IN THIS NEWSLINE ISSUED FEBRUARY 21, 2006:

1. ALTERNARIA, ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES
2. AGROBAJA 2006
3. SMALL STEPS TO HEALTH AND WEALTH: A TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
4. IMPORTANCE AND DANGERS OF SOILS TO HUMAN LIFE
5. MOVING SCIENCE INTO PRACTICE AND POLICY
6. DIGGING DEEPER: A YOUTH GARDENING PROGRAM
7. THE GERMIEST JOBS
8. ARIZONA AG DAY PROVIDES FORUM FOR IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY
9. RETIRED COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENT TRAVELED THE STATE
10. GLOBAL RETAILING CONFERENCE IN TUCSON
11. UA WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
12. NEW ARID LANDS RESEARCH CENTER

1 ALTERNARIA, ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES

Asthma sufferers have flocked to Arizona's deserts for more than 100 years to find relief from their symptoms. Yet the exploding number of asthma cases -- it is now the most common chronic respiratory disease of children in the United States -- include more cases in Arizona as well. In 2002, 31 million Americans (11 percent) were diagnosed with asthma; 8.9 million of these were under 18 years of age.

Scientists at The University of Arizona are studying local allergens to help doctors diagnose asthma triggers in the desert. While irritants such as cigarette smoke can trigger attacks in almost anyone with asthma, allergens will cause attacks only in people who are actually allergic to them.

Alternaria is one of the most common fungi worldwide, found literally everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. It produces long chains of spores that are easily dispersed through the air. Yet it's also a notable plant pathogen that produces very toxic secondary metabolites in addition to human allergens. Some of these toxins may have a bioactive relationship to asthma that compound the effects of allergens.

Barry Pryor, Division of Plant Pathology

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2005/article8_2005.pdf

2 AGROBAJA 2006

Agrobaja, the second-largest Ag-expo in Mexico, will be held in Mexicali on March 2, 3 and 4. It is a forum where growers, suppliers and service providers for field crops, livestock, aquaculture and other segments of the agriculture industry can learn more about the latest advances.

Now in its sixth year, Agrobaja is the only Agriculture Expo taking place along the borders of northern Mexico and southern United States.

The first AgroBaja in 2001 had 288 booths. Now in its sixth year, the event has grown to 400 booths. Visitors to the exhibition have increased from 12,000 in 2001 to 37,000 in 2005.

Livestock from the State of Baja California and various regions of Mexico will be exhibited, with a traditional livestock auction taking place on Saturday March 4th. A botanical garden hosted by the National Forest Commission will present Baja California's most popular desert species. Exhibitors from all across Mexico will display exotic products at AgroBaja. Last year more than 200 growers and small companies representing 28 states showed fresh and processed products, many of them never seen before by the attendees.

To learn more:
http://www.agrobaja.com/

3 SMALL STEPS TO HEALTH AND WEALTH: A TRAINING OPPORTUNITY

Cooperative Extension and the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education & Research are sponsoring "Small Steps to Health and Wealth" Training on Thursday, March 2, from 1:30-5:00 p.m. A live video conference features Barbara O'Neill, extension specialist in financial resource management with Rutgers Cooperative Research & Extension.

The objective of this training is to provide the tools to integrate curriculum into existing programs. Small Steps to Health and Wealth is designed to motivate consumers to implement behavior change strategies that simultaneously improve their health and their personal finances. The mission of the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and
Research at University of Arizona is to improve consumer financial well-being through research and outreach programs.

Dr. O'Neill is the author of two trade books, "Saving On A Shoestring" and " Investing On A Shoestring," published by Dearborn Trade, and co-author of " Money Talk: A Financial Guide For Women" and "Small Steps to Health and Wealth."

The video conference is free for Extension faculty, staff, volunteers and community partners who are interested in integrating health and wealth lifestyles into their youth and family programming. Registration is required for one of the five sites with the UA videoconferencing system classrooms -- Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff, Sierra Vista or Yuma.

Linda Block, Pima County Cooperative Extension

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/fcs/tcai/sshw/index.htm

4 IMPORTANCE AND DANGERS OF SOILS TO HUMAN LIFE

Several views of soils were presented recently during the 172nd annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science were recently featured in the Arizona Daily Star:

Our soil is key to our ability to grow food and it serves as a protective layer between the sources of human waste and the water we drink. It also has the potential to be a toxic bath, keeping us awash in ever-stronger populations of disease-causing pathogens. "Life without soils wouldn't exist," said Ian Pepper, a researcher with the UA's Environmental Research Lab.

