12.2-GHz methanol maser MMB follow-up catalogue - II. Longitude range 186 to 330 degrees

We present the second portion of a catalogue of 12.2-GHz methanol masers detected towards 6.7-GHz methanol masers observed in the unbiased Methanol Multibeam (MMB) Survey. Using the Parkes radio telescope we have targeted all 207 6.7-GHz methanol masers in the longitude range 186 to 330 degrees for 12.2-GHz counterparts. We report the detection of 83 12.2-GHz methanol masers, and one additional source which we suspect is thermal emission, equating to a detection rate of 40 per cent. Of the 83 maser detections, 39 are reported here for the first time. We discuss source properties, including variability and highlight a number of unusual sources. We present a list of 45 candidates that are likely to harbor methanol masers in the 107.0-GHz transition.Comment: Accepted MNRAS 19 July 201

FOOD SAFETY POLICY FIGHTS: A U.S. PERSPECTIVE

Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Trends in food safety standards and regulation implications for developing countries

"Food safety is affected by the decisions of producers, processors, distributors, food service operators, and consumers, as well as by government regulations. In developed countries, the demand for higher levels of food safety has led to the implementation of regulatory programs that address more types of safety-related attributes (such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), microbial pathogens, environmental contaminants, and animal drug and pesticide residues) and impose stricter standards for those attributes. They also further prescribe how safety is to be assured and communicated. Liability systems are another form of regulation that affect who bears responsibility when food safety breaks down. These regulatory programs are intended to improve public health by controlling the quality of the domestic food supply and the increasing flow of imported imported food products from countries around the world." from TextFood safety ,food security ,Public health ,

HOW LABELING OF SAFETY AND PROCESS ATTRIBUTES AFFECTS MARKETS FOR FOOD

Consumers are increasingly considering information on the safety and process (how foods are produced) attributes of food in making their buying decisions. Producers, processors, and retailers may choose voluntary labeling of these attributes, may be required to label by government regulations, or may use a combination of these approaches. The market effects depend on consumer perceptions of the attributes, the benefits and costs of labeling for companies, and the goals of government policy. These effects are illustrated through a discussion of labeling of foods that are produced with the use of biotechnology (genetically modified organisms) or that are organically grown.Consumer/Household Economics, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Expanding the Focus of Cost-Benefit Analysis for Food Safety: A Multi-Factorial Risk Prioritization Approach

A pressing need in the area of food safety is a tool for making overall, macro judgments about which risks should be given priority for management. Governments often seek to base this prioritization on public health impacts only to find that other considerations also influence the prioritization process. A multi-factorial approach formally recognizes that public health, market-level impacts, consumer risk preferences and acceptance, and the social sensitivity of particular risks all play a role in prioritization. It also provides decision makers with a variety of information outputs that allow risk prioritization to be considered along different dimensions. Macro-level prioritization of risks based on multiple factors is an important expanded use of cost-benefit analysis to manage risk.cost-benefit analysis, food safety, risk prioritization

12.2-GHz methanol maser MMB follow-up catalogue - I. Longitude range 330 to 10 degrees

We present a catalogue of 12.2-GHz methanol masers detected towards 6.7-GHz methanol masers observed in the unbiased Methanol Multibeam (MMB) survey in the longitude range 330\circ (through 360\circ) to 10\circ. This is the first portion of the catalogue which, when complete, will encompass all of the MMB detections. We report the detection of 184 12.2-GHz sources towards 400 6.7-GHz methanol maser targets, equating to a detection rate of 46 per cent. Of the 184 12.2-GHz detections, 117 are reported here for the first time. We draw attention to a number of 'special' sources, particularly those with emission at 12.2-GHz stronger than their 6.7-GHz counterpart and conclude that these unusual sources are not associated with a specific evolutionary stage.Comment: accepted to MNRAS 21 Dec 201

37 GHz methanol masers : Horsemen of the Apocalypse for the class II methanol maser phase?

We report the results of a search for class II methanol masers at 37.7, 38.3 and 38.5 GHz towards a sample of 70 high-mass star formation regions. We primarily searched towards regions known to show emission either from the 107 GHz class II methanol maser transition, or from the 6.035 GHz excited OH transition. We detected maser emission from 13 sources in the 37.7 GHz transition, eight of these being new detections. We detected maser emission from three sources in the 38 GHz transitions, one of which is a new detection. We find that 37.7 GHz methanol masers are only associated with the most luminous 6.7 and 12.2 GHz methanol maser sources, which in turn are hypothesised to be the oldest class II methanol sources. We suggest that the 37.7 GHz methanol masers are associated with a brief evolutionary phase (of 1000-4000 years) prior to the cessation of class II methanol maser activity in the associated high-mass star formation region.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Statistical properties of 12.2 GHz methanol masers associated with a complete sample of 6.7 GHz methanol masers

We present definitive detection statistics for 12.2 GHz methanol masers towards a complete sample of 6.7 GHz methanol masers detected in the Methanol Multibeam survey south of declination -20 degrees. In total, we detect 250 12.2 GHz methanol masers towards 580 6.7 GHz methanol masers. This equates to a detection rate of 43.1%, which is lower than that of previous significant searches of comparable sensitivity. Both the velocity ranges and the flux densities of the target 6.7 GHz sources surpass that of their 12.2 GHz companion in almost all cases. 80 % of the detected 12.2 GHz methanol maser peaks are coincident in velocity with the 6.7 GHz maser peak. Our data support an evolutionary scenario whereby the 12.2 GHz sources are associated with a somewhat later evolutionary stage than the 6.7 GHz sources devoid of this transition. Furthermore, we find that the 6.7 GHz and 12.2 GHz methanol sources increase in luminosity as they evolve. In addition to this, evidence for an increase in velocity range with evolution is presented. This implies that it is not only the luminosity, but also the volume of gas conducive to the different maser transitions, that increases as the sources evolve. Comparison with GLIMPSE mid-infrared sources has revealed a coincidence rate between the locations of the 6.7 GHz methanol masers and GLIMPSE point sources similar to that achieved in previous studies. Overall, the properties of the GLIMPSE sources with and without 12.2 GHz counterparts are similar. There is a higher 12.2 GHz detection rate towards those 6.7 GHz methanol masers that are coincident with extended green objects.Comment: Accepted to ApJ March 2011. 28 pages, 9 figure

Assessing the Impact of Stricter Food Safety Standards on Trade: HACCP in U.S. Seafood Trade with the Developing World

Health risks associated with seafood products prompted the introduction of mandatory HACCP in the seafood industry in the United States in 1997. This paper quantifies the trade impact of this introduction by analyzing patterns of seafood imports to the U.S. over the period 1990 to 2004. The results of a gravity model using panel data suggest that HACCP had a negative and significant impact on overall seafood imports from the top 33 developing and developed countries selling into the U.S. For developing countries, the results support the view of "standards-as-barriers" versus "standards-as-catalysts" as the negative HACCP effect was experienced by developing countries, while the effect for developed countries was positive.Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,

Interaction Between Food Attributes in Markets: The Case of Environmental Labeling

Some consumers derive utility from using products produced with specific processes, such as environmentally friendly practices. Means of verifying these credence attributes, such as certification, are necessary for the market to function effectively. A substitute or complementary solution may exist when consumers perceive a relationship between a process attribute and other verifiable product attributes. We present a model where the level of search and experience attributes influences the likelihood of production of eco-friendly products. Our results suggest that the market success of eco-friendly food products requires a mix of environmental and other verifiable attributes that together signal credibility.environmental labeling, food attributes, food marketing, quality perception, Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety,