TODAY’S EDITION See page 3 for information on outreach initiative SPECTRUM with Halifax County.

VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY http://www.spectrum.vt.edu VOLUME 27 NUMBER 9 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004 Zahm, Eyre to speak at fall Commencement exercises By Susan Dickerson and organizations; providing technical Professors Diane Zahm and Peter Eyre assistance and consulting services to several will be the keynote speakers at the architectural firms; and publishing, university’s fall 2004 Commencement Designing Safer Communities: A Crime ceremonies. Prevention Through Environmental Design Zahm, associate professor of urban Handbook. The Urban Land Institute recently affairs and planning in the College of published her paper, “Why Protecting the Architecture and Urban Studies, will be the Public Health, Safety and General Welfare keynote speaker at the fall 2004 Won’t Protect Us From Crime.” Undergraduate Commencement ceremony. Zahm was the 1993 recipient of the G. Eyre, former dean of the Virginia-Maryland Paul Sylvestre Award, given by the U.S. College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice (VMRCVM) and professor in the department Statistics, for outstanding achievement in of biomedical sciences and pathobiology, advancing criminal-justice statistics. In 2004, will be the keynote speaker for the fall 2004 she was selected to give the Robert Graduate School Commencement DeVoursney Lecture on Crime and Violence ceremony. Prevention at the University of Virginia Zahm’s experiences include conducting Department of Urban and Environmental crime prevention through environmental- Planning. She also was the recipient of the design training for a variety of communities ZAHM EYRE (See COMMENCEMENT on 4) NSF grant funds Next issue to be last for Spectrum Murch associate director for Research study of plants’ As first announced earlier this semester, also linked from the Blacksburg Electronic defense mechanisms Spectrum will cease publication following the Village website, for the convenience of Program Development Dec. 17 issue. Blacksburg residents, including university By Sally Harris By Barbara Micale The printed publication is being replaced retirees, who use the site. Humans and animals have a “fight-or- Randall S. Murch has been named flight” response to danger, but plants can’t by Virginia Tech News, a daily, multi-media Larry Hincker, associate vice president associate director for research program flee. They originally had a built-in defense news-and-information service that will keep for University Relations, said the electronic development at Virginia Tech, effective system to protect them from bugs and all members of the university community news service offers in-depth up-to-date December 6. injuries, but humans cultivated some plants informed with up-to-the-minute campus news information to faculty and staff members and Murch, who will be based at Tech’s to serve humans’ needs; and now some and notices. students. The Virginia Tech News website National Capital Region in Alexandria, will plants can’t flee or fight. So costly pesticides Archived copies of Spectrum for recent features news stories, campus notices, be responsible for strategic planning, and that are sometimes harmful to the years will still be available at http:// photographs, and the university calendar. News initiating and fostering research relationships environment now defend the plants from scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/. Campus stories include major administrative initiatives, between federal, state and local agencies the same things they used to be able to fight departments which have published inserts in educational programs, research projects and and Virginia Tech departments and centers on their own. Spectrum will still have the capability to the many accomplishments of faculty and staff that focus on life science and bio-security. Asim Esen, professor in the produce their printed publications through members and students. Retirees, alumni, parents He will also work closely with The Institute Department of Biology in the College of Printing Services. and anyone who has an interest in Virginia for Genomic Research (TIGR), which Science, and David R. Bevan, professor in All new stories will be archived at http:/ Tech can now maintain daily contact with recently formed a strategic partnership with the Department of Biochemistry in the /www.vtnews.vt.edu/archives.php. events and developments at the university Virginia Tech. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The Virginia Tech News website, which Campus notices include a wide range of Murch joins Virginia Tech from the have received a $711,000 grant from the has been on line since September, is located off campus-specific information, such as parking Institute for Defense Analyses, a leading National Science Foundation to study, over the Virginia Tech News homepage. The site is (See SPECTRUM on 3) federally funded research-and-development four years, the specific interaction between center, where he has served for two years as an enzyme and another protein, both of director of the Technology Discovery and which are believed to be involved in helping Insertion Group and as a research staff plants defend themselves against pests. member and study leader for the “If we can understand how the plant organization’s Science and Technology defense system works, we can optimize it in Division. He has been responsible for such a way that plants can defend themselves planning and conducting complex, high- without using pesticides,” Esen said. “Plants impact studies and analyses for intelligence, have been around for millions of years and defense and homeland-security community defended themselves before chemical sponsors. pesticides.” His professional career includes 23 However, because of selection of plant years of extensive experience in traits by humans, some plants can’t even investigations, as well as research, propagate themselves now. Eight thousand development and applied science and years ago, maize, or corn, could both defend engineering programs at the FBI. He began itself and drop seeds to grow a new his career as a field agent, and advanced generation. But as humans selected for the throughout his career in positions of cob and the ear, they made it impossible for increasing responsibility and authority. His the seed to get out and disperse itself; so most recent position, before retiring in 2002, maize now can’t sustain itself. “We was deputy director of the Investigative mutilated it,” Esen said. “It can’t survive on Technology Division, responsible for almost its own.” 800 personnel, four departments, 19 units, a However, maize can still defend itself. TUBA EXUBERANCE The Marching Virginians tuba line enthusiastically $650-million budget, all tactical systems for Esen and Bevan are looking at the way its performs the Hokey Pokey at last Saturday’s game with the University of Virginia. (See MURCH on 3) (See NSF on 3) (M.Kiernan) 2 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004 ACTIVITIES (Editor’s note: For timely and expanded events University Council, 3 to 5 p.m., 1045 Pamplin. Wednesday, 15 information, go to the Virginia Tech Events Calendar at Academy of Teaching Excellence Dossier Workshop, 3 Hanukkah Ends. http://www.calendar.vt.edu/main.php.) to 5 p.m., 1810 Litton Reaves. “With Good Reason,” 7:30 p.m., WVTF. Theatre Arts Premiere, 8 p.m., Squires Haymarket VENTS Theatre: God Favors the Predator. Thursday, 16 Friday, 3 E Pay Date for Faculty and Staff Members. Theatre Arts Premiere, 8 p.m., Squires Haymarket Tuesday, 7 Exams End. Theatre: God Favors the Predator. Faculty Senate, 7 p.m., 129 McBryde. Staff Senate, noon, 1810 Litton Reaves.

Saturday, 4 Wednesday, 8 Friday, 17 Football, 1 p.m.: At Miami. Classes End. Fall Commencement, 11 a.m., Cassell Coliseum. Chamber Music, 8 p.m., Squires Recital Salon. Hanukkah Begins. Graduate Commencement, 3 p.m., Cassell Coliseum. Theatre Arts Premiere, 8 p.m., Squires Haymarket “With Good Reason,” 7:30 p.m., WVTF. International Student Graduation Reception, noon Theatre: God Favors the Predator. to 1:30 p.m. (graduate students) and 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 9 (undergraduate students), Cranwell Center. Sunday, 5 Reading Day. Chamber Music, 3 p.m., Squires Recital Salon. Project Success Information Luncheon, noon to 1 SEMINARS Theatre Arts Premiere, 3 p.m., Squires Haymarket p.m., Donaldson Brown Alumni Hall. Theatre: God Favors the Predator. Friday, 3 Friday, 10 MCBB, 12:20 to 1:10 p.m., 102 Fralin: Gregory Monday, 6 Exams Begin. Ordway, University of Mississippi Medical Center. VTU Program, 7:30 p.m., Burruss auditorium: “Fiddler Geosciences, 3:30 p.m., 4069 Derring: Susan Kidwell, on the Roof.” University of Chicago. BULLETINS

