January 3, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — ROSWELL, GA — For the second year in a row, a survey of safety professionals has found that noncompliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols continues to be an issue in the workplace.

Eighty-seven percent of respondents said they had observed workers failing to wear PPE when they should have been, according to a survey of attendees at the 2007 National Safety Council (NSC) Congress, conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional. Eighty-five percent of safety professionals answered yes to the same question in a survey undertaken by Kimberly-Clark Professional at the 2006 NSC Congress.

“Despite the undisputed need for PPE when undertaking hazardous tasks, people continue to risk bodily harm by failing to protect themselves,” says Randy Kates, general manager of the safety business for Kimberly-Clark Professional. “In this survey, we not only asked why people did not comply with PPE protocols, but what could be done to alter these behaviors.”

The main “why” was “uncomfortable” PPE, according to sixty-two percent of respondents who had observed noncompliance in the workplace. This was followed by: workers thinking PPE was not necessary for the task, PPE was “too hot,” PPE fits poorly, or was “unattractive looking.”

So it’s not surprising that when asked what could be improved about the PPE they were currently purchasing, three quarters of survey respondents said they would make it “more comfortable.” Safety professionals also gave the nod to more fashionable PPE. Eighty-four percent said that they would be more apt to purchase fashionable and attractive PPE if workers would be more likely to wear it and the price was comparable to what they were currently paying for similar products.

Off-the-Job Safety Programs

At a time when workplace deaths are on the decline but injuries and deaths in the home have risen, fifty-nine percent of safety professionals said they had programs in place to promote at-home safety. Another twenty-eight percent said they had plans to create this type of program in the future.

Of those with existing safety programs, sixty-eight percent said the offerings consisted of training programs or providing training materials on off-the-job or at-home safety. Forty-four percent said they encouraged employees to take home company-provided PPE and sixteen percent said they have incentive programs for staying safe off-the-job as well as on. Ten percent said they allow employees to borrow high-priced safety equipment, such as gas detection equipment, for home use.

Green Issues Take Center Stage

The survey also explored the effect of environmental considerations on purchasing PPE and other personal safety products. Here, the verdict was nearly unanimous. Ninety-four percent of respondents said environmental considerations and reducing the impact on the environment were important to them. Sixty-four percent ranked these as “very important,” while twenty percent described them as “somewhat important.” Ten percent said environmental factors were “increasingly important now,” as compared to a few years ago.

When it comes to green purchases, the top consideration was buying products made with recycled materials. Next was the ability to reuse or recycle products after use. Source-reduced products and packaging and a manufacturer’s overall commitment to the environment were nearly tied for third place. These were followed by:

• Purchasing from one supplier to reduce energy costs resulting from thetransport of supplies from different sources
• Products that are shipped in biodegradable packages with as little packaging material as possible.
• Products manufactured in a “carbon neutral” facility.

The survey also addressed another environmental issue, by asking respondents to choose between two types of industrial wiping products: A recycled cloth towel that is laundered and reused, releasing chemicals and metal contaminants in the wastewater of industrial laundries, or a disposable paper or paper/polymer wiping product that is discarded into a landfill after use. Fifty-six percent said they would choose the disposable wiper. Twenty- seven percent selected the laundered towel. Seventeen percent said they did not know which product they would pick.

Health and Safety Concerns

Respondents were also asked whether they were concerned about the potential health and safety issues faced by their workers as a result of exposure to oil, grease, heavy metal residues or other toxic elements on re-usable rental shop towels. Nearly three-quarters voiced concern, with forty-four percent of these respondents saying they were “very concerned.” Twenty-three percent said they were not concerned.

Survey Methodology

The survey was undertaken at the NSC Congress in Chicago on October 16, 2007. The survey questionnaires were filled out by 197 safety professionals who reported being responsible for purchasing, selecting or influencing the purchase or selection of, or compliance with, PPE. Respondents were from the following fields: industrial manufacturing, construction, hazmat, emergency response, clean manufacturing, laboratories and science, health care, transportation, law enforcement and government.

