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Individual differences | Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology | In statistics, a spurious relationship (or, sometimes, spurious correlation) is a mathematical relationship in which two occurrences have no logical connection, yet it may be inferred that they do, due to a certain third, unseen factor (referred to as a "confounding factor" or "lurking variable"). The spurious relationship gives an impression of a worthy link between two groups that is invalid when objectively examined. An example of a spurious relationship can be illuminated examining a city's ice cream sales. These sales are highest when the city's rate of drownings is highest. To allege that ice cream sales cause drowning would be to imply a spurious relationship between the two. In reality, a heat wave may have caused both. The heat wave is an example of a hidden or unseen variable. The term is commonly used in statistics and in particular in experimental research techniques. Experimental research attempts to understand and predict causal relationships (X → Y). A non-causal correlation can be spuriously created by an antecedent which causes both (W → X & Y). Intervening variables (X → W → Y), if undetected, may make indirect causation look direct. Because of this, experimentally identified correlations do not represent causal relationships unless spurious relationships can be ruled out. In practice, three conditions must be met in order to conclude that X causes Y, directly or indirectly: - X must precede Y - Y must not occur when X does not occur - Y must occur whenever X occurs Spurious relationships can often be identified by considering whether any of these three conditions have been violated. The final condition may be relaxed in the case of indirect causation. For example, consider a pistol duel. Two men face off and fire at each other. If one man dies as a result of the other man's shot, we can rightly conclude that the other man caused his death. However, if a doctor saves the wounded man's life (thus violating the third premise), this does not undermine causation, only direct causation. The biological damage (W) sustained from the shot (X) causes death (Y), not the shot itself, allowing medical intervention. See a more detailed discussion at causation. See also Edit |This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).|

Individual differences | Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology | In statistics, a spurious relationship (or, sometimes, spurious correlation) is a mathematical relationship in which two occurrences have no logical connection, yet it may be inferred that they do, due to a certain third, unseen factor (referred to as a "confounding factor"

Surficial aquifers that are present in many parts of Segment 2 (fig. 18) generally contain the shallowest ground water in the Segment. These aquifers consist of Quaternary deposits of alluvial gravel, sand, silt, and clay or Quaternary deposits of eolian sand and silt. The alluvial and eolian deposits of the South Platte River Valley and the Arkansas River Valley are moderately thick and extensive and contain the two major surficial aquifers in Segment 2. Surficial aquifers also are present in alluvial deposits of the Basin and Range, the Rio Grande Basin, and the Roswell Basin (fig. 18). However, these shallow aquifers are part of deeper or more extensive aquifers and are described with the deeper aquifers in subsequent sections of this Chapter. In the more mountainous parts of Segment 2, much of the alluvium in the stream valleys is too thin, narrow, and discontinuous to be considered a major aquifer, even though some of the larger of the mountain alluvial deposits (fig. 18), such as those near the Sevier River in central Utah and in the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah, contain locally important surficial aquifers. However, these aquifers commonly are thin and little utilized, and the extent of the aquifers within these materials is poorly known. The surficial aquifer along the South Platte River in Colorado was selected as an example of a stream-valley aquifer in Segment 2 because it is extensively used and well studied. Although the information presented is specific to this aquifer, the hydrologic processes described are similar in other stream-valley aquifers in the Segment. The stream valley of the South Platte River is eroded into the surface of the underlying bedrock formations. In the mountains and plains, the bedrock generally is much less permeable than the alluvium and forms a relatively impermeable lower boundary to the alluvial aquifer. The sedimentary rocks that underlie the alluvium of the South Platte River Valley on the plains generally consist of shale and sandstone of Cretaceous age that are easily eroded to form broad, gently sloping valleys (fig. 19) that contain meandering streams (fig. 20) and moderately thick alluvium. The headwaters of the South Platte River flow on crystalline rocks of the Rocky Mountains. In this area, stream gradients are steep, the valley narrow, and alluvium is thin and discontinuous (fig. 21). The surficial aquifer South Platte River extends for about 200 miles in Segment 2. The aquifer ranges in thickness from about 20 to 200 feet and ranges in width from about 1 to 15 miles. Smaller deposits of alluvium or windblown sand extend up the valleys of numerous tributaries (fig. 18). Where saturated, these deposits form an aquifer that can yield moderate to large volumes of water to wells. Alluvium in the valley of the South Platte River consists of poorly sorted mixtures of unconsolidated gravel, sand, silt, and clay or interlayer beds or relatively well-sorted sand, gravel, or silty clay. Beds may range in thickness from a few inches to 100 feet or more. Beds of gravel and cobbles occur at the base of the alluvium in the valley near Denver. Materials of finer grain size are more prevalent in the downstream parts of the valley in Colorado. The thickness of the alluvium increases down the stream valley. In Denver, the alluvium has a maximum thickness of about 20 feet; 60 miles downstream (fig. 22, section B-B'), it has a maximum thickness of about 100 feet; about 100 miles farther downstream (fig. 22, section D-D'), the alluvium has a maximum thickness of about 200 feet. The thickness of the alluvium is more variable across than along the stream valley. In most areas, the alluvium thickens gradually from the margins of the valley to near the center (fig. 22, section B-B'). However, in some areas, the thickness of the alluvium is irregular because of the presence of two or more channels cut into the buried bedrock surface (fig. 22, section E-E'). Where tributary valleys enter the main valley, or where thick deposits of windblown sand overlie the alluvium, a thick part of the valley-fill material can extend beyond the valley margin (fig. 22, section D-D'). The water table in the alluvium forms the top of the surficial aquifer. The saturated thickness of the aquifer is the distance from the water table to the base of the alluvium. Almost the entire thickness of the alluvium is saturated near the South Platte River where the water table is near land surface. Near the margins of the valley, the saturated thickness of the aquifer is generally much smaller than the thickness of the alluvium. RECHARGE AND DISCHARGE The volume of water than flows into (recharges) the surficial aquifer or flows out of (discharges from) the aquifer is affected by the presence of surface water in the area. The valley of the South Platte River is used extensively for irrigated agriculture. Water is supplied to the fields by diversion of surface flow in the South Platte River through an extensive network of irrigation canals and reservoirs. Surface water usually cannot supply all of the crop water requirements, and ground water is pumped to augment the supply. Some of the water in the irrigation canals and reservoirs percolates to the water table and recharges the aquifer. Between 1947 and 1970, the average rate of recharge from canals and reservoirs was about 104,000 acre-feet per year. Part of the water applied to irrigated fields and part of the precipitation that falls in the valley also percolates downward and recharges the aquifer. Deep percolation of water applied to irrigated fields combined with precipitation supplied about to irrigated fields combined with precipitation supplied about 914,000 acre-feet per year of recharge to ground water (fig. 23). Recharge also occurs by inflow of water from adjacent alluvial aquifers, primarily in tributary valleys, or from underlying bedrock aquifers. Combined, these two sources supplied about 81,000 acre-feet per year of recharge. The total annual recharge to the surficial aquifer near the South Platte River was about 1,099,000 acre-feet. Ground-water seepage to the channel of the South Platte River and withdrawal from wells are the most important forms of ground-water discharge. The South Platte River forms a natural drain for the surficial aquifer along almost all of the length of the river in eastern Colorado. During 1967-69, for example, the average rate of surface-water diversion from the river in Colorado was about 922,000 acre-feet per year, and the average flow at the Nebraska State line was about 340,000 acre-feet per year. However, only about 682,000 acre-feet per year of surface water flowed to the river from the headwaters and tributaries during this period. The difference in flow of about 580,000 acre-feet per year was supplied by ground-water discharge to the river. In 1930, there were about 200 wells in the surficial aquifer near the South Platte River that were capable of yielding more than 100 gallons per minute. By 1970, the number of such wells had increased to slightly more than 3,200; the number of wells has remained relatively constant since 1970. The average yield of these wells was about 920 gallons per minute in 1970, but some well yields were as large as 3,200 gallons per minute. Most of these wells supply water for crop irrigation, but a few are used for the municipal supply of several communities in the valley. Numerous small-capacity wells supply water for domestic, stock, and other uses. Ground-water withdrawal for irrigation was about 388,000 acre-feet per year during 1951-60 and about 556,000 acre-feet per year during 1961-70. During the period from 1947-70, discharge from the surficial aquifer by ground-water seepage to the South Platte River averaged about 515,000 acre-feet per year. Withdrawal by wells averaged about 420,000 acre-feet per year, evapotranspiration from vegetation growing in areas of shallow water table (phreatophytes) averaged about 163,000 acre-feet per year, and outflow to Nebraska of ground water in the alluvium averaged about 20,000 acre-feet per year (fig. 23). The total discharge from the surficial aquifer averaged about 1,118,000 acre-feet per year. Discharge exceeded recharge by about 19,000 acre-feet per year; as a result, there was a decline in the volume of ground water in storage in the surficial aquifer. For comparison, the total volume of ground water in storage in the aquifer was about 8,300,000 acre-feet. Ground water flows from areas of recharge, where the water-table altitude is higher, toward areas of discharge, where the water-table is lower. Recharge areas associated with canals, reservoirs, and irrigated fields generally are located along the valley on either side of the South Platte River. As a result, the altitude of the water table near the margin of the valley generally is higher than in the central part of the valley (fig. 22, sections A-A' through E-E'). Because ground-water discharges readily to the river, the altitude of the river determines the altitude of the water table along the valley. For example, the altitude of the river and the water table both range from about 5,000 feet near Denver to about 3,500 feet at Julesburg, which is 200 miles downstream (fig. 24). The direction of ground-water movement generally is down the valley and toward the South Platte River, as indicated by the arrows on figure 24. This movement and the practice of diverting surface water creates a cycle of water reuse. Ground water discharges to the river; part of the river's flow is diverted into irrigation canals, reservoirs, and irrigated fields where some of the water percolates back into the aquifer. Some of this recharge ultimately flows back into the river. As a result, some water that flows into this stream-aquifer system near Denver may be used and reused many times before it flows out of Colorado. Only in the spring when irrigation demands are small and streamflow is large as a result of runoff from the mountain snowpack can large volumes of surface water flow directly downstream and bypass the ground-water system. Ground-water withdrawal lowers the water table and either decreases ground-water flow to the river or causes water to flow from the river into the aquifer near the site of withdrawal. Thus, ground-water withdrawal has an effect on streamflow similar to that of surface-water diversion. Both decrease streamflow, but the slow rate of ground-water movement delays the effect of withdrawal of streamflow, whereas the effect of surface-water diversion is immediate. Between 1947 and 1970, water levels declined as much as 35 feet in parts of the surficial aquifer (fig. 25). The magnitude of annual decline varied from year to year, primarily in response to changes in the annual rate of ground-water withdrawal. Other factors that affect the decline include availability of surface water, precipitation during the growing season, and crop size and water requirements. The ability of the surficial aquifer to transmit water is determined by the thickness of the aquifer and by the uniformity and coarseness of the sand and gravel in the aquifer. This ability to transmit water is called transmissivity. An aquifer of large transmissivity easily transmits water and can yield larger volumes of water to wells than an aquifer of small transmissivity. The transmissivity of the surficial aquifer along the South Platte River ranges from less than 1,000 feet squared per day along the margins of the aquifer where the aquifer is thin to more than 100,000 feet squared per day in a few areas near the central part of the lower valley where the aquifer is thick (fig. 26). The transmissivity of the aquifer also increases down the valley, primarily because of the increased thickness of alluvium downstream. Dissolved-solids concentrations in ground water generally increase with distance downstream from the headwaters of the South Platte River. Surface water that flows from the headwaters into the South Platte River contains about 300 to 800 milligrams per liter of dissolved solids. Most of this water is ultimately diverted and applied to fields. Part of the applied water is consumed by evaporation or by transpiration of the crop, and this increases the dissolved-solids concentration in the remaining water. Fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals also are dissolved in the water and carried into the aquifer. As the water flows through the aquifer, additional minerals are dissolved from alluvial material. As a result, the ground water that returns to the river contains larger concentration of dissolved solids than the water was diverted from the river. Downstream, water again is diverted from the river and applied to another field. This recycling of water causes an increase in dissolved-solids concentration in the ground water down the valley. In some areas, dilution occurs when recharge from precipitation and inflow from tributary aquifers and upland areas underlain by thin alluvium or sand dunes decreases the dissolved-solids concentrations in water in the surficial aquifer (fig. 27). These processes causes the decreases in dissolved-solids concentration evident along the south side of the valley downstream from Fort Morgan, Colo. Dissolved-solids concentrations of ground water range from about 1,000 milligrams per liter near Denver to as much as 4,000 milligrams per liter at Sterling. Downvalley from near Sterling, the concentration decreases because of dilution by ground-water inflow. Near Julesburg, the dissolved-solids concentration of the ground water is about 1,500 milligrams per liter. The dissolved-solids concentration of ground water also varies across the width of the valley and is larger near the river than near the margin of the valley. Surface water that flows into Nebraska has an average dissolved-solids concentration of about 1,300 milligrams per liter. Water in the surficial aquifer generally contains large concentrations of dissolved calcium, bicarbonate, and sulfate, and is classified as either a calcium bicarbonate- or calcium sulfate-type water. Calcium bicarbonate water is more prevalent in the upstream part of the valley; calcium sulfate water is more prevalent in the downstream part. Water is classified as very hard if it contains more than 200 milligrams per liter hardness, measured as calcium carbonate. Water from more than 90 percent of a sampling of 89 wells in the downvalley part of the aquifer had hardness in excess of 200 milligrams per liter, and 50 percent had hardness in excess of 600 milligrams per liter. Ground water in some areas also contains large concentrations of dissolved iron, nitrate, or chloride. Although many local residents and communities have long used the aquifer as a source of drinking water, the water is not well suited for this use because of its taste, large dissolved-solids concentrations, hardness, or localized large concentrations of iron, nitrate, or sulfate. In some areas, using ground water for irrigation may require careful management of the water to prevent buildup of crop-damaging salts in the soil. However, in most areas, the surficial aquifer yields water that is of suitable quality for irrigation, and the dissolved minerals that make the water objectionable for public or domestic uses are not a serious problem for irrigation use. FRESH GROUND-WATER WITHDRAWALS About 94 percent of the water withdrawn from the surficial aquifer in the South Platte River Valley during 1985 was used for irrigation. Public supply was the second largest category of water use but represented only about 3 percent of the total (fig. 28). The sum of the remaining categories of water use represented slightly more than 3 percent of the total ground-water withdrawal of 847,000 acre-feet. Water used for irrigation generally is applied to fields during the May-to-September growing season (fig. 29). Precipitation and surface water diverted directly from the South Platte River or diverted through reservoirs supply most of the applied water. Ground water supplies a larger part of the total applied water in July, August, and September as streamflow decreases following the peak period of snowmelt runoff in May and June. During dry years, when streamflow is small, larger quantities of ground water are withdrawn to meet crop water requirements (fig. 30).

Surficial aquifers that are present in many parts of Segment 2 (fig. 18) generally contain the shallowest ground water in the Segment. These aquifers consist of Quaternary deposits of alluvial gravel, sand, silt, and clay or Quaternary deposits of eolian sand and silt. The alluvial and eolian deposits of the South Platte River Valley and the Arkansas River Valley are moderately thick and extensive

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1137 Quaternary Geologic Framework of the St. Clair River between Michigan and Ontario, Canada Figure 8. The U.S. Geological Survey Mini SEABOSS, shown (left) being deployed from the RV Rafael was used to collect sediment samples, video, and digital photographs. The Mini SEABOSS components viewed from below (right) are: (A) forward video camera; (B) downward video camera; (C) video light; (D) digital still camera and housing; (E) strobe light; (F) parallel lasers for scale; (G) laser for ranging; (H) junction block; (I) Van Veen grab sampler; (J) multi-conducting cable. (Photographs by D. Blackwood, U.S. Geological Survey.) Click on figure for larger image.

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1137 Quaternary Geologic Framework of the St. Clair River between Michigan and Ontario, Canada Figure 8. The U.S. Geological Survey Mini SEABOSS, shown (left) being deployed from the RV Rafael was used to collect sediment samples, video, and digital photographs. The Mini SEABOSS components viewed from below (right) are: (A) forward video camera; (B) dow

Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families Our mission is to strengthen courts for children, youth and families in the Texas child-protection system and thereby improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Who we are We are a multidisciplinary executive-level group led by judges created by The Supreme Court of Texas in 2007 to develop and coordinate efforts to improve court performance in child abuse and neglect cases. We exist to improve the judicial handling of child-protection cases systemically through improvements in technology, training, and court improvement pilot projects. We administer the federal Court Improvement Program (CIP) grant that funds its projects and staff. (Click here to see the order creating the Children's Commission). Justice Eva Guzman, Supreme Court of Texas, was appointed Chair in 2010 when our founder, Justice Harriet O’Neill, retired from the Supreme Court. Our members include officials from the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and Child Protective Services (CPS), non-profit foundation and state bar leaders, private attorneys, legislators, judges and other elected officials, and other child welfare stakeholders. (Click here to see a list of members). Our structure includes a 40-plus-member, general advisory group called the Collaborative Council. Members include foster families, attorneys, CASAs, parent advocates, and former foster youth. Representatives from institutions of juvenile justice, mental health and education are also included, as well as representatives from the private provider community, children's advocacy centers and many other child-protection and child and family advocacy groups. Three standing committees – Basic Projects, Technology and Training – oversee issue-specific workgroups and projects. In June 2010, the Supreme Court formed an Education Committee to work toward improving education outcomes for foster children. In addition to CIP grant-funded projects, the Commission directs several other ad hoc committees and workgroups and numerous staff-led projects. What we do We oversee numerous projects and programs and one of our top priorities continues to be increasing communication and collaboration between the judiciary and Child Protective Services, and among other stakeholders in the child-protection system.We conduct weekly executive-level meetings to stay connected and up-to-date on one another’s activities and concerns, which furthers better understanding of our respective challenges and gives us a chance to brainstorm ideas and solutions to solve problems together. We have conducted or collaborated on several research studies to identify and eliminate barriers to moving children out of foster care and into permanent homes. Why we exist The state of Texas is the legal parent to some 30,000 children because of allegations of abuse or neglect. Courts play a critical role in determining their future, because once lawsuits alleging abuse or neglect are filed, courts become the ultimate arbiter of what happens to these children. No child enters or leaves foster care without a court order. A judge decides where the child will live, with whom, and for how long. Every day, Texas courts decide whether a child goes home or to a relative, visits a sibling, or becomes legally free for adoption. Too often, Texas courts lack the resources necessary to make good decisions. Although many organizations and individuals across the state share a commitment to improving our child-welfare system, until the Supreme Court of Texas created it, no multidisciplinary entity like the Children’s Commission existed at such a high level to coordinate and implement comprehensive efforts to improve child protection courts.

Supreme Court of Texas Permanent Judicial Commission for Children, Youth and Families Our mission is to strengthen courts for children, youth and families in the Texas child-protection system and thereby improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Who we are We are a multidisciplinary executive-level group led by judges created by The Supreme Court of Texas in 2007 to develop and c

No corrections yet High St. marches Within 12 years of the arrival of Governor Stirling and his first settlers, Fremantle had ' -grown into a sturdy little town with 300 to Its £ storey houses were built of hard limestone. .It's gardens were grow- ing vegetables in days when vast sprinkler sys- tems were not dreamed of Its roads, glistening with the harsh whiteness of thc limestone, were beginning to fan out. Already its main street was High-st., which ran from Arthur's Head gaol to the site of the first Church of England, St. John's, in King's Square, This was in 1843 and, as the years went by, the growth qt Fremantle wai reflected Tn the growth oí High-st. By 1858 the time had arr ¡rived for the Town Trust I to decide to pave Highest ¡with Yorkshire flagstones along the north side from Cliff-st., to the church, and then along the south side With the aid of army sappers, the work was started, but the Trust changed its plans and it was decided to pave only the north side of High-st. and to pave one side of Henry, Cliff and Willlam sts., first. Extension of High-st east began in 1881. This was the same year as the first train ran between Perth and Fremantle, ano Governor Sir -William I Robinson remarked at the time: "The weekly visit which. I am in the habit of making to your town will be none the less agreeable in the future from the fact that I can now visit you by High-st., which was pro- gressing steadily, had had , wooden paving blocks in- troduced in 1897. In 1905 it was described as one of the busiest retail marts in the State. In the intervening years, it has grown steadily and while it has changed its face with the introduc- tion of modern business premises, lt has lost none of the old world charm that comes from its many outstanding reminders in stone of the early days.

No corrections yet High St. marches Within 12 years of the arrival of Governor Stirling and his first settlers, Fremantle had ' -grown into a sturdy little town with 300 to Its £ storey houses were built of hard limestone. .It's gardens were grow- ing vegetables in days when vast sprinkler sys- tems were not dreamed of Its roads, glistening with the harsh whiteness of thc limestone, were beginning

From 1 July 1998, a new financial regulatory framework came into effect, in response to the recommendations of the Financial System Inquiry (the Wallis Committee). Under the new structure, a single prudential supervisor, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), was established to take responsibility for the supervision of banks, life and general insurance companies, and superannuation funds. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission assumed responsibility for market integrity and consumer protection across the financial system. The Reserve Bank retained responsibility for monetary policy and the maintenance of financial stability, including stability of the payments system. From 1 July 1999, regulation of building societies and credit unions transferred from the states to APRA. On 1 July 2000, regulation of self-managed superannuation funds was transferred from APRA to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). From September 2001, the Financial Sector (Collection of Statistics) Act 2001 (Cwlth) provided APRA with powers to collect information previously collected under a range of legislation for which it was responsible, and under the Financial Corporations Act administered by the Reserve Bank. The new legislation enables harmonised and consistent data collection from financial institutions. APRA commenced data collection from registered financial corporations from March 2003. APRA supervises benefit funds of friendly societies under the Life Insurance Act 1995 (Cwlth), while health benefit funds of friendly societies are regulated by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council under the National Health Act 1959 (Cwlth). This page last updated 3 June 2010

From 1 July 1998, a new financial regulatory framework came into effect, in response to the recommendations of the Financial System Inquiry (the Wallis Committee). Under the new structure, a single prudential supervisor, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), was established to take responsibility for the supervision of banks, life and general insurance companies, and superannuatio

Ear nose and throat The ear, nose and throat are part of the upper respiratory tract. They help us breathe, smell, hear, keep our balance, swallow and speak. Infections and conditions of the sinus, tonsils and adenoids affect these organs. Browse by topic Topic: Hearing loss Deafness is caused by many different events including injury, disease and genetic defects. Once hearing is damaged, it often can't be restored. If you're unsure how to best communicate with a hearing impaired colleague, ask them. Many people with hearing loss experience a drop in self-esteem and confidence because of their impaired ability to communicate. Lipreading can help people who are hearing impaired to cope better with their hearing loss. Many people who shy away from talking with you are just nervous of making a mistake or offending you. Work environments can be adjusted to take into consideration the needs of a person with hearing loss. Reduced sound tolerance can confine a person to their home, affect their career and social life and make everyday activities impossible. The earlier hearing loss is identified in children, the better for the child's language, learning and overall development. A ringing sensation in the ears (tinnitus), or people complaining that you talk too loudly are signs you may need to have your hearing checked.

Ear nose and throat The ear, nose and throat are part of the upper respiratory tract. They help us breathe, smell, hear, keep our balance, swallow and speak. Infections and conditions of the sinus, tonsils and adenoids affect these organs. Browse by topic Topic: Hearing loss Deafness is caused by many different events including injury, disease and genetic defects. Once hearing is damaged, it often

On July 23rd, we honored two Washington, D.C. area students who decided to make a difference on behalf of Veterans. Their effort? A simple bake sale. Their goal? To help Veterans by raising money for VA Research. Their impact? A story that is certain to inspire us all. Here’s how it all began. Last April 27, local fifth-grader Francesca Cetta, accompanied her mother to VA’s Take Your Child to Work Day, which this year coincided with the annual VA Research Week Central Forum. Among the several technical demonstrations at the event was one about the DEKA arm prosthetic. Developed in collaboration with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and DEKA Integrated Solutions, the arm truly is a remarkable achievement. It has a fully functioning hand, and control so precise that users can pluck grapes off a vine, pick up a power tool, or even shake hands. Francesca and others watching the demonstration saw the latest version of the arm, the Gen3, which is controlled by motion detectors placed on top of each shoe. To demonstrate the arm Veterans Arthur McAuley and Frederick Downs, Jr. joined us. Many of you may know Fred; he is former director of VA’s Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service. Both gentlemen were very generous with their time; showing the advanced prosthetic’s impressive functionality, and answering numerous questions posed by Research Week attendees. (To see for yourself what the arm can do, watch a video we produced for Research Week.) Francesca was so moved by what she saw, and by research’s potential to help more Veterans, that she decided to raise funds. That’s when she enlisted her friend Claire Quigley to join in holding a bake sale for VA Research. A few days later, when Francesca’s mother called to tell us about the two students’ efforts, we were moved and wanted to honor them. It was therefore my great pleasure earlier this week to join with Chief Research and Development Officer, Dr. Joel Kupersmith in the informal recognition ceremony honoring these two students. As I handed Francesca a certificate of recognition, I asked how she came up with the idea of the bake sale, and what in particular about the DEKA arm inspired her to do so? She said, “Many things inspired me to donate to the VA. I saw how Fred and Artie benefited from the DEKA Arm and wanted to be a part of donating to improve Veterans’ lives.” (And in case you were wondering, the money raised by these two students will go toward prosthetics research at the Providence VA Medical Center.) By taking action to promote VA research, Francesca has joined the ranks of other VA research advocates, including Artie, Fred, and the many Veteran volunteers who give of their time to participate in VA research. We are thrilled that these two students took the time to learn more about VA research, and were spurred to action by it. And if you’d like to learn more about what VA Research is doing for Veterans, please visit the VA Research and Development Web site. There you can learn more about our programs, services and centers of excellence, read about the wide scope of research projects we support, and sign up for our newsletter VA Research Currents. Dr. Madhulika Agarwal is the Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Policy and Services for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her organization’s vision is to lead policy and services development to ensure the best possible health care outcomes for our Nation’s Veterans.

On July 23rd, we honored two Washington, D.C. area students who decided to make a difference on behalf of Veterans. Their effort? A simple bake sale. Their goal? To help Veterans by raising money for VA Research. Their impact? A story that is certain to inspire us all. Here’s how it all began. Last April 27, local fifth-grader Francesca Cetta, accompanied her mother to VA’s Take Your Child to Work

David Lawrence with Paul O’Connor of the Instrumentation Division Graduation and summer vacation may only be days away for David Lawrence, a senior at Comsewogue High School, but he doesn’t only have barbeques and going off to MIT on his mind. He is also helping develop components for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), an under-construction telescope being built with the world’s largest digital camera — a 3,200-megapixel sensor — that will scan the far reaches of deep space tracing billions of galaxies never seen before. In 2008, at the age of 15, Lawrence joined Brookhaven National Laboratory’s (BNL) High School Research Program (HSRP) and the collaboration of U.S. national laboratories, universities, and other institutions around the world working to design and build the LSST. The HSRP is managed by the Lab’s Office of Educational Programs and pairs bright, science-minded high school students like Lawrence with top scientists at BNL to complete scientific research projects. Lawrence has worked with mentors Paul O’Connor and Peter Takacs, both of BNL’s Instrumentation Division, on several different aspects of LSST-related projects during the past three years. “I first met David because he was on a competitive mathematics team with my daughter,” explained O’Connor. “We are very glad that we brought him on to our team — our work on this project has benefitted tremendously.” Using the open-source computer programming language Python, Lawrence has created new mathematical ways to test the flatness of LSST sensor prototypes, within ranges smaller than a millionth of a meter. He has also developed new mathematical techniques for comprehensive study of charge diffusion for the LSST sensors, which occurs when light hitting a sensor is converted to a digital signal. This can lead to blurry, unfocused images — exactly what the LSST collaboration does not want. “It’s really neat to write computer code, set up test equipment, and then see it all in action,” said Lawrence. Not only is it neat, but also Lawrence’s work through Brookhaven Lab’s HSRP has earned him several honors. Earlier in 2010, he was named a semifinalist in the Intel Science Talent Search contest, and he took first place in the Physics category at the 2010 Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. Lawrence was also asked to present his innovative math techniques at an all-hands meeting for the LSST camera group in Philadelphia last March. High school graduation is only days away for Lawrence and he will continue to work on LSST sensors at the Instrumentation Division throughout the summer. He is not sure whether he will major in mathematics or computer science when he arrives at MIT this fall, but either way, he’s capable of reaching those unseen stars that the LSST will first “see” using the sensors he helped develop. 2010-1834 INT/EXT | Media & Communications Office

David Lawrence with Paul O’Connor of the Instrumentation Division Graduation and summer vacation may only be days away for David Lawrence, a senior at Comsewogue High School, but he doesn’t only have barbeques and going off to MIT on his mind. He is also helping develop components for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), an under-construction telescope being built with the world’s largest d

October 20, 2009 An international team of researchers from the United States, Korea, and France has sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two important laboratory strains of E. coli bacteria, one used to study evolution and the other to produce proteins for basic research or practical applications. The findings will help guide future research and will also open a window to a deeper understanding of classical research that is the foundation of our understanding of basic molecular biology and genetics. The team, which includes two researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, published its results online on October 17, 2009, in three papers in the Journal of Molecular Biology. E. coli has been associated with recent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses, but the two most important laboratory types, named K-12 and B, were isolated from benign E. coli that are normal inhabitants of the human intestine. Both have been indispensable tools for biomedical research and biotechnology. K-12 was isolated in 1922 in Palo Alto, California. Its genome sequence – the series of nucleotide bases (labeled A, T, G, and C) that make up the source code for running the machinery of the cell – has been known since 1997. The early history of B, however, was unknown until the current collaboration combed through historical scientific papers and personal recollections to trace it back to a strain at the Institut Pasteur, in Paris, in 1918. Adding to this historical reconstruction, the newly sequenced genomes of two different B strains allow the complete genomes of these laboratory workhorses to be compared for the first time. Electron microscopy image of several E. coli cells, including two pairs of dividing cells “Although the B and K-12 strains came into the laboratory half a world apart, their genome sequences show that they are closely related,” said Brookhaven biophysicist William Studier, who, along with Brookhaven physicist Sergei Maslov helped analyze the genome sequences. The genomes of the two B strains were sequenced at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB) and at Genoscope, the French center for genome sequencing. Like K-12, the two B genomes each contain about 4.6 million nucleotide base pairs (Ts linked with As or Gs linked with Cs). “One of the most striking observations in comparing the B and K-12 genomes is the seemingly non-random distribution of single base-pair differences between them,” said Maslov, a physicist who studies computationally intensive biological problems. “We are pursuing further analysis to try to understand the evolutionary mechanisms that produced this distribution.” The genome comparisons also turned up some interesting differences between the two B strains. Like identical twins separated at birth, the two B strains have had separate laboratory histories since 1959. One became REL606, a strain used by Richard Lenski at Michigan State University and his collaborators to study long-term evolution in the laboratory. The other became BL21(DE3), a strain developed by Studier and colleagues at Brookhaven Lab to be used as a “factory” for producing proteins for basic research and for medical and industrial use. “Detailed information about these two strains is useful for future laboratory studies but is also important for companies who are using proteins made from E. coli B strains for medical purposes,” Studier said. “They want to know as much as possible about the bacterial strain, including where it came from.” Alignment showing similarities and differences between the genomes of E. coli strains K-12 and B. Some detective work was required before the differences between the two B genomes could be understood. Although scientific papers told one story, information in the genome sequences told another, Studier said. The researchers pinpointed the discrepancy to a period in the 1960s, as scientists at different labs shared strains for their research. Apparently, one sample was mislabeled in one of these exchanges. The current detailed genomic analysis uncovered this long-buried mix-up. Once this mystery was solved, every difference between the two B genome sequences could be understood in terms of the different laboratory manipulations used on the ancestral strains, Studier said. This information provided new insights into the types of changes to the genome caused by standard laboratory treatments, including exposure to chemicals, irradiation with ultraviolet light, and transfer of DNA between genomes. “It’s amazing how much valuable information can be revealed by looking in detail at genome sequences,” Studier said. This work was supported by the 21C Frontier Microbial Genomics and Applications Center Program of the Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology; the KRIBB Research Initiative Program; the Consortium National de Recherche en Génomique; the GTL Program of the Office of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Division of Materials Science within the DOE Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; and internal research funding from Brookhaven National Laboratory. 2009-1019 | Media & Communications Office

October 20, 2009 An international team of researchers from the United States, Korea, and France has sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two important laboratory strains of E. coli bacteria, one used to study evolution and the other to produce proteins for basic research or practical applications. The findings will help guide future research and will also open a window to a deeper understanding o

Brazil is cited as a reference in the UNAIDS Annual Report 23/07/2012 11:35 - Portal Brasil "Universal access to antiretroviral treatment is a State policy in Brazil, but nothing would have happened without the National Health System (SUS)", the Director of the Department of STD, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis of the Ministry of Health, Dirceu Greco, said yesterday at the publishing of the annual report of the Joint United Nations Program for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This year's document brings new data on the epidemic from across the world, showing that although international funding to combat HIV/AIDS has continued at the same level since 2008, there has been an increase of 11% in internal investment by developing countries. Considering the period from 2006 to 2011 growth reached 50%. "It is one of the most positive reports we have presented in recent times", said UN resident coordinator in Brazil, Jorge Chediek, referring to advances in the coverage and distribution of antiretroviral drugs, especially in low and middle income countries. According to the UNAIDS coordinator in Brazil, Pedro Chequer, Brazil is a pioneer in the area of universal access to treatment and has served as an inspiration for many developing countries. "Brazil has taken this stance ever since the 1990's, contrary to the vision of the World Bank. We believe that we will achieve universal access by 2015 and part of that victory is down to Brazil", he said. Pedro Chequer highlighted that 8 million people are currently being treated worldwide, while in 2003 the figure was only 400,000. "In South Africa there were more than 300,000 new patients in 2011, adding to the 1.7 million people already receiving treatment in that country. This is double the 2009 figure" he said. According to the UNAIDS coordinator, another target of the program is to eliminate new infections in children by 2015. "I always say that, in fact, there is a type of vaccine for AIDS: the use of antiretroviral drugs as prophylaxis for HIV infected pregnant women to prevent transmission to the child; something that Brazil has been doing for a long time". The Director of the Department of STD, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis at the Ministry of Health, Dirceu Greco, also said that even with high investments - the 2011 budget was R$ 1.2 billion - there is still several challenges to overcome in order to control the AIDS epidemic. One of those is to expand access to diagnosis. "An estimated 250,000 people in Brazil [have the disease] without knowing or have never been tested for HIV. Diagnosing these infections is a key step to controlling transmission. To achieve this, more than 2 million quick test kits were distributed in 2011. Once the diagnosis is known, people will receive the necessary care and treatment in a timely manner". Ministry of Health

Brazil is cited as a reference in the UNAIDS Annual Report 23/07/2012 11:35 - Portal Brasil "Universal access to antiretroviral treatment is a State policy in Brazil, but nothing would have happened without the National Health System (SUS)", the Director of the Department of STD, AIDS and Viral Hepatitis of the Ministry of Health, Dirceu Greco, said yesterday at the publishing of the annual report

Search your Bury Ethnic minority achievement service Curriculum and Language Access Service The Curriculum and Language Access Service (CLAS) is a local authority Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) service which works with schools to develop effective provision for minority ethnic and English as an additional language (EAL) learners.. CLAS has the following mission statement: "The Curriculum and Language Access Service is committed to raising the achievement and expectations of minority ethnic pupils, by working in partnership to ensure equality of opportunity in Education." The service includes: - EMA consultants and leading teachers; - Bilingual language assistants and support workers; - specialist teachers of English as an additional language; and - teachers and tutors of community languages. CLAS is funded through the DSG, with funding formerly called the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant. Our staff work with schools across the authority, as part of the School Improvement Service, to develop provision to promote the educational achievement of pupils with EAL, refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minority pupils at risk of underachieving. However, all groups of children benefit from specialist EAL expertise in schools. By working with schools, CLAS staff: - support schools in developing effective self-evaluation processes, coordinating provision for EAL, reviewing current practice and developing teaching and learning approaches which benefit pupils from all language backgrounds; - work in the classroom in partnership with mainstream teachers and assistants; - provide CPD to develop effective EAL coordination and practice in schools; - plan with school colleagues to make sure pupils have full access to the curriculum; - help to develop a learning culture where having more than one language is valued; - evaluate pupil progress regularly to make sure support is given effectively; - work with schools to develop partnerships with parents by contacting parents and carers and by making home visits to discuss pupil progress and how parents can get involved; - develop resources to use in school and at home, such as dual language signs and posters, resource packs and translated documents; - support schools in meeting the cultural, language and religious needs of their pupils; - support pupils taking GCSEs in community languages. Through specific initiatives the service will: - support schools to promote equalities and cohesion, for example, Show Racism the Red Card competition, Who Do We Think We Are? week activities and competition, Refugee Week activities; - work with asylum seekers to make sure they have access to services; - provide CPD for staff in schools on promoting cultural diversity, supporting pupils with EAL and working with asylum seekers; - co-ordinate a postgraduate certificate in Bilingualism in Education in partnership with NASSEA and the University of Birmingham to develop specialist teachers' skills in working with EAL learners; - develop accredited CPD on EAL teaching and learning for mainstream teachers and assistants in partnership with Edge Hill University. The CLAS newsletter is produced annually and provides information about EMA work and projects that are being delivered by CLAS in partnership with schools in the borough for children and young people. The newsletter is distributed to all the maintained schools in Bury and across a broad range of agencies. In your area

Search your Bury Ethnic minority achievement service Curriculum and Language Access Service The Curriculum and Language Access Service (CLAS) is a local authority Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) service which works with schools to develop effective provision for minority ethnic and English as an additional language (EAL) learners.. CLAS has the following mission statement: "The Curriculum and La

Using Indicators for Program Planning and Evaluation The evaluation guide, Using DHDSP Outcome Indicators for Policy and Systems Change for Program Planning and Evaluation, is a technical assistance tool designed to assist with program and evaluation planning for heart disease and stroke prevention activities. It is intended for use by National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (NHDSP) program grantees, state health departments, advocates, evaluators, and researchers in program and evaluation planning that are using the DHDSP Outcome Indicators for Policy and Systems Change. It is best to use this guide in conjunction with other Program Evaluation Guides in the series - Writing SMART Objectives - Developing and Using a Logic Model - Developing an Evaluation Plan Without duplicating previously published information, this guide provides an overview of some fundamental considerations for heart disease and stroke prevention programs and partners as they incorporate DHDSP outcome indicators into evaluation planning and implementation. Although this guide focuses primarily on the use of outcome indicators for evaluation of policy, systems, and environmental change approaches to heart disease and stroke prevention, it also notes how indicators may be used in program planning.