Project Success Information Luncheon set p.m. in 1810 Litton Reaves. The workshop covers preparation certificate program offers practitioner-oriented course work The Center for Academic Enrichment and Excellence of dossiers for several teaching awards, including the Alumni that builds upon management-training programs offered will hold its next Project Success Information Luncheon on Award for Excellence in Teaching, the W.E. Wine Award for through agencies, colleges, and universities. This curriculum Reading Day, Thursday, Dec. 9 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Excellence in Teaching, and the college-level Certificate of uses the foundation of theory and applies it to practical Alumni Hall in the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Teaching Excellence (in some colleges). problems facing the participants, their agency/department, Center. Dossier guidelines will be explained with recommendations and the state. At the completion of each program level, The luncheon is aimed at providing current Project on how best to present information related to teaching. Members participants have developed practical applications relevant to Success students and facilitators an opportunity to share their of teaching-excellence committees, department representatives, advancing the mission and objectives of the organizations. thoughts about Project Success with others in the hope of and potential nominees are encouraged to attend. Bud Brown (a The 300-hour program consists of sequential levels of encouraging our guests to consider joining the program this past chair of the academy) will organize the workshop. instruction in management theory and practice. The course spring as co-facilitators. It will also provide a chance for those For more information, contact Rick Fell at [email protected]. work is highly interactive and is delivered primarily through interested in getting involved in Project Success to ask classroom training, distance learning, and online instruction. questions about the program. Lane Stadium demolition begins Additional program hours include project completion, self- Project Success is a semester-long program that assists Demolition of the Lane Stadium press box and west study, and electives. Those who complete the program will probationary students in improving their academic earn the national designation of certified public manager. performance by enhancing skills such as time management concourse has begun and is expected to last approximately 45 and study skills and by learning more about themselves and days. To meet the overall project schedule, demolition activities Recently the Virginia Society of Certified Public the university. are planned from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Managers has been formed and the society has been accepted Faculty and staff members, administrators, and graduate The schedule may be adjusted at the work progresses. as a member of the American Academy of Certified Public students are recruited each semester to serve as co-facilitators There is no blasting associated with the demolition work, Managers. Anyone interested in learning more about this new for the student groups. Former PS students also serve as peer but the removal of the structures will likely produce some noise. and exciting program may contact Sam Camden at facilitators to provide the student’s perspective. Training is Noise-generating activities will be minimized as much as possible [email protected] or call 1-4281. provided so that the facilitators will feel comfortable in their to avoid disturbing faculty and staff members and students, role. For those who work with Project Success outside of their especially before and during semester exams. The demolition Catering sales workshop to be held regular work responsibilities, there is a $250 stipend available work will also result in increased truck traffic along Spring University instructors will host a two-and-a-half day for the semester’s participation. Road and Southgate Drive. Members of the campus community interactive workshop covering an array of topics regarding Those who plan to attend should RSVP to [email protected] should avoid traveling on these roads over the next few weeks successful selling in today’s market. by Friday, Dec. 3. whenever possible. The workshop, designed for catering professionals who Those who are interested in the program, but cannot For more information, contact Jim McCoy, director, Capital want to update their skills and knowledge to better sell in attend the luncheon, may also get involved in Project Success. Design and Construction Department at 1-6449. today’s market, will be held Feb. 7 through 9 at the Donaldson More information, as well as an on-line facilitator application, Brown Hotel and Conference Center. Registration is $395 is available at http://www.caee.vt.edu/programs/ Blackboard Upgrade scheduled and will be accepted until Jan. 25, 2005. projectsuccess.html. During this winter break Online Course Systems will Howard Feiertag and Stuart Feigenbaum of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the Basketball parking information detailed upgrade Blackboard to its new release 6.2.3. The Blackboard vendor has resolved the issues previously discovered in the Pamplin College of Business will instruct individuals on how The next home basketball game is Saturday, Dec. 4. For software which caused a delay to the summer upgrade. The to achieve success in the modern economy though educational weekend games these three lots (Coliseum lot, Track/Field presentations, discussions and exercises on the skills necessary House lot, and Tennis Court lot) will be restricted the day upgrade will begin Sunday, Dec. 19 and end on Jan. 9, 2005. before the game to no parking after 5:30 p.m. and all vehicles The new version of Blackboard (6.2.3) will be available for success. must be removed from these lots by mid-night or be subject Jan. 10 for spring 2005. Transition items such as handouts, For more information, go to http://www.conted.vt.edu/ to towing. Signs will be posted at the entrance to the three documentation, tutorial, and a schedule of “What’s New in catering/, or contact Sharon Scott at 1-5567 or e-mail effected lots the day before the game. Blackboard” workshops will be available the week before [email protected]. Public parking for home games will be located in Litton- spring semester begins (Jan 10 through 14) and during the Reaves lot, the Stadium lot, and in the large fenced resident month of December. The schedule is available at https:// Housing Office offers help parking lot off Duck Pond Drive. Those attending the games www.fdi.vt.edu/public/login.php?term_pk1=1682. The Off Campus Housing Office at Virginia Tech should park in the large section of the cage closest to the Duck For more information, contact [email protected]. currently has a program designed to help new and visiting Pond. Handicap parking will be available in Coliseum lot. faculty/staff members find permanent and short-term housing Public RV’s must park in the Duck Pond lot. Certified-public-managers society formed in the New River Valley Area. This program also provides an For more information, call Parking Services at 1-3200 or The Department of Human Resource Management in outlet for faculty and staff members to advertise housing go to www.parking.vt.edu; after regular business hours, contact Richmond has established a new Virginia Certified Public availability or housing needs. The program was designed to the University Police Department at 1-6411. Managers Program (VACPM). The VACPM is a broad-based make the rental process easier for faculty and staff members. management-development program providing public For more information about the Faculty and staff program, Dossier Workshop scheduled professionals with training to maximize the effectiveness of visit website www.vtoch.uusa.vt.edu, call 1-3346, or e-mail The Academy of Teaching Excellence will host a government organizations. As part of a national consortium, the [email protected]. Teaching Dossier Workshop on Monday Dec. 6, from 3 to 5 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004 SPECTRUM 3 University to launch new outreach initiative with Halifax County By Susan B. Felker William Fitzgerald, chairman of the our resources, including faculty expertise, for years and unemployment has come down from Virginia Tech and Halifax County, have Halifax County Board of Supervisors, made the economic and social well-being of this a high of 12.6 percent to 8.3 percent in only announced plans to begin a new research- public a grant of up to $180,000 from the community.” nine months, we still have a lot of work to do,” based outreach initiative relating to science, county to Virginia Tech to provide support for The new outreach program will involve said Delegate Clarke Hogan. “This cooperative technology, engineering, and mathematics the university’s first year of outreach operations partnering with economic-development and venture between the broadband initiative, (STEM). Carole C. Inge, who formerly in South Boston. “We are looking forward to industrial-development authorities to identify Riverstone Technology Park, and Virginia Tech managed Longwood University’s National many years of partnership,” Fitzgerald said. new STEM career-education areas, building is part of the answer and I’m very excited about Institute for Technology Policy and Research, “We have been impressed by Virginia Tech’s STEM-related research initiatives between this effort.” will direct the Halifax outreach program. contributions to Southside Virginia through Southside businesses and Virginia Tech faculty Ben Davenport, a business leader from This program, which will be based at the the Institute for Advanced Learning and members, and disseminating this information Southside Virginia who serves as rector