About Kimberly-Clark Professional

Kimberly-Clark Professional is an indispensable business partner, delivering leading-edge health, hygiene and productivity solutions that provide tangible value every day, everywhere. Known for innovative, quality solutions for away-from-home washrooms, “clean” and “industrial” manufacturing environments, and DIY settings, the global brands of Kimberly-Clark Professional include Kleenex, Scott, Kimcare, WypAll, KleenGuard, and Kimtech. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, GA, is one of Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s (NYSE:KMB) four business segments.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people — almost a quarter of the world’s population — trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly- Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries.

SURVEY RESULTS

Kimberly-Clark Professional Safety Survey
Conducted at NSC Congress
October 16, 2007
Questions 1-3, 4-6 and 8-11: 197 Respondents
Question 3a: 172 Respondents
Question 7: 116 Respondents

1. Are you responsible for purchasing, selecting, influencing the
purchase or selection of, or compliance with, Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE)?
Total

Yes 100%

2. Which of the following areas do you work in? (Select as many as
apply.)

Industrial manufacturing 46%
Hazmat 21%
Construction 21%
Emergency response 20%
Government 18%
Laboratory/science environment 12%
Transportation 10%
Medical or healthcare environment 09%
Clean manufacturing 09%
Law enforcement 03%
Other 21%

3. Have you ever observed anyone in your organization failing to wear
proper PPE in a situation when they should have been wearing it?

Yes (Subnet) 87%
Yes, this has happened infrequently 45%
Yes, this has happened on numerous occasions 42%
No 09%
Don’t know 05%

3a. If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, did the worker or
workers mention any of the reasons listed below for not wearing PPE?
(Select as many as apply.)

Uncomfortable 62%
Didn’t think PPE was necessary for work task 55%
Too hot 52%
Poor fit 31%
Unattractive looking 24%
Not easily accessible from site of work task 09%
Don’t know 17%

4. If you could improve your current PPE, which of the following would
you look for? (Select as many as apply.)

More comfortable 75%
More cost-effective 61%
Improved quality 46%
What you want isn’t available 04%
Other 04%

5. Assuming workers would be more likely to use PPE if it is
fashionable and attractive, would that make you MORE likely to
purchase fashionable PPE if the price was the same as other PPE?
(Select one answer.)

Yes (Subnet) 84%
Yes, much more likely 45%
Yes, somewhat more likely 39%
No, not very likely 10%
No, it would make absolutely no difference 05%
Don’t know/None of the above 02%

6. While accidental deaths in the workplace continue to go down, the
number of injuries and deaths in the home has risen by 30 percent
since 1992. Has your organization taken an active role in promoting
safety at home as well as at work? (Select one answer)

Yes, you have programs in place to promote at-home safety 59%
No, but you hope to implement such programs in the future 28%
No, you do not have a program, nor do you have plans to
create one 10%
Don’t know/None of these 04%

7. If you answered “Yes” to the previous question, which of the
following actions is your organization taking to promote off-the-job
safety? (Select as many as apply.)

You have training programs or you provide training materials that
cover off-the-job or at-home safety 68%
You encourage employees to take home company-provided PPE (safety
glasses, gloves, boots, etc.) 44%
You have incentive programs for staying safe off-the-job as
well as on 16%
You allow employees to borrow high-priced safety equipment,
like gas detection equipment, for home use 10%
Other 08%
Don’t know 03%

8. How important are environmental considerations – and reducing the
impact on the environment – to you in purchasing PPE and other
personal safety products for your workplace? (Select one answer.)

Important (Subnet) 94%
Very important 64%
Somewhat important 20%
Increasingly important now, as compared to a few years ago 10%
Not very important 03%
Not at all important 01%
Don’t know/none of these 03%

9. Which of the following environmental considerations are important to
you in purchasing workplace products? (Select as many as apply.)

Products made from recycled materials 46%
The ability to reuse or recycle products after use 41%
Products and product packaging that are “source-reduced,” or
manufactured to reduce the amount of waste
in the first place 37%
A manufacturer’s overall commitment to the environment 36%
Purchasing from one supplier to help reduce energy costs from
transporting supplies from different sources 33%
Products that are shipped in biodegradable packages or with as
little packaging material as possible 23%
Products manufactured in a “carbon neutral” facility that
implements renewable energy projects to offset carbon dioxide
emissions 16%
Don’t know/none of these 12%

10. From an environmental perspective, if you were given a choice between
two wiping products: 1) a recycled cloth towel that is laundered and
reused, releasing chemicals and metal contaminants into the
wastewater of industrial laundries, and 2) a disposable paper or
paper/polymer blend wiping product that is discarded into a landfill
after use – which of these would you be more likely to choose?
(Select one answer.)

Disposable wiper 56%
Laundered towel 27%
Don’t know 17%

11. Are you concerned about the potential health and safety issues for
your workers posed by oil, grease, heavy metal residues or toxic
elements on re-usable Rental Shop Towels? (Select one answer.)

Yes (subnet) 72%
Yes, you are very concerned 44%
Yes, you are somewhat concerned 28%
No, you are not very concerned 16%
No, you are not concerned at all 07%
Don’t know 06%

Visit www.kcprofessional.com

January 5, 2008 — /PRWEB/ — SALT LAKE CITY,UT — Idaho Technology, Inc. (ITI), a molecular biology instrumentation and reagents business in Salt Lake City, UT is proud to announce clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing of two new biothreat detection kits, the JBAIDS Plague and JBAIDS Tularemia Detection Kits. Both kits utilize real-time PCR technology to identify the causative agents of plague (Yersinia pestis) and tularemia (Francisella tularensis).

While naturally occurring cases of Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis are rare, both of these agents are classified as Category A Select Agents by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Category A agents are high-priority organisms that pose a risk to national security because they can be used as agents of bioterrorism. Clearance by FDA allows both reagent kits to be used to help ensure that the country is better prepared to respond to a bioterrorism attack.

The two pathogen detection kits join ITI’s growing portfolio of kits used in conjunction with the company’s detection instruments and extend the company’s leadership position in the biothreat detection market. The detection kits are intended for use by trained clinical laboratory personnel who have received specific training on the use of the JBAIDS Plague and Tularemia Detection kits, for on-site analysis of dangerous biological pathogens.

Todd Ritter, chief corporate development officer, says, “Idaho Technology continues to add capability to its existing systems making our military first responder customers better prepared to do their important work. Our infectious agent pathogen kits provide additional tools for making decisions and protecting the country.”

These kits come after the 2005 FDA clearance of ITI’s Joint Biological Agent Identification and Diagnostic System (JBAIDS) for use as an aid in the diagnosis of anthrax. The JBAIDS Plague and JBAIDS Tularemia Detection Kits can be used to test blood, sputum, positive blood cultures and colonies and yield results in less than four hours. The current method of growing, isolating and identifying a culture can take as long as a several days for results.

“This is a great example of how private industry and the government can work as partners to protect our nation and those who defend it. Working closely with FDA, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Device Evaluation and Safety), our team consisted of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (specifically the Chemical Biological Medical Systems Joint Project Management Office) and our scientists and staff at Idaho Technology. The team worked extremely hard and effectively to get the system cleared, providing a capability to make our military personnel safer,” claims Ritter. “We would also like to thank the Army, Navy and Air Force laboratories that performed the clinical trials and helped with the evaluations, as this was truly a joint effort.”

In 2003, the JBAIDS was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense as the platform for rapidly identifying multiple deadly pathogens associated with bioterrorism and diseases of military interest.

Idaho Technology remains at the forefront of biothreat detection and maintains a staff of scientists dedicated to the development of pathogen detection reagents. The company plans to next seek FDA clearance for the JBAIDS Brucellosis Detection Kit.

About Idaho Technology, Inc.

