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USGS Groundwater Information Permeability Reduction Caused by Trapped Gas: Field-Scale Observations and Quantification With a Dissolved-Gas Tracer During a Ponded Infiltration Experiment By Victor M. Heilweil1,and D. Kip Solomon2 Laboratory studies and field-scale artificial recharge experiments have demonstrated reduced permeability caused by trapped gases. Initially, infiltration rates drop due to air entrapment, causing decreases in vertical hydraulic conductivity. Longer-term permeability reduction caused by bacterially generated gases also has been observed, which has implications for both ponded and injection-well artificial recharge projects. A ponded infiltration experiment was monitored during a 10-month period to evaluate potential artificial ground-water recharge beneath the Sand Hollow Reservoir near St. George, Utah. As part of this experiment, dissolved helium was introduced to the pond, along with dissolved bromide, to act as a partitioning tracer. Because of its low-solubility in water, helium preferentially partitions to a gas phase when it encounters trapped gas bubbles. This produces a net retardation of helium relative to a non-partitioning (non-volatile) tracer such as bromide. Previously, such gas-phase partitioning tracers have only been used in laboratory-scale experiments. Because of the large degree of retardation, it was necessary to measure helium at very low concentrations (at C/Co down to 1E-5). Fortunately, this is possible by using mass spectrometric methods that measure helium isotope ratios. Also, the biological source of the trapped gases was confirmed by high concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen measured in water samples from shallow depths beneath the pond. The helium tracer breakthrough occurred as much as 5 months after the bromide tracer (fig. 1). The retardation of the dissolved-helium tracer in comparison to the bromide tracer at various depths beneath the pond indicates that as much as 10 percent of the porosity of material beneath the pond was filled with gas. Theoretically, this gas would exist mostly in the larger pore-throats. Laboratory measurements of hydraulic conductivity at varying degrees of saturation indicate that a 10-percent air-filled porosity may reduce vertical hydraulic conductivity by as much as two orders of magnitude. Therefore, trapped gases may be the primary rate limiting parameter for artificial recharge at the site. Figure 1. Retardation of breakthrough of dissolved helium compared to dissolved bromide at a depth of 5.5 feet below land surface during the infiltration pond experiment at Sand Hollow near St. George, Utah. Net infiltration rates quickly dropped off after the first few days from about 0.4 ft/d to less than 0.2 ft/d (fig. 2). Infiltration rates varied over a narrow range of 0.13 to 0.18 ft/d from August through February, but increased during the last 2 months of the experiment (March and April) to more than 0.2 ft/d. Much of the decrease in infiltration rates in the fall and increase in the spring was likely caused by changes in hydraulic conductivity caused by changes in the dynamic viscosity of water at different temperatures. Figure 2. Infiltration rates during the 10-month infiltration pond experiment at Sand Hollow near St. George, Utah. In George R. Aiken and Eve L. Kuniansky, editors, 2002, U.S. Geological Survey Artificial Recharge Workshop Proceedings, Sacramento, California, April 2-4, 2002: USGS Open-File Report 02-89 The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not consitute endorsement by the U.S. Government.

USGS Groundwater Information Permeability Reduction Caused by Trapped Gas: Field-Scale Observations and Quantification With a Dissolved-Gas Tracer During a Ponded Infiltration Experiment By Victor M. Heilweil1,and D. Kip Solomon2 Laboratory studies and field-scale artificial recharge experiments have demonstrated reduced permeability caused by trapped gases. Initially, infiltration rates drop due

Geochemistry of Selected Mercury Mine-Tailings in the Parkfield Mercury District, California By James J. Rytuba,1 Boris B. Kotlyar,1 Gregg Wilkerson,1 and Jerry Olson1 Open-File Report 01-336 U.S. Department of the Interior Gail A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) editorial standards or with the North American Stratigraphic Code. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. 1Menlo Park, CA 94025. This publication is an online-only version of U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 01-336. The data for this publication total 10 MB. The Parkfield mercury district is located in the southern part of the California Coast Range mercury mineral belt and contains three silica-carbonate-type mercury deposits that have had significant mercury production. Mercury was first produced in the district in 1873, but the main period of production occurred from 1915-1922. Total production from the district is about 5,000 flasks of mercury (a flask equals 76 pounds of mercury) with most production coming from the Patriquin mine (1,875 flasks), and somewhat less from the King (1,600 flasks) and Dawson (1,470 flasks) mines. Several other small prospects and mines occur in the district but only minor production has come from them. In 1969, Phelan Sulphur Company carried out mineral exploration at the King mine and announced the discovery of 55,000 tons of mercury ore with an average grade of 5.2 pounds per ton. The King mine is located on federal land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Several other parcels of federal land are present adjacent to other mines and prospects in the Parkfield district. An environmental assessment of mine sites on and adjacent to federal land was carried out to determine the amount of mercury and other trace metals present in mine wastes and in sediments from streams impacted by past mining. Location of the Parkfield mercury district (from Figure 1) This publication consists of a Portable Document Format (PDF) file that contains 17 pages with 8 figures, and 1 table. View the report as a PDF The report is provided as a PDF file for which you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. You can download a copy of the latest version (5.0 at the time of this publication) by clicking the button above. To view the PDF file (of01-336.pdf), CLICK HERE (10 MB). View the version history CLICK HERE to view the version-history file for this report. To contact the author, email James Rytuba (email@example.com). statement -- General of this page: http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/01-336 Maintained by: Carolyn Donlin Created: 27 September 2001 Last modified: 11 July 2002 (cad)

Geochemistry of Selected Mercury Mine-Tailings in the Parkfield Mercury District, California By James J. Rytuba,1 Boris B. Kotlyar,1 Gregg Wilkerson,1 and Jerry Olson1 Open-File Report 01-336 U.S. Department of the Interior Gail A. Norton, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey (USG

AAO image reference AATCCD 12. « Previous || Next » Top left is NE. Image width is about 7 arc min Image and text © 1999-2002, Australian Astronomical Observatory, Photograph by S. Lee, C. Tinney and D. Malin. M77 is a Seyfert galaxy, a class of galaxy named for Karl Seyfert who first identified galaxies with emission lines superimposed on the normal radiation from their nuclei in 1943. Such galaxies are a subset of an ill-defined species generally known as 'active galaxies' whose nuclei emit radio- and X-radiation as well as visible light. The least active of the active galaxies are the Seyferts, the most active are the quasars which are mostly so distant that they can only be distinguished from stars by their spectrum. The common feature of these galaxy types is a small, very bright nucleus thought to host a massive black hole. In Seyferts we see this black hole (or more likely its surrounding shroud of ultra-luminous gas) more or less pole-on. In other active galaxy types at different inclinations the spectrum of the nucleus changes as we see other manifestations of the black hole's influence on its surroundings. M77 is a member of a small group of galaxies at a distance of about 40 million light years. Entry from NGC 2000.0 (R.W. Sinnott, Ed.) © Sky Publishing Corporation, 1988: NGC 1068 Gx 02 42.7 -00 01 s Cet6.98.8 vB, pL, iR, sbMrrN; = M77For details of object position and photographic exposure, search technical table by AAT reference number. |galaxies | emission neb. | reflection neb. | dark neb. | planetaries | clusters | stars | supernovae| |50 Favorites | Messier objects | DMI | Repro conditions | AAO images page | AAO site overview|

AAO image reference AATCCD 12. « Previous || Next » Top left is NE. Image width is about 7 arc min Image and text © 1999-2002, Australian Astronomical Observatory, Photograph by S. Lee, C. Tinney and D. Malin. M77 is a Seyfert galaxy, a class of galaxy named for Karl Seyfert who first identified galaxies with emission lines superimposed on the normal radiation from their nuclei in 1943. Such galax

Friday 24 May Frey’s damselfly (Coenagrion hylas freyi) What’s the World’s Favourite Species?Find out here. Frey’s damselfly fact file - Find out more - Print factsheet Frey’s damselfly description Europe’s rarest damselfly, Frey’s damselfly is currently known only from a small alpine region in Austria (1). With its conspicuous blue-and-black colouration, Frey’s damselfly is typical of the Coenagrion genus, commonly known as ‘northern bluets’ (4). Both sexes can be easily recognized through the two lateral black lines running along the sides and underside of the whole abdomen, and by the occurrence of black markings on the sides of the thorax at the base of the hindlegs, two characters shared with only the Scandinavian and Siberian C. johanssoni (2). As in many northern bluets, females come in two forms. Blue, green and black ‘heterochromatic’ females show a peculiar triangle- or diamond-shaped black pattern on the dorsal part on their second abdominal segment and are easily distinguishable from males; others (homeochromatic forms) share a common U-shaped black pattern on the dorsal part on their second abdominal segment with males (2). - Also known as - Siberian bluet. - Agrion freyi, Coenagrion hylas. Top - Excessive growth of aquatic plants that occurs when dissolved nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen run-off into lakes and ponds, which also ultimately increases the plant death rate with the result that the bacterial decomposition of the dead plants uses up oxygen. Natural eutrophication may occur gradually, but is often accelerated by run-off of agricultural fertilizers. - An abrupt physical change from the larval to the adult form. - The aquatic nymph or larvae of certain insects such as mayflies, damselflies and dragonflies. - Egg-laying organ in female insects consisting of outgrowths of the abdomen (the hind region of the body in insects). - A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species. - Area occupied and defended by an animal, a pair of animals or a colony. - IUCN Red List (February, 2008) - Dijkstra, K.D.B. and Lewington, R. (2006) Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. British Wildlife Publishing, Gillingham. - UNEP-WCMC Species Database (August, 2006) - Idaho Museum of Natural History (August, 2006) - O’Toole, C. (2002) The New Encyclopedia of Insects and Their Allies. Oxford University Press, Oxford. - Landmann, A., Lehmann, G., Mungenast, F. and Sonntag, H. (2005) Die Libellen Tirols. Berenkamp Verlag, Germany. - view the contents of, and Material on, the website; Frey’s damselfly biology Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) start their life as aquatic larvae or naiads, passing through a series of developmental stages or ‘stadia’, undergoing several moults as they grow. Before the final moult (emergence), metamorphosis occurs in which the larvae transform into the adult form. After emergence, adults undergo a pre-reproductive phase known as the maturation period, and this is when individuals normally develop their full adult colour (5). In C. hylas, larvae grow over two years. Adults of this species are mainly active from about 10:30am to 14:30pm from mid-May to mid-August, during which time they must mate (2) (6). Males don't seem to defend territories. Females lay eggs (oviposit) in plant tissue, using their ovipositor to cut a slit in the tissue into which they lay their eggs.Top Frey’s damselfly range Frey’s damselfly is currently only known from the Lech and Inn rivers watersheds, Tyrol, Austria, having become extinct in Germany in 1967, just a few years after its discovery there in 1952 (1).Top Frey’s damselfly habitat Found in clear, shallow, mountain lakes densely bordered with sedges and sometimes with areas of slow running water, such as from incoming streamlets, between 800 and 1600 metres above sea level (1) (2).Top Frey’s damselfly status Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1) and listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive (under C. hylas) and Annex II of the Bern Convention (Listed under the synonym C. freyi) (3).Top Frey’s damselfly threats With only seven small reproducing populations out of 14 localities recorded over a restricted area of Austria (around 500 km²), Frey’s damselfly is the rarest damselfly in Europe. In Germany, the damselfly is now regionally extinct. Threats to this subspecies are thought to include water pollution, changes in water regimes, eutrophication, the introduction of fish and climatic change. This damselfly appears to be a habitat specialist, dependant upon a complex combination of mountain lakes with aquatic vegetation and areas of slow moving waters, which makes it very sensitive to changes within this habitat (1) (6).Top Frey’s damselfly conservation Frey’s damselfly is listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and Annex II of the Bern Convention (2). There is an urgent need to control the water regimes and levels of water pollution that impact this rare subspecies, if Europe’s rarest damselfly is to have any chance of survival (1).Top Authenticated (18/12/2006) by Jean-Pierre Boudot, CNRS, Université Henri Poincaré Nancy I, France.Top Terms and Conditions of Use of Materials Visitors to this website (End Users) are entitled to: Additional use of flagged material Green flagged material Creative commons material Any other use

Friday 24 May Frey’s damselfly (Coenagrion hylas freyi) What’s the World’s Favourite Species?Find out here. Frey’s damselfly fact file - Find out more - Print factsheet Frey’s damselfly description Europe’s rarest damselfly, Frey’s damselfly is currently known only from a small alpine region in Austria (1). With its conspicuous blue-and-black colouration, Frey’s damselfly is typical of the Coenagr

Welcome to the Seed Preservation Programs at NCGRP Seed storage at NCGRP is much more than placing bags of seeds in a vault. NCGRP receives samples from a wide range of institutions, companies and governments around the world. Our technicians and specialists work with the database that handles all the information accompanying each sample. We evaluate the initial seed quality, store samples in cold or cryogenic vaults and monitor the quality of stored seeds. Since 1958, we have been storing, maintaining, monitoring and distributing hundreds of thousands of samples trusted to us for the long term backup portion of the National Plant Germplasm System.Come and see how we handle and store the valuable materials when they arrive. Take a look inside the vaults to see both conventional and liquid nitrogen (cryogenic) storage. Seed and Plant Material Donors/Sources NCGRP receives seed and plant materials from all over the United States and the world. NCGRP stores the base collection of the National Plant Germplasm System. NCGRP also works with international organizations such as the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT - Mexico), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI - Philippines) and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (Bioversity International - Rome), as well as the Centers for Plant Conservation (CPC), the Crop Science Society of America for Crop Science Registration (CSR), and the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO). Quarantine Seed Quarantine is a government program to monitor and control the importation of plant and animal materials. Samples that arrive at NCGRP under quarantine restrictions are handled in the quarantine laboratory. Samples are inspected and prepared for storage in a laminar flow biological safety cabinet. Material being prepared for increase is surface sterilized and treated with a fungicide prior to shipment. All germplasm is increased and inspected for disease and/or insect infestations by APHIS inspectors on the island of St. Croix (a substation for the Tropical Agriculture Research Station in Mayagüez) or other approved sites prior to release into the National Plant Germplasm System. Seed Quality Evaluation Laboratory Upon receipt of seed samples, information is verified with GRIN, NCGRP serial numbers are assigned, germination cards and bar code labels are printed. After unpacking, samples are placed in an equilibration room with 23% relative humidity at 5° C. Samples are equilibrated for a few weeks to achieve the optimum moisture content for storage. After optimal moisture content is achieved, seed analysts remove inert material, empty seeds and contaminating seeds (i.e. weed seeds). Seed blowers such as this one remove all light material and chaff, leaving only the heavy seed. Seed may also be cleaned through the use of sieves and/or rubbing boards. Viability assessment is a means of testing a sample to determine how many seeds are alive and may produce a normal plant. Initial tests are conducted to determine viability before samples are stored. Analysts then may assess viability using germination and tetrazolium tests. Subsequently, samples are tested periodically to monitor seed viability during storage. Analysts select appropriate conditions and plant a subsample of the pure seed on standard germination blotters or towels. The number of seeds tested is dependent on the size of the sample. All samples scheduled for cryogenic storage in liquid nitrogen have paired tests performed to check for damage caused by the liquid nitrogen (LN2). |The LN2 test exposes some of the seed for 24 hours to the vapor phase of LN2 (approximately -160° C, or -320° F). Seedling evaluation of the germinated seeds follows the Association of Official Seed Analysts' Seedling Evaluation Handbook. Abnormalities and pathogen problems are assessed. Moisture content, viability, cleanout, and seed counts are tracked and results uploaded to the Germplasm Resource Information Network (GRIN). NCGRP stores samples in conventional storage at -18° C and cryogenic storage using liquid nitrogen at -196° C (-160° C in the vapor phase). Storage method is determined by the type of seed, the size of the seed, the number of seeds in the sample, the viability of the sample, and sometimes the instructions from the donor. ||Samples stored by conventional methods are transferred to heat sealable, moisture-proof, foil laminated bags. Locations are assigned and barcodes for the location and serial numbers are placed inside and on the outside of the bags. The bags are then heat sealed and placed in trays in the cold storage vault. | Samples stored by cryogenic methods are transferred to clear polyolefin tubes, barcoded, and crimped closed. Filled tubes are then placed in metal boxes, labeled with serial numbers and locations, and stored in the LN2 tanks. The vault area at NCGRP is a separately constructed portion of the building, self-contained with its own air handling unit and electrical generator in case of emergency. It is able to withstand possible floods from nearby Horsetooth Reservoir, tornadoes, and the dropping of a 2500 pound object traveling at 125 miles per hour. The vaults have the capacity to store 1.5 million samples, 50% in conventional storage, and 50% in liquid nitrogen. Conventional Vault Area The individual storage units have walls with six inches of insulation and are metal covered. Temperature is kept at -18 C. |This vault is 5000 square feet. The samples are stored in plastic trays on shelves which are part of a moveable rack system, allowing a 60% greater room capacity over the old multiple aisle system. As each carriage is moved, the light from the previous aisle is turned off and the light above the newly opened aisle is turned on. The life expectancy of a seed sample stored in this vault is from 20 to 50 years. Because of the variability of seed longevity, periodic retesting is done to identify regeneration needs. Cryogenic Vault Area Two floors of the vault area are designed for cryogenic storage. One is in current use, and the other is designed for expansion. Each floor can hold 112 storage tanks, and has double-walled stainless steel piping for filling from the 13,000 gallon tanks located outside the building. Cryotanks are like giant thermos jugs with vacuum jacketed double walled insulation. Each tank will hold 330 metal containers (metal boxes containing tubes of seed samples) on a lazy susan which holds the samples above the liquid nitrogen and allows easy access to each section. A tank holding wheat could contain 2640 samples, whereas a tank of tobacco (a very tiny seed) would contain 26,400 samples. We try to have a minimum of 3000 seeds per sample for cross pollinated crops and 1500 seeds for self pollinated crops Tanks are filled once a week, with about 56 liters of liquid nitrogen. Air circulation is very important in the vault since nitrogen gas is constantly boiling from the tanks. Oxygen monitors are placed around the vault for detection of oxygen content of the air. Emergency fans are triggered by the oxygen monitors or emergency buttons. During an emergency, liquid nitrogen is shut off and fans provide 14 air exchanges per hour. All of these elaborate precautions are to ensure that our valuable germplasm lives as long as possible, and is available for plant breeders and researchers to produce the food and fiber products we all depend upon. - GRIN Database: Search the collections of the National Plant Germplasm System using the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database. - Forms for germplasm requests and submissions: Types of collections in storage - Base: The National Plant Germplasm System and its components. Seeds of Success program samples are included here. - Security Back-up and black box collections: Special agreements with a wide range of institutions and groups. - Journal of Plant Registration: Describes the process for depositing voucher specimens required for The Journal of Plant Registrations and the subsequent release to the National Plant Germplasm System. - Plant Variety Protection: Describes the process for depositing voucher specimens required for Plant Variety Protection and the subsequent release to the National Plant Germplasm System. Other NCGRP Seed activities and seed-related information U.S. contributions to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Describes U.S. initiatives to send NPGS seed to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway and provides a yearly update of progress.

Welcome to the Seed Preservation Programs at NCGRP Seed storage at NCGRP is much more than placing bags of seeds in a vault. NCGRP receives samples from a wide range of institutions, companies and governments around the world. Our technicians and specialists work with the database that handles all the information accompanying each sample. We evaluate the initial seed quality, store samples in cold

|Misguided and counterproductive subsidies| |Thursday, 14 April 2011 18:19| Today Congressman Blumenauer attended the Ethanol Policy Forum, a conference discussing subsidies for the ethanol industry. He addressed their impact on the US economy, the budget, and world food prices. Blumenauer emphasized the harmful nature of these subsidies which include tax credits, a mandated use of ethanol fuel, and tariffs on foreign supplies of ethanol. Policies like the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) are misguided and counterproductive, increase government spending, decrease national food production, and amplify the global effect of commodity price shocks. Blumenauer also stressed the conflicting nature of spending 17 billion dollars of taxpayer money on subsidies that only reduce oil expenditures by 1.1 billion dollars, an idea that both Republican and Democratic panelists presented as undermining efforts to address the budget deficit. Panelists also confirmed the global impact of ethanol subsidies which increase food prices worldwide, leading to higher poverty rates in already impoverished nations. Instead of continuing these policies, Blumenauer proposed cutting subsidies for ethanol and other biofuels as a way to responsibly reduce the deficit while leveling the playing field for more sustainable forms of alternative energy.

|Misguided and counterproductive subsidies| |Thursday, 14 April 2011 18:19| Today Congressman Blumenauer attended the Ethanol Policy Forum, a conference discussing subsidies for the ethanol industry. He addressed their impact on the US economy, the budget, and world food prices. Blumenauer emphasized the harmful nature of these subsidies which include tax credits, a mandated use of ethanol fuel, a