of new Riverstone Technology Park west of South Research in Danville and invited the state’s regionally, statewide, and nationally. Educating Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors, told the Boston on Route 58, will be designed to largest research university to join us in building under-represented groups about career audience “we must look to new models for stimulate economic development, produce the local economy in Halifax County.” opportunities and educational requirements for improving the land-grant university’s service content for the broadband Internet service that John E. Dooley, vice provost for outreach relevant jobs will follow. Virginia Tech will to society in a changing world. We see our is coming to Halifax County, and academic and international affairs, said the university also foster relationships with Southside collaboration with Halifax County as a way to programs at the Southern Virginia Higher will work to enhance the capacity of STEM industries to provide custom programs and strengthen Virginia Tech’s leadership role in Education Center. It will also reinforce the education in the region and will be seeking continuing education for professionals, thereby the transfer of knowledge and expertise between Halifax County school system’s STEM partnerships toward that end. “This is a research- increasing local support from outreach for the university and Southside Virginia to the education efforts. driven initiative,” Dooley said. “We will use research and instruction. benefit of both, and to support research and “While we have weathered the worst of the outreach activities that have potential for job losses in our area during the last several community and regional transformation.” MURCH advocate for the expertise the university offers Continued from 1 the nation,” said Brad Fenwick, Virginia Tech’s the FBI, engineering support and training for vice president for research. “He has SPECTRUM To subscribe to the daily e-mail service, all 56 field offices, and liaison with other U.S. demonstrated significant leadership during send an e-mail to [email protected] and government and friendly foreign agencies. In more than two decades with the FBI and is Continued from 1 notices, Personnel Services announcements, write in the body of the message, “subscribe addition, Murch created and structured recognized for his service to several academic VTnews firstname lastname” (‘firstname programs and sought and acquired start-up or societies and government agencies.” event reminders and various administrative policies or updates. The university community lastname’ is the name of the person subscribing substantial increases in funding to advance Fenwick also said Murch is the first to the service). Information how to unsubscribe research, development, test, evaluation and member of a growing agency-relations staff. is encouraged to submit notices for inclusion in campus notices. All approved Virginia Tech- is posted on the bottom of each daily message. acquisition of new technologies. He also served “We welcome Dr. Murch to our staff in University Relations will maintain the in the FBI Laboratory as a forensic biologist, the National Capital Region as we move forward affiliated organizations may post calendar items to the university calendar. website and distribute the daily e-mail. research scientist, department head and deputy with our mission to establish Virginia Tech’s Questions and comments may be sent to director. From 1999-2001, he was detailed to presence here in the metropolitan area and The university will continue to send emergency e-mail and voicemail messages in [email protected]. the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, further enhance our research capabilities, Recognizing that there are campus Department of Defense, where he led an particularly in the life sciences and biosecurity,” the event that an urgent message needs to be conveyed to students, the faculty and staff, or departments with employees who do not have advanced-study group which performed or said Jim Bohland, director of operations for the daily access to e-mail, University Relations directed a number of innovative efforts to seek National Capital Region. the entire university community. Members of the campus community who will produce a printed weekly summary which new approaches to reducing the threat of Murch earned a B.S. degree from the will be distributed to these departments. The weapons of mass destruction, including through University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, find a daily reminder highlighting each day’s major headlines and announcements useful university is also involved in a