Idaho Technology Inc., based in Salt Lake City, UT, is the originator of rapid DNA analysis with applications including DNA amplification, real-time PCR and mutation discovery. ITI’s systems include biothreat detection systems (R.A.P.I.D. and the RAZOR instruments), a biomedical research system for gene quantification and mutation scanning, and a food security system. Founded in 1990, ITI is a privately held company focused on worldwide applications in the defense, research, industrial, and food security testing markets.

Visit www.idahotech.com

January 7, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — WALTHAM, MA — Inverness Medical Innovations (AMEX:IMA) today announced that its previously announced acquisition of Panbio Ltd has been successfully completed. The transaction was finalized with Inverness acquiring all outstanding shares for a total value of approximately $37 million. Panbio, headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, develops and manufactures diagnostic tests for use in the diagnosis and management of a board range of infectious diseases. In particular, Panbio’s leadership position in Dengue Fever diagnostics complements Inverness Medical’s existing product portfolio for the rapid diagnosis of blood borne pathogens. Panbio also provides the Australian infrastructure required to support Inverness’ plans for growth in the region.

About Inverness

By developing new capabilities in near-patient diagnosis, monitoring and health management, Inverness Medical Innovations enables individuals to take charge of improving their health and quality of life. A global leader in rapid point-of-care diagnostics, Inverness’ products, as well as its new product development efforts, focus on infectious disease, cardiology, oncology, drugs of abuse, and women’s health. Inverness is headquartered in Waltham, MA.

Visit

www.invernessmedical.com
www.panbio.com

January 9, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — TRIANGLE PARK, NC — Quintiles Transnational Corp. today announced the expansion and consolidation of its Global Central Laboratories and Clinical Development Services (CDS) units in Beijing to accommodate their growing business in China.

The new consolidated Quintiles China facility, with more than 17,000 square feet of space, is located at Sun Dong Ann Plaza in Beijing, about one block from the previous lab site in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). The new facility expands the lab space by 2,600 square feet. The lab has 13 employees and continues to add staff. CDS occupies 10,000 square feet of the combined office area, a major expansion over its old facility of under 3,000 square feet. The CDS staff strength continues to grow in Beijing and is expected to reach more than 60 people over the next 12 months.

“Quintiles’ business is growing at a significant rate, and our larger facility will allow us to efficiently accommodate both the growth and our expanding test menu, which have moved well beyond basic safety testing to include specialized chemistry, PCR testing, and complex flow cytometry,” says Tom Wollman, senior vice president, Global Central Laboratories.

“We would like to thank the Peking Union Medical College Hospital for all that it has done to help Quintiles establish and expand our Central Laboratory in China,” Wollman says. “PUMCH is one of the premier tertiary centers in Beijing, and we will continue to foster our close working relationship with key laboratory and scientific staff.”

Lai Lee Tan, head of Clinical Operations and General Manager in China, says the consolidation of CDS and Central Lab operations in a single facility will improve coordination and efficiency for Quintiles’ customers. “Our clinical development business is poised for rapid acceleration in China, and bringing our CDS and Global Labs businesses together will help our customers. The globalization of clinical research is continuing to increase, and China is just beginning to see the rapid growth we have experienced in India, Australia, and throughout Asia Pacific.”

Quintiles’ China central lab is certified by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP).

About Quintiles Global Central Laboratories

Quintiles Laboratories owns a network of clinically harmonized facilities in the U.S., Europe, South Africa, China, India, and Singapore, and has tightly controlled sub-contractor laboratories in Argentina and Brazil managed by Quintiles employees located in each of the facilities.

About Quintiles

Quintiles Transnational Corp. is powering the next generation of healthcare by providing a broad range of professional services in drug development, financial partnering, and commercialization for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries. With more than 19,000 employees and offices in more than 50 countries, it is focused on providing customer-centric solutions that are the gold standard of the industry.

Visit www.quintiles.com

January 1, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — PHILADELPHIA — PRWT Services, Inc., a minority-owned business enterprise, today announced that it has, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cherokee Pharmaceuticals LLC, acquired the Cherokee chemical manufacturing plant in Riverside, PA from Merck & Co., Inc. of Whitehouse Station, NJ. Cherokee has also entered into a five-year supply agreement with Merck for an estimated value of $100-200 million annually.

Willie F. Johnson, Chairman & CEO of PRWT, says, “The acquisition of the Cherokee plant is consistent with PRWT’s vision of growing the company by expanding into new markets, services, and lines of business. By establishing a presence in the life sciences market, PRWT can now participate in an industry with tremendous growth potential and establish a strategic supplier relationship with Merck, one of the premier pharmaceutical companies in the world.” Mr. Johnson also acknowledged PRWT’s employees who have established a culture of excellence at PRWT that gave Merck the confidence to complete this historic deal.

The Cherokee plant is a state-of-the-art API manufacturing facility of products/antibiotics for humans and animals. All 400 employees working at the plant will be offered jobs and are expected to transfer their employment from Merck to PRWT effective January 1, 2008. PRWT also intends to make considerable capital investments in the Cherokee plant to support the growth of the business and increase the number of jobs available in the local community.

Justin Noll, the Cherokee plant manager, states, “We are genuinely excited about the sale of the plant and becoming part of PRWT. Not only will it be good for the employees, but also for the community at large. We are looking forward to being a stand-alone company and a company which will have great potential for expansion.”

The sale of the site is part of Merck’s global restructuring of its manufacturing operations (announced November 2005) to create a global manufacturing network that is better aligned to Merck’s current and anticipated future product demand.

“The sale of the Cherokee plant, along with the supplier relationship Merck has established with Cherokee Pharmaceuticals, is another important step in the realigning of our manufacturing operations,” says Larry Naldi, senior vice president, Science & Technology, Merck Manufacturing Division. “The completion of this sale also enables Merck to continue to have a presence in the local community through its interactions with Cherokee.”

About PRWT Services, Inc.

PRWT is a nationally recognized African-American owned business headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Founded in 1988, PRWT provides business process outsourcing (BPO) services to state and local governments across the country. PRWT is one of America’s largest minority-owned businesses and has been ranked in the top 100 by Black Enterprise magazine for the past seven years. In 2000, PRWT entered a new line of business by acquiring U.S. Facilities, Inc. (USF), a facilities management company headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. Since being acquired by PRWT, USF has won several multi- million-dollar contracts in the federal and municipal markets.

Visit www.prwt.com

About Merck

Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com/.

Visit www.merck.com

January 2, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — LEHIGH VALLEY, PA — Air Products (NYSE:APD) today said it has completed the previously announced sale of its high purity process chemicals (HPPC) business for approximately $75 million to KMG Chemicals (NASDAQ:KMGB), a producer and distributor of mature specialty chemicals for carefully focused global markets.

“We are pleased to complete this sale to KMG Chemicals. We’re aligning our portfolio to better focus on the products where we can provide the most value to our customers. We thank all of the employees involved for their hard work in running the HPPC business and completing this sale,” says Mike Hilton, senior vice president and general manager, Electronics and Performance Materials.

The sale of the HPPC business, which generated $87 million in revenues in fiscal year 2007, includes production facilities located in Pueblo, CO, and Milan, Italy. About 160 employees directly associated with this business will continue with KMG Chemicals. High-purity process chemicals are basic and custom-performance blends of acids and solvents used in the manufacture of semiconductors. Customers use the chemicals in their manufacturing process to etch and clean the wafer at each production layer. These chemicals remove unwanted residue at very specific rates. The typical application is in the form of chemical baths or spray on devices.

Air Products’ Electronics business is a leading supplier of gases, chemicals and equipment for the global electronics industry. Its customers are manufacturers around the world and across market segments and include device makers and foundries, TFT-LCD flat panel manufacturers, and the photovoltaic market.

Air Products serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. Air Products has annual revenues of $10 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 22,000 employees around the globe.

Visit

www.airproducts.com
www.kmgchemicals.com

January 2, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — CLEVELAND, OH — PolyOne Corporation (NYSE:POL), a leading global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, announced today it has completed its previously announced acquisition of GLS Corporation, the leading North American provider of specialty thermoplastic elastomer compounds (TPEs) for consumer and medical applications.