Using Indicators for Program Planning and Evaluation The evaluation guide, Using DHDSP Outcome Indicators for Policy and Systems Change for Program Planning and Evaluation, is a technical assistance tool designed to assist with program and evaluation planning for heart disease and stroke prevention activities. It is intended for use by National Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (NHDSP) program g

Montana's Energy Policy The Montana Legislature first adopted an energy policy for the state in 1993 through the passage of Senate Bill 225. The language of the resulting statute was based on a two-year study conducted by the Legislature’s Environmental Quality Council to develop recommendations for an energy policy and options to implement the resulting policy. - enhance existing energy development and create new diversified energy development from all of Montana's abundant energy resources; - increase utilization of Montana's vast coal reserves in an environmentally sound manner that includes the mitigation of greenhouse gas and other emissions - expand exploration and technological innovation, including using carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery in declining oil fields to increase output; - expand Montana's petroleum refining industry as a significant contributor to Montana's manufacturing sector in supplying the transportation energy needs of Montana and the region; - develop biomass plants to generate heat for industrial use, electricity, or both, and as a means to manage Montana's forests; - promote the generation of low-cost electricity with large-scale utility wind generation and small-scale distributed generation; - increase the capacity of existing transmission lines in existing corridors and maximize the potential of existing transmission lines; - strengthen Montana's level of participation in regional transmission efforts and organizations, recognizing that endeavors to improve the management of the transmission grid often require a broad, regional approach; - use new and innovative technologies, such as compressed air energy storage, batteries, flywheels, hydrogen production, smart grid, smart garage, and intrahour balancing services to address wind integration; - ensure that adequate amounts of the electrical energy produced at the lowest cost in this state are reserved for Montana's families, businesses, and industries.

Montana's Energy Policy The Montana Legislature first adopted an energy policy for the state in 1993 through the passage of Senate Bill 225. The language of the resulting statute was based on a two-year study conducted by the Legislature’s Environmental Quality Council to develop recommendations for an energy policy and options to implement the resulting policy. - enhance existing energy developme

For Release: Thursday, June 30, 2011 New Recommendations Issued in Hydraulic Fracturing Review - In Reversal of 2009 Report, High-Volume Fracturing Would be Prohibited in NYC and Syracuse Watersheds - Drilling Banned Within All Primary Aquifers and on State-Owned Land Including State Forest and Wildlife Management Areas - Drilling Permitted on Other Private Land with Rigorous and Effective Protections - Advisory Panel on Implementation to Be Appointed The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) tomorrow will release its revised recommendations on mitigating the environmental impacts of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (high-volume fracturing). The recommendations contain these major revisions: - High-volume fracturing would be prohibited in the New York City and Syracuse watersheds, including a buffer zone; - Drilling would be prohibited within primary aquifers and within 500 feet of their boundaries; - Surface drilling would be prohibited on state-owned land including parks, forest areas and wildlife management areas; - High-volume fracturing will be permitted on privately held lands under rigorous and effective controls; and - DEC will issue regulations to codify these recommendations into state law. These recommendations, if adopted in final form, would protect the state's environmentally sensitive areas while realizing the economic development and energy benefits of the state's natural gas resources. Approximately 85 percent of the Marcellus Shale would be accessible to natural gas extraction under these recommendations. DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens said, "This report strikes the right balance between protecting our environment, watersheds, and drinking water and promoting economic development." The ban on high-volume fracturing in the New York City and Syracuse watersheds represents a reversal of the Department's 2009 draft report, which would have permitted drilling in those watersheds. The New York and Syracuse watersheds are unique in that they are the only unfiltered supplies of municipal water in the state and deserve special protection. The prior report also would have allowed high-volume fracturing surface drilling in primary aquifers and on public forests, wildlife areas and parkland; the 2011 report reverses all of these recommendations. There will be more opportunity for review and comment on the Department's recommendations. DEC plans for a 60-day public comment period commencing in August. There is no administrative or discretionary moratorium on high-volume fracturing. By law, no permits may be issued until the public comments are reviewed and considered and the final Supplement Generic Environmental Impact Statement is released. DEC enforcement and oversight of high-volume fracturing will be rigorous and effective. No permits will be issued until DEC has the proper enforcement capacity in place to monitor all fracturing activities. In preparing the new recommendations, DEC engaged independent consultants to perform research, sought further information from the gas drilling industry, considered more than 13,000 public comments and studied other states' regulations and experience, including site visits by Commissioner Martens and DEC officials to Pennsylvania incident sites. Since September 2009, DEC staff has spent approximately 10,250 hours updating the document. The 2011 version contains more than 900 pages, including more than 150 additional pages of data and analysis compared to the 2009 version. The Department's extensive review has resulted in recommendations for rigorous and effective controls on high-volume fracturing on private lands. These state-of-the-art controls include such permitting rules as: Protecting Drinking Water - Well water protection and other water protection: No permits would be issued for sites within 500 feet of a private water well or domestic use spring. No permits may be issued for a proposed site within 2,000 feet of a public drinking water supply well or reservoir at least until three years of experience elsewhere have been evaluated. No permits will be issued for well pads sited within a 100-year floodplain. - Additional Well Casing to Prevent Gas Migration: In most cases, an additional third, cemented well casing is required around each well to prevent the migration of gas. The three required casings are the surface casing, the new intermediate casing and the production casing. The depths of both surface and intermediate casings will be determined by site-specific conditions. - Spill control: All new guidelines will require that flowback water on site must use watertight tanks within a secondary containment. No open containment may be used. A secondary containment will also be required for all fracturing additive containers, additive staging areas and flowback tanks to ensure any spills of wastewater or chemicals at the well pad do not migrate into water supplies. - Stormwater Control: New permit process requiring strict stormwater control measures to prevent stormwater from contaminating water resources. - Regulating Water Withdrawals: - New Legislation: Pursuant to the Governor's signing of DEC's Water Withdrawal legislation, which the State Legislature recently passed, a special permit will be required to withdraw large volumes of water for industrial and commercial purposes to ensure there are not adverse impacts. - Permit Condition: All withdrawals from surface water bodies will be subject to limits to prevent impacts upon ecosystems and other water quantity requirements. Identification of the water source an applicant intends to use will be required and an annual report must be issued on the aggregate amount of water it has withdrawn or purchased. Properly Handling Flowback Water: Since the 2009 SGEIS, many drilling companies have started to recycle much of the flowback water, greatly reducing the need for disposal. - Flowback Water Disposal: Applicants must have DEC-approved plans for disposing of flowback water and production brine. - Drilling & Production Waste Tracking: DEC would institute a process to monitor disposal of flowback water, production brine, drill cuttings and other drilling waste streams that is similar to the handling of medical waste. - Water Treatment Facilities: Requires full analysis and approvals under existing state and federal water laws and regulations, which must be completed before a water treatment facility could accept flowback water. This would include a treatment capacity analysis for any publicly operated treatment works facility (POTW) and a contingency plan if the primary disposal for wastewater is a POTW. Taking Local Governments & Communities into Account: - Local Government Notification: DEC would notify local governments of each well permit application for high-volume fracturing. - Local Land Use & Zoning: Applicant must certify that a proposed activity is consistent with local land use and zoning laws. Failure to certify or a challenge by a locality would trigger additional DEC review before a permit could be issued. Identifying Fracturing Fluid Chemicals: - Chemical Identification: The 2011 SGEIS identifies 322 chemicals proposed for use in New York and includes health hazard information for each as identified by the NYS Department of Health. Applicants must fully disclose to DEC all products utilized in the high-volume fracturing process. In addition, applicants must agree to publicly disclose the names of the additives, subject to appropriate protections for proprietary information. - Chemical Alternatives: Operators will be required to evaluate using alternative additives that pose less potential risk. Protecting the Air: - Air Quality: Requires enhanced air pollution controls on engines used at well pads. DEC will monitor local and regional air quality at well pads and surrounding areas. - Greenhouse Gas Impact: Requires use of existing pipelines when available rather than flaring gas. - Private Forestland: Disturbing the surface of the land is strictly restricted in forests of 150 acres or more by requiring applicants to comply with best management practices. - Private Grasslands: Disturbing the surface of the land is strictly restricted in grasslands of 30 acres or more by requiring applicants to comply with best management practices. Making Sure We Get It Right - Community Impacts Still Under Study: The 2009 SGEIS did not adequately consider the community and socioeconomic impacts of high-volume fracturing. To address this deficiency, DEC has engaged independent consultants to thoroughly research these types of effects. Specifically, researchers are examining both baseline data and the potential effects of development in the areas of: - Socioeconomic conditions including positive and negative impacts; - Transportation infrastructure, current road use and the impacts of increased traffic; and - Visual and noise impacts. DEC expects the research to be completed by July 31, 2011. This research will be considered and reflected in the final draft of the report. Appointment of Advisory Panel to Develop Implementation Plan: Upon final adoption of the permitting standards, the Department will implement a system of oversight, monitoring and enforcement. The successful implementation of high-volume fracturing policy will also require close consultation with local governments and communities. Commissioner Martens will announce the formation of the High-Volume Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel, which will be composed of outside environmental and industry experts, and local government representatives. The Panel will be charged with developing recommendations for: - funding to ensure the proper oversight, monitoring and enforcement of mitigation measures, including both state and county agencies responsible for drilling activities and reviewing water sampling data; - measures to minimize socioeconomic and other impacts on local governments and communities; - a fee structure for drilling development; and - a mechanism for the funding of infrastructure improvements. The complete 2011 SGEIS will be available on DEC's website on July 8.

For Release: Thursday, June 30, 2011 New Recommendations Issued in Hydraulic Fracturing Review - In Reversal of 2009 Report, High-Volume Fracturing Would be Prohibited in NYC and Syracuse Watersheds - Drilling Banned Within All Primary Aquifers and on State-Owned Land Including State Forest and Wildlife Management Areas - Drilling Permitted on Other Private Land with Rigorous and Effective Protect

Council & Democracy | Children & Families | Culture & Heritage | Economy & Enterprise | Environment & Planning | Jobs & Careers | Education and Learning | People & Community | Safety & Emergencies | Social Care & Health | Transport & Roads | Devon Car Free Day Saturday 22nd September is International Car Free Day and in the week leading up to it there are things happening around the county. |Saturday 15 September||Newton Abbot Passmore Edwards Centre||10am to 3pm| |Sunday 16 September||Exmouth Sea Front, opp. Exmouth Pavilions||1.30pm to 3.30pm| |Thursday 20 September||Morrisons, Totnes||10am to 2pm| |Thursday 20 September||Totnes High Street||11.30am to 5pm| |Saturday 22 September||Guildhall Shopping Centre, Exeter||10am to 4pm| If you would like personalised journey planning or advice on your sustainable travel options please visit the Travel Devon Roadshow. We can offer loads of great free support to enable you to leave the car at home or car share including: - Free cycle confidence sessions - Public transport taster tickets - Personalised journey plans - Maps and timetables - Advice on any aspect of sustainable travel. We want to hear about your journeys! Running, scooting, skating. skipping, canoeing, hopping to work or school on Car Free Day? Travel Devon want to know. Email [email protected] or telephone 01392 222828.

Council & Democracy | Children & Families | Culture & Heritage | Economy & Enterprise | Environment & Planning | Jobs & Careers | Education and Learning | People & Community | Safety & Emergencies | Social Care & Health | Transport & Roads | Devon Car Free Day Saturday 22nd September is International Car Free Day and in the week leading up to it there are things happening around the county. |Satur

Title I, School Improvement Grants The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes a $3 billion appropriation for Title I School Improvement grants which will be made available to states beginning in fall 2009. Virginia expects to receive $47.9 million of this appropriation and will award sub-grants to school divisions, giving priority to divisions with the lowest-achieving schools that demonstrate: - The greatest need for such funds; and - Strongest commitment to ensuring that such funds are used to provide adequate resources to enable the lowest-achieving schools to meet the goals under school and division improvement, corrective action and restructuring plans. Additional information on Title I School Improvement grants will be posted when provided by USED. Uses of Funds - July 30, 2009 (Office of the Governor) – Executive Order 85 (PDF) requires employers to post recruitment notices for positions fully or partially funded by ARRA on the Virginia Workforce Connection.

Title I, School Improvement Grants The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes a $3 billion appropriation for Title I School Improvement grants which will be made available to states beginning in fall 2009. Virginia expects to receive $47.9 million of this appropriation and will award sub-grants to school divisions, giving priority to divisions with the lowest-achieving schools that

Total energy consumption - outlook from EEA Published (reviewed and quality assured) Justification for indicator selection Total energy consumption disaggregated by fuel type is a driving force indicator describing the development of energy sources and the corresponding levels of consumption. The environmental impact of each fuel is very specific. The consumption of fossil fuels (such as crude oil, oil products, hard coal, lignite and natural and derived gas) provides a proxy indicator of resource depletion, CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution levels (e.g. SO2 and NOX). The degree of the environmental impact depends on the relative share of different fossil fuels and the extent to which pollution abatement measures are used. Natural gas, for instance, has approximately 40 % less carbon content than coal and 25 % less carbon content than oil and contains only marginal quantities of sulphur. The level of nuclear energy consumption provides an indication of the trends in the amount of nuclear waste generated and of the risks associated with radioactive leaks and accidents. Increasing consumption of nuclear energy at the expense of fossil fuels would on the other hand contribute to reductions in CO2 emissions. Renewable energy consumption is a measure of the contribution from technologies that are more environmentally benign, as they produce no (or very little) net CO2 and usually significantly lower levels of other pollutants. Renewable energy can, however, have impacts on landscapes and ecosystems. The incineration of municipal waste is generally made up of both renewable and non-renewable material and may also generate local air pollution. However, emissions from the incineration of waste are subject to stringent regulations including tight controls on quantities of cadmium, mercury and other such substances. Similarly, the inclusion of both large and small-scale hydropower provides only a broad indicator of environmentally benign energy supply. While small-scale hydro schemes generally have little environmental impact, large-scale hydro can have major adverse impacts (flooding, impact on ecosystems, water levels, requirements for population resettlement). Definition: Total energy consumption is made up of production plus imports, minus exports, minus international marine bunkers plus/minus stock changes. It is also called Total primary energy supply or Gross inland energy consumption and represents the quantity of all energy necessary to satisfy inland consumption. Model used: PRIMES Ownership: European Environment Agency Temporal coverage: 1990 - 2030 Geographical coverage: EU 15 : Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom; EU 12: Bulgaria Cyprus, Czech republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia The indicator is provided in relative (Mtoe) and absolute ways (share in percentage). Total Energy consumption is measured in million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe). Therefore, the share of each fuel in total energy consumption is measured in absolute value, but presented in the form of a percentage. The sum of all fuel-shares equals 100 %. Policy context and targets Global policy context The major documents that relate to trends of the total energy consumption (supply) at the global level were developed and presented during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (WSSD,2002) in Agenda 21. WSSD, 2002 aims to achieve a sustainable energy future, including diversified energy sources using cleaner technologies. Moreover, there is a number of sub-negotiations and declarations concerning more sustainable ratio in balance between a global energy supply and consumption of different energy types. Pan-European policy context The recent pan-european policies concerning different aspects of total energy consumption have been developed under different intenational fora. The Committee on Sustainable Energy seeks to reform energy prices and subsidies and ways how to carry out it to meet more sustainable energy supply, production and consumption in the region (UNECE Guidelines). Kiev Declaration "Environment for Europe" (2003) aims at supporting further efforts to promote renewable energy supply to meet environmental objectives. EU policy context Total energy consumption disaggregated by fuel type provides an indication of the extent of environmental pressure caused (or at risk of being caused) by energy production and consumption. The relative shares of fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewable energies together with the total amount of energy consumption are valuable in determining the overall environmental burden of energy consumption in the EU. Trends in the share of these fuels will be one of the major determinants of whether the EU meets its target of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as agreed in 1997 under the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The overall Kyoto target for the pre-2004 EU-15 Member States requires a 8% reduction by 2008-2012 from baseyear levels (1990 for most greenhouse gases), while most new Member States have individual targets under the Kyoto Protocol. On 23 January 2008 the European Commission adopted the 'Climate Action and Renewable Energy' package. The Package sets a number of targets for EU member states with the ambition to achieve the goal of limiting the rise in global average temperature to 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times including: GHG reduction of 20% compared to 1990 by 2020. (under a satisfactory global climate agreement this could be scaled up to a 30% reduction); 20% reduction in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency, an increase in renewable energy's share to 20% and a 10% share for sustainably produced biofuels and other renewable fuels in transport. With these goals in mind, each Member State will by June 30th 2010 submit a National Renewable Energy Action Plan to the Commission. EECCA policy context The main policy illustrating regional objectives of EECCA countries is. One of the main goals is "to contribute to improving environmental conditions and to implement the WSSD Implementation Plan in EECCA countries" regarding energy issues as well as Kiev Declaration's energy performance tasks. - Implement energy strategies for Sustainable Development, including diversified energy sources using cleaner technologies (WSSD) - Increase the share of renewable sources...to meet environmental objectives ( ) - Balancing sustainable development, competitiveness, security of supply ( ) - By 2010: 22.1% of electricity and 12% of all energy from renewables (6thEAP and Green Paper on Energy) - 20% replacment of vehicle fuels with alternative fuels by 2020 (A European partnership for the sustainable hydrogen economy) - Diversifying energy supplies, including via new infrastructure (e. g. pipelines) (Green Paper on Energy) - Replace 20% oil with substitute fuels by 2020 (EU) - Trans-European Energy networks, also beyond EU (Green Paper on Energy) - Energy infrastructure improvements for sustainability by 2025 (EECCA Strategy) - Support regional cooperation for energy trade (EECCA Strategy) Related policy documents COM(97) 599 final. Energy for the future. Energy for the future: Renewable sources of energy. White Paper for a Community strategy and action plan. COM(97) 599 final. - COM(2005) 265 final. Green paper on energy efficiency or doing more with less. European Commission. DG TREN Energy sources and demand management legislation European Commission's "energy" website Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; adopted at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 Key policy question Are we switching to less polluting fuels to meet our energy consumption? Methodology for indicator calculation The indicator of the Total energy consumption (gross inland consumption) is produced using the PRIMES model. The model covers the horizon from 1990 to 2030 with 5 years periods. A fundamental assumption in PRIMES is that producers and consumers both respond to changes in prices. Overview of the PRIMES Model PRIMES is a partial equilibrium model for the European Union energy system developed by, and maintained at, The National Technical University of Athens, E3M-Laboratory. The most recent version of the model used in the calculations covers each of the EU Member States, EU candidate countries and Neighbouring countries, uses Eurostat as the main data source, and is updated with 2000 as the base year. The PRIMES model is the result of collaborative research under a series of projects supported by the Joule programme of the Directorate General for Research of the European Commission. The model determines the equilibrium by finding the prices of each energy form such that the quantity producers find best to supply match the quantity consumers wish to use. The equilibrium is static (within each time period) but repeated in a time-forward path, under dynamic relationships. The model is behavioural but also represents in an explicit and detailed way the available energy demand and supply technologies and pollution abatement technologies. It reflects considerations about market economics, industry structure, energy/environmental policies and regulation. These are conceived so as to influence the market behaviour of energy system agents. The modular structure of PRIMES reflects a distribution of decision-making among agents that decide individually about their supply, demand, combined supply and demand, and prices. Then the market-integrating part of PRIMES simulates market clearing. PRIMES is a general purpose model. It conceived for forecasting, scenario construction and policy impact analysis. It covers a medium to long-term horizon. It is modular and allows either for a unified model use or for partial use of modules to support specific energy studies. Methodology for gap filling No methodology for gap filling has been specified. Probably this info has been added together with indicator calculation. EEA data references - No datasets have been specified here. External data references - Output data from PRIMES - Gross inland energy consumption - output from PRIMES model - Input data to PRIMES - macro-economic data: demographics, antional accounts, sectoral activity and income variables - output from EUROSTAT data - Input data to PRIMES model - structure of energy consumtpion and structure of activity variables - output from EUROSTAT data Data sources in latest figures No uncertainty has been specified Data sets uncertainty No uncertainty has been specified No uncertainty has been specified Short term work Work specified here requires to be completed within 1 year from now. Long term work Work specified here will require more than 1 year (from now) to be completed. Responsibility and ownership EEA Contact InfoAnita Pirc Velkavrh Typology: Performance indicator (Type B – Does it matter?)

Total energy consumption - outlook from EEA Published (reviewed and quality assured) Justification for indicator selection Total energy consumption disaggregated by fuel type is a driving force indicator describing the development of energy sources and the corresponding levels of consumption. The environmental impact of each fuel is very specific. The consumption of fossil fuels (such as crude oil

For Immediate Release: March 11, 2009 Media Contact: Susanne Garfield - 916-654-4989 Hot Fuels Report Findings Adopted by California Energy Commission SACRAMENTO - The California Energy Commission today adopted a report examining the consumer costs and benefits of installing automatic temperature control (ATC) devices at retail service stations. The legislatively-mandated AB 868 Fuel Delivery Temperature Committee Report finds that installing ATCs would provide a more exact measurement of gasoline but at a slightly higher cost. Combined, the net effect of ATC would be a small cost, due to the cost of installing and maintaining the ATC devices. The report; however, noted that some consumers might be willing to pay this additional cost to increase the accuracy and consistency of fuel dispensers. The report and its recommendations will be sent to the Legislature. "The impact of temperature on gasoline deliveries has been debated nationally for years. Potentially receiving less gasoline than they're paying for can be a real concern for California consumers," commented Chairman Karen Douglas. 'This report clarifies the issue, finding that the cost to consumers of fuel temperature variations is less significant than some have feared.' The report, based on Energy Commission staff analysis with input from the California Department of Food and Agriculture and California Air Resources Board, finds that gasoline sold in California averages 70 degrees Fahrenheit, while the standard fuel reference temperature is 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Like all liquids, fuel expands and contracts with temperature change, so warmer fuel contains less energy per gallon than colder fuel. The difference in energy content between 60 degree and 70 degree fuel is about two-thirds of one percent. The report also finds that if ATC devices were required in California, retail stations would dispense slightly larger gallons of fuel, but would most likely increase per-gallon prices somewhat to compensate for the change. The real benefit to consumers would be in situations that the fuel temperature differs between adjacent fueling stations. This benefit was quantified as part of the study's estimate of price transparency, which was found to be $258,000 statewide. By comparison, the cost of installing ATC devices on all fuel pumps would total between $104 million - $127 million statewide for the first year, and recurring annual costs for maintenance and inspections are estimated at $7 million - $20 million. If all of these costs were passed through to consumers, the price of fuel would increase by between eight hundredths (8/100) and 18 hundredths (18/100) of a cent per gallon over 10 - 15 years. Although the report concludes that installing ATC devices would result in a net cost for consumers, the Energy Commission recommends that the Legislature also consider whether consumers would be willing to pay a small additional cost to increase the accuracy and consistency of fuel measurement. In addition, the report notes that a phase-in of ATC devices when pumps are replaced or upgraded would reduce the cost, although the costs would still exceed the quantified benefits. The final adopted report will soon be available online at: # # #

For Immediate Release: March 11, 2009 Media Contact: Susanne Garfield - 916-654-4989 Hot Fuels Report Findings Adopted by California Energy Commission SACRAMENTO - The California Energy Commission today adopted a report examining the consumer costs and benefits of installing automatic temperature control (ATC) devices at retail service stations. The legislatively-mandated AB 868 Fuel Delivery Temp

Nomination to list an ecological community as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) - Draft Conservation Advice (including listing advice) (PDF - 184 KB) | Draft Conservation Advice (including listing advice) (Word - 94 KB) - Nomination - Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh (PDF - 529 KB) | (Word - 529 KB) About the nomination A public nomination was received to list Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh as an 'Endangered' ecological community under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The nomination was accepted by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) and placed on the 2010 Finalised Priority Assessment List (FPAL) by the Commonwealth Environment Minister. Guided by an expert technical workshop held in May 2012, an assessment for eligibility and listing has progressed in the form of draft Description and Threats sections of the Conservation Advice. The assessment is due for completion by 30 June 2013. Invitation to comment It is a requirement under the EPBC Act to conduct a period of public consultation as part of the assessment process. Therefore, the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (the Department), on behalf of the Committee, is seeking comments on the above FPAL item under assessment. The Department and Committee welcomes the views of experts, stakeholders and the general public on the draft sections of the Conservation Advice (incorporating description and threats) for the ecological community, and the proposal to list it as Endangered under the EPBC Act. The original nomination has been provided for information and includes an assessment by the nominator against listing criteria. However, for comments on the description and threats please only refer to the draft sections of the Conservation Advice. Importantly, all comments received will be forwarded to both the Committee and the Minister. Information in the assessment, as well as other information received by the Department, will be used by the Committee to determine the threatened status and advise the Minister for Environment on whether to amend the list of threatened ecological communities under the EPBC Act. The public comment period closes on 28 March 2013. If you wish to comment, please send your comments quoting the ecological community name to: Ecological Community Section Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Fax: (02) 6274 2214

Nomination to list an ecological community as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) - Draft Conservation Advice (including listing advice) (PDF - 184 KB) | Draft Conservation Advice (including listing advice) (Word - 94 KB) - Nomination - Subtropical and Temperate Coastal Saltmarsh (PDF - 529 KB) | (Word - 529 KB) About the nomination A publi

Research Project Search Sustainability Projects Funded at 41 Universities (Washington, D.C.-Nov. 30, 2005) EPA today awarded $410,000 to 41 student teams for the 2005-2006 academic year to research and develop sustainable designs through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition. Sustainable development maintains economic growth while protecting the natural systems of the planet, thus preserving natural resources for future generations. The P3 student design competition was launched in January 2004, and several 2004 winners' designs have been successfully implemented into business practices. "In an era of rising energy costs, the results of the first year of the P3 competition should make people sit up and take notice! They not only demonstrated that companies can reduce their bottom line by sustainable practices, but also the marketability of new conservation tools," said George Gray, assistant administrator for the Office of Research and Development. "In last year's competition, four student projects became new businesses with clients, two of them marketing energy monitoring systems. Other designs explored biodiesel production, solar thermal heating systems, green roofs, and stormwater management. We look forward to seeing the results of the competition for the 2005-2006 awards announced today." Among the winner's for 2004, the Oberlin College team designed an energy and water use monitoring system for colleges with easy-to-read, real-time data on energy at the dormitory level, allowing the school to reduce energy costs by pinpointing areas of overuse. This project is now a business whose clients include Duke University and Sidwell Friends School in Washington, D.C. University of Michigan students developed a computer-based tool for homeowners to monitor their resource consumption. Real-time costs and environmental impacts show how conservation actions are reflected in dollars saved and emissions reduced. The plan will be used by the Ann Arbor Planning Commission in a new urban redevelopment project. Many businesses have reduced costs by sustainable practices, such as using less toxic substances in manufacturing and processing. The less hazardous waste produced, the less time and resources a business has to spend on clean-up. By preserving ecosystems, they protect the sources of product materials. The National Academies, advisors to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine, will convene a panel to evaluate and recommend the award winners who will be chosen by the EPA. The next P3 Award Competition will be held on May 9 and 10, 2006, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. More information about the P3 winners mentioned above and their projects can be found at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/recipients.display/rfa_id/399/records_per_page/all. EPA will soon be requesting applications for the 2006 P3 National Student Design Competition for Sustainability. For information about eligibility criteria and how to apply, and to learn more about the P3 program, visit the P3 Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/p3.

Research Project Search Sustainability Projects Funded at 41 Universities (Washington, D.C.-Nov. 30, 2005) EPA today awarded $410,000 to 41 student teams for the 2005-2006 academic year to research and develop sustainable designs through the People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) competition. Sustainable development maintains economic growth while protecting the natural systems of the planet, thus

A few basic actions can protect children from secondhand smoke - Choose not to smoke in your home and car and do not allow family and visitors to do so. Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable to the health risks from secondhand smoke. - Do not allow childcare providers or others who work in your home to smoke. - Until you can quit, choose to smoke outside. Moving to another room or opening a window is not enough to protect your children. Secondhand Smoke Can Make Children Suffer Serious Health Risks Breathing secondhand smoke can be harmful to children's health including asthma, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), bronchitis and pneumonia and ear infections. Children's exposure to secondhand smoke is responsible for: - increases in the number of asthma attacks and severity of symptoms in 200,000 to 1 million children with asthma; - between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections (for children under 18 months of age); and, - respiratory tract infections resulting in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations each EPA and HHS Partnering to Promote Smoke-free Homes for Head Start Families EPA and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Head Start Bureau are working together to improve the quality of life for nearly a million Head Start children by conducting nationwide secondhand smoke and asthma outreach. Read more about the EPA and HHS partnership and what you can do as a Head Start teacher, staff member or parent to help create Care for their Air: Promoting Smoke-free Homes for Head Start Families. The developing lungs of young children are severely affected by exposure to secondhand smoke for several reasons including that children are still developing physically, have higher breathing rates than adults, and have little control over their indoor environments. Children receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking mothers, run the greatest risk of damaging health effects. Join the millions of people who are protecting their children from secondhand smoke You can become a child's hero by keeping a smoke-free home and car. Secondhand smoke can cause children to suffer bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and more severe asthma attacks. Read More About Health Effects Get this resource! Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and the Health of Your Family Brochure (Bilingual) Download a copy of this two-sided brochure (PDF, 2 pp, 1.55 M, about PDF). Order this brochure (EPA 402/F/09/004, September 2009). Find out how to order this and other publications from EPA.

A few basic actions can protect children from secondhand smoke - Choose not to smoke in your home and car and do not allow family and visitors to do so. Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable to the health risks from secondhand smoke. - Do not allow childcare providers or others who work in your home to smoke. - Until you can quit, choose to smoke outside. Moving to another room or opening

Space exposure experiments en route for Space Station A suite of ESA experiments, some of which could help understand how life originated on Earth, is heading for the International Space Station on board the Russian Progress vehicle which launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 13:38 CET (12:38 UT) today. The nine experiments are part of the Expose-R payload, which will be installed on the outside of the Russian segment of International Space Station (ISS) during a spacewalk on 19 December. Expose-R is equipped with three trays, which are loaded with a variety of biological samples including plant seeds and spores of bacteria, fungi and ferns, which will be exposed to the harsh space environment for about one and a half years. Away from the protective environment of Earth, the organisms will be exposed to solar UV, vacuum, cosmic rays and perpetual temperature variations as the Station continuously passes between areas of direct sunlight and the cold darkness of Earth's shadow. Expose-R will accompany Expose-E, a similar, complementary set of trays filled with terrestrial organisms which is already installed on the outside of the European Columbus laboratory as one of the nine payloads of the European Technology Exposure Facility (EuTEF). The Expose-R and -E experiments are part of ESA’s research in astrobiology - the study of the origin, evolution and distribution of life in the Universe. Some Expose experiments investigate to what extent particular terrestrial organisms are able cope with extra-terrestrial environmental conditions. Other Expose experiments test how organic molecules react when subjected for a prolonged period of time to unfiltered solar light (chemical evolution). "With these experiments we are trying to understand whether life might have originated in space and arrived later on Earth. One condition to be fulfilled would be that life is able to survive the harsh conditions of space,” explained Martin Zell, Head of ESA’s ISS Utilisation Department. At the end of the exposure period, the Expose-R trays will be retrieved from their location outside the Station and returned to Earth with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. From the landing site in Kazakhstan the trays will be returned via Moscow to the Microgravity User Support Centre (MUSC) in Cologne, Germany. From there the samples will be distributed to the scientists for further analysis in the laboratory. Also on board the Progress vehicle are a set of experiment containers which will be used next year in the Columbus laboratory's Biolab facility for a second run of ESA’s WAICO experiment. WAICO, short for Waving and Coiling of Arabidopsis Roots at Different g-levels, looks at the growth of two types of Arabidopsis seed. The results of this experiment will contribute to a better understanding of plant growth processes and could help to increase the efficiency of agricultural processes on Earth. WAICO was the first experiment ever performed in the Columbus laboratory. The WAICO-1 samples were returned to Earth with Space Shuttle flight STS-123 in March 2008. Expose-E, Expose-R and WAICO are part of the European Programme for Life and Physical Sciences (ELIPS). The Progress spacecraft, which will also deliver vital supplies to the ISS including food, water and fuel, is set to dock with the orbital outpost at 13:23 CET (12:23 UT) on 30 November 2008.

Space exposure experiments en route for Space Station A suite of ESA experiments, some of which could help understand how life originated on Earth, is heading for the International Space Station on board the Russian Progress vehicle which launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 13:38 CET (12:38 UT) today. The nine experiments are part of the Expose-R payload, which will be installed on

There is no class B airspace in Alaska, and Anchorage has the only class C airspace in the state. Most of Alaska has few air traffic control towers (ATCTs). There are 4 in the Anchorage area, 3 in the Fairbanks area, and another 6 scattered out across the rest of the state for a total of 13 statewide. That's not a lot for a state this big. Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) airspace covers the entire state of Alaska. Beyond that, they also have quite a bit of oceanic airspace over international waters surrounding Alaska. There are a lot of special procedures for various locations in Alaska published in the back sections of the Alaska Supplement. Some are recommended and some are mandatory. For example, 14 CFR Part 93 contains Special Air Traffic Rules for both Anchorage and Ketchikan, which is part of the information included in the Supplement. Anyone planning flight into Alaska should study this resource carefully and it is available free online, although you should also have a paper copy with you in the aircraft. Click the link to download portions of the Alaska Supplement. Page Last Modified: 03/23/13 19:01 EDT This page can be viewed online at: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/fs/alaskan/alaska/fai/atc/

There is no class B airspace in Alaska, and Anchorage has the only class C airspace in the state. Most of Alaska has few air traffic control towers (ATCTs). There are 4 in the Anchorage area, 3 in the Fairbanks area, and another 6 scattered out across the rest of the state for a total of 13 statewide. That's not a lot for a state this big. Anchorage Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) airspac

|FHWA > Engineering > Pavements > Publications| Primary Topic: Pavement Construction Description: This study was initiated to evaluate the effectiveness and limitation of MIT Scan-2, especially as a tool for monitoring dowel placement accuracy during construction. FHWA Publication Number: FHWA-IF-06-006 Publication Year: 2005 PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

|FHWA > Engineering > Pavements > Publications| Primary Topic: Pavement Construction Description: This study was initiated to evaluate the effectiveness and limitation of MIT Scan-2, especially as a tool for monitoring dowel placement accuracy during construction. FHWA Publication Number: FHWA-IF-06-006 Publication Year: 2005 PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

TIPP 2011 to discuss new tech breaking physics barriers The next installment of a new cross-disciplinary conference dedicated to addressing the technological needs of future physics experiments will take place June 9-14. Technology and Instrumentation in Particle Physics 2011 (TIPP 2011) is the second in a new series of international conferences on detectors and instrumentation. Registration for the conference, which is sponsored in part by Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, remains open until May 31. Anyone wanting to attend the conference must register. “This isn’t your typical science conference,” said Fermilab scientist and conference co-organizer Ted Liu. “This conference is not for polished beauty contest type talks. We’d like to hear about current experiment limitations and explore innovative solutions in instrumentation that will break these barriers to further our scientific exploration.” The conference will provide a venue for scientists and engineers from scientific and industrial communities around the world to discuss detector development and instrumentation for particle physics, astrophysics and closely related fields. The conference will also offer opportunities for young scientists to engage in shaping the future of these fields. “I really believe that the conference topics will become more and more important,” said Argonne scientist and conference co-organizer Marcel Demarteau. “We need new technologies to probe the physics questions of the coming decade and we hope the conference will stimulate the participants to challenge the barriers of current technologies.” The conference program will feature a keynote speech at 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 9, by Bill Brinkman, the director of DOE’s Office of Science, titled “Innovation: How it happens” and a talk titled “Extremes of Electronics” by Kerry Bernstein, a research staff member at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center. Former Congressman Bill Foster will also give a talk on June 14. A free public lecture by LHC Project Leader Lyn Evans titled “Marvel of Technology: the LHC, machine and experiments,” will take place from 3 – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday June 12. All conference events will take place at the Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Chicago. For the full program or to register visit the conference website. — Rhianna Wisniewski

TIPP 2011 to discuss new tech breaking physics barriers The next installment of a new cross-disciplinary conference dedicated to addressing the technological needs of future physics experiments will take place June 9-14. Technology and Instrumentation in Particle Physics 2011 (TIPP 2011) is the second in a new series of international conferences on detectors and instrumentation. Registration for t

Federal Transit Administration Celebrates 42nd Earth Day by Bringing Cleaner, Greener Transportation Choices to America Contact: Angela Gates WASHINGTON—The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today celebrated Earth Day by unveiling a new environmental benefits website highlighting the Obama Administration’s strong commitment to investing in affordable, innovative and sustainable public transit alternatives that reduce the nation’s carbon footprint and help secure an independent energy future. "Earth Day reminds us all that we owe it to future generations to safeguard our planet and use its resources wisely, so that we may continue to grow our economy and create good jobs in an environmentally responsible way,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "President Obama's all-of-the-above energy strategy will help us reduce our dependence on oil and tap America’s entrepreneurial spirit to create innovative, alternative sources of energy to keep us moving." Among its features, FTA’s new website shows how transit reduces emissions and provides a calculator that tells visitors how much carbon dioxide they would save by riding transit. It showcases investments such as state-of-the-art clean-fuel technologies and highlights progress providing access to affordable housing near transit and improving transportation in national parks. Visitors to the site can pick up tips for reducing their carbon footprint, review the latest research linking transit and personal health, and click on a state to see a selection of new and improved transit services available. As a leader in green transportation, FTA has invested $366 million over the last three years to: - Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, - Put new, clean fuel transit vehicles on the street, - Spur the transit industry to reduce costs and increase efficiencies through smart energy policies, and - Create green jobs for the 21st century. "As transit ridership reaches record-high levels, we need to find new ways to put clean and green buses, trains, and streetcars into service and maintain what we already have," said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff. “The Obama Administration supports a made-in-America approach to bringing better, sustainable transportation choices to our communities, so people can keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets instead of spending it at the pump." FTA also participated today in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Earth Day Fair held at the department’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. The fair features booths and activities to showcase green transportation options and projects, including DOT’s green roof.

Federal Transit Administration Celebrates 42nd Earth Day by Bringing Cleaner, Greener Transportation Choices to America Contact: Angela Gates WASHINGTON—The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) today celebrated Earth Day by unveiling a new environmental benefits website highlighting the Obama Administration’s strong commitment to investing in affordable, innovative and sustainable public transit a

FeedbackWe want to hear from you about this new design! Please e-mail us with your feedback on the look and feel of this report. Since the 1960s, geostationary and polar-orbiting environmental satellites have been used by the United States to provide meteorological data for weather observation, research, and forecasting. NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) is responsible for managing the civilian operational geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite systems as two separate programs, called GOES and the Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites, respectively. Unlike polar-orbiting satellites, which constantly circle the earth in a relatively low polar orbit, geostationary satellites can maintain a constant view of the earth from a high orbit of about 22,300 miles in space. NOAA operates GOES as a two-satellite system that is primarily focused on the United States (see fig. 1). These satellites are uniquely positioned to provide timely environmental data about the earth's atmosphere, surface, cloud cover, and the space environment to meteorologists and their audiences. They also observe the development of hazardous weather, such as hurricanes and severe thunderstorms, and track their movement and intensity to reduce or avoid major losses of property and life. Furthermore, the satellites' ability to provide broad, continuously updated coverage of atmospheric conditions over land and oceans is important to NOAA's weather forecasting operations. To provide continuous satellite coverage, NOAA acquires several satellites at a time as part of a series and launches new satellites every few years (see table 1). NOAA's policy is to have two operational satellites and one backup satellite in orbit at all times. |Series name||Procurement durationa||Satellites| |Original GOESb||1970-1987||1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7| |GOES I-M||1985-2001||8, 9, 10, 11, 12| |GOES-N||1998-2010||13, 14, 15, Qc| Five GOES satellites—GOES-11, GOES-12, GOES-13, GOES-14, and GOES-15—are currently in orbit. Both GOES-11 and GOES-13 are operational satellites, with GOES-11 covering the west and GOES-13 the east. GOES-14 is currently a backup for the other two satellites should they experience any degradation in service. The final satellite in the series, GOES-15, is undergoing a post-launch test period until October 2010, at which time it will also be put in on-orbit storage mode. GOES-12 is at the end of its service life, but is being used to provide coverage of South America. The GOES-R series is the next generation of satellites that NOAA is planning; the satellites are planned for launch beginning in 2015. Each of the operational geostationary satellites continuously transmits raw environmental data to NOAA ground stations. The data are processed at these ground stations and transmitted back to the satellite for broadcast to primary weather services and the global research community in the United States and abroad. Raw and processed data are also distributed to users via ground stations through other communication channels, such as dedicated private communication lines and the Internet. Figure 2 depicts a generic data relay pattern from the geostationary satellites to the ground stations and commercial terminals. Back to topOverview of the GOES-R Program NOAA plans for the GOES-R program to improve on the technology of prior series, in terms of both system and instrument improvements. The system improvements are expected to fulfill more demanding user requirements by updating the satellite data more often and providing satellite products to users more quickly. The instrument improvements are expected to significantly increase the clarity and precision of the observed environmental data. NOAA originally planned to acquire six different types of instruments. Furthermore, two of these instruments—the Advanced Baseline Imager and the Hyperspectral Environmental Suite—were considered to be the most critical because they would provide data for key weather products. Table 2 summarizes the originally planned instruments and their expected capabilities. |Advanced Baseline Imager||Expected to provide variable area imagery and radiometric information of the earth's surface, atmosphere, and cloud cover. Key features include |Hyperspectral Environmental Suitea||Expected to provide information about the earth's surface to aid in the prediction of weather and climate monitoring. Key features include |Geostationary Lightning Mapper||Expected to continuously monitor total lightning (in-cloud and cloud-to-ground) activity over the United States and adjacent oceans and to provide a more complete dataset than previously possible. Key features include |Magnetometer||Expected to provide information on the general level of geomagnetic activity, monitor current systems in space, and permit detection of magnetopause crossings, sudden storm commencements, and substorms.| |Space Environmental In-Situ Suite||Expected to provide information on space weather to aid in the prediction of particle precipitation, which causes disturbance and disruption of radio communications and navigation systems. Key features include |Solar Imaging Suiteb||Expected to provide coverage of the entire dynamic range of solar X-ray features, from coronal holes to X-class flares, as well as estimate the measure of temperature and emissions. Key features include However, in September 2006, NOAA decided to reduce the scope and technical complexity of the GOES-R program because of expectations that total costs, which were originally estimated to be $6.2 billion, could reach $11.4 billion. Specifically, NOAA reduced the minimum number of satellites from four to two, cancelled plans for developing the Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (which reduced the number of planned satellite products from 81 to 68), and divided the Solar Imaging Suite into two separate acquisitions. In light of the cancellation of the Hyperspectral Environmental Suite, NOAA decided to use the planned Advanced Baseline Imager to develop certain satellite data products that were originally to be produced by this instrument. The agency estimated that the revised program would cost $7 billion. Subsequently, NOAA made several other important decisions about the cost and scope of the GOES-R program. In May 2007, NOAA had an independent cost estimate completed for the GOES-R program. After reconciling the program office's cost estimate of $7 billion with the independent cost estimate of about $9 billion, the agency established a new program cost estimate of $7.67 billion. This was an increase of $670 million from the previous estimate. Further, in November 2007, to mitigate the risk that costs would rise, program officials decided to remove selected program requirements from the baseline program and treat them as contract options that could be exercised if funds allow. These requirements include the number of products to be distributed, the time to deliver the remaining products (product latency), and how often these products are updated with new satellite data (refresh rate). For example, program officials eliminated the requirement to develop and distribute 34 of the 68 envisioned products, including aircraft icing threat, turbulence, and visibility. Program officials included the restoration of the products, latency, and refresh rates as options in the ground system contract that could be acquired at a later time. Program officials later reduced the number of products that could be restored as a contract option (called option 2) from 34 to 31 because they determined that two products were no longer feasible and two others could be combined into a single product. See table 3 below for an overview of key changes to the GOES-R program. |Baseline program, as of August 2006||Revised program, as of September 2006||Current program| |Number of satellites||4||2||2| |Instruments||2 critical instruments: ||1 critical instrument: ||1 critical instrument: |Number of satellite products||81||68||34 baseline |Life-cycle cost estimate (in then year dollars)||$6.2 billion—$11.4 billion (through 2034)||$7 billion (through 2028)||$7.67 billion (through 2028)| Back to topAcquisition Strategy NOAA's original acquisition strategy was to award contracts for concept development of the GOES-R system to several vendors who would subsequently compete to be the single prime contractor responsible for overall system development and production. In keeping with this strategy, NOAA awarded contracts for concept development of the overall GOES-R system to three vendors in October 2005. However, in March 2007, NOAA revised its acquisition strategy for the development contract. In response to recommendations by independent advisors, the agency decided to separate the overall system development and production contract into two separate contracts—the spacecraft and ground system contracts. In addition, to reduce the risks associated with developing technically advanced instruments, NASA awarded contracts for concept development for five of the planned instruments. NASA subsequently awarded development contracts for five instruments and, upon completion and approval by NASA, these instruments will be provided to the prime contractor responsible for the spacecraft of the GOES-R program. NASA will then work with the spacecraft contractor to integrate and test these instruments. The sixth instrument, the Magnetometer, is to be developed as part of the spacecraft contract. Back to topProgram Office Structure NOAA is solely responsible for GOES-R program funding and overall mission success. However, since it relies on NASA's acquisition experience and technical expertise to help ensure the success of its programs, NOAA implemented an integrated program management structure with NASA for the GOES-R program (see fig. 3). NOAA also located the program office at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Within the program office, there are two project offices that manage key components of the GOES-R system. These are called the flight and ground system project offices. The Flight Project Office, managed by NASA, is responsible for awarding and managing the spacecraft contract and delivering flight-ready instruments to the spacecraft. The Ground System Project Office, managed by NOAA, oversees the Core Ground System contract and satellite data product development and distribution. Back to topPrior Report Noted Challenges with Instrument Development and Recommended Steps to Improve Management and Oversight In April 2009, we reported that a key instrument had experienced technical challenges that led to cost overruns and schedule delays. Specifically, the Advanced Baseline Imager experienced problems with the quality of components in the focal plane module, mirrors, and telescope. As of November 2008, the contractor had incurred a cost overrun of approximately $30 million and delayed $11 million worth of work. In addition, we found that the contractors for both the Advanced Baseline Imager and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper programs had not documented all of the reasons for cost and schedule variances in certain cost reports. At the time, we recommended that NOAA improve its ability to oversee contractor performance by ensuring that the reasons for cost and schedule variances are fully disclosed and documented. Over the past year, NOAA has improved its ability to oversee contractor performance by, for example, ensuring that the reasons for cost and schedule variances are fully documented in contractor monthly variance reports. In that same report, we also found that NOAA had delayed key GOES-R program milestones, including the launch of the first satellite, which was delayed from December 2014 to April 2015. Program officials attributed these delays to providing more stringent oversight before releasing the request for proposals for the spacecraft and ground system, additional time needed to evaluate the contract proposals, and funding reductions in fiscal year 2008. We reported that, as a result of these delays, NOAA may not be able to meet its policy of having a backup satellite in orbit at all times. Specifically, in 2015, NOAA expected to have two operational satellites in orbit, but it would not have a backup satellite in place until GOES-R is launched. As a result, any further delays in the launch of the first satellite in the GOES-R program would increase the risk of gaps in satellite coverage. Satellites in a series are identified by letters of the alphabet when they are on the ground and by numbers once they are in orbit. GAO, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Additional Action Needed to Incorporate Lessons Learned from Other Satellite Programs, GAO-06-1129T (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 29, 2006) and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Steps Remain in Incorporating Lessons Learned from Other Satellite Programs, GAO-06-993 (Washington, D.C.: Sept. 6, 2006). GAO, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Acquisition Has Increased Costs, Reduced Capabilities, and Delayed Schedules, GAO-09-596T (Washington, D.C.: Apr. 23, 2009); Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Acquisition Is Under Way, but Improvements Needed in Management and Oversight, GAO-09-323 (Washington, D.C.: Apr. 2, 2009); Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Further Actions Needed to Effectively Manage Risks, GAO-08-183T (Washington, D.C.: Oct. 23, 2007); and Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites: Progress Has Been Made, but Improvements Are Needed to Effectively Manage Risks, GAO-08-18 (Washington, D.C.: Oct. 23, 2007).

FeedbackWe want to hear from you about this new design! Please e-mail us with your feedback on the look and feel of this report. Since the 1960s, geostationary and polar-orbiting environmental satellites have been used by the United States to provide meteorological data for weather observation, research, and forecasting. NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDI

9 October 2007 Historic Scotland encourages visitors to get beastly at Stirling Castle. Come along and transform yourself into one of the weird and wonderful beasts of Stirling Castle. The outside of the Royal Palace is decorated with a whole menagerie of carved stone creatures from lions and wild boars through to mythical monsters and even a she devil with the tail of a scorpion. As part of the nationwide Big Draw, Historic Scotland, which cares for the Castle, has organised special mask-making sessions on 13 and 14 October 2007. Visitors will be invited to not only look at the carvings on the Palace but also use the animals and beasts from paintings and tapestries within the Castle to create their own beastly work of art. Sheena Garden, Historic Scotland Interpretation Manager, said: ‘It’s time to delve into the world of beastly myths and legends at Stirling Castle. We will be asking children to draw inspiration from the fascinating carvings and art within the Castle, but at the same time really let their imagination run wild when creating their masks. There will be nothing comforting about some of the scary creatures I’m sure will appear! It promises to be a really fun event for the whole family.’ Where the Wild Things Are mask-making event is on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 October at Stirling Castle. Sessions begin at 11.00am, noon, 2.00pm and 3.00pm. The event is free after Stirling Castle admission. During October, entry to all Historic Scotland properties including Stirling Castle is free for children during October. Families can also take part in the Cartoon Caper, searching for 10 historical cartoon characters hidden around the attraction. Notes for editors Stirling Castle is at the head of Stirling’s Old Town and off the M9. Stirling Castle admission: adult £8.50, concessions £6.50, children are free throughout October. Stirling Castle, with its splendid decorative stonework and mass of still complete buildings, is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Europe. It is also the royal residence that best represents the Stewart dynasty in Scotland. The Cartoon Caper is part of the Historic Scotland Kids Go Free campaign. Historic Scotland commissioned Scottish artist Alice Druitt to specially create the ten cartoon characters covering as many periods of history as possible. After completing the trail, budding cartoon detectives will win a special gift. Details will then be entered into a prizedraw to win a VIP trip to Edinburgh Castle, art session at Doodles Ceramic workshop, signed originals of the historic cartoon characters artwork by Alice Druitt and lots more art goodies. ‘Kids Go Free’ throughout October at Historic Scotland attractions listed below. Children must be under 16yrs and accompanied by a full paying adult (maximum of 6 children per paying adult). For further information and opening times, please visit www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/kidsgofree or text ‘KIDSFREE’ to 84118, or call 0131 668 8926. The Big Draw runs from 1 to 31 October 2007, with a special focus on Saturday 13 October. Throughout the country, over 1000 venues - including galleries, museums, science centres, heritage sites, libraries, community and shopping centres, colleges, schools and art clubs - will be hosting drawing activities suited to all levels of ability. Participants of all ages will be invited to come along to experiment with a variety of medium, including pencils, crayons, charcoal, sand and digital imagery. For further information on The Big Draw Campaign, visit www.campaignfordrawing.org. OCTOBER KIDS GO FREE PARTICIPATING ATTRACTIONS IN CENTRAL AND WEST REGION Argyll’s Lodging is Scotland’s most splendid and complete example of a 17th century townhouse. Situated on the upper approaches to Stirling Castle, its fine architecture marks it out as a property intended for a great nobleman serving the royal court. Location: In Stirling’s historic old town just below Stirling Castle off the M9. Contact: Tel 01786 431319 Dramatically situated above Dollar Glen, is the forbidding-looking 15th century fortress, Castle Campbell. The castle was the lowland stronghold of the senior branch of the powerful Campbell clan who were seldom far from the major political and religious events of 15th, 16th and 17th century Scotland. Summer café (home baking). Location: 1.5 Km north of the A91, East of Stirling. Contact: Tel 01259 742408 Built for the Regent Albany, Doune Castle is a magnificent late 14th century courtyard castle. Its most striking feature is the 100ft high gatehouse which includes the splendid Lord's Hall with its musicians' gallery, double fireplace and carved oak screen. Location: In Doune, 16km north west of Stirling off the A84. Contact: Tel 01786 841742 DUNSTAFFNAGE CASTLE AND CHAPEL Built before 1275 on a huge rock overlooking the Firth of Lorn, Dunstaffnage was the mighty stronghold of the MacDougalls. The castle, with its huge curtain wall, was captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309 and remained in royal possession for some years. Dunstaffnage became the temporary prison of Flora MacDonald in 1746. Location: Near Dunbeg 5km north of Oban off the A85. Contact: Tel 01631 562465 Set on an island in the Lake of Menteith, Inchmahome is an idyllically-situated Augustinian monastery dating from 1238. Much of the 13th century building remains. There is a wide range of plant and wildlife on the island. Location: On an island in the Lake of Menteith. Reached by ferry from Port of Menteith 13km south of Callander off the A81. Contact: Tel 01877 385294 IONA ABBEY AND NUNNERY One of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites, Iona Abbey was founded by St Columba and his Irish followers in AD 563. A celebrated focus for Christian pilgrimage, Iona retains its spiritual atmosphere and remains an enduring symbol of worship. Iona’s historical and religious attractions include the abbey church and cloisters, St Columba’s shrine, the site of St Columba’s writing cell, and a superb collection of over 180 medieval carved stones and crosses. In the Abbey graveyard, many early Scottish kings and chiefs, as well as kings from Ireland, Norway and France are buried, and nearby are the remains of the 13th century nunnery. Location: On the Island of Iona, public ferry from Fionnphort, Mull. Contact: Tel 01681 700512 One of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture, Stirling Castle commands the countryside for many miles around. It towers over some of the most important battlefields of Scotland’s past including Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English in 1297, and Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314. Location: At the head of Stirling's historic old town off the M9. Contact: Tel 01786 450000 *Please note: Bonawe Historic Iron Furnace will be closed from 1 October 2007-31 March 2008

9 October 2007 Historic Scotland encourages visitors to get beastly at Stirling Castle. Come along and transform yourself into one of the weird and wonderful beasts of Stirling Castle. The outside of the Royal Palace is decorated with a whole menagerie of carved stone creatures from lions and wild boars through to mythical monsters and even a she devil with the tail of a scorpion. As part of the n

NSW Industrial Relations (NSW IR) works with employers and employees to achieve fair, equitable and productive workplaces. NSW IR supports the NSW Government as a participant in the national workplace relations system, by monitoring and advising on workplace relations developments and initiatives. NSWIR works in partnership with the (Commonwealth) Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure New South Wales private sector businesses comply with their responsibilities under the national workplace relations system, as well as administering state laws regulating shop trading hours, public holidays and long service leave. NSWIR conducts compliance activities across the State in order to educate the community about New South Wales industrial relations laws as well as educating employers and employees on the Fair Work system. These compliance activities are proving to be an effective and efficient way to assist large numbers of NSW employers and employees to understand their employment rights and obligations. Employers and employees have certain obligations or duties to each other under common law, statutes and their accompanying regulations. NSW Industrial Relations, part of the NSW Treasury, administers the following legislation regulating employment matters:

NSW Industrial Relations (NSW IR) works with employers and employees to achieve fair, equitable and productive workplaces. NSW IR supports the NSW Government as a participant in the national workplace relations system, by monitoring and advising on workplace relations developments and initiatives. NSWIR works in partnership with the (Commonwealth) Fair Work Ombudsman to ensure New South Wales priv

Hackers also take advantage of unsecured Web browsers (like InternetG Explorer or Netscape) and operating system software (like Windows or Linux). Lessen your risk by changing the settings in your browser or operating system and increasing your online security. Check the "Tools" or "Options" menus for built-in security features. If you need help understanding your choices, use your "Help" function. Your operating system also may offer free software patchesG that close holes in the system that hackers could exploit. In fact, some common operating systems can be set to automatically retrieve and install patches for you.

Hackers also take advantage of unsecured Web browsers (like InternetG Explorer or Netscape) and operating system software (like Windows or Linux). Lessen your risk by changing the settings in your browser or operating system and increasing your online security. Check the "Tools" or "Options" menus for built-in security features. If you need help understanding your choices, use your "Help" function

Review of the Terrorist Screening Center (Redacted for Public Release) Audit Report 05-27 Office of the Inspector General On September 16, 2003, the President signed Homeland Security Presidential Directive-6 (HSPD-6), requiring the establishment of an organization to "consolidate the Governmentís approach to terrorism screening and provide for the appropriate and lawful use of Terrorist Information in screening processes." Specifically, the Attorney General was directed to create a new organization to consolidate terrorist watch lists and provide 24-hour, 7-day a week operational support for federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, and foreign government as well as private sector screening across the country and around the world.1 As a result of this presidential directive, the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was created. As of the end of fiscal year (FY) 2004, the TSC was a $27 million organization with approximately 175 staff. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) initiated this audit to examine whether the TSC: 1) has implemented a viable strategy for accomplishing its mission; 2) is effectively coordinating with participating agencies; and 3) is appropriately managing terrorist-related information to ensure that a complete, accurate, and current consolidated watch list is developed and maintained.2 Identifying the Need for a Screening Agency Prior to the establishment of the TSC, the federal government relied on information from numerous separate watch lists maintained at a variety of federal agencies to prevent terrorists from obtaining visas or entering the United States illegally, and to track suspected terrorists within U.S. borders. In 2002, the President and Congress recognized this fragmentation and called for the consolidation of terrorist information to unify the governmentís counterterrorism efforts. In July 2002, the President issued the National Strategy for Homeland Security, which created a "comprehensive plan for using Americaís talents and resources to enhance our protection and reduce our vulnerability to terrorist attacks."3 One aspect of the Presidentís strategy was for the FBI to create a consolidated terrorism watch list that would serve as a central point for information about individuals of investigative interest. This list was seen as an answer to the uncoordinated and ad hoc approach that the U.S. government was then pursuing. In addition, the 9/11 Congressional Joint Inquiry Committee reported in December 2002 that the U.S. government was not adequately collecting and integrating terrorism-related information from all domestic and foreign sources. As a result, the Joint Inquiry also recommended the creation of a national watch list center to facilitate the appropriate collection, declassification, and sharing of information on known or suspected terrorists. In April 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report identifying 12 separate watch lists used for various purposes.4 The following table lists the systems identified by the GAO. Establishing the TSC In a September 2003 news release announcing the signing of HSPD-6 and the creation of the TSC, the White House directed that the organization to consolidate watch lists should begin operations by December 1, 2003. Following the issuance of HSPD-6, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State, and the Director of Central Intelligence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entitled "Integration and Use of Screening Information to Protect Against Terrorism." The MOU, dated September 16, 2003, designated the FBI as the lead agency responsible for administering the TSC. The MOU provided details related to the watch list consolidation effort, including the data that should be included and the cooperation required from the participating agencies. The MOU and HSPD-6 also mandated that federal agencies continually provide the FBI with domestic terrorism information, defined as information about U.S. persons with no connection to foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, or international terrorism. In addition, the agencies were required to provide, on an ongoing basis, the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC) with all other terrorist information in their custody or control. In turn, the FBI and TTIC were to provide domestic and international terrorist information to the TSC for consolidation.6 The goal was to create a unified, unclassified terrorist watch list, not to replace existing watch lists. Federal agencies were expected to continue gathering and developing terrorist information and to maintain separate systems to fulfill their distinctive missions. Standing-up the TSC In October 2003, the Attorney General appointed the Director of the TSC, and within one month two deputy directors were brought on board. An additional deputy director arrived in December 2003. TSC management initially developed working groups with participating agencies to establish an initial planning document detailing how the new organization would function. Also, the TSC designed a process flow chart to illustrate how terrorist information should be received, shared, and ultimately consolidated into an unclassified database. The TSCís initial planning document stated that personnel detailed from the DOJ, DOS, DHS, and other agencies would make up the staff at the TSC. These individuals would represent their respective Departments while supporting the functions of the TSC and reporting to the TSC Director. Initial Operating Capability In accordance with the Presidentís mandate, the TSC began operating on December 1, 2003, as the primary point of contact for screening individuals with ties to terrorism. The TSCís initial capabilities were limited, and its primary operations consisted of maintaining a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week call center staffed with personnel temporarily assigned to the TSC from agencies such as the FBI and the DHS.7 Although TSC staff had begun developing the first consolidated watch list, it was not ready to be used for screening purposes by December 1. Instead, the TSCís protocol was to separately query a variety of existing agency watch listing systems, including: 1) Transportation Security Administrationís No Fly and Selectee lists; 2) TIPOFF; 3) the FBIís National Crime Information Center (NCIC), namely the Violent Gang and Terrorist Organizations File (VGTOF); and 4) the Treasury Enforcement Communications System (TECS), which includes the Interagency Border Inspection System (IBIS) and the National Automated Immigration Lookout System (NAILS). The Consolidated Watch List A major challenge for the TSC was to integrate different types of information in varying formats from agenciesí existing systems into a comprehensive index of watch listed individuals. The new system would ultimately need to provide real-time connectivity to users and be able to incorporate evolving technology, such as advanced name-search capability and biometric data. To meet this goal, TSC officials and partner agency members formed a working group to define existing database structures and determine the basic functionality and future uses of the planned consolidated database. As a result of the identification of several barriers to the timely implementation of the consolidated database (such as differences in legacy systems and a shortage of qualified employees or contractors), the TSC divided the creation of the consolidated database, which was named the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), into three phases: 1) TSDB 1A, 2) TSDB 1B, and 3) Advent TSDB. The TSDB 1A database, which became operational on March 12, 2004, and was discontinued on April 1, 2005, was created using proprietary software owned by a contractor. According to TSC officials, they chose this approach in an effort to consolidate the information in the most expedient way possible. The TSDB 1A was populated with data received directly from the individual supporting agenciesí watch list systems. According to TSC officials, they recognized that this consolidation effort caused some names that appeared on multiple watch lists to be present in the database many times. This database was manually updated on a daily basis using diskettes of new or revised information from participating agencies. While operating, the entire TSDB 1A database was overwritten each day when the new data file was loaded. Given the design of the TSDB 1A database, this overwriting was the only method to update the terrorist-related information. However, this process eliminated the ability to retrieve historical data from the system. In addition, the TSDB 1A could not automatically export data to the participating agencies. Rather, TSC staff was required to send manual update files to participating agencies using diskettes. The TSDB 1B came on-line in June 2004 in a parallel environment with the 1A database.8 In this second phase of developing the consolidated database, the TSC sought to improve connectivity between the TSDB and other databases. In creating TSDB 1B, the TSC obtained batches of records primarily from the FBI and NCTC. On April 1, 2005, the TSC stopped using TSDB 1A, and the 1B database became the single consolidated watch list. In contrast to the TSDB 1A, the 1B database can communicate with the participating agencies' systems and provides for the electronic exchange of data. As a result, since its creation, the TSDB 1B system has been used to export records to the databases of the various participating agencies. In addition, unlike the 1A database, the TSDB 1B is updated only with additions, deletions, and modifications to the existing records in the database, and therefore the system retains a history of all changes made. Advent TSDB and the Future of the Consolidated Database In the next phase of its development of the consolidated database, Advent TSDB, the TSC plans to establish automatic, real-time connectivity with participating agency databases. However, most of the supporting agency database systems cannot currently accommodate this type of connection and will need to upgrade their systems. While the TSC expects that it will take years to fully implement this plan, the first segment (real-time connectivity with the FBIís NCIC) is planned for completion in FY 2005. Also, in FY 2005 the TSC expects to receive biometric data from NCTC and export that data to NCIC. This process is not expected to be fully mature for some time and, in its initial phase, will allow for only text fields to be shared. TSC officials stated that graphic files, such as a picture of biometric data, can be made available in the TSDB 1B system, but this information would not be searchable. TSC officials said development of a plan to incorporate data into the TSDB database in this way is expected to be complete by spring 2005. Evolution of IT Management While the TSDB is constantly evolving, we found that the TSCís management of its information technology (IT), a critical part of the terrorist screening process, has been deficient. From its inception, the TSCís IT Branch Ė staffed with numerous contractors Ė did not have strong, effective, and focused leadership over the agencyís IT functions. In addition, the TSC has experienced significant difficulty in hiring qualified staff with adequate security clearances to perform IT functions. The TSC did not establish a formal technical advisory group until June 2004 and in August 2004 hired its first Chief Information Officer (CIO). Unfortunately, many major IT decisions had been made prior to this time, such as the creation and implementation of TSDB 1A and 1B and various support systems, as well as the establishment of controls and standards for operating and administering these systems. The TSC CIO acknowledged that the TSC has been operating in an immature IT environment since its inception. He told us that the need to expeditiously create a consolidated database hindered systems planning. He further stated that the IT Branch was understaffed and had not been sufficiently focused on establishing controls to ensure data integrity. Content of the Consolidated Watch List Each record within the consolidated watch list is designed to contain information about the law enforcement action to be taken when encountering an individual on the watch list, which provides insight into the level of threat posed by that individual. This information is conveyed through a "handling code" that provides law enforcement personnel with instructions on what to do when a suspected terrorist is encountered. These handling codes are defined as follows: To gain a general understanding of the distribution of individuals on the watch list, we reviewed a sample of 109,849 records in the TSDB 1B database and found that the vast majority of watch listed individuals were included in the two lowest categories.9 As depicted in the following graph, approximately 75 percent of the records we reviewed were categorized at handling code 4 (the lowest handling code), and 22 percent were categorized at the second to lowest level, handling code 3.10 Only 318 records of the 109,849 records in the watch list subset that we reviewed were categorized at the two highest levels, handling codes 1 and 2. This means that the records for the overwhelming majority of watch listed individuals indicated that encounters with these persons required the lowest levels of law enforcement response and that these individuals [SENSITIVE INFORMATION REDACTED]. We asked the TSC Director about the content of the TSCís consolidated watch list. She informed us that, to err on the side of caution, individuals with any degree of a terrorism nexus were included on the consolidated watch list, as long as minimum criteria was met (i.e., the personís name was partially known plus one other piece of identifying information, such as the date of birth). The Director further explained that one of the benefits of watch listing individuals who pose a lower threat was that their movement could be monitored through the screening process and thereby provide useful intelligence information to counterterrorism investigators. In addition, she stated that lower-threat level individuals can have associations with higher-threat level terrorists, and watch listing lower-threat individuals may lead to uncovering the location of other watch list individuals. The TSCís FY 2004 budget consisted of contributions totaling about $27 million from four participating agencies. As of November 2004, the TSC had 177 staff members, which included permanent and detailed personnel. Also, as detailed in the following staffing chart, contract personnel made up 61 percent of the total TSC staffing. In FY 2005, the TSCís budget of $29 million was incorporated into the FBIís overall appropriation. This eliminated the need to transfer funds between agencies. The TSC Call Center The basic tasks performed by call center staff ó fielding inquiries, researching terrorist information, and facilitating the identification and apprehension of terrorists ó remain the same as the functions performed at the point of the TSCís initial operating capability on December 1, 2003. However, the creation of the consolidated watch list has allowed the call center staff to begin its research with a single database Ė the TSDB. The consolidated information within the TSC database is searchable by law enforcement and intelligence officials across the country and around the world.12 Names are searched in supporting agency databases during encounters at ports-of-entry or by federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies. When a name appears to be a match against the terrorist watch list, requestors receive a return message informing them of the preliminary match and are directed to call the TSC. When a call is received, TSC call center staff assist the caller in identifying the subject. To do this, the call screeners search the TSDB to determine if an identity match exists. In addition, they search supporting agency databases to locate any additional information that may assist in making a conclusive identification. The caller is immediately informed of any negative search results (i.e., the subject of the call does not match the identity of an individual on the watch list). The following diagram displays the process of handling hits against the watch list. If the subject is positively identified or the match attempt is inconclusive, the TSC call screener forwards the call to the FBIís Counterterrorism Watch Unit (CT Watch), the FBIís 24-hour global command center for terrorism prevention operations. CT Watch is then responsible for coordinating the law enforcement response to the encounter, including making further attempts to establish positive identity and, if necessary, deploying agents to take appropriate action. For every inquiry that TSC call screeners refer to CT Watch, the TSC screeners are responsible for obtaining feedback on the disposition of the encounter, such as whether or not the subject was arrested, questioned, or denied entry into the United States. According to State Department officials at the TSC, when a person overseas applies for a visa, U.S. government officials search the CLASS database, which receives watch list information from the TSC. If this search reveals a possible identity match with an individual recorded in the TSDB, the official will send the TSC a cable (a secure, electronic communication). A State Department representative at the TSC will review the cable along with information within supporting agency databases to determine if the person requesting a visa is an individual with ties to terrorism. This information will be used by the U.S. government officials overseas to either issue or deny the visa application.14 Database Accuracy and Completeness Although we found that the TSC had successfully created and deployed a consolidated watch list database, we also determined that the TSC could not ensure that the information in that database was complete and accurate. We found instances where the consolidated database did not contain names that should have been included on the watch list. In addition, we found inaccurate information related to persons included in the database. We split our review of the terrorist watch list into two separate tracks. First, we analyzed the database as a whole, including identifying duplicate records, available fields of information, and handling instructions applied to individuals on the watch list. Second, we performed testing of the accuracy and completeness of individual records within the database. In this second track, we also identified a sample of known terrorist names and determined whether those individuals were on the watch list. Overall Review of the Consolidated Databases We first reviewed the TSDB 1A and 1B to gain an overall understanding of the databases. This review included the records that each database maintained, the structure for each record, and the categories and handling instructions assigned to individual terrorist records.15 Database Records Ė As of January 2005, the TSDB 1A and 1B included a total of 455,002 and 237,615 records, respectively. Since both databases were maintained and updated simultaneously, theoretically both should have had the same number of records. However, TSDB 1A had 217,387 more records than TSDB 1B. Primarily, this difference resulted from the TSCís decision, in its early days of operation, to accept less than optimal data in order to quickly develop a comprehensive database.16 In implementing TSDB 1B in June 2004, officials at the TSC have had more of an opportunity to identify data errors and duplications in the databases, although discrepancies found during our review indicate that the TSDB 1B also is not free of errors or duplication. Because the TSDB 1B now represents the single consolidated watch list, it is crucial that the 1B database contain all unique known or suspected terrorist records. TSC officials informed us in March 2005 that they had successfully addressed the significant difference we had identified in record counts between the databases. They reported that they reduced the difference to about 40,200 records existing in TSDB 1A but not in TSDB 1B. This group of records has undergone initial review and the TSC stated that it consists of 39,000 records awaiting additional vetting by NCTC and 1,200 that will require manual correction at the TSC. Duplicate Records Ė We reviewed the TSDB 1B and found 31 duplicate records.17 TSC officials could not explain why TDSB 1B contained duplicate records. However, based on our observations and analysis, one probable cause was the transfer of duplicate information from NCTC to the TSC. Although the number of duplicates we identified was relatively small, duplicate records within the TSDB can be time-consuming and possibly confusing for call screeners when they research an individual. For example, the screener could mistakenly rely on one record while a second, more complete record may be ignored. Also, if update information was transferred for a record in the TSDB 1B that had duplicate entries, one of the duplicate records could be updated while the other might not. Descriptive Categories Ė The international terrorist records that come to the TSC from NCTC include a reference to how the individual is associated with international terrorism. This reference, called an Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) code, must be one of 25 prescribed codes, and controls exist to ensure that each record has just one code assigned. The INA codes include categories such as: "Member of a Foreign Terrorist Organization," "Hijacker," and "Has Engaged in Terrorism." These INA codes are split into two primary types Ė individuals who are considered armed and dangerous and those who are not. For records in the TSDB 1B, we compared the INA codes to the databaseís handling codes to determine if the two were consistent. We found records with handling codes that did not correspond to the level of threat that could be posed by the individual based on the descriptive category. Specifically, we identified at least 31,954 records with INA codes that were categorized as "armed and dangerous" but had handling instructions that were applicable for individuals at the lowest handling code, which does not require the encountering law enforcement officer to contact the TSC or any other agency. The INA codes for some of these records described these individuals as: 1) having engaged in terrorism; 2) likely to engage in terrorism if they enter the United States; 3) hijacker; 4) hostage taker; 5) [SENSITIVE INFORMATION REDACTED]; and 6) user of explosives or firearms. At the time of our field work, TSC officials could not explain this apparent mismatch. This situation, which represents a weakness in the database and places front-line law enforcement officers in a vulnerable position, should be addressed as quickly as possible. Missing Handling Codes Ė According to TSC officials, all records in the consolidated watch list should be assigned a handling code. Based on our review, we found that 336 records in the TSDB 1B did not have any handling codes assigned. Of these records, at least 160 were described as armed and dangerous, according to the designated INA codes. Necessary Field Improvements Ė During our review of records, we also noted improvements that could be made to the watch list record fields. For example, we found no separate fields were specifically designated to identify an individualís [SENSITIVE INFORMATION REDACTED] or [SENSITIVE INFORMATION REDACTED]. In addition, the TSC directed the FBI to assign one of three possible INA codes to all domestic terrorist records that were included in the consolidated watch list. All three INA codes provided descriptions specifically related to international terrorism, but they did not adequately describe domestic terrorism. We believe that more specific descriptions of domestic terrorist activities should be developed and applied to domestic terrorist records so that law enforcement officers can respond with better information to such a watch listed individual. Testing of Individual Database Records Missing or incomplete terrorist records could have significant consequences because known terrorists may go undetected if they attempt to enter the United States or are stopped by local police for a traffic violation. We reviewed the information contained within the consolidated watch list to determine whether the data was completely and accurately consolidated. Specifically, we selected judgmental samples from the source databases to determine if the unclassified information from those databases was accurately transferred to and displayed in the TSDB 1A and 1B. Our testing also included searching the TSDB 1A and 1B for records of known or suspected terrorists to ensure they were included in the consolidated database. Missing or Inaccurate FBI Domestic Terrorist Records Ė We judgmentally selected a sample of 59 records (for 58 individuals) from a universe of 104,116 FBI domestic terrorist records as of August 2004. We traced our sample of records forward to the TSDB 1A and 1B to determine whether each record was included in the consolidated database and whether all pertinent, unclassified information was contained in each TSDB. We identified 8 FBI records (or approximately 13 percent of the sample we reviewed) that were not included in the TSDB 1B. FBI officials informed us that two of these records existed on an updated file that ultimately never was sent from the FBI for inclusion in the TSDB because the primary individual responsible for sending the file was out of the office and nobody filled in to assume that personís duties. The remaining six missing records resulted from technical difficulties in uploading the FBI data into the NCTC database. Our analysis also revealed that important and relevant information within the 59-sampled FBI records was not always included in the records within the TSDB, and in some instances the information included in the TSDB was incorrect. Specifically, the source FBI database contains a miscellaneous text field that, while not searchable because of its format, can provide important data. For example, the miscellaneous field of one FBI record we reviewed contained data indicating that the subject was not a U.S. citizen, while the TSC record indicated the opposite. Conflicting information can confuse or misinform screeners and contribute to the misidentification of an innocent person or the inappropriate release or admittance of a dangerous individual. Missing or Inaccurate NCTC International Terrorist Records Ė We judgmentally selected a sample of 51 records (all for separate individuals) from a universe of 185,628 NCTC international terrorist records as of August 2004. We traced this sample of records forward to determine if the record was included in the consolidated database and if all pertinent, unclassified information set for inclusion in the TSDB was present. We identified two records missing from the TSDB 1A that appear to have been the result of record deletion, although no history was maintained in the 1A database to verify this. In addition, 3 records from our sample of 51 were missing from the TSDB 1B. We also found that 12 records in our sample of 51 contained inaccuracies in record content between the information contained within NCTCís database and the information in the TSDB 1A and 1B. These inaccuracies included incorrect information regarding the biographical data of watch listed individuals. TSC officials could not provide an explanation for these inaccuracies. Inclusion of Known Terrorists in the TSDB Ė We also performed testing on the TSDB 1A and 1B to determine if publicly known terrorists were included in the consolidated database. We selected a total of 39 names: 14 from news articles, 19 from the FBIís Most Wanted list, and 6 from the Department of Stateís List of Terrorists under Executive Order 13224. Our analysis found that 38 of the 39 names were included in both versions of the TSDB. The remaining name was included in TSDB 1A but not in TSDB 1B. This name originated from the Department of State and the individual was identified in the 1A database as armed and dangerous. TSC officials did not know why this name was not in the TSDB 1B. TSCís Management of its 24-hour Call Center We examined the management of the TSCís call center, which provides law enforcement agencies with around-the-clock access to consolidated information regarding known or suspected terrorists. The demand for expedited response times from the call center results in a fast-paced environment where data quality and system controls are crucial to safeguard the information available on the supporting databases (some of which may be classified), to ensure the accuracy of the data entry into the unclassified systems, and to maximize the quality of communication provided to TSC customers. We evaluated the centerís operations and found areas in need of improvement. As part of our testing, we selected for evaluation a judgmental sample of 30 calls to the call center. For each encounter, we traced the communication and activities of all parties involved from the time the call was received at the TSC until the final recorded disposition of the encounter. We gathered documentation from the TSC call center, the FBI CT Watch, and the field personnel responsible for performing necessary follow-up on the encounter. Generally, we found good communication between the TSC and all the agencies involved, including CT Watch and agencies that called the TSC. However, we identified some exceptions where coordination could have been improved. For example, in one case better coordination between agents handling an encounter could have prevented an instance where an individual was permitted to board a domestic flight despite being on the TSA No-Fly list. We also identified several instances where the information on calls received was not being appropriately entered into the TSC system used to track encounter information, an unclassified system called the Encounter Management database. We found that data was sometimes entered into the wrong fields and at times transposed, resulting in search errors and poor data integrity. Additionally, discrepancies existed between the data available from the TSC and that of the FBI CT Watch. Examples included different times for calls being forwarded and received, different flight times on subjects due to arrive in the United States, and no resolution of the encounter recorded in the TSCís Encounter Management database. We attributed missing resolution detail to the lack of a status field in the Encounter Management database that would track the work flow and determine the calls requiring follow-up action. Although this encounter information does not affect the most important activity within the call center ó screening inquiries ó it does lessen the value of the information available on historical encounters. This data can be a valuable by-product of the call center activity because it can assist TSC management in evaluating the effectiveness of the organization and is also a potential source of terrorism-related intelligence. Reliance on Detailees Due to its rapid start-up and the need for personnel with adjudicated security clearances, the TSC has been heavily dependent upon staff detailed from participating agencies. These detailees generally work at the TSC approximately 60 to 90 days. This rapid personnel turnover increases the amount of training needed and reduces the number of screeners who are completely familiar with their duties. Officials at the TSC stated that having detailees who can apply their investigative skills to assist callers is important to the mission of the TSC. They said the preferred arrangement would be to have staff assigned from various federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies in increments of 90 days or more. TSC management also stated that current law enforcement experience helps TSC screeners understand what the caller is experiencing and identify when the information provided presents an investigative concern. However, we found that some detailed staff members came to the TSC directly from their initial law enforcement training or post-military service and had little experience in law enforcement or intelligence work. In addition, the regular rotating of staff hampers the TSCís ability to provide seasoned personnel that have experience as TSC call screeners. Using inexperienced screeners also results in difficulties when relaying information to CT Watch staff. For example, we were informed that special agents at the FBIís CT Watch often ask to speak to a call center shift supervisor because the initial screener has not done an adequate job of conveying the appropriate information. Training Call Center Staff We identified several weaknesses in the training of call center personnel. Because some of the call center managers are detailees, the TSC has had difficulty developing and implementing standard oversight procedures. In addition, at times incorrect instructions were provided to call center staff. For example, we were shown a manual that incorrectly directed screeners to search a particular database. Although this was later corrected, it illustrates weaknesses in the management of the call center. Among other issues, the training provided to call screeners needs to stress the necessity for a thorough search of the supporting system records to ensure that all pertinent information is relayed to the FBI CT Watch. For example, we identified an instance where an individual for whom there was significant derogatory information in the NCTCís database was allowed to enter the country. The individual in question was on the watch list because it was believed that the subject posed a threat as a financial supporter of terrorism, and the individual was being considered for visa revocation. This person was allowed into the United States and the FBI took no follow-up action. Neither the TSC (including State Department officials detailed to the TSC) nor the FBI Counterterrorism Division could explain why no further actions were taken to check the status of the individualís visa revocation. The NCTCís database noted that the individualís visa was revoked three months after this individual was allowed to enter the United States, but there was no indication that this person had subsequently left the country. According to State Department officials at the TSC, the situation described above was an unusual circumstance and does not reflect the manner in which visa revocations are normally handled. While we recognize that many parties did not take proper action to resolve this situation, the TSC is the vital link for making such information available to those who need it. Other Management Issues in the Call Center Currently, the call screeners use a manual process to record information from callers and to forward that information to CT Watch. When a call is forwarded or is considered a negative match with no further action required, the call screener enters the data onto a form and then enters it into the Encounter Management database. This redundant data entry is susceptible to transposition errors, missed data, and other data inaccuracies. In addition, screeners have access to information in a variety of supporting databases. This data may be classified at the Confidential, Secret, Top Secret, or other level. We found at least four instances in which information that was identified as being classified was entered into an unclassified TSC database used to track information about calls received. While this material may contribute to the detail of the encounter, it is important to ensure that controls are in place to prevent entry of classified information into the TSCís unclassified databases. Further, the TSC does not have an automated system for tracking the amount of time that elapses between when the TSC receives a call, when the call is forwarded to the FBI for further action, when the caller receives specific instructions, and when an encounter is fully resolved and feedback is provided to the FBI and the TSC. We believe that the TSC would benefit from regularly tracking and monitoring calls to ensure that information is being provided to callers in a timely manner and to identify possible process improvements. Strategic Needs of the TSC The TSC has made significant progress in consolidating the U.S. governmentís approach to terrorist screening. In looking to the future, however, we identified several areas requiring action by TSC management to ensure that the organization fully carries out its important mission. The TSC has no formal strategic plan by which to guide its progress, staffing, organizational structure, and future planning. TSC managers have indicated they are working on developing a strategic plan, but no formal document had been developed by the end of our field work. We believe that strategic planning efforts will assist the TSC in addressing the most significant weaknesses that we identified Ė namely, watch list errors and omissions, deficiencies in the management of the call center, and the immaturity of its information technology environment. A strategic plan would also help the TSC identify which improvements are most critical. In addition, the TSC Director informed us that because the organization is relatively new, it has not yet established a formal procedure for evaluating the effectiveness of its performance. This kind of self-evaluation is important for ensuring that weaknesses are identified and corrected. Continuity of Operations Planning The TSC recently developed a Continuity of Operations Plan, Emergency Action Plan, and Disaster Recovery Plan. Because we did not receive any of these plans until after we had concluded our audit field work, we were unable to assess whether they had been effectively implemented. We were also unable to examine whether the TSC had tested equipment, trained employees, and performed exercises in accordance with the applicable plans. Based on our reading of the plans, however, we have significant concerns that certain logistical and functional obstacles to successful continuity of operations have not been addressed, including access to the consolidated database at the TSCís back-up location, offsite storage of data, and the existence of alternative systems equipped to run the TSDB software and export the data to supporting agency databases. [SENSITIVE INFORMATION REDACTED] The creation of the TSC established a new approach to the sharing of terrorist watch list information. As a result, the TSC has initiated an outreach program that targets various federal agencies to inform them of the TSCís mission and determine what additional screening methods can be implemented. However, the TSC does not currently share information directly with the private sector. The DHS was charged with developing guidelines to accomplish this task, but as of March 2005, no guidelines had been developed. OIG Conclusion and Recommendations On December 1, 2003, the TSC began operating as the nationís centralized terrorist screening center, serving as the single point of contact for law enforcement authorities requesting assistance in the identification of individuals with possible ties to terrorism. The TSCís efforts in standing itself up within approximately 75 days of the Presidentís mandate, establishing a 24-hour call center, and implementing a consolidated terrorist watch list within 6 months of its start date is a significant achievement. However, as a new and growing organization, the TSC has experienced many challenges, including difficulties in pulling together fragmented terrorist watch list information, an immature IT environment, and a transitory work force. In an effort to establish the call center and consolidate terrorist watch lists, planning at the TSC has taken a back seat to daily operations. Our audit found various areas of TSC operations needing improvement. The creation of the consolidated database, a phased approach that continues to evolve, has weaknesses that need to be addressed. Database controls and improved search capabilities are necessary to ensure that watch list data is safeguarded, database history is retained, and call screeners are able to readily identify within the TSDB individuals encountered. Procedures for verifying the completeness and accuracy of records within the TSC database need to be enhanced to ensure that records are included in a timely manner, all record information consolidated into the database is complete and accurate, and measures are taken to ensure any missing, conflicting or duplicate information is identified and resolved on a regular basis. Further, a lack of sufficient training, oversight, and general management of the call screeners has left the activities of the call center vulnerable to procedural errors, poor data entry, and untimely responses to callers. To assist the TSC in improving its operations, we have provided 40 recommendations in the following areas: database improvements, data accuracy and completeness, call center management, operational planning, coordination between participating agencies, and staffing. The specific recommendations are detailed throughout the report.

Review of the Terrorist Screening Center (Redacted for Public Release) Audit Report 05-27 Office of the Inspector General On September 16, 2003, the President signed Homeland Security Presidential Directive-6 (HSPD-6), requiring the establishment of an organization to "consolidate the Governmentís approach to terrorism screening and provide for the appropriate and lawful use of Terrorist Informati

When the Romans settled in Lancaster they built the Wery wall to protect the fort that stood on the site of Lancaster Castle. This wall ran across the area now occupied by the Judges’ Lodgings. During a recent archaeological dig the remains of a Roman kiln were found in the back garden. A building has stood on this site for hundreds of years but the house you see today has been significantly altered a number of times during the last 500 years. It is believed that the first building on the site was a wooden structure, which was later rebuilt in stone. The earliest surviving parts of the building date from the 1550s and include the huge stone fireplace that dominates the entrance hall and the ancient beams that can be found in the cellar. During the 1640s Thomas Covell made significant alterations to the building. This early stone work is characterised by the irregular shape and size of the stones used. In 1826 when the Duchy bought the house, an extension was built on the side, the back of the house was extended into the courtyard and some of the room layouts were changed to accommodate the visiting Assize Judge’s. The Victorian regular shaped stones contrast greatly with the older more haphazard stones and it is easy to see where one period ends and another begins. The façade is dominated by the Georgian sash windows which date from around 1680, but the original transom and mullion windows are still evident in the stone work. As you move around the building, glimpses of earlier times are tantalisingly evident. From blocked up windows and doors, now half hidden by the footpath and a door lintel hidden in the stone work with the initials of previous owners still carved into it, this building has an intriguing history with many secrets waiting to be discovered.

When the Romans settled in Lancaster they built the Wery wall to protect the fort that stood on the site of Lancaster Castle. This wall ran across the area now occupied by the Judges’ Lodgings. During a recent archaeological dig the remains of a Roman kiln were found in the back garden. A building has stood on this site for hundreds of years but the house you see today has been significantly alter

Organisms express their genomes in a cell-specific, context-dependent manner, resulting in a variety of cellular phenotypes. Mapping cellular responses to genomic data or comparatively analyzing cellular responses requires detailed quantitative analysis in context. The Imaging and Informatics Lab has developed computational and bioinformatics systems for (i) high content screening of multicellular responses, and (ii) association of genomic data with physiological responses. Our current efforts focus on developing new imaging modules for direct imaging of gene expression, developing technologies for improved understanding of the microenvironment stress for tumor development, and identifying the mechanism of signaling networks through dynamic analysis of drug transport at multiple scales. The Imaging and Informatics Lab Web site is at http://vision.lbl.gov.

Organisms express their genomes in a cell-specific, context-dependent manner, resulting in a variety of cellular phenotypes. Mapping cellular responses to genomic data or comparatively analyzing cellular responses requires detailed quantitative analysis in context. The Imaging and Informatics Lab has developed computational and bioinformatics systems for (i) high content screening of multicellular

"The Governor sent me out to look at projects so I can understand what is going on in the field," said Simon. "I can't do that sitting in my office in Boston." Barnstable's population swells from about 55,000 people year round to about 130,000 in the summer season. The town has to develop its infrastructure for maximum capacity, Mark Els, the town's Director of Public Works, told Simon, Part of that plan involves implementing the town's clean water project which includes putting in new sewers and water main replacements around Stewart's Creek in Hyannis in areas that have water quality issues and further addressing those issues with improvements to the Hyannis Water Pollution Control Facility. The project received over $1 million in stimulus help. The town's drinking water project, which received $705K in stimulus help, involves repairing and improving two water treatment facilities, 12 well pump stations, two storage tanks and distribution water pipes. Els noted that the stimulus funding minimized the cost for the town. "The Governor took a lot of heat early on in the stimulus program for the way he did the State Revolving Fund program," noted Simon. "Some states funded two to Another success story is that of Dennis-based construction firm, Robert B. Our, which is the contractor for both the town's clean water and drinking water projects. Our also secured contracts for two other-stimulus-funded projects on the Cape. According to Mark Timmerman, Our's superintendent for the pump station project, the company "Before stimulus we were struggling to get work," he said. "The company laid off about 25 guys. We brought back some of those guys and others. Stimulus got us through some bad times." Stimulus is also helping the town with its green energy upgrades. The town's wastewater treatment facility, which processes nearly two million gallons of wastewater a day, is now able to install Variable Speed Drives and other upgrades to the motors on the plant's pumping and aeration systems. The plant will also house two 100kW wind turbines and a 800+ kW solar photovoltaic system. This is In total, the annual energy savings from these upgrades will be $250K, 1,000 kW of green power generation from the solar and wind power and nearly 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emission reductions. Those numbers impressed Simon. "I am amazed at the creativity that is coming out in all of this," he said. "I don't know how towns are managing these days. I have tremendous admiration for you guys in these tough economic times." John Klimm, Barnstable's town manager had a simple explanation for the town's success. "The state has been a true partner," he said.

"The Governor sent me out to look at projects so I can understand what is going on in the field," said Simon. "I can't do that sitting in my office in Boston." Barnstable's population swells from about 55,000 people year round to about 130,000 in the summer season. The town has to develop its infrastructure for maximum capacity, Mark Els, the town's Director of Public Works, told Simon, Part of th

Data Access - ASCII Files RATPAC data can be accessed using the following methods: The following two products are available: RATPAC-ARecommended for studies of long-term large-scale climate change since it contains the most robust large-scale averages. RATPAC-A data files can be accessed through the ratpac-a subdirectory on the FTP site. RATPAC-BRecommended for studies of long-term climate change at local or regional scales. RATPAC-B data files can be accessed through the ratpac-b subdirectory on the FTP site. For documentation of the above data files, see the README file from the FTP site and station list. For analyses that require data not included in RATPAC and are less sensitive to long-term biases, consider the Integrated Global Radiosonde Archive (IGRA).

Data Access - ASCII Files RATPAC data can be accessed using the following methods: The following two products are available: RATPAC-ARecommended for studies of long-term large-scale climate change since it contains the most robust large-scale averages. RATPAC-A data files can be accessed through the ratpac-a subdirectory on the FTP site. RATPAC-BRecommended for studies of long-term climate change

Wind or Advection Frost Formation I would like to know why wind frost, or advection frost, forms against the direction of the wind and what are the physical processes behind this formation? I am not quite clear what you mean when you write: “…frost, forms against the direction of the wind…” I feel like I am in a fog (or possibly a frosty situation). Condensation (fog) occurs when water from a gaseous state cools to a liquid state. Freezing (or frost) occurs when water in a liquid state cools (freezes) to a solid state. There are a number of ways that fog can form, yet if the ambient temperature is below zero C, then frost can form. Deposition (frost) occurs when water in a gaseous state cools (freezes) to a solid state. Fog and frost form through heat and moisture exchanges between the ground (or water body) and overlying air. When the relative humidity of a parcel of air reaches 100%, then fog (or frost) may form. Cooling air, or adding moisture to air, will increase the relative humidity. Here are some explanations of how fog may form through cooling or adding moisture to a parcel of air. Earth cools rapidly at night. The air cools, relative humidity reaches 100%, and fog forms. Common over marshes (high moisture content). Advection means horizontal movement of air, where warm moist air is blown over a cool surface. The air cools, relative humidity reaches 100%, and fog forms. Common in early spring as air moves over snow covered land or, cold ocean, or lake. Air undergoes expansional cooling associated with physical upslope movement. The air cools, relative humidity reaches 100%, and fog forms. Common with humid air on hillsides or mountain slopes. Also known as steam fog or Arctic sea smoke. Cold dry air moves over warm water, thus increasing the vapor content of the air mass. Moisture is added, relative humidity reaches 100%, and fog forms. Common in lakes, heated swimming pools, and highways. Lower density, warm and moist air, is lifted over colder air, rain (moisture) falls into the colder layer increasing the vapor content of the air mass. Moisture is added, relative humidity reaches 100%, and fog forms. Common when warm fronts approach. When you state that “…frost, forms against the direction of the wind…” you might consider that the frosty surface was cold enough to cool the temperature of the wind. The air cools, relative humidity reaches 100%, and frost forms. I hope this helps. You might be interested in learning more about the role of relative humidity, energy transfer, and change of state. N.B.: Sublimation is the opposite of deposition (and is quite common with ice in a freezer). Leslie Kanat, Ph.D. Professor of Geology Department of Environmental Sciences Johnson State College The formation processes of all frost, aside from rime, are essentially the same. Water vapor in the air freezes on a cold surface to produce crystals of ice, called frost. Rime can more properly be thought of as icing, as it usually deposits as a liquid (from water droplets) and then freezes on the cold surface. Advection frost and radiation frost form in essentially the same way. However, the way in which the air is cooled to produce the conditions needed for the frost to form are different. Radiation frost occurs when, with little or no wind, the surface on which the frost forms is cooled to below the frostpoint by radiative cooling. Advection (or wind) frost occurs when cold air moves into or drains into an area and results in the temperature of surfaces being lowered to below Both radiation and advection frosts exhibit crystalline structure, including ice spikes or needles. Radiation frost is often referred to as hoar frost, but both radiation and advection frosts can look the same. In the case of advection frost, the crystals of ice may extend towards the direction of the cold air blowing into the area, just as any crystal begins at its base and extends outward from it to the source of the "mineral" (in this case water vapor) that is forming the crystal. David R. Cook Climate Research Section Environmental Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Click here to return to the Weather Archives Update: June 2012

Wind or Advection Frost Formation I would like to know why wind frost, or advection frost, forms against the direction of the wind and what are the physical processes behind this formation? I am not quite clear what you mean when you write: “…frost, forms against the direction of the wind…” I feel like I am in a fog (or possibly a frosty situation). Condensation (fog) occurs when water from a gase

Since 30th April 2007 it is now against the law to smoke in most indoor places other than your own private home. - Places of work e.g. offices, factories, bars, restaurants, cafes, & hotels. - Places used by members of the public, e.g. shopping centres, church/community halls and health centres. Most vehicles used for work purposes and vehicles used to carry members of the public, will also have to be smoke-free. - Work vehicles used by more than one person (even if they do so at different times) e.g. cars, lorries and vans. - Vehicles used to transport members of the public (even if they donít pay to use them) e.g. buses, taxis, trains and minibuses. Who Will Enforce the Law? Newtownabbey Borough Council will enforce the law within Newtownabbey. How does this affect me? No one can smoke in a smoke-free premises or vehicle. What You Need to Do - If you own or manage a smoke-free premises or vehicle you need to ensure that people do not smoke there - You need to display 'No Smoking' signs. What Happens if You Break the Law? If you break the law by smoking in a smoke-free place you may be issued with a fixed penalty notice or be prosecuted. If you own or manage a smoke-free premises or vehicle and you allow someone to smoke there, you may be prosecuted. Where Can I Get Advice? Contact the council's Environmental Health Dept hotline: 028 9034 0160 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm) or visit Related Documents to Download:

Since 30th April 2007 it is now against the law to smoke in most indoor places other than your own private home. - Places of work e.g. offices, factories, bars, restaurants, cafes, & hotels. - Places used by members of the public, e.g. shopping centres, church/community halls and health centres. Most vehicles used for work purposes and vehicles used to carry members of the public, will also have t

The prostate gland is located underneath the bladder and is about the size of a chestnut. In this cut section, you can see that part of the urethra is encased within the prostate gland. As a man ages, the prostate typically enlarges in size in a process called benign hypertrophy, which means that the gland got larger without becoming cancerous. The enlarged prostate crowds its anatomical neighbors, particularly the urethra, causing it to narrow. The narrowed urethra results in several of the symptoms of benign prostatic hypertrophy, or BPH. Symptoms may include a slowed or delayed start in urination, the need to urinate frequently during the night, difficulty in emptying the bladder, a strong, sudden urge to urinate, and incontinence. Less than half of all men with BPH have symptoms of the disease, or their symptoms are minor and do not restrict their life style. BPH is a normal physiological process of aging and treatment options are available. The choice of the appropriate treatment is based on the severity of the symptoms, the extent to which they affect lifestyle, and the presence of other medical conditions. Men with BPH should consult with their physician yearly to monitor the progression of the symptoms and decide the best course of treatment as needed. Updated by: Marc A. Greenstein, D.O., F.A.C.O.S. Urologist, Somerset Medical Center in Somerville, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Related MedlinePlus Page The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2013, A.D.A.M., Inc. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.

The prostate gland is located underneath the bladder and is about the size of a chestnut. In this cut section, you can see that part of the urethra is encased within the prostate gland. As a man ages, the prostate typically enlarges in size in a process called benign hypertrophy, which means that the gland got larger without becoming cancerous. The enlarged prostate crowds its anatomical neighbors

Fire on the Tundra November 28, 2012 Did you know that more fires occurred within Noatak National Preserve during the summer of 2010 than in any other National Park units in Alaska? The following is an introduction to the history, ecology, and importance of fire in the Western Arctic National Parklands by Jennifer Barnes, NPS Fire Ecologist. HISTORIC ROLE OF FIRE IN THE WESTERN ARCTIC NATIONAL PARKLANDS Fire is the dominant disturbance regime in the boreal forests and tundra ecosystems in Alaska. Over 19 million acres have burned in Alaska over the last 10 years. The primary objective for managing wildland fires within the Western Arctic National Parklands is to maintain the area's bio-diversity and natural process through the use of fire (including the naturally occurring spectrum of fire intensities and effects) while also ensuring the safety of life, property, and sensitive resources (Western Arctic Parklands FMP, 2011). The National Park Service Fire Management Program and the Arctic Network Inventory and Monitoring Program monitor the number of fires each year and changes that occur after fires. Weather, terrain, and vegetation strongly influence the occurrence and extent of fires within WEAR. The subarctic boreal forests and low arctic tundra biomes are subject to periodic fires. Over the last 60 years, greater than 1,248,506 acres have burned within and around the WEAR park units. An annual average of 13,397 acres burn per year just on NPS lands, 97% of which are caused by lightning (data from 1950-2010). The frequency and extent of the fires are variable within the park units (Table 1). Fires can exert landscape-scale controls on vegetation structure and composition, permafrost dynamics, nutrient cycling, carbon loss/gain, primary productivity, and biodiversity (Racine et al. 2004). Table 1. Fire statistics for fires that have burned in and around WEAR from 1956-2010. Data is shown for both 1) fires that occurred only within park boundaries ("In Park") and 2) fires that have burned in the park boundaries, although not all acres are contained within the administrative boundary of the units ("Affecting Park"). Most fire data provided in the table is based on NPS fire records from 1950 - 2010 fires (Fire-NPS Alaska 2010, AKRO GIS permanent data set). Area burned within park boundaries are based on fire perimeter data. Lightning strike data is from AICC ARCIMS web page. * Data based on acres from fire perimeter data set 1950-2010 clipped to park boundaries. Within Noatak National Preserve the lowlands of the Noatak Valley are subject to periodic large fires and frequent small fires from late May until early August. Fires commonly occur in shrub-tussock tundra, sedge/graminoid lowlands, and shrub thickets of dwarf birch/ericaceous, alder or willow. Of all the parks in WEAR, Noatak has burned the most acreage and greatest number of fires over the last 55 years (Table 1). Recent studies indicate that over the past 2000 years in Noatak, the fire return interval has ranged from a median of 150 years down valley to 195 years up valley in the Noatak drainage (http://www.nps.gov/akso/nature/science/ak_park_science/PDF/2011Vol10-1/the-burning-tundra-Higuera.pdf). More than 95% of Noatak's fires are caused by lightning. Thunderstorm development in the valley can result from synoptic widespread storms or localized air-mass storms controlled by local topography. Warm dry air masses within the Noatak Valley can encounter coastal low pressure systems from the west, leading to significant thunder cell development and lightning. Noatak has the highest frequency of lightning strikes per year over the 15 year record. When ignitions are accompanied by dry windy conditions, fires in the shrub-tussock tundra and low shrub birch/ericaceous can spread rapidly and burn thousands of acres in a few days. Kobuk Valley National Park (KOVA) is in the transition zone between the interior Alaska forests and northern and western tundra. Of the WEAR parks, KOVA has the greatest amount of forested lands, with a majority of the needleleaf forest mapped as white spruce (Table 1). Fires are most frequent in lower elevation forests south of the Baird Mountains within open and woodland spruce forests. Ninety two percent of starts occur between June and July. As is typical of boreal forest fires, the fires tend to have longer duration than tundra fires. No studies have been completed on the fire return intervals within KOVA. Fire cycles based on fire perimeters from 1950-2007 indicate that the fire cycle for Kobuk Valley is 840 years (Joly et. al. 2010). Fire cycle is defined as the length of time for an area equal to the entire area of interest (i.e. total park acres) to burn (McPherson et. al. 1990). Bering Land Bridge National Preserve is located on the northern part of the Seward Peninsula. This area is a cold, wind-swept landmass jutting out into the Bering Sea. Vegetation is primarily tundra, with moist sedge-tussock shrub tundra communities at lower elevations and alpine Dryas-lichen tundra communities in the high mountains. Vegetation is primarily composed of sedge tussocks interspersed with scattered stringers of willows and dwarf birch. Patches of low-growing ericaceous and willow-birch shrubs occur on better-drained areas. Isolated pockets of balsam poplar occur within the region. These vegetation communities are susceptible to fire, but low frequency of lightning (Dissing and Verbyla 2003) and/or higher precipitation near coastal areas reduce the number of fires within BELA. The majority of acres burned within the preserve occurred during 1977, in which several large fires burned within and around the Preserve. Fire return intervals are not known for the preserve, however fire cycles based on fire perimeters from 1950-2007 indicate that the fire cycle for Bering Land Bridge is approximately 1,188 years (Joly et. al. 2010). Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR) is dominated by moist dwarf shrub-tussock tundra. The forest reaches its northwestern most limit in North America in the vicinity of the eastern border of Cape Krusenstern National Monument. The number of fires in CAKR is much lower than the other park units due to the wet maritime conditions and lack of ignition sources. Only four fires have been detected in CAKR over the past 50 years. Likewise, Joly and others found that the fire cycle for Cape Krusenstern was estimated at 53,349 years. No studies have been completed on the fire return intervals within CAKR. RECENT FIRE HISTORY A total of47 fires occurred within the Arctic Network of Parks during 2010. This is the largest number of fires to have occurred in the last 60 years of records (1950-2010). Noatak National Preserve had a record breaking 37 fires with at least 106,000 acres burned within the preserve. The largest fire to occur in the preserve that year was the Kaluktavik River fire which burned 23,269 acres. Although many of the fires were small (17 of the 37 fires were less than 1 acre in size), the average fire size was 2,905 acres. After this large fire year, NPS fire ecologist and crew assessed burn severity and vegetation composition at 5 of the 37 fires that occurred in Noatak in 2010. In most areas monitored, the burn severity was low to moderate and vegetation was rapidly recovering just one year after the fire. During the summer of 2011, a total of 15 fires occurred within the Arctic Network of Parks. Most of the fires occurred in Noatak National Preserve, 13 fires occurred and records indicate that 3,456 acres burned in the park. Most of the area burned resulted from a few fires, while 8 of the 13 fires burned 10 acres or less. Gates of the Arctic had 2 fires with a total of 184 acres burned. Overall for the state of Alaska the fire season was below the 10-year average for acres burned with a reported total of 293,017 acres burned and a total of 517 fires recorded. During the summer of 2012, an additional15 fires occurred within the Arctic Network of Parks. Again most of the fires occurred in Noatak National Preserve, 7 fires occurred and records indicate that 55,024 acres burned in the park. Most of the area burned resulted from 3 fires near the Uvgoon Cr and Kungiakrok Cr that burned together for a total 43,880 acres. Kobuk Valley had 5 fires recorded with a total of 6,713 acres burned. Gates of the Arctic had 3 fires with a total of 834 acres burned on park lands, but including the area outside the park a total of 4,613 acres burned. Overall for the state of Alaska the fire season was below the 10-year average for acres burned with a reported total of 260,417 acres burned and a total of 389 fires recorded. For more information about the National Park Service Inventory & Monitoring program's work on fire extent and severity, click here. To read more about the history of fires in Noatak National Preserve over the last six millenia, click here. If you don't believe lightning strikes often in northern Alaska, click here and enter dates that span up to two weeks during the months of June or July. Post A Comment Did You Know? River drainages on the north side of the Kobuk River in Kobuk Valley National Park support a healthy chum salmon run. River drainages on the south side of the Kobuk are better suited for whitefish species such as sheefish that can weigh 60 pounds.

Fire on the Tundra November 28, 2012 Did you know that more fires occurred within Noatak National Preserve during the summer of 2010 than in any other National Park units in Alaska? The following is an introduction to the history, ecology, and importance of fire in the Western Arctic National Parklands by Jennifer Barnes, NPS Fire Ecologist. HISTORIC ROLE OF FIRE IN THE WESTERN ARCTIC NATIONAL PAR

Degradation of LWR Core Internal Materials Due to Neutron Irradiation (NUREG/CR-7027) On this page: Download complete document This page includes links to files in non-HTML format. See Plugins, Viewers, and Other Tools for more information. Manuscript Completed: January 2010 Date Published: December 2010 Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 A.S. Rao, NRC Project Manager NRC Job Code N6818 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington DC 20555-0001 Austenitic stainless steels are used extensively as structural alloys in the internal components of light water reactor (LWR) pressure vessels because of their relatively high strength, ductility, and fracture toughness. However, exposure to neutron irradiation for extended periods changes the microstructure and microchemistry of these steels and degrades their fracture properties. This report presents a critical assessment of the susceptibility of LWR core internal materials to irradiation effects such as irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking (IASCC), neutron embrittlement, void swelling, and irradiation-induced stress relaxation. The existing data, in the open literature as well as from research carried out by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and industry, have been evaluated to establish the effects of material parameters (such as composition, thermo-mechanical treatment, microstructure, microchemistry, yield strength, and stacking fault energy) and environmental parameters (such as water chemistry, irradiation temperature, dose, and dose rate) on these processes. Differences in radiation-induced degradation in material properties between light water reactors and fast-reactor irradiations are also discussed. The results are used to (a) define a threshold fluence above which irradiation effects on materials properties are significant, (b) develop disposition curves for cyclic and IASCC growth rates for reactor core internal materials, and (c) assess the significance of void swelling and irradiation creep relaxation on the structural and functional integrity of reactor internal components. The report also identifies potential deficiencies or knowledge gaps in the existing experimental data on degradation of LWR core internal materials due to neutron irradiation.

Degradation of LWR Core Internal Materials Due to Neutron Irradiation (NUREG/CR-7027) On this page: Download complete document This page includes links to files in non-HTML format. See Plugins, Viewers, and Other Tools for more information. Manuscript Completed: January 2010 Date Published: December 2010 Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Avenue Argonne, IL 60439 A.S. Rao, NRC Project Man

Francis X. Popper taking sight with alidade. Plane table work on the Sacramento River Delta Image ID: theb1748, NOAA's Historic Coast & Geodetic Survey (C&GS) Collection Location: Sacramento River Delta, California Photo Date: January 9, 1941 Credit: Captain Francis X. Popper, C&GS Category: Topography/Plane Table/ • High Resolution Photo Available

Francis X. Popper taking sight with alidade. Plane table work on the Sacramento River Delta Image ID: theb1748, NOAA's Historic Coast & Geodetic Survey (C&GS) Collection Location: Sacramento River Delta, California Photo Date: January 9, 1941 Credit: Captain Francis X. Popper, C&GS Category: Topography/Plane Table/ • High Resolution Photo Available

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Monica Allen News Releases 2007 NOAA Home Page NOAA Office of Communications NOAA’s Fisheries Service published a new rule in the Federal Register on April 11 to allow the formation of Seafood Marketing Councils designed to help market and promote seafood to the American consumer. Councils can be established as of May 11. “The councils will help the seafood industry market its products and educate the consumer about the benefits of eating seafood,” said Bill Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries Service. The councils, established under the Fish and Seafood Promotion Act, will provide the public with accurate information on the health benefits of eating seafood as well as the environmental and biological sustainability of fish species. The councils will also fulfill a goal in the President’s Ocean Action Plan to enhance the understanding of our oceans. Over the last decade, seafood consumers have been bombarded with conflicting messages about the health attributes of various seafood products, the sustainability of fish species and the effects of overfishing on the marine ecosystem. This information from different sources, some accurate and some inaccurate, has confused consumers about what is safe to eat and what fish can be eaten that is not harmful to the fish ecosystem or the environment. The confusion among consumers has served to unnecessarily hurt the American seafood industry at a time when it is working under the strongest environmental regulations of any nation. In some cases, consumers have been erroneously warned not to eat certain fish when the fish are being harvested in a sustainable manner by a well regulated industry. The new seafood promotion councils will be funded entirely by the seafood industry, at no cost to the American taxpayer. However, their plans will be approved by NOAA Fisheries Service in order to ensure they do not conflict with the mission of NOAA to protect and preserve our nation’s living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. A copy of the Federal Register notice may be obtained online at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/E7-6751.htm The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is celebrating 200 years of science and service to the nation. From the establishment of the Survey of the Coast in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson to the formation of the Weather Bureau and the Commission of Fish and Fisheries in the 1870s, much of America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and information service delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes, predicts and protects. NOAA Fisheries Service is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources and their habitat through scientific research, management and enforcement. NOAA Fisheries Service provides effective stewardship of these resources for the benefit of the nation, supporting coastal communities that depend upon them, and helping to provide safe and healthy seafood to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public. On the Web: Fisheries Service: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Monica Allen News Releases 2007 NOAA Home Page NOAA Office of Communications NOAA’s Fisheries Service published a new rule in the Federal Register on April 11 to allow the formation of Seafood Marketing Councils designed to help market and promote seafood to the American consumer. Councils can be established as of May 11. “The councils will help the seafood industry

Community Rating System (CRS) Recognizing & Encouraging Floodplain Management The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary program for recognizing and encouraging community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum standards set up for the National Flood Insurance Program . The CRS does this by adjusting insurance premium rates to reflect the reduced flood risk that are a result of community activities that reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance rating, and promote awareness of flood insurance. Roanoke County is one of the few communities in Virginia that have applied for / been accepted into the CRS program. Due to the continuing efforts of the administration, every Roanoke County citizens that applies for flood insurance receives a 10% discount on their annual flood insurance premium.

Community Rating System (CRS) Recognizing & Encouraging Floodplain Management The Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary program for recognizing and encouraging community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum standards set up for the National Flood Insurance Program . The CRS does this by adjusting insurance premium rates to reflect the reduced flood risk that are a result

Brush Recycling Center | Residential Brush Pick Up | Storm Cleanup | Free Mulch Curbside Brush Recycling Pick Up Request Form Brush Recycling Center The Urban Forestry Division has recycled brush at the Brush Recycling Center, 310 Deepwood Drive , since October 2000. The Center is across the street from the Micki Krebsbach Swimming Pool and the Round Rock High School Practice Fields. Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday Brush Recycling Center (512) 218-5540 Accepted: tree trimmings, branches, limbs, and other parts of shrubs and trees. Not accepted: leaves (bagged leaves and grass clippings are accepted at the front Recycling Center), grass, landscape waste (palm trees, cacti, compost), tree stumps, treated wood such as telephone poles, railroad ties, lumber, demolition debris, rock, concrete, hazardous waste, and household garbage. (Residents must live inside Round Rock City limits and must prove residency by showing a current City of Round Rock water bill and valid drivers license to qualify for free drop off). A cubic yard of brush is measured by multiplying height X width X length divided by 27. Height, width, and length are measured in feet (12 inches). |Small Load (less than 2 cubic yards of brush| $15 per load |Medium Load (between 2 and 4 cubic yards of brush)| $20 per load $20 per load |Large Load (more than 4 cubic yards of brush| $40 per load $40 per load Note: a cubic yard is measured by (height x width x length)/27. Height, width and length are measured in feet. Residential Curbside Pick Up This service is provided to all Round Rock residents with current water utility service. Residential curbside brush pick-up is done by Round Rock Refuse. Brush pick-up is on Wednesdays. Requests must be made by 4:00 pm on Tuesday for same week brush pick-up. While Round Rock Refuse does the pick-up, the fee will appear on the City of Round Rock water utility bill. The service charge is $25 for the first five minutes and $1 for each additional minute. The charge for this service is based on the length of time it takes to pick and grind the material. Charges will be billed to your monthly City utility bill. We’re sorry, but we do not provide cost estimates. The charges will be added to your monthly water bill. Pick-up Requirements: The brush must be piled along the curb, preferably no longer than 10 feet in length, and not bundled. Dates: Brush pick-up is on Wednesdays. Requests must be made by 4:00 pm Tuesday for same week brush pick-up. Service Requests: All requests should be made by calling the Round Rock Parks and Recreation Department at 218-5540. or through the online form. Storms in Central Texas are not always just rain and thunder. To avoid heavy storm damage to your trees and property here are some tips below Storm Damage Safety Tips 1. Large trees should not be placed under utility wires or too close to buildings or other structures. 2. Make sure the tree has plenty of room to grow roots to hold it into the soil. Otherwise, it can be very easy for a tree to fall over. 3. Make sure to plant healthy, quality trees. This keeps down on the pruning necessary to keep the tree looking great, and will help the tree stay healthy after being planted. 4. Trees should be pruned to develop strong form. Young trees should be pruned regularly and routinely every three to five years after planting. 5. Keep up with pruning dead or weakened limbs. Trees that are dead and located on private property should be removed by a private arborist. 6. Refrain from "Tree Topping"; this is an unnecessary and dangerous practice. Not only is it easy to hurt or kill your tree, but also when braches do grow back they are not anchored well and can easily break off. City Ordinance Regarding Storm Cleanup Round Rock Code of Ordinances Chapter 6- Health and Sanitation Article 6.611 Disposal of bulky, heavy materials No (4) Brush Collection by City Upon request of the owner or occupant of a tract of land the city will remove tree trimmings and/or brush debris resulting from storm damage or created by such owner or occupant of a residence or business. The tree trimmings and/or brush debris must be placed in or adjacent to the street right-of-way. For such service, the owner or occupant will be charged a minimum of twenty five dollars ($25.00). In the event the on site crew time exceeds five (5) minutes, and a dollar for each additional minute. Ordinance No. 2567 of February 27, 1992 Only in catastrophic storms can brush be picked up without fee. This method is very limited and based only on the emergency decision by the City Manager through a formal statement of a storm-related emergency. All the rules for curbside recycling defined above will be enforced. If there is no formal statement from the City Manager, normal rules and processes apply. It is the property owner’s responsibility to clear, remove, and dispose of any storm generated brush from his property. There is a reward for recycling your brush-- free mulch! (Residents must live inside Round Rock City limits and must prove residency by showing a current City of Round Rock water bill and valid drivers license to qualify for free mulch). Residents may take small pickup truck loads of mulch during the Center's hours of operation. No commercial vehicles, dump trucks or large trailers qualify for free residential mulch. Large amounts of mulch are also used in city parks for trees and landscape mulching. For details on how to apply mulch, visit our Tree Planting Page. Hours of operation: 9 am - 6 pm Monday- Saturday For more information, contact Forestry Manager Emsud Horozovic at 512-218-5540.

Brush Recycling Center | Residential Brush Pick Up | Storm Cleanup | Free Mulch Curbside Brush Recycling Pick Up Request Form Brush Recycling Center The Urban Forestry Division has recycled brush at the Brush Recycling Center, 310 Deepwood Drive , since October 2000. The Center is across the street from the Micki Krebsbach Swimming Pool and the Round Rock High School Practice Fields. Hours of oper

Richmond-Tweed Regional Library is happy to present Storytime for the enjoyment of you and your children. This free service provides an opportunity for your children who are not already attending primary school to listen to stories, sing songs and do craft activities in a group environment. Storytime is held at different library branches and times around the region. The more children are exposed to reading, singing, rhymes, books and story telling the more they’ll understand about language and words and help lay the foundation children need to develop reading and writing skills. Lismore Wednesday & Thursday 10:30am Goonellabah Tuesday 10:30am Ballina Tuesday & Friday 11:00am Alstonville Tuesday 11:00am Lennox Head Thursday 10:30am Byron Bay Tuesday 10:30am Mullumbimby Friday 10:30am Brunswick Heads Monday 10:30am Tweed Heads Wednesday & Thursday 11:00am Murwillumbah Wednesday 11:00am Kingscliff Wednesday 11:00am Website Privacy Statement

Richmond-Tweed Regional Library is happy to present Storytime for the enjoyment of you and your children. This free service provides an opportunity for your children who are not already attending primary school to listen to stories, sing songs and do craft activities in a group environment. Storytime is held at different library branches and times around the region. The more children are exposed t

The Development of Be/Be Alloy Substitute Material for Optical Applications Agency / Branch: DOD / MDA Beryllium and beryllium alloys have been used in a wide variety of military/defense applications because of its ultra-lightweight and other inherent properties. However, because of its health hazards its use will be phased out in the next few years, thusrequiring an affordable substitute with similar profile/characteristics. Optical applications are one of the most demanding substitute applications. There are several intermetallics and isotropic composites, which have densities equivalent, to lower thanBe/Be alloy, that can be utilized as optical components substitutes. This program will investigate select intermetallic and isotropic composites materials that can be polished to mirror quality as substitutes for Be/Be alloy. Concurrently, a literaturesurvey will be performed as well as a first principles analysis to identify other materials as possible substitutes for Be/Be alloy. A small mirror will be produced and directly compared with a Be mirror. A systems supplier wil be used in Phase II fordirect application of the developed technology. A material with the profile/characteristics of Be/Be alloy without health hazards will have applications not only as a substitute for Be/Be alloy in military/defense but substantial uses in aerospace andgeneral industry. Small Business Information at Submission: MATERIALS & ELECTROCHEMICAL RESEARCH (ME 7960 S. Kolb Rd. Tucson, AZ 85706 Number of Employees:

The Development of Be/Be Alloy Substitute Material for Optical Applications Agency / Branch: DOD / MDA Beryllium and beryllium alloys have been used in a wide variety of military/defense applications because of its ultra-lightweight and other inherent properties. However, because of its health hazards its use will be phased out in the next few years, thusrequiring an affordable substitute with sim

Devolution established the Scottish Parliament with responsibility for devolved matters while the UK Parliament remains responsible for 'reserved matters' in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament has full legislative competence (in other words, it can pass both primary and secondary legislation) across a wide range of devolved subjects. The Scottish Government is the devolved administration led by a First Minister, elected by the Scottish Parliament, who appoints a Cabinet of Scottish Ministers. The 1998 Scotland Act does not set out devolved subjects but instead lists 'reserved matters' for which the UK Parliament retains responsibility. By definition, devolved matters on which the Parliament can legislate are all those which are not specifically reserved (with certain provisos set out in the Act). Devolved issues include: - education and training - local government - social work - tourism, economic development and financial assistance to industry - some aspects of transport, including the Scottish road network, bus policy and ports and harbours - law and home affairs, including most aspects of criminal and civil law, the prosecution system and the courts - the Police and Fire services - the environment - natural and built heritage - agriculture, forestry and fishing - sport and the arts - statistics, public registers and records

Devolution established the Scottish Parliament with responsibility for devolved matters while the UK Parliament remains responsible for 'reserved matters' in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament has full legislative competence (in other words, it can pass both primary and secondary legislation) across a wide range of devolved subjects. The Scottish Government is the devolved administration led by a F

August 4, 2010 I believe the proposed 12(b)-1 fee change will hurt investors seeking professional financial planning advice. As an example, if a young family wanted to seek advice from a financial planner and suppose they have $10,000 to invest into mutual funds. A class C share fund offers them a way of investing without paying an upfront fee and all their money goes to work in the fund right away. The fund then pays the advisory company approximately $100 in commission. Of this $100 in commission, on average 75% goes to the financial planner after the broker dealer takes there share. So now the planner has made $75 in commission for 2 to 4 hours of work. With a class C share the advisor would be compensated $75 per year on an ongoing basis to service this clients planning needs. Under the new proposed regulations, the C share fee would reduce to $25 per year after 4 years (converting to an A share) and the advisor would receive $18 per $10,000 under management. This is not enough compensation to manage a business and help the client with their planning needs. Advisors would need to start charging planning fees to clients. The small investor would be hurt the most by these new proposals. The small advisor who is just starting into a planning career would also be hurt. I would recommend not changing the fee structure payout on a class C share fund. Just change the name from 12(b)-1 to something else like advisory fee.

August 4, 2010 I believe the proposed 12(b)-1 fee change will hurt investors seeking professional financial planning advice. As an example, if a young family wanted to seek advice from a financial planner and suppose they have $10,000 to invest into mutual funds. A class C share fund offers them a way of investing without paying an upfront fee and all their money goes to work in the fund right awa

Part 1: Political and Human Rights Conditions Bahrain is a monarchy led by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, who also heads all branches of government. The king appoints a cabinet of ministers, half of whom are members of the Al Khalifa royal family. The 2002 constitution established a bicameral legislature consisting of a 40-member Shura (consultative) council appointed by the king and a 40-member elected chamber of deputies (Nawwab). The law authorizes registered political societies to run candidates and participate in other political activities; however, it prohibits organizations that call themselves political parties. Trained local observers did not report significant problems in the 2006 elections, although there were allegations that the government manipulated general polling center vote counts in some cases and gerrymandered political districts. The government restricted civil liberties, including freedoms of press, speech, assembly, association, and some religious practices. The citizen population is predominantly Shia, but Sunnis dominate nearly all government sectors, hold the majority of cabinet positions, and occupy 22 out of 40 seats in the elected house of parliament. Trafficking in persons and restrictions on the internationally accepted rights of expatriate workers remained problems. Part 2: U.S. Government Democracy Objectives The U.S. Government works toward broadening political participation and strengthening the rule of law to achieve greater trust and cooperation among citizens, civil society, and the government. To that end, the United States encourages the government to adopt greater transparency. The U.S. Government considers parliament a key element of the political reform process and an important voice for the country's citizen population. Many citizens do not trust the court system and argue that judges lack training or are subject to government influence. Thus, the U.S. Government seeks to reform the judicial system to improve both its reputation and its reliability. The embassy also seeks to raise public awareness and works with the government to combat the significant problem of trafficking in persons and to improve the treatment of foreign workers and women. U.S. officials maintain close relationships with many political and civil society groups, enabling them to assess the views of the groups and other advocates of reform when establishing reform priorities. Part 3: Supporting Top Priorities and Other Aspects of Human Rights and Democratic Governance The United States supports a number of activities that improve the political environment and broaden political participation. The U.S. chief of mission and other U.S. officials regularly engage the government and opposition political leaders, influential members of the press, and local civil society organizations and NGOs that respect and promote the rule of law. As part of U.S. activities, the chief of mission maintains positive relationships with the leaders of political societies, including those represented in parliament and many not currently represented. U.S. officials attend the open meetings that some members of parliament hold for constituents. During these events, embassy officers encourage continued participation in the political process and listen to citizens' concerns regarding the status of local reforms. The U.S. Government funds programs that address political participation; provide training to NGOs, labor groups, and government officials; promote the rule of law; and support media freedom. The United States has expanded its public affairs outreach and education programming in order to help prepare the next generation of leaders to continue the country's reform efforts. The United States supports the country's efforts to build an experienced, effective, and accountable parliament. A U.S.-funded NGO conducts several training programs for parliamentarians, their staff, and other political societies. The U.S. Government has arranged travel and consultations with Congress and state legislatures for two local parliamentarians to visit the U.S. in the summer of 2009 and intends to cooperate with an international NGO to bring representatives of all parliamentary parties to the United States later in the year. The U.S. Government is also coordinating a program to familiarize local election officials with polling procedures and the latest voting technology with the intent of increasing transparency in the electoral process prior to the 2010 parliamentary elections. As part of a U.S.-funded program geared toward judicial reform, an experienced American attorney works as a consultant in the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and transparency of the judicial system. The government regularly lauds the program for its impact and has requested additional support to modernize further its judicial system. To respond to the government's efforts in this area, the U.S. embassy works with the Ministry of Justice's Judicial and Legal Studies Institute (JLSI) to conduct specialized training for judges, lawyers, law schools, and the bar association. The U.S. Government and JLSI are jointly developing a training module for prosecutors to investigate bulk cash smuggling. The United States also provides funding to combat domestic violence. The U.S. Government uses a range of resources to address the problem of trafficking in persons and alleged forced labor in the country. The United States seeks to enhance the abilities of the government, domestic and foreign worker groups, and the NGO sector to enforce worker rights and combat trafficking in persons through grants for capacity building, training, and awareness campaigns. U.S. officials continually stress to government officials of all levels the country's responsibilities for combating trafficking in persons. The United States funds training for journalists to cover trafficking in persons and for these journalists to work with the government to monitor government efforts on this issue. U.S. officials also coordinate with government officials from labor-sending countries to facilitate information exchange on the status of foreign workers, including through an online forum created by U.S. embassy personnel.

Part 1: Political and Human Rights Conditions Bahrain is a monarchy led by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, who also heads all branches of government. The king appoints a cabinet of ministers, half of whom are members of the Al Khalifa royal family. The 2002 constitution established a bicameral legislature consisting of a 40-member Shura (consultative) council appointed by the king and a 40-member e

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance is pleased to announce the winners of the first Innovation in Arms Control Challenge. This Challenge, which received interest from more than 500 potential solvers, sought creative ideas from the general public to use commonly available technologies to support arms control policy efforts. Ms. Lovely Umayam, a graduate student from the Monterey Institute of International Studies at Middlebury College, located in Monterey, California, has been awarded the first prize of $5000. Ms. Umayam developed “Bombshelltoe,” an online education platform that examines the intersection of culture and nuclear issues in order to facilitate better public understanding of basic nuclear and arms control-related issues. Mr. Allan Childers, an aerospace/defense industry consultant from Florida, has been awarded a runner-up prize of $2500. Mr. Childers’ proposal was a mobile application that provides a platform for users to connect and interact, as well as a rewards program for sharing information on various arms agreement regimes. Dr. Rudolph “Chip” Mappus, a research scientist at Georgia Tech Research Institute working on computational neurology and brain-machine interfaces, has also been awarded a runner-up prize of $2500. He proposed a unique geographically based online social game for verifying treaty compliance. Experts post detailed tasks online, and citizens complete tasks for rewards using photographic and human report data using smartphones and/or consumer grade hardware. The Innovation in Arms Control Challenge is one way that the U.S. Department of State is exploring new ideas to help reshape its approaches to the security challenges in the 21st century. In creating opportunities for public participation, we aim to harness the networks, technologies, and human potential that can help of combat the threats in our increasingly interdependent and interconnected world. Media Contact: Jamie Mannina, [email protected].

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance is pleased to announce the winners of the first Innovation in Arms Control Challenge. This Challenge, which received interest from more than 500 potential solvers, sought creative ideas from the general public to use commonly available technologies to support arms control policy efforts. Ms. Lovely Umayam, a graduat

South Holston Reservoir South Holston Reservoir is on the South Fork Holston River in northeast Tennessee. It extends 24 miles east of the dam into Virginia. Construction of the dam began in 1942 but was halted in favor of other wartime construction efforts. Building resumed in 1947 and was completed in 1950. South Holston is operated for several purposes, including flood damage reduction, power production, aquatic ecology, and augmentation of the flow of water during drier periods. The South Fork Holston River is home to an annual spring migration of white bass. Locals say that when the serviceberry and dogwood bloom, the white bass run. A footbridge from the parking lot below the dam leads to Osceola Island and its one-mile-loop wildlife trail. Early in the morning or late in the evening are the best times to sight waterfowl, deer, and other wildlife. More information on South Holston Reservoir

South Holston Reservoir South Holston Reservoir is on the South Fork Holston River in northeast Tennessee. It extends 24 miles east of the dam into Virginia. Construction of the dam began in 1942 but was halted in favor of other wartime construction efforts. Building resumed in 1947 and was completed in 1950. South Holston is operated for several purposes, including flood damage reduction, power p

[Picture of Salt River stream gaging station near Etna, Wyoming] This is a picture of a typical data collection station. There are basically four types of stations used by Hydromet: stream, reservoir, weather, and snowpack. This particular station measures only the height of the water in the nearby river, providing data from which streamflow can be calculated. Measurements are logged and stored every 15 minutes, then transmitted to the GOES-9 satellite every 4 hours. Power is provide by solar cells that charge an internal battery. Stations can monitor a wide variety of conditions, including things like water and air temperatures, turbidity, dissolved gas content, soil moisture, wind conditions, solar radiation, seismic activity, structural stability, snow depth, or precipitation.

[Picture of Salt River stream gaging station near Etna, Wyoming] This is a picture of a typical data collection station. There are basically four types of stations used by Hydromet: stream, reservoir, weather, and snowpack. This particular station measures only the height of the water in the nearby river, providing data from which streamflow can be calculated. Measurements are logged and stored ev

Chapter 1 summary Evolution of public health security Chapter 1 begins by tracing some of the first steps, historically, that led to the introduction of IHR (1969) – landmarks in public health starting with quarantine, a term coined in the 14th century and employed as a protection against “foreign” diseases such as plague; improvements in sanitation that were effective in controlling cholera outbreaks in the 19th century; and the advent of vaccination which led to the eradication of smallpox and the control of many other infectious diseases in the 20th century. Understanding the history of international health cooperation – its successes and its failures – is essential in appreciating its new relevance and potential. Numerous international conferences on disease control in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to the foundation of WHO in 1948. In 1951, WHO Member States adopted the International Sanitary Regulations, which were replaced and renamed the International Health Regulations in 1969. Starting in 1995, the Regulations were revised through an intergovernmental process which took into account new epidemiological understanding and accumulated experience, and which responded to the changing world and the related increased threats to global public health security. It was agreed that a code of conduct was required that could not only prevent and control such threats, but could also provide a public health response to them while avoiding unnecessary interference with international trade and traffic. The revision process was completed in 2005 and the Regulations are now referred to as IHR (2005). Chapter 1 describes how the basis of an effective global system of epidemic alert and response was initiated by WHO in 1996 and how it has been widely expanded since then. It was built essentially on a concept of international partnership with many other agencies and technical institutions. Called the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), this partnership provides an operational and coordination framework to access expertise and skill, and to keep the international community constantly alert to the threat of outbreaks and ready to respond. Coordinated by WHO, the network is made up of over 140 technical partners from more than 60 countries. In addition, the unique, large-scale active surveillance network developed by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is being used to support surveillance of many other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, meningitis, neonatal tetanus and yellow fever. This network is also regularly supporting outbreak surveillance and response activities for other health emergencies and outbreaks described in the report. In 2002, WHO established the Chemical Incident Alert and Response System to operate along similar lines to GOARN. This was extended in 2006 to cover other environmental health emergencies, including those related to the disruption of environmental health services, such as water supply and sanitation, as well as radiological events and emergencies. The revised Regulations define an emergency as an “extraordinary event” that could spread internationally or might require a coordinated international response. Events that may constitute a public health emergency of international concern are assessed by State Parties using a decision instrument and, if particular criteria are met, WHO must be notified. Mandatory notification is called for in a single case of a disease that could threaten global public health security: human influenza caused by a new virus subtype, poliomyelitis caused by a wild-type poliovirus, SARS and smallpox. The broad definitions of “public health emergency of international concern” and “disease” allow for the inclusion in IHR (2005) of threats beyond infectious diseases, including those caused by the accidental or intentional release of pathogens, or chemical or radionuclear materials. This extends the scope of the Regulations to protect global public health security in a comprehensive way. The IHR (2005) redirect the focus from an almost exclusive concentration on measures at airports and seaports aimed at blocking the importation of cases, as required in IHR (1969), towards a rapid response at the source of an outbreak. They introduce a set of “core capacity requirements” that all countries must meet in order to detect, assess, notify and report the events covered by IHR (2005) and aim to strengthen collaboration on a global scale by seeking to improve capacity and demonstrate to countries that compliance is in their best interests. Thus, compliance has three compelling incentives: to reduce the disruptive consequences of an outbreak, to speed its containment, and to maintain good standing in the eyes of the international community. A revolutionary departure from previous international conventions and regulations is the fact that IHR (2005) explicitly acknowledges that non-state sources of information about outbreaks will often pre-empt official notifications. This includes situations where countries may be reluctant to reveal an event in their territories. WHO is now authorized through IHR (2005) to take into account information sources other than official notifications. WHO will always seek official verification of such information from the country involved before taking any action based on the information received. This reflects a new reality in a world of instant communications: the concealment of disease outbreaks is no longer a viable option for governments.

Chapter 1 summary Evolution of public health security Chapter 1 begins by tracing some of the first steps, historically, that led to the introduction of IHR (1969) – landmarks in public health starting with quarantine, a term coined in the 14th century and employed as a protection against “foreign” diseases such as plague; improvements in sanitation that were effective in controlling cholera outbr

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards DOE currently is active in standards and test procedure development for the following products: Full-Fuel-Cycle Analyses for Use in Energy Conservation Standards In its effort to adopt several National Academy of Sciences recommendations, DOE's Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program intends to modify the methods it uses to estimate the likely impacts of energy conservation standards for covered products on energy use and emissions and to expand the energy use and emissions information made available to consumers. Specifically, DOE intends to use full-fuel-cycle (FFC) measures of energy and emissions, rather than the primary energy measures it currently uses.

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office – Appliance & Equipment Standards DOE currently is active in standards and test procedure development for the following products: Full-Fuel-Cycle Analyses for Use in Energy Conservation Standards In its effort to adopt several National Academy of Sciences recommendations, DOE's Appliances and Commercial

Fact #762: January 14, 2013 Sales from Introduction: Hybrid Vehicles vs. Plug-in Vehicles The Toyota Prius hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) was first released in the U.S. market in January 2000 and 324 were sold in the first month. The Chevrolet Volt, a hybrid-electric plug-in, and the Nissan Leaf, an all-electric plug-in vehicle, were first released in December 2010. The Prius plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) began sales in April 2012. The chart below shows a comparison of the sales of the Prius HEV from when it was first introduced, to the sales of the Volt, the Leaf, and the Prius PHEV when they were first introduced. The first month sales for the Volt were 326—two more than the Prius HEV's first month. Sales for the Leaf started out slower than the other vehicles, but rose dramatically from month 3 to month 7. Over the first 24 months from introduction, the Prius HEV achieved monthly sales of over 1,700 in month 18, the Leaf achieved about 1,700 units in month 7, the Prius PHEV achieved nearly 1,900 sales in month 8, and the Volt achieved more than 2,900 sales in month 23. Notes: Month 1 for the Prius HEV = January 2000. Month 1 for the Volt and Leaf = December 2010. Month 1 for the Prius PHEV = April 2012. |Months Since Market Introduction||Prius HEV||Volt||Leaf||Prius PHEV| |Total as of 24 months||21,118||28,825||18,023||9,622| |Note: Total for Prius PHEV is for the eight months it has been on sale. Source: Data compiled by Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, December 2012.

Fact #762: January 14, 2013 Sales from Introduction: Hybrid Vehicles vs. Plug-in Vehicles The Toyota Prius hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) was first released in the U.S. market in January 2000 and 324 were sold in the first month. The Chevrolet Volt, a hybrid-electric plug-in, and the Nissan Leaf, an all-electric plug-in vehicle, were first released in December 2010. The Prius plug-in hybrid electri

West Valley City Looks to Improve Travel by Coordinating Traffic Signals March 28, 2012 City leaders are hoping a traffic signal coordination plan will help improve travel times and reduce vehicle emissions on city streets. The City Council approved an agreement Tuesday night with Taylorsville-based transportation engineering and planning firm Avenue Consultants to develop and implement traffic signal timing plans. City transportation officials want to make sure traffic moves safely and efficiently throughout the city, with minimal delays. Unnecessary stops at traffic lights impede the flow of traffic and can result in driver frustration and a potential increase in accidents, they said. Read more about this story in the March 28 edition of the Deseret News.

West Valley City Looks to Improve Travel by Coordinating Traffic Signals March 28, 2012 City leaders are hoping a traffic signal coordination plan will help improve travel times and reduce vehicle emissions on city streets. The City Council approved an agreement Tuesday night with Taylorsville-based transportation engineering and planning firm Avenue Consultants to develop and implement traffic si

Invention Challenge at JPL Students compete in the 2012 Invention Challenge at JPL. The event drew more than 240 students, teachers and guests from 18 schools throughout Southern California. This year's challenge was to build a device capable of propelling a roll of toilet tissue in such a way that it creates a long, unbroken stream of tissue paper. A total of 20 student teams competed along with 8 teams made up of JPL engineers and scientists. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Invention Challenge at JPL Students compete in the 2012 Invention Challenge at JPL. The event drew more than 240 students, teachers and guests from 18 schools throughout Southern California. This year's challenge was to build a device capable of propelling a roll of toilet tissue in such a way that it creates a long, unbroken stream of tissue paper. A total of 20 student teams competed along with

NASA Honors Legendary Flight Director Gene Kranz TOLEDO, Ohio - NASA will honor Eugene Francis "Gene" Kranz with the presentation of an Ambassador of Exploration Award for his involvement in the U.S. space program. Kranz will receive the award during a ceremony at 2 p.m. CST on Dec. 6 at the Central Catholic High School. Kranz is a 1951 graduate of Central Catholic. The award will remain at the Toledo school for display. Reporters who would like to attend the ceremony should contact Michele Jurek ([email protected]) at 419-255-2306, ext. 148, by 3 p.m. on Dec. 5. The award is a moon rock encased in Lucite and mounted for public display as inspiration to a new generation of explorers who will help return humans to the moon and eventually travel on to Mars and beyond. The rock is part of the 842 pounds of samples collected during the six Apollo lunar expeditions from 1969 to 1972. NASA is giving the Ambassador of Exploration Award to the first generation of explorers in the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space programs for realizing America's vision of going to the moon. NASA also is recognizing several key individuals who played significant roles in the early space programs. Kranz worked on NASA's Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space missions. Kranz was the lead flight director during the Apollo 13 mission. An explosion aboard the spacecraft during Apollo 13 required Kranz and other team members to help resolve the crisis and safely bring the astronauts back to Earth. Kranz was a co-recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the Apollo 13 Mission. For information about Central Catholic High School, visit: http://www.centralcatholic.org/ For more images of the award, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/AofEphotos.html - end - text-only version of this release NASA press releases and other information are available automatically by sending a blank e-mail message to To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send a blank e-mail message to Back to NASA Newsroom | Back to NASA Homepage

NASA Honors Legendary Flight Director Gene Kranz TOLEDO, Ohio - NASA will honor Eugene Francis "Gene" Kranz with the presentation of an Ambassador of Exploration Award for his involvement in the U.S. space program. Kranz will receive the award during a ceremony at 2 p.m. CST on Dec. 6 at the Central Catholic High School. Kranz is a 1951 graduate of Central Catholic. The award will remain at the To

Since Spirit's landing on January 3, 2004, Mars has completed one orbit around the Sun. That's one martian year - about twice as long as a year on Earth. With this anniversary in mind, it's time to celebrate the rover's accomplishments. From working with prototype rovers in an Earth-bound sandbox, to driving on the actual red sands of Mars, Dr. Ashley Stroupe gets the best of both planets. What could have been dismissed as "just static" in a radio signal is actually an echo from Mars that might reflect the shape of hidden ice and rock structures beneath the martian surface. In fall of 2005, Mars will outshine most of the stars in the night sky. NASA scientists have discovered additional evidence that Mars once underwent movement of the planet’s crust, like the present-day Earth. As the rovers keep journeying across the surface of Mars, scientists are busy churning out journal articles that herald the new discoveries revealed by their robot geologist partners. Blind students explore Mars with computer skills and adventurers' hearts. Spirit backs off from its first attempt to reach the top of the "Columbia Hills." The largest of the two is less than a foot wide. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will follow clues to where the lost Mars Polar Lander and Beagle 2 might be. Spirit spies a swarm of dust devils wheeling across the plains of Gusev Crater. This summer, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will embark on a mission to examine the surface of Mars in more detail than ever before. Camera images from Mars tell a story about wind. Rob Manning, leader of the landing team for the Mars Rovers, recalls the thrills and chills of Spirit's historic arrival. And now, for Spirit and Opportunity, it's time for the bonus round. How do you get a picture-perfect day on Mars? By conducting tests, tests and more tests on Earth. Learn how scientists can interpret Mars by following geologist Jim Garvin on a virtual tour of a recently formed volcanic island in Iceland.› View This Video Mars opens a new window on our own planet.› View This Video Administrator's "we're back" enshrined at Mission:SPACE thrill ride. The European Space Agency spacecraft's discovery raises the exciting question -- "Where does the methane come from?"

Since Spirit's landing on January 3, 2004, Mars has completed one orbit around the Sun. That's one martian year - about twice as long as a year on Earth. With this anniversary in mind, it's time to celebrate the rover's accomplishments. From working with prototype rovers in an Earth-bound sandbox, to driving on the actual red sands of Mars, Dr. Ashley Stroupe gets the best of both planets. What co

Corporate and personal liability. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Agent" means any director, officer, or employee of a corporation, or any other person who is authorized to act on behalf of the corporation; (b) "Corporation" includes a joint stock association; (c) "High managerial agent" means an officer or director of a corporation or any other agent in a position of comparable authority with respect to the formulation of corporate policy or the supervision in a managerial capacity of subordinate employees. (2) A corporation is guilty of an offense when: (a) The conduct constituting the offense consists of an omission to discharge a specific duty of performance imposed on corporations by law; or (b) The conduct constituting the offense is engaged in, authorized, solicited, requested, commanded, or tolerated by the board of directors or by a high managerial agent acting within the scope of his or her employment and on behalf of the corporation; or (c) The conduct constituting the offense is engaged in by an agent of the corporation, other than a high managerial agent, while acting within the scope of his or her employment and in behalf of the corporation and (i) the offense is a gross misdemeanor or misdemeanor, or (ii) the offense is one defined by a statute which clearly indicates a legislative intent to impose such criminal liability on a corporation. (3) A person is criminally liable for conduct constituting an offense which he or she performs or causes to be performed in the name of or on behalf of a corporation to the same extent as if such conduct were performed in his or her own name or behalf. (4) Whenever a duty to act is imposed by law upon a corporation, any agent of the corporation who knows he or she has or shares primary responsibility for the discharge of the duty is criminally liable for a reckless or, if a high managerial agent, criminally negligent omission to perform the required act to the same extent as if the duty were by law imposed directly upon such agent. (5) Every corporation, whether foreign or domestic, which shall violate any provision of RCW 9A.28.040, shall forfeit every right and franchise to do business in this state. The attorney general shall begin and conduct all actions and proceedings necessary to enforce the provisions of this subsection. [2011 c 336 § 352; 1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.08.030.]

Corporate and personal liability. (1) As used in this section: (a) "Agent" means any director, officer, or employee of a corporation, or any other person who is authorized to act on behalf of the corporation; (b) "Corporation" includes a joint stock association; (c) "High managerial agent" means an officer or director of a corporation or any other agent in a position of comparable authority with r

Public Health Emergency Preparedness This resource was part of AHRQ's Public Health Emergency Preparedness program, which was discontinued on June 30, 2011, in a realignment of Federal efforts. This information is for reference purposes only. It was current when produced and may now be outdated. Archive material is no longer maintained, and some links may not work. Persons with disabilities having difficulty accessing this information should contact us at: https://info.ahrq.gov. Let us know the nature of the problem, the Web address of what you want, and your contact information. Please go to www.ahrq.gov for current information. This guide is designed to provide hospital evacuation decision teams with organized and systematic guidance on how to consider the many factors that bear on the decision to order an evacuation, and assist decision teams in identifying some of the special situations, often overlooked, that may exist in their facility or geographic area that could affect the decision to evacuate. Select to download print version (PDF File, 195 KB; PDF Help). Richard Zane, M.D., Principal Investigator Paul Biddinger, M.D., Principal Investigator Chapter 1. Introduction Types of Disasters vs. Reasons for Evacuation Chapter 2. Pre-Disaster Self-Assessment Critical Infrastructure Self-Assessment Worksheet Estimating Evacuation Time Chapter 3. Pre-Event Evacuation Decision Guide Wait and Reassess Pre-Event Evacuation or Shelter-in-Place? Evacuation Sequence in a Pre-Event Evacuation Chapter 4. Post-Event Evacuation Decision Guide Wait and Reassess, or Evacuate? Evacuation Sequence in a Post-Event Evacuation Appendix A: Technical Expert Panel Members Appendix B: Project Staff The Hospital Evacuation Decision Guide was produced under a contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS's) Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) with Abt Associates (Contract No. 290-20-0600-011). HHS's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) provided additional support. Special thanks to CAPT Melissa Sanders, Deputy Team Leader, ASPR (formerly HRSA Branch Chief), for her ongoing support of the work through her role with the Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program. The authors of this report are responsible for its content. No statement in the report should be construed as an official position of HHS, HRSA, AHRQ, or ASPR. This document is in the public domain and may be used and reprinted without permission except those copyrighted materials noted for which further reproduction is prohibited without specific permission of copyright holders. AHRQ Publication No. 10-0009 Current as of May 2010

Public Health Emergency Preparedness This resource was part of AHRQ's Public Health Emergency Preparedness program, which was discontinued on June 30, 2011, in a realignment of Federal efforts. This information is for reference purposes only. It was current when produced and may now be outdated. Archive material is no longer maintained, and some links may not work. Persons with disabilities having

This item is available under a Creative Commons License for non-commercial use only An effective way to minimise harmonic pollution in power systems is by careful design of the equipment connected to them. It is important for designers of equipment associated with emerging technologies to be aware of the potential impact of their designs on power system quality. One such upcoming technology is electric vehicle (EV) battery charging which may contribute to high harmonic distortion in the power system during the charging period. The literature notes total harmonic distortion of up to 50%. These findings are the impetus behind the present paper, where an EV battery charger has been designed, with an inherent power quality control feature. A parallel power circuit topology has been proposed on an existing ferroresonant charger, which ensures that the THD of the input current remains within the acceptable harmonic distortion limits of the distribution system. The design and control of the battery charger are elaborated upon in the paper and simulation results are presented which confirm the performance of the charger. Basu, Malabika and Gaughan, Kevin and Coyle, Eugene: Harmonic distortion caused by EV battery chargers in the distribution systems network and its remedy. UPEC 2004:39th International Universities Power Engineering Conference, 6-8 September, 2004.

This item is available under a Creative Commons License for non-commercial use only An effective way to minimise harmonic pollution in power systems is by careful design of the equipment connected to them. It is important for designers of equipment associated with emerging technologies to be aware of the potential impact of their designs on power system quality. One such upcoming technology is ele

By: Christina Motilall After a hard day’s work, it is important to go home and put your feet up. Maybe even pop the tab on your favorite soft drink and relax a bit. But what if you took your empty can and added it not to your recycling bin, but to your home décor? This is the idea behind Franklin Middle School student Samuel Roman’s Pop Can Chair. Samuel built the chair out of pop cans for ‘Use or Lose it!” an ‘upcycling’ competition sponsored by an EPA research laboratory in Oregon. ‘Upcycling’ means taking objects normally seen as trash and making something new and practical out of them. In this case, Samuel used pop cans (472 to be exact) that he collected from recycling bins in the neighborhood. He assembled the cans with hot glue and rubber bands, making a seat fit for an environmentally-aware king. When asked why he decided to take on this project, Samuel said “I chose to make a chair out of cans because it is useful.” And he couldn’t be more right. The option to reduce waste by reusing items is a very useful opportunity at our disposal. As a bonus, it also has economic value. Samuel figured this out from the chair’s inception though, noting his chair’s utility when saying “You don’t have to go to the store and buy a very expensive one. You can just make your own by collecting cans.” Samuel’s chair is environmental-conscious and economical. No wonder it was named an Outstanding Project by judges at a reception hosted at EPA. Samuel received an ‘upcycled’ trophy and recognition by local leaders such as Corvallis, Oregon mayor Julie Manning and EPA lab director Tom Fontaine. But the most important thing I am sure is on everyone’s mind is… how do I get one of these chairs? The answer may already be in your recycling bin. About the author: Christina Motilall is an intern for the Office of Research and Development’s Science Communications Team. Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.

By: Christina Motilall After a hard day’s work, it is important to go home and put your feet up. Maybe even pop the tab on your favorite soft drink and relax a bit. But what if you took your empty can and added it not to your recycling bin, but to your home décor? This is the idea behind Franklin Middle School student Samuel Roman’s Pop Can Chair. Samuel built the chair out of pop cans for ‘Use or

|Posted on Jun 14, 2010 10:43:21 AM | NASA Testing for Human Space Exploration | 2 Comments || by Allyson Brady This blog is courtesy of the Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP) For more information please visit their website at www.pavilionlake.com As the 2010 PLRP field season draws nearer, we are all busy with plans and preparations. This summer will be a bit different for me as our fearless leader Darlene will be on maternity leave and I will be stepping into the role of acting Principal Investigator (PI). A daunting task, but I know I have the support of an amazing team of people and we’re all working towards having a fun, safe and successful field season. Looking back over the last 5 years that I have been involved in PLRP I am in awe of what we’ve accomplished and how much we’ve grown. Last year we successfully mapped additional regions of the lake using the DeepWorker submersibles and re-visited areas of interest identified in 2008 for more detailed imaging and observations. We were also very successful in classifying a great deal of our DW imaging data while in the field. This was a huge accomplishment and the entire team worked very hard to make this happen, we hope to have a repeat this year. Examination of the 2009 data has helped us to identify more regions that show interesting trends that we will be exploring in this upcoming field season. Flight planning for 2010 is going ahead full-steam! We are very pleased to continue with our astronaut training program this year and welcome Chris Hadfield and the Stan Love to the PLRP gang. I can’t wait to see their reaction to viewing this remarkable lake and the microbialites for the first time. As always, there are a number of fundamental science questions that we are working towards answering through the exploration of this beautiful lake, not only with DW but with SCUBA and GAVIA as well. We will continue to examine questions regarding the role of biology and physical parameters in carbonate precipitation including: What are the dominant surface microbial and viral communities? Does grazing by macroorganisms affect microbialite morphology? What is the role of algae? How do depth and slope affect morphology? And many more… I’m looking forward to partaking in some great science and exploration activities this summer. The field season is nearly upon us so stay tuned for more updates! Tags : Analogs, General, Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP), field test, field testing

|Posted on Jun 14, 2010 10:43:21 AM | NASA Testing for Human Space Exploration | 2 Comments || by Allyson Brady This blog is courtesy of the Pavilion Lake Research Project (PLRP) For more information please visit their website at www.pavilionlake.com As the 2010 PLRP field season draws nearer, we are all busy with plans and preparations. This summer will be a bit different for me as our fearless l

Edinburgh, Leith, Kirkgate, South Leith Parish Church Alternative Names St Mary's Church Site Type CHAPEL, CHURCH, INHUMATION(S) Canmore ID 51946 Site Number NT27NE 30 NGR NT 27041 76070 Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF) Former Region LOTHIAN Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH Former County MIDLOTHIAN Datum OSGB36 - NGR View this site on a map NT27NE 30.00 27041 76070 NT27NE 30.01 27044 76040 Churchyard Robert Mylne 1674 - new steeple taken down 1936 Thomas Hamilton - reported on state of building in 1836 - repaired & restored 1848. SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE: Copy (1822) of agreement between John Brown, Boxmaster of the Maltmen of Leith, and John Stewart, Boxmaster of the Sledders for giving possession to the Sledders of the 5 laigh seats built by the maltmen under their lofts in the Lady Kirk of Leith, with licence to bury their dead within the maltmen's aisle ... 1661 (Ratified 21 September 1699) Wright's account for work on houses and The Kirk. Wright's account for work in Leith Churh and house at Yardheads Account for painting the Carters' seats in South Leith Church. Account or alterations to seats in South Leith Church. Account for a pair of Kirk seat candlesticks [Printed] Letter James Reoch, Convener Committee of the Kirk Session. He includes William Burn, Architect's report on the state of the Tower of the Church and asks proprietors to consider this report before attending a meeting. 19 September 1836 Report by William Burn, Architect [1789-1870] on the state of the Tower or Spire of South Leith Parish Church. 'The Tower on the West end is of much more recent construction and to the careless and injudicious execution ... the whole defects, not only of the Tower itself but of the main roof of the Church and East Gable, are entirely attributable ... The West end of the Church appears to be part of the original building and on this wall the West Front of the Tower has been errected; but as the other 3 sides had no similar substructure to depend upon a new foundation became necessary, while having yielded to the weight placed upon it while the West wall rested on the old structure, the Tower has evidently sunk on the East and by pressing against the timbers of the roof has also given them an inclination to the Eastward and displaced the upper part of the East Gable ...' William Burn considers that the Tower should be taken down as far as the roof of the Church and the East Gable rebuilt to correspond to the West end. Letter: James Reoch to the Deacon of the Carters, Leith. Payment for the work on the steeple is now due. The Deacon's proportion is ?4.4.4. 10 July 1837 |Notes and Activities| NT27NE 30.00 27041 76070 (NT 2704 7606) Church (NAT) formerly St Mary's Chapel (NR) 13th century OS 6"map, Edinburghshire, 1st ed., (1853) South Leith parish church was originally a chapel, dedicated to St Mary, attached to the collegiate church of Restalrig (NT27SE 103). Origally cruciform, it had been reduced to its nave by 1559. It was made into a parish church in 1609. Between 1650 and 1657, it was used as a magazine by Cromwellian troops, subsequently being restored to ecclesiastical use. The fabric was entirely renewed in 1848,but the west piers of the original crossing are still to be seen in the vestibules at the east end of the building. It was not possible to confirm the presence of the original piers at the time of field investigation. Visited by OS (B S) 27 November 1975. |15 April 2009 to 22 September 2009||EXCAVATION| Notes NT 27041 76070 Part of the post-medieval graveyard associated with South Leith Parish Church was excavated 15 April–22 September 2009 in advance of tram track construction in Constitution Street. The street runs adjacent to the graveyard wall and was built in 1790 to improve access to the harbour. The excavations yielded 260 graves containing some 302 inhumations in a variety of grave types. Despite the proximity to a known graveyard, the density and preservation of the graves was unexpected, as burials had not been thought to extend much beyond the existing graveyard wall. No finds of human remains had been reported previously, despite evidence that many burials had been cut by modern services. The graves, orientated NW–SE, were arranged in closely spaced rows. The majority were single, supine extended inhumations interred in wooden coffins or in earthen graves. Also present were shrouded bodies placed in simple graves, group burials in irregular pits and superimposed double burials, usually of a child and an adult. Most artefacts were iron coffin nails, with a few shroud pins. A copper buckle was found in one grave, along with textile remains of clothing. Documentary and pottery evidence point to a date between the 16th and 17th centuries for most graves, and all predate the construction of Constitution Street in c1790. However, there is a strong possibility that earlier medieval burials are present, possibly associated with the 15th-century hospital and chapel that stood on and close to the present church. Radiocarbon dating and further stratigraphic analysis may give us a more accurate picture of their chronology. Archive: RCAHMS (intended). Reports: CECAS and RCAHMS Sorina Spanou – Headland Archaeology Ltd |Books and References| Edinburgh, South Leith Church () [South Leith Church (St Mary's), Edinburgh: correspondence about state of church and report by William Burn], [s.l.] Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.LEI.P Fawcett, R (2002) Scottish medieval churches: architecture and furnishings, Stroud Page(s): 369 Held at RCAHMS F.5.31.FAW Laing, D (1855a) 'On the state of the abbey church of Holyrood subsequently to the devastations committed by the English forces in the years 1544 and 1547', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.1

Edinburgh, Leith, Kirkgate, South Leith Parish Church Alternative Names St Mary's Church Site Type CHAPEL, CHURCH, INHUMATION(S) Canmore ID 51946 Site Number NT27NE 30 NGR NT 27041 76070 Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF) Former Region LOTHIAN Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH Former County MIDLOTHIAN Datum OSGB36 - NGR View this site on a map NT27NE 30.00 27041 76070

Search America's historic newspapers pages from - or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more title: 'The Day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, January 01, 1912, Image 18', meta: 'News about Chronicling America - RSS Feed', Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL All ways to connect Inspector General | External Link Disclaimer | MR. PORCUPINE TELLS HIS STORY Mr. Noah Brings Him Out of the Ark for the Entertainment of Day Book Boys and Girls. Did you ever hear any one say "as sharp as a porcupine quill?" My body is covered with sharp quills that I use when any one tries to catch me. Then I raise all my quills, run backwards and stick them into my enemy. It is not much fun to get into a fight with a porcupine, I can tell you. When I walk, the quills in my tail rattle together and make a rustling sound. They are used by the Indians for decorating their .noccasins and suits. I am a lonely little fellow. I live all by myself in a burrow in the ground. I come out only at night, when I seek my food. I eat roots, berries, leaves and vegetables. I gnaw my food with two sharp teeth in my upper jaw. I like to climb trees. I am brownand about two feet long. Around my neck and the back of my head is a crest of long bristles. I have a grunting voice like that of a pig. I must hide in my burrow now. Goodbye, goodbye.

Search America's historic newspapers pages from - or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more title: 'The Day book. (Chicago, Ill.) 1911-1917, January 01, 1912, Image 18', meta: 'News about

Enhancing Rehabilitation After Stroke (Enhance) This is a 12-week, randomized, placebo controlled study to determine if donepezil (Aricept) treatment during rehabilitation after stroke improves functional recovery. |Study Design:||Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) Primary Purpose: Treatment |Official Title:||Donepezil to Promote Functional Recovery Post-stroke| - Functional Independence Measure (FIM) [ Time Frame: Weekly/12 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ] - Cognitive Function (ImPACT battery used to assess attention - working memory continuum, information processing speed, and verbal and visual episodic memory.) [ Time Frame: Multiple time points over 12 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ] |Study Start Date:||March 2009| |Estimated Study Completion Date:||November 2013| |Estimated Primary Completion Date:||August 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)| Experimental: 1: donepezil Participants will receive treatment for 12 weeks on donepezil 10 mg (or 5 mg if unable to tolerate 10 mg). Treatment will be then be terminated and participants followed for another 12 weeks naturalistically. 5 mg or 10 mg, titrated per drug insert. Participants may remain in the study at 5 mg if unable to tolerate 10 mg. Other Name: Aricept Placebo Comparator: 2. placebo Participants will receive treatment for 12 weeks with placebo pill. Treatment will be then be terminated and participants followed for another 12 weeks naturalistically. Participants will receive a placebo pill for 12 weeks if randomized to this treatment. Stroke is a leading cause of disability in the US (Thom 2006). The total number of stroke survivors (currently estimated as 5.5 million Americans) will continue to increase as the population ages and as the medical management of acute stroke continues to improve. Given stroke's devastating impact on activities of daily living and the large numbers of Americans afflicted, improving acute medical rehabilitation outcomes after stroke is of great public health importance. Predictors of poor functional recovery post-stroke include impairments in cognition and motivation. Recent evidence indicates that acetylcholinesterase inhibitors may improve cognition and motivation; hence, their use post-stroke may lead to improved rehabilitation outcomes. Our group has demonstrated that use of the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil is associated with improved functional recovery in a pilot sample (n = 40) of elderly, cognitively impaired stroke survivors undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. Specifically, in this 12 week open-label study, those subjects receiving donepezil experienced a clinically meaningful 14 point greater improvement on the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) than an archival comparator group. Based on these promising pilot study results, we propose a 12-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (followed by a 12 week off-drug observation period) in order to test the efficacy of donepezil to promote post-stroke functional recovery in older, cognitively impaired stroke survivors undergoing inpatient rehabilitation. We will also use this randomized controlled trial to examine the drug's effect on cognition post-stroke; specifically, the drug's effect on those cognitive domains (attention/working memory, information psychomotor speed, and episodic memory) that are relevant to functional outcomes. |Contact: Kara [email protected]| |United States, Ohio| |Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital||Not yet recruiting| |Warren, Ohio, United States, 44484| |Contact: Nancy Landgraff, PhD 330-941-2703 [email protected]| |Principal Investigator: Nancy Landgraff, PhD| |United States, Pennsylvania| |University of Pittsburgh Medical Center||Recruiting| |Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213| |Contact: Kara Kenton 412-246-5815 [email protected]| |Sub-Investigator: Howard Aizenstein, MD, PhD| |Principal Investigator: Ellen M Whyte, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Meryl Butters, PhD| |Sub-Investigator: Ariel Gildengers, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Jordan Karp, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Oscar Lopez, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Sati Mazumdar, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Michael Munin, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Charles Reynolds, MD| |Sub-Investigator: Elizabeth Skidmore, PhD| |Principal Investigator:||Ellen M Whyte, MD||University of Pittsburgh|

Enhancing Rehabilitation After Stroke (Enhance) This is a 12-week, randomized, placebo controlled study to determine if donepezil (Aricept) treatment during rehabilitation after stroke improves functional recovery. |Study Design:||Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes

Cancer Control Research5R01CA134722-03 Oeffinger, Kevin Charles EMPOWER STUDY: PROMOTING BC SCREENING IN WOMEN WHO SURVIVED CHILDHOOD CANCER DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Women who have been treated with chest radiation for a childhood cancer frequently have multiple health problems and have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer at a young age (prior to their forties). Although breast cancer surveillance with annual mammography and adjunct breast MRI is recommended starting at age 25, most young women are not obtaining screening. We have conducted preliminary studies to identify important predictors of screening and successfully piloted an intervention leading to increased rates of breast cancer screening among this high risk population. To reduce the breast cancer related morbidity and mortality faced by women who survived childhood cancer, it is imperative to formally test behaviorally-based intervention studies intended to promote breast cancer surveillance. In the proposed 12-month intervention trial, among 330 women who are 25 to 39 years of age and who have not had a mammogram (or similar screening imaging study) in the preceding two years, we will test the efficacy of an intervention aimed at increasing the likelihood of successfully completing the recommended surveillance. The intervention, theoretically founded upon the Transtheoretical Model and the Health Belief Model, consists of a mailed tailored education intervention followed by a stage-based brief motivational interview delivered by telephone. The primary outcome is obtaining a mammogram during the 12-month study period, confirmed by medical record. We hypothesize that women randomized to the intervention group will have a 20% higher rate of screening mammography than women randomized to the attention control group. Secondary aims will include exploring moderating and mediating factors that predict mammogram completion and timing of the obtained surveillance, determining the percent of women who obtain an adjunct breast MRI and explore barriers to completing this imaging test (e.g., insurance/cost, physician authorization), and estimating the intervention replication costs and costs resulting from the intervention. The proposed EMPOWER (Encouraging Mammography/MRI and Preventive Opportunities for Women Exposed to Radiation) study brings together a research team with the necessary expertise and experience in both survivorship research and telephone delivered motivational interviewing with the unique resource of the 26-institution Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS). Notably, the CCSS represents the single largest cohort of women in the target population and the infrastructure to conduct the proposed study. This study will represent the first randomized controlled trial aimed at promoting breast cancer surveillance among women who are treated with chest radiation for a childhood cancer and will advance our understanding of this vulnerable group.

Cancer Control Research5R01CA134722-03 Oeffinger, Kevin Charles EMPOWER STUDY: PROMOTING BC SCREENING IN WOMEN WHO SURVIVED CHILDHOOD CANCER DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Women who have been treated with chest radiation for a childhood cancer frequently have multiple health problems and have a significantly increased risk of developing breast cancer at a young age (prior to their forties).

Project, Program, and Policy Environmental Reviews Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) receives and funds hundreds of projects each year for its transmission, power, and fish and wildlife organizations. For example, BPA invests in distributed generation projects, fiber optic communications projects, and stream restoration projects, to name a few. Each project that BPA funds that has the potential to impact the environment must undergo an impact analysis. Often times, especially for site-specific projects, BPA must start a brand new, independent impact analysis. In order to fulfill BPA's National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) responsibility to analyze impacts, it is determined if the activities and impacts of projects have already been assessed in one of the program EISs. If the activities and impacts are adequately addressed, BPA then completes a supplement analysis (SA) under the existing program EIS while taking into consideration the localized, site-specific impacts of the proposed activities. The supplement analysis process is identified in the Department of Energy NEPA regulations Program Reviews: Over the last decade, BPA realized they were spending a a lot of time documenting the same impacts for the same activities from year to year. In other words, environmental analysts found that installing a culvert in Idaho had very similar impacts to installing a culvert in Oregon. Similarly, controlling overgrown vegetation on a transmission right-of-way in northern California had similar impacts to vegetation control in central Washington. In an effort to streamline the environmental compliance process, BPA analyzed groups of activities associated with vegetation management on their transmission rights-of-way, watershed management and wildlife mitigation under the fish and wildlife mitigation programs. Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) were written for each of these three "Programs". The resulting environmental documents are called Program EISs. In order to fulfill BPA's NEPA responsibility to analyze impacts, it is determined if the activities and impacts of projects have already been assessed in one of the program EISs. If the activities and impacts are adequately addressed, BPA then completes a Supplement Analysis (SA) under the existing program EIS while taking into consideration the localized, site-specific impacts of the proposed activities. The Supplement Analysis process is identified in the DOE NEPA regulations here. Policy Reviews: Most people are familiar with environmental impact statements prepared for site-specific or on the ground activities. BPA thought that, in an effort to make our policy decision-making process more timely and informed, a programmatic environmental impact analysis process could be applied to BPA policy decisions. To date, BPA has completed two policy-level EISs. The Business Plan EIS analyzes the relationships among BPA, the utility market, and the affected environment. BPA evaluated alternative ways to conduct daily business while meeting statutory obligations and Strategic Business Objectives. In 1995, the Administrator signed the Business Plan EIS Record of Decision and in doing so, established BPA's market-driven policy approach, allowing BPA to perform in the increasingly competitive energy marketplace. Since 1995, over 35 policy decisions have been "tiered" off of the Business Plan EIS. With diverse demands and often-conflicting interests relying on the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest, a number of fish and wildlife species are affected by BPA's actions, including many listed as endangered or threatened. The Fish and Wildlife Implementation Plan EIS (FWIP EIS) examined the potential environmental consequences of following different Policy Direction alternatives to implement and fund fish and wildlife mitigation and recovery efforts in the Pacific Northwest. In October, 2003, the Administrator adopted the PA 2002 alternative and signed the Record of Decision.

Project, Program, and Policy Environmental Reviews Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) receives and funds hundreds of projects each year for its transmission, power, and fish and wildlife organizations. For example, BPA invests in distributed generation projects, fiber optic communications projects, and stream restoration projects, to name a few. Each project that BPA funds that has the potentia

London to host 2012 Olympic Games Wednesday, July 6, 2005 London is to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The announcement was made today by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge following four rounds of voting, penultimately shortlisting London and Paris. 116 members of the IOC in Singapore voted throughout the rounds from a pool of cities comprising of Paris, Madrid, London, New York, and Moscow. The final tally was 54 votes for London, and 50 for Paris. The voting came after all five cities made their final presentations to the assembled members. The news was met with screams of joy from the 15,000 people who had gathered in Trafalgar Square in London, while jeers and boos rang out across Paris, as rain began to fall in the French capital. Former Olympic runner Sebastian Coe, who led the British bid, told BBC Radio Five Live afterwards: "I'm in a state of shock. The whole team has made a fantastic effort. This shows that the United Kingdom is a special place for sport, passionate about sport." This is the first time the Games will be staged in London since 1948, while this marks the third failure by Paris to host the Olympics. London has hosted the Games twice before, making it the first city ever to host them three times. The official announcement was given by the IOC at 12:46 BST today, after much speculation. The 2012 London Olympics are widely anticipated to bring about a revival of both sporting culture in England, and the much maligned Docklands area of London, where most main sporting venues will be constructed. Present, physically or by video link, were several dignitaries of the participating countries, including the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, Queen Sofía of Spain, and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. Tony Blair is quoted to have said via a recorded video message "Our vision is to see millions of young people participate in sport and improve their lives. London has the power to make this happen." Also present with the British campaign team were world famous soccer player David Beckham, athletes Denise Lewis and Sir Steven Redgrave, and Her Royal Highness Princess Anne, who brought with her a message from Queen Elizabeth II: "I've been impressed by the way everyone has united behind London's bid. As a country we share a passion for sport." "The heart of Paris and the heart of France are beating in unison in the hope of becoming Olympic host in 2012...you can put your trust and faith in France, you can trust the French, you can trust us," he said. America's assembly consisted of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton and bid leader Dan Doctoroff, focusing on New York's multicultural make up and readiness. Mr. Bloomberg chose to remind the Committee of New York's recovery after the September 11 attacks. "In our city's darkest hour, we asked ourselves, can we recover? ...New Yorkers stood up then and said, 'Yes, we can recover, we will rebuild and we must continue to welcome everyone.' That spirit will be given to your Games." Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered his case in a live video clip, urging the Committee to take advantage of a "unique and truly historic opportunity", and to select Moscow for the games in 2012. "Moscow is a meeting place of cultures. Moscow is perfectly suited to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games," he said. Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero from Spain and Queen Sofía argued in favour of Madrid. "The whole Spanish royal family is convinced that Madrid fully meets the conditions to offer to the world the best Olympic Games," said Queen Sofía. "Absolute security is assured...It's our main priority. Those who have tried to attack our candidacy will see that this is something that is doomed to disappear in Madrid and all of Spain." - "London wins 2012 Olympics" — , July 6, 2005 - "London edged it by four votes" — , July 6, 2005 - "Ecstatic reaction to decision floods in" — , July 6, 2005 |The text of this article has been released into the public domain. In the event that this is not legally possible, this article may be used for any purpose, without any condition, unless such conditions are required by law. This applies worldwide. Copyright terms on images, however, may vary, so please check individual image pages prior to duplication. Please note that this only applies to Wikinews content created prior to September 25, 2005. All content created after that date is released under a Creative Commons license which is mentioned at the bottom of each article. This is currently the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

London to host 2012 Olympic Games Wednesday, July 6, 2005 London is to host the 2012 Olympic Games. The announcement was made today by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge following four rounds of voting, penultimately shortlisting London and Paris. 116 members of the IOC in Singapore voted throughout the rounds from a pool of cities comprising of Paris, Madrid, London, Ne

Last year, The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) published a report recommending the federal government undertake a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) to coordinate a national energy policy. This report called for the Energy Department to take the first step by preparing and implementing the Department component of a QER focused solely on energy technology innovation—now called the DOE Quadrennial Technology Review (DOE-QTR). Secretary Chu asked me to kick off the QTR and for the past few months, we’ve sought input from a variety of stakeholders—government, national labs, industry, NGO’s, academia. We received dozens of public comments on the RFI for the DOE-QTR Framing Document. We held several Workshops and Focus Groups around the country that gathered technical experts from across the energy sector to discuss the current state of energy technologies, the potential of these technologies to make an impact, the Energy Department’s technology policy role, and ways in which to strategically prioritize and balance the Department’s energy portfolio. On Wednesday, July 13, I will host the final Capstone Workshop to discuss our preliminary findings of the DOE-QTR with special guest speakers Secretary Steven Chu and Dr. John Holdren. Please join me at: 1919 Connecticut Ave NW 8:00 am-5:00 pm For additional information, please visit www.energy.gov/quadrennial-technology-review

Last year, The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) published a report recommending the federal government undertake a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) to coordinate a national energy policy. This report called for the Energy Department to take the first step by preparing and implementing the Department component of a QER focused solely on energy technology innovation—n

Access to finance - Portugal Access to EU finance This site will help you to apply for finance supported by the European Union. To access EU finance, click on your country to locate banks or venture capital funds that provide finance supported by the EU: National sources of finance In order to counter the effects of the global financial crisis, which significantly worsened in depth and extent from the last quarter of 2008, the government adopted the budget programme known as the Investment and Employment Initiative (IIE). This represents the national contribution to the European coordinated anti-cyclical effort. To support the creation of new businesses, the Institute for Support to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Innovation (IAPMEI) set up the FINICIA Programme, which provides acce Business support organisations can advise businesses on how to find financing.

Access to finance - Portugal Access to EU finance This site will help you to apply for finance supported by the European Union. To access EU finance, click on your country to locate banks or venture capital funds that provide finance supported by the EU: National sources of finance In order to counter the effects of the global financial crisis, which significantly worsened in depth and extent from

Nearest Town: Weiser Site Size: 3700 acres Directions: In Midvale (US 95/Old Hwy Rd), R (E) on Old Hwy Rd; R on Crane Creek Rd; travel ~4 mi; R on Crane Creek Reservoir Rd; follow to reservoir. Description: Surrounded by sagebrush and grasslands, Crane Creek Reservoir has the potential to attract a number of birds due to its arid surrounding. During the winter, Greater Sage-Grouse, Red-tailed, Ferruginous, and Rough-legged Hawks, Golden and Bald Eagles can be seen. The best birding is March-June when American White Pelican, Western and Least Sandpipers, Ross’s and Snow Geese, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, and scaup can be found. BLM (208) 384-3300 Weiser (208) 549-0452

Nearest Town: Weiser Site Size: 3700 acres Directions: In Midvale (US 95/Old Hwy Rd), R (E) on Old Hwy Rd; R on Crane Creek Rd; travel ~4 mi; R on Crane Creek Reservoir Rd; follow to reservoir. Description: Surrounded by sagebrush and grasslands, Crane Creek Reservoir has the potential to attract a number of birds due to its arid surrounding. During the winter, Greater Sage-Grouse, Red-tailed, Fer

DC Current Transformers are used to measure the circulating DC beam current. The toroidal cores of the DCCT are made of soft magnetic material. The transformer uses two windings that create a feedback signal fed into the signal for the third winding, which is the amplifier. |last modified 8/21/2002 email Fermilab| |Security, Privacy, Legal|

DC Current Transformers are used to measure the circulating DC beam current. The toroidal cores of the DCCT are made of soft magnetic material. The transformer uses two windings that create a feedback signal fed into the signal for the third winding, which is the amplifier. |last modified 8/21/2002 email Fermilab| |Security, Privacy, Legal|

Hunters who wish to hunt in a special turkey permit area this spring must apply by March 15 for a permit and must purchase a spring turkey license before hunting. Special spring turkey permit areas are located in several western and southwestern Montana counties. An additional 100 turkey permits will be available in FWP Region 1 in a portion of Sanders County and in Lincoln County. In a portion of Mineral County, a temporary hunting closure will help 34 Merriam's turkeys transplated from eastern Montana to establish a future huntable population. A legal description of this area is available in the 2007 turkey regulations. Applicants for spring turkey permits may apply on line at fwp.mt.gov in writing, by visiting a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks office; or by downloading an application from FWP’s web page. Applications must mailed to the FWP Regional Office managing the special permit area where the applicant would like to hunt. A written application must include name, address and ALS number. Applicants must indicate which special permit hunting area the application is for, must have a 2007 conservation license to apply, and include a $5 nonrefundable drawing fee. Applicants may apply for only one spring turkey permit and in only one area of the state. Details on spring turkey hunting in the general hunting areas and special permit areas are available in the 2007 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations available at FWP regional offices and FWP license providers after March 8.

Hunters who wish to hunt in a special turkey permit area this spring must apply by March 15 for a permit and must purchase a spring turkey license before hunting. Special spring turkey permit areas are located in several western and southwestern Montana counties. An additional 100 turkey permits will be available in FWP Region 1 in a portion of Sanders County and in Lincoln County. In a portion of

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to join you today on "Ask the White House". This is my first time participating and I am eager to answer some of the many questions that have come in. I have just returned from spending time with the President at his ranch in Texas. Yesterday, the President met with his defense and foreign policy teams to discuss many important issues facing the Administration and our country at this time. Let's get started with your questions. Wyatt, from Overland Park, KS I am really confused as to what the terrorists are fighting for. Are they against freedom and peace? How can they justify the killing of innocent Iraqi citizens, including the targeted bombing of schools and children, in the name of religion? What can we do to truly win over the hearts and minds of those in the Middle East who misinterpret U.S. Wyatt, thank you for your question. The terrorists and foreign fighters are in fact fighting against freedom, peace and democracy. They simply do not want to see democracy succeed in Iraq, and have resorted to the horrific tactics of suicide bombings and targeted killings not only of American and coalition soldiers but overwhelmingly of Iraqis as well. They are trying to shake our will and resolve. But we and the Iraqi people will not let them succeed. The Iraqis have made great progress and are very close to the next step in their political process and that is presenting a draft constitution to the people of Iraq. Following the adoption of the constitution we expect the Iraqis to have elections in December. Each day more and more Iraqi security forces are being trained and are taking responsibility for their own security. As more Iraqis security forces are stood up, more American soldiers will stand down. The terrorists have recognized this progress and have become ever more fearful that their goal of returning Iraq to a state of tyranny and oppression is further out of reach. They will be defeated and Iraq will emerge as a beacon of freedom, democracy and peace, and a source of inspiration in the broader Middle East. Sara, from Alaska writes: There seems to be wave upon wave of crisis on the continent of Africa. Is it possible that the unrest there will eventually start to affect our Sara, thank your for your question on Africa. I can assure you that Africa has been a priority of the President from the beginning. President Bush sees Africa in a positive light. Democracy is on the rise throughout the continent. The number of conflicts is down, and we are working closely with the African Union to resolve the remaining conflicts. The signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and South in Sudan has ended a 30 year war. The end of the wars in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia has opened the way to preparation for democratic elections. President Bush believes that America has a major role to play in helping Africa meet its challenges. In advance of the G-8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, the President took further steps towards working in partnership with the leaders and people of Africa by: announcing a major effort to fight hunger and humanitarian crises, including delivering emergency food aid to Niger; joining other G-8 leaders in canceling a total $40 billion in debt owed by 18 of the world's poorest nations, including 14 in Africa; challenging the world to reduce dramatically malaria as a major killer of children in sub-Saharan Africa and pledging to increase funding of malaria prevention and treatment; continuing the Africa Education Initiative to improve the quality and accessibility of basic education for millions of children in sub-Saharan Africa; and, announcing an initiative for women's justice and empowerment in Africa. These new and continued programs complement the efforts already under way on HIV/AIDs, trade, and redefining how development assistance is given to countries through the Millennium Challenge Account. In addition, experts expect some of the strongest economic growth in several years. Combined efforts with our friends and allies are helping the people of Africa to: preserve human dignity, encourage economic growth and combat global terror. So you are correct, helping Africa is very much a national security concern because as the people of Africa build societies that are prosperous and at peace we are also denying havens for terrorists. Daniel, from Great Barrington, MA Hi Mr. Hadley. I am a 15 year old very interested in national security. Does Iran's restart of its nuclear program worry you alot? Daniel, I appreciate both your question and your interest in national security. Yes. It concerns me and it concerns the President because we do not want the Iranian regime to possess the technology that would allow it to produce a nuclear weapon in the future. We have longstanding concerns about Iran's intentions given its track record over the past two decades of hiding its nuclear efforts and violating of its International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards agreements. In fact, the IAEA Board of Governors just yesterday adopted a resolution that expressed serious concern over Iran's nuclear intentions. We will continue to support the EU-3's (U.K., France, Germany) negotiations with Iran, and urge the regime to fully and permanently suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities. For these are the activities that would allow Iran to obtain the nuclear material it needs for a nuclear bomb. If Iran fails to do so, we will work with our allies and others on appropriate next steps. Robert, from Dayton, Texas Hello Steve Hadley, With our military providing an increasing role in disaster relief around the globe will these humanitarian events adversely affect the readiness of the military to respond to pop up crisiss if such relief evolutions are in progress. Robert, each year Congress requires the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff to do a risk assessment and report to Congress on the U.S. military's ability to carry out U.S. strategy. Chairman Myers presented such a report to Congress earlier this year. Chairman Myers has stated publicly that the U.S. presently has the forces necessary and is capable of carrying out the U.S. strategy which includes winning the global war on terrorism, including the battles in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as any contingencies that could arise such as humanitarian missions around the world. But you are right to be concerned, and that is why the President is careful about committing U.S. troops to disaster efforts and seeks to get other nations to help as much as possible. Rico, from Killeen writes: Hi Mr. Hadley I have a passion for national security and foreign Currently I am pursing a degree in public policy and nongovernmental organizations. What is the best path to pursue a career in national security to eventually become national security advisor? Thank you for taking my question. Rico, thank you for your question and I appreciate your interest in a career in national security. My recommendation would be for you to finish school (and of course do the best you can), and then look for opportunities within the federal government such as at the State Department or Defense Department where you can be a part of the policy process. From there you can determine what interests you and whether or not you would like to specialize in any particular area. I began my career at the Department of Defense in the Comptroller's office and I know Secretary Rice (my predecessor) began her career as an intern at the State Department. Your career may take you to different places. As long as you set your own path, believe in yourself and work hard, I am confident you will be able to achieve your goals, hopes and dreams. In the meantime, I would encourage you to look into the many interesting internship programs that are offered within the government for students. Good luck and I wish you much success. Mary, from Los Angeles Mr. Hadley, Why does our President refuse to meet with Cindy Sheehan, whose son made the ultimate sacrifice for a war that more and more Americans view as unjust and unwarranted? Why does he continue to insulate himself from those who disagree with his policies? He's not demonstrating leadership, he's demonstrating disdain. For shame, all the dead soldiers, all the dead Iraqi civilians; I frankly don't understand how those of you who pushed for this conflict can sleep at night. I'm certain you won't post this question, not this White House. Mary, the President did in fact meet with Cindy Sheehan and other family members who lost loved ones in the war on terror when he visited Ft. Lewis, Washington on June 18, 2004. The President has met 900 family members of 272 fallen soldiers. The President grieves at the loss of every single man and woman who has given their life in service to this country. When he meets with families, he does his best to bring them comfort and to honor the memory of their lost loved one. As the President often says, putting men and women in harm's way is the hardest thing a Commander in Chief must do and war is always a last resort. That was the case with Iraq, and because of the efforts of America and our coalition partners, a dictator has been thrown from power, an oppressed people now have hope, and freedom and democracy are growing in a part of the world that has never known it. The President hears and understands the arguments of those who oppose our efforts in Iraq. I met with Mrs. Sheehan myself, heard her arguments, and conveyed them to the President. He understands but respectfully disagrees. The President is committed that the job in Iraq will be finished and the sacrifice made by Americans and our coalitions partners will have made this world a better and safer place for generations to come. sam, from new jersey how could the united states allow the israel pullout from Gaza, if every kid knows that these people are terorists and will be a home for all Sam, the President believes that Israel's disengagement from Gaza strengthens Israel and can lead to peace and the defeat of terror. He understands the fears that disengagement may lead to more terrorism, and we will work with Israel to prevent that. The Palestinian Authority must also work to prevent any acts of terror. Palestinian Authority President Abbas has made the commitment publicly and has taken some initial steps. He must do more. The Palestinian people want peace and deserve peace. Both Prime Minister Sharon and President Abbas are committed to a two-state solution, as is our President. The Palestinians know that in order to build their State, they will have to fight terror. James, from Los Angeles Dear Mr. Hadley: Regarding the war on terror. Oops, I meant the struggle against extremists. I have heard the refrain that "we are not at war with Islam." I have also heard, "we are at war with the Wahhabists sp" an extreme faction of Islam. Is this correct? Are we at war with a part of Islam, but not the whole body? If this is the case, what are we doing to motivate that non-warring portion to curb these violent criminals? Perhaps if we were a little toughter, the non-warring portion of Islam would have the motivation to get involved. Instead, what I seem to see happening is a blind eye turned toward the terrorists by the rest of Islam. James, the President is very clear on this point: We are not at war with Islam; we are at war with terrorists. Muslim leaders, scholars and clerics and average citizens -- most recently following the attacks in London and Egypt are increasingly condemning terrorism, which amounts to nothing more than the wanton murder of innocents. These voices, which speak for the vast majority of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, make clear that Islam does not sanction terrorism but rather rejects it. It is unfortunate, but the minority of Muslims who support extremism or commit terrorist acts often receive greater publicity than the quiet Muslim majority supporting tolerance and moderation. Terrorist bombs, and the attention they attract, often drown out the voices of moderation. We are working with moderate voices here and abroad to expand their reach and resonance within the Islamic world and more generally. We are at war with violent extremism and intolerance, with those who advocate the murder of innocents, with those who oppose the establishment of free and democratic governance. We are not at war with Islam, but rather with terrorists who exploit Islam to justify their atrocities. Linda, from Ocean City, Maryland How relevant is NATO in the 21st Century? Linda, NATO is America's most important Alliance and the premier forum for our relations with Europe. We share with European Allies the values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and together we are a single democratic community. NATO remains our key vehicle for advancing and securing the cause of freedom in Europe and beyond, and for working jointly to face the threats of the 21st century, including terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Currently, NATO is actively engaged in missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Kosovo and in the Darfur region of Sudan. Over the past four years the Administration has led a far reaching transformation of NATO aimed at making the Alliance more effective in addressing 21st century security challenges beyond Europe. That effort will continue. Jennifer, from Michigan writes: I know we take our goal of nuclear disarmament seriously. How can we diplomatically deal with the North Korean government when it insists it will use a nuclear power plant "peacefully"? Jennifer, the President believes that the Six-Party talks (the diplomatic mechanism by which the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Russia, China and North Korea have engaged to discuss this issue) is the proper way to move forward. North Korea must give up all its nuclear programs. North Korea's demand for a right to peaceful nuclear energy would mean that North Korea could again be in a position to expel inspectors and harvest nuclear material any time it chooses to do so, as it did in late 2002 and early 2003. As our ambassador to the Six Party Talks Chris Hill said, we can't be in a position where the North Koreans pretend to disarm and we pretend to believe them. The talks are expected to reconvene in late August and we will continue to work with our partners towards a denuclearized Korean peninsula. Thank you for your very good questions. I enjoyed our chat today and hope I can join you again in the future.

Good afternoon. It is a pleasure to join you today on "Ask the White House". This is my first time participating and I am eager to answer some of the many questions that have come in. I have just returned from spending time with the President at his ranch in Texas. Yesterday, the President met with his defense and foreign policy teams to discuss many important issues facing the Administration and

|Home > News & Policies > Proclamation Archives| For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 13, 2002 National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2002 By the President of the United States of America Hurricanes can devastate our communities, endangering thousands of human lives and causing billions of dollars in property damage. Stemming from the ocean, the atmosphere, and heat from the sea, hurricanes bring with them the potential for high winds, tornadoes, torrential rains, flooding, and ocean water storm surges. Their fierce and destructive power requires that we all take steps to reduce our vulnerability to this natural hazard. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an average of ten tropical storms develop annually over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Every year, an average of six of these storms grow strong enough to become hurricanes. Approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline every 3 years. Out of these, two will have winds above 111 miles per hour, qualifying them as major hurricanes. The resulting high winds and high waves can seriously damage homes, businesses, public buildings, and critical infrastructure, and ultimately have the potential to injure people and claim lives. To help avoid damage and help ensure the public's safety from hurricane hazards, FEMA recommends a variety of preventative steps for both individuals and communities. For example, construction measures can help minimize property destruction. These include installing storm shutters over exposed glass and adding hurricane straps to hold the roof of a structure to its walls and foundation. More complex measures, such as elevating coastal homes and businesses, can further reduce a property's susceptibility. In addition, communities can reduce their vulnerability by adopting wind- and flood-resistant building codes and by implementing sound land-use planning. More than 50 million people live along hurricane-prone coastlines in the United States, with millions of tourists visiting these areas annually. During National Hurricane Awareness Week, I encourage those who live in coastal areas, as well as all concerned Americans, to be more vigilant in preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters before they occur. By promoting awareness of hurricane hazards and helping with relief efforts when these powerful storms strike, we can reduce the risks of hurricane damage and help our neighbors recover more quickly from their devastating effects. With preparation, forecasting, and coordination, we can save lives and improve our Nation's ability to withstand the impact of hurricanes. NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25, 2002, as National Hurricane Awareness Week. I call on government agencies, private organizations, schools, news media, and residents in hurricane-prone areas to share information about hurricane preparedness and response in order to help prevent storm damage and save lives. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth. GEORGE W. BUSH # # #

|Home > News & Policies > Proclamation Archives| For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 13, 2002 National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2002 By the President of the United States of America Hurricanes can devastate our communities, endangering thousands of human lives and causing billions of dollars in property damage. Stemming from the ocean, the atmosphere, and heat from the sea, hu

I’m old enough to remember when being at home meant that you were off work. There was no logging in from home to check your mail. (If you wanted your mail, you had to drive into the office to pick it up.) Computers were big boxes that sat under your desk, not something you carried back and forth between home and the office with ease. Occasionally, you might bring home paperwork or something that you needed to read, but the constant connection to work was rare. Being online was something that I associated more with work than recreation, and it required conscious thought and effort. Now, my phone has more processing power than my first work computer, and I am always connected. This connection isn’t just for work, or even for productivity. I rely on being connected for many routine personal tasks: dictionary, looking up random facts, amusement, recipes, etc. I jump back and forth seamlessly and no longer really think of it as being online or offline. I take it for granted that I can always be connected on a moment’s notice. Gartner’s Nick Jones agrees that the distinction between online and offline has almost completely disappeared: Labeling time as “online” vs. “offline” is so last decade. For many of us that distinction already vanished. Many of the things we do at home and work mean we dip into web services continually throughout the day. We post updates to social networks, stream media, check information, stream feeds and tweet (not the latter in my case as I’m a twitter refuser). And behind the scenes loads of gadgets in our home and pocket silently and continuously communicate to access web services, updates, information…There is no “online” vs. “offline” any more, there’s only online. I spent the last couple of days taking a long weekend off work to just relax at home. I finished reading “Accelerando” by Charles Stross, which I had started reading a month ago; I started and finished Cory Doctorow’s “Makers,” a fantastic book; and I started reading Neal Stephenson’s “Snow Crash.” I stubbornly refused to do any work, but I noticed how often I kept looking things up on my phone or laptop: - All of my recipes are in Google Docs - I head to the search box whenever I want to learn more about something - I play Words with Friends for amusement - Twitter and Facebook help me keep up with news and my friends Because I live in a place where Internet access is everywhere, I have stopped thinking about any distinction between “online” and “offline” in favor of an always-connected lifestyle. What do you think about the distinction between online and offline, and is it still a meaningful distinction in your life? Photo by Flickr user eschipul used under Creative Commons.

I’m old enough to remember when being at home meant that you were off work. There was no logging in from home to check your mail. (If you wanted your mail, you had to drive into the office to pick it up.) Computers were big boxes that sat under your desk, not something you carried back and forth between home and the office with ease. Occasionally, you might bring home paperwork or something that y

Caving can be a great way to explore Missouri’s underground habitats and wildlife. Unfortunately, white-nose syndrome, a cave-bat-killing disease, has appeared in our state. To help cavers avoid spreading this disease, which does not affect humans, we restrict access to caves on conservation lands. There are still Missouri caves that are open to the public, and you’re welcome to visit them. Use this section to find accessible Missouri caves, as well as info on cave formation, cave-dependent wildlife, Missouri cave regulations and caving groups.

Caving can be a great way to explore Missouri’s underground habitats and wildlife. Unfortunately, white-nose syndrome, a cave-bat-killing disease, has appeared in our state. To help cavers avoid spreading this disease, which does not affect humans, we restrict access to caves on conservation lands. There are still Missouri caves that are open to the public, and you’re welcome to visit them. Use th

Inaugural Issue of Journal of Juvenile Justice Available October 14, 2011 The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released the new online Journal of Juvenile Justice at its 2011 National Conference, "Children's Justice and Safety: Unite, Build, Lead." The Journal is an accessible, practical tool for a diverse researcher and practitioner audience. The semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal is sponsored by OJJDP and will address a variety of issues in juvenile justice, such as juvenile victimization, delinquency prevention, intervention, and treatment. The inaugural issue covers topics ranging from the unique risk factors associated with crossover youth to the benefits of comprehensive restorative justice programs. Articles that report the findings from evaluations of Parents Anonymous and King County's Child Protection Mediation Pilot showcase programs that demonstrate promise in reducing child maltreatment and increasing the efficiency of case processing, respectively. Additionally, the journal includes items on the development of standards for defining and measuring recidivism and a method that may improve the reliability of juvenile justice screening and assessment instruments. Access the Journal of Juvenile Justice at http://www.journalofjuvjustice.org Manuscripts are now being accepted at http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/jojj Return to Archives

Inaugural Issue of Journal of Juvenile Justice Available October 14, 2011 The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) released the new online Journal of Juvenile Justice at its 2011 National Conference, "Children's Justice and Safety: Unite, Build, Lead." The Journal is an accessible, practical tool for a diverse researcher and practitioner audience. The semi-annual, peer-rev

SOD at State Parks The forests of California are threatened with exotic species of insects, plants and diseases - pests for which California's native organisms have little defense. Discovered in 1995, Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) has done tremendous damage to State Park forests, killing thousands of tanoak, coast live oak, Shreve Oak, and California black oak tress from Humboldt County to Big Sur. This fungus also infects California bay laurel, pacific madrone, California buckeye, coast redwood, Douglas-fir, big leaf maple, California honeysuckle, California coffeeberry, toyon, rhododendron, manzanita and huckleberry. Symptoms of this disease can be found at the California Oak Mortality Task force Web site: http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/. These dead oak trees pose a severe fire risk, especially in dense forests. But more importantly they are a loss of a valuable and treasured California resource. If you are in any of the affected counties (Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano or Sonoma) please take the following precautions: - Do not collect and transport plant material (including leaves, twigs, branches or firewood). - Do not collect soil and avoid muddy areas. - Park your vehicle only in designated parking areas. - Stay on established trails - respect trail closures. If you are leaving any of the parks in the affected counties, please: - Wash mud or soil off of tires, wheel wells and the undercarriage of your vehicle and trailers at the nearest vehicle wash station. - Clean soil and mud from shoes, mountain bikes, horse’s hooves, and pet's paws. State Parks Forester

SOD at State Parks The forests of California are threatened with exotic species of insects, plants and diseases - pests for which California's native organisms have little defense. Discovered in 1995, Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) has done tremendous damage to State Park forests, killing thousands of tanoak, coast live oak, Shreve Oak, and California black oak tress from Humboldt County

Individual differences | Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology | - This article is about the issues and phenomena pertaining to human sexual function and behavior. For information about sexual activities and practices, see the article human sexual behavior. For information on animal sexuality see Animal sexuality. For information specifically dealing with adolescents see Adolescent sexuality. Human sexuality refers to the expression of sexual sensation and related intimacy between human beings, as well as the expression of identity through sex and as influenced by or based on sex. There are a great many forms of human sexuality (sexual functions). The sexuality of human beings comprises a broad range of behavior and processes, including the physiological, psychological, social, cultural, political, and spiritual or religious aspects of sex and human sexual behavior. Philosophy, particularly ethics and the study of morality, as well as theology, also address the subject. In almost any historical era or culture, the arts, including literary and visual arts, as well as popular culture, present a substantial portion of a given society's views on sexuality. In most societies and legal jurisdictions, there are legal bounds on what sexual behavior is permitted. Sexuality varies across the cultures and regions of the world, and has continually changed throughout history. A large variety of books, educational websites, and local education/support/social organizations exist for various forms of sexuality. Scope of human sexuality Edit The term human sexuality covers a very wide range including: - The physiology (or actual biology) of human sexuality, and sexually-related aspects of how the body works. - Who and what people are sexually attracted to. (Sexual orientation) - How we see ourselves, which may differ from the physical form we have, ie, personal identity. (Intersex, transsexual) - How we come to choose the sexual choices we make. (Environment, choice, and sexual orientation) - How humans act in seeking sexual activity, and with sexual partners, and the scope of sexually oriented behaviours. (Human sexual behavior) - The psychological significance of sex, which may be related to its emotional effects, its physiological effects, or tied up with other psychological aspects, such as power, control, or the need for security. - Sex and its relationship to social structure, thus sex within marriage, religion, morality and the law. - Arts and media depiction of sexuality. - Sex education. - Social norms, traditions and rituals related to sexuality. - Understanding of sexual activity outside those norms. (see Paraphilia) - How society judges where lines are to be drawn, what constitutes unacceptable conduct, who is vulnerable to its abuse, and how they are protected or violators dealt with. - Research into human sexuality. (such as the Kinsey Reports) - Sexual positions - Safe sex Physiological aspects Edit Human sexuality can be influenced by hormonal changes in the development of the fetus during pregnancy. Some hypothesize that manner of expression is largely because of genetic predisposition. Others hypothesize it is because of personal experimentation in early life, and thus the establishment of preferences. A less divisive approach recognizes that both factors may have a mutual role to play. Human physiology and gender makes certain forms of sexual expression possible. Sexual dysfunction addresses a variety of biological circumstances whereby human sexual function is impaired. These manifestations can be in the form of libido diminution or performance limitations. Both male and female can suffer from libido reduction, which can have roots in stress, loss of intimacy, distraction or derive from other physiological conditions. Performance limitations may most often affect the male in the form of erectile dysfunction. Causes of this may derive from various forms of disease pathology including cardiovascular disease, which can reduce penile blood flow along with supply of blood to various parts of the body. Moreover environmental stressors such as prolonged exposure to elevated sound levels or over-illumination can also induce cardiovascular changes especially if exposure is chronic. Social aspects Edit Human sexuality can also be understood as part of the social life of humans, governed by implied rules of behavior and the status quo. Thus, it is claimed, sexuality influences social norms and society in turn influences the manner in which sexuality can be expressed. Since the invention of the mass media, things such as movies and advertising have given sexuality even more ability to shape the environments in which we live. Some see sexuality as distilled (often into stereotypes) and then repeatedly expressed in commercialized forms. Gender identity is an aspect of human sexuality that can be affected by one's social environment, and differerent social environments can have specific attributes they associate with each sex, such as certain types of dress, colors, behaviors. A common example in Western media could be the portrayal of a little boy in blue shorts and a white T-shirt playing with a toy truck, while a girl is shown in a pink dress playing with a doll. Society and politics Edit Sex education Edit Sex education is the introduction of sexual topics within an educational context. Almost all western countries have some form of sex education, but the nature varies widely. In some countries (such as Australia and much of Europe) "age-appropriate" sex education often begins in pre-school, whereas other countries (notably the USA) leave sex education to the teenage years and even the late teenage years. Sex education covers a whole range of topics from "where do babies come from?", contraception, abstinence, signs of sexual diseases, and the social and psychological implications of sexual relationships. Cultural and psychiatric aspects Edit Human sexual behavior in most individuals is typically influenced, or heavily affected by norms from the culture in which the individual lives. Examples of such norms are prohibitions on sexual intercourse before marriage, or against homosexual sexualities, or other activities, because the religion to which the individual's culture adheres forbids such activities (see taboo). Sometimes, if not most times, such culturally induced behaviors do not reflect the natural sexual inclinations of the individual. Those who wish to express a dissident sexuality are often forced to form sub-cultures within the main culture due to various forms of oppression or repression. In other cases, forms of sexuality may develop into a fetish or alternately develop as a form of psychiatric disorder or paraphilia. Study of sexuality Edit See also Edit - See also: Non-human animal sexuality - Sexology (the study of sex) - Sex organs - Genital modification and mutilation are practiced for a variety of reasons, including medical and socio-cultural. This area is often controversial. - Castration: the removal of some or all of male external sexual organs, practice often for punitive purposes, or cultural reasons - Sterilization, the surgical modification of sexual-reproductive organs to prevent fertility - Male circumcision (often simply, circumcision) - Female circumcision (also known as female genital mutiliation) - Sexual development - Sexual lifestyles - Sexually transmitted diseases - Sexual behavior (sexual acts & practices) and directly-related topics - The Basics - Safer sex - Sexual arousal - Erogenous zone - List of sexual slang - Sexual intercourse - Mutual masturbation - Oral sex - Opposite-Gender sexual practices - Same-Gender sexual practices - Casual sex - Dirty Talk - Lingerie (erotic clothing) - Makeup sex - Premarital sex - Sexual fantasy - Alternative/explorative sexual activities - Penis enlargement - Fisting and handballing - Public sex - Sexual roleplaying - Cross dressing - Sensual massage - Wax play - Sex toys - Group sex - Body modification - Fetishism or Sexual fetishism - Kinky sex - Modern primitive - Play piercing - The Basics - Socio-cultural aspects - Casting couch - Club wear - Sex in advertising - Nightclubs, sex clubs, and swing clubs - Sex scandals - Sexual morality - Sexual slang - Sexism: generally, a form of discrimination based on gender, which may or may not be directly related to views on sexuality or sexual behavior per se. - Situational sexual behavior - Sex crimes and crime-related sexual topics - Sex and the occult - Other related issues - Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (1993). Sexual Strategies Theory: An Evolutionary Perspective on Human Mating. Psychological Review, 100, 204-232. Full text - Geary, D. C., Vigil, J., & Byrd-Craven, J. (2004). Evolution of human mate choice. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 27-42. Full text - Greiling, H., Buss, D.M. (2000). Women's Sexual Strategies: The hidden dimension of extra pair mating. Personality and Individual Differences, 28, 929-963. Full text - Hill, S. E. & Reeve, H. K. (2004). Mating Games: the Evolution of Human Mating Transactions. Behavioral Ecology, 15, 748-756. Full text - Kurzban, R., & Weeden, J. (2005). HurryDate: Mate preferences in action. Evolution and Human Behavior, 26, 3, 227-244. Full text - Marlowe, F.W., Apicella, C.L. and Reed, D. (2005). Men’s Preferences for Women’s Profile Waist-Hip-Ratio in Two Societies. Evolution and Human Behavior, 26, 458-468. Full text - Marlowe, F.W. (2003). The Mating System of Foragers in the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample. Cross-Cultural Research, 37, 282-306. Full text - Pillsworth, E.G., Haselton, M.G., & Buss, D.M. (2004). Ovulatory shifts in female sexual desire. Journal of Sex Research, 41, 55-65. Full text - Roberts S.C., Little A.C., Gosling L.M., Perrett D., Jones B.C., Carter V., Penton-Voak I.S. & Petrie M. MHC-heterozygosity and human facial attractiveness. Evolution and Human Behavior 26, 213-226. Full text - Schmitt, D.P. (2005). Sociosexuality from Argentina to Zimbabwe: A 48-nation study of sex, culture, and strategies of human mating. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 28, 247-311. Full text - Schmitt, D.P., Alcalay, L., Allik, J., Angleiter, A., Ault, L., Austers, I., et al. (2004). Patterns and universals of mate poaching across 53 nations: The effects of sex, culture, and personality on romantically attracting another person's partner. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 86, 560-584. Full text - Schmitt, D., et. al. (2003). Universal sex differences in the desire for sexual variety: Tests from 52 nations, 6 continents, and 13 islands. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 85-104. Full text - Schmitt, D.P, Shackelford, T.K., Duntely, J., Tooke, W., Buss, D.M., Fisher, M.L., Lavallee, M., & Vasey, P. (2002). Is there an early-30's peak in female sexual desire? Cross-sectional evidence from the United States and Canada. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 11, 1-18. Full text - Francoeur, Robert T. (ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Sexuality full text - Haeberle, Erwin J., [http://www2.hu-berlin.de/sexology/GESUND/ARCHIV/SEN/INDEX.HTM Human Sexuality: An Encyclopedia. Edited by Erwin J. Haeberle. Original editors: Vern L. Bullough and Bonnie Bullough] [full text] - Janssen, D. F., Growing Up Sexually. Volume I. World Reference Atlas [full text] - Program in Human Sexuality Studies - National Sexuality Resource Center - American Sexuality Magazine - Association of Reproductive Health Professionals - History of Surveys of Sexual Behavior from Encyclopedia of Behavioral Statistics - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHUCCP) creates behavior change communication programs related to Reproductive Health in developing countries. - POPLINE is a searchable database of the world's reproductive health literature. - Sex education - preschoolers - Private Sector Partnerships USAID project focused on increasing the private sector's role in providing high-quality health products and services in developing countries. - The South and Southeast Asia Resource Centre on Sexuality - The Sexuality and Rights Institute - Sex and Sexuality in the 21st Century:How and Why We Got There This article traces a series of issues related to sexuality and changing values regarding sexuality from post-WWII to the present. - NEW Survey about Sexual Desire The sexual desire as a significant aspect of the Human Sexual Behavior |This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).|

Individual differences | Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology | - This article is about the issues and phenomena pertaining to human sexual function and behavior. For information about sexual activities and practices, see the article human sexual behavior. For information on animal sexuality see Animal sexuality. For information specifi

| || E-Journals and their Usage Patterns Amongst the Indian Aerospace Scientists and Engineers in Bengaluru | Author :Guruprasad, R.;Nikam, Khaiser Source: DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology :30(6) ; 2010 ; pp.31-38 Abstract : The coming of the World Wide Web has propelled vigorous growth of the electronic forms of communication which simply does not fit into the traditional publishing format. With the coming age of e- Journals, there has been total transformation in the way scholarly communication is disseminated throughout the world. The use of e-journals saw a big jump in later half of the 90s and is continuing to escalate. On an average, one-half to nearly 100 per cent of the scientists in a field use e-journals at least part of the time. A research survey was undertaken amongst the 16 prestigious aerospace organisations in Bengaluru. The sampling boundary is restricted to these selected 16 organisations. Out of the 650 questionnaires distributed, 612 were received back, and finally 583 questionnaires suitable for the study were selected. The analysis is based on the responses from the aerospace scientists and engineers. The major observations include: (i) aerospace engineering e-Journals are extremely important to aerospace scientists or engineers and are a major source of scientific and technical information, (ii) the use patterns of aerospace engineering e-Journals amongst the 16 aerospace organisations are not uniform and hence show a heterogeneous nature in their use patterns. Also, the most preferred aerospace engineering e-Journals in the order of priority and usage (from the responses received) by this ‘niche’ aerospace engineering community are: Aerospace Science and Technology; Progress in Aerospace Sciences; Journal of Aerospace Engineering; IEEE Transactions on Electronics and Aerospace Systems; Web of Science; Online Journals: Aerospace; Journal of Turbo and Jet Engines; The Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention (ASM International); European Space Bulletin–ESA; Informatics–J Gate; and International Journal of Satellite Communications and Networking. Keywords : Aerospace engineering;use patterns;e-Journals;Internet;World Wide Web;electronic scholarly communication;information dissemination;electronic information resources

| || E-Journals and their Usage Patterns Amongst the Indian Aerospace Scientists and Engineers in Bengaluru | Author :Guruprasad, R.;Nikam, Khaiser Source: DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology :30(6) ; 2010 ; pp.31-38 Abstract : The coming of the World Wide Web has propelled vigorous growth of the electronic forms of communication which simply does not fit into the traditional pub

Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5004 Prepared in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration, Riverways Program Concentrations, Loads, and Sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Neponset River and Neponset River Estuary, Eastern Massachusetts By Robert F. Breault Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to contaminate the Neponset River, which flows through parts of Boston, Massachusetts, and empties into the Neponset River Estuary, an important fish-spawning area. The river is dammed and impassable to fish. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration, Riverways Program, collected, analyzed, and interpreted PCB data from bottom-sediment, water, and (or) fish-tissue samples in 2002, 2004-2006. Samples from the Neponset River and Neponset River Estuary were analyzed for 209 PCB congeners, PCB homologs, and Aroclors. In order to better assess the overall health quality of river-bottom sediments, sediment samples were also tested for concentrations of 31 elements. PCB concentrations measured in the top layers of bottom sediment ranged from 28 nanograms per gram (ng/g) just upstream of the Mother Brook confluence to 24,900 ng/g measured in Mother Brook. Concentrations of elements in bottom sediment were generally higher than background concentrations and higher than levels considered toxic to benthic organisms according to freshwater sediment-quality guidelines defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Concentrations of dissolved PCBs in water samples collected from the Neponset River (May 13, 2005 to April 28, 2006) averaged about 9.2 nanograms per liter (ng/L) (annual average of monthly values); however, during the months of August (about 16.5 ng/L) and September (about 15.6 ng/L), dissolved PCB concentrations were greater than 14 ng/L, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's freshwater continuous chronic criterion for aquatic organisms. Concentrations of PCBs in white sucker (fillets and whole fish) were all greater than 2,000 ng/g wet wt, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's guideline for safe consumption of fish: PCB concentrations measured in fish-tissue samples collected from the Tileston and Hollingsworth and Walter Baker Impoundments were 3,490 and 2,450 ng/g wet wt (filleted) and 6,890 and 4,080 ng/g wet wt (whole fish). Total PCB-congener concentrations measured in the whole bodies of estuarine bait fish (common mummichog) averaged 708 ng/g wet wt. PCBs that pass from the Neponset River to the Neponset River Estuary are either dissolved or associated with particulate matter (including living and nonliving material) suspended in the water column. A small proportion of PCBs may also be transported as part of the body burden of fish and wildlife. During the period May 13, 2005 to April 28, 2006, about 5,100 g (3.8 L or 1 gal) of PCBs were transported from the Neponset River to the Neponset River Estuary. Generally, about one-half of these PCBs were dissolved in the water column and the other half were associated with particulate matter; however, the proportion that was either dissolved or particulate varied seasonally. Most PCBs transported from the river to the estuary are composed of four or fewer chlorine atoms per biphenyl molecule. The data suggest that widespread PCB contamination of the lower Neponset River originated from Mother Brook, a Neponset River tributary, starting sometime around the early 1950s or earlier. In 1955, catastrophic dam failure caused by flooding likely released PCB-contaminated sediment downstream and into the Neponset River Estuary. PCBs from this source area likely continued to be released after the flood and during subsequent rebuilding of downstream dams. Today (2007), PCBs are mostly trapped behind these dams; however, some PCBs either diffuse or are entrained back into the water column and are transported downstream by river water into the estuary or volatilize into the atmosphere. In addition to the continuing release of PCBs from historically contaminated bottom sediment, PCBs are still (2007) originating from source areas along Mother and Meadow Brook as well as other sources along the river and Boston Harbor. PCBs from the river (transported by river water) and from the harbor (transported by tidal action) appear to have contaminated parts of the Neponset River Estuary. First posted June 8, 2011 Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge. Breault, R.F., 2011, Concentrations, loads, and sources of polychlorinated biphenyls, Neponset River and Neponset River Estuary, eastern Massachusetts: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5004, 143 p. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2011/5004.) Purpose and Scope Streamflow, Sediments, and Water Quality in the Neponset River Drainage Basin Sources of PCBs in the Neponset River Drainage Basin PCB Chemistry, Use, and Environmental Presence Mathematical Analysis of PCB-Congener Data Concentrations of PCBs and Other Constituents in Water, Sediment, and Fish PCBs in Sediment PCBs in Water PCBs in Fish Loads of PCBs from the Neponset River to the Neponset River Estuary Loads of PCBs through the Braided-Channel Area Sources of PCBs Relative Abundances, Concentrations, and Root-Mean-Square Difference History of PCB Contamination in the Neponset River Appendix 1. Sampling and Sample Processing Techniques Appendix 2. Chemical Analysis of Water, Sediment, and Fish Appendix 3. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Appendix 4. Polychlorinated Biphenyl Masses Measured in Water Samples Appendix 5. Polychlorinated Biphenyl Masses Measured in Commercially Available Aroclors

Scientific Investigations Report 2011–5004 Prepared in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, Division of Ecological Restoration, Riverways Program Concentrations, Loads, and Sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Neponset River and Neponset River Estuary, Eastern Massachusetts By Robert F. Breault Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to contaminate the Neponset River

Can People Go to Mars? Space radiation between Earth and Mars poses a hazard to astronauts. How dangerous is it out there? NASA scientists are working to find out. February 17, 2004: NASA has a mystery to solve: Can people go to Mars, or not? "It's a question of radiation," says Frank Cucinotta of NASA's Space Radiation Health Project at the Johnson Space Center. "We know how much radiation is out there, waiting for us between Earth and Mars, but we're not sure how the human body is going to react to it." NASA astronauts have been in space, off and on, for 45 years. Except for a few quick trips to the moon, though, they've never spent much time far from Earth. Deep space is filled with protons from solar flares, gamma rays from newborn black holes, and cosmic rays from exploding stars. A long voyage to Mars, with no big planet nearby to block or deflect that radiation, is going to be a new adventure. Right: "Distant Shores." NASA artwork by Pat Rawlings/SAIC. [Larger image] NASA weighs radiation danger in units of cancer risk. A healthy 40-year-old non-smoking American male stands a (whopping) 20% chance of eventually dying from cancer. That's if he stays on Earth. If he travels to Mars, the risk goes up. The question is, how much? "We're not sure," says Cucinotta. According to a 2001 study of people exposed to large doses of radiation--e.g., Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors and, ironically, cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy--the added risk of a 1000-day Mars mission lies somewhere between 1% and 19%. "The most likely answer is 3.4%," says Cucinotta, "but the error bars are wide." The odds are even worse for women, he adds. "Because of breasts and ovaries, the risk to female astronauts is nearly double the risk to males." "If the extra risk is only a few percent⌠we're OK. We could build a spaceship using aluminum and head for Mars." (Aluminum is a favorite material for spaceship construction, because it's lightweight, strong, and familiar to engineers from long decades of use in the aerospace industry.) "But if it's 19%⌠our 40something astronaut would face a 20% + 19% = 39% chance of developing life-ending cancer after he returns to Earth. That's not acceptable." The error bars are large, says Cucinotta, for good reason. Space radiation is a unique mix of gamma-rays, high-energy protons and cosmic rays. Atomic bomb blasts and cancer treatments, the basis of many studies, are no substitute for the "real thing." The greatest threat to astronauts en route to Mars is galactic cosmic rays--or "GCRs" for short. These are particles accelerated to almost light speed by distant supernova explosions. The most dangerous GCRs are heavy ionized nuclei such as Fe+26. "They're much more energetic (millions of MeV) than typical protons accelerated by solar flares (tens to hundreds of MeV)," notes Cucinotta. GCRs barrel through the skin of spaceships and people like tiny cannon balls, breaking the strands of DNA molecules, damaging genes and killing cells. Above: An artist's concept of DNA battered by galactic cosmic rays. Credit: OBPR. [Larger image] Astronauts have rarely experienced a full dose of these deep space GCRs. Consider the International Space Station (ISS): it orbits only 400 km above Earth's surface. The body of our planet, looming large, intercepts about one-third of GCRs before they reach the ISS. Another third is deflected by Earth's magnetic field. Space shuttle astronauts enjoy similar reductions. Apollo astronauts traveling to the moon absorbed higher doses--about 3 times the ISS level--but only for a few days during the Earth-moon cruise. GCRs may have damaged their eyes, notes Cucinotta. On the way to the moon, Apollo crews reported seeing cosmic ray flashes in their retinas, and now, many years later, some of them have developed cataracts. Otherwise they don't seem to have suffered much. "A few days 'out there' is probably safe," concludes Cucinotta. Right: Apollo command modules were well-enough shielded for quick trips to the Moon and back. [More] But astronauts traveling to Mars will be "out there" for a year or more. "We can't yet estimate, reliably, what cosmic rays will do to us when we're exposed for so long," he says. Finding out is the mission of NASA's new Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL), located at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. It opened in October 2003. "At the NSRL we have particle accelerators that can simulate cosmic rays," explains Cucinotta. Researchers expose mammalian cells and tissues to the particle beams, and then scrutinize the damage. "The goal is to reduce the uncertainty in our risk estimates to only a few percent by the year 2015." Once the risks are known, NASA can decide what kind of spaceship to build. It's possible that ordinary building materials like aluminum are good enough. If not, "we've already identified some alternatives," he says. How about a spaceship made of plastic? "Plastics are rich in hydrogen--an element that does a good job absorbing cosmic rays," explains Cucinotta. For instance, polyethylene, the same material garbage bags are made of, absorbs 20% more cosmic rays than aluminum. A form of reinforced polyethylene developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center is 10 times stronger than aluminum, and lighter, too. This could become a material of choice for spaceship building, if it can be made cheaply enough. "Even if we don't build the whole spacecraft from plastic," notes Cucinotta, "we could still use it to shield key areas like crew quarters." Indeed, this is already done onboard the ISS. Left: Bricks of reinforced polyethylene--the building blocks of future spacecraft? [More] If plastic isn't good enough then pure hydrogen might be required. Pound for pound, liquid hydrogen blocks cosmic rays 2.5 times better than aluminum does. Some advanced spacecraft designs call for big tanks of liquid hydrogen fuel, so "we could protect the crew from radiation by wrapping the fuel tank around their living space," speculates Cucinotta. Can people go to Mars? Cucinotta believes so. But first, "we've got to figure out how much radiation our bodies can handle and what kind of spaceship we need to build." In labs around the country, the work has already begun. Stay tuned to Science@NASA in the weeks ahead for more installments in our continuing series about space radiation. Next up: "Watch out for Solar Flares."

Can People Go to Mars? Space radiation between Earth and Mars poses a hazard to astronauts. How dangerous is it out there? NASA scientists are working to find out. February 17, 2004: NASA has a mystery to solve: Can people go to Mars, or not? "It's a question of radiation," says Frank Cucinotta of NASA's Space Radiation Health Project at the Johnson Space Center. "We know how much radiation is out

Description: These data present oceanographic and water-quality observations made at six locations in West Falmouth Harbor and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. While both Buzzards Bay and West Falmouth Harbor are estuarine embayments, the input of freshwater on the eastern margin of Buzzards Bay is largely due to groundwater. In West Falmouth Harbor, the groundwater that seeps into the harbor is characterized by relatively high levels of nitrate, originating from the Falmouth Wastewater Treatment Plant. This high nitrate load has modified the ecology of the harbor, and may be a significant source of nitrate to Buzzards Bay during seasons with low biological nitrate uptake. The USGS undertook these measurements to improve understanding of circulation, residence time, and water quality in the harbor and bay. Duration: Jul-Nov 2009; July-Nov 2010 USGS PI: N.K. Ganju Publications: Ganju, N.K., Dickhudt, P.J., Thomas, J.A., Borden, J., Sherwood, C.R., Montgomery, E., Twomey, E., and Martini, M., 2011, Summary of oceanographic and water-quality measurements in West Falmouth Harbor and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, 2009-2010: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1113. (Available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1113/). list any here FGDC metadata for this experiment. Links to the Data (below): |Basic Sampling Interval||Data access via OPeNDAP| Back to Experiment List

Description: These data present oceanographic and water-quality observations made at six locations in West Falmouth Harbor and Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. While both Buzzards Bay and West Falmouth Harbor are estuarine embayments, the input of freshwater on the eastern margin of Buzzards Bay is largely due to groundwater. In West Falmouth Harbor, the groundwater that seeps into the harbor is chara

When purchasing software, IT infrastructure, IT security and other IT goods and services, Cabinet Office recommends that Government departments should wherever possible deploy open standards in their procurement specifications. A toolkit for procurers on best practice for evaluating the use of open source solutions. The list of .gov.uk domain names and the onwers of such domains across government. The list of central government websites available to the public as of 1 October 2011. The Government IT Profession is the professional group for all people working in public sector IT. The ICT Strategy sets out the work the Government IT Profession is taking forward to drive the development of a more professional government IT workforce to ensure that the public sector has capable people and capable organisations, delivering and managing excellent IT. Internal Audit reports provide private advice to the Accounting Officer and it is recognised that failure to observe the private nature of that advice may undermine the effectiveness of Internal Audit. However, in this instance, given the level of public interest in the report we have taken the exceptional decision to make it available. The review of Central Government websites 2010/2011 by COI. The review of the National Programme for IT as utilised by the Department of Health which reccomends a removal of the system by the Major Projects Authority. The Open Data consultation paper sets out Government’s proposed approach for Transparency and Open Data Strategy, which is aimed at establishing a culture of openness and transparency in public services. We want to hear from everyone – citizens, businesses, public services themselves, and other interest groups – on how we can best embed a culture of openness and transparency in our public services. The Coalition Government has stated its determination to target resource to front line services and drive cost out of administrative functions and improve efficiency and effectiveness in public spending. In line with this, the Cabinet Office had a commitment in the Cabinet Office Business Plan for 2011-15 to publish a model for Whitehall shared services in July 2011. This document is a summary of the proposed strategic vision and future operating model for Government Shared Services To help us understand your needs and improve our website, please fill out this questionnaire. The survey should take 1-2 minutes to complete.

When purchasing software, IT infrastructure, IT security and other IT goods and services, Cabinet Office recommends that Government departments should wherever possible deploy open standards in their procurement specifications. A toolkit for procurers on best practice for evaluating the use of open source solutions. The list of .gov.uk domain names and the onwers of such domains across government.

Commercialization of New Industrial Crop Germplasm and Cropping Systems Location: Plant Physiology and Genetics Research Title: Highlights of Recent Progress in Plant Lipid Research | Lessire, Rene - U OF BORDEAUX, FRANCE | | Cahoon, Edgar - DANFORTH PL SCI CTR, MO | | Chapman, Kent - U OF N.TX, DENTON, TX | | Eastmond, Peter - U OF WARWICK, UK | | Heinz, Ernst - INST FUER ALLG BOT, GER | Submitted to: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: February 20, 2009 Publication Date: March 4, 2009 Citation: Lessire, R., Cahoon, E., Chapman, K., Dyer, J.M., Eastmond, P., Heinz, E. 2009. Highlights of Recent Progress in Plant Lipid Research. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 47:443-447. Interpretive Summary: All living organisms are composed of fundamental types of molecules including lipids, which form the boundary layer that surrounds all cell types. Lipids have many additional roles including formation of the protective, waxy layer on the outer surface of plants and animals, the formation of intracellular membranes that allow cells to carry out metabolic functions, and accumulation of large amounts of lipids as “fat” that can serve as an energy reserve for when food is scarce. Lipids play an essential role in plants, and understanding their structural and functional aspects is important not only for ensuring a secure and stable supply of food, but also for developing and optimizing the production of plant lipids as a renewable source of biofuels. The International Symposium on Plant Lipids is the premier scientific meeting for exchanging the latest information on plant lipids research, and this report summarizes some of the major findings from that meeting (July 2008). This report (and the associated special issue of the journal dedicated to plant lipid research) will be very useful to scientists who are interested in obtaining a broad overview of the state of the art in plant lipid research. Raw fossil material reserves are not inexhaustible and as prices continue to raise it is necessary to find new sources of alternative and renewable energy. Oils from oleaginous field crops (sunflower and rape) with properties close to those of fossil fuel could constitute an alternative source of energy for the production of raw materials. This is the context in which the 18th International Symposium on Plant lipids (ISPL) was held in Bordeaux from 20th to 25th July 2008 at “La Cité Mondiale”. The 18th ISPL gathered 270 researchers from de 33 countries. Sixty nine oral communications and 136 posters were presented during the 12 sessions of the Symposium: Surface lipids – suberin, cutin and waxes, Fatty acids, Glycerolipids, Plant lipids as renewable sources of energy, Seed oils and bioengineering of metabolic pathways, Lipid catabolism, Models for lipid studies – lower plants, micro-organisms and others, Modifications of proteins by lipids, Sphingolipids, sterols and isoprenoids, Lipid signalling and plant stress responses, Lipid trafficking and membrane dynamics, New methods and technologies – functional lipidomics and fluxome modelling. During the ISPL 2008 Bordeaux, important and new information was reported in the different fields. A selection of these results is presented here.

Commercialization of New Industrial Crop Germplasm and Cropping Systems Location: Plant Physiology and Genetics Research Title: Highlights of Recent Progress in Plant Lipid Research | Lessire, Rene - U OF BORDEAUX, FRANCE | | Cahoon, Edgar - DANFORTH PL SCI CTR, MO | | Chapman, Kent - U OF N.TX, DENTON, TX | | Eastmond, Peter - U OF WARWICK, UK | | Heinz, Ernst - INST FUER ALLG BOT, GER | Submitte

MCLEAN COUNTY LANDFILL, INCORPORATED BLOOMINGTON, MCLEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) requested that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) review the historical and environmental data available to determine if a public health threat exists at the McLean County Landfill site. Hazardous compounds have been identified in groundwater, surface water, and soil. The site is on the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act Inventory System (CERCLIS) list. The McLean County Landfill site is an inactive landfill on West Oakland County Road near the city limits of Bloomington, Illinois, in McLean County (Attachment 1). The site is in the southwest quarter of Section 7, Township 23 North, Range 2 East. The site is southwest of Interstate 55, and is about 1 mile southwest of Bloomington's central business district (Attachment 2). The site is situated on approximately 110 acres surrounded by agricultural and residential areas, including a housing development on Six Points Road. It is bounded on the north and west by Sugar Creek, on the south by Six Points Road, and on the east by West Oakland County Road. The landfill is partially fenced. A fence is in place along West Oakland County Road south to Six Points Road, and fencing continues west on Six Points Road to Sugar Creek (Attachment 3). Sugar Creek is the nearest surface water and flows along the western portion of the site. A pond is on the north end of the site, and two more ponds are on the south end of the site. A soccer field is in the flood plain west of Sugar Creek at the intersection of Six Points Road and Rabbit Hill Road. The City of Bloomington owns the soccer field and operates it through the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department. The site is an open field that is slightly mounded and partially vegetated. Twelve monitoring wells have been placed around the perimeter of the landfill. IDPH staff visited the site on December 17, 1997. Three campers were parked south of the landfill between the two southern ponds. A gate and an attendant weigh station is present at the site entrance to restrict access. However, at the time of the visit, the gate was open and no personnel were attending the station. The access road was muddy and snow covered. The McLean County Solid Waste Coordinator reports that land next to the site has been purchased by American Disposal from the John Sexton Contractors Company. The land is used for a landfill and transfer station. This landfill uses the same entrance as the McLean County Landfill. Reportedly, most solid waste in McLean County goes to Livingston, Tazewell, or DeWitt County landfills. Dr. Stanley D. Nord owned and operated the McLean County Landfill from 1964 until it closed in June 1990. During operation the landfill accepted municipal refuse, construction debris, industrial waste, and water treatment sludge. The site was initially investigated because of an anonymous telephone call to the McLean County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency on April 27, 1979. Following the initial site discovery in 1979, IEPA conducted a Preliminary Assessment (PA) in September 1984. The compliance record of the site showed inadequate daily and intermediate refuse cover, leachate flows, and ponding. As a result, the PA documented concern about the potential contamination of groundwater and surface water near the site by solvents, heavy metals, and acids. Subsequently, Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E&E) conducted a Site Inspection (SI) on August 19, 1987. The SI included groundwater, surface water, and sediment sampling. E&E also conducted a site reconnaissance visit on April 26, 1995. IEPA conducted the most recent groundwater sampling on November 5, 1997. Approximately 37,000 residents of Bloomington and Normal obtain drinking water from residential and municipal wells within a 4-mile radius of the McLean County Landfill site. These water well systems draw groundwater from glacial sediments at depths ranging from 28 to 80 feet below the ground surface. The direction of groundwater flow near the site is thought to be south or southeast. Based on a straight-line distance, approximately 5,000 people reside within 1 mile of the landfill. There are no schools or daycare centers within 0.5 miles of the site. A housing development is about 0.25 miles south of the site on Six Points Road. The nearest residential well is approximately 0.5 miles from the landfill. Surface water from the site drains into Sugar Creek along the western boundary of the site. There are no known sensitive environments or drinking water intakes along Sugar Creek. It does not drain into any other surface body for 15 miles downstream. There are no berms or other engineered controls to prevent surface water runoff from the site to Sugar Creek.

MCLEAN COUNTY LANDFILL, INCORPORATED BLOOMINGTON, MCLEAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) requested that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) review the historical and environmental data available to determine if a public health threat exists at the McLean County Landfill site. Hazardous compounds have been identified in groundwater, surface water, an

For Release: Feb. 24, 2009 Contact: Jennifer Wheeler (707) 825-2300 or Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332 Agencies Will Loan Tools to Defeat Scotch Broom With its brilliant yellow flowers and dense, bushy stands along highways, Scotch broom is one of the most recognizable plants in northern California. It is also one of the most threatening to native plants and landscapes. To combat the invasive plant, member agencies of the Humboldt-Del Norte Weed Management Area are loaning tools to help property owners remove the plants. "The plants are blooming early this year, and now is a good time for property owners to begin pulling them out of the ground," said Jennifer Wheeler, a botanist with the Bureau of Land Management's Arcata Field Office. Weed Wrenches™ are available at the BLM office, 1695 Heindon Rd., Arcata, and at the Del Norte County Department of Agriculture, 2650 Washington Blvd., Crescent City. There is no fee in the "Lend a Wrench Program," which encourages property owners to attack Scotch Broom while the soil is still moist. The Weed Wrenches grip the stalk of the broom plants, providing leverage to help pull the plants, including the root. "People should pull Scotch broom completely out of the ground, making sure to get the entire root," said Wheeler. "They should then pull all seedlings every spring for five to ten years and every two years thereafter. The bottom line is not to allow the young plants to attain a height capable of blooming and producing seeds." Scotch broom was introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant. The plants proved to be a problem. They spread rapidly, forming dense, six-foot-tall brush fields that crowded out native plants that reduced forage and habitat for diverse wildlife and livestock. Each broom plant can produce 8,000 to 12,000 seeds, and can explosively release them up to 13 feet away. Seeds can be easily spread by vehicles, shoes, animals and water runoff. Seeds remain viable for up to 30 years. Seeds and foliage are toxic to livestock, horses, and native hoofed wildlife. Broom grows faster than most trees used in forestry, shading out tree seedlings planted after harvest. Wheeler said individuals can contribute to controlling the plant by taking action on their own property. For more information, contact Wheeler at (707) 825-2300 or visit www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedmgtareas/Humboldt/humboldt_hp.htm. Arcata Field Office 1695 Heindon Rd. Arcata, CA 95521

For Release: Feb. 24, 2009 Contact: Jennifer Wheeler (707) 825-2300 or Jeff Fontana (530) 252-5332 Agencies Will Loan Tools to Defeat Scotch Broom With its brilliant yellow flowers and dense, bushy stands along highways, Scotch broom is one of the most recognizable plants in northern California. It is also one of the most threatening to native plants and landscapes. To combat the invasive plant, m

Food Safety Projects This page lists current and completed EHS-Net food safety projects grouped by focus area. EHS-Net food safety studies with a focus on characteristics of foodborne illness outbreaks. For example, one study describes differences between restaurants linked with outbreaks and restaurants not linked with outbreaks. - Evaluation of Outbreak and Nonoutbreak Restaurants to identify pathogens and contributing factors associated with restaurant-related foodborne illness outbreaks and food-safety differences between outbreak and nonoutbreak restaurants, through systematic environmental evaluations. - Foodborne Illness Outbreak Study to identify contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks in food-service facilities and to describe the characteristics, policies and practices of those facilities. Food-service facilities include restaurants, delis, cafeterias, schools, nursing homes, etc. EHS-Net food safety study with a focus on the general public’s beliefs about gastrointestinal illness. - Beliefs About Sources of Gastrointestinal Illness Population Study to increase understanding of the population’s experiences with and beliefs about gastrointestinal illness. EHS-Net food safety studies with a focus on restaurant and food worker food handling and food safety practices. Foods Associated with Foodborne Illness Studies in this section focus on foods associated with foodborne illness. These include studies on restaurant food handling and food safety practices concerning beef, eggs, and tomatoes. - Beef Grinding Logs Study to describe recordkeeping practices of beef grinding activities in retail establishments. - Chicken-Handling Practices Study to collect descriptive data on chicken handling and cooking practices in restaurants. - Egg Handling Practices Study to identify the prevalence of high-risk egg-handling practices and establishment policies in restaurants that serve breakfast all day. - Ground Beef Handling Practices Study to evaluate ground beef handling practices and the use of irradiated ground beef in restaurants. - Leafy Greens Study to collect descriptive data on the storage and preparation policies and practices of leafy greens prepared for raw consumption. - Tomato Handling Practices Study to identify the types of tomatoes used in restaurants, describe tomato-handling practices, and to identify factors associated with safer tomato-handling practices. Food Handling Practices Associated with Foodborne Illness Studies in this section focus on food handling practices associated with foodborne illness. These include publications on hand hygiene, the behavior of ill food workers, and food workers’ general food safety practices. - Food Allergens Study to describe restaurant managers’ and workers’ food allergen knowledge, attitudes, policies, and practices. - Food Cooling Practices Study to collect descriptive data on food cooling practices in restaurants. - Food Workers’ Food Preparation Practices Focus Group Study to evaluate behavioral factors, barriers, and motivations that influence safe food-handling practices in food-service establishments - Food Workers’ Food Preparation Practices Population Study to determine self-reported prevalence of food service workers’ safe and unsafe food preparation practices at the population level. - Hand Hygiene Study to describe restaurant food workers' hand hygiene practices and identify factors associated with safe hand hygiene practices. - Ill Food Worker Study to describe the frequency with which food workers work while experiencing vomiting or diarrhea and factors associated with working with these symptoms. - Listeria Retail Deli Study to describe deli food safety practices and deli worker actions that could lead to cross contamination and to identify factors associated with food safety practices. - Kitchen Manager/Person in Charge (KM/PIC) Certification Study to examine the relationships among kitchen manager certification, kitchen manager food safety knowledge, restaurant food handling policies, and foodborne illness risk factors observed in restaurants, such as improper holding, inadequate cooking, poor personal hygiene, and cross contamination. - Microwave Use Study to determine whether a larger study assessing microwave oven practices in food establishments is justified. EHS-Net food safety projects and study objectives with a focus on environmental health retail food safety programs. For example, one study describes environmental health specialists’ foodborne illness investigation practices. - Environmental Health Specialists’ Inspection and Outbreak Investigation Practices Focus Group Study to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of environmental health specialists regarding inspections and outbreak investigations. - Manager Certification and Inspection Scores Study to determine if the presence of a certified kitchen manager results in fewer critical violations.

Food Safety Projects This page lists current and completed EHS-Net food safety projects grouped by focus area. EHS-Net food safety studies with a focus on characteristics of foodborne illness outbreaks. For example, one study describes differences between restaurants linked with outbreaks and restaurants not linked with outbreaks. - Evaluation of Outbreak and Nonoutbreak Restaurants to identify pa

The effects of the economic crisis on the functioning of the judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina The global financial crisis hit the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy in the mid of 2008. Recession and reduction of the level of public revenues inevitably led to the reduction of available budgetary resources, which impacted the budgets of courts and prosecutors offices. Therefore, the initially approved budget for 2008 for the judiciary as a whole, which amounted to 105 million €, was reduced through a process of rebalancing of the budget by 3.8%. Trend of budget reduction continued in 2009, so the final approved amount for the judiciary was 95.3 million €. The budgets were partially recovered, primarily because of loans approved by the International Monetary Fund, so the judicial budgets approved in 2010 increased for 3.3% in relation to 2009. Comparing the funds approved in 2010 with the initially approved funds for the year of 2008, the greatest reductions, in relative terms, relate to capital investments (-67.9%). Costs of materials and services were reduced by 15%, while the costs for gross salaries and other compensations are approximately equal (- 1.5%). In relation to what was said above, it should be noted that the judicial institutions in BiH have been granted significant donor funds, intended for various judiciary reform project including the reconstruction of the old buildings, and purchase of the essential IT equipment, that partially mitigated the consequences of the crisis. However, the budget reductions have inevitably affected the normal functioning of courts and prosecutors offices. Specifically, most courts were not able to implement the planned employment, which is necessary to reduce the backlog. In some drastic cases, courts are faced with a lack of basic office supplies. Sometimes, the payments for purchase of office and other material were postponed for several months, as the suppliers conditioned the new delivery with the payment of those overdue bills. Some courts and prosecutors offices were given warnings before the cut of services for unpaid utility bills, and in some rare individual cases, provision of these services was temporarily stopped. Delays in payments mostly affect costs of lawyers in mandatory defense cases, witnesses, and experts, which were usually paid several months after the actual service. The effect of the crisis has emphasized the problem of fragmented funding of judicial institutions. Specifically, courts and are funded from 14 different sources of financing (state level, 2 entities - Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska), 10 cantons within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Brčko District) which leads to an uneven provision of resources for the courts and prosecutors offices, which all leads to distortion of the principle of “equal access to justice” for citizens in BiH. For example, while courts and prosecutors offices in one canton face the lack of elementary office material such as office papers or toners, courts and prosecutors offices in another canton have sufficient budgets to fund increased number of judges and capital investments. Aforementioned reduction of funds has not yet significantly affected the productivity of courts and prosecutors offices. Increase of the approved budgetary funds in 2010 and the continuous help and assistance from donors have reduced the gap between the budgetary needs of the courts and prosecutors offices and available resources. Although the courts and prosecutors offices still successfully cope with the current inflow of cases, it is questionable whether they will be able to respond to the continuous trend of growth in the number of incoming cases, and especially to solve the problem of large backlog. Head of the Judicial Administration Department / National correspondent for Bosnia and Herzegovina for the CEPEJ High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council of Bosnia and Herzegovina Kraljice Jelene 88 - 71000 Sarajevo - Bosna i Hercegovina Tel: +387 (0)33 707 500, Faks: +387 (0)33 707 550

The effects of the economic crisis on the functioning of the judicial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina The global financial crisis hit the Bosnia and Herzegovina’s economy in the mid of 2008. Recession and reduction of the level of public revenues inevitably led to the reduction of available budgetary resources, which impacted the budgets of courts and prosecutors offices. Therefore, the initially

The following information provides specifics on the left menu navigation bar of the Lincoln NWS homepage. Watches/Warnings displays information on valid weather watches or warnings across central Illinois. Outlooks contains links to the current Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the Lincoln NWS, as well as graphical outlooks issued by the Storm Prediction Center and Hydrometeorogical Prediction Center. Submit Report allows storm spotters and weather observers to submit their report to the Lincoln NWS. Observations allows you to access current surface maps, a tabular summary of the weather across central Illinois, and detailed observations from airport sites in Illinois. Radar displays the current radar image from Lincoln, IL (KILX). Satellite allows you to display several different types of satellite pictures. This is the same function as clicking on the "Satellite and Upper Air" tab above the map on the main page. Snow Cover links you to various snow analyses produced by the NWS's National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center. Snowfall Analysis provides an interactive mapping of snowfall from several observation networks, for the last 1, 2 or 3 days. Precip Analysis provides an interactive mapping of precipitation from several observation networks, for several periods ranging from today to 90 days ago. Forecast Discussion shows the latest reasoning used by the meteorologists at the Lincoln NWS, in preparing their forecasts for the next several days. Local Area provides quick links to local area forecasts. Information on local forecasts can also be accessed by clicking on specific points of the map on the main page. Activity Planner allows you to query the digital forecast database to determine specific weather parameters for your needs (for example, you can display the periods when the temperature will be between 40 and 50 degrees). Aviation Weather allows you access aviation-related forecasts via the Aviation Weather Center. Fire Weather is a collection of links that can be used by land management agencies to assist with prescribed and unexpected fires. Severe Weather links you to the Storm Prediction Center, which is responsible for issuing severe thunderstorm and tornado watches and outlooks. Winter Weather links you to the snowfall and ice accumulation forecasts provided by the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Hurricane Center links you to the National Hurricane Center, which issues tropical weather products for the Atlantic Ocean north of the Equator, as well as the Carribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the part of the Pacific Ocean north of the Equator and east of 140°W longitude. Rivers & Lakes allows you to access the Advanced Hydrological Prediction Service (AHPS) for central Illinois. AHPS displays current river stage observations, and river forecast information. Local is an interactive page that allows you to access weather data for central Illinois. National is an interactive page to access weather data from around the nation. Drought links you to the U.S. Drought Portal. More... will take you to the Lincoln NWS climate page. Preparedness has several sections that help you prepare for various weather hazards: severe weather, winter weather, lightning, and heat. Weather Radio provides information on the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) All-Hazards network that covers central and southeast Illinois. StormReady is a national program to assist communities and counties to prepare for severe weather. Other Useful Links contains a collection of links to other parts of our homepage, beyond what is on the left menu. Education Resources is a link to various educational pages maintaned by NOAA. Cooperative Observer (COOP) Program discusses the volunteer weather observer network, and news affecting the network. Top News Archives contains links to stories that had been previously listed in the Top News of the Day section of our homepage. Our Office provides details on who works here at the Lincoln NWS, and where the office is located. Contact Info provides our mailing address, phone number, and E-mail address if you wish to contact us with any questions or comments. Feedback allows you to participate in a survey on our homepage services.

The following information provides specifics on the left menu navigation bar of the Lincoln NWS homepage. Watches/Warnings displays information on valid weather watches or warnings across central Illinois. Outlooks contains links to the current Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the Lincoln NWS, as well as graphical outlooks issued by the Storm Prediction Center and Hydrometeorogical Prediction C

Soldiers Help Comrades Understand Islamic Cultures By Sgt. Brandon Little, USA Special to American Forces Press Service CAMP TAJI, Iraq, March 6, 2008 Deployed American forces go out of their way to interact with local citizens, hoping to gain their confidence by helping them get a better understanding of the U.S. mission and culture. Army Spc. Emadeldeen Elboctorcy (right), talks about aircraft maintenance with Army Sgt. Brett Knerr. Elboctorcy, who hails from Citrus Heights, Calif., was born in Alexandria, Egypt, and is one of only a few soldiers in Multinational Division Baghdad’s Task Force 12 who practice Islam. He serves as a UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer in Company D, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. Photo by 1st Sgt. Ronald Pickens, USA (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. Knowing that cultural understanding has to work both ways, the U.S. military continues to provide its servicemembers with training on Islamic cultures and their way of life. But what happens after all the training and soldiers still have questions? Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers in Task Force 12 who practice Islam answer questions about their religion and help fellow soldiers put a familiar face with an unfamiliar culture. “I’ve known the soldiers I work with for a long time, and they don’t treat me any different just because I’m from a different culture,” said Army Spc. Emadeldeen Elboctorcy, a UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer in Company D, 3rd Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment. “They’re pretty considerate of my religion; for example, when some of the soldiers go to get food for everybody, they always make sure there is a plate without pork.” Elboctorcy, who is now a U.S. citizen, was born and reared as a devout Muslim in Alexandria, Egypt. He moved to the United States in 1995 and has been answering the questions of those curious about his religion ever since. “When you get cultural awareness training, they only give you so much information, and many of the soldiers, to include myself, still had questions,” said Army 1st Sgt. Ronald Pickens, a native of Abilene, Texas, who serves with Company D. “Instead of asking their question in front of everybody, they felt more comfortable asking Elboctorcy, and he would explain his point of view. He’s a very tolerant person and willing to answer those questions.” Army Spc. Asad Khan, a New York City resident for nearly 30 years, was born in a small town near Lahore, Pakistan, and often is asked about his religion and his country’s culture. “Some people think that everyone who is a Muslim is a radical, but that’s not the case,” said Khan, an air traffic control systems maintainer in Company F, 7th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment. “There are a few, just like in every religion, who are extremist, but I was definitely not brought up that way.” The combination of cultural awareness training and having a soldier in the unit who practices Islam has helped the other soldiers understand that different doesn’t mean good or bad; it just means different, Pickens said. “I joined the Army because I wanted to make a difference in the war using my language. But at that time, there was no military occupational specialty for Arabic linguist,” said Elboctorcy, a native of Citrus Heights, Calif. “I guess in a sense I am making a difference, because even though I’m not out there talking to Iraqis, I’m still providing information to the soldiers who want to know more about Arabic cultures.” “He doesn’t explain how the cultures are different; he explains how the cultures are similar,” Pickens noted. Islam, just like most other religions, teaches people they should love and respect one another, Elboctorcy said. Having been born in the Middle East, Khan and Elboctorcy said, they feel a connection to people who live in this region, but living in the United States for so many years has made them appreciate both cultures. “I feel a strong connection to Iraqis who have dual citizenship with a country like the U.S. or Great Britain,” Elboctorcy said. “We can share experiences we’ve had in living in both cultures and speaking both languages.” Although Khan is not yet a U.S. citizen, he has begun the naturalization process and will more than likely become a citizen before the end of his deployment. Whether it’s learning from cultural awareness training, or from a fellow soldier who has lived in a certain region of the world, Task Force 12 soldiers have plenty of options to educate themselves on unfamiliar cultures and ways of life. “I’ve never been stereotyped or judged by the soldiers I work with; they know me, and they know I’m from New York,” Khan said. “Don’t get me wrong, I still love Pakistan, but America has my heart, and I will always be an American.” (Army Sgt. Brandon Little serves in the Task Force 12 Public Affairs Office, Multinational Division Baghdad.)

Soldiers Help Comrades Understand Islamic Cultures By Sgt. Brandon Little, USA Special to American Forces Press Service CAMP TAJI, Iraq, March 6, 2008 Deployed American forces go out of their way to interact with local citizens, hoping to gain their confidence by helping them get a better understanding of the U.S. mission and culture. Army Spc. Emadeldeen Elboctorcy (right), talks about aircraft m

Recorded Webinar - October 16, 2012 Part C State Plan Public Hearing #2 The second of two webinar public hearings on the proposed changes to the Part C State Plan of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (The first hearing was held on October 10th.) The purpose of the hearings is to receive comments from persons interested in early intervention services for children ages birth to three years. The Office of Special Education is proposing changes to the State regulations implementing Part C (birth to three years) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These are the regulations that govern the First Steps Early Intervention Program. These regulations also include requirements for transition from Part C (First Steps) to Part B (Early Childhood Special Education), including Local Educational Agency (LEA) notification, timelines for the conference with the LEA, and required actions for late referrals to First Steps. Please review the proposed changes to the regulations and a changes chart identifying the content changes. Written public comments on the proposed changes in state regulations may be submitted during the webinars or through the following methods until the close of business on November 30, 2012. You may send your comments via email (Attn: Pam Schroeder); Fax: Attn: Pam Schroeder, (573) 526-4404; or mail them to: Office of Special Education Attn: Pam Schroeder P.O. Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 System Points of Entry (SPOE) directors, Service Coordinators, Service Providers, State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) members, Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teachers and administrators, and Special Education directors should view this webinar. Presented by Pam Schroeder, Assistant Director, Special Education Compliance, Part C. - View the recorded webinar (Approx 1 hour, 50 minutes) If you experience trouble during the webinar, first read through our help guide, and if assistance is still needed, call (573) 751-5739. Following the webinar, please give us your feedback by participating in a short online evaluation survey. This will help us improve our services and future webinars.

Recorded Webinar - October 16, 2012 Part C State Plan Public Hearing #2 The second of two webinar public hearings on the proposed changes to the Part C State Plan of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). (The first hearing was held on October 10th.) The purpose of the hearings is to receive comments from persons interested in early intervention services for children ages birth to

Banke National Park (BaNP) was established as 10th Park on 12th of July 2010 which reflect Government’s commitment in Biodiversity conservation at the landscape level. It was also recognized as gift to the earth in 1998. The Park is linked with transboundary Landscape that joins Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary in India through national and community forests towards south. It joins with Bardia National Park (BNP) towards west which further links with Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India via Khata corridor, national forest and community forests. There are about 4,861 households with 35,712 populations residing in buffer zone. Indigenous Tharu community, Brahmin, Chhetri, Magar, Tamang, Majhi, and Gurung are living in the buffer zone. 90% of the economy of people depends on agriculture and rest 10% on trade and labor. • To conserve endangered species of wild flora and fauna and their habitat • To promote eco-tourism • To facilitate buffer zone for resources management, livelihood promotion, income generation and community development activities • To strengthen transboundary biological corridor. The Park has three distinct seasons: winter, summer and monsoon, each providing a unique experience. From October to early A p r i l , weather is dry, days are warm, and nights are cool and p l e a s a n t . From April to June, temperature grows up to 450C in May/June. The hot humid days gives way to monsoon rains that lasts until September. There are few health posts in the buffer zone and a teaching hospital about 50 km from Park head office, thus a first aid kit including medicines to purify water is advisable. Communication facility is well established. Fuel stations are limited to highway and self arrangement is encouraged for interior visits. Hotels and lodges are available along the southern border of the Park and few other locations with basic services required for tourists. How to get there There are regular flights and tourist coaches from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. It takes approximately an hour drive on a regular or hired bus/taxi from Nepalgunj to Park’s head office. It takes about eight hours bus ride (270 Km) from Mahendranagar and seven hours (250 Km) bus ride from Dhangadi to reach Park’s head office. • An entry permit is required to enter in to the Park that can be purchased at entry points with the payment of Rs 500 (foreigners), Rs 200 (SAARC), and Rs 20 (Nepalese) per person per day. • We anticipate respect of religious and cultural heritage. • The entry is prohibited between sun set and sun rise. • Non bio-degradable items should be disposed in the designated places. • Unauthorized purchase of animal or plant parts is offensive. • Flora and fauna are fully protected and should not be disturbed. Location, Area and Boundary BaNP (550 square kilometer) lies in Banke district and its buffer zone (343 square kilometer) covers parts of Banke, Bardia, Dang and Salyan districts of Mid Western Development Region. It is located between 810 39’29” to 820 12’19” east longitude and 270 58’13” to 280 21’26” north latitude. The core area is delineated by Chisapani-Obary section of east-west highway and cultivated land in the south, the Churia ridge in the north, Shiva khola in the east and Kohalpur- Surkhet road in the west. The core area of the Park (61.5%) entirely falls in Banke district and buffer zone (38.5%) falls in Banke district in the south and west, and Dang and Salyan districts in the north. Bio-diversity and habitat BaNP contains an array of eight ecosystem types such as Sal forest, deciduous Riverine forest, savannahs and grasslands, mixed hardwood forest, flood plain community, Bhabar and foot hills of Chure range. It is a home to 124 plants, 34 mammals, more than 300 birds, 24 reptiles, 7 amphibians and 58 fish species. 90% natural forest coverage composed of mainly Sal, Karma, Khair and Sissoo. Three species of mammals (tiger, striped hyaena, four-horned antelope), four species of birds (giant hornbill, black stork, Bengal florican, and lesser florican) and two species of reptiles (gharial crocodile and python) residing in the Park are protected by the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973. The habitat of flood plain, foot hill and Churia hill are of prime concern to conserve major focus species such as royal Bengal tiger, Asiatic wild elephant and four-horned antelope. Furthermore, the Rapti River on the south and Babai River on the north forms the life line of the Park. To kindle the conservation spirit in the hearts of people, BaNP has focused on participatory resource management in 14 VDCs, seven from Banke district (Khaskusum, Kanchanpur, Mahadevpuri, Kohalpur, Chisapani, Navbasta, Rajhena), three from Dang district (Goltauri, Panchkule, Purandhara), three from Salyan district (Kalimati Rampur, Kalimati Kalche, Kavrechaur) and one from Surkhet district (Belawa), in the buffer zone. The user committees and the user groups will have their own work plans and financial resources channeled through buffer zone management committee to utilize in conservation, community development, income generation, skill enhancement and conservation education program

Banke National Park (BaNP) was established as 10th Park on 12th of July 2010 which reflect Government’s commitment in Biodiversity conservation at the landscape level. It was also recognized as gift to the earth in 1998. The Park is linked with transboundary Landscape that joins Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary in India through national and community forests towards south. It joins with Bardia National

Research cruise testing EGNOS satnav for ships A research vessel surveying European waters is also charting the maritime performance of Europe’s EGNOS satnav system. Results gathered by Belgium’s RV Belgica are investigating how EGNOS, initially prioritised for aircraft, can also guide marine traffic. The Belgica is an all-purpose oceanographic research ship that spends around 200 days per year at sea, monitoring the quality of the marine environment, surveying the seabed and serving as a floating laboratory for Belgian universities and research institutes. Mainly operating in the southern North Sea, the 51 m-long vessel is run by the Belgian Navy on behalf of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Usually gathering data from the sea, the Belgica is now also receiving data from the sky. “The ship has been fitted with a set of three receivers to pick up signals from the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service, EGNOS, as well as signals from the first Galileo satellites in orbit,” explains Massimo Crisci of ESA’s Radio Navigation Section. “The receivers are continuously logging satnav signals, so that we can see the system performance during different sea conditions, while the ship is moving or stationary and out to sea or approaching harbour.” “We’re interesting in learning how the signals reflect – an unwanted effect known as ‘multipath’ – off the sea or from harbour infrastructure or nearby ships,” adds David Jimenez-Baños, checking the data. “Then close to shore there is also the potential for interference from local ship-tracking radar. “What is crucial for EGNOS is to have an assurance of accuracy – what is the level of trust a user can have in the service?” Covering all European territory via a trio of geostationary satellite transponders, EGNOS is an augmentation system that sharpens the accuracy of US GPS signals. EGNOS corrects for interference from the electrically active ‘ionosphere’ layer of the atmosphere and adds information on reliability for a range of general and safety-critical uses across the continent. Europe’s equivalent to the US WAAS system, EGNOS is now available for guiding aircraft approaches to airport runways. Designed by ESA, the European Commission and Eurocontrol – the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation – EGNOS can also be used for surface transport on both land and sea. “This is the first time that long-term data are being gathered on EGNOS’s performance at sea in a systematic way,” comments Marco Porretta, also working on the test. “We’re using one commercial receiver, from Septentrio Satellite Navigation BV in Belgium, with two others we developed ourselves. “And the fact we’re also receiving Galileo signals gives us additional data to work with when validating that system.” The receivers are self-contained, requiring minimal attention from the Belgica’s crew and scientists. The ship’s duties take it into all kinds of intriguing but typically off-limit environments for signal reception, such as the midst of offshore windfarms. The receivers have been put in place on a cooperative data-sharing basis with no exchange of funds, planned for one year but with the potential for extension. The European Commission, overseeing EGNOS applications, regards it as having great potential for the maritime and inland waterways transport sector. Shipping is the most energy-efficient means of transportation: eight times more efficient than rail travel and 26 times more efficient than going by road.

Research cruise testing EGNOS satnav for ships A research vessel surveying European waters is also charting the maritime performance of Europe’s EGNOS satnav system. Results gathered by Belgium’s RV Belgica are investigating how EGNOS, initially prioritised for aircraft, can also guide marine traffic. The Belgica is an all-purpose oceanographic research ship that spends around 200 days per year at

CryoSat-2 technology: anatomy of a satellite The theory sounds relatively straightforward, but examination of the CryoSat-2 satellite highlights the practical challenges faced by Astrium in Friedrichstafen, Germany (A-D) and Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, France (TAS-F). “CryoSat-2 is very similar to the first CryoSat in design, but features a number of improvements,” said Richard Francis, CryoSat-2 Project Manager. “The most obvious is that the SIRAL radar instrument is now fully redundant, and this induced a number of knock-on changes. We are also flying the next generation of DORIS, the radio-frequency positioning system, as well as brand-new S-band transponders. We increased the battery capacity and made lots of changes to the software, to make CryoSat-2 much easier to 'drive' than its predecessor. “But fundamentally the satellite is really designed around the radar, the key requirement being to keep the radar antenna and startracker system as stable as possible.” So the satellite has a minimal number of moving parts to avoid ‘rocking the boat’ as much as possible, while its distinctive dog-kennel shape is a consequence of CryoSat-2’s unusual orbit, which is the best compromise between high latitude coverage (88°) and maximising the number of orbital track cross-overs – key to obtaining the rates of change of ice sheet elevation. Unlike standard ‘Sun-synchronous’ orbits, this means the satellite experiences every conceivable Sun angle in the course of 450 days. A diagonal rooftop of solar panels was the best method available within budget of producing sufficient power needed to keep CryoSat-2 running at all times. In a further boost to power availability, very high-performance triple junction gallium arsenide solar cells are used, technology originally developed for high-power communication satellites. Doing without fold-out solar panels also has the virtue of constraining CryoSat-2’s overall surface area, cutting the amount of attitude correction needed due to solar radiation pressure. Its direction and orientation in space must be maintained very precisely – the measurement accuracy of the orientation of its twin antennas is about 30 arcseconds, equivalent to a football seen from 2 km – so it is equipped with startrackers, laser retro-reflectors for ground-based position measurements and also radio-based navigation. For active attitude correction, CryoSat-2 carries magnetorquers and cold gas thrusters for fine-tuning – the latter producing a correcting force equivalent to a cubic centimetre splash of water. Last update: 23 February 2010

CryoSat-2 technology: anatomy of a satellite The theory sounds relatively straightforward, but examination of the CryoSat-2 satellite highlights the practical challenges faced by Astrium in Friedrichstafen, Germany (A-D) and Thales Alenia Space in Toulouse, France (TAS-F). “CryoSat-2 is very similar to the first CryoSat in design, but features a number of improvements,” said Richard Francis, CryoS

Contact Information, Links, and References To reference content from this website: Shoemaker, L. G., J. C. Turnbull, P. P. Tans, J. B. Miller, B. H. Vaughn, S. E. Michel, and S. J. Lehman (2010), Fingerprints of Emissions and the Carbon Cycle: Stable and Radiocarbon Isotopes of Carbon Dioxide, NOAA/ESRL, http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/outreach/isotopes/. If you have questions or wish to request more information pertaining to portions of this website, please contact: - 14C Interpretation: Jocelyn Turnbull ([email protected]) - Stable Isotope Interpretation: John Miller ([email protected]) - Stable Isotope Measurements and Data Quality: Bruce Vaughn ([email protected]) or Sylvia Michel ([email protected]) - 14C Measurements and Data Quality: Scott Lehman ([email protected]) - NOAA Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Senior Scientist: Pieter Tans ([email protected]) Links to other websites, which are incorporated into Fingerprints of Emissions and the Carbon Cycle: Stable and Radiocarbon Isotopes of Carbon Dioxide include: - NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory Global Monitoring Division's Interactive Atmospheric Data Visualization: - NOAA's 200 Year Celebration story Life of an Air Flask: - NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory's Global Monitoring Division's Outreach and Education Website: - NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory's Global Monitoring Division's POET Program Educational Activities: - INSTAAR's Stable Isotope Laboratory: - INSTAAR's Radiocarbon Laboratory: - Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Facilities used by NOAA's Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Gases Group, which include: - The Earth Science Literacy Initiative's Project Description: - The Earth Science Literacy Initiative's Principles Guide: Other links that students may find helpful include: - The American Society for Mass Spectrometry provides an overview of mass spectrometry, but includes discussions of mass spectrometry in additional areas of science. - Scripps Center for Mass Spectrometry provides an overview of mass spectrometry and uses of mass spectrometry, especially in biological research. - American Scientist Article “Rapid Climate Change: New evidence shows that earth's climate can change dramatically in only a decade. Could greenhouse gases flip that switch?” by Kendrick Taylor. - Scientific American Article “The Physical Science behind Climate Change: Why are climatologists so highly confident that human activities are dangerously warming Earth? Members of the IPCC, the 2007 peace winner, write on climate change” by William Collins, Robert Colman, James Haywood, Martin R. Manning and Philip Mote. - Scientific American Article “Is climate change hiding the decline of maple syrup? Human-related carbon emissions may skew isotope analysis for food-quality control” by Matt Kaplan. References used in this website IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change section 10.4.2 Ocean Acidification Due to Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA. - The IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) has currently published four assessment reports on the science behind climate change. The most recent, published in 2007, contains four volumes, which can be found at: http://www.ipcc.ch/. O'Leary, M.H., Madhavan, S. and Paneth, P. 1992, Physical and chemical basis of carbon isotope fractionation in plants. Plant, Cell, and Environment, 15, 1099-1104. - This paper provides a detailed description about different fractionation process, specifically in biology. Congressional Research Service (Content source); Maggie L. Walser (Topic Editor). 2009. "Greenhouse gas emissions- perspectives on the top 20 emitters and developed versus developing nations." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth April 4, 2008; Last revised September 2, 2009; Retrieved June 11, 2010] < http://www.eoearth.org/article/Greenhouse_gas_emissions-_perspectives_on_the_top_20_emitters_and_developed_versus_developing_nations >. - Discusses differences in emissions and emission requirements in various nations. E.J. Finehout and K.H. Lee. (2003). An Introduction to Mass Spectrometry Applications, Biological Research, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education, 32(2), 93-100. - An example of other uses of stable isotope mass spectrometry. J.W. Wong, M.K. Hennessy, D.G. Hayward, A.J. Krynitsky, I. Cassias, and F.J. Schenck. (2007). Analysis of Organophosphorus Pesticides in Dried Ground Ginseng Root by Capillary Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry and –Flame Photometric Detection, J. Agric. Food Chem., 55(4), 1117-1128. - Another example of other uses of stable isotope mass spectrometry. Currie, K.I., Brailsford, G., Nichol, S., Gomez, A., Sparks, R., Lassey, K.R., and Riedel, K. 2009. Tropospheric 14CO2 at Wellington, New Zealand: the world's longest record, Biogeochemistry. - Data on changes in 14C caused by nuclear testing. Levin, I. and Kromer, B. (2004). The tropospheric 14CO2 level in mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere (1959-2003). Radiocarbon, Vol. 46, Nr. 3, Pgs 1261-1272. - Additional data on changes in 14C caused by nuclear testing. Vaughn, BH., et al. (2004). Stable isotope measurements of atmospheric CO2 and CH4., Handbook of Stable Isotope Analytical Techniques, vol 1, ch.14, Elsiever, 1248. - Discusses both carbon dioxide and methane isotopes with an overview of their importance and methods of analysis. Huff, A.K. and Thiemens, M.H. (1998). 17O /16O and 18O /16O isotope measurements of atmospheric carbon monoxide and its sources. Geophysical research letters, Vol. 25, No. 18, Pg. 3509-3512. - This paper looks at oxygen isotopes in carbon monoxide and their two major sources. Manning, M.R., Lowe, D.C., Moss, R.C., Bodeker, G.E., and Allan, W. (2005). Short-term variations in the oxidizing power of the atmosphere. Nature letters, Vol. 436, No. 18, Pg. 1001-1004. - This paper discusses measuring the amount of OH in the atmosphere using 14C in carbon monoxide. Wuebbles, D.J. and Hayhoe, K. (2002). Atmospheric methane and global change. Earth-Science Reviews 57, Pg. 177-210. - Atmospheric methane and global change examines our current understanding of atmospheric methane and its impact on the climate. Ferretti, et al. (2005). Unexpected changes to the global methane budget over the past 2000 years. Science 309, 1714, Pg. 1714-1716. - This scientific paper looks at changes in the strength of different methane sources over the last 2,000 years. Earth Science Literacy Initiative. National Science Foundation. - This is the homepage for the Earth Science Literacy Initiative.

Contact Information, Links, and References To reference content from this website: Shoemaker, L. G., J. C. Turnbull, P. P. Tans, J. B. Miller, B. H. Vaughn, S. E. Michel, and S. J. Lehman (2010), Fingerprints of Emissions and the Carbon Cycle: Stable and Radiocarbon Isotopes of Carbon Dioxide, NOAA/ESRL, http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/outreach/isotopes/. If you have questions or wish to request more