Interior Designers

Interior designers draw upon many disciplines to enhance the function, safety, and aesthetics of interior spaces. Their main concerns are with how different colors, textures, furniture, lighting, and space work together to meet the needs of a building's occupants. Designers plan interior spaces of almost every type of building, including offices, airport terminals, theaters, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, schools, hospitals, and private residences. Good design can boost office productivity, increase sales, attract a more affluent clientele, provide a more relaxing hospital stay, or increase a building's market value.

Traditionally, most interior designers focused on decorating choosing a style and color palette and then selecting appropriate furniture, floor and window coverings, artwork, and lighting. However, an increasing number of designers are becoming involved in architectural detailing, such as crown molding and built-in bookshelves, and in planning layouts of buildings undergoing renovation, including helping to determine the location of windows, stairways, escalators, and walkways.

Interior designers must be able to read blueprints, understand building and fire codes, and know how to make space accessible to people who are disabled. Designers frequently collaborate with architects, electricians, and building contractors to ensure that designs are safe and meet construction requirements.

Whatever space they are working on, almost all designers follow the same process. The first step, known as programming, is to determine the client's needs and wishes. The designer usually meets face-to-face with the client to find out how the space will be used and to get an idea of the client's preferences and budget. For example, the designer might inquire about a family's cooking habits if the family is remodeling a kitchen or ask about a store or restaurant's target customer in order to pick an appropriate motif. The designer also will visit the space to take inventory of existing furniture and equipment and identify positive attributes of the space and potential problems.

Then, the designer formulates a design plan and estimates costs. Today, designs often are created with the use of computer-aided design (CAD), which provides more detail and easier corrections than sketches made by hand. Once the designer completes the proposed design, he or she will present it to the client and make revisions based on the client's input.

When the design concept is decided upon, the designer will begin specifying the materials, finishes, and furnishings required, such as furniture, lighting, flooring, wall covering, and artwork. Depending on the complexity of the project, the designer also might submit drawings for approval by a construction inspector to ensure that the design meets building codes. If a project requires structural work, the designer works with an architect or engineer for that part of the project. Most designs also require the hiring of contractors to do technical work, such as lighting, plumbing, or electrical wiring. Often designers choose contractors and write work contracts.

Finally, the designer develops a timeline for the project, coordinates contractor work schedules, and makes sure work is completed on time. The designer oversees the installation of the design elements, and after the project is complete, the designer, together with the client, pay follow-up visits to the building site to ensure that the client is satisfied. If the client is not satisfied, the designer makes corrections.

Clinical Trials on Skin Cancer

Acitretin is given to hemodialysis patients who have developed in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in increasing doses up to 25 mg daily for one year.

Further Study Information
Acitretin is given to hemodialysis patients who have developed in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in increasing doses up to 25 mg daily for one year. Plasma levels of acitretin will be monitored and influence of hemodialysis on acitretin plasma levels will be determined. Number of in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin cases will be determined. Trial with medicinal productEligibility Criteria

Inclusion criteria:
Hemodialyis patients with at least one case of in-situ or invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

Exclusion criteria:
Hepatopathy

Pregnancy

Definition of skin cancer

Cancer that forms in tissues of the skin. There are several types of skin cancer. Skin cancer that forms in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment) is called melanoma. Skin cancer that forms in basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin) is called basal cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin) is called squamous cell carcinoma. Skin cancer that forms in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system) is called neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin. Most skin cancers form in older people on parts of the body exposed to the sun or in people who have weakened immune systems.

Try these tips when you are out 'n about

1. Order vegetable toppings on pizza instead of salty high-fat meats like pepperoni or sausage.
2. Share popcorn (and skip the added butter) at the movies instead of getting your own bag, or order the smallest size — you will save money too!
3. Choose bottled water instead of sweetened soda.
4. Munch on pretzels, or vegetables at parties instead of fried chips or fatty dips.
5. If you drink wine, beer, or other alcohol, limit yourself to one drink — alcohol has lots of calories but little nutritional value.

Nature of the Work of Barbers

Barbers and cosmetologists focus on providing hair care services to enhance the appearance of consumers. Other personal appearance workers, such as manicurists and pedicurists, shampooers, theatrical and performance makeup artists, and skin care specialists provide specialized beauty services that help clients look and feel their best.

Barbers cut, trim, shampoo, and style hair mostly for male clients. They also may fit hairpieces and offer scalp treatments and facial shaving. In many States, barbers are licensed to color, bleach, or highlight hair and to offer permanent-wave services. Barbers also may provide skin care and nail treatments.

Hairdressers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists offer a wide range of beauty services, such as shampooing, cutting, coloring, and styling of hair. They may advise clients on how to care for their hair at home. In addition, cosmetologists may be trained to give manicures, pedicures, and scalp and facial treatments; provide makeup analysis; and clean and style wigs and hairpieces.
A number of workers offer specialized services. Manicurists and pedicurists, called nail technicians in some States, work exclusively on nails and provide manicures, pedicures, polishing, and nail extensions to clients. Another group of specialists is skin care specialists, or estheticians, who cleanse and beautify the skin by giving facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages as well as apply makeup. They also may remove hair through waxing or, if properly trained, laser treatments. Theatrical and performance makeup artists, apply makeup to enhance performing artists’ appearance for movie, television, or stage performances. Finally, in larger salons, shampooers specialize in shampooing and conditioning hair.

In addition to working with clients, personal appearance workers may keep records of hair color or skin care regimens used by their regular clients. A growing number actively sell hair, skin, and nail care products. Barbers, cosmetologists, and other personal appearance workers who operate their own salons have managerial duties that may include hiring, supervising, and firing workers, as well as keeping business and inventory records, ordering supplies, and arranging for advertising.

Look Good as You Get Fit

If you avoid physical activity because you do not want to ruin your hairstyle, try:

a natural hairstyle
a style that can be wrapped or pulled back
a short haircut
braids, twistes or locs.

TIP: Day-to-day activities can cause salt buildup in your hair. To remove salt, shampoo with a mild, pH-balanced product at least once a week.

Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership

The Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership is a joint venture between the Furniture Industry, Chemical Manufacturers, Environmental Groups and the Environmental Protection Agency to better understand fire safety options for the furniture industry.

The primary flame retardant historically used in low-density flexible polyurethane foam (pentabromodiphenyl ether - pentaBDE) was voluntarily phased out of production by the sole U.S. manufacturer on December 31, 2004. PentaBDE, with its ability to delay ignition of materials, has saved lives, but there are concerns over its use. Studies worldwide have found pentaBDE to be widespread in the environment and in human tissue and breast milk. More information is available on the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) webpage.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is also considering more stringent fire safety standards for residential furniture. These new standards could result in more flame retardants being used in furniture foam and fabric in the future.

The decisions the industry must make now on flame retardant alternatives offer a real opportunity to protect public health and the environment. Through the Furniture Flame Retardancy Partnership, EPA and its partners are working to identify and move toward environmentally safer approaches to meeting fire safety standards. The partnership's first objective has been to provide up-to-date toxicological and environmental information on flame retardants used in furniture foam so that furniture manufacturers and suppliers can make informed decisions about which chemicals to use. This work is captured in the partnership's report: "Environmental Profiles of Chemical Flame-Retardant Alternatives for Low-Density Polyurethane Foam," which focuses on flame retardants in furniture foam as alternatives to pentaBDE.

Next, the partnership plans to develop and implement a process to identify additional toxicological data needed for adequately assessing the flame-retardant alternatives reviewed in this report. In the future, the partnership intends to evaluate additional chemical flame retardants and other materials that may be necessary to meet planned national fire safety standards.