This acquisition complements PolyOne’s global Engineered Materials business portfolio and accelerates the company’s shift to specialization. The combination of GLS’s specialty TPE technology, compounding expertise and brand, along with PolyOne’s extensive global infrastructure and commercial presence offers customers enhanced technologies; a broader range of products, services, and solutions; and expanded access to specialized, high-growth markets around the globe.

The experienced GLS senior management team will remain and lead the global TPE business unit, retaining the GLS name and brand.

GLS was formerly a family-owned business headquartered in McHenry, IL. It has built a superb reputation as a strategic partner to many of the world’s best-known companies in developing and marketing highly customized soft TPEs. With approximately 200 employees, GLS has manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Suzhou, China. Annual sales are approximately $130 million.

About PolyOne

PolyOne Corporation, with 2006 annual revenues of $2.6 billion, is a leading global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions. Headquartered in northeast Ohio, PolyOne has operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, and joint ventures in North America and South America.

Visit www.polyone.com

January 3, 2008 — /PRNewswire/ — HONG KONG — China Technology Development Group Corporation (Nasdaq: CTDC; “the Company” or “CTDC”), a provider of clean and renewable energy products and solutions focusing on solar energy business in China, today announced that it held a ribbon cutting ceremony to showcase the first SnO2 production line at China Merchants Zhangzhou Development Zone on December 28, 2007.

Accompanied by Mr. Alan Li, our chairman and CEO, many important government and business leaders including Dr. Yuning Fu, president of China Merchants Group (“CMG”), Mr. Zheng Hu, vice president of CMG, Mr. Keqing Liu, secretary general of Zhangzhou Government, Mr. Jianguo Li, Mayor of Zhangzhou City, and Mr. Bin Wu, general manager of China Merchants Zhangzhou Development Zone, participated in this important opening ceremony. All of participants also had an opportunity to tour CTDC’s 129,000 square foot manufacturing facility. The local government officials not only publicly endorsed CTDC’s investment in the solar energy sector focusing the China market, they also vowed to provide all necessary government support and other incentives, such as land and grants, to CTDC in the future.

This ceremony marks another key milestone for the company to manufacture and sell the proprietary SnO2 base plates, a key component of a-Si (Amorphous Silicon) Thin Film PV products, which can optimize the performance of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV). BIPV involves solar panels integrated directly into a building’s architecture to provide one source of electricity for the building. Amorphous-silicon material is itself semi-transparent and thus is most suitable for transparent modules.

“We are honored to have so many government and business leaders to attend the opening ceremony of our first showcase production line, and receive full support and endorsement from them on our new expansion into solar energy business in China,” comments Mr. Alan Li, chairman and CEO of CTDC, “Under the vast investment holdings by China Merchants Group, we are the only platform which focuses exclusively on alternative energy and Green technology development. We fully intend to leverage the abundant resource and support from CMG, our principal shareholder, to become a leader in clean and renewable energy sector in China, and ultimately deliver greater shareholder value.”

About SnO2 base plate technology:

SnO2 solar base plate is a type of transparent conductive oxide (TCO) substrate of amorphous silicon (a-Si) or thin film solar cells. SnO2 thin films have a number of benefits: they are corrosion resistant; have good thermal stability; are of low cost yet have high rigidity; and have excellent photo-electronic properties. SnO2 base plates have a variety of applications in solar cells, liquid crystal displays, gas-sensitive sensors, antifogging devices and electrostatic protection, especially in Low-E glass.

About CTDC

CTDC is a provider of clean and renewable energy products and solutions focusing on solar energy business in China. CTDC’s ultimate principal shareholder is China Merchants Group (www.cmhk.com), one of the biggest state-owned conglomerates in China.

Visit www.chinactdc.com

December 29, 2007 — /FDA News/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat raw oysters harvested from West Karako Bay, a section of Growing Area 3 in Louisiana. These oysters, harvested from Dec. 3 through Dec. 21, may be contaminated with norovirus.

Symptoms of norovirus infection include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramping. Affected individuals often experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and a general sense of tiredness. Most people show symptoms within 48 hours of exposure to the virus, with the illness lasting one to two days. However, the illness can become serious for the very young, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.

Consumers who ate raw oysters on or after Dec. 3 and experienced these symptoms are encouraged to contact their health care providers and local health departments. Consumers concerned about the origin of oysters they have recently purchased should contact the place of purchase to determine if the oysters were harvested from the identified area during the Dec. 3-21 period.

FDA has received reports of norovirus infection in seven individuals who ate raw oysters on Dec. 13 at a restaurant in Chattanooga, TN. The Tennessee Department of Health’s test results from two of the ill patients were positive for norovirus.

FDA confirmed the presence of norovirus in shell oysters harvested from the West Karako Bay section of Growing Area 3 and were served at the restaurant. Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals closed the affected growing area on Dec. 21. FDA is working with the states involved to determine if any additional actions may be necessary to ensure public health protection.

The original shipper of the oysters is Prestige Oyster Company of Theriot, LA. The company shipped the oysters to Bon Secour Fisheries in Bon Secour, AL. Bon Secour Fisheries, in turn, shipped the oysters to the restaurant in Chattanooga. Considering the shelf-life of the product, it is possible that suspect oysters from the designated area are still available in other retail and food service settings.

Persons with weakened immune systems, including those affected by AIDS, and persons with chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes or kidney disease should avoid raw oyster consumption altogether, regardless of where the oysters are harvested.

Cooking destroys the virus, eliminating the risk of illness for both healthy and immunocompromised individuals. FDA advises that it’s always best to cook seafood thoroughly to minimize the risk of foodborne illness. Consumers can continue to enjoy oysters in many cooked preparations by following this advice:

At Restaurants and other Foodservice Establishments:
– Order oysters fully cooked.
– In the shell: Purchase oysters with the shells closed. Throw away any oysters with shells already opened.
– To prepare oysters for eating, choose one of the following methods:

• Boil oysters until the shells open. Once open, boil for an additional 3-5 minutes.
• Steamer — add oysters to water that are already steaming and cook live oysters until the shells open; once open steam for another 4-9 minutes.
• Use smaller pots to boil or steam oysters. Using larger pots, or cooking too many oysters at one time, may cause uneven heat distribution, which may cause the oysters in the middle to not get fully cooked.
• Discard any oysters that do not open during cooking.

– Shucked oysters: To prepare oysters for eating, choose one of the following methods:

• Boil or simmer shucked oysters for at least 3 minutes or until the edges curl.
• Fry at 375 degrees for at least 3 minutes.
• Broil 3 inches from heat for 3 minutes.
• Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.

For further information contact the FDA Food Safety Hotline: 1-888-SAFEFOOD

Visit www.cfsan.fda.gov

January 1, 2008 — / PRWEB / — BURNSVILLE, MN — Gerbig Engineering, a company specializing in the design, build, installation and certification of cleanrooms, is announcing a new feature for its cleanroom construction. The feature is a raceway that is integrated into the framing system.

The raceway allows wiring, cabling and plumbing to be threaded throughout the cleanroom and remain totally hidden. The interlocking raceway channel can be put anywhere on the framing portion of the cleanroom, giving the user total flexibility in cleanroom layout.

“Most cleanrooms that we build are also showcases for our clients capabilities,” says Fred Gerbig, President of Gerbig Engineering. “Many of our clients are subject to facility inspections by their clients or by certification agencies. Exposed wiring and plumbing can make a cleanroom look cluttered or unorganized; eliminating that makes the cleanroom facility look more impressive.”

The system will work for both the hard wall and softwall systems, and for portable or stationary cleanrooms. Existing AireCell Cleanrooms can be retrofitted with this raceway system.

Gerbig Engineering is a privately owned company that designs, fabricates and installs cleanrooms, modular cleanrooms and softwall cleanrooms. Gerbig Engineering also sells cleanroom furniture and cleanroom equipment. They are located in Burnsville, MN.

Visit www.gerbig.com