April 21, 2010 On June 20-24, water commissioners, council members, mayors, and other public officials will gather in Chicago to address latest water issues and solutions during AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition. Public officials will engage in specialized learning program that includes 3-session, 12-hr certificate program, Public Officials Breakfast and Caucus, and networking reception. Attendees can also choose from more than 550 water-related presentations and experience more than 500 exhibits.

April 21, 2010 According to NAM VP for International Economic Affairs, Frank Vargo, NAM is pleased to see China's release of revised guidelines for inclusion in Chinese procurement programs that encourage indigenous innovation. This is a good first step that could result in greater opportunity for U.S. companies to compete in China's government procurement market. It also highlights need for China to move rapidly to join Government Procurement Agreement, which it agreed to do when it joined WTO in 2001.

April 21, 2010 Compared to current Energy Star guidelines, new requirements will make qualified new homes at least 20% more efficient than homes built to 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. Key elements of new guidelines for Energy Star qualified homes include complete thermal enclosure system, quality installed complete heating and cooling systems, complete water management system, efficient lighting and appliances, and third party verification.

April 21, 2010 The Board of Directors of AIM, the international association and recognized authority on bar code, RFID, and enterprise mobile computing, has announced appointment of 2 members to fill vacant board seats with unexpired terms on AIM's 10-person board. New board members are David Shannon, Senior Vice President of Product Management, Marketing, and Strategy for Lockheed Martin's Savi Technology, and Chuck Evanhoe, President of Evanhoe and Associates.

April 21, 2010 At IPC APEX EXPO(TM) in Las Vegas, Jack Bramel was presented with 2009 IPC Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame Award, IPC's highest level of member recognition. Involved in IPC for more than 40 years, Bramel co-chaired committee that released first IPC PCB process standard in 1974. For more than 10 years, Bramel chaired open forum for PCB processes at IPC meetings. He also chaired IPC task group that works with UL and CSA, and is lifetime member of the Technical Activities Executive Committee.

April 20, 2010 Disaster Kleenup International is partnering with RIA to enroll 100% of DKI Membership into industry trade association. All DKI Members are expected to become RIA members within next 3 years. According to RIA Executive Director Don Manger, individual DKI members have played significant roles in many RIA initiatives over the years, and collective energy and resources that DKI brings will help to further strengthen RIA's service to restoration industry.

April 20, 2010 CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011 and IFPE 2011 have been named to U.S. government's International Buyer Program, which boosts international attendance at U.S.-based trade shows and creates international business opportunities for show exhibitors. Under IBP, U.S. government will assist show promotion through worldwide network of embassies and consulates as well as recruit official trade delegations to attend. IBP also provides exhibitors with hands-on assistance such as export counseling and market analysis.

April 20, 2010 More than 330 ILMA members and guests representing 137 companies attended 2010 ILMA Management Forum last week at Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Event included updates on GF-5 and dexos(TM), association's ethics program, committee meetings, Infineum Trends session, and Keynote Speaker Jeff Espenship. New this year was a presentation from ILMA counsel Jeffrey Leiteron on all advocacy work ILMA has done on members' behalf this year, and what is planned for the future.

April 19, 2010 NTSB recommendations A-10-46 through A-10-59 address several FAA issues. Specifically, areas of concern cover tire pressure monitoring equipment, maintenance, and information availability as well as identification of deficiencies for Learjet system safety analyses and revision of available safety assessment guidance. Other topics include application of airworthiness regulations, minimum initial operating experience levels, and tire failure simulation requirements.

April 19, 2010 Kirk Steudle, Michigan DOT Director and chairman of AASHTO's Standing Committee on Highway Traffic Safety, told Senate Environment and Public Works Committee that although highway fatalities dropped significantly in 2009, American highways can still be made safer. Some AASHTO recommendations include highway safety funding, highway safety data collection and sharing, highway safety laws and adjudication, safety improvements to vehicles, highway safety R/D, and safety improvement in drivers.

April 19, 2010 According to National Research Council report, American farmers are realizing higher profits due to widespread use of certain genetically engineered crops and are reducing environmental impacts on and off the farm. Specifically, report notes, "(m)any U.S. farmers who grow genetically engineered crops are realizing substantial economic and environmental benefits - such as lower production costs, fewer pest problems, reduced use of pesticides, and better yields - compared with conventional crops."

April 19, 2010 Presented by Federal Computer Week, 2010 Federal 100 Award was given to NIST's Ron Ross. Third time nominee to list, Ross is senior computer scientist and information security researcher at NIST. He manages Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Implementation Project and is also principal architect of NIST Risk Management Framework. Other responsibilities handled by Ross include leadership of Joint Task Force Transformation Initiative Working Group.

April 19, 2010 Proposed addendum df to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, addresses inefficiency of elevator ventilation fans and cab lighting. Specifically, cab lighting systems are to have no less than 35 lm/W efficacy, and cab ventilation fans for elevators without air conditioning must not consume more than 0.7 W*s/L at max speed. Addendum also specifies cab interior lighting/ventilation de-energizing requirements.

April 19, 2010 With due date for proposals submission of July 15, NIST announced competition for high-risk, high-reward research funding under Technology Innovation Program (TIP). Approximately $25 million is available for first-year funding for addressing "Manufacturing and Biomanufacturing: Materials Advances and Critical Processes." Specific areas of concern include process scale-up, integration, and design; predictive modeling; and critical process advances.

April 16, 2010 According to data released by PTDA in its Market Outlook Report, U.S. and Canadian manufacturers' sales increased for second consecutive month in February, with U.S. manufacturers posting increase of 14.1% and Canadian manufacturers' sales rising 5.6%. However, U.S. manufacturers' year-to-date sales are down 9.0% compared to sales at this time last year. Canadian manufacturers' year-to-year sales rose by 0.3% for same period.

April 16, 2010 Co-located with 2010 BIO International Convention, May 3-6, Biosecurity Conference will bring together senior-level government officials, scientists, and security professionals to discuss Obama's strategy to support biotechnology's potential to improve global quality of life while decreasing risk of misapplication. Event is organized by Partnership for Global Security and University of Pennsylvania Institute for Strategic Threat Analysis and Response in cooperation with BIO.

April 16, 2010 Scientists at NIST have developed world's most efficient single photon detector, which is able to count individual particles of light traveling through fiber optic cables with 99% efficiency rate. Ability to count individual photons is valuable to designers of certain types of quantum computers as well as scientists engaged in quantum optical experiments. One of the most promising potential applications is securing long-distance data transmission against unwanted interception.

April 16, 2010 In discussing state of U.S. manufacturing and characteristics of good manufacturers, white paper by Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board finds reasons for concern as well as optimism regarding industry's future. Paper plots course to improve competitiveness, pointing out that innovation alone is not enough. Report also advocates development of national manufacturing policies, including developing metrics to measure return on investments in R&D and federal laboratories.

April 16, 2010 ATA and Patni Computer Systems will develop, implement, and maintain next-generation ATA Aviation Marketplace. With more than 6 million records, Marketplace provides centralized solution for validating and aggregating data from 145 suppliers and distributing cleansed and customized data to 69 airlines and 55 non-airline customers. In addition to redesigned user interface and improved data translation, Marketplace will leverage Web services and XML for real-time information exchange.

April 16, 2010 NAM's Manufacturers Blueprint for a 21st Century Export Control Regime offers 7 recommendations on reforming U.S. export control system, one is to create permanent interagency team to review and assess overall policy objectives. Frank Vargo asserts that update of system will improve national security by letting government focus enforcement resources on most critical goods and technologies, and that it will also aid U.S. companies' competitiveness by providing more efficient licensing system.