PROGRAMME ELEMENT 1: CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE USE AND BENEFIT-SHARING GOAL 1.1: To apply the ecosystem approach to the management of all types of forests 1.1.1. Develop practical methods, guidelines, indicators and strategies to apply the ecosystem approach adapted to regional differences to forests both inside and outside protected forest areas as well as both in managed and unmanaged forests GOAL 1.2: To reduce the threats and mitigate the impacts of threatening process on forest biological diversity - Clarify the conceptual basis of the ecosystem approach in relation to sustainable forest management. - Develop guidance for applying the ecosystem approach in forest ecosystems. - Identify key structural and functional ecosystem elements to be used as indicators for decision-making and develop decision-support tools on a hierarchy of scales. - Develop and implement guidance to help the selection of suitable forest management practices for specific forest ecosystems. - Develop and implement appropriate mechanisms for the participation of all stakeholders in ecosystem-level planning and management. - Develop an informal international network of forest areas for piloting and demonstrating the ecosystem approach and exchange related information through the clearing-house mechanism. - Hold workshops to train and familiarize decision makers and managers with the foundations, principles and modalities of the ecosystem approach. - Promote research and pilot projects to develop understanding of the functional linkages between forest biological diversity and agriculture with the aim to developing practices that could improve the relations between forest management and other land use methods. Promote assessment of functional linkages between mining, infrastructure and other development projects and forest biodiversity, and develop best practice, guidelines for such development projects to mitigate adverse impacts on forest biodiversity. - Promote activities that minimize the negative impacts of forest fragmentation on forest biodiversity, including afforestation, forest restoration, secondary forest and plantation management, and agroforestry, watershed management and land use planning aimed at providing a combination of economic and environmental goods and services to stakeholders. 1.2.1. Prevent the introduction of invasive alien species that threaten ecosystems, and mitigate their negative impacts on forest biological diversity in accordance with international law - Reinforce, develop and implement strategies at regional and national level to prevent and mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species that threaten ecosystems, including risk assessment, strengthening of quarantine regulation, and containment or eradication programmes taking into account the guiding principles on invasive alien species if adopted at the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties. - Improve the knowledge of the impacts of invasive alien species on forest ecosystems and adjacent ecosystems. 1.2.2. Mitigate the impact of pollution such as acidification and eutrophication on forest biodiversity - Increase the understanding of the impact of pollution, e.g., acidification and eutrophication, and other pollutants (such as mercury and cyanide) on forest biodiversity; at genetic, species, ecosystem and landscape levels. - Support monitoring programmes that help evaluate the impacts of air, soil and water pollution on forest ecosystems, and address the impacts of changing environmental conditions on forest ecosystems. - Encourage the integration of forest biodiversity consideration into strategies and policies to reduce pollution. - To promote the reduction of pollution levels that adversely affect forest biodiversity and encourage forest management techniques that reduce the impacts of changing environmental conditions on forest ecosystems. 1.2.3. Mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on forest biodiversity Activities: Taking into account the work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Climate Change and Biodiversity: - Promote monitoring and research on the impacts of climate change on forest biological diversity and investigate the interface between forest components and the atmosphere; - Develop coordinated response strategies and action plans at global, regional and national levels; - Promote the maintenance and restoration of biodiversity in forests in order to enhance their capacity to resist to, and recover from and adapt to climate change; - Promote forest biodiversity conservation and restoration in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures; - Assess how the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity can contribute to the international work relating to climate change. 1.2.4. To prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of forest fires and fire suppression - Identify policies, practices and measures aimed at addressing the causes and reducing impacts on forest biological diversity resulting from human-induced uncontrolled/unwanted fires, often associated with land clearing and other land use activities. - Promote understanding of the role of human-induced fires on forest ecosystems and on species, and of the underlying causes. - Develop and promote the use of fire management tools for maintaining and enhancing forest biological diversity, especially when there has been a shift in fire regimes. - To promote practices of fire prevention and control to mitigate the impacts of unwanted fires on forest biological diversity. - Promote development of systems for risk assessment and early warning, monitoring and control, and enhance capacity for prevention and post-fire forest biodiversity restoration at the community, national and regional levels. - To advise on fire-risk prediction systems, surveillance, public education and other methods to minimize human-induced uncontrolled/unwanted fires. - Develop strategies to avoid the negative effects of sectoral programmes and policies which could induce uncontrolled forest fires. - Develop prevention plans against devastating fires and integrate them into national plans targeting the biological diversity of forests. - Develop mechanisms, including early warning systems, for exchange of information related to the causes of forest biodiversity loss, including fires, pests and diseases, and invasive species. 1.2.5. To mitigate effects of the loss of natural disturbances necessary to maintain biodiversity in regions where these no longer occur - Develop and promote management methods that restore or mimic natural disturbances such as fire, wind-throw and floods. 1.2.6. To prevent and mitigate losses due to fragmentation and conversion to other land uses Goal1.3: To protect, recover and restore forest biological diversity - Encourage the creation of private reserves and private conservation methods where appropriate, respecting the rights and interests of indigenous and local communities. - Establish ecological corridors on a national and regional basis. - Promote cost-benefit analysis of development projects that might lead to the conversion of forest into other land uses incorporating the impacts on forest biological diversity. - Implement policies, practices and measures aimed at addressing the causes and reducing impacts on forest biological diversity resulting from human-induced uncontrolled clearing or other uncontrolled land-use activities 1.3.1. Restore forest biological diversity in degraded secondary forests and in forests established on former forestlands and other landscapes, including in plantations - Promote the implementation of systems and practices for restoration in accordance with the ecosystem approach - Promote restoration of forest biological diversity with the aim to restore ecosystem services. 2 Create and improve where appropriate international, regional and national databases and case-studies on the status of degraded forests, deforested, restored and afforested lands. 1.3.2. Promote forest management practices that further the conservation of endemic and threatened species - Determine status and conservation needs of endemic or threatened species and the impacts of current forest management practices on these species. - Develop and implement conservation strategies for endemic and threatened species for global or regional application, and practical systems of adaptive management at national level. 1.3.3. Ensure adequate and effective protected forest area networks GOAL 1.4: To promote the sustainable use of forest biological diversity - Assess the comprehensiveness, representativeness and adequacy of protected areas relative to forest types and identify gaps and weaknesses. - Establish (in accordance with Article 8(j)) with the full participation and with respect for the rights of indigenous and local communities, and other relevant stakeholders, comprehensive, adequate, biologically and geographically representative and effective networks of protected areas. - Establish, in a similar manner, restoration areas to complement the network of protected areas where needed. - Revise in a similar manner and ensure the comprehensiveness, adequacy, representativeness and efficacy of existing protected area networks. - Assess the efficacy of protected forest areas for the conservation of biological diversity. - Ensure that relevant protected areas are managed to maintain and enhance their forest biodiversity components, services and values; 1.4.1. Promote sustainable use of forest resources to enhance the conservation of forest biological diversity - Support activities of indigenous and local communities involving the use of traditional forest-related knowledge in biodiversity management. - Develop, support and promote programmes and initiatives that address the sustainable use of timber and non-timber forest products. - Support regional cooperation and work on sustainable use of timber and non-timber forest products and services, including through technology transfer and capacity-building within and between regions. - Improve forest management and planning practices that incorporate socio-economic and cultural values to support and facilitate sustainable use. - Promote cooperative work on the sustainable use of forest products and services and its relation to biodiversity conservation with the other members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests. - Encourage implementation of voluntary third-party credible forest certification schemes that take into consideration relevant forest biodiversity criteria and that would be audited, taking into consideration indigenous and local community rights and interests. - Set up demonstration sites that would illustrate forest conservation and on-ground delivery of goods and services through sustainable forest management, which are also representative of various types of forest, themes and regional needs, through case-studies - Facilitate and support a responsible private sector committed to sustainable harvesting practices and compliance with domestic laws through effective development and enforcement of laws on sustainable harvesting of timber and non-timber resources. 1.4.2. Prevent losses caused by unsustainable harvesting of timber and non-timber forest resources - Establish a liaison group with an associated workshop to facilitate development of a joint work plan with relevant members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests to bring harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFP)s, with a particular focus on bush meat, to sustainable levels. This group should have a proportionate regional representation, giving special consideration to subregions where bush meat is a major issue and representation of relevant organizations such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The mandate of this group is to: i. Consult in a participatory manner with key stakeholders to identify and prioritize major issues pertaining the unsustainable harvesting of non-timber forest products, particularly of bushmeat and related products ii. Provide advice on the development of policies, enabling legislation and strategies that promote sustainable use of, and trade in, non-timber forest products, particularly bushmeat and related products iii. Provide advice on appropriate alternative sustainable livelihood technologies and practices for the affected communities iv. Provide advice on appropriate monitoring tools - Promote projects and activities that encourage the use and supply of alternative sources of energy to prevent forest degradation due to the use of firewood by local communities. - Develop any necessary legislation for the sustainable management and harvesting of non-timber forest resources. - Solicit input from Parties, other countries and relevant organizations on ways and means to encourage and assist importing countries to prevent the entry of unsustainably harvested forest resources, which are not covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and consider this information as a basis for further steps on this issue. 1.4.3. Enable indigenous and local communities to develop and implement adaptive community-management systems to conserve and sustainable use forest biological diversity - Strengthen the capacity of, and provide incentives for, indigenous and local communities to generate opportunities for sustainable use of forest biodiversity and for access to markets; - Strengthen the capacity of indigenous and local communities to resolve land rights and land use disputes in order to sustainably manage forest biodiversity; - Encourage the conservation and sustainable use of forest biological diversity by indigenous and local communities through their development of adaptive management practices, using as appropriate traditional forest-related knowledge; - Provide incentives for the maintenance of cultural diversity as an instrument to enhance forest biological diversity; - Develop and implement education and awareness programmes on traditional uses of forest biological diversity in accordance with Article 8(j); - Create an environment that fosters respect, and stimulates, preserves and maintains traditional knowledge related to forest biological diversity, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities. 1.4.4. Develop effective and equitable information systems and strategies and promote implementation of those strategies for in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use of genetic diversity, and support countries in their implementation and monitoring Goal 1.5: Access and benefit-sharing of forest genetic resources - Develop, harmonize and assess the diversity of forest genetic resources, taking into consideration the identification of key functional/keystone species populations, model species and genetic variability at the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) level. - Select, at a national level, the most threatened forest ecosystems based on the genetic diversity of their priority species and populations and develop an appropriate action plan in order to protect the genetic resources of the most threatened forest ecosystems. - Improve understanding of patterns of genetic diversity and its conservation in situ, in relation to forest management, landscape-scale forest change and climate variations. - Provide guidance for countries to assess the state of their forest genetic resources, and to develop and evaluate strategies for their conservation, both in situ and ex situ. - Develop national legislative, administrative policy measures on access and benefit-sharing on forest genetic resources, taking into account the provisions under Articles 8(j), 10(c), 15, 16 and 19 of the Convention on Biological Diversity and in conformity with future decisions of the Conference of the Parties, as appropriate. - Monitor developments in new biotechnologies and ensure their applications are compatible with the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity with respect to forest biological diversity, and develop and enforce regulations for controlling the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) when appropriate. - Develop a holistic framework for the conservation and management of forest genetic resources at national, subregional and global levels. - Implement activities to ensure adequate and representative in situ conservation of the genetic diversity of endangered, overexploited and narrow endemic forest species and complement the in situ conservation with adequate ex situ conservation of the genetic diversity of endangered, overexploited and narrow endemic species and species of economic potential. 1.5.1. Promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits resulting from the utilization of forest genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge Based on the Bonn Guidelines on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits Arising out of their Utilization, as adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting(48): - Establish mechanisms to facilitate the sharing of benefits at local, national, regional and global levels. - Strengthen capacity of indigenous and local communities to negotiate benefit-sharing arrangements. - Promote dissemination of information about benefit-sharing experiences through the clearing-house mechanism and appropriate means at the local level.

PROGRAMME ELEMENT 1: CONSERVATION, SUSTAINABLE USE AND BENEFIT-SHARING GOAL 1.1: To apply the ecosystem approach to the management of all types of forests 1.1.1. Develop practical methods, guidelines, indicators and strategies to apply the ecosystem approach adapted to regional differences to forests both inside and outside protected forest areas as well as both in managed and unmanaged forests GO

OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force. CAS: 78-92-2; Chemical Formula: CH3CH2CHOHCH3 OSHA's former limit for sec-butyl alcohol was 150 ppm as an 8-hour TWA. The proposed PELs were 100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA and 150 ppm as a 15-minute STEL, and NIOSH (Ex. 8-47) concurred with these limits. In the final rule, OSHA is establishing an 8-hour TWA of 100 ppm but is not adding a STEL (see the discussion of the Agency's policy on STELs for this rulemaking in Section VI.C.17). sec-Butyl alcohol is a colorless liquid with a strong, wine-like odor. The acute toxicity of sec-butyl alcohol is reported to be lower than that of n-butanol, for which OSHA is establishing a ceiling of 50 ppm. The oral LD(50)s in rats for these two substances are 6.5 g/kg for sec-butyl alcohol and 4.4 g/kg for n-butanol, respectively (Smyth, Carpenter, and Weil 1951/Ex. 1-439). Liquid sec-butyl alcohol is less injurious to the eyes than liquid n-butanol (ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 77). Occupational exposures to sec-butyl alcohol at levels of about 100 ppm were reported not to be associated with difficulties (Banks 1966, as cited in ACGIH 1986/Ex. 1-3, p. 77). OSHA received a comment on this substance from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) (Ex. 8-16). The AIHA noted that there was no evidence to support a STEL for this substance and reported that the ACGIH intends to delete this STEL. OSHA has arrived at the same conclusion, and the final rule thus has no STEL for sec-butyl alcohol. OSHA is reducing the permissible exposure limit for sec-butyl alcohol to 100 ppm TWA to afford protection against the significant risks of narcosis and irritation, which are material health impairments that are caused by exposures to sec-butyl alcohol at concentrations above the revised PEL. The Agency concludes that this limit will substantially reduce this risk. - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation - Contact CDC-INFO

OSHA comments from the January 19, 1989 Final Rule on Air Contaminants Project extracted from 54FR2332 et. seq. This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force. CAS: 78-92-2; Chemical Formula: CH3CH2CHOHCH3 OSHA's former limit for sec-butyl alcohol was 150 ppm as an 8-hour TWA. The proposed PELs were 100 ppm as an 8-hour TWA and 150 ppm as a 15

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What are body lice? Body lice are parasitic insects that live on clothing and bedding used by infested persons. Body lice frequently lay their eggs on or near the seams of clothing. Body lice must feed on blood and usually only move to the skin to feed. Body lice exist worldwide and infest people of all races. Body lice infestations can spread rapidly under crowded living conditions where hygiene is poor (the homeless, refugees, victims of war or natural disasters). In the United States, body lice infestations are found only in homeless transient populations who do not have access to bathing and regular changes of clean clothes. Infestation is unlikely to persist on anyone who bathes regularly and who has at least weekly access to freshly laundered clothing and bedding. What do body lice look like? Body lice have three forms: the egg (also called a nit), the nymph, and the adult. Nit: Nits are lice eggs. They are generally easy to see in the seams of an infested person's clothing, particularly around the waistline and under armpits. Body lice nits occasionally also may be attached to body hair. They are oval and usually yellow to white in color. Body lice nits may take 1-2 weeks to hatch. Nymph: A nymph is an immature louse that hatches from the nit (egg). A nymph looks like an adult body louse, but is smaller. Nymphs mature into adults about 9-12 days after hatching. To live, the nymph must feed on blood. Adult: The adult body louse is about the size of a sesame seed, has 6 legs, and is tan to greyish-white. Females lay eggs. To live, lice must feed on blood. If a louse falls off of a person, it dies within about 5-7 days at room temperature. Where are body lice found? Body lice generally are found on clothing and bedding used by infested people. Sometimes body lice are be seen on the body when they feed. Body lice eggs usually are seen in the seams of clothing or on bedding. Occasionally eggs are attached to body hair. Lice found on the head and scalp are not body lice; they are head lice. What are the signs and symptoms of body lice? Intense itching ("pruritus") and rash caused by an allergic reaction to the louse bites are common symptoms of body lice infestation. When body lice infestation has been present for a long time, heavily bitten areas of the skin can become thickened and discolored, particularly around the midsection of the body (waist, groin, upper thighs); this condition is called "vagabond's disease." As with other lice infestations, intense itching can lead to scratching which can cause sores on the body; these sores sometimes can become infected with bacteria or fungi. Can body lice transmit disease? Yes. Body lice can spread epidemic typhus, trench fever, and louse-borne relapsing fever. Although louse-borne (epidemic) typhus is no longer widespread, outbreaks of this disease still occur during times of war, civil unrest, natural or man-made disasters, and in prisons where people live together in unsanitary conditions. Louse-borne typhus still exists in places where climate, chronic poverty, and social customs or war and social upheaval prevent regular changes and laundering of clothing. How are body lice spread? Body lice are spread through direct physical contact with a person who has body lice or through contact with articles such as clothing, beds, bed linens, or towels that have been in contact with an infested person. In the United States, actual infestation with body lice tends to occur only in persons, such as homeless, transient persons, who do not have access to regular (at least weekly) bathing and changes of clean clothes, such as homeless, transient persons. How are body lice infestations diagnosed? Body lice infestation is diagnosed by finding eggs and crawling lice in the seams of clothing. Sometimes a body louse can be seen on the skin crawling or feeding. Although body lice and nits can be large enough to be seen with the naked eye, sometimes a magnifying lens may be necessary to find lice or nits Diagnosis should be made by a health care provider if you are unsure about an infestation. How are body lice treated? See our Treatment page. This information is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health care provider. If you have any questions about the parasites described above or think that you may have a parasitic infection, consult a health care provider.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What are body lice? Body lice are parasitic insects that live on clothing and bedding used by infested persons. Body lice frequently lay their eggs on or near the seams of clothing. Body lice must feed on blood and usually only move to the skin to feed. Body lice exist worldwide and infest people of all races. Body lice infestations can spread rapidly under crowde

2007 NAICS Definition This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing commercial photography services, generally for advertising agencies, publishers, and other business and industrial users. Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in-- - Producing film and videotape for commercial exhibition or sale--are classified in Industry 512110, Motion Picture and Video Production; - Developing still photographs--are classified in Industry 81292, Photofinishing; - Developing motion picture film--are classified in U.S. Industry 512199, Other Motion Picture and Video Industries; - Taking, developing, and selling artistic, news, or other types of photographs on a freelance basis, such as photojournalists--are classified in Industry 711510, Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers; and - Supplying and servicing automatic photography machines in places of business operated by others--are classified in Industry 812990, All Other Personal Services. Index entries that bring you to this industry: - Commercial photography services - Medical photography services - Photographers specializing in aerial photography - Photography services, commercial - Photography studios, commercial - Video taping services for legal depositions

2007 NAICS Definition This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing commercial photography services, generally for advertising agencies, publishers, and other business and industrial users. Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in-- - Producing film and videotape for commercial exhibition or sale--are classified in Industry 512110, Motion Picture and Video

Stochastic Simulation of Field Operations in Surveys Discrete-event simulation modeling has become the most commonly used tool for performance evaluation of stochastic dynamic systems in science and engineering. The field operations of surveys can be classified as one of these stochastic dynamic systems. This paper describes the simulation and modeling of simplified field operations for NHIS (National Health Interview Survey). In particular, we apply the simulation and modeling methodology to the field operations. We use the 2004 NHIS CHI (Contact History Instrument) data for the input modeling of the simulation. The input modeling methods are also described in this paper. From this study, we have shown that the simulation model can be used for optimizing the field operations by setting the controllable parameters before a decision is made and implemented. The cost savings might be enormous and would not be at the expense of the response rate. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Research Division Created: February 19, 2008 Last revised: February 19, 2008 This symbol indicates a link to a non-government web site. Our linking to these sites does not constitute an endorsement of any products, services or the information found on them. Once you link to another site you are subject to the policies of the new site.

Stochastic Simulation of Field Operations in Surveys Discrete-event simulation modeling has become the most commonly used tool for performance evaluation of stochastic dynamic systems in science and engineering. The field operations of surveys can be classified as one of these stochastic dynamic systems. This paper describes the simulation and modeling of simplified field operations for NHIS (Nati

Aquaculture and Bay Management Project (ABMP) The ABMP focuses much of its research on the bays and estuaries of California, striving for ecosystem-based management through collaboration with universities, agencies, businesses, public stakeholders and fishermen. ABMP staff is committed to maintaining the health of wild and cultured marine species through disease monitoring and sustainable fisheries management. Staff participates in monitoring, assessment, and management of marine finfish and shellfish, including white seabass, Pacific oysters, abalone and Pacific herring. Enter the Aquaculture and Bay Management Project website

Aquaculture and Bay Management Project (ABMP) The ABMP focuses much of its research on the bays and estuaries of California, striving for ecosystem-based management through collaboration with universities, agencies, businesses, public stakeholders and fishermen. ABMP staff is committed to maintaining the health of wild and cultured marine species through disease monitoring and sustainable fisherie

“Windy Day in Norfolk” Like most of Hampton Roads the eagles at the Botanical Garden have been buffeted by strong winds today. While the eagles and their egg are riding out the wind just fine, the conditions have created some difficulties for the Eagle Cam. The rapid movement means that the computers encoding the stream and publishing it to web have to digest much more data. This can also create problems for the end user as the increased data requires more bandwidth and can create buffering problems. The Eagle Cam network works on a "line of sight", meaning that each element of the network must be aligned to properly function. High winds can shift these elements out of alignment, creating problems with the feed. Please be patient. Weather related issues like this are entirely out of our control and are part of watching this nest "in the wild". All of the partners involved with cam work diligently to ensure that the feed is working at its optimal level. Keep watching as we see if a second egg is forthcoming.

“Windy Day in Norfolk” Like most of Hampton Roads the eagles at the Botanical Garden have been buffeted by strong winds today. While the eagles and their egg are riding out the wind just fine, the conditions have created some difficulties for the Eagle Cam. The rapid movement means that the computers encoding the stream and publishing it to web have to digest much more data. This can also create p

Waste Site Cleanup & Reuse in New England This area of the Web site provides an overview of how Superfund works in cleaning up hazardous waste sites. Review the Superfund glossary to become familiar with some common terms related to hazardous waste sites and learn how the cleanup process works. How did the Superfund program begin? The Superfund program was established by the U.S. Congress on December 11, 1980, through the passing of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Since then, a variety of laws and policies, many of which have changed over the years, continue to govern the work of the Superfund program: - Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) - National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) - Hazard Ranking System (HRS) - National Priorities List (NPL) Site Listing Process

Waste Site Cleanup & Reuse in New England This area of the Web site provides an overview of how Superfund works in cleaning up hazardous waste sites. Review the Superfund glossary to become familiar with some common terms related to hazardous waste sites and learn how the cleanup process works. How did the Superfund program begin? The Superfund program was established by the U.S. Congress on Decem

WORLD WHEAT SITUATION AND OUTLOOK World wheat trade in 2000/01 is estimated at 106.6 million tons, off 4.5 million from last year. Global production is down in large part because of smaller harvest in Australia, China, Kazakstan, and the United States. Bumper harvests among major South Asian producers like India and Pakistan, will not only reduce their import needs but allow them to export. Global consumption is down slightly but is almost 17 million tons more than production. In early December, export quotes for #2 HRW FOB Gulf averaged about $130 per ton, little changed from last month. World wheat trade in 2000/01 is forecast up slightly from last month largely because of higher imports of wheat for feeding by South Korea. More Canadian exports are offset less from the EU. Supplies of quality wheat have tightened while feed quality wheat is more abundant. 2000/2001 Trade Changes Download the wheat tables in: Adobe Acrobat Format Lotus Spreadsheet Format Return to Table of Contents

WORLD WHEAT SITUATION AND OUTLOOK World wheat trade in 2000/01 is estimated at 106.6 million tons, off 4.5 million from last year. Global production is down in large part because of smaller harvest in Australia, China, Kazakstan, and the United States. Bumper harvests among major South Asian producers like India and Pakistan, will not only reduce their import needs but allow them to export. Global

As the threat of weapons of mass destruction evolves, the FBI is launching a new Counterproliferation Center. Mollie Halpern: Terrorists and criminals continue to try to get their hands on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive materials. As the threat of weapons of mass destruction evolves, the FBI is launching a new Counterproliferation Center. Vahid Majidi: The way that our adversaries are going after this is becoming more and more sophisticated. So, as a country, we have to develop a more and more sophisticated approach to prevent proliferation of our technology. Halpern: I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau, and you’re listening to FBI, This Week. The Counterproliferation Center combines the expertise of the special agents, analysts, and professional support from the FBI’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, Counterintelligence Division, and the Directorate of Intelligence. Assistant Director of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate Vahid Majidi… Majidi: So they look at material, technology, know-how that is involved in WMD programs, and they’re able to identify potential adversaries who are attempting to acquire this information from the United States illegally. Halpern: For more information visit www.fbi.gov

