State of Academic Knowledge on Toxicity and Biological Fate of Quantum Dots

Quantum dots (QDs), an important class of emerging nanomaterial, are widely anticipated to find application in many consumer and clinical products in the near future. Premarket regulatory scrutiny is, thus, an issue gaining considerable attention. Previous review papers have focused primarily on the toxicity of QDs. From the point of view of product regulation, however, parameters that determine exposure (e.g., dosage, transformation, transportation, and persistence) are just as important as inherent toxicity. We have structured our review paper according to regulatory risk assessment practices, in order to improve the utility of existing knowledge in a regulatory context. Herein, we summarize the state of academic knowledge on QDs pertaining not only to toxicity, but also their physicochemical properties, and their biological and environmental fate. We conclude this review with recommendations on how to tailor future research efforts to address the specific needs of regulators

State asthma program evaluation guide

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Asthma Control Program and state asthma programs across the country are mobilizing their resources to reduce the burden of asthma in our communities. The sound evaluation practices detailed in Learning and Growing through Evaluation can help ensure that we use those resources effectively and efficiently; that we have a means of demonstrating the value of our programs; and that we are developing a body of knowledge that tells us "what works." Learning and Growing is an evaluation guide intended for use by state and territorial public health departments (SHDs) that are receiving CDC funding for state asthma programs. Other groups that focus on improving asthma management practices, whether or not they receive CDC funding, may also find elements of the guide useful in designing and implementing their own program evaluation activities.Module 1 -- Chapter 1. Evaluation and your state asthma program -- Chapter 2. Thinking strategically: the strategic evaluation plan -- Chapter 3. Planning for an evaluation: the individual evaluation plan -- Appendix A. Chapter notes -- Appendix B. Glossary -- Appendix C. The State Asthma Program Impact Model -- Appendix D. Hiring an evaluator -- Appendix E. Strategic evaluation plan outline -- Appendix F. Individual evaluation plan outline -- Appendix G. Evaluation training resources -- Appendix H, Cited referencesAvailable via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (1.18 MB, 149 p.).Includes bibliographical references.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Learning and Growing through Evaluation: State Asthma Program Evaluation Guide. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, April 2010

Decay of escherichia coli in soil following the application of biosolids to agricultural land

The decay of Escherichia coli in a sandy loam soil, amended with enhanced and conventionally treated biosolids, was investigated in a field experiment following spring and autumn applications of sewage sludge. Control soils, without the application of biosolids, were also examined to determine the background indigenous populations of E. coli which are present in the environment. The survival of indigenous E. coli and populations of E. coli applied to soil in biosolids, is assessed in relation to environmental factors influencing pathogen-decay processes in soil

Assessment of highly distributed power systems using an integrated simulation approach

In a highly distributed power system (HDPS), micro renewable and low carbon technologies would make a significant contribution to the electricity supply. Further, controllable devices such as micro combined heat and power (CHP) could be used to assist in maintaining stability in addition to simply providing heat and power to dwellings. To analyse the behaviour of such a system requires the modelling of both the electrical distribution system and the coupled microgeneration devices in a realistic context. In this paper a pragmatic approach to HDPS modelling is presented: microgeneration devices are simulated using a building simulation tool to generate time-varying power output profiles, which are then replicated and processed statistically so that they can be used as boundary conditions for a load flow simulation; this is used to explore security issues such as under and over voltage, branch thermal overloading, and reverse power flow. Simulations of a section of real network are presented, featuring different penetrations of micro-renewables and micro-CHP within the ranges that are believed to be realistically possible by 2050. This analysis indicates that well-designed suburban networks are likely to be able to accommodate such levels of domestic-scale generation without problems emerging such as overloads or degradation to the quality of supply