March 1, 2011 In Two Minute State DOT Update video, N.C. Transportation Secretary Eugene Conti, chairman of AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail Transportation, says citizens are already enjoying benefits of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in his state. Major passenger rail station is under development in downtown Charlotte and Conti is seeking additional investment from public-private partnerships. In addition to stimulating economy, Conti says passenger rail reduces traffic congestion and GHG emissions.

March 1, 2011 National Facilities Management and Technology Conference and Expo will allow users to create their own personalized educational program by choosing from comprehensive curriculum of 120 sessions, including educational sessions on building informational modeling, sustainable facilities management, and whole building design. Event will also include COBie Case Study and Help Desk and vendor session on the Specifications information exchange Product Guide.

March 1, 2011 LIA is making its official publication, Journal of Laser Applications (JLA), online-only journal complete with new features aimed at more diverse readership. Hosted on AIP Publishing's Scitation online platform, JLA will feature 8 topic sections, peer-review process, and website design that will facilitate access to interactive content. Readers will find full-text HTML rendering, featuring inline reference links and ability to enlarge tables and figures by clicking on them.

March 1, 2011 In 2011, US Celebration of World Standards Day - Advancing Safety and Sustainability Standards Worldwide - will recognize crucial role of standards, codes, and conformity assessment in assuring health and safety of people and environment. Leaders of business, industry, academia, and government will convene in Washington, DC on October 13 to celebrate standards' roles in building safe, sustainable world. Event will include reception, exhibition, and award presentations.

March 1, 2011 Featured in Winter 2011 issue of Welding and Gases Today, article titled "Establish Yourself As An Expert," shows how GAWDAwiki connects suppliers, distributors, and end-users. With more than 1,600 industry-specific definitions and over 37,000 page views every week, GAWDAwiki is the go-to resource for customers and end-users looking to Internet for reliable information. Terms and descriptions are contributed by distributors and suppliers who know the products and applications best.

March 1, 2011 In First Quarter 2011 issue of The MHEDA Journal, Barry Asmus, senior economist with National Center for Policy Analysis, discusses 6 trends that he sees driving the economic climate in 2011 and beyond. Trends include Poverty Is the Natural Condition, Wealth Creation, Rise of the Indian Ocean, Recessions are Natural, Recoveries Follow Recessions, and Where America? According to Asmus, how the world responds to these trends will determine what the future holds for us all.

March 1, 2011 U.S. EPA has issued final approval for new refrigerant that does not deplete the ozone layer, which helps protect the environment and people's health. When used appropriately, HFO-1234yf can reduce environmental impact of motor vehicle air conditioners and has global warming potential that is 99.7% less than HFC-134a, which is currently used in most car air conditioners. HFO-1234yf may now be used in new cars and light trucks.

March 1, 2011 AEM has set full slate of industry education sessions for 2011 to provide off-road equipment manufacturing professionals with best-practices information and tools to become more efficient and productive. Face-to-face professional-development seminars will examine industry trends in areas such as noise and vibration control, product safety and compliance, product liability, marketing, and customer support. AEM is certified to distribute Continuing Education Credits for educational programming.

March 1, 2011 Tests at NIST confirm etched quantum dots emit single particles of light (photons), boosting prospects for powering new devices for quantum communications. Process developed by NIST postdoctoral researcher Varun Verma uses electron beam lithography and etching to carve quantum dots inside semiconductor sandwich (quantum well) that confines particles in 2 dimensions. NIST researchers now plan to construct reflective cavities around individual etched dots to guide their light emissions.

March 1, 2011 ASABE/ISO 21244:2008 (JAN2011), Agricultural equipment - Mechanical connections between towed and towing vehicles - Implement hitch rings and attachment to tractor drawbars, contains no deviations from ISO document. Adoption follows 2009 withdrawal of ASAE S482, Drawbars - Agricultural Wheel Tractors, and the 2009 adoption with deviations of ISO 6489-3, ANSI/ASABE AD 6489-3:2004. Together these actions provide appropriate guidance to manufactures designing tractor to implement hitches.

March 1, 2011 Bosch Rexroth will become one of ODVA's principal members, joining Cisco Systems, Rockwell Automation, Omron, and Schneider Electric. Bosch Rexroth's increased participation builds on long-term support of ODVA technologies as well as ODVA organization in which it has been active member for several years. Users will realize significant benefits in increased availability of ODVA-compliant products under the Rexroth brand, especially those implementing EtherNet/IP network.

February 28, 2011 The 62.1 User's Manual provides guidance for using ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality. In addition to revised spreadsheet and updates pertaining to new version of standard, guide offers explanatory material, detailed information, figures, and examples to guide users in designing, installing, and operating buildings. Spreadsheet assists in Ventilation Rate Procedure calculations, specifically providing calculations for multiple spaces procedure.

February 28, 2011 FAA announced completion of expansion and renovation of passenger terminal at Pitt-Greenville Airport in Greenville, NC. Paid for with $7.9 million from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, project consisted of expanding terminal to 2-story structure that meets current floodplain standards. Additional improvements include departure waiting area for passengers, 2 additional gates, and one security checkpoint.

February 28, 2011 EPRI report, An Investigation of Radiofrequency Fields Associated with the Itron Smart Meter 1021126, determines that RF exposure levels from one type of smart meter, even at close range, fall below protective limits set by FCC for general public. For continuously-operating rack of 10 meters, each operating at 250 mW typ, RF power density level 1 ft in front of rack was 8% of FCC limit. At 20 and 50 ft, respective values dropped to 0.18% and 0.11%.

February 28, 2011 Repeating last year's investment in a program that provides training and education in machining technology, SME Education Foundation provided $50,000 from Gene Haas Machining Technology Scholarship Fund to Focus: HOPE for its Machinist Training Institute (MTI). CEO of Focus: HOPE, William F. Jones, Jr., said that "This additional funding...will allow students to attend our newly-updated machinist training program and train for careers in a wide range of industries."

February 28, 2011 ANSI Course 287, The American Way, will be held March 30, 2011 in NYC and provide in-depth look at U.S. voluntary consensus standardization and ANS development process. Attendees come to understand standard development process and procedures, ANSI accreditation benefits, and flexibility in standards development. Discussions will center on requirements contained in ANSI Essential Requirements, including those related to accreditation, standards approval, and audit requirement.

February 28, 2011 In comments filed with U.S. Trade Representative on 2011 Special 301 Review, BIO stresses the critical importance of protecting intellectual property abroad. BIO recommends that USTR elevate Thailand to Priority Foreign Country; keep Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, India, Israel, Russia, and Venezuela on Priority Watch List; elevate Philippines to Priority Watch List status; and observe developments in Japan, Taiwan, and European Patent Office to ensure that U.S. IP is properly protected.

February 28, 2011 According to ELFA's Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, which reports economic activity for equipment finance sector, overall new business volume for January was $4.2 billion, up 24% compared to same period in 2010. Receivables over 30 days increased slightly to 2.8% in January from 2.7% in December, but declined by 35% compared to same period in 2010. Charge-offs declined significantly, falling to 1.0% from 1.4% in December, and also showed improvement over same period in 2010.

February 28, 2011 During imX Summit, taking place Sept 12-14, 2011 in Las Vegas, manufacturing industry will come together as collaborators with common goal and focus of long-term industry viability. Participants will meet to discuss and foster understanding of challenges and opportunities facing their customers and their competition. Learning labs will allow attendees to increase knowledge of new manufacturing technologies and processes through practical, hands-on demonstrations.

February 25, 2011 Advances in polypropylene polymerization technology and resin development will be topic of plenary address by Dr. Michel Daumerie of Borealis Polyolefine GmbH at SPE 23rd International Polyolefins Conference. Titled "Value Added Innovation in PP: Satisfying Long Term Need," presentation will outline company's Borstar® polymerization process; 5 PP product groups; developing packaging solutions with polypropylene; and developing ways to advance sustainability in short-lived polymer applications.