The Welcome Baby Program: An Implementation and Outcomes Evaluation.

In 2015, First 5 LA contracted with the RAND Corporation to perform an implementation and outcomes evaluation of its Welcome Baby universal home visitation program. RAND designed and executed a mixed-methods implementation and outcomes evaluation program that examined program fidelity across 12 sites in Los Angeles County, each site's community referral and resource process, staff and participant experiences with the program, factors that may influence program attrition, short-term outcomes, and the relationship between program fidelity and outcomes. Data from multiple sources were used, including interviews with staff and focus groups with participants, quantitative data from staff and participant surveys, data collected by staff and entered into an administrative database, and document review.

Probabilistic risk evaluation for triclosan in surface water, sediments, and aquatic biota tissues.

Triclosan, an antimicrobial compound used in personal care products, occurs in the aquatic environment due to residual concentrations in municipal wastewater treatment effluent. We evaluate triclosan-related risks to the aquatic environment, for aquatic and sediment-dwelling organisms and for aquatic-feeding wildlife, based on measured and modeled exposure concentrations. Triclosan concentrations in surface water, sediment, and biota tissue are predicted using a fugacity model parameterized to run probabilistically, to supplement the limited available measurements of triclosan in sediment and tissue.

Terrestrial ecological risk evaluation for triclosan in land-applied biosolids.

Triclosan is an antimicrobial compound found in many consumer products including soaps and personal care products. Most triclosan is disposed of down household drains, whereupon it is conveyed to wastewater treatment plants. Although a high percentage of triclosan biodegrades during wastewater treatment, most of the remainder is adsorbed to sludge, which may ultimately be applied to land as biosolids.

Long-term trends in liver neoplasms in brown bullhead in the Buffalo River, New York, USA.

The Buffalo River area of concern (AOC) was assigned an impaired status for the fish tumors and other deformities beneficial use impairment category by the New York State Department of Environmental Protection in 1989. This was initially based on an inadequately documented brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) feeding study using river sediment extracts. The presence of liver tumors was subsequently supported by reports of a 19 to 27% prevalence in wild brown bullhead between 1983 and 1988 and a 4.

Surface plasmon resonance biosensor for the detection of ochratoxin A in cereals and beverages.

Ochratoxins are a group of mycotoxins produced as secondary metabolites by fungi which contaminate a large variety of food and feed commodities. Due to their teratogenic and carcinogenic properties, ochratoxins present a serious hazard to human and animal health. There is an increasing need to establish a simple sensitive method to detect these toxins.