As the threat of weapons of mass destruction evolves, the FBI is launching a new Counterproliferation Center. Mollie Halpern: Terrorists and criminals continue to try to get their hands on chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive materials. As the threat of weapons of mass destruction evolves, the FBI is launching a new Counterproliferation Center. Vahid Majidi: The way that our

|FHWA > Engineering > Pavements > TechBrief: Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Performance and Best Practices| PDF version (1 mb) TechBrief: Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Performance and Best Practices Continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is enjoying a renaissance across the United States and around the world. CRCP has the potential to provide a long-term, "zero-maintenance," service life under heavy traffic loadings and challenging environmental conditions, provided proper design and quality construction practices are utilized. (An example of CRCP construction is shown in figure 1.) This TechBrief provides an overview of the CRCP technology and the major developments that have led to what are referred to herein as the "best practices" for CRCP design and construction. CRCP differs from other concrete pavements as follows: CRCP design focuses on managing the cracking that develops so as to reduce the structural distress that may develop as a result of traffic and environmental loadings. These distresses include punchouts, steel rupture, and crack spalling. CRCP design involves determining the proper combination of slab thickness, concrete mixture constituents and properties, and steel reinforcement content and location; providing for sufficient slab edge support; strengthening or treating the existing soils; providing non-erodible bases that also provide friction that leads to desirable transverse cracking patterns. While most of these features are common to all good pavement designs, reinforcement and edge support are particularly critical to a CRC pavement. Several highway agencies have implemented the new mechanistic-empirical pavement design procedure and the associated Pavement ME Design software (formerly DARWin-ME™) for design of CRC pavements (available from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)). However, several other highway agencies continue to use AASHTO's 1993 Pavement Design Guide for design of CRC pavements. CRCP is a unique rigid pavement in that it has no constructed transverse contraction or expansion joints except at bridges or at pavement ends. The use of longitudinal steel reinforcement, typically Grade 60 bars (see figure 2), results in a series of closely spaced transverse cracks. The steel reinforcement is used to control the crack spacing and the amount of opening at the cracks and to maintain high levels of load transfer across them. Modern CRCP is built with longitudinal reinforcing steel percentages in the range of 0.65 to 0.80 percent (lower in milder climates, higher in harsher). Equally important as the percentage of steel content is the bond area between the concrete and the bars, which the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommends at a minimum of 0.030 square inch per cubic inch of concrete (FHWA 1990). Most transverse cracks form at very early ages before a pavement is open to traffic, and cracking may continue for several years after concrete placement. Transverse cracks occur when and where the tensile stress, due to the restrained volume changes in the concrete, exceeds the concrete's developing tensile strength. New transverse cracks occur roughly at the midpoint between two previously formed cracks, where the maximum concrete stress occurs. Crack formation continues until concrete strength exceeds the stresses due to the restrained volume change. Recognizing that the tensile strength of the concrete and the tensile stresses vary along the length of the slab, the transverse crack spacing pattern is never uniform, but the majority of cracks should be spaced within a desired range (typically 2 to 8 ft (0.6 to 2.4 m)). Design steel content provides a balance between crack width (< 0.02-inch at surface over design life), crack spacing, and crack load-transfer capability. Vertical placement of the bars also affects performance—placed too high, the bars may corrode due to inadequate cover; placed too low, the bars are too far away to keep the cracks tight at the surface. It is common to position the reinforcment between one-third and one-half the slab thickness measured from the pavement surface (CRSI 2009). The chairs or bar supports must be stable and should not sink into the base prior to paving. In modern CRCP, transverse bars are always used to support longitudinal reinforcement. The transverse bars are placed on bar supports, and the bars also keep tight any longitudinal cracking that may develop. Edge Support / Shoulders Proper edge support (tied concrete shoulder) adjacent to mainline CRCP reduces wheel load stresses and deflections, reducing the occurrence of punchouts; reduces longitudinal joint maintenance issues; reduces shoulder maintenance needs; and provides support for traffic detours. It is a common practice in the United States to have shoulders be constructed of the same materials as the mainline pavement to facilitate construction, improve performance, and reduce maintenance costs. Another option gaining popularity is to provide a widened outside lane. Research indicates that the slab needs to be a minimum 13 ft (3.9 m) wide (to minimize longitudinal cracking) and be striped to 12 ft (3.7 m) to significantly reduce the stresses and deflections due to heavy truck traffic near the pavement edge. Use of asphalt shoulders was a practice in the past. However, the current best practice to improve the edge support is to use a tied-concrete shoulder or a widened outside lane. Two types of end treatments, at structures, are used for CRCP: For short sections of CRCP, use may also be made of conventional doweled expansion joints as part of the approach slabs at a structure. During construction, it is very important to focus on the bar placement, the concrete consolidation, and the concrete curing. Along with actual concrete strength, these are the elements with the largest impact on the transverse crack formation and thus the long-term performance of the CRCP. Today, all bars are placed using what is called the "manual method," that is, steel placers install the bars by hand prior to paving. The placers ensure that the bars are supported in the specified vertical position, that the lap splices are of sufficient length, that the supports do not impede placing and consolidation of the concrete, and that the completed mat does not move during slip-form paving. The vertical position of the bars is set by the supports and diameters of the transverse and the longitudinal bars, and the tolerance is usually ± 0.5 inch (13 mm). Horizontal spacing tolerances are less stringent, but it is important that longitudinal bar placement does not impede placement or consolidation of concrete. Steel bars normally come in standard lengths of 60 ft (18.3 m) and must be lap-spliced to form a continuous longitudinal mat. In the past it was found that failures have occurred due to inadequate concrete compaction when all laps were located adjacent to each other. The lap-splicing patterns used today are either staggered or skewed. The development of continuous bar supports, commonly known as transverse bar assemblies or TBAs, has led to speedier placement of the steel mat. A TBA is a transverse bar to which are welded steel supports, which serve as chairs, and U-shaped clips (see figure 3). The spacing of the clips along the bar matches that required of the longitudinal bars. When the longitudinal bars are installed into the clips, the clips hold them in position vertically and keep them from moving transversely, while allowing a bit of longitudinal movement. This system is more expensive than using individual bar supports, but it should decrease installation time significantly. One key to a well-performing CRCP is a steady production rate with a steady supply of a uniform concrete mixture. The more uniform the concrete mixture, the more uniform the crack pattern—and thus the better the CRCP performance. Because the bar mat is in place in front of the paver, concrete delivery is always from one side of the paver (as shown in figure 4). In one method, the concrete is deposited from a truck or a mixer into a hopper, and then the hopper is lifted to place the concrete on a conveyor. The conveyor brings and deposits the concrete in front of the paving machine, where it is then spread, vibrated, and slipped. With a good amount of steel in the bar mat and the very stiff concrete mixtures that are used for slip-form paving, it is very important to make sure the concrete is adequately vibrated and that there is good consolidation. Good consolidation provides the all-important steel–concrete bond; areas of poor consolidation quickly show up with undesirable crack patterns, such as intersecting and cluster cracking, and may lead to premature failure. CRCP has been paved during both daytime and nighttime. Paving at nighttime when daytime temperatures would be very hot has shown to result in better performing CRCP because the development of heat of hydration and high ambient daytime temperatures due to solar radiation do not coincide. Better temperature specifications and temperature management during paving are leading to better performing CRCP. Specifications limit the concrete temperature to a range of 50 °F to 90 °F (10 °C to 32 °C). Other measures to reduce heat may include changing the concrete mixture constituents and proportions for lower heat of hydration, specifying wetting of the base and steel bars just in front of the paver, and whitewashing the asphalt base prior to placement of the reinforcement (as long as it does not reduce bonding and friction with the CRCP, as this will greatly affect crack spacing and width). The use of HIPERPAV® software at the construction site can provide relative information regarding expected CRCP cracking patterns if there are drastic temperature changes, and various remediation measures (changes in concrete mixture, curing techniques, etc.) can be implemented. A well-performing CRCP can be identified by a reasonably regular transverse cracking pattern with desirable crack spacing (2 to 8 ft (0.6 to 2.4 m)) that in turn keeps the cracks tight and provides a high level of load transfer across the cracks (figure 5). Today's CRCP design details reduce or eliminate punchout occurrence. The slab contains concrete of sufficient strength and durability. The slab thickness is appropriately established for the traffic projections, and reinforcing steel is of proper size and amount and placed at the correct location. The foundation consists of uniform supporting, non-erodible layers and separation layers (typically hot-mix asphalt (HMA) concrete) with friction properties that lead to desirable transverse cracking patterns. The pavement edge is tightly sealed and well supported using a tied concrete shoulder. Or a widened slab may be used to move the critical stresses away from the edge. Table 1 lists historical performance problems, associated distress/failure mechanisms, and measures that can be taken to prevent their occurrence. Experience in the States Highway agencies in Illinois, Oklahoma, Virginia, North and South Dakota, Texas, and Oregon have used CRCP since the 1960s or 1970s. These are the agencies that, many times in partnership with the FHWA, have studied the technology in detail to learn the best way to build CRCP given the materials and climate and experiences unique to each State. Other highway agencies with significant past or current experience with CRCP are in the States of California, Georgia, and Louisiana. Summaries of the experiences in many of these agencies are included in the following sections. California—California built its first experimental pavement in 1949, a 1-mi (1.6 km), two-lane westbound section on US-40 near the town of Fairfield. A second CRCP section was built in 1971. Recognition by the California Department of Transportation (DOT) (Caltrans) of the incredible performance of the more than 60- and 30-year-old sections, along with successful CRCP use around the United States, led the agency to adopt CRCP in its specifications, standard drawings, design catalog, and highway design manual starting in the mid 2000s. In a recent presentation, Caltrans pointed out the factors driving their interest in CRCP: smoothness, low maintenance costs, no transverse joints, thinner slab thickness relative to unreinforced concrete pavement, lower life cycle cost despite higher initial cost, and a higher capacity for truck loading and volumes. Caltrans is expecting CRCP to be selected primarily for new highways, reconstruction of existing highways, and as overlays on projects in high truck-traffic areas, in remote locations where maintenance is difficult, and where long-term performance is important. Nearly a dozen projects have been recently let. Georgia—The first CRCP projects in Georgia were built in 1969. In the early 2000s, when the Georgia DOT began an interstate highway reconstruction program, the department recognized the success it had had with CRCP performance and minimal maintenance. CRCP was considered a valuable component of the pavement selection process. Currently, the Georgia DOT design is full-depth (12 inches (305 mm)) or overlay (11 inches (280 mm)) CRCP, with 0.70 percent longitudinal steel content placed no less than 3.5 inches (89 mm) or no more than 4.25 inches (108 mm) below the top of the slab, with a 3-inch (76 mm) HMA layer on a 12-inch (305 mm) aggregate base. Different shoulder configurations have been used: CRCP shoulders (intended as future travel lanes) and widened slab (lane) with asphalt or roller-compacted concrete shoulders. Georgia has also constructed several CRC overlays. Illinois—Illinois has a long history of CRCP use. One of the first States to experiment with CRCP technology, in 1947, Illinois now has the second-largest inventory of CRCP in the United States, behind Texas. The Illinois DOT has built CRCP throughout the State, including most of the freeways in the Chicago area. CRCP is typically selected for projects with traffic levels of over 60 million equivalent single-axle loads. Recently, building on the DOT's successful use, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority used CRCP on several large projects on I-294. Dozens of CRCP research reports have been produced through the Illinois DOT's Bureau of Materials and Physical Research. Many research projects have been conducted in cooperation with FHWA, under the Illinois Cooperative Highway Research Program (Illinois DOT, FHWA, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign) or, most recently, in cooperation with the Illinois Center for Transportation at the University of Illinois at Urbana. Illinois' first CRCP report, "A Ten-Year Report on the Illinois Continuously-Reinforced Pavement," Highway Research Board Bulletin, was produced in 1959. Subsequent reports on the performance of the State's rigid pavement were issued about once a decade, in 1968, 1978, and 1997, and most recently, in 2002 (Garaibeh and Darter 2002). CRCP built since the early 1990s has exhibited limited punchout failures. In 2002, the Illinois DOT began its Extended Life Pavement Program, building several large CRCP projects through the mid-2000s that increased design life to 30 or 40 years with slab thickness up to 14 inches (356 mm), 0.70 percent to 0.80 percent longitudinal steel, HMA-stabilized base 4 to 6 inches thick (102 to 152 mm), aggregate subbase 12 inches thick (305 mm), and lime-treated subgrade. Illinois has also built several CRC overlays, ranging from 8 to 12 inches (203 to 305 mm) on major highways. When the need for rehabilitation occurs, Illinois properly repairs the existing CRCP and overlays with HMA. This composite structure performs over many years with no reflection cracks or new punchouts through the overlay. Louisiana—The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development built many miles of 8-inch-thick (203 mm) CRCP between 1966 and 1974. Premature problems, including wide crack widths, excessive deflection, and base erosion (leading to punchout failures) developed on several projects, mostly due to poor foundations. However, bare sections of I-20 and I-10 are still in service, and some sections of I-10 only received their first asphalt overlay in 2009. All sections were built with asphalt shoulders. These problems led to a CRCP moratorium in 1975 that was not to be lifted until better designs could be developed. Subsequent State research identified the causes of punchout failures: insufficient slab thickness, poor base and subgrade conditions, poor construction practice, and the use of rounded aggregate. North and South Dakota—Both North and South Dakota have been building "nonurban" CRCP sections since the 1960s. North Dakota has built close to 300 mi (483 km) of CRCP. Over the years, more than half of the State's inventory has been overlaid with an asphalt wearing surface. South Dakota's first two experimental CRCP sections (0.5-mi long (0.8 km)), built in 1962 near Sioux Falls, are still in service, reportedly without significant maintenance. South Dakota subsequently adopted CRCP for initial interstate highway construction (I-29, I-229, I-90, and I-190), which ended in 1974. The CRCP details were an 8-inch-thick slab (203 mm) with 0.60 percent longitudinal steel and granular and lime-treated gravel cushion bases. Only one project was slip-formed. CRCP construction resumed in 1995, with the rebuilding of sections of the Interstate Highway System, including replacement of 10 percent of the asphalt pavements. These CRC pavements were from 8 to 12 inches thick (203 to 305 mm) and contained 0.66 to 0.69 percent longitudinal steel, on a nominal 5-inch (127 mm) granular base (rubblized concrete from the existing project was used where feasible). All totaled, South Dakota's CRCP comprises about 40 percent of the State's Interstate Highway System and about 6 percent of the DOT's entire road network. Unfortunately, the South Dakota DOT has experienced undesirable cracking patterns on some projects built in the 2000s and is evaluating the causes of the undesirable cracking patterns through laboratory work and experimental sections with varying features built in 2004–05 on I-29 and I-90. Oklahoma—The Oklahoma DOT believes CRCP is an outstanding pavement and builds on average several projects per year. CRCP has been used on all interstate highway routes and on several U.S. routes. Oklahoma built its first CRCP project in 1969. For the DOT, a project's traffic levels and soil conditions dictate CRCP selection. Typical modern CRCP design consists of a slab 8 to 12 inches thick (203 to 305 mm) with 0.70 percent longitudinal steel placed at mid-depth. Oklahoma DOT uses this CRCP for full-depth reconstruction and unbonded overlay construction. Through 2010, the DOT's Interstate Highway Pavement Management System showed zero percent of the original CRCP sections reconstructed and only 25 percent requiring rehabilitation, compared to 6 percent reconstructed and 84 percent rehabilitated for the total pavement inventory. Seventy-five percent of the CRCP miles have required pavement preservation treatment. Oregon—The Oregon DOT has built about 560 mi (901 km) of CRCP with the average age being 23 years. The first section (built in 1963) was an 8-inch-thick (203 mm) slab containing 0.60 percent longitudinal steel placed 3 inches (76 mm) from the top of the slab, built on an aggregate base. It received an asphalt overlay in 2004. Since the late 1970s, thicknesses from 8 to 11 inches (203 to 279 mm) have been used and the steel content has been increased to 0.70 percent. At that time, the outside-lane pavement width (widened slab/lane) was increased to 14 ft (4.3 m), combined with an asphalt shoulder. As of 2010, 59 percent of Oregon's CRCP miles still had concrete surface; 22 percent had received a thin (2 inch (51 mm)) asphalt overlay to repair rutting due to studded tire damage; 16 percent had received a thick (> 4 inches (102 mm)) overlay; and 3 percent had either been rubblized or reconstructed. Today, ODOT uses CRCP on major rehabilitation or reconstruction projects with a high volume of heavy trucks, primarily on the Interstate Highway System. CRCP has also been used as an inlay in the truck lane of I-84 in several locations. Texas—Texas began using CRCP in 1951, before its long and extensive testing and research programs were initiated. Through the 1960s and 1970s and continuing to the present, the Texas DOT initiated extensive research to investigate ways to improve the performance of CRCP. Research teams in conjunction with the Center for Transportation Research at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University at College Station, and, recently, Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Transportation at Texas Tech have been studying the many aspects of the CRC pavement structure. As of 2010, Texas had an inventory of nearly 12,500 lane-miles (20,117 km) of CRCP. Texas DOT has been increasing its CRCP use as it expands its roadway network and as it replaces jointed pavement taken out of service. CRCP in the State has performed exceedingly well. According to FY 2010 figures presented by the State, the failure rates for CRCP are 1 punchout per 8.8 lane-miles, 1 concrete patch per 4.6 lane-miles, and 1 asphalt patch per 88 lane-miles. For all rigid pavements, the initial pavement structure is to be designed and analyzed for a performance period of 30 years. The Texas DOT's current policy allows CRCP in the thickness range of 6 to 13 inches (152 to 330 mm), with 0.5-inch (13 mm) increments. The sheer volume of CRCP work in Texas (averaging over 1 million yd2 per year), combined with the local paving industry's knowledge and competition, typically results in the lowest cost for CRCP found anywhere in the United States. The Texas DOT has also constructed several CRC overlays. Virginia—The first CRCP built by the Virginia DOT was in 1966–67 on I-64 through Richmond. All CRCP slabs from the 1960s through the 1980s were 8 inches (203 mm) thick with 0.60 percent longitudinal steel located 3.5 inches (89 mm) below the top of the slab. The concrete slab was placed on 4 to 6 inches (102 to 152 mm) of cement-treated base. Asphalt shoulders were generally used. By 2010, there were more than 500 lane-miles (805 km) of CRCP in the State. Virginia DOT philosophy has been that CRCP lasts long and is very competitive for roadways with high traffic levels. Today, the DOT uses a combination of life cycle cost analysis and engineering judgment to select the pavement type. At the end of its initial service life, CRCP is overlaid with asphalt concrete to provide for many more years of service. Long-Term Pavement Performance Program Data The best source for a national overview of CRCP performance is the Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) Program. When General Pavement Study (GPS) 5, which studied CRCP over various base layers, began, it included 85 CRCP experimental sections in 29 States and all 4 LTPP climatic regions. Over the years, sections dropped out or, when overlaid with asphalt, were transferred to GPS-7 (study of asphalt concrete overlay over portland cement concrete). LTPP GPS-5 data for CRCP test sections were analyzed in 1999 and 2000. These analyses showed the following (Tayabji et al. 1999, 2001): A partial analysis as of March 2012 indicated that 34 of the original 85 sections in GPS-5 remain active in the study. Their average age is 31 years, with the oldest constructed in 1969 in Virginia and the newest constructed in 1990 in Oklahoma. The average age of the 51 sections removed from GPS-5 was 26 years when removed, and at least 30 of those sections were added to GPS-7 after receiving asphalt overlays. Other than the Virginia section mentioned above, the oldest were a section in Texas (0.50 percent longitudinal steel and CRCP shoulders) that lasted from 1965 to 2006 and a section in South Dakota (0.65 percent longitudinal steel and asphalt shoulders) that lasted from 1963 to 2008. States with the best-performing CRCP sections, based on longevity in the GPS-5 database, are Texas (13 of 17 still included, 3 removed in 2000s when overlaid); South Carolina (3 of 3, average age 36 years); Virginia (3 of 4, 1 removed in 2000s); Oklahoma (3 of 3); and Oregon (4 of 6, 2 removed when overlaid in 2003). International CRCP Use Road agencies around the rest of the world have been using CRCP almost as long as agencies in the United States. CRC pavements have now been built on every continent except Antarctica. Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Australia are perhaps the largest users. More recently, Germany and China have begun experimenting with CRCP. Perhaps the most important recent development in technology concerning CRCP can be found on the M7 Motorway (Westlink), which was opened in 2005 in the western suburbs of Sydney, NSW, Australia. Technological innovation comes by connecting the CRCP longitudinal reinforcement directly into the bridge deck reinforcement, with additional pavement reinforcement provided in the transition zones, eliminating anchorages and joints to create a "seamless pavement." CRC pavements have a long history of good performance in the United States and other countries when designed and constructed well. Many U.S. highway agencies consider CRC pavements their pavement of choice for implementing long-life pavement strategies that have lower life cycle costs and require fewer lane closures for routine maintenance and repair/rehabilitation. CRC pavements have also been used on local roads, intersections, and roundabouts and at airports, freight terminals, warehouses, and racetracks. As discussed in this TechBrief, well-performing CRCP and CRC overlays require consideration of the following best practices: Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI). 2009. Manual of Standard Practice 2009. 28th Edition. CRSI, Schaumburg, IL. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 1990, June 5. Technical Advisory T 5080.14, Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement. FHWA, Washington, DC. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/t508014.cfm. Gharaibeh, N. G., and Michael I. Darter. 2002, December. Longevity of High-Performance Pavements in Illinois—2000 Update. Transportation Engineering Series No. 122, Illinois Cooperative Highway Engineer Transportation Series No. 283. Illinois Department of Transportation, Springfield. http://ict.illinois.edu/publications/report files/TES-122.pdf. Tayabji, S. D., O. Selezneva, and Y. J. Jiang. 1999. Preliminary Evaluation of LTPP Continuously Reinforced Concrete (CRC) Pavement Test Sections (FHWA-RD-99-086). FHWA, Washington, DC. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pub_details.cfm?id=125. Tayabji, S. D., C. L. Wu, and M. Plei. 2001. Performance of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavements in the LTPP Program. In Seventh International Conference on Concrete Pavements: The Use of Concrete in Developing Long-Lasting Pavement Solutions for the 21st Century, pp. 685–700. International Society for Concrete Pavements, College Station, TX. TRID Accession No. 00823449. The Advanced Concrete Pavement Technology (ACPT) Products Program is an integrated, national effort to improve the long-term performance and cost-effectiveness of the Nation's concrete highways. Managed by the Federal Highway Administration through partnerships with State highway agencies, industry, and academia, the goals of the ACPT Products Program are to reduce congestion, improve safety, lower costs, improve performance, and foster innovation. The ACPT Products Program identifies, refines, and delivers for implementation available technologies from all sources that can enhance the design, construction, repair, and rehabilitation of concrete highway pavements. The ACPT Marketing Plan enables technology transfer, deployment, and delivery activities to ensure that agencies, academia, and industry partners can derive maximum benefit from promising ACPT products in the quest for long-lasting concrete pavements that provide a safe, smooth, and quiet ride. PDF files can be viewed with the Acrobat® Reader®

|FHWA > Engineering > Pavements > TechBrief: Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Performance and Best Practices| PDF version (1 mb) TechBrief: Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement Performance and Best Practices Continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) is enjoying a renaissance across the United States and around the world. CRCP has the potential to provide a long-term, "zero-mai

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge needs YOU -- your talents, your enthusiasm, your point of view and some of your time! WHAT DO VOLUNTEERS DO? Various opportunities exist at the Refuge for volunteers to gain valuable and rewarding experience. Volunteers assist refuge employees by working in such fields as: Through such activities as nature walks, talks, slide programs and visitor center information duty, volunteers help visitors understand and appreciate both the natural and cultural history of the Refuge as well as provide information on the recreational and educational opportunities available. Volunteers also rove Refuge trails to talk to visitors, report vandalism, note maintenance needs and pickup litter. Establish Environmental Education contacts through teacher orientation workshops, open house events, day camp, field trips and special projects Qualified individuals may assist wildlife biologists in such areas as wildlife survey salt marsh monitoring and other projects. Volunteers may help Refuge employees in general tasks such as landscape maintenance, sign installation, gate painting, construction and routine vehicle maintenance. Also, opportunities exist for those with skills in such disciplines as plumbing and carpentry. Invasive Plant Control: Volunteers work with refuge staff and partners to prune, pull, dig and cut non-native plants weeds, and plants in order to and nurture new native plants as part of the Refuge's habitat restoration mission.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge needs YOU -- your talents, your enthusiasm, your point of view and some of your time! WHAT DO VOLUNTEERS DO? Various opportunities exist at the Refuge for volunteers to gain valuable and rewarding experience. Volunteers assist refuge employees by working in such fields as: Through such activities as nature walks, talks, s

TITLE 71: PUBLIC BUILDINGS, FACILITIES AND REAL PROPERTY CHAPTER I: CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD SUBCHAPTER c: ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PART 500 ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AUTHORITY ACT PROCEDURES SECTION 500.20 DEFINITIONS Section 500.20 Definitions a) "ACM" means Asbestos Containing Material. b) "Asbestos Survey Protocol" means CDB's A/E Manual of Procedures for Asbestos Inspections & Management Plans which sets forth procedures for surveying ACM in State buildings. c) "Board" or "CDB" means the Capital Development Board. d) "Building" means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy. e) "Management Plan" means a plan to provide for management of the asbestos in place, pending removal, and to establish the recommended response action. f) "Operations and Maintenance Program" (O & M Program) means a plan of work practices to provide for the safe operation of a building with ACM, and to keep the ACM in a state of good repair. The O & M Program is a component of a Management Plan. g) "Structure" means that which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece or work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.

TITLE 71: PUBLIC BUILDINGS, FACILITIES AND REAL PROPERTY CHAPTER I: CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD SUBCHAPTER c: ASBESTOS ABATEMENT PART 500 ASBESTOS ABATEMENT AUTHORITY ACT PROCEDURES SECTION 500.20 DEFINITIONS Section 500.20 Definitions a) "ACM" means Asbestos Containing Material. b) "Asbestos Survey Protocol" means CDB's A/E Manual of Procedures for Asbestos Inspections & Management Plans which sets

Desford Parish Walks Where is Desford? Desford is about 9 miles west of Leicester Desford was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but “Deor’s Ford” is of Anglo-Saxon origin and evidence of Roman kilns has been found. There are several interesting old buildings. The village gave its name to Desford Pit, the site of which has been restored to nature and now has pleasant walks of its own. About 2 miles away, near Bagworth. Refreshments: Several shops & pubs in village Traveline which allows users to search by postcode and places of interest. There are other features including detailed maps of the journey, walking distances and public transport timetable downloads. The same information is also available everyday on 0871 200 22 33 7am - 10pm. For the next bus departures from any bus stop or postcode visit Traveline East Midlands online. About the Walks - There are two walks in the Desford area: 2.5miles and 4miles. - Walk One starts near St. Martin's Church, Main Street, Walk Two starts near the Co-op Newbold Road. - All of the paths are waymarked. This leaflet is now web-only, intended for printing out at home. Paper copies are no longer available from the County Council. 4 km (2.5 miles) allow 1hour. Mostly field paths; easy walking with some slight gradients. Park near St Martins Church in Main Street and start at the church The church is largely 13th and 14th century, heavily restored in Victorian times. There is a Norman font. Go straight through the churchyard. As you exit through the gate you will see the footpath sign opposite. Follow the wall down towards a gate and enter the field. A. Take the right of two diagonal paths. The next field has a pond and various fowl. Keep straight on over pasture, until a double stile, bear diagonally right to a stile which takes you onto the railway line. This is part of the original Leicester to Swannington railway built by Robert Stephenson in 1832, is the 3rd oldest railway in the world, carrying goods trains only since 1964. Cross the line and next field to a footbridge. Bear right to cross another footbridge. Keep straight on with a garage with a clock on your right – this belongs to the former Desford Mill which is visible from here. There has been a mill on this site since at least the 13th century. B. In the top corner of this field is a gate with steps leading to a bridge over the mill stream. Take a diagonal left towards a telegraph pole in the middle of the next field. Keep the diagonal line to the field corner, where you cross another stream and a ditch out on to the road. Turn left and walk into Botcheston, keeping left at the road junction. Carry along Main Street until just after the red telephone box. (For a refreshment stop, the Greyhound Pub is a little further along on the right) C. Turn left following the footpath sign, between two houses then slightly downhill. Cross the stream and head straight to another footbridge. This is Rothley Brook. It can be fast flowing and is good for Pooh sticks! Keep straight on to cross the railway line, followed by a footbridge. Aim straight towards the yellow marker, midway along the top fence. Turn left and walk between the hedge and wire fence of the former sewage works. Turn right, following the wire fence. Keep straight on; do not turn left. Walk uphill and onto Little Lane. At the junction with Main Street you will see a thatched cottage on your right. This is a 17th century timber framed building with eyebrow dormers in a typical Leicestershire style. Turn left and retrace your steps back to the church. 6.5km (4miles) Allow 2 hours. Open countryside with slight gradients. Part of this walk can be muddy in wet weather. Park near the Co-op in Newbold Road. 1. Take the footpath opposite Cottage Lane, to the right of The Malt House. Possibly medieval, this has a box frame and massive granite chimneys. The path slopes downhill between fences to an open field. 2. Turn left over a bridge and head straight across the large arable field. About 100m before the end of the field bear right to cross the ditch, which you follow to the stile. Keep straight across 3 fields of pasture, passing a row of cottages on your left. As you approach the factory cross the stile and walk in front of the buildings to the left corner of the car park, a bridge and onto a track. 3. Turn right then, after about 20m, turn left through a gate next to an old railway van. Go straight ahead into a copse. Turn right, then left. Keep the Christmas trees on your left and cross a stile onto a bridle path, and turn right. A cottage on your left often has flowers and vegetables for sale. Go downhill and at a metal gate keep right, passing by a barrier and continue between 2 hedges. This stretch can be muddy. Cross the stream and pass through a hand gate. 4. With the hedge on the right walk up the next field, ignoring the footpath on the right. Maintain the same direction through three fields, across a track, then another field. 5. In the last field, Fox Covert will be on your left; full of bluebells in the Spring. When you reach the road, turn immediately right to climb a stile into the next field. Take a diagonal left line across the next 3 fields. You will see a farm to your right. Cross a track, then, follow the slurry pit to the next track. Carry straight on, across another track. Walk straight uphill, keeping the telegraph poles on your left. When you reach the brow you will see the yellow waymarker. Over the bridge walk towards the left of 2 waymarkers in a line of trees. Through a farm gate, cross the drive into another field. Head diagonally right to a tree at the corner of a hedge. 6. Turn left. At this point over to your left, depending on the time of year and the amount of vegetation, you can see what remains of the moat around the medieval site of Lindridge Hall. This is private property, so please keep to the footpath. Cross the stream and keep the hedge on the right. This next field of rough pasture is the site of an early coal mine. The shaft sunk in 1875 was abandoned 2 years later due to flooding. Pass by a wood then, 2 fields of pasture leading downhill to a stile. Ignore the wishway to the right; continue straight on. At the corner of this field is a gap where the path to the right is the one you took at the beginning of the walk. Retrace your steps up the hill back to Newbold Road. Page Last Updated: 6 August 2009

Desford Parish Walks Where is Desford? Desford is about 9 miles west of Leicester Desford was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but “Deor’s Ford” is of Anglo-Saxon origin and evidence of Roman kilns has been found. There are several interesting old buildings. The village gave its name to Desford Pit, the site of which has been restored to nature and now has pleasant walks of its own. About 2 miles a

East Calhoun's average household size was lower than the citywide average between 1980 and 2000. The neighborhood remained at an average of two people per household during this time period. The city average household size was 2.2 between 1980 and 1990, and then it increased to 2.3 people per household in 2000. East Calhoun's household composition changed substantially between 1980 and 2000. The two household types that increased during this time were ones with people who live together but are not related to each other (34 percent increase) and ones with people who live alone and are under the age of 65 (16 percent increase). The largest decrease in household type was with people who live alone and are over the age of 65 (56 percent). Family households made up the largest percentage of households in 1980, but the percentage decreased from 39 percent to 31 percent. In 2000 there were more households of people living alone than family households. East Calhoun's percentage of householders living alone was higher than the citywide percentage between 1980 and 2000. The difference decreased between the neighborhood and Minneapolis in the last census report because the city increased its percentage. The trends for the percentage of seniors living alone moved in opposite directions for East Calhoun and Minneapolis between 1980 and 2000. The neighborhood increased its percentage from 37 percent to 41 percent, while the city decreased from 38 percent to 37 percent. East Calhoun's percentage of families with children under 18 was lower than the citywide figure between 1980 and 2000. Minneapolis had 9 percent more families with children than East Calhoun had in 1980, 13 percent more in 1990 and 11 percent more in 2000. Last updated Sep. 27, 2011

East Calhoun's average household size was lower than the citywide average between 1980 and 2000. The neighborhood remained at an average of two people per household during this time period. The city average household size was 2.2 between 1980 and 1990, and then it increased to 2.3 people per household in 2000. East Calhoun's household composition changed substantially between 1980 and 2000. The tw

WELCOME TO NEW JERSEY E-CYCLES! New Jersey E-cycles Webpage provides you with all of the information you need to know regarding the “Electronics Waste Management Act” (The Act)’s requirement for a FREE and environmentally sound recycling program for computers, monitors, laptops, portable computers and televisions. Electronic Waste Management Program - Adoption Document for New Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:26A-13). To view the complete Recycling Rules that include the new Ewaste portion click here. Click here to find a local collection site near you or you may call Who can recycle for FREE New Jersey consumers and small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time employees, can recycle for free at the approved manufacturers collection sites. What can be recycled for FREE All computers, monitors, laptops, portable computers and televisions are accepted for free recycling. Please note that other electronic devices (keyboards, mice, printers, microwaves, etc.) are not included in this free program. Please check with your local collection site to determine if they will accept your other electronic device. Is your Computer or TV too heavy? If you can't lift your television or computer, click here for other options. New Jersey recycles RESPONSIBLY Each manufacturer must ensure to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) that electronic devices are recycled in a manner that is in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and ordinances. Manufacturers must also ensure that these devices are not exported for disposal in a manner that poses a risk to the public health or the environment.

WELCOME TO NEW JERSEY E-CYCLES! New Jersey E-cycles Webpage provides you with all of the information you need to know regarding the “Electronics Waste Management Act” (The Act)’s requirement for a FREE and environmentally sound recycling program for computers, monitors, laptops, portable computers and televisions. Electronic Waste Management Program - Adoption Document for New Rules (N.J.A.C. 7:26

National Institutes of Health - The primary NIH organization for research on Lung Transplantation is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Lung transplantation is surgery to replace one or both diseased lungs with a healthy lung or lungs from a donor. During the operation, the surgeon makes a cut in the chest and removes the diseased lung. The surgeon then sews the new lung to the main blood vessels and air passage. Your doctor may recommend a lung transplant if you have disease that cannot be controlled any other way. These diseases include Complications of lung transplantation include rejection of the transplanted lung and infection. References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

National Institutes of Health - The primary NIH organization for research on Lung Transplantation is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Lung transplantation is surgery to replace one or both diseased lungs with a healthy lung or lungs from a donor. During the operation, the surgeon makes a cut in the chest and removes the diseased lung. The surgeon then sews the new lung to the main blo

On October 13, 2008, at 1518 mountain standard time, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) paramedic was killed after coming into contact with the main rotor blades of a Bell 407, N42AZ, near Sedona, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by the AZ DPS as a public-use search and rescue (SAR) flight and was performing a mountain rescue on Doe Mountain. The pilot and two hikers were not injured; the helicopter was not damaged. The flight had departed on the SAR mission from the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), Flagstaff, Arizona, at 1440, to aid in the search and rescue of two stranded hikers. Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page According to DPS, the helicopter and flight crew were based in Flagstaff; the flight crew consisted of a pilot (right seat) and a paramedic (left seat). Prior to departing FLG, the flight crew had been notified of a SAR mission by the Sedona Fire Department. Sedona Fire Department requested assistance in locating missing hikers in the Doe Mountain area. The flight departed FLG and commenced the search. The flight crew contacted the fire department via radio that they had located the hikers on a mountain northwest of Sedona. The pilot and both hikers were interviewed by detectives from DPS. The pilot stated that he landed the helicopter on a rock face, with both skids on the ground, and the tail sticking out over the ledge. He reported that the lateral (left and right) of the helicopter was solid. As he lowered the collective and placed the weight of the helicopter onto the skids he felt the helicopter rocking slightly fore and aft, and decided to maintain the main rotor at 100 percent rpm for stability reasons. He noted that the hikers were forward and slightly above the helicopter's position. The pilot stated that after a brief discussion, the paramedic disconnected his radio and departed out of the left forward side of the helicopter and walked toward the hikers. He reported that the plan was to load the hikers onto the right side of the helicopter as it had been configured with the rear seats on the right side. The left rear seat was typically left uninstalled to make room for the litter/stretcher if there was an injured patient. The male hiker was helped to the helicopter first. Their path was to move right of the helicopter and then downslope prior to entering the cabin. The pilot recalled that the paramedic had to push the hiker's head down prior to leading him to the helicopter. While the male hiker was being placed inside the helicopter, the pilot maintained a visual on the female hiker, making sure that she did not follow the other two to the helicopter. He then observed the paramedic walking back toward the female hiker. As the paramedic and hiker were walking back to the helicopter, the pilot observed that the hiker had gotten caught on something. The paramedic turned to assist the hiker, placing his back to the pilot and helicopter. The pilot stated that after the paramedic helped the hiker, he turned, stood up, erect, and proceeded to turn toward the helicopter. During this time, the pilot, believing that all was normal, may have looked down to check his instruments and radios; when he looked back up, he saw the paramedics feet coming out from underneath him. At that point the pilot realized that he could not have exited the helicopter to help the paramedic, so he turned his attention to the female hiker. He remembered frictioning the collective, popping open his door, and yelling at the hiker to get into the helicopter. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the helicopter prior to the accident. According to the female hiker, after the arrival of the helicopter, the paramedic exited the left side, and motioned to both her and the male hiker to stay where they were. The paramedic then motioned to the male hiker to walk towards him, and instructed the female hiker to stay where she was. The female hiker stated that all of the instructions were via hand signals, and that the paramedic was clearly in charge, and in her opinion had acted very professionally. After the male hiker was placed in the helicopter, the paramedic returned for her. She did not move toward him, but waited for him to get to her position. Once the paramedic was near her, he motioned for her to come closer to him, while also pointing out a cactus plant, and motioning her around it. The hiker stated that the paramedic at this point was facing her with his back to the helicopter, and standing straight up. She believed that he was not underneath the main rotor blades. She walked around the cactus, crouched down and walked in front of the paramedic. She stated that during this whole time the paramedic was looking at her. She walked in front of him, and was walking toward the helicopter when she heard a loud sound. The hiker stated that she wasn't sure why she turned around, because of the sound or because she felt that the paramedic was not behind her anymore. In any case, she turned back to see where the paramedic was and saw him on the ground. At that point, she froze, wanting to help, and at the same time saw the pilot looking at her and yelling to get into the helicopter. During the male hiker's interview, he stated that he had observed the helicopter was tilted a bit on the pilot's side, "not much, but definitely tilted." When the paramedic exited the left side and came toward him, the paramedic was standing straight erect. The accident site was documented by AZ DPS. They noted that the helicopter was slightly lower on its right side with the nose slightly elevated. They also inspected the main rotor blades and noted that all of the blades displayed minor surface abrasions approximately 3 to 4 inches from the tip of the blade inboard.

On October 13, 2008, at 1518 mountain standard time, an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) paramedic was killed after coming into contact with the main rotor blades of a Bell 407, N42AZ, near Sedona, Arizona. The helicopter was operated by the AZ DPS as a public-use search and rescue (SAR) flight and was performing a mountain rescue on Doe Mountain. The pilot and two hikers were not inju

|<<< Back to Health Physics Society (HPS)|| OSHA and the Health Physics Society (HPS) as of February 20, 2006 On February 20, 2004, OSHA and the Health Physics Society (HPS) formed an Alliance to provide HPS members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance focused on enhancing workplace health and safety and assisting employers in developing a preventive focus for radiological safety and health issues in workplace environments, especially related to emergency preparedness. Due to the change in HPS's priorities and its focus on using the society's resources to address other issues for its members, there was limited activity to develop programs and products to meet the goals of the Alliance. As a result, HPS concluded the Alliance as of February 20, 2006. However, OSHA and HPS will continue to work together through other avenues to develop and share information on radiological safety and heath issues. The following successes resulted from the organizations' working together to meet the Alliance's goals: Report prepared by: Sandra Khan, Alliance Coordinator, Office of Outreach Services and Alliances, April 2, 2005

|<<< Back to Health Physics Society (HPS)|| OSHA and the Health Physics Society (HPS) as of February 20, 2006 On February 20, 2004, OSHA and the Health Physics Society (HPS) formed an Alliance to provide HPS members and others with information, guidance and access to training resources to protect employees' health and safety. The Alliance focused on enhancing workplace health and safety and assist

ASYLUM SEEKERS RECEPRION CENTRE "MUCENIEKI" Information on the asylum seekers reception centre „Mucenieki” Following international practice, in 1997 work was begun in Latvia to establish asylum seekers reception centre “Mucenieki”. The centre was established in a place in Ropazu municipality called Mucenieki, at the former military base of Soviet army. Building renovation was completed in the end of 1998, and already in December of that year the first asylum seekers were admitted there. Funding of the asylum seeker reception centre “Mucenieki”. Establishment of the centre was supported by the United States government, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Swedish government. Total expenses of the building renovation and development of external communications networks were something over 840 000 lats. After the centre was established, it is financed from the state budget. Each asylum seeker (except those asylum seekers being themselves enough well-situated) receives a per diem – 1.50 lats for food, hygiene products and other goods of prime necessity. Information on refugees and asylum seekers housed at the centre. Asylum seekers and refugees who have stayed at the centre were coming from the following countries: Afghanistan, Congo (Zaire), Morocco, Armenia, Belarus, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Pakistan, Angola, Iraq, Russia, Tajikistan and Nigeria. The biggest number of asylum seekers simultaneously staying at the centre has been 27 persons. Organizing daily life at the Reception centre. It is possible to house 2 asylum seekers at each room. There are also family rooms. Kitchen, laundry, TV room and nursery room is also available for the centre inhabitants. Asylum seekers are obliged to comply with the internal rules of procedure of the centre. Asylum seekers reception centre “Mucenieki” and local community of Mucenieki village. Since the establishment of the centre it has been considered to be very important to stay in positive relations with the authorities of local municipality as well as with the local community itself. During the project implementation local infrastructure (roads, landscape and telecommunications) of Mucenieki was also improved. 63 500 lats were invested in new water treatment facilities; local inhabitants were offered new work places.

ASYLUM SEEKERS RECEPRION CENTRE "MUCENIEKI" Information on the asylum seekers reception centre „Mucenieki” Following international practice, in 1997 work was begun in Latvia to establish asylum seekers reception centre “Mucenieki”. The centre was established in a place in Ropazu municipality called Mucenieki, at the former military base of Soviet army. Building renovation was completed in the end

The 1996 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the eleventh in an annual series that surveys significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports. In accordance with section 181 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the 1974 Trade Act), as amended by section 303 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (the 1984 Trade Act), section 1304 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (the 1988 Trade Act) and section 311 of the Uruguay Round Trade Agreements Act (1994 Trade Act), the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is required to submit to the President, the Senate Finance Committee, and appropriate committees in the House of Representatives, an annual report on significant foreign trade The statute requires an inventory of the most important foreign barriers affecting U.S. exports of goods and services, foreign direct investment by U.S. persons, and protection of intellectual property rights. Such an inventory facilitates negotiations aimed at reducing or eliminating these barriers. The report also provides a valuable tool in enforcing U.S. trade laws, with the goal of expanding global trade, which benefits all nations. The report provides, if feasible, quantitative estimates of the impact of these foreign practices upon the value of U.S. exports. Information is also included on actions being taken to eliminate any act, policy, or practice identified in the report. SCOPE AND COVERAGE Previous reports were based upon information compiled within USTR, the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture, and other U.S. government agencies, and supplemented with information provided by members of the private sector trade advisory committees and U.S. embassies abroad. This same process, supplemented by responses to an announcement in the Federal Register, was used in preparing the 1995 report. Trade barriers elude fixed definitions, but may be broadly defined as government laws, regulations, policies, or practices that either protect domestic products from foreign competition or artificially stimulate exports of particular domestic products. This report classifies foreign trade barriers into nine different categories. These categories cover government-imposed measures and policies that restrict, prevent, or impede the international exchange of goods and services. They include: - Import policies (e.g., tariffs and other import charges, quantitative restrictions, import licensing, customs barriers); - Standards, testing, labeling, and certification (including unnecessarily restrictive application of sanitary and phytosanitary standards, refusal to accept U.S. manufacturers' self-certification of conformance to foreign product standards and environmental restrictions); - Government procurement (e.g., "buy national" policies and closed bidding); - Export subsidies (e.g., export financing on preferential terms and agricultural export subsidies that displace U.S. exports in third country - Lack of intellectual property protection (e.g., inadequate patent, copyright, and trademark regimes); - Services barriers (e.g., limits on the range of financial services offered by foreign financial institutions, regulation of international data flows, and restrictions on the use of foreign data processing); - Investment barriers (e.g., limitations on foreign equity participation and on access to foreign government-funded research and development (R&D) programs, local content and export performance requirements, and restrictions on transferring earnings and capital); - Anticompetitive practices with trade effects tolerated by foreign governments (including anticompetitive activities of both state-owned and private firms that apply to services or to goods and that restrict the sale of U.S. products to any firm, not just to foreign firms that perpetuate the - Other barriers (barriers that encompass more than one category, e.g., bribery and corruption, or that affect a single sector). The NTE report covers significant barriers, whether they are consistent or inconsistent with international trading rules. Many barriers to U.S. exports are consistent with existing international trade agreements. Tariffs, for example, are an accepted method of protection under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). Even a very high tariff does not violate international rules unless a country has made a "bound" commitment not to exceed a specific rate. On the other hand, where measures are not consistent with international rules, they are actionable under U.S. trade law and through the World Trade Organization This report discusses the largest export markets for the United States, including 42 nations, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and two regional bodies. Some countries were excluded from this report due primarily to the relatively small size of their markets or the absence of major trade complaints from representatives of U.S. goods and services sectors. However, the omission of particular countries and barriers does not imply that they are no longer of concern to the United In prior reports, most non-market economies also were excluded, since the trade barriers in those countries were qualitatively different from those found in other economies. However, as the economies of the republics of the former Soviet Union and most economies of the countries of Central Europe evolve away from central planning toward a market orientation, some of them have changed sufficiently to warrant an examination of their trade regimes. Where such examination has revealed trade barriers, those barriers have been included in The merchandise trade data contained in the NTE report are based on total U.S. exports, free alongside (f.a.s.) value, and general U.S. imports, customs value (defined in Section 402, Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. 1401a), as reported by the Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. (NOTE: These data are ranked according to size of export market in the Appendix.) The direct investment data are from the August 1995 issue of the Survey of Current Business and unpublished data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of TRADE IMPACT ESTIMATES AND FOREIGN BARRIERS Wherever possible, this report presents estimates of the impact on U.S. exports of specific foreign trade barriers or other trade distorting practices. However, it must be understood that these estimates are only approximations. Also, where consultations related to specific foreign practices were proceeding at the time this report was published, estimates were excluded, in order to avoid prejudice to those consultations. The estimates included in this report constitute an attempt to assess quantitatively the potential effect of removing certain foreign trade barriers on particular U.S. exports. However, the estimates cannot be used to determine the total effect upon U.S. exports to either the country in which a barrier has been identified or to the world in general. In other words, the estimates contained in this report cannot be aggregated in order to derive a total estimate of gain in U.S. exports to a given country or the world. Trade barriers or other trade distorting practices affect U.S. exports to another country because these measures effectively impose costs on such exports that are not imposed on goods produced domestically in the importing country. In theory, estimating the impact of a foreign trade measure upon U.S. exports of goods requires knowledge of the (extra) cost the measure imposes upon them, as well as knowledge of market conditions in the United States, in the country imposing the measure, and in third countries. In practice, such information often is not available. Where sufficient data exist, an approximate impact of tariffs upon U.S. exports can be derived by obtaining estimates of supply and demand price elasticities in the importing country and in the United States. Typically, the U.S. share of imports is assumed to be constant. When no calculated price elasticities are available, reasonable postulated values are used. The resulting estimate of lost U.S. exports is approximate, depends upon the assumed elasticities, and does not necessarily reflect changes in trade patterns with third countries. Similar procedures are followed to estimate the impact upon our exports of subsidies that displace U.S. exports in third country markets. The task of estimating the impact of nontariff measures on U.S. exports is far more difficult, since there is no readily available estimate of the additional cost these restrictions impose upon imports. Quantitative restrictions or import licenses limit (or discourage) imports and thus raise domestic prices, much as a tariff does. However, without detailed information on price differences between countries and on relevant supply and demand conditions, it is difficult to derive the estimated effects of these measures upon U.S. exports. Similarly, it is difficult to quantify the impact upon U.S. exports (or commerce) of other foreign practices such as government procurement policies, nontransparent standards, or inadequate intellectual property rights In some cases, particular U.S. exports are restricted by both foreign tariff and nontariff barriers. For the reasons stated above, it may be difficult to estimate the impact of such nontariff barriers on U.S. exports. When the value of actual U.S. exports is reduced to an unknown extent by one or more than one nontariff measure, it then becomes derivatively difficult to estimate the effect of even the overlapping tariff barriers on U.S. exports. The same limitations that affect the ability to estimate the impact of foreign barriers upon U.S. goods exports apply to U.S. services exports. Furthermore, the trade data on services exports are extremely limited and of questionable reliability. For these reasons, estimates of the impact of foreign barriers on trade in services also are difficult to compute. With respect to investment barriers, there are no accepted techniques for estimating the impact of such barriers on U.S. investment flows. For this reason, no such estimates are given in this report. The NTE report includes generic government regulations and practices which are not product-specific. These are among the most difficult types of foreign practices for which to estimate trade effects. In the context of trade actions brought under U.S. law, estimations of the impact of foreign practices on U.S. commerce are substantially more feasible. Trade actions under U.S. law are generally product-specific and therefore more tractable for estimating trade effects. In addition, the process used when a specific trade action is brought will frequently make available non-U.S. government data (U.S. company or foreign sources) otherwise not available in the preparation of a broad survey such as this report. In some cases, industry valuations estimating the financial effects of barriers are contained in the report. The methods computing these valuations are sometimes uncertain. Hence, their inclusion in the NTE report should not be construed as a U.S. government endorsement of the estimates they reflect. March 31, 1996 - The current NTE report covers only those financial services-related market access issues brought to the attention of USTR by outside sources. For the reader interested in a more comprehensive discussion of financial services barriers, the Treasury Department publishes quadrennially (most recently in 1994) the National Treatment Study. Prepared in collaboration with the Secretary of State, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Department of Commerce, the Study analyzes in detail treatment of U.S. commercial banks and securities firms in foreign markets. It is intended as an authoritative reference for assessing financial services - It is difficult to obtain information on specific problems associated with bribery and corruption, particularly since its perpetrators go to great lengths to conceal their activities. Nevertheless, a consistent complaint from U.S. firms is that they have experienced situations that suggest corruption has played a role in the award of foreign contracts. This is particularly true in large infrastructure projects. Companies located in other countries generally do not face the constraints applied to U.S. firms under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in their dealings with government officials in third countries. The result can be a competitive advantage in favor of foreign firms in international transactions, particularly in the developing Corruption takes many forms. For example, in many countries, it is seen in government procurement and Customs practices. If left unchecked, bribery and corruption can negate market access gained through trade negotiations and could begin to undermine the foundations of the international trading system. The United States is doing its part in combating this problem. We have pressed the OECD to address bribes paid to foreign officials and we expect the OECD to recommend in the near future that member countries prohibit the tax deductibility of such bribes and make them subject to criminal penalties. Additionally, the United States has worked in the Organization of American States to obtain strong provisions in the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. This Convention, a direct result of the Summit of the Americas Plan of Action, will include language modeled on the FCPA. States that become parties will be obligated to criminalize the acts of corruption specified in the To complement efforts in these fora, the United States has proposed that the World Trade Organization (WTO) take up work in related areas. Several existing WTO Agreements, such as the Customs Valuation Agreement and the Pre-shipment Inspection Agreement, already address some problems associated with bribery and corruption. The United States has also proposed that the WTO develop a more comprehensive approach to government procurement, focusing on transparency, openness and due process. In the future, the WTO may be an appropriate forum for addressing other facets of bribery and corruption. - This total includes as one unit the Newly Independent States (NIS), comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. - Free Alongside (f.a.s.): Under this term, the seller quotes a price, including delivery of the goods alongside, and within the reach of the loading tackle (hoist) of the vessel bound overseas.