campus-wide the proliferation of biological weapons, Washington, an M.S. from the University of effort to make employee access to computers biological warfare and bioterrorism. may subscribe to the Virginia Tech News Daily Hawaii, Honolulu, and a Ph.D. from the more readily available. Murch’s experience in bioterrorism University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. e-mail. includes initiating and developing the FBI’s leadership role in bioterrorism planning and response beginning with the 1996 Olympic NSF The researchers then found that the cause recruits other components of the defense system Games in Atlanta and creating the FBI’s Continued from 1 of aggregation was another protein, the beta- to eventually arrest the development of the Hazardous Materials Response Unit, the defense mechanism works. Young maize—the glucosidase aggregating factor (BGAF), which foreign elements and kill them. So the beta- nation’s focal point for the forensic young seedlings and any growing tissues and NULL lines produced in excess. They isolated glucosidase-BGAF aggregate is involved in investigation of crimes and terrorism involving organs—has two enzymes that help protect BGAF and proved its aggregating activity. defense, Esen said, and behaves much like a biological, chemical, radiological and nuclear against insect attacks. Beta-glucosidases reside The scientists found that BGAF was a football team that surrounds the ball carrier weapons from which a federal interagency in the plastid of the maize cells, and their hybrid protein with two distinct regions or and keeps him from moving. consortium has been established. He is also a substrate DIMBOA-glucoside resides in the domains, a disease-response region and a The researchers’ project is to understand recognized leader and co-founder of the field vacuole part of the cell. Usually, the two do not the interaction between beta-glucosidase and of microbial forensics. carbohydrate-binding region (lectin). In nature, meet each other in an intact cell. However, the two occur as separate proteins, but in all BGAF—how they recognize each other and “Dr. Murch, with his extensive research when an insect starts gnawing at the young and program-development experience in the the grass species studied so far, they were bind so tightly. Thus far, they have evidence of maize, it breaks the compartments. The enzyme life sciences and biosecurity, will be an fused, probably millions of years ago in the three genes that make BGAF, but they need to outstanding partner for many of our faculty beta-glucosidase breaks the DIMBOA- ancestors of the grasses. Such things usually find out which one, which part of the molecule, members across the university and an able glucoside down into glucose and DIMBOA, happen as accidents (mutations), and, if is recognized. They will do that through genetic and the DIMBOA is toxic to insects. However, advantageous, they get selected and passed to engineering—changing the gene for BGAF, 14 of 463 inbred lines of maize tested in a study future generations. Surfaces of cells have producing the protein in bacteria and yeast, and seemed to lack the enzyme. They are called glycoproteins that lectins recognize by their then testing it with the enzyme. NULL. carbohydrate portion and bind to it. The The ultimate goal is to provide evidence Using spectrophotometric detection, Esen BGAF’s lectin region is similar to lectins that of the biological function of the binding and VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE and Bevan found that all the NULL lines AND STATE INIVERSITY recognize mannose sugar. Esen and Bevan aggregation, understand the defense system, Spectrum, a faculty-staff tabloid, is published bi-weekley actually did have active beta-glucosidase, but hypothesized that one of the functions of BGAF and produce plants that can once again defend on Fridays during the academic year, with the exception the enzyme became aggregated and could not themselves—to re-engineer the plants in an of certain holidays, exam weeks, and the summer. Copy is in defense when foreign cells such as bacteria, deadline is noon Friday. No advertising is accepted. be extracted efficiently. From this discovery, fungus, or viruses try to enter the cell. BGAF artificial setting to enable them to do what they Spectrum is a non-profit publication of the Office of the scientists knew the enzyme was there, but probably binds foreign cells, marks them, and could originally do: survive on their own. University Relations: Lawrence G. Hincker, associate something was keeping it in the large aggregate. vice president for University Relations; Mark Owczarski, director of news and information.

