or 'but,' its hard to tell Bobby had a stroke. His Southern-style speech is practically 'normal' and Lillie said his memory is as sharp as ever. 'He has to help me remember things now,' she said. What has changed is Bobby. He wasnt a bad man before the stroke, but the Iveys say he is a better man now. He laughs more and doesnt take life so seriously. He is more thankful and lives each day to the fullest. He has learned to rely on others. He isnt ashamed to admit he loves getting pedicures. Bobby is so indebted to the clinic, the longtime Alabama fan has 'a big soft spot' for everything Auburn now. 'It just saved my life. Ill tell you that,' he says.
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Volatile U.S. cattle market expected to continue in 2007 11/22/2006 Delta Farm Press Paul L. Hollis		Return to Top
Walt Prevatt, Auburn University Extension economist, is a source for this story. Uncertainty will continue to rule the 2007 U.S. cattle market, and farmers should continue to monitor the many factors that can cause significant price swings, says Walt Prevatt, Auburn University Extension economist. Prevatt presented his market outlook during the Southern Region Agricultural Outlook Conference held in Atlanta. "Cattle farmers should monitor several factors, including the length, extent and severity of the drought, growing supplies of broilers and pork, export and import sales of beef, broilers and pork, and consumer beef demand," says Prevatt. "The cattle markets could experience some volatile movements with abrupt changes in any of these factors or a combination of these factors." The U.S. net beef supply, he says, is expected to show some significant changes during 2007 compared to 2006. "Domestic beef production is forecast to increase by 800 million pounds or 3.1 percent, beef and veal imports are expected to post a minor increase of 100 million pounds, and beef and veal exports are expected to increase by about 400 million pounds. Assuming these increases are realized, the U.S. net beef supply during 2007 will increase by about 600 million pounds or 2 percent," says Prevatt. Assuming there's a stable domestic consumer beef demand, the combination of an increase in the U.S. net beef supply coupled with increases in the net broiler supply and the net pork supply will pressure farm-level beef cattle prices lower during 2007, says Prevatt. "Any changes in production and/or export and import levels of these three competing meats could cause major movements in beef prices," he says. "Each industry is very capable of significantly altering production levels and is subject to wide changes in export and import levels." The highest average prices for all classes of cattle, says Prevatt, are expected during the first quarter of 2007. The lowest average prices are expected during the third quarter for choice slaughter steers and during the fourth quarter for all other classes of beef cattle, he adds. For 2007, USDA has forecast that choice slaughter steers (Nebraska basis) will post an annual average in the low to mid-$80s per hundredweight. Alabama feeder steers (750-pound) are expected to average between $98 and $104 per hundredweight, Alabama feeder steer calves (550-pound) between $110 and $115 per hundredweight, and Alabama boning utility cows in the mid-$40s per hundredweight. Breeding heifer, cow and bull prices are expected to show minor decreases of between 3 to 6 percent as herd rebuilding continues, says Prevatt. "The simultaneous increases in the supplies of beef, broilers and pork are expected to pressure meat prices lower during 2007. Driving the increase in net beef supply includes an increase in cattle inventory, heavier carcass weights, and larger levels of beef imports. "U.S. cattle inventories are expected to increase through 2010, with total cattle inventories expected to increase between 5 million to 7 million head. During this same time period, these increases are expected to increase domestic beef production by about 3 billion to 4 billion pounds and reach about 28 billion pounds of beef production by the end of the decade. These higher levels of beef production most certainly will result in lower beef prices," he says. Additionally, a significant factor in the net beef supply during the next several years will be the beef balance of trade or beef exports minus beef imports, says Prevatt. "In 2006, U.S. beef exports are expected to total about 1.1 billion pounds while U.S. beef imports are expected to total about 3.2 billion pounds. This results in a beef trade deficit of about minus 2.1 billion pounds. Thus, as U.S. beef production totals grow over the next several years, it is extremely important that we realize significant improvements in U.S. beef exports if we want to avoid burdensome levels or net beef supplies. "It would be highly advantageous to cattle farmers if we could grow our beef export levels similarly to the expected increases in domestic beef production," he says. U.S. beef exports are expected to show significant growth during 2006 and 2007, he says. "The opening of beef trade with Japan and South Korea during 2006 offers added opportunities to increase U.S. beef exports in 2007. But future export growth is expected to be gradual. "It may take three to five years to reach pre-2003 levels. However, the increase in U.S. beef export levels should help provide price support during a time of expected increases in U.S. beef production. U.S. export levels of beef and competing meats likely will have a significant impact on U.S. beef prices during the next couple of years." As should be expected, the 2007 cattle market has the potential for some big price swings, says Prevatt. "Abrupt changes in the levels of any of these factors we’ve discussed could add much volatility to cattle market prices in 2007. However, cattle market prices should remain cyclically strong and average at 3 to 6 percent below 2007 prices."
