AUBURN - Auburn University's Center for Governmental Services has unveiled its analysis of newly released U.S. Census Bureau data showing that during the current recession Alabama's tax revenues have declined slightly less than the 14.2 percent average falloff for the nine Southeastern states.

The most recent data show that Alabama's total tax revenues in the second quarter of 2009, collected from all sources, declined by 13 percent versus the same quarter in 2008. Alabama's falloff was greater than that of Arkansas at minus 5 percent; Mississippi at minus 9 percent; Tennessee at minus 11 percent; and Florida at minus 12 percent. Alabama's decline in tax revenue was exceeded by those of Georgia at minus 17 percent; Louisiana at minus 18 percent; South Carolina at minus 21 percent; and North Carolina at minus 22 percent.

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AUBURN - A research project by Auburn University and Ford Motor Company shows that global positioning system satellites that can "talk" to cars could help prevent serious accidents.

The researchers have found potential for a GPS satellite to act as an early warning system that detects when a vehicle is about to lose control and communicate with the vehicle's stability control systems and other safety features to prevent a rollover or other serious accident.

The research findings were presented recently at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics in San Antonio, Texas.

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AUBURN - Alabama's green industry has stretched its lead as the state's number-one cash crop and now injects $2.89 billion into the state's economy annually, as shown by an economic analysis of the industry conducted by agricultural economists in Auburn University's College of Agriculture. That represents a 52 percent increase from 2003, when the industry's overall economic impact was $1.9 billion.

The latest study, based on 2007 data that agricultural economist Deacue Fields collected in a statewide industry survey, also indicates that the horticultural industry now accounts for 43 percent of Alabama's total crop sales, compared to 38 percent in 2003. Cotton comes in a distant second, at 18 percent of cash receipts, down 6 percent from 2003.

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AUBURN - An Auburn University scientist is among a small group of international experts who are taking infrared imaging technologies and turning them into a fast, easy and effective method to control the spread of flu, SARS and other viruses.

David Pascoe, a College of Education professor who has researched thermal physiology for 20 years, today presented to university trustees a camera-like device that takes a snapshot of a person's skin temperature. The image reveals if that individual has a fever and can be used by public safety officials in pandemic screening, such as determining if an airline passenger will pose a health risk to other travelers. In a demonstration to the Auburn Board, Pascoe showed skin temperature maps of a healthy individual and one carrying a virus.

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AUBURN - Teach a man to raise fish – and grow plants – and you'll help feed his family and fellow citizens for a lifetime. That's a new twist being applied to the age-old proverb at Auburn University, where researchers are combining fish farming and horticulture to help Alabama farmers find new income streams.

Jesse Chappell, associate professor in the Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures and specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is working with professor Jeff Sibley of the Department of Horticulture on the use of fish greenhouse wastewater to fertilize plants in an adjacent greenhouse.

"We want to provide an opportunity for farmers to have more on-farm income," Chappell said. "We are seeking ways to produce plants more economically through new opportunities."

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AUBURN - The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Auburn University a $4.9 million grant to develop new production systems to collect woody biomass from pine plantations for making bioenergy.

Auburn's Center for Bioenergy and Bioproducts will lead the project, "High Tonnage Forest Biomass Production Systems from Southern Pine Energy Plantations," as part of a consortium that includes central Alabama company Corley Land Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and companies from the U.S. and Canada.

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AUBURN - Researchers with Auburn University's Space Research Institute have played an integral role in installing a solar power system at Lee County's T.K. Davis Justice Center, the first public building in the state to be outfitted with such a system.

After months of research and analysis, the Auburn team managed the installation of a 16.56 kW grid-connected solar-powered system on the new addition to the center. The system will offset the energy costs of electricity the building uses.

"The Lee County Commission contracted with Auburn University to procure and install the system, to develop and manage a Web site and to conduct systems analysis and modeling," said Henry Brandhorst, director of Auburn's Space Research Institute. "We want to show that solar power is successful and to have others invest in it."

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AUBURN - Auburn University and Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc. have announced the signing of a master research agreement for the establishment of the Auburn University Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Research Center.  The center, to be constructed in the Auburn University Research Park, brings together Auburn's expertise in the areas of engineering, science, and pharmaceutics with Siemens' expertise in magnetic resonance imaging.

The alliance with Siemens, one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry, will advance Auburn University to the forefront of biomedical engineering and has the potential to bring lifesaving technologies to the citizens of Alabama and the region.  Examples of current and potential areas of MRI-related research include cognitive neuroscience, metabolic imaging, and pharmaceuticals, as well as research into diabetes and heart disease.

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AUBURN - Auburn University will receive $14.4 million in federal stimulus funds for construction of a science, technology and commerce research facility, university officials announced today.

The competitive grant is from the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. It will aid Auburn researchers working on standards, measurements and forecasting related to food safety, bioenergy technologies, aquaculture development and sustainability, and water and environmental quality.

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AUBURN - A water-purification technology developed at Auburn University has been granted United States Environmental Protection Agency registration. This technology, when used in appropriately designed drinking water devices, could save lives in remote areas or during natural disasters.

Professor Dave Worley, of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, developed the technology that Seattle-based HaloSource Inc. is commercializing as "HaloPure Br." The company, which pays royalties to Auburn through a technology transfer agreement, markets the technology in a disinfecting cartridge to drinking water device manufacturers around the world.

"The EPA registration not only will benefit U.S. citizens, but also will help provide safe, clean drinking water to consumers in many other countries," said Worley. "Once the U.S. EPA grants registration to a new technology, many other countries will adopt the view that it is safe and proven."

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