The 1996 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the eleventh in an annual series that surveys significant foreign barriers to U.S. exports. In accordance with section 181 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the 1974 Trade Act), as amended by section 303 of the Trade and Tariff Act of 1984 (the 1984 Trade Act), section 1304 of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (the

Talking About Trans Fat: What You Need to Know Publication Year: 2011 This fact sheet provides an overview of trans fat and other fats in your diet. It explains the link between unhealthy fats and cholesterol and provides tips to help limit unhealthy fat in your diet. This publication is available only on the Internet. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring MD 20993 Phone: (301) 796-8240 Emergency Operations Toll-free Phone: (800) 332-4010 Food and Seafood Info. Is this your organization's publication? Contact us if your information has changed. A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. • Washington, DC 20201

Talking About Trans Fat: What You Need to Know Publication Year: 2011 This fact sheet provides an overview of trans fat and other fats in your diet. It explains the link between unhealthy fats and cholesterol and provides tips to help limit unhealthy fat in your diet. This publication is available only on the Internet. U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Ave. Silver Spring MD 209

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Weatherization & Intergovernmental Program Weatherizing the Recession August 21, 2010 The Minnesota Weatherization Assistance Program is experiencing significant growth with the increase grant funding resulting from the Recovery Act. The CAP Agency, a Minnesota community service organization, alone has already achieved its target number of weatherized homes and now plans to weatherize as many as 200 additional eligible homes. Read this article on the Chaska Herald website.

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Weatherization & Intergovernmental Program Weatherizing the Recession August 21, 2010 The Minnesota Weatherization Assistance Program is experiencing significant growth with the increase grant funding resulting from the Recovery Act. The CAP Agency, a Minnesota community service organization, alone has already achieved its target n

NASA Hosts Media Telecon Featuring Results of Moon Mission Impact The Science journal has embargoed information until 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 21 WASHINGTON -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 21, to discuss additional findings from NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, missions. The results will be featured in six papers published in the Oct. 22 issue of the journal Science . The journal's embargo on these results will be lifted at the start of the telecon. The briefing will focus on the data from: --The Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment which measures surface and subsurface temperatures from orbit. -- The Lyman Alpha Mapping Project which is mapping the entire lunar surface in the far ultraviolet spectrum. -- The Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector which creates high-resolution maps of hydrogen distribution and gathers information about the neutron component of the lunar radiation environment. The panelists are: -- Michael Wargo, chief lunar scientist, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA -- Anthony Colaprete, LCROSS project scientist and principal investigator, NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. -- David Paige, Diviner instrument principal investigator, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) -- Igor Mitrofanov, Lunar Exploration Neutron Detector principal investigator, Institute for Space Research, Moscow -- Peter Schultz, professor of geological sciences, Brown University, Providence, R.I. and LCROSS science team member -- Paul Hayne, graduate student at UCLA and Diviner team member -- Randy Gladstone, Lyman--Alpha Mapping Project deputy principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio -- Richard Vondrak, LRO project scientist, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, To participate in the teleconference, reporters should contact Michael Braukus at email@example.com or at 202-358-1979. Requests must include media affiliation and telephone number. To view supporting information available at the start of the teleconference, visit: Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live at: - 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 Hosts Media Telecon Featuring Results of Moon Mission Impact The Science journal has embargoed information until 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 21 WASHINGTON -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 21, to discuss additional findings from NASA's Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, missions. The results

OBJECTIVE: To assess medical costs of occupational injuries and sources of payment among Hispanic and non-Hispanic construction workers. METHODS: More than 7000 construction workers, including 1833 Hispanic workers were examined using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 to 2002. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using SUDAAN. RESULTS: Annually, work-related injuries in construction cost $1.36 billion (2002 dollars), with 46% paid by workers' compensation. Compared with non-Hispanic workers, Hispanic workers were 53% more likely to have medical conditions resulting from work-related injuries, but 48% less likely to receive payment for medical costs from workers' compensation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests an urgent need to reform the current workers' compensation system to reduce the burden shifted to injured workers and society. Such reforms should include easier access and more assistance for Hispanic and other immigrant workers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess medical costs of occupational injuries and sources of payment among Hispanic and non-Hispanic construction workers. METHODS: More than 7000 construction workers, including 1833 Hispanic workers were examined using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1996 to 2002. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using SUDAAN. RESULTS: Annually, work-related injuries in con

CHICAGO HEALTH DEPARTMENT HANDS OUT A LITTLE LESSON ON PURE MILK What is clean milk? Clean milk is milk free from dirt of any kind, visible or invisible, includ ing germs of disease. What is safe milk? A safe milk is milk that is clean, fresh and free from any of the dis ease producing germs. What are the dangerous germd found in milk that produce disease? The dangerous germs found in milk are those that cause tuberculo sis, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, diph theria and septic sore throat. - How may milk that is suspected as being dangerous be made safe? What does pasteurizing mean? Pasteurizing milk means heating it to a temperature of not less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit and main taining that temperature for not less than 20 minutes. The milk, thus treated, must then be immediately cooled to 45 degrees Fahrenheit and should be kept at 50 degrees Fahren heit, never above, until used. From where is Chicago's milk From about 60,000 cows on about 14,000 farms located in the, rich farming and dairy regions within a radius of 100 miles of Chicago, in cluding the states of Illinois, Wiscon sin, Michigan, Indiana and Iowa. How is this milk brought into Chi cago? By trains on the railroads running through the regions named. What is Chicago's daily consump tion of milk and cream? , About 260,000 gallons, pr 1,040,000 quarts, every 24 hours. This does not include milk served to hotels, restaurants, ice cream makers or other large users. How much do the people of Chi cago pay everv day for the milk they Figuring the price of milk at 8 cents a quart, the people of Chicago pay approximately $83,200 a day for the milk used in their homes. This V' would make a yearly milk bill of Uibout $29,940,000. This enormous sum oi money is aivmea among the milk dealers, wholesale and retail, the farmers in the country who pro duce the milk and the railroad com panies who transport it into the city. How should milk be kept in the It slfould-be kept cool and never left standing in the sun or where flies may have" access to it. Be careful -to always replace the cap after tak ing milk from the bottle and keep the milk cool all the time. Remember that good milk is soon spoiled by im proper care. The dep't of health does all in its power to save clean, safe milk delivered at your home; but un less you do your part to keep it as good, until used, as it is when deliv ered to you by your dealer, you will derive no benefits from all of the care and pains that have been taken to protect and conserve your daily supply of this important article of Freeport Mrs. Henry Baum, 64,v Shannon, HI., killed, and husband a Dunkard minister, seriously' injured when train struck carriage in which they were riding. New York. Sidney E. Mezes, pres ident, prohibited publication of poll at city college on preparedness, mill- tary training, Pres. Wilson's policies and enlistment of students. Claims it a disappointment to patriotism ' and Americanism. , Madison. Defeat of Bennett res olution criticizing Sen. LaFollette for his armed neutrality filibuster indi cated. Senate to vote on it Wednes day or. Thursday. xml | txt

CHICAGO HEALTH DEPARTMENT HANDS OUT A LITTLE LESSON ON PURE MILK What is clean milk? Clean milk is milk free from dirt of any kind, visible or invisible, includ ing germs of disease. What is safe milk? A safe milk is milk that is clean, fresh and free from any of the dis ease producing germs. What are the dangerous germd found in milk that produce disease? The dangerous germs found in milk are tho

The Select Council on Climate Change (SCCC) was announced by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in February 2011. The purpose of the SCCC is to: - support an effective response to climate change policy issues with national implications, and - provide a forum for the Australian Government to engage with states, territories, local government and New Zealand on program implementation issues. The SCCC is chaired by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, the Hon Greg Combet AM MP and includes representatives from all state and territory governments, the New Zealand Government and the Australian Local Government Association. The SCCC is responsible for: - overseeing the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency (which includes the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency and the National Framework on Energy Efficiency) - developing national adaptation priorities and work plans - finalising the COAG Review of Specific Renewable Energy Target issues - providing a forum for the Australian Government to engage state, territory and Australian Local Government Association COAG members on the implementation of the Clean Energy Future plan - developing a national approach to assessing the complementarity of existing and future climate change measures with the carbon price mechanism - determining whether a permanent body to discuss ongoing joint issues related to climate change is required. Terms of reference The SCCC's Terms of reference provides updated membership details. - Meeting 1 - held on 4 May 2012, Canberra - Meeting 2 - held on 16 November 2012, Canberra - Meeting 3 - held on 22 March 2012, by teleconference For more information on the SCCC contact: Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

The Select Council on Climate Change (SCCC) was announced by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in February 2011. The purpose of the SCCC is to: - support an effective response to climate change policy issues with national implications, and - provide a forum for the Australian Government to engage with states, territories, local government and New Zealand on program implementation issues

Sea Level Analysis Based on ERS-1 Altimeter Data sea level observations are necessary to answer the urgent questions about climate changes and their impact on the socio-economy. At GFZ/D-PAF, reprocessed ERS-1 altimeter OPR02 is used to generate a time series of monthly sea surface height models from April 1992 to March 1995. The reprocessing consists of D-PAF's improved satellite ephemerides, the inclusion of Grenoble tidal model, the removal of a time bias and application of different range corrections. The three year time series was taken to estimate the rate of change of global mean sea level. A +2 mm sea level rise per year was estimated, which is far below the assumed 30 to 50 cm in the next century. Regional trends, however, show extreme differences in the sea level variations: A sea level rise in the tropics and the Indian ocean (locally up to 10 cm/year), but a sea level fall in the eastern Pacific and higher latitudes. For the quality assessment, comparisons to tide gauge measurements were performed, indicating a high coherence to the ERS-1 result. The relation of sea level variations and climate change was examined in the global system ocean-atmosphere, which was represented by sea surface temperatures, wind speeds and wave heights. It was demonstrated that the sea level change can be attributed to interannual variability and El Niño. Level, Altimetry, ERS-1, Ocean-Atmosphere, D-PAF Urgent questions about possible climate changes may be answered by means of secular rates of change of the sea level. Trends in the sea level are considered as indicators of a global temperature rise caused by the increase of greenhouse gases. Between 1o and 4o Celsius can be expected for the next century. If this happens, then the sea level will rise 30 to 50 cm (Church et al.,1991; Houghton and Woodwell, 1989), caused by the melting of glaciers, polar ice caps and thermal expansion of the oceans (Church et al., 1991; Meier, 1984). Such a scenario would lead to socio-economic consequences that cannot be predicted (Broecker,1996). The presented results (see also: Anzenhofer and Gruber, 1996; Nerem,1995), however, show, that the sea level rise has regional characteristics, i.e. there are areas, which are much more affected than others. Before the advent of satellite altimetry the sea level could only be observed through tide gauges. This data, however, has major disadvantages: - The global distribution is uneven due to their location on the shores of continents, and islands exclusively. Thus a global trend estimation of the sea level is impossible. - Tide gauge measurements may systematically be shifted due to post-glacial rebound or tectonic uplift towards other stations. The advantage of altimetry is that the sea surface can be monitored in a continuous and repeated manner in a common reference datum. The required accuracy for studying the sea level, however, only fulfills data of the European satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2 and the US/French satellite TOPEX/POSEIDON. Due to the insufficient knowledge of altimeter drifts, other systematics and missing overlaps, measurements of SEASAT, GEOS-3 and GEOSAT (Allan, 1983; Bonavito et al., 1975; Cheney et al., 1991; Horai, 1982) cannot be used for a sea level study. The paper at hand will show, that the secular changes of the sea surface are in the millimeter range, which is far below the accuracy of satellite orbits, altimeter range and altimeter corrections. Thus, a very careful data preparation and calibration is needed. If the assumption of a sea level rise caused by global warming is true, then other parameters of the global system ocean-atmosphere must also exhibit changes in their temporal behaviour. For this purpose, sea surface temperatures, wind speeds and wave heights were analyzed in the same manner as sea surface heights. The changes obtained, then were correlated and interpreted within the framework of the ocean-atmosphere system. The following chapter describes the different data used for the sea level study. The altimeter measurements is the base of the sea level study. Thus the data and its upgrade is described in detail. Sea Surface Heights from ERS-1 Altimeter Precise altimeter products (OPR) from the European Space Agency's ERS-1 mission (CERSAT, 1995) are used in this study as a baseline. For the sea level study consistently processed ERS-1 data for the period between launch and August 1995 were available. Due to the limited spatial resolution of the 3 day repeat cycle periods, however, only data from April 15, 1992 until March 20, 1995 was used. During the sea level study the other available data of the second multidisciplinary phase were not used, because they didn't cover a complete year. The annual cycle causes periodic sea surface changes whose power is much higher than that of possible secular sea level change. Thus, incomplete years of altimeter data cause systematic artifacts in the analysis result. Furthermore, OPR data starting with the second multidisciplinary phase have been processed with a new software version. A mixing of these versions could cause systematics in the range measurement and in other parameters, such as the microwave radiometer Earlier investigations and the ERS cross calibration (Anzenhofer et al., 1996; Benveniste, 1996a, 1996b) have shown that the original OPR cannot be used for a sea level study. Additional corrections, the exchange of up-to-date geophysical corrections and the merging of consistent orbit ephemerides were necessary. They are listed in the following paragraphs. Wave Heights from ERS-1 Altimeter The slope of the altimeter return signal is highly correlated with the ocean wave heights. If the altimeter pulse is reflected by a calm sea surface then the backscattered energy curve plotted versus the elapsed time is steep. A turbulent sea surface with high waves results in multiple reflections of the altimeter pulse and thus a flat backscattered energy curve. The coherence in turn is used to refer the wave heights to the steepness of the backscattered altimeter signal (Hancock et al., Wind Speed from ERS-1 Altimeter Just as the wave heights, the wind speed has an influence on the altimeter return signal. The radar backscatter returned to the satellite is modified by wind-driven ripples on the sea surface and, since the energy of these ripples increases with wind velocity, backscatter increases with wind velocity. Sea Surface Temperatures from NMC The sea surface temperatures used for the study were not taken from ERS-1's ATSR. Instead the global sea surface temperature grids from the U.S. National Meteorological Center (NMC), Washington were retrieved (Reynolds, 1987; Reynolds and Smith,1993). NMC mixes in-situ measurements (ships and buoys) and AVHRR data of the NOAA satellites. The base of the mixed models are in-situ data. The satellite measurements then are used to complement areas with sparse data distribution. By means of a regression analysis, a transformation of the satellite's skin to bulk temperatures is performed. By an optimum interpolation technique, weekly sea surface temperature grids are interpolated. The spatial resolution of the global grids is 1ox1o degree (Reynolds and Smith, 1993). Monthly grid models are also available. The tide gauges used for the sea level study are obtained from the PSMSL Public Access Directory, where the files of the permanent service for mean sea level are stored. The PSMSL data set comprises monthly and annual means of sea level (Pugh, 1987; Woodworth, 1996) measured at tide gauge stations. The sea level investigations are performed by comparing monthly grid models with a long-term mean. The transition to relative measures enables the usage of small values. For the long-term mean a simple averaging of the 36 monthly (3 years) grid models is performed. Monthly solved grid models of sea surface heights means, that the data of one month are equally weighted and interpolated to one grid model. The spatial resolution is always 1 degree. The monthly grids come from different instruments and sources. Further on, for the generation of grid models different editing and quality criteria are used. This implies grid models with undefined nodes that are not common to other grid models. Investigations in the global system ocean-atmosphere have demonstrated (Fu and Cheney, 1995), that there exist significant seasonal differences between northern and southern hemisphere. This means that if grid models with different numbers of defined and undefined grid nodes are intercompared, then systematic shifts may happen. In order to avoid this error source, a common masking for all grid models was performed. For sea surface height, sea surface temperature, wind speed, wave height and altimeter corrections (for quality assessment) two analyses have been performed to extract variations within the investigation time period: - Global Rate of Change. The first step of this method is to subtract the monthly grid models from the long-term mean (3-year model). Then the differences in the grid nodes are simply averaged to one mean. The obtained value now represents the mean deviation from a stationary state. The successive processing of all monthly grids leads to a time series which in turn is used to estimate the rate of change. This is done by a regression analysis. The regression coefficient (and its standard deviation) defines the global rate of change for the abovementioned parameters, like sea surface height, sea surface temperature, wind speed, wave height and altimeter corrections. - Local Rates of Change. With the availability of the global rate of change value the question is raised, whether the trend is evenly distributed over the oceans or if there are regional characteristics. Therefore, a regression analysis was performed for each grid node of the monthly models. The estimated regression coefficients (and standard deviations) or local rates of change then were visualized by raster plots. Result and Quality Assessment Due to the large number of different investigations, table representations comprise the results. Figure 2: Sea Level Trend |Sea Level Trend: The global rate of change indicates a sea level rise of globally +2.0±1.9 mm/yr. Regional characteristics, however, are evident, a sea level rise in the tropics and around the western boundary currents and a sea level fall in the eastern Pacific and in higher latitudes. But,the global trend is far below the anticipated 30 to 50 cm for the next century. The value coincides with former tide gauge investigations (Fu and Cheney, 1995; Trupin and Wahr, 1990). Figure 3: Sea Surface Temperature Trend |Sea Surface Temperature Trend: For the sea surface temperatures the global rate of change marks a slight global warming of +0.042±0.032 K/yr. A significant disproportion between northern and southern hemisphere trends is evident, a warming in the southern and a cooling in the northern hemisphere. A coherence between the sea level and the sea surface temperature trends, however, can be found around the western boundary currents and the tropics. It is physically impossible that the obtained disproportion has stationary character. Thus an interannual variability with periods greater than 3 years is more realistic, e.g. decadal period (Latif et al., 1995; Groetzner et al., 1996). Figure 4: Wind Speed Trend |Wind Speed Trend: The global rate of change indicates also a positive trend of +64±29 mm/s/yr. The anticorrelation to the sea surface temperature is clearly visible. This fact excludes data and processing errors of the sea surface temperatures. The increase of wind speeds in the northern and decrease in the southern hemisphere confirms an interannual variability mentioned Figure 5: Wave Height Trend |Wave Height Trend: The expected high coherence with wind speed trends, as shown above, is evident, a positive trend of the wind speed leads to an increase of corresponding wave heights and vice versa. The global trend is positive +11±12 For the quality assessment of the sea level result, the altimeter corrections were examined in the same manner as sea surface temperatures or wind speeds: the corrections were gridded, filtered by the common mask and global/local rates of change were estimated. Figure 6: Wet Tropospheric Trend Figure 7: Dry Tropospheric Trend |On the sea surface the wet tropospheric correction has a global trend of +0.8±0.5 mm/yr. This value points to a markable influence on the sea level result. The coherence with the sea surface temperatures, as seen in figure 3, reflects an internal consistency and thus data quality. The correction derived from ERS-1 radiometer is believed to be accurate. ||With a global trend of -0.1±0.3 mm/yr the dry troposphere has almost no influence on the sea level result. Only small regional structures are visible. The correction is believed to be very accurate. Figure 8: EM-Bias Trend Figure 9: Inv. Barometer Eff. Trend |Similar to the dry tropospheric correction, the EM-bias has almost no influence on the sea level estimate. The global trend is only +0.1±0.2 mm/yr. Due to its dependence on wave heights, the regional structures of wave heights are visible. ||With a global trend of -0.4±1.3 mm/yr the inverse barometer effect influences the sea level estimate. The trends, however, have regional structures. These are concentrated around the main pressure cells of the atmosphere. The correction is critical, because pressure data are mainly derived from model runs and not from real Figure 10: Ionospheric Trend Figure 11: Tide Gauges Trend |The global trend of the ionospheric correction (Bent model) on the sea level is -8.6±1.7 mm/yr, which is four times the sea level trend estimate. The regional influence looks like a global systematic shift. The huge value itself demonstrates that the ionospheric correction is the most critical point of the sea level ||As described above, the tide gauges data are retrieved from the PSMSL archive. To show the excellent coherence between the sea level trend and tide gauges measurements, only tide gauges are investigated, which cover the time period between April, 1992 and March, 1995. Then a regression analysis of the tide gauge time series was performed. The trend values were gridded with a large influence circle to get a filled raster plot for intercomparison. By overlaying the sea level trend image (figure 2) and the image above almost all positive and negative sea level trends are confirmed by tide The ERS-1 altimeter is a single-frequency instrument. This means that the ionospheric correction cannot be retrieved from path delays as it is done for TOPEX/POSEIDON dual-frequency measurements. Thus, the ERS-1 ionospheric correction must be computed from ionospheric models, like Bent, IRI90 or IRI95. These models strongly depend on solar activity. Anomalies like sun storms cannot be modeled. Thus, the ionospheric correction based on models can never be as accurate as dual-frequency derived corrections. In order to find the appropriate model for the sea level study, the Bent and IRI95 models are compared with TOPEX ionospheric corrections. Therefore, the differences of Bent and TOPEX corrections (IRI95 and TOPEX corrections as well) were computed and displayed as a time series. Then both time series passed through a regression analysis: - Trend of (Bent - TOPEX): -0.7 ± 0.9 mm/yr - Trend of (IRI95 - TOPEX): -2.8 ± 1.3 mm/yr It seems that the Bent model matches the real ionosphere much better than IRI95. The estimated values demonstrate again that the ionospheric correction is the most critical point of the sea level study. A change to IRI95, for example, leads to a global sea level fall of -1 The investigation of upgraded ERS-1 altimeter data yielded a global sea level rise of +2 mm/year within April 1992 and March 1995. For the same time period wind speeds, wave heights and sea surface temperatures were analyzed. Global positive trends were found as well. Besides global trends, local rates of change were estimated, too. A sea level rise was detected in the tropics and in the Indian ocean and a sea level fall in higher latitudes, respectively. The local rates of change of wind speeds, wave heights and sea surface temperatures exhibited a disproportion between variations on the northern and southern hemisphere. Correlation to the sea level change could be identified. A high coherence between parameters of the global system ocean-atmosphere was evident and could be demonstrated. Thus, it can be supposed that the variations can be attributed to periods larger than the investigated 3 years (Hastenrath, 1984; Houghton and Woodwell, 1991; Latif et al., 1995). The small amounts of global and local rates of change raise the question about their significance. Therefore, the altimeter corrections were individually processed and analyzed. It was found that deficiencies with respect to their quality and long-term behaviour exist. Especially the ERS-1 ionospheric correction, which is derived from a model, is very critical. Depending on the model adopted for the correction, either a sea level fall or a sea level rise can be produced. Investigations, however, have shown, that the Bent model matches much better the ionospheric correction derived from TOPEX dual-frequency measurements than the IRI95 model. Thus a sea level rise is more likely. The question about the long-term behaviour of the sea level trend is attempted to be answered by a 14 years time series of sea surface temperatures. Figure 12: Analysis of Sea Surface Temperatures and Amplitude Spectrum The low-passed sea surface temperature time series shows that longer periods of global warming and cooling happened in the past. Volcanic eruptions, El Niño/ENSO and other phenomena (decadal period) can be attributed as reasons for the temperature changes (Keeling et al., 1989; Latif et al., 1995). Due to the relationship between the sea level and sea surface temperatures (Stammer and Wunsch, 1994), it can be concluded that longer periods of sea level rise and fall happened in the past, too. Thus, the analysis time period of 3 years is much too short for long-term predictions. During the sea level study it became clear that the altimeter corrections and their accuracy make a significant sea level estimate questionable. By embedding the sea level in the global system ocean-atmosphere, however, it is possible to answer open questions and to verify the results. Two major requirements for future activities must be set up: - Long-term observations of oceanic and atmospheric parameters are absolutely necessary for climate studies. - Well calibrated and overlapping data of different sensors/missions is needed. Corrections to data must all have the same level of accuracy. A number of data was provided by different institutes. We thank the F-PAF for the operational provision of ERS OPR2 altimeter data. The IRI95 model was kindly provided by D. Bilitza. A thank belongs to O.B. Andersen and R. Ray for the preparation of the FES95.1 tidal loading modules. The range correction tables for ERS-1 were obtained from ESRIN/ESA. A special thank belongs to Richard Reynolds from NMC, Washington, for the preparation of sea surface temperature models and his helpful comments. - Allan T.D., 1983 - Satellite Microwave Remote Sensing, Ellis Horwood Series in Marine - Anzenhofer M., C. Rajasenan, Th. Gruber, F.H. Massmann, - ERS-2 RA Calibration Using OPR2, Final Technical Report, GFZ, - Anzenhofer M., Th. Gruber, 1996b, - Fully Reprocessed ERS-1 Altimeter Data From 1992 to 1995: Detection of Sea Level Changes, Submitted to J. Geophys. Res.-Ocean Special Section on Advances in Oceanography and Sea Ice Research using ERS Observations - Bent R. B., S.K. Llewellyn, Nesterczuk G., 1975, - The Development of a Highly-Successful Worldwide Empirical Ionospheric Model and its Use in Certain Aspects of Space Communications and Worldwide Total Electron Content Investigations, Effect of the Ionosphere on Space Systems and Communications Goodman J. M. - Benveniste J., 1996a, - Minutes of the ERS-2 Radar Altimeter and Microwave Radiometer Commissioning Working Group (#9), ESA-ESRIN, 30-31 January 1996, rs/pm/jb/96.009, - Benveniste J., 1996b, - Minutes of the ERS-2 Radar Altimeter and Microwave Radiometer Commissioning Working Group (#10), ESA-ESRIN, 25-26 April 1996, rs/pm/jb/96.026, - Bilitza D., 1996, - International Reference Ionosphere 1995, personal communication - Bonavito N.L., R.A. Gordon, J.G. Marsh, 1975, - On the Nature of the Radial and Cross Track Errors for Artificial Earth Satellites, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland - Broecker W.S., Plötzliche Klimawechsel, 1996, - Spektrum der Wissenschaft, Januar 1996, 86-92 - CERSAT, 1995, - Altimeter & Microwave Radiometer ERS Products - User manual, - Cheney R.E., N.S. Doyle, B.C. Douglas, R.W. Agreen, L. Miller, E.L. Timmerman, D.C. McAdoo, 1991, - The Complete Geosat Altimeter GDR Handbook, NOAA Manual NOS NGS 7, National Ocean Service, Rockville, MD. - Church J.A., J.S. Godfrey, D.R. Jackett, T.J. - A Model of Sea Level Rise Caused by Ocean Thermal Expansion, J. Clim., 4(4), 438-456 - Fu L.L., R.E. Cheney, 1995, - Application of Satellite Altimetry to Ocean Circulation Studies: 1987-1994, U.S. National Report to IUGG, 1991-1994, Rev. Geophys., Vol. 33 - Groetzner A., M. Latif, T.P. Barnett, 1996, - A Decadal Climate Cycle in the North Atlantic Ocean as Simulated by the Echo Coupled GCM, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, No. 208, Hamburg - Hancock D.W., F.G. Forsythe, J. Lorell, 1980, - SEASAT Altimeter Sensor File Algorithms, IEEE J. of Ocean Engineering, - Hastenrath S., 1984, - Interannual Variability and Annual Cycle: Mechanisms of Circulation and Climate in the Tropical Atlantic Sector Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 112, 1097-1107 - Horai K., 1982, - Adjustment, Interpolation and Smoothing of GEOS-3 Altimeter Data, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 87, 8693-8707 - Houghton R.A., G.M. Woodwell, 1989, - Global Climatic Change, Scientific American,Vol. 260, 4, 18-26 - Keeling C.D., R.B. Bacastow, A.F. Carter, S.C. Piper, T.P. Whorf, M. Heimann, W.G. Mook, H. Roeloffzen, 1989, - A Three-Dimensional Model of Atmospheric CO2 Transport Based on Observed Winds: 1. Analysis of Observational Data, Geophysical Monograph - Latif M., R. Kleeman, Ch. Eckert, 1995, - Greenhouse Warming, Decadal Variability, or El Niño ? An Attempt to Understand the Anomalous 1990s, Report No. 175, Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg - Le Provost, C., F. Lyard, J.M. Molines, M.L. Genco, F. Rabilloud, 1996, - A Hydrodynamic Ocean tTde Model Improved by Assimilating a Satellite Altimeter Derived Data Set, submitted to J. Geophys. Res. - Llewellyn S.K., R.B. Bent, 1973, - Documentation and Description of the Bent Ionospheric Model, AFCRL-TR-73-0657 - Marsh J.G., R.G. Williamson, 1982, - SEASAT Altimeter Timing Bias Estimation, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 87, C5, 3232-3238 - Meier M.F., 1984, - The Contribution of Small Glaciers to Global Sea Level Rise, Science, - Nerem R.S., 1995, - Measuring Global Mean Sea Level Variations Using TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeter Data, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 100, C12, 25135-25151 - Pugh D.T., 1987, - The Global Sea-Level Observing System, Hydrographic J., No. - Reynolds R.W., 1987, - A Real-Time Global Sea Surface Temperature Analysis, J. Climate, - Reynolds R.W., Th.M. Smith, 1993, - Improved Global Sea Surface Temperature Analyses Using Optimum Interpolation, - Schwintzer P., Ch. Reigber, A. Bode, Z. Chen, F.-H. Massmann, J.C. Raimondo, J.M., Lemoine, G. Balmino, R. Biancale, B. Moynot, J.C. Marty, F. Barlier, Y. Boudon, 1993, - Improvement of GRIM4 Earth Gravity Models Using Geosat Altimeter and Spot-2 and ERS-1 Tracking Data, in: Proceedings of IAG Symposium No. 112 Geodesy and Physics of the Earth, ed. H. Montag, Ch. Reigber, Springer - Schwintzer P., Ch. Reigber, A. Bode, Z. Kang, S.Y. Zhu, F.-H. Massmann, J.C. Raimondo, R. Biancale, G. Balmino, J.M. Lemoine, B. Moynot, J.C. Marty, F. Barlier, Y. Boudon, 1996, - Long-Wavelength Global Gravity Field models: GRIM4-S4, GRIM4-C4, J. of Geodesy, in print - Stammer D., C. Wunsch, 1994, - Preliminary Assessment of the Accuracy and Precision of TOPEX/POSEIDON Altimeter Data With Respect to Large-Scale Ocean Circulation, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 99, C12, 24584-24604 - Trupin A., J. Wahr, 1990, - Spectroscopic Analysis of Global Tide Gauge Data, Geophys. J. Internat., No. 100, 441-453 - Woodworth Ph., 1996, - PSMSL Annual Report for 1995, PSMSL Keywords: ESA European Space Agency - Agence spatiale europeenne, observation de la terre, earth observation, satellite remote sensing, teledetection, geophysique, altimetrie, radar, chimique atmospherique, geophysics, altimetry, radar,