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Testosterone Gives Male birds Their Color, Scientists Say 11/22/2006 National Geographic News Adrianne Appel		Return to Top
AU biologist Geoff Hill is mentioned in this story. New research suggests that as testosterone in male birds increases, so does the level of carotenoids, the chemicals that create the bright coloring on birds' feathers, beaks, and legs. The brilliant reds, yellows, and oranges serve as indicators of sexual competitiveness, signaling to females that the bearer is healthy and a potentially good mate. Scientists already knew that testosterone in male birds brings out their macho best, making them sing more sweetly and court with added vigor—other key indicators of males' health and sexual appeal. (Related: "Tropical Wrens Sing Complex Tunes, Researchers Find" [August 8, 2006].) But until now the relationship between bird coloring and testosterone had eluded biologists. Researcher Julio Blas, a biologist at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, and colleagues decided to tackle the issue through experiments in Spain with native red-legged partridges (map of Spain). Blas's team increased the testosterone of male partridges during the mating season and saw a 20 percent rise in carotenoids—which birds get from food such as berries and insects—in their blood and livers. "A bird in good shape should be colorful and also should sing more," said Blas, whose research appears this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Until now these lines of evidence have been researched independently of each other. What we did is connect these two lines of research." Immune System Puzzle The finding could solve another outstanding puzzle. High levels of testosterone come with a price, as the hormone usually depresses the immune system, increasing birds' susceptibility to disease. But recent studies have shown that birds manipulated in the lab to have high testosterone could still have robust immune systems. The link between testosterone and carotenoids may be the answer, Blas says. Carotenoids help build vitamins and are strong antioxidants—chemicals that help animals detoxify harmful molecules called free radicals. In short, carotenoids appear to compensate for the effect of testosterone by keeping the immune system strong. Sick male birds have dull coloring. This is probably because the carotenoids are being used by the struggling bird's immune system in an effort to fight off disease, Blas says. "When a chicken becomes sick, its yellow legs become paler," he said. "Why? Because it is using its carotenoids to fight illness." But birds that are in good shape can have it all—elevated testosterone, a healthy immune system, and large deposits of color-carrying carotenoids in their legs, beaks, and feathers. "It may be that only the really high-quality individuals can withstand the immunosuppressive effect of testosterone," said Lynn Siefferman, a biologist at Indiana University in Bloomington who studies bluebirds, feather color, and testosterone. "The idea is that they will put health before reproduction" and not mate, she said. A similar mechanism is probably at work in other vertebrates, Blas says. Color Checkup Blas has only just begun his inquiry into the relationship between testosterone and carotenoids. In future research, he plans to study exactly how the carotenoids end up in the animals' blood and livers. For example, he says, testosterone may cause stored deposits to be mobilized into the blood or may increase the absorption of carotenoids from food. Alternatively, the birds may actually consume more carotenoids under the influence of testosterone. Geoffrey Hill, a biologist at Auburn University in Alabama, studies coloring in bird feathers. Each year many birds, such as finches, molt and regrow their feathers. In preparation, "they definitely alter their diet to have a more carotenoid-rich diet," he said. Some birds even ingest so many carotenoids that their fat turns red.
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Cover story: HOLIDAY FOOD PLAN: Devilishly good 11/22/2006 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Faith Dawson		Return to Top
AU nutrition professor Robert Keith is a source for this story. If the five golden rings you crave come from Krispy Kreme, your diet probably goes into a downward spiral during the holidays. Fall and winter bring out the baked goods, the invitations and the eggnog. But maintaining good eating habits is still possible, even around a holiday potluck and an open bar. Linda M. Bell, a human resources specialist from Hampton, says she once gained 6 pounds over the holidays through eating large portions. Later, after having a baby, she resolved to take the weight off for good. Now, even though her office turns into one long baked-goods buffet at year's end, Bell carefully chooses her meals and fits those choices into her dietary plan. No food is off-limits, but "it's very difficult" to stay focused, she says. "I plan what I'm going to eat. I'm very conscious of what I eat and how much I eat," she says. She's kept the weight off for five years, using workplace nutrition and weight-management classes as inspiration. Most people don't gain more than 1 or 2 pounds during the holiday season, but a slow, gradual weight gain adds up over the years, says registered dietitian Marisa Moore, an Atlanta spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. If you eat a slice of cake, don't panic or give up. One splurge won't ruin your diet. The key is to enjoy yourself sensibly. AT HOME - If you want to contribute to a potluck meal, bring a healthy dish so you have at least one diet-friendly choice. - Substitute low-calorie liquids or foods such as applesauce for the oils in baked goods that you make at home. - Slice small servings or prepare mini versions of foods like muffins or quiches. IN THE OFFICE - Don't eat just because food is sitting there. Wait until you're hungry. - Ask yourself whether a splurge is worth it. If it's worth it, cut calories elsewhere or add 10 minutes to your exercise routine every day. - Measure a small serving for yourself instead of letting someone give it to you. AT THE BUFFET - Review the whole buffet before you start eating. That way you can limit yourself to foods you like or foods you want to try. - Choose small plates rather than dinner-size plates. - Start with vegetables and lean protein. - Try to measure serving sizes carefully. Fill your plate with at least two-thirds fruits or vegetables. - Stand far away from the buffet table while you eat. - Go back to the buffet only if you're still hungry. - At the carving station, skip the mayonnaise and/or the bun. - Go to the pasta station (where you can choose fewer, healthier ingredients) rather than eat prepared pasta that's already set out in the chafing dish. IN RESTAURANTS - At group dinners, try to consume only one of the following: an appetizer, a drink, bread or dessert. - Read the restaurant's online menu —- including preparation and nutritional information —- beforehand. - Choose your entree before you get there. (This trick also works when you're on the go. Knowing the calorie count of a fast-food sandwich might discourage you from eating it.) - For preset menus, request sauces on the side, light dressing or vegetable substitutions. Or ask the waiter to serve you half the meal and box the rest. AT THE BAR - Know what you're drinking. A 5-ounce glass of dry wine has about 120 calories; beer and light beer have about 150 and 100 calories per 12-ounce serving; and hard liquor has about 90 calories per 1 1/2 ounce serving (about a shot glass). Liqueurs, especially cream-based ones, can pack a punch of 100 calories or more per ounce. - Drink white wine rather than mixed drinks. Cocktails with mixers like orange juice or regular soda increase the caloric damage. - Remember that all wineglasses aren't equal. Some parties without a bartender might only offer oversize goblets or, worse, 16-ounce cups, tempting you to fill them up. - Alternate each drink with diet soda, plain water or club soda with a splash of fruit juice. Club soda has no calories. Tonic water and ginger ale have about 120 per 12-ounce can. LOST ON THE WAY Be careful not to fall prey to common diet slip-ups. Diet trap: The slice of cake you ate doesn't count because you already exercised that day. Why: Dietitian Marisa Moore says exercise doesn't perfectly offset food servings. Your power walk may have burned only 150 calories, while the cake weighed in at 500 calories. Diet trap: You starve yourself all day to "save calories" for your big splurge later. Why: That's bad, says registered dietitian and Auburn University nutrition professor Robert Keith. You'd probably end up eating more to make up for the missed meals, even more than if you had eaten three balanced meals that day. Diet trap: The buffet is full of high-calorie foods, so you stick to the small appetizers that are passed around on trays. Why: Just because it's small doesn't mean it's light; some bite-size treats have 100 calories each. And since you'll be talking and drinking, you might not pay attention to how many you eat. CALORIE COUNTER How will your holiday food choices affect your waistline? Find out with our calorie counter on ajc.com/health Clip 'n' keep! THE DAY OF AN EVENT . . . - Eat breakfast. Starving yourself until the end of the day usually doesn't work. - Drink lots of water so you're well-hydrated and feeling full. - Eat a low-fat snack (high-fiber granola bar, nuts, fruit) before you leave the house. - As you arrive, keep in mind that you want to eat a balanced meal of small portions rather than stuff yourself. - Focus on activities away from the buffet: dancing, walking around, mingling with guests. - Don't forget to enjoy yourself and have fun. CREATIVE EXCUSES If the host or someone else encourages you to eat more or to have another drink, try one of these responses. - "I'm watching what I eat." - "I'm full." - "I'm the designated driver." - "I'm allergic to chocolate / shellfish / dairy." - "I'd love to, just as soon as I come back from the ladies' room / find my husband / call my baby sitter." (Then do just that, but don't eat anything else.) - "We're just about to leave."
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Alabama suffers engineer shortage 11/07/2006 Birmingham News - Online LIZ ELLABY		Return to Top
AU is mentioned as a partner in an initiative to counter a shortage of engineers in Alabama. Alabama is facing a shortage of engineers as Baby Boomers retire and new jobs in biotechnology and manufacturing emerge, state education officials say. Education leaders are meeting Tuesday to discuss ways to reverse that trend, possibly by launching engineering academies at high schools throughout the state. The University of Alabama System, Auburn University and the Alabama Department of Education have pooled $100,000 to begin planning the initiative and have pledged another $100,000 for the next budget year. They expect to hire at least a part-time coordinator soon for what they call the Engineering Academy Initiative for Alabama, said UA System Vice Chancellor Charles Nash. Depending on the outcome of those discussions, pilot academies could be created as soon as next fall. Professional engineers could be hired onto faculties or teach via videoconferencing. A key to replenishing the supply of engineers involves reaching back into middle schools and putting more kids on track to take calculus at least by their college freshman year, preferably sooner, Nash said. "You can't wait until college (to choose engineering)," he said. "We knew we'd have to back it up. In fact, much of the conversation around the nation is that you've got to back it up to the middle schools, and even to the elementary schools, and telling families what engineering is, and isn't. "Some kids think automatically engineering is boring," Nash said. "Others may think it's a glamorous field. And some could get in an academy and say, `You know, I think I really want to major in music.' But at least they'll know." The initiative is the result of 18 months of talks among deans of engineering, universities and the state's K-12 system. Specific curriculums will get a hearing at Tuesday's conference by Alabama's seven engineering schools and some of the 20 high schools that already offer an academy or something like it. Hoover teacher's proposal: Hoover High School science teacher Mark Conner, an engineer credited with shaping Hoover's Engineering Academy, said he proposed a pilot version of his curriculum to those same leaders in May 2005. He dropped out of talks in September after they produced no director or funding source, he said. Instead, Conner teamed up with George Blanks, a continuing education director with Auburn's college of engineering, and pitched the curriculum as recently as October to Decatur City Schools and to McGill-Toolen, a Catholic high school in Mobile. Blanks, who sat in on some of the meetings with state educators, is co-director of a high school robotics competition called Alabama BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology). It was his and Conner's idea to export the Hoover program first to strong BEST high schools and use other Auburn programs to flesh it out. The Hoover curriculum includes four engineering electives paired with a course sequence leading to Calculus II and Physics II by students' senior years. That's important, said Conner, who says studies show that college students unprepared for advanced math, particularly calculus, account for the high attrition rate in pre-engineering courses. Students who take calculus before college fare better, but that means starting the math sequence as early as eighth grade with Algebra I, he said. He guesses that less than 30 percent do so. Now that the state has acted, Conner said he's not sure where his venture with Auburn stands. McGill-Toolen officials say they're considering the pilot. But Blanks said the engineering college was stepping out of the partnership at least to see what the state offers. Decatur's Assistant Superintendent Ed Nichols said the same. Not feeding schools: State schools Superintendent Joe Morton, who said he was unaware two programs were circulating, said the initiative's focus is not to feed students to engineering schools. Its point is to improve the economic viability of Alabama, he said. Morton points to the plans of aerospace and defense developer EADS to build an aircraft factory in Mobile; growth of UAB-related biotechnology, and Alabama's growing automotive industry as good enough reasons to produce more engineers. "It might behoove everyone - including all seven engineering schools - to get in a room and see if there's a way to collaborate," he said. Nash also said jobs, not undergraduate engineering, were the state's immediate concern. With recent initiatives, freshman enrollment at the UA system's engineering schools at Huntsville, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa together averaged an increase of more than 20 percent this fall, he said. The growing concern right now is the number of foreign students on temporary visas who fill up places in master's and doctoral programs, he said. In 2003, 55 percent of engineering doctorates were awarded to students on temporary visas, according to the National Science Foundation. "We don't have enough high-level engineers that stay here," Nash said. "We have to do something to interest them." Tuesday's meeting is at the Alabama Power Co. conference center in Clanton. A follow-up meeting for 80 high schools that showed an interest in participating could be set before the end of the year, Nash said.
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