Besides the basic functions of supporting trees and food crops, soils have yielded important cures, he said -- including the antibiotics penicillin and streptomycin. He called the bacteria that live in soil an "ultimate example of evolution in action and a public health savior."

For the full story from the Arizona Daily Star go to the link below.

Ian Pepper, Soil, Water and Environmental Science

To learn more:
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/116821.php

5 MOVING SCIENCE INTO PRACTICE AND POLICY

Society can't afford to take 20 or 30 or 50 years to put new scientific insights about the environment into practice, say two scientists from The University of Arizona.

To shorten the time between the creation of new knowledge and the widespread acceptance of that knowledge by citizens and policymakers -- the so-called Valley of Death -- environmental scientists need to take lessons from research on marketing and research how innovations are disseminated.

Speeding the dissemination of knowledge from the scientific community to the general public requires specific action. Scientists need to learn what those actions are so they can help spread new knowledge widely, the researchers said.

Cooperative extension efforts such as those at UA's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are one way to put new scientific knowledge to work on the ground. One key is to have early adopters, people who are eager to try out new technologies, involved in developing those technologies. Reaching those individuals will both help hone the technology for its ultimate application and spread the news of new technologies throughout the community of intended users.

Charles F. Hutchinson, Stuart Marsh, Office of Arid Lands Studies

To learn more:
http://uanews.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/14/wa/SRStoryDetails?ArticleID=12276

6 DIGGING DEEPER: A YOUTH GARDENING PROGRAM

Much of Arizona is blessed with a perfect growing season for school and youth garden education. Most sites can plan on a winter and spring garden with maximum student and youth engagement. Learning in the garden classroom is an ideal opportunity for children at school, after school and at home with hands-on, sensory-based experiences that challenge, motivate and inspire them to literally dig deeper into their own creativity and desire to learn more.

The USDA-funded Digging Deeper Project was launched to provide exemplary Arizona school and youth garden programs with the tools for garden program assessment. The teachers and youth leaders at the twelve sites that were chosen in a competitive grant process represent a leadership team of committed educators who understand the rich educational potential of gardening with children. These sites reflect a growing statewide movement to ground a child's education in the natural cycles and rhythms that shape all members of our biotic community.

Lucy Bradley, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/youthgardens/dig/digging_deeper.html

7 THE GERMIEST JOBS

In the fall of 2004, CALS microbiologist Chuck Gerba collected samples from private offices, cubicles and conferences rooms in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Atlanta and Tucson, Ariz. A total of 328 surfaces were tested and analyzed at the university labs.

Gerba said that "presenteeism" -- the opposite of absenteeism -- was one of the major reasons offices were such hotbeds for germs. Presenteeism is responsible for lost time and productivity because employees go to work despite not feeling well enough to be productive.

Common areas, such as conference rooms, are not safe havens for germs because they are more likely to be cleaned than personal space, Gerba said.

"Also, people at meetings are usually sitting relatively still," he said. " They aren't getting up to use phones, computer mice and keyboards."

The study, sponsored by Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, predictably concluded that people should wash their hands and wipe down their work spaces. The Top 5 places where viruses live in the workplace are: the desk, computer mouse, telephone, doorknob and light switch.

"Viruses can live for 72 hours on common surfaces like phones and desktops," Gerba said.

Chuck Gerba, Soil, Water and Environmental Science

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/media/archives/6.14.html

8 ARIZONA AG DAY PROVIDES FORUM FOR IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY

The 26th Annual Arizona Agriculture Day, "Agriculture in Action: Then& Now", will be held Saturday, March 25 at historic Sahuaro Ranch in Glendale from 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. This is a change from its previous locations in downtown Phoenix and near the state capitol. An all-Arizona lunch will be served between 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m and while supplies last. The dollar cost of the meal represents what the farmer and rancher gets paid for each meal.

Ag Day provides an opportunity for agriculture-related education, service and business ventures to educate the public about the economic impact of the industry in Arizona and its innovations while exploring agriculture's history and the role it plays in daily life. Visitors of all ages can view displays of agricultural equipment,horse and cattle breeds, hydroponics, Arizona Grown produce, gardening tips and techniques, cooking demonstrations, a milking barn, butter churning, blacksmith demonstrations, cotton ginning, corn grinding, candle dipping and more.

The historic Sahuaro Ranch, which includes a fruit packing shed gallery, a main house available for tours, a museum and a store, is located at 9802 North 59th Avenue (59th Avenue and Mountain View Road)in Glendale.

To learn more:
http://www.sahuaroranch.org/AG_Day06.html

9 RETIRED COOPERATIVE EXTENSION AGENT TRAVELED THE STATE

When Corinne Stinson came to Tucson from Texas in 1960, she was already a well-traveled woman. She had crisscrossed two Texas Panhandle counties for 14 years teaching families how to better their lives.

While many people have an image that home economics means high-school cooking and sewing classes, it was more than that, Stinson said. She taught families how to manage their households, finances and purchases. She taught nutrition, food science and healthy food preparation.

Stinson instructed people in their homes or held workshops in small community halls or schools.And she taught many families how to use electricity, which was just arriving, and the new electrical home contraptions that followed. "You teach by example," she said.

Today, the Cooperative Extension System in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has 57 faculty members, 121 staff members and 11,992 volunteers working across the state, including on Indian reservations.

For the full story on Corinne Stinson that appeared in the Arizona Daily Star, go to link below.

To learn more:
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/116114.php

10 GLOBAL RETAILING CONFERENCE IN TUCSON

Innovation's Edge is the theme for the upcoming Global Retailing Conference, to be held March 30-31, 2006, at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson. This conference brings some of the top retail and fashion executives in the world to share their thoughts on the priorities and immense impact of innovation on the future of retail. From retail trends in regional malls, to innovative retail practices introduced by Tommy Hilfiger, two full days of topics address a range of subjects related to how, what and why people shop as they do.

Industry speakers include Terry J. Lundgren, CEO, Chairman and President of Federated Department Stores; Tommy Hilfiger, president, Tommy Hilfiger Corporation; and executives from FedEx/Kinko's, Microsoft, Calvin Klein, MetaMatrix, General Growth Properties and Home Depot.

The Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing combines the resources and expertise of the University of Arizona and the corporate retail industry. Through this partnership, the Center brings focus to the issues facing retailers today for students, faculty and retail personnel. Those issues include addressing business and consumer needs of a changing and diverse market, the effects of retail globalization and the strategies necessary to compete successfully in today's marketplace. The Center also brings campus-wide attention to retail career opportunities, offers students experiences to enrich their personal and academic career preparation, supports consumer research and sponsors community outreach programs to Arizona youth, adults and businesses.

Melinda Burke, Retailing and Consumer Sciences

To learn more:
http://globalretailingconference.org/

11 UA WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

The Women's Leadership Conference 2006, "Preparing Today for Tomorrow", will be held Saturday, March 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson. In its fourth year, the conference brings together women from the UA's Eller College of Management, the College of Engineering and Science and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The conference is open to women students at the University of Arizona majoring in business, science, engineering or agriculture. The event focuses on enhancing leadership skills and provides attendees the opportunity to network with fellow female leaders and professional women in the workforce.

The registration fee of $15 includes breakfast, buffet lunch and book by Susan Butler, founder and president of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders, which she founded as a way to educate and mentor women and girls to make bold changes to improve their lives.

Other speakers include Vicki Chandler, UA regents professor, CALS Department of Plant Sciences and Director of the BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona; Jane Prescott-Smith, senior director of development, UA Eller College of Management; and women executives from Honeywell Aerospace, the Arizona Nursery Association, Intel, IBM, Title Security Agency,Lovin' Spoonfuls Vegetarian Restaurant, and Raytheon Missile Systems.

To learn more:
http://ugrad.eller.arizona.edu/student/organizations/wlc/index.htm

12 NEW ARID LANDS RESEARCH CENTER

The new Arid Lands Research Center in central Arizona integrates facilities of the Western Cotton Research Laboratory (WCRL), and the U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory (USWCL) on a 20-acre site. It replaces 12.5 acres of facilities in south Phoenix where rapid commercial development sparked a need for an alternative location closer to production agriculture.

With close to 100,000 square feet of space, architects were able to incorporate a full complement of laboratories, greenhouses, offices and meeting areas into the facility. Sponsored and run by the U.S. Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the center, adjacent to The University of Arizona's Maricopa Agricultural Center (MAC), opened in January 2006.

The Arid Lands Research Center will focus on all aspects of efficient cotton production and on water conservation and quality, with an emphasis on irrigation technology.

Bob Roth, Maricopa Agricultural Center

To learn more:
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/general/resrpt2005/article15_2005.pdf

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