Sea Level Analysis Based on ERS-1 Altimeter Data sea level observations are necessary to answer the urgent questions about climate changes and their impact on the socio-economy. At GFZ/D-PAF, reprocessed ERS-1 altimeter OPR02 is used to generate a time series of monthly sea surface height models from April 1992 to March 1995. The reprocessing consists of D-PAF's improved satellite ephemerides, the

The Earth Advantage Rebate Program was designed to offer rebates to residential and business customers of Redding Electric Utility (REU) for solar PV, solar thermal, and geothermal heat pump systems. As required by state law, PV incentives were scheduled to decline annually. On December 9, 2010, Redding Electric announced that they have already committed the projected budget for their PV rebates through 2015. At this time the PV rebate program is suspended. Redding Electric will reopen the program if any projects in the queue drop out of the queue. Redding Electric Utility offers a variety of financial incentives for energy efficiency through its Earth Advantage Rebate Program. Rebates are for weatherization measures, HVAC equipment, and lighting equipment. Rebates are limited to upgrades and efficiency improvements on existing equipment. Rebate applications and further program guidelines are available on REU's web site. Those customers below 80% of median income levels could qualify for higher rebates if they contact REU and fill out the application on the web site. Modesto Irrigation District’s Commercial Power Saver Rebate Program offers incentives to commercial, industrial, and agricultural customers for the purchase and installation of qualifying energy efficient products. Rebates are available for a wide variety of products, including: lighting, refrigeration, HVAC and air conditioning, high efficiency motors, and window sun shades. The MPower Business New Construction Rebate Program is available to commercial, industrial, or agricultural customers that presently or will receive electric service from MID. Accounts billed on FL or SL rate schedules are not eligible for this program. The MPower Custom Rebate Program is available to larger commercial, industrial or agricultural customers that replace existing equipment or systems with high efficiency equipment. To be eligible for this program, replacement projects must meet the following requirements: Modesto Irrigation District's MPower New Home Program provides incentives to builders and homeowners for designing and building energy-efficient homes. Eligible homes must meet the guidelines for California Energy Star Qualified New Homes, listed on the program application. Each qualified new home will receive a rebate of up to $500. Applications must be submitted and approved before construction has started. Program requires that an independent third party HERS rater verify program compliance in homes. Modesto Irrigation District offers a photovoltaic rebate program for all of their electric customers. The peak output capacity of a system must be 1 kW or greater to participate. Systems up to 30 kilowatts (kW) in capacity can receive an up-front capacity-based incentive. Systems greater than 30 kW and up to 1,000 kW (1 MW) can receive a performance-based incentive. The rebate levels will decline over time. Modesto Irrigation District’s Home Rebate Program offers residential customers cash rebates for the purchase and installation of qualifying energy efficient products installed in existing homes. Eligible equipment includes air conditioners, heat pumps, appliances, insulation measures, radiant barriers, VSM handlers, whole house fans, solar attic fans, sunscreens, and window replacements. Rebates are available for equipment meeting program efficiency standards which were purchased within the eligible time period. The program expires on December 15 of the program year. Moreno Valley Electric Utility provides rebates to its electric customers for the purchase of photovoltaic (PV) systems. System must be on the same premises as the customer to qualify. Systems 30 kilowatts (kW) or less can receive an upfront incentive of $2.25 per Watt up to $14,000 for a residential system and $50,000 for small commercial systems, or 50% of cost, whichever is less. Systems larger than 30 kW can receive a performance-based incentive of $0.06 per kWh for 5 years. See web site above for more information. California's net-metering law originally took effect in 1996 and applies to all utilities with one exception*. The law has been amended numerous times since its enactment, most recently by SB 489 in October 2011, which extended net metering to all technologies eligible for the Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS).

The Earth Advantage Rebate Program was designed to offer rebates to residential and business customers of Redding Electric Utility (REU) for solar PV, solar thermal, and geothermal heat pump systems. As required by state law, PV incentives were scheduled to decline annually. On December 9, 2010, Redding Electric announced that they have already committed the projected budget for their PV rebates t

To link to this article, copy this persistent link: (Mar 14, 2011) On March 10, 2011, the European Commission published its first Report on Trade and Investment Barriers; it is designed to generate opportunities in exports and investment for European companies and individuals. The economic partners concerned include Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Japan, and the United States. These countries constitute 45% of the European Union's trade in goods and commercial services and 41% of the EU's foreign direct investment. The report identifies 21 significant barriers in the markets of six of these economic partners, including China's indigenous innovation policy, India's plans to establish cumbersome licensing requirements in the telecommunications sector, the "Buy American" policy in the United States, and the new rules on investments introduced by Russia. (Press Release, European Commission Directorate-General for Trade, EU Sets Out Priorities to Dismantle Trade Barriers (Mar. 10, 2011).) The European exports sector that is affected by the barriers represents approximately €100 billion (about US$138.5 billion). EU imports of raw materials are close to €6 billion annually. (Id.) The report makes a number of recommendations to eliminate the barriers. Some of its key measures include: · liberalization of government procurement markets; · dispute settlement action facilitation measures; · utilization of certain fora, including the Transatlantic Economic Council or the EU-China High Level Economic Dialogue; and · raising the issue of barriers during bilateral summits with the partners involved. The report will be presented to the European Council on March 24-25. The EU Trade Commissioner, Karel De Gucht, emphasized that "[w]e need more than paper deals. ... We need to ensure that the trade deals and rules we have negotiated with our partners are actually implemented on the ground. With today's report to the European Council we are moving the dismantling of trade barriers to the top of our political agenda." (Id.) |Author:||Theresa Papademetriou More by this author| |Topic:||Trade and commerce More on this topic| |Jurisdiction:||European Union More about this jurisdiction| Search Legal News Find legal news by topic, country, keyword, date, or author. Global Legal Monitor RSS Get the Global Legal Monitor delivered to your inbox. Sign up for RSS service. The Global Legal Monitor is an online publication from the Law Library of Congress covering legal news and developments worldwide. It is updated frequently and draws on information from the Global Legal Information Network, official national legal publications, and reliable press sources. You can find previous news by searching the GLM. Last updated: 03/14/2011

To link to this article, copy this persistent link: (Mar 14, 2011) On March 10, 2011, the European Commission published its first Report on Trade and Investment Barriers; it is designed to generate opportunities in exports and investment for European companies and individuals. The economic partners concerned include Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Japan, and the United States. These count

The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Note: For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, as in "some strong language.". This page includes Web-Braille links to full-text braille versions of books. Eligible patrons may sign up for Web-Braille through the library that handles their braille magazine subscriptions. Our Bodies, Ourselves for the New Century: A Book by and for Women BR 13108 by Boston Women's Health Book Collective This updated version of The New Our Bodies, Ourselves (BR 6075) discusses aspects of women's health, including holistic medicine, emotional well-being, relationships, sexual behavior, and childbearing. 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Cunningham Uses primary documents to illustrate the different political and social philosophies of Thomas Jefferson, the first U.S. secretary of state, and Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury under President George Washington. Includes letters, speeches, and state papers, from their youth to Hamilton's death in 1804. 2000. Oz Clarke's Introducing Wine BR 13620 by Oz Clarke Asserting that wine should be chosen for its flavor, Clarke offers a guide to the range of wine tastes available throughout the world. He presents fifteen broad styles, tells how each is unique, and gives tips on buying and storing wine. Includes section on worldwide wine producing. 2000. 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Quarrel and Quandary: Essays BR 13668 by Cynthia Ozick A wide-ranging collection of pieces, previously published in a variety of periodicals. Includes reflections on the commercialization of Anne Frank, a comparison of the Unabomber to Dostoyevsky's disturbing murderer Raskolnikov, reconsiderations of Henry James and Franz Kafka, and personal recollections. Nat'l Book Critics Circle Award. 2000. Long Distance: A Year of Living Strenuously BR 13671 by Bill McKibben Anecdotes from the year that the author, a thirty-seven-year-old self-described "wimp," spent training like an Olympian in order to compete in a cross-country ski event. He tells how he overcame his internal and external obstacles, including his father's decline because of a brain tumor. 2000. The Life of Verdi BR 13684 by John Rosselli Brief critical portrait of Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901), the composer of twenty-six operas. Presents Verdi in the context of the political and social climate of nineteenth-century Italy. Discusses his personal life and relationships with women, and analyzes some of his most important operas. 2000. Simone Weil BR 13690 by Francine du Plessix Gray A portrait of the complex character of the French philosopher and feminist who died of anorexia at age thirty-four. Gray describes Weil's isolated, intellectual childhood in Paris; the dichotomy between her mental and physical needs; and the evolution of her spiritual quest. 2001. Pete Seeger's Storytelling Book BR 13695 by Pete Seeger and Paul DuBois Jacobs Veteran folksinger Seeger and poet Jacobs offer advice on becoming a storyteller by embellishing old stories, historical tales, and songs, as well as anecdotes from one's own personal history. Includes examples from Seeger's vast repertoire. 2000. Walking on the Land BR 13698 by Farley Mowat A portrayal of the desperate plight of the Inuit of northern Canada and the disintegration of their way of life. Reworks and updates material previously published in 1952 and 1960, covering Mowat's travels through the Barren Lands. Some strong language. 2001. Living a Life That Matters: Resolving the Conflict between Conscience and Success BR 13708 by Harold S. Kushner Author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People (BR 5310) recommends that people stop judging success by fame, power, and wealth, but measure their achievement by the positive difference they make in the world. Advises finding a meaningful life through family, friendship, and acts of generosity. Bestseller 2001. The Signers of the Declaration of Independence BR by Robert G. Ferris and Richard E. Morris Brief biographies of each of the fifty-six patriots who signed the American Declaration of Independence and were subsequently branded as traitors to the English crown. Includes text, summary, and historical background of the 1776 document. 1973. On the Wing: A Young American Abroad BR 13752 by Nora Sayre A New York writer and former film critic recounts her coming-of- age experiences in London in the 1950s. Through her parents, Sayre was privileged to move in literary circles with Arthur Koestler, A.J. Liebling, Cyril Connolly, Elizabeth Jane Howard, John Davenport, and actor Tyrone Power. Some strong language. 2001. Marlon Brando BR 13754 by Patricia Bosworth Portrait of the celebrity actor including revelations about his dysfunctional family, his acting lessons with Stella Adler, and highlights of his career. Describes Brando's destructive personal behavior. Provides insight into his political views and his major roles on stage and screen. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2001. Christmas in Plains: Memories BR 13767 by Jimmy Carter Carter, who served as the thirty-ninth president of the United States, reminisces about family Christmases over the years, beginning with his childhood on a Georgia farm, through his years in the U.S. Navy, the Georgia governor's mansion, the White House, and then back to Plains. Bestseller 2001. An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life BR by Dalai Lama Companion to The Art of Happiness (BR 13301) provides the Dalai Lama's teachings to introduce the core of Buddhism. Weaves together his spiritual guidelines for everyday living with two ancient Buddhist texts. Contains text of the Dalai Lama's 1999 New York address. Bestseller 2001. The Riddle of the Compass: The Invention That Changed the World BR 13785 by Amir D. Aczel Traces the development of the magnetic compass and its impact on society. Contends that the compass should be seen as the most important technological innovation since the wheel because of its lasting effect on navigation, commerce, and world economy. 2001. Andy Warhol BR 13791 by Wayne Koestenbaum Examines the enigmatic man behind the public figure of the pop artist who became a cultural icon of the 1960s. Discusses Warhol's homosexuality in art and life, and his nearly fatal shooting. Provides psychoanalytically oriented insights into his personality and his work. 2001. A Trial by Jury BR 13793 by D. Graham Burnett An academic historian recounts his personal experiences as jury foreman in the murder trial of a male prostitute. Details of the crime provide necessary background to the sequestered jury's heated discussions during the intense sixty-six hours leading to a verdict. Reveals difficulties inherent in the American legal system. Some descriptions of sex. 2001. Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir BR 13796 by Lauren Slater In this deliberately unreliable reminiscence, the author of Prozac Diary (BR 12105) elegantly describes the manifestations of her epileptic seizures. But she also confesses her tendency to exaggerate and ponders whether the book she is writing is fiction or nonfiction. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2000. Next section of Braille Book Review | Previous section of Braille Book Review | Braille Book Review Home Page Go to the NLS Home Page

The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Note: For the infomation of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurence, a

There are three sets of brass doors at the main entrance of the John Adams Building. They are located on the west side of the building, on Second Street. The sculpted figures by Lee Lawrie depict the history of the written - Thoth, an Egyptian god - TS'ANG CHIEH, the Chinese patron of writing - NABU, an Akkadian god - BRAHMA, the Indian god - CADMUS, the Greek sower of dragon's teeth - TAHMURATH, a hero of the ancient Persians Similar doors are on the east side of the building, on Third Street. Brass Doors on the East Side of the John Adams Building

There are three sets of brass doors at the main entrance of the John Adams Building. They are located on the west side of the building, on Second Street. The sculpted figures by Lee Lawrie depict the history of the written - Thoth, an Egyptian god - TS'ANG CHIEH, the Chinese patron of writing - NABU, an Akkadian god - BRAHMA, the Indian god - CADMUS, the Greek sower of dragon's teeth - TAHMURATH,

Scientists from NOAA's have developed a website and CD-ROM that provides maps, imagery, and digital geographic baseline information about the location and distribution of shallow-water seafloor habitats for American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Completing this project represents a major milestone towards meeting the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force recommendation to develop shallow-water coral reef ecosystem maps for all U.S. waters by 2007. This product provides the first comprehensive assessment of benthic habitat data of the shallow-water environments surrounding twenty islands in the U.S. Pacific territories with unprecedented thematic accuracy and detail. For more information, or contact . The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coastal Storms Program is a nationwide effort to reduce storm impacts on life, the economy, and the environment by marshaling resources from across NOAA. The program is implemented through pilot projects in various regions of the country, including Northeast Florida, the Pacific Northwest, and Southern California. The program wrapped up its Florida pilot effort in January with workshops in Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. Eighty-nine emergency managers, safety officers, harbor pilots, planners, and city, state, and federal officials from throughout the St. Johns River watershed attended the all-day workshops. NOAA staff demonstrated the products and tools developed through this program to help communities better prepare for, respond to, and recover from storms. Some of these were oil spill models, environmental sensitivity index maps, and databases on contaminants in the region. For more information, or contact . In a study funded by NOAA's (ECOHAB) program, data from ship surveys, moored instruments and satellites were used in a physical-biological model to explain why shellfish toxicity varied in the western Gulf of Maine between 1993 and 1994, years of very different shellfish toxicity. Shellfish in the Gulf of Maine accumulate toxins as they feed on blooms of the alga known as Alexandrium fundyense. This species appears to grow in or on the edge of plumes created by coastal rivers mixing with the Maine Coastal Current. Downwelling or upwelling conditions determine whether toxic cells of this species are abundant enough in nearshore regions to cause toxin buildup in shellfish. Although this model represents significant progress in predicting how A. fundyense is distributed, the source of the toxic cells at the beginning of the remains a major unknown. For further information, contact . Revised January 11, 2013 | Questions, Comments? Contact Us | Report Error | Disclaimer | About the Site | User Survey Web Site Owner: National Ocean Service | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Department of Commerce | USA.gov

Scientists from NOAA's have developed a website and CD-ROM that provides maps, imagery, and digital geographic baseline information about the location and distribution of shallow-water seafloor habitats for American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Completing this project represents a major milestone towards meeting the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force recommendation to

Traffic Congestion and Reliability: Trends and Advanced Strategies for Congestion Mitigation 3.0 Recent Trends in Congestion The previous section emphasized the value of estimating the size of each contributing source to total congestion so that strategies can be tailored to specific conditions. However, teasing out each source from the whole of congestion has proven to be elusive, and we are only beginning to understand the complexities and interactions involved (see Figures 2.3a and 2.3b). Even with continuous measurement of travel times enabled with ITS technologies, some level of modeling is required to assign the contribution of each source. The results of two studies based purely on modeling are shown in Figure 3.1. These studies used similar data—but different modeling techniques—to provide national estimates of congestion by source. While not directly comparable, these two studies do provide a picture of congestion that is highly dependent on traffic-influencing events, as identified in the last section. Note that the studies are limited in the sense that neither considered all seven sources of congestion. As a result, FHWA has produced the composite estimate of congestion by source shown in Figure 3.2. Until better information is developed, the breakdown in Figure 3.2 is our best estimate of what contributes to congestion nationally. National estimates of congestion by source are useful to guide FHWA's program and to identify which areas should be emphasized. However, local conditions vary widely and methods for estimating congestion sources on individual highways would be highly useful to transportation engineers "in the trenches" trying to decide how to craft mitigation strategies. A study in Seattle, Washington is currently underway to identify the contribution of congestion sources in three freeway corridors. Is congestion getting worse? Yes. The best single source for monitoring congestion trends is produced annually by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI).13 In their 2005 report, TTI's researchers found that congestion levels in 85 of the largest metropolitan areas have grown in almost every year in all population groups from 1982 to 2003, as exemplified by the following trends. Figure 3.1 Results of Two Modeling Studies to Estimate Congestion by Source Source: Chin, S.M., Franzese, O., Greene, D.L., Hwang, H.L., and Gibson, R.C., Temporary Loss of Highway Capacity and Impacts on Performance: Phase 2, Report No. ORLNL/TM-2004/209, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, November 2004. "TLC2" is the methodology developed for this work; "TTI" are the results from the Texas Transportation Institutes annual Urban Mobility Study for 2004 (http://mobility.tamu.edu). Figure 3.2 The Sources of Congestion Ten-Year Average Urban Congestion Trends (1993 to 2003) - Peak-period trips take an average of about 7 percent longer. (In most metropolitan areas, the idea of "rush hour" is obsolete—congestion happens for multiple hours on both morning and evening weekdays.) - Travelers spend 47 extra hours per year in travel compared to 40 hours in 1993. - The percent of urban freeway mileage that is congested has grown from 51 percent to 60 percent. 21-Year Urban Congestion Trends (1982 to 2003) - Congestion has grown substantially over the past 20 years. While the largest cities are the most congested, congestion occurs—and has grown—in cities of every size (Figure 3.3). - Congestion extends to more time of the day, more roads, affects more of the travel, and creates more extra travel time than in the past. And congestion levels have risen in all size categories, indicating that even the smaller areas are not able to keep pace with rising demand (Figure 3.4). - Sixty-seven percent of the peak-period travel is congested compared to 33 percent in 1982. Travelers in the 85 urban areas studied spent an average of 47 hours per year stuck in traffic in 2003, up from 16 hours in 1982. - Sixty percent of the major road system is congested compared to 35 percent in 1982. - The number of hours of the day when travelers might encounter congestion has grown from 4.5 hours to 7.1 hours. Congestion has clearly grown. Congestion used to mean it took longer to get to/ from work in the "rush hour." It used to be thought of as a "big city" issue or an element to plan for while traveling to special large events. Sure there was slower traffic in small cities, but it was not much more than a minor inconvenience. The problems that smaller cities faced were about connections to and between cities, manufacturing plants, and markets. Figure 3.3 Congestion Has Grown Substantially in U.S. Cities over the Past 20 Years Figure 3.4 Peak-Period Congestion Trends by Urban Area Population Group Source: Reference (1). Delay per peak traveler is a measure of the amount of extra travel time due to congestion. It is the amount of travel time above that required to complete a trip under ideal conditions. As the economy and lifestyles have changed over the past two decades, congestion is an element that is taken into consideration as we plan our daily travel. Congestion effects are reflected in decisions about business location and expansion, home and job sites, school, doctor visits, recreation, and social events and even who you date.14 But it also is due to the fact that congestion affects more trips, more hours of the day and more of the transportation system (Figure 3.5). Congestion is affecting not only weekday commuter travel but several other types of travel: weekend travel in suburban shopping areas, travel near major recreational areas, and travel related to special events (such as sporting events). Figure 3.5 Weekday Peak-Period Congestion Has Grown in Several Ways in the Past 20 Years in Our Largest Cities Consider the following characteristics of congestion trends: - Congestion affects more of the system. You might encounter stop-and-go traffic on any major street or freeway. Congestion effects have spread to neighborhoods, where cities and residents have developed elaborate plans and innovative techniques to make it harder for commuters to use the streets where kids play as bypass routes for gridlocked intersections. These are just the average conditions. Many cities have a few places where any daylight hour might see stop-and-go traffic. Weekend traffic delays have become a problem in recreational areas, near major shopping centers or sports arenas and in some constrained roadways. - Congestion affects more time of the day. We are not just seeing these problems in the "rush hour." Peak periods typically stretch for two or three hours in the morning and evening in metro areas above one million people (Figure 3.6). Larger areas can see three or four hours of peak conditions. - The extra travel time penalty has grown. It just takes longer to get to your destination. Not just work or school, but shopping trips, doctor visits and family outings are planned around the questions "How long do I want to spend in the car, bus or train?" and "Is it worth it?" Peak-period trips required 37 percent more travel time in 2003 than a free flow trip at midday, up from 28 percent 10 years earlier. Figure 3.6 How Many Rush Hours in a Day? Source: Analysis of data used in 2005 Annual Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute Travel Reliability is getting worse. There really is a fourth characteristic to the congestion problem—Reliability. The extra travel time and amount of the day and system affected by travel delays is not the same every day. It may not even be as it was predicted 10 minutes ago (Figure 3.7). Figure 3.7 Travel Time Reliability Illustration Source: Analysis of data used in 2005 Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute - 1982 – If your midday trip took 20 minutes, it would take you 23 minutes in the peak. Although no reliability statistics exist from that long ago, analysis of recent data suggest that you would have to add an additional nine minutes to that trip to guarantee on-time arrival at your destination; a total of 32 minutes might be planned for that trip. - 2003 – By 2003, that 20-minute free-flow trip took 28 minutes. And if on-time arrival was important you should allow 40 minutes for the trip. In addition to the Urban Mobility report and Mobility Monitoring Program, congestion trends are tracked through travel surveys. On the national level, the two primary sources of data that exist are the National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) and the decennial Census. Some metropolitan areas, such as the San Francisco Bay Area, have also conducted their own household travel surveys. In general, all these surveys point to ever increasing congestion for the traveling public. While the NHTS and Census indicate increasing congestion, the nature of travel behavior is changing as well. This is partially due to the change in family structure and the increase in vehicle ownership. On average, people are also traveling more miles to and from work. However, work trips comprise only a small percentage of all the trips that are taken.15 Increasing congestion can be represented by examining a combination of increasing travel time, increasing distance and decreasing speeds for privately owned vehicles (POV; Figures 3.8 to 3.10). Commuters are traveling longer distances at a slower rate. This trend is occurring in metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) of all sizes. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the San Francisco Bay Area has also conducted its own household travel survey in 1990 and 2000. Comparison of the results of the two surveys has been documented in the report, "Activities, Time, and Travel: Changes in Women's Travel Time Expenditures, 1990-2000." More people travel for a longer (more than 25 minutes) duration in 2000 than in 1990. The distribution of the travel time duration in Figure 3.11 is derived from data presented in the report.16 Figure 3.8 The Average Commute Travel Time in a Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) Has Increased Figure 3.9 The Average Commute Trip Length in a POV Has Increased Figure 3.10 After Showing Modest Improvement in the 1990s, Average Commute Speeds Have Begun to Worsen Figure 3.11 Trips in San Francisco Are Now Taking Longer to Complete FHWA has been compiling traffic monitoring data in major metropolitan areas since 2000. The program started with 10 cities and has added new cities every year. Additionally, some cities add traffic monitoring to new highways every year. The Appendix provides a description of the technologies used and the data collected from these systems. These data can be summarized at the areawide level or at the individual corridor level. Data from three cities whose participation began in 2000 follows. Figures 3.12 and 3.13 summarize data from San Antonio for the 2000-2004 period. Congestion trends over the five years appear to relatively stable, with a slight increase overall in both congestion level and unreliable travel. Figure 3.12 Daily and Monthly Trends in Congestion San Antonio, Texas, 2000-2004 Source: Analysis of data from FHWA's Mobility Monitoring Program. The Travel Time Index (TTI) is a measure of total congestion. It is the ratio of the peak-period travel time to the travel time under ideal conditions. A TTI value of 1.2 indicates that peak-period travel takes 20 percent longer than under ideal conditions. All are shown for individual days. The "-Month" indices are monthly averages and are shown to smooth out the trends. Although weekends and holidays are excluded, days next to holidays show light peak-period traffic characteristics (e.g., July 5). Note the upturn in peak-period delay and unreliability in the Autumn months as vacationing travelers return to work and school. Note also that as the Travel Time Index increases, so does unreliable travel. Figure 3.13 Annual Trends in Congestion San Antonio, Texas, 2000-2004 Note: The number of miles indicated on the chart is the amount of highways directly monitored by TxDOT in the San Antonio area in each year. The dip in congestion in 2001 and 2002 can be due to two possible reasons: a decrease in economic activity and/or changes in the amount of roadway monitored. Another trend displayed in San Antonio that is also observed in many other cities is that as average congestion level increases, so does the amount of unreliable travel. This provides some empirical evidence for the theoretical relationships between bottleneck delay and traffic incident delay previously identified in Figure 2.4. Examining trends in individual corridors removes the problem of changing traffic surveillance coverage from year to year. Table 3.1 shows corridor-level trends in the Seattle, Washington and Atlanta, Georgia areas. As with the San Antonio data, both cities exhibit the upturn in congestion level in 2001, followed in most corridors by a decrease in 2002, followed by a slight upturn in 2003. The fact that congestion is influenced by the general state of the economy has been noted anecdotally for many years, and these data provide some empirical evidence of the relationship. Also, the positive correlation between average congestion level (Travel Time Index) and reliability level (Buffer Index) is demonstrated very well in these data (Figure 3.14). |Travel Time Index| |I-5A, NB (I-405 to I-90 11.13 mi)||1.20||1.32||1.22||1.22| |I-5A, SB (I-90 to I-405 11.13 mi)||1.13||1.25||1.17||1.17| |I-5B, NB (I-90 to SR 520 2.69 mi)||1.25||1.74||1.53||1.54| |I-5B, SB (SR 520 to I-90 2.69 mi)||1.22||1.31||1.24||1.23| |I-5C, NB (SR 520 to SR 526 21.39 mi)||1.17||1.33||1.29||1.31| |I-5C, SB (SR 526 to SR 520 21.39 mi)||1.22||1.27||1.30||1.36| |I-90, EB (S Norman Street (I-5) to Front Street 14.06 mi)||1.08||1.17||1.13||1.12| |I-90, WB (Front Street to 12th Avenue (I-5) 14.32 mi)||1.18||1.15||1.16||1.13| |I-405A, NB (I-5 S to I-90 9.01 mi)||1.32||1.36||1.30||1.26| |I-405A, SB (I-90 to I-5 S 9.01 mi)||1.20||1.30||1.31||1.23| |I-405B, NB (I-90 to I-5 N 15.44 mi)||1.23||1.27||1.25||1.17| |I-405B, SB (I-5 N to I-90 15.44 mi)||1.26||1.27||1.28||1.22| |I-5A, NB (I-405 to I-90 11.13 mi)||30%||51%||29%||30%| |I-5A, SB (I-90 to I-405 11.13 mi)||21%||30%||32%||35%| |I-5B, NB (I-90 to SR 520 2.69 mi)||32%||62%||63%||78%| |I-5B, SB (SR 520 to I-90 2.69 mi)||36%||37%||29%||25%| |I-5C, NB (SR 520 to SR 526 21.39 mi)||21%||35%||32%||33%| |I-5C, SB (SR 526 to SR 520 21.39 mi)||38%||33%||43%||43%| |I-90, EB (S Norman Street (I-5) to Front Street 14.06 mi)||19%||71%||29%||31%| |I-90, WB (Front Street to 12th Avenue (I-5) 14.32 mi)||31%||27%||38%||30%| |I-405A, NB (I-5 S to I-90 9.01 mi)||26%||35%||24%||24%| |I-405A, SB (I-90 to I-5 S 9.01 mi)||25%||26%||25%||21%| |I-405B, NB (I-90 to I-5 N 15.44 mi)||18%||31%||19%||16%| |I-405B, SB (I-5 N to I-90 15.44 mi)||24%||22%||31%||24%| |Travel Time Index| |I-75A, NB (I-285 to I-20 7.72 miles)||1.09||1.13||1.11||1.14| |I-75A, SB (I-20 to I-285 7.36 mi)||1.05||1.10||1.08||1.15| |I-75B, NB (I-20 to I-85 Split 3.73 mi)||1.21||1.32||1.30||1.58| |I-75B, SB (I-85 Split to I-20 4.04 mi)||1.38||1.66||1.56||1.88| |I-75C, NB (I-85 Split to I-285 8.95 mi)||1.11||1.17||1.09||1.11| |I-75C, SB (I-285 to I-85 Split 9.63 mi)||1.05||1.09||1.12||1.19| |I-85A, NB (Camp Creek Parkway to I-75 4.18 mi)||1.02||1.01||1.01||1.02| |I-85A, SB (I-75 to Camp Creek Parkway 4.05 mi)||1.02||1.01||1.01||1.01| |I-85B, NB (I-75 to Jimmy Carter Boulevard 14 mi)||1.07||1.16||1.49||1.13| |I-85B, SB (Jimmy Carter Boulevard to I-75 13.6 mi)||1.10||1.12||1.09||1.14| |I-75A, NB (I-285 to I-20 7.72 mi)||21%||29%||33%||35%| |I-75A, SB (I-20 to I-285 7.36 mi)||12%||22%||25%||33%| |I-75B, NB (I-20 to I-85 Split 3.73 mi)||48%||59%||58%||100%| |I-75B, SB (I-85 Split to I-20 4.04 mi)||24%||36%||32%||56%| |I-75C, NB (I-85 Split to I-285 8.95 mi)||30%||39%||32%||35%| |I-75C, SB (I-285 to I-85 Split 9.63 mi)||13%||29%||42%||50%| |I-85A, NB (Camp Creek Parkway to I-75 4.18 mi)||6%||1%||1%||3%| |I-85A, SB (I-75 to Camp Creek Parkway 4.05 mi)||7%||8%||5%||8%| |I-85B, NB (I-75 to Jimmy Carter Boulevard 14 mi)||22%||49%||19%||23%| |I-85B, SB (Jimmy Carter Boulevard to I-75 13.6 mi)||41%||37%||31%||34%| Figure 3.14 Corridor Statistics for Seattle and Atlanta Source: Analysis of data from FHWA's Mobility Monitoring Program. The Travel Time Index (TTI) is a measure of total congestion. It is the ratio of the peak period travel time to the travel time under ideal conditions. A TTI value of 1.2 indicates that peak period travel takes 20 percent longer than under ideal conditions. The Buffer Index is a measure of reliability; as it increases, travel times become increasingly unreliable. (See Table 2.2 for definitions) Physical bottlenecks have been the focus of transportation improvements—and of travelers' concerns—for many years. On much of the urban highway system, there are specific points that are notorious for causing congestion on a daily basis. These locations—which can be a single interchange (usually freeway-to-freeway), a series of closely spaced interchanges, or lane-drops—are focal points for congestion in corridors; major bottlenecks tend to dominate congestion in corridors where they exist. Many acquire nicknames from local motorists such as: - "Spaghetti Bowl" in Las Vegas; - "Hillside Strangler" in Chicago; and - "Mixmaster" in Dallas. How bad congestion becomes at a bottleneck is related to its physical design. Some bottlenecks were originally constructed many years ago using designs that were appropriate when there were built, but are now considered antiquated. Others have been built to extremely high design specifications and are simply overwhelmed by traffic. A recent examination of national bottlenecks identified the worst physical bottlenecks in the country and examined the positive effects that improving them could have on travel times, safety, emissions, and fuel consumption. Table 3.2 provides a ranking of these bottlenecks. |Rank||City||Freeway||Location||Annual Hours of Delay (Hours in Thousands)| |1||Los Angeles||U.S. 101||U.S. 101 (Ventura Freeway) at I-405 Interchange||27,144| |2||Houston||I-610||I-610 at I-10 Interchange (West)||25,181| |3||Chicago||I-90||I-90/94 at I-290 Interchange ("Circle Interchange")||25,068| |4||Phoenix||I-10||I-10 at SR 51/SR 202 Interchange ("Mini-Stack")||22,805| |5||Los Angeles||I-405||I-405 (San Diego Freeway) at I-10 Interchange||22,792| |6||Atlanta||I-75||I-75 south of the I-85 Interchange||21,045| |7||Washington (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia)||I-495||I-495 at I-270 Interchange||19,429| |8||Los Angeles||I-10||I-10 (Santa Monica Freeway) at I-5 Interchange||18,606| |9||Los Angeles||I-405||I-405 (San Diego Freeway) at I-605 Interchange||18,606| |10||Atlanta||I-285||I-285 at I-85 Interchange ("Spaghetti Junction")||17,072| |11||Chicago||I-94||I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway) at I-90 Skyway Split (Southside)||16,713| |12||Phoenix||I-17||I-17 (Black Canyon Freeway) at I-10 Interchange (the "Stack") to Cactus Road||16,310| |13||Los Angeles||I-5||I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway) at SR 22/SR 57 Interchange ("Orange Crush")||16,304| |14||Providence||I-95||I-95 at I-195 Interchange||15,340| |15||Washington (D.C.-Maryland-Virginia)||I-495||I-495 at I-95 Interchange||15,035| |16||Tampa||I-275||I-275 at I-4 Interchange ("Malfunction Junction")||14,371| |17||Atlanta||I-285||I-285 at I-75 Interchange||14,333| |18||Seattle||I-5||I-5 at I-90 Interchange||14,306| |19||Chicago||I-290||I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway) Between Exits 17b and 23a||14,009| |20||Houston||I-45||I-45 (Gulf Freeway) at U.S. 59 Interchange||13,944| |21||San Jose||U.S. 101||U.S. 101 at I-880 Interchange||12,249| |22||Las Vegas||U.S. 95||U.S. 95 west of the I-15 Interchange ("Spaghetti Bowl")||11,152| |23||San Diego||I-805||I-805 at I-15 Interchange||10,992| |24||Cincinnati||I-75||I-75, from Ohio River Bridge to I-71 Interchange||10,088| Source: Unclogging America's Arteries: Effective Relief for Highway Bottlenecks, American Highway Users Alliance (AHUA), February 2004. Delay is the extra time it would take to travel through the bottlenecks compared to completely uncongested conditions. The report did not consider many severe bottlenecks from the New York City area. As most travelers know, congestion in and around the boroughs of New York can be significant. However, a very large amount of delay in the New York area is related to bridge and tunnel crossings into Manhattan, most of which are toll facilities. Also, while the New York metropolitan area is laced with Interstates, parkways, and expressways, they seldom reach the proportions seen in other major areas, except where multiple highways converge on bridge of tunnel crossings. (A typical lane configuration for a New York area freeway is six lanes, three in each direction. But there are many of these.) Toll facilities were excluded from the study because toll facilities are fundamentally different from other physical bottlenecks (such as freeway-to-freeway interchanges) that are prevalent around the country. Delay comparisons between toll facilities and other types of bottlenecks might not be consistent since different modeling techniques would be used. If objective field measurements of delay could be made at all locations around the country, several river crossings into Manhattan would no doubt be included in a list of the nation's worst bottlenecks. A current FHWA study is identifying the location of bottlenecks specific to truck traffic.17 Not surprisingly, when total truck delay is considered, urban locations dominate the bottleneck rankings (Figure 3.15). In fact, many of the same locations identified in the AHUA study as commuting bottlenecks also appear as truck bottlenecks, though the rankings shift due to higher truck volumes at some locations. The fact that trucks get caught in congestion at urban bottlenecks (resulting in productivity losses and increased transportation costs) only increases the significance of these bottlenecks as major transportation problems. Conversely, alleviating congestion at specific bottleneck locations will result in substantial benefits to commuters and truckers alike, and these benefits will be passed onto the economy at-large. Figure 3.15 Interchange Capacity Bottlenecks on Freeways Used as Urban Truck Corridors Source: Cambridge Systematics and Battelle Memorial Institute, Freight Bottlenecks, unpublished white paper for FHWA Office of Policy, March 2005 Figure 3.16 depicts congestion at the national level for 1998. As shown, congestion is confined to metropolitan areas. In contrast, Figure 3.17 shows the expected growth in congestion by 2020, assuming no additional increases in physical and operational highway capacity. In addition to more metropolitan areas experiencing congestion, Figure 3.17 shows that congestion will spread into formerly rural areas, the urban fringe, and intercity corridors. Much of this congestion will affect intercity truck traffic, which is expected to grow by 75 percent between 2000 and 2020.18 Figure 3.16 Congested Highways (1998) Source: Federal Highway Administration Freight Analysis Framework. Figure 3.17 Potentially Congested Highways (2020) Source: Federal Highway Administration Freight Analysis Framework In addition to the long-range modeling used to produce the data in Figure 3.17, examination of trends over the past decade, reinforce the idea that congestion is spreading out of cities. Figure 3.18 shows that vehicle-miles of travel are growing faster in rural areas than in urban areas. While there is currently enough excess capacity in most rural areas to absorb this increase, it will be eventually overtaken by traffic growth. Moreover, the first indications of nonmetropolitan congestion are beginning to manifest themselves. A recent study by transportation interest groups identified several rural recreational and tourist destinations that routinely experience congestion during the summertime peaks.19 While congestion at these locations is far less than in urban areas—the bottleneck restrictions are not as severe and delay is incurred usually only on peak-season weekends—the growth in rural traffic of all kinds means that congestion in nonmetropolitan areas will continue to increase. Figure 3.18 Vehicle-Miles of Travel on Major Rural and Urban Roads Increased Between 1990 to 2002 Note: For the VMT Index, 1.0 = 1990 level Source: American Highway Users Alliance, AAA, and TRIP, Are We There Yet? A Report on Summer Traffic Bottlenecks and Steps Needed to Ensure that Our Favorite Vacation Destinations Remain Accessible, June 30, 2005. - Schrank, D. and Lomax, T., 2005 Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute. - Caitlin Liu. Los Angeles Times. SigAlert on the Roadway to Love; Traffic Sometimes Dictates the Route of Romance in Los Angeles. February 13, 2004. - A Walk Through Time: Changes in the American Commute, http://nhts.ornl.gov/2001/ presentations/commuting/index.shtml. - Activities, Time, and Travel: Changes in Women's Travel Time Expenditures, 1990-2000, by Rachel Gossen and Charles L. Purvis. http://www.mtc.ca.gov/maps_and_data/ datamart/research/Changes-in-Womens-Travel-Time-Expenditures-1990-2000.pdf. - Cambridge Systematics and Battelle Memorial Institute, Freight Bottlenecks, unpublished white paper for FHWA Office of Policy, March 2005. - FHWA Freight Analysis Framework, http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/freight_news/FAF/talkingfreight_faf.htm. - American Highway Users Alliance, AAA, and TRIP, Are We There Yet? A Report on Summer Traffic Bottlenecks and Steps Needed to Ensure that Our Favorite Vacation Destinations Remain Accessible, June 30, 2005. http://www.highways.org/pdfs/ travel_study2005.pdf.

Traffic Congestion and Reliability: Trends and Advanced Strategies for Congestion Mitigation 3.0 Recent Trends in Congestion The previous section emphasized the value of estimating the size of each contributing source to total congestion so that strategies can be tailored to specific conditions. However, teasing out each source from the whole of congestion has proven to be elusive, and we are only

- Parliamentary Business - Senators & Members - News & Events - About Parliament - Visit Parliament Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document Health Insurance (Pathology Services) Amendment Bill 1991 House: House of Representatives Portfolio: Community Services and Health To retrospectively correct certain defects in the Schedules of the Health Insurance Act 1973 relating to a pathology testing method. The Health Insurance Act 1973 (the Principal Act) and the National Health Act 1953 provide the legislative basis for Commonwealth health insurance. The Principal Act provides the legal framework for Medicare and covers such areas as: billing methods; eligibility for benefits; regulation of pathology services; and inquiries into over servicing. Medicare, which came into operation on 1 February 1984, provides access to medical and hospital services for all Australians. Medicare benefits are based on fees determined for certain specified medical and pathology services. Medical/pathology services which attract a benefit are contained in lists, or Tables, in the Schedules to the Principal Act. The main amendments to the Principal Act proposed by this Bill are intended to correct certain defects in the Schedules to the Principal Act. The defects relate to a pathology testing method known as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which provides a cheaper and quicker way of conducting certain pathology tests. Some of the difficulties this Bill addresses arise from an invalid determination made in March 1984 which attempted to change the pathology services table with respect to ELISA services. As a result of the method and procedures used to change the table, this determination, and similar changes that were made in later years to the same items, were subsequently found to be defective. The result of this was that the changes, which had largely been used by the pathology industry, were ineffective. The changes included increases in returns for the providers of pathology services. An attempt was made in 1987 to rectify the mistakes by a determination, but the procedures involved were challenged in the Federal Court and were again found to be defective, so this did not rectify the problem. This meant that the changes to this area of the Table made in 1986 and previously were invalid as well. The situation may have been thought to have been resolved when amendments passed in 1989 meant that a new Table had force due to the Minister's regulation making power. The new table had effect from 1 August 1989, but did not validate the changes made from 1984. A further complicating element appeared when it was realised that as well as being subject to a specific item in the Table, the ELISA services could also be charged under another, more general item in the Table. The benefits available under the general item were higher than those available under the more specific item. A 1990 Federal Court case ( Peverill v. Health Insurance Commission 95 ALR 401) has upheld the right for pathology service providers to use either where, due to the definitions of the items, a service could fall within either Item. As the report of the case shows, the definition of pathology items can be very complex. This case raises the likelihood that litigation would be used by pathology service providers to have all ELISA services performed while there were two items covering the service available recompensed at the higher rate, even though most were originally charged under the lower rate. The explanatory memorandum estimates that this could cost $100 million. In the second reading speech, the Minister states that this likelihood has been raised by further litigation. Two new interpretation rules will be inserted into the Tables by clause 4. They will provide that where a service is covered by two items, the specific, rather than general, item is to be used. If the service is covered by two general items, the lower cost one is to be used. The amendments will apply from 1 January 1980. The principal effect of the amendment contained in clauses 4, which will have effect from 1 March 1984, 15 June 1984, 1 July 1985, 14 March 1986 and 1 August 1986, will be to correct various invalid determinations and tables in respect to ELISA inserted into the Principal Act which were subsequently found by the Federal Court to be invalid. Clause 5 will amend Schedule 1A of the Principal Act (the relevant Table which applies from 1986) to perform the same amendments as contained in clause 4. The amendments will apply from this time until 1 August 1989 when the new, valid, Table came into force. Clause 6 contains transitional provisions and, basically, will ensure that persons will not have, because of the amendments proposed by this Bill, to make any refunds of payments already received and will retain their right to receive payments where they have already lodged a claim. Bills Digest Service 16 April 1991 Parliamentary Research Service For further information, if required, contact the Education and Welfare 06 2772410. This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine the subsequent official status of the Bill. Commonwealth of Australia 1991 Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without the prior written consent of the Parliamentary Library, other than by Members of the Australian Parliament in the course of their official duties. Published by the Department of the Parliamentary Library, 1991.

- Parliamentary Business - Senators & Members - News & Events - About Parliament - Visit Parliament Note: Where available, the PDF/Word icon below is provided to view the complete and fully formatted document Health Insurance (Pathology Services) Amendment Bill 1991 House: House of Representatives Portfolio: Community Services and Health To retrospectively correct certain defects in the Schedules

Our privacy and cookies page explains what they are, which ones we use, and how you can manage or remove them. Don't show this message again. Assessment to be based on naturally occurring evidence or realistic work environment Understand the importance of financial records running a business. Identify the key benefits of keeping financial records when monitoring the financial state of their business. Explain why it is necessary in terms of meeting the legal requirements for the business. Identify the financial measures and forecasts that are needed by their business. Know the financial information that needs to be recorded in a business. Identify the financial records that may need to be kept about sales, including cash and credit sales transactions, purchase transactions and creditors. Identify the financial records that may need to be kept about their business assets and funds. Describe the information that should be recorded in order to maintain credit control, cash flow and bank monitoring. Be able to select an accounts management system to support a business. Compare manual and computer based accounting systems. Choose an accounting system and methods that are relevant to the trading status of their business. Know how to produce financial records Make sure all financial transactions are properly recorded in the appropriate place. Make sure that the financial system will produce suitable invoicing and purchasing records. Make sure that the way in which financial records are kept and reported on is in line with the legal requirements of the business.

Our privacy and cookies page explains what they are, which ones we use, and how you can manage or remove them. Don't show this message again. Assessment to be based on naturally occurring evidence or realistic work environment Understand the importance of financial records running a business. Identify the key benefits of keeping financial records when monitoring the financial state of their busine

Plea form (English - pdf) | Plea form (Spanish -pdf) Under our American system of justice, all persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. On a plea of not guilty, a trial is held. As in all criminal trials, the State must prove guilt of the offense charged in the complaint. If the state proves guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt" then the defendant can be found guilty by a judge or jury. Your decision concerning which plea to enter is very important. You should read the following explanation of all three types of pleas and think carefully before making your decision. If you plead guilty or nolo contendere, you should be prepared to pay the fine. You should contact the court regarding how to make payment. Plea of Guilty By a plea of guilty, you admit that you committed the act charged and the act is prohibited by law. Before entering your plea of guilty, however, you should understand the following: - The state has the burden of proving that you violated the law (the law does not require that you prove you did not violate the law); - You have the right to hear the State's evidence and to require the State to prove you violated the law; and - A plea of guilty may be used against you later in a civil suit if there was a traffic accident (another party can say you were at fault or responsible for the accident because you pled guilty to the traffic charge). Plea of Nolo Contendere (no contest) A plea of nolo contendere means that you do not contest the State's charge against you. You will be found guilty, unless you are eligible and successfully complete a driving safety course and/or court ordered deferral. Also, a plea of nolo contendere may not be used against you in a subsequent civil suit for damages. Plea of Not Guilty A plea of not guilty means that you deny guilt and that the State must prove the charge that it filed against you. If you plead not guilty, you need to decide if you will hire an attorney to represent you or if you will represent yourself. If you represent yourself, the Trial Information page may help you to understand your rights and trial procedure. Some files require a special viewer - Use the list below to locate the proper program based on file-type: PDF Adobe Reader WMV Windows Media

Plea form (English - pdf) | Plea form (Spanish -pdf) Under our American system of justice, all persons are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. On a plea of not guilty, a trial is held. As in all criminal trials, the State must prove guilt of the offense charged in the complaint. If the state proves guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt" then the defendant can be found guilty by a judge or jury

Engaging water users for improved efficiency Waterwise annual conference 21-22 March 2012, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford More information and registration… The 2012 Waterwise conference takes “Engaging water users” as its theme. Getting water users to think about how they use water is a fundamental challenge for water efficiency, with the journey from awareness to action far from clear. The conference will explore successes and failures of past attempts to improve water efficiency, drawing conclusions about the best ways to get people to engage and take action: “Encouraging water users to think about how they use water is a fundamental challenge for water efficiency. Getting them to take that vital next step into acting upon that knowledge is an important piece of the puzzle. From newsletters to events, supermarket giveaways, home retrofits, retweets and Facebook likes, there are more ways than ever to interact with the people who use water.” Water minister Richard Benyon will deliver a keynote address on the opening evening of the conference. Other speakers will include: - Professor Sir John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, on the importance of water efficiency and the water agenda; - Ian Barker, Head of Water at the Environment Agency, on drought and engagement in times of urgency; - Marian Spain, Ofwat policy and communications, on moving towards a water-saving culture; - Pamela Taylor, Water UK CEO, on shared responsiblity in engaging customers. The conference will also feature a water efficiency exhibition and panel discussions on understanding water users, methods of engagement, and cooperation in communication. Waterwise is an independent, not for profit, non-governmental organisation focused on decreasing water consumption in the UK and building the evidence base for large scale water efficiency. Do you have a comment on this page? All comments are moderated: we will not publish irrelevant or inappropriate comments. Please note that we require your email to validate your message and will not publish it or use it for any other purpose.

Engaging water users for improved efficiency Waterwise annual conference 21-22 March 2012, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford More information and registration… The 2012 Waterwise conference takes “Engaging water users” as its theme. Getting water users to think about how they use water is a fundamental challenge for water efficiency, with the journey from awareness to action far from clear. The conferenc

Australian Bureau of Statistics Launch of "Informing a Nation: The Evolution of the Australian Bureau of Statistics" Informing a nation: The evolution of the Australian Bureau of Statistics was officially launched on 31 October 2005 by the Chair of the Australian Statistical Advisory Council, Professor Sandra Harding, at ABS House in Canberra. 'But the main thing about the ABS is that its material is endlessly fascinating to anyone trying to make sense of this society. Its publications offer brilliant illuminations of the state of the nation, and the ABS remains the one indispensable source of information about the kind of society we are becoming ... Know thyself is as good advice for societies as for individuals, and no-one helps us do that better than the ABS.' It was not until I read drafts of the chapters of this book that I fully appreciated what a powerful role the ABS had played in Australian society. We are one of the important pillars of Australian democracy. Our work is incredibly important and we should feel proud to play such an important role. This book explains the story of ABS history and it is broken down by themes such as Economic statistics, Population Censuses, Methodology and Use of technology. We have deliberately chosen what is known as a popular history style. We wanted it to be accessible to ABS staff and their family and friends as well as our many colleagues. As part of this process we have gathered a fine collection of records and information. They will provide the base for a more traditional history work along the lines of Forster and Hazelhurst in 1988. We should do that some time. It is clear from reading the book that the basic role of the ABS has not changed much over 100 years, nor has its core values of integrity, equality of access, professionalism and respect for the confidentiality of information provided to us. However, the way we do things has changed markedly - methodology and technology developments have been great enablers for change and fortunately these have been particular strengths of the ABS. To conclude these brief comments, I will quote from the concluding paragraphs of the history volume 'This trust has proved important to governments as well. Because of it, discussions can focus on what the statistics mean for policy rather than on the integrity of the statistics themselves. 'The Bureau's history has provided a fine shoulder on which to stand as we address the challenges of the future. There must be changes if the Bureau is to remain relevant and provide value for the money appropriated to it. But more than anything else we in the Bureau must be careful not to lose that trust - it is our comparative advantage. If we were to lose it, we would risk becoming just another information provider. Finally, I would like to offer thanks to: - Beth Wright and Joanne Caddy, authors of this book but members of the ABS staff who did a lot of the work on a part-time basis - Dale Chatwin, assembler of much of the historical material and a contributing author - Fred von Reibnitz, editor - Petrina Carden, graphic artist - Bill McLennan, who reviewed some chapters and provided many helpful comments - Graeme Oakley, project manager - My colleagues on the Steering Committee who also looked after individual chapters - all current and former ABS staff who provided information to assist with the preparation of this volume. We have tried hard to be as accurate as possible. But there can be different interpretation of events as events are seen through different eyes. Finally, I would like to introduce Sandra Harding, Chair of ASAC to formally launch the history volume Address by Professor Sandra Harding, Chair, Australian Statistics Advisory Council Staff of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, both present and past, here in Canberra and also in the State Offices who are joining this event via the ABS Broadcast Centre, clients and friends of the ABS. In the past few weeks I have had the pleasure of dipping into an early copy of "Informing a Nation" the publication that traces the first 100 years in the ABS' history, and that is being officially launched here today. Although I have always been a fan of the ABS, and have taken a keen interest in its output and activities for some time, my reading has been rewarded with many surprises. I have come away from the experience with a much stronger historical appreciation of the ABS. I have also developed some familiarity with, and affection for, the many thousands of hard working staff who over the decades have dedicated their working lives to the institution – for which they – many of you – can be justifiably proud. This is really your day. And your history. You are right to be proud of it, and I feel very honoured to have been asked to launch this record of your work. The book chronicles the efforts of an army of professionals, who have measured and surveyed their way through the decades. It is a compelling image to consider...an image that spans generations and vast changes in our world...from a time when the T-Model Ford was the pinnacle of technology to now when we talk about virtual worlds and use words like 'blog' and refer to 'Remote Data Access Laboratories'. This book traces the life of an organisation that has continued to do its duty to the Australian people through two world wars, the Great Depression and enormous social, economic, political and technological change. On the 8th of December, 1905, Parliament gave its assent to the Census and Statistics Act 1905. In the following year, George Handley Knibbs was appointed Commonwealth Statistician and the Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics was established. When I stand here today and look at your mission statement there on the wall, I’m reminded of the many benefits that the Bureau has brought to our Australian democracy. To my mind there are few institutions in our history that have underpinned an understanding of our national progress to the extent that the ABS has. It has provided us with the data to enable a fair parliamentary electoral representation. It has given us an accurate, independent and balanced view of how our nation has changed and to a large extent how our governments have performed. It has given us many tools that we can use to understand, manage and improve our economic and social policy. In the research area, the Bureau's work has enabled notable breakthroughs, for example finding a link between rubella and abnormalities in unborn children. By informing the nation about the past, as recorded in endless rearrangement of 10 numbers and 26 letters, the Bureau provides critical insight into the future. There is general agreement that the ABS has done its job well. Now, I’m a sociologist so it’s perhaps not surprising that I have been especially intrigued to read about the people and events behind that success, and also to learn how challenges were met with courage and decisive action. In our present age of instant communication I can only wonder at the difficulty, back at the very beginning, in operating a Bureau of Census and Statistics with varied levels of cooperation from different state statistical offices. Due to the different levels of resourcing for those offices and the challenges of contemporary communication, it must have been very difficult to create and maintain standards. Indeed it took some 50 years for that coordination to be ironed-out through agreements that created an integrated statistical service, responsible for serving both the needs of the Commonwealth and State governments. In 1975 the Australian Bureau of Statistics was established as an independent statutory authority. The Statistician was given the powers of a Departmental Permanent Head in respect of the Public Service Act and for the first time the ABS was organisationally an independent department of State. The independence of the Bureau has helped to underwrite its reputation as an organisation that remains apart from politics, an organisation where integrity is a core value and where trust of providers and government is carefully protected. Today the system of State Offices serves the ABS well by keeping it in close contact with State Government clients and by allowing the ABS to tap into the widest possible labour market to recruit its staff. For me this embodiment of Federation in practice is the first of the ABS's four big achievements over the past century. This federal style of operation is likely to be greatly strengthened in future by development of the National Statistical Service - the NSS. This service, although still in its early stages, will support the improved professional collection and analysis of statistics across all Australian governments. The second big achievement over the first 100 years I think must be the fact that the Bureau has run, almost, a Century of Censuses. Considering the technical and logistical issues, the hundreds of thousands of collectors involved, the consistent production of the Census is remarkable. There were of course disruptions - wars and budgetary difficulties, and even the odd collector who got lost (the stories in the book are fascinating) - but at the end of the day the Bureau came through for the people of Australia. As we gather here now, there is a team in this building, and in the States, urgently engaged in next year's Census - the fifteenth that the Bureau will have conducted. The third big achievement I think was the Bureau's decision in the early 1960's to establish a computer network in all the Bureau's offices. At the time this was pioneering stuff and made the ABS a technological leader in the public service, and Australia for that matter. The growing use of technology provided a strong impetus for a more coordinated and centrally managed statistical system. Today, the ABS maintains this momentum. Its current plan to develop a National Data Network is strong reinforcement of the Bureau's leadership role in the strengthening of Australia's National Statistical Service. It is really something to imagine the National Data Network future where researchers and users of statistics will be able to log onto a single site and find quality assured data from many sources. The way the census program has adopted technology is also part of that core IT strength of the ABS. An online Census form next year and faster than ever processing are just some of the benefits that will come from that. The Internet too, is changing the way ABS does its business. Publications and their related tables are now available free on line to anyone who wants them. Page views of the ABS web site are now running at the rate of about 50 million per year. In the future, the Internet will continue to influence the way ABS data is collected and disseminated. Business surveys could be done online, data extracted from other government administrative collections and so on. I think advances such as these will drive ABS' productivity gains over the medium and longer term. The final big achievement I would like to note, and one that is well explained in the book, was the development of survey methodology. This meant the ABS moved from relying on censuses and administrative systems, covering a small number of topics, to doing surveys that covered a much larger range of topics. This enabled the ABS to move into social statistics in a very significant way, and now reflects much of the Bureau's output. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my privilege to serve as Chair of the Australian Statistical Advisory Council, which as you know provides community guidance and input to the directions and priorities of the ABS' work. In the past financial year, ASAC has provided advice to ABS on a range of key economic and social issues. These include: content for the next census; issues around the census data enhancement project; developments in environmental statistics; children and youth statistics; crime and justice statistics and future directions in electronic dissemination. I’m pleased to report that the relationship between ASAC and the ABS is positive and productive and I think it is delivering the quality of interaction intended when the Council was first established under the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act, 1975. When I and my fellow ASAC members look at today’s ABS we see an institution that not only has a rich past, but one that is firmly focused on the future - the next 100 years - that strives to remain relevant to the statistical needs of contemporary Australia. There are challenges for you on the horizon, such as improving responsiveness to clients, upgrading official statistics in-line with recent funding improvements from the government and building a central role in Australia for statistical leadership. All these are beyond the delivery of quality statistics for which you are already acknowledged as a leader. It is my prediction that the ABS will find the wherewithal, in both leadership and resources, to meet these and the fresh challenges that will certainly come your way. I predict that the ABS will continue to carve out its niche in our society. That for the next 100 years it will continue to inform the nation with integrity and remain worthy of the public trust you enjoy. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure now to formally launch Informing a Nation. This page first published 5 December 2005, last updated 24 July 2008

Australian Bureau of Statistics Launch of "Informing a Nation: The Evolution of the Australian Bureau of Statistics" Informing a nation: The evolution of the Australian Bureau of Statistics was officially launched on 31 October 2005 by the Chair of the Australian Statistical Advisory Council, Professor Sandra Harding, at ABS House in Canberra. 'But the main thing about the ABS is that its material

UTILIZATION OF GENOMICS FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTION TRAITS IN COOL AND COLD WATER AQUACULTURE Location: Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research Title: Identifying genes affectng stress response in rainbow trout Submitted to: Aquaculture Conference Proceedings Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: September 21, 2012 Publication Date: February 25, 2013 Citation: Rexroad Iii, C.E., Liu, S., Gao, G., Palti, Y., Weber, G.M., Vallejo, R.L. 2013. Identifying genes affectng stress response in rainbow trout. Aquaculture Conference Proceedings. P0182. Genomic analyses have the potential to impact aquaculture production traits by identifying markers as proxies for traits which are expensive or difficult to measure and characterizing genetic variation and biochemical mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation. One such set of traits are the responses of rainbow trout to stressors common to aquaculture production environments. Typical stressors can be categorized under handling and overcrowding, sub-optimal water quality parameters, and social interactions. These stressors may negatively impact growth, feed intake, feed efficiency, disease resistance, flesh quality, and reproductive performance. We employed genetic and functional genomic approaches towards identifying genes affecting stress response with the eventual goal of improving animal welfare and aquaculture production efficiency. A genetic study was conducted to identify QTL (quantitative trait locus) associated with stress response. Seven rainbow trout families (parents and offspring) from a single broodstock population were challenged with a 3 hour confinement stress and sampled to determine plasma cortisol concentration, a common measure for stress responsiveness in rainbow trout. A highly significant QTL explaining 40% of the phenotypic variance was detected on chromosome 16; additional suggestive QTL explaining 13-27% of the phenotypic variances were detected on chromosomes 6, 10, 12, 14, 19, 22 and sex. A third generation was similarly phenotyped and genotyped which enabled detection of significant QTL on chromosomes 9, 12 and 25 with additional suggestive QTL on chromosomes 6, 8, 13 and 15. These QTL each explained 9 to 25% of the phenotypic variance. Further validation and fine mapping these QTL may lead to the identification of genes affecting stress response and influence approaches to selection for this economically important stress response trait. A parallel functional genomic approach included employing RNA-seq, which is difficult in species for which a reference genome sequence is not available. We developed a two-step strategy that included generation of a stress reference transcriptome. Roche 454 pyrosequencing technology was used to sequence multiple tissues from fish challenged with a variety of individual stressors including high temperature (25C), low temperature (2C), high salinity (32‰), re-use water, handling/crowding and unchallenged control fish. Over 3 million reads were obtained from a pooled normalized library constructed from gill, brain, liver, spleen, kidney and muscle transcripts. These 454 sequences were assembled and annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) terms and used as a reference transcriptome. Equal amounts of total RNA extracted from livers of the fish used in the crowding challenge experiment were pooled by tank (3 treatments, 2 controls) to create 5 libraries (one per tank) which were sequenced in three runs on an Illumina HiSeq 2000. Analyses of 492 million reads have identified over 300 differentially expressed transcripts with a FDR =0.05.

UTILIZATION OF GENOMICS FOR IMPROVING PRODUCTION TRAITS IN COOL AND COLD WATER AQUACULTURE Location: Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research Title: Identifying genes affectng stress response in rainbow trout Submitted to: Aquaculture Conference Proceedings Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: September 21, 2012 Publication Date: February 25, 2013 Citation: Rexroad Iii, C.E

Recent threats of terrorism are impacting many facets of our lives. It is important that the citizens of South Dakota know that their elected officers are taking proactive steps to keep terrorism out of our state. It is also important for South Dakotans to have necessary information to help answer any questions or concerns they might have about state and national security. Our office is committed to making this information available to you and helping you stay safe. Attorney General Marty J. Jackley and his staff are working aggressively with other state agencies to strengthen our security and insure the well-being of South Dakota. Some specific areas the Attorney General's Office is actively working on: - Reviewing legislative options to strengthen or add necessary laws (see "Legislation Passes" press release); - Threat assessments and coordinated response planning to terrorist incidents; - Training public safety personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, 911 dispatchers, emergency medical services and medical clinics; - A proposal to deliver anti-terrorism training to 16 cities in South Dakota; - A specialized 20-hour instruction course for airport security officers; - Monitoring the activities of fundraising groups related to the September 11 attacks; - Enhancing statewide law enforcement intelligence collection and dissemination system related to potential terrorism activity. Click here to see links to state and federal web sites which provide additional information about terrorism.

Recent threats of terrorism are impacting many facets of our lives. It is important that the citizens of South Dakota know that their elected officers are taking proactive steps to keep terrorism out of our state. It is also important for South Dakotans to have necessary information to help answer any questions or concerns they might have about state and national security. Our office is committed

- City Publications> - Four Cambridge Residents Diagnosed with West Nile Virus this Season. Cambridge Response to Human West Nile Virus Cases and Updates as of Aug. 31 Four Cambridge Residents Diagnosed with West Nile Virus this Season. Cambridge Response to Human West Nile Virus Cases and Updates as of Aug. 31 State health offiicials reported today that two more Cambridge residents have been diagnosed with West Nile virus (WNV). One resident is a woman in her 40s and the other resident is a woman in her 70s. Neither woman was hospitalized and both are recovering from the illness. Earlier in August, the state confirmed two other cases of WNV in Cambridge residents. The Cambridge Public Health Department leads the City's response to the risks posed by West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases. While Cambridge residents of all ages are at risk for severe illness from West Nile virus, people over 50 are at greatest risk. The easiest and best way to prevent West Nile virus is to avoid mosquito bites through October. The Cambridge Public Health Department is encouraging residents—especially people over 50—to consider rescheduling outdoor evening activities through October or take simple actions to prevent mosquito bites when outdoors during evening and night hours. The Health Department also urges residents to remove or treat stagnant water near their homes. For the more information, visit the Health Department’s West Nile Virus webpage. Visiting City Hall Hours of Service City Department Directory Robert W. Healy Richard C. Rossi Deputy City Manager

- City Publications> - Four Cambridge Residents Diagnosed with West Nile Virus this Season. Cambridge Response to Human West Nile Virus Cases and Updates as of Aug. 31 Four Cambridge Residents Diagnosed with West Nile Virus this Season. Cambridge Response to Human West Nile Virus Cases and Updates as of Aug. 31 State health offiicials reported today that two more Cambridge residents have been diag

The search textbox has an autosuggest feature. When you enter three or more characters, a list of up to 10 suggestions will popup under the textbox. Use the arrow keys to move through the suggestions. To select a suggestion, hit the enter key. Using the escape key closes the listbox and puts you back at the textbox. The radio buttons allow you to toggle between having all search items start with or contain the text you entered in the search box. gonadotrophin releasing hormone Specifically expressed in hypothalamic neurons as a preproprotein, gonadotropin releasing hormones (GnRH family) are secreted into the median eminence capillary plexus, bind to receptