The extent to which topically applied solid nanoparticles can penetrate the stratum corneum and access the underlying viable epidermis and the rest of the body is a great potential safety concern. Therefore, human epidermal penetration of a novel, transparent, nanoparticulate zinc oxide sunscreen formulation was determined using Franz-type diffusion cells, 24-hour exposure and an electron microscopy to verify the location of nanoparticles in exposed membranes. Less than 0.03% of the applied zinc content penetrated the epidermis (not significantly more than the zinc detected in receptor phase following application of a placebo formulation). No particles could be detected in the lower stratum corneum or viable epidermis by electron microscopy, suggesting that minimal nanoparticle penetration occurs through the human epidermis.

Food quality attributes arising from farming methods are of increasing interest to many Canadians, examples include environmentally sustainable production practices, humane animal treatment, organic, etc. The credence nature of these attributes necessitates some form of quality assurance to provide credible signals to consumers that these attributes are present. This paper examines trust in private, third‐party, and government organizations to provide credible quality signals for attributes that derive from on‐farm production methods, or “production‐derived” quality attributes. A nationwide survey reveals that farmer, third‐party, and government organizations are similarly trusted to provide accurate information about farming methods, while government standards relating to environmental sustainability were perceived as most effective. Data from a discrete choice experiment are used to explore attitudes toward pesticide‐free and environmentally sustainable quality claims in a bread product, and in particular whether it matters who verifies those quality claims. Results obtained using a latent class multinomial logit model reveal a distinct pattern of heterogeneity in consumer attitudes toward production‐derived quality attributes and toward the verification of those attributes. Those respondents who most value production‐derived food quality also receive the highest utility from government verification and significant negative utility from supermarket or third‐party verification. This segment of Canadian consumers has a clear preference for a more proactive government role in facilitating credible quality assurances for production‐derived quality attributes. In contrast, the source of quality verification was far less important to those consumers holding weaker preferences for production‐derived quality. Les attributs de qualité des aliments liés aux pratiques agricoles, telles que les pratiques de production écologiquement viable, le traitement sans cruauté des animaux, l’agriculture biologique, etc., intéressent de plus en plus de nombreux Canadiens. Comme ces attributs reposent sur la croyance des consommateurs, une certaine forme d’assurance de la qualité est nécessaire pour envoyer aux consommateurs des signaux crédibles sur la présence de ces attributs. Le présent article examine la confiance dans la capacité des organismes privés, des tierces organisations et des organismes gouvernementaux à fournir des signaux de qualité crédibles pour des attributs liés aux pratiques de production à la ferme, c’est‐à‐dire des attributs de qualité dérivés de la production. Dans un sondage pancanadien, les producteurs agricoles, les tierces parties et les organismes gouvernementaux ont obtenu un degré de confiance similaire dans leur capacitéà fournir de l’information précise sur les pratiques agricoles, tandis que les normes gouvernementales visant à assurer la viabilité de l’environnement ont été perçues comme étant les moyens les plus efficaces. Nous avons utilisé des données tirées de la méthode des choix discrets po...

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The authors assess consumer interest in a food product containing production-derived attributes. They use the French Label Rouge system in the Ontario chicken market as an example of a producer-controlled quality system. Conjoint analysis reveals a significant proportion of respondents value nonprice attributes; medication and housing had the highest importance scores, followed by price and brand ownership. Cluster analysis of the part-worth utilities revealed three consumer segments: price conscious consumers; consumers focused on naturalness; and those focused on animal health. Segments do not appear to differ on the basis of socioeconomic and demographic profile of respondents. However, multiitem scales reflecting attitudes towards production systems vary significantly across segments. Price-conscious respondents show agreement with use of medication and express concern over quality. Respondents in the naturalness segment express concern over quality, locality of production and impact of production methods on own health. Animal-health-conscious respondents show agreement with the use of medications, concern over quality, locality and impact of production methods on own health, but neutrality towards byproducts and traditional production methods. [EconLit citations: D120, Q130]. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

AngioCT has many applications in the neurointerventional setting. In particular during coiling, AngioCT provides a rapid way to clarify concerns or identify complications and in some cases was the major factor influencing further patient management immediately after coiling. AngioCT images were judged of adequate quality to be clinically useful in all patients in this series.