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Arlington County. 4 SPECTRUM FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004 IN OTHER NEWS Researchers create free, downloadable software radio-design tool By Liz Crumbley reception for communications—including cell would be possible if the signal-processing software-radio research project sponsored by The Mobile and Portable Radio Research phones, walkie-talkies, televisions, AM-FM capability were defined by software, rather the Office of the Director of the Central Group (MPRG) in the Bradley Department of radios, cordless phones, garage-door openers, than by dedicated hardware. In addition, the Intelligence Agency. Robert and Reed soon Electrical and Computer Engineering has radar, satellites, shortwave radios, pagers and fire chief’s software radio could communicate realized that other researchers could use OSSIE developed the fundamental software for use GPS (global positioning systems), to name a with a variety of other devices, such as cell in their development of software radios. They in designing software radios and is offering few. phones. also realized that pooling software with other this tool free to other wireless communications Currently, radios of all kinds perform their The concept of software radios has been researchers would add to a collective knowledge researchers throughout the world. signal processing—transmitting and receiving— especially attractive to the U.S. Department base for the creation of a variety of working “The tool available on the Virginia Tech based on dedicated hardware. A combination of Defense, which years ago established the software radios. website already has been downloaded by TV/AM-FM radio operates with two separate Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) to create MPRG has made OSSIE an open-source numerous companies and universities from radios, one to receive television broadcasts and general-purpose hardware that can operate as tool, which means that researchers can around the world,” said Jeffrey Reed, professor the other to receive radio broadcasts. Similarly, software-defined radios. download it free and, in turn, are responsible of electrical and computer engineering and a combination garage-door/car-door opener has This is where MPRG’s OSSIE comes for sharing their findings at no charge with deputy director of the MPRG. to be constructed with two distinct transmitters. into play. OSSIE is an operating environment, other researchers. “Software radio technology is today This dependence on dedicated hardware or software framework, that is compatible “Offering OSSIE as an open-source tool where personal-computer technology was in limits the function of a radio. For example, a fire with the JTRS military hardware and is written over the Internet will speed up growth of the the 1970s,” said Max Robert, the MPRG post- chief using a walkie-talkie to contact the walkie- in C++, a computer-programming language technology and make faster innovations doctoral fellow who led development of the talkie carried by a policeman in a burning building commonly used by wireless researchers. possible,” Robert said. “This will benefit all new tool, “OSSIE” (Open-Source Software has to hope that the two devices have the same OSSIE is an environment within which wireless researchers who are working to develop Communication Architecture Implementation: type of dedicated hardware. software radios can be programmed and can software radios.” Embedded). Using a software radio, the fire chief could operate. Researchers can download OSSIE from Software radios can be any devices that simply load in software designed to communicate MPRG’s Robert and a team of graduate the Virginia Tech MPRG website at http:// use wireless radio-frequency transmission and with the policeman’s device. This transition students first developed OSSIE as a tool for a www.mprg.org/research/ossie. Tech agricultural scientists work to protect soybean crop By Mary Ann H. Johnson The plan was put into action because the U.S. to total 17.6 million bushels, up 8 percent university’s Department of Plant Pathology, Virginia Tech agricultural scientists are Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant from last year. The crop’s farm gate value has Physiology, and Weed Science. These “first taking additional steps in the plan to protect Inspection Service (APHIS) announced in ranged from $75 million to $100 million detectors” are Virginia Cooperative Extension Virginia’s soybean crop from major yield November that the disease had been identified annually. This year the farm gate value should agents, certified crop advisers, crop reductions caused by Asian soybean rust, an in Louisiana. be in the range of $80 million. consultants, and other agronomists. aggressive fungal disease. Soybeans are an important agricultural Virginia soybean producers became “The chance of soybean rust spreading to “Soybean rust has not been detected in product. It is the largest row crop in the state, concerned about the devastation caused by Virginia in 2005 will depend on whether or not Virginia,” said David Holshouser, soybean and this year, Virginia soybean producers are the disease in Brazil where it now infests the fungus is found in other areas of the United agronomist at the Tidewater Agricultural harvesting 490,000 acres with an average yield more than 90 percent of the soybean crop. The States, and whether it will survive the winter in Research and Extension Center at Suffolk. of 36 bushels per acre. Production is expected Virginia Soybean Rust Task Force prepared a those locations,” Holshouser said. Virginia Response and Action Plan last It is currently thought that the fungus summer, said Jim Riddell, Virginia would over-winter on alternative hosts (such credited with building strong working Cooperative Extension associate director for as kudzu, and winter vetch) in southern Florida COMMENCEMENT relationships with organized veterinary-medical Continued from 1 Agriculture and Natural Resources. The task or Texas. Unless the fungus is found in those associations, as well as guiding the development force includes representatives from the College of Architecture and Urban Studies of the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical areas, it would have to be reintroduced from Excellence in Teaching Award in 1999 and Virginia Department of Agriculture and South America or the Caribbean Basin before Center in Leesburg. He served for several years Consumer Services, Virginia Soybean selected to give the annual Richmond Area on the Board of Directors of the Association of it could affect Virginia. Association and Board, Virginia Farm Bureau Development Archives Lecture for the Virginia American Veterinary Colleges, serving as its Stromberg said the state has applied for Federation, Virginia Crop Production Commonwealth University Department of president in 2003. He has worked on the an emergency Section 18 pesticide label for Urban Studies and Planning in 1995. American Veterinary Medical Association’s Association, Farm Credit, and the USDA Risk several fungicides to control soybean rust. Eyre has been an academic leader and Council on Government Relations and the Board Management Agency as well as Virginia Tech. These plus three currently available fungicides mission-builder at Virginia Tech and of the American Academy of Veterinary During the 2004 growing season, can be used during 2005 if soybean rust is throughout the state for nearly 20 years. He Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and has been Virginia Tech used funding from the Virginia detected in Virginia or threatens Virginia’s served as dean of the Virginia-Maryland honored for outstanding leadership by the Public Soybean Board to conduct an extensive soybean production. College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM) Relations Society of America, the Virginia monitoring program. Fields throughout most Researchers also are working to develop for more than 18 years, where he took on Veterinary Medical Association and the of Virginia’s soybean production region were soybean cultivars that are resistant to the Asian curricular reform and established academic Maryland Veterinary Medical Association. scouted on a biweekly basis from June through rust, but fungicides will be the primary line of excellence in the 1980s, aided in the Eyre is the recipient of more than $1.3 September, and soybean rust was not detected. defense until resistant cultivars become development of its clinical-service programs million in research sponsorship and is the author The 2004 soybean crop has already matured available. in the 1990s, and greatly expanded its research, of 205 refereed journal articles and 31 book and is being harvested. “Our action plan describes our educational master’s and Ph.D. programs. Today, the chapters and monographs. He has personally “To continue to protect Virginia soybean college is a $30-million enterprise. goals, our pre- and post-confirmation advised 34 master’s and Ph.D. students. producers, Virginia Tech conducted in-depth communication plan, and how Virginia will Eyre also served as a professor in the Commencement for undergraduate students training in September for more than 80 ‘first respond once rust is confirmed in Virginia or department of biomedical sciences and will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. detectors,’ who are the eyes and ears of a pathobiology and has initiated many outreach other parts of the United States,” Holshouser 17, in Cassell Coliseum. The Graduate School monitoring program,” said plant pathologist partnerships with the natural-sciences program said. processional ceremony will follow from 3 to 5 Erik Stromberg, interim head of the at Virginia Tech. He continues to assist the p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. “Virginia soybean growers need to stay college in advancing its strategic initiatives, informed about this potential problem,” such as developing a formal relationship in Holshouser said. If any growers suspect that public health with the University of Maryland there is rust, they should contact the local School of Medicine in Baltimore. In addition, Virginia Cooperative Extension agriculture- the college has established the Center for and-natural-resources agent or a certified crop Comparative Oncology, which serves as a adviser. That person will take a sample of the unifying resource for the 40 Virginia Tech suspected area to the nearest Virginia professors engaged in cancer research. Diagnostic Center. If experts at the diagnostic Eyre has received numerous honors center suspect rust, the sample will go on to including being the recipient of the Norden USDA-APHIS for confirmation. Award for Distinguished Teaching, the Sigma “Unfortunately, these models indicate the Psi Award for Excellence in Research and the Mid-Atlantic and southeastern states are at John N. Dalton award for distinguished service. most risk,” said Pat Phipps, plant pathologist The 2004 Virginia General Assembly issued a formal resolution of commendation to Eyre at the Tidewater center. “Wind patterns, our for his exemplary service to the state. warm and humid climate, and significant Eyre also presided over the creation of acreage of soybeans and other hosts make the College Park, Md.,-based Center for Public Virginia an ideal location for the disease to and Corporate Veterinary Medicine, and is become established.”