News digest

Purdue News Summary

June 29, 2009

This digest contains summaries of the following stories from Purdue News Service and Agricultural Communication Service. All these stories, and more, are available on the Web.

NEWS TIPS

Food safety recalls suggest need for more frequent and better testing methods, researcher says

Safety testing of the nation's food supply must be improved in light of the mysterious link between eating raw refrigerated cookie dough and food-borne pathogenic bacteria, says a Purdue food safety researcher. Nestlé USA voluntarily recalled about 300,000 cases of refrigerated Toll House cookie dough products due to a link between the product and an outbreak of illnesses caused by E. coli in more than 25 states.

Purdue vet suggests ways to manage pets during July 4 fireworks

Fourth of July fireworks can frighten pets and farm animals and cause them to react in ways that might injure them. But a Purdue veterinarian says there are numerous ways to protect your pets during the celebrations. "Owners must use common sense when they allow pets to join the festivities," said Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian at Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine. "Some dogs like chasing those spinning and swirling objects on the ground. Others fear loud noises. Owners can use simple tricks like putting cotton in their pets' ears to muffle the sound."

RESEARCH NEWS AND SPECIAL REPORTS

Long-term apple scab resistance remains elusive, Purdue expert says

**Janna Beckerman**

There are hundreds of choices when picking a crabapple tree from the nursery, but a Purdue expert says only a handful are resistant to a widespread fungus or other serious diseases. After reviewing 33 years of data, Janna Beckerman, a Purdue assistant professor of botany and plant pathology, found that only five of 287 crabapple varieties had durable resistance to a serious disease of crabapple trees. The results of her study were published in the June issue of the journal HortScience.

Woohyun Kim, at right,
and James Braun

Engineers have developed a technique that saves energy and servicing costs by indicating when air conditioners are low on refrigerant, preventing the units from working overtime. The new "virtual refrigerant charge sensor" is particularly practical for automotive air conditioners, which tend to leak refrigerant more than other types of units, and also for household central air conditioning units, said James Braun, a professor of mechanical engineering.

GENERAL INTEREST NEWS

Bands to entertain at Stars and Stripes concert, fireworks

The Lafayette Citizens Band will be among the highlights of the annual Stars and Stripes concert and fireworks display at Purdue's Slayter Center of Performing Arts on July 4. The Purdue Summer Jazz Band will kick off the concert at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m., the Lafayette Citizens Band, under the direction of William D. Kisinger, takes over along with the Greater Lafayette Freedom Singers, a community chorus directed by Eric Van Cleave.

WBAA-FM to increase power to 14,000 watts

Purdue's FM public radio station may soon be able to increase its audience thanks to a boost in its power transmission. The power increase, from 5,000 watts to 14,000 watts, will allow WBAA Radio to potentially reach an additional 90,000 listeners, station general manager Tim Singleton said.

AGRICULTURAL NEWS

Undesirable weather slows down hay production

Spring weather has been less than favorable for harvesting hay, keeping many Indiana hay producers out of their fields, said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage specialist. "There was a period in late May that was suitable for harvesting hay, but for whatever reason many producers did not get their hay cut," he said. "Now producers need to focus on getting the hay harvested. Producers who started in late May are starting their second harvest."

Workshop teaches about nutrient management plan software

Crop consultants, farmers, and National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employees are welcome to attend the first Nutrient Management Plan Development Workshop, July 21-22, hosted by Purdue's Department of Agronomy. The workshop will be at the Beck Agricultural Center at the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE) located near West Lafayette.

NEWS ABOUT PURDUE PEOPLE

Alder to head Purdue College of Technology in Richmond

**Barbara J. Alder**

Barbara J. Alder, director of the Purdue College of Technology at Anderson, also will serve as director of the Purdue College of Technology at Richmond, starting July 1. In her new role, Alder will replace Brian Alenskis, who plans to take a sabbatical leave during fall semester and return to teaching full time for the Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology in Richmond, starting next spring.

• Appointments and promotions:

-- Lindi Smedberg new assistant director of fraternity, sorority life

-- David Blakesley receives Computers and Composition Charles Moran Award

-- Albert Overhauser receives 2009 Russell Varian Prize

-- Terry West receives award from Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT ITEMS

Summer Concert Series to include dinner, variety of musical acts

Purdue Memorial Union's annual summer concert series will begin July 8 and feature dinner and diverse musical styles. The four free Wednesday shows begin at 6:30 p.m. on the union's front lawn. Food will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m. Meal tickets are $5, and a la carte pricing is available at the event. Seating for the concerts will be limited, so attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets.

OTHER ITEMS

Reporters Calendar

-- Local children continue to win at Purdue PALS program

-- Air Race Classic team to return to campus

-- Aging center to announce new community collaboration for aging studies

-- Purdue leads Indianapolis conference on U.S. health-care reform

NEWS FROM OTHER PURDUE SOURCES

Indiana high school students win college tuition vouchers at Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy

**Anthony Rice of Greenwood**

Indiana high school students in top-finishing teams of the third annual Purdue Research Park Entrepreneurship Academy competition received college tuition vouchers during a special event Friday (June 26). The vouchers ranged from $100 to $500 and can be used at all Purdue and Ivy Tech Community College campuses in Indiana. About 50 juniors and seniors from 21 Indiana counties participated in the program.

New Web site makes registering for Northwest Indiana parks' recreational and educational programs easier

A new Web site developed by a Purdue Technology Center-based company eases the task of registering and paying for parks and recreation department programs offered in three Northwest Indiana communities. The site was developed by Next Generation Solutions Ltd., an affiliate company of the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana. Information about programs offered by the Highland, Merrillville and Schererville parks departments is available at http://www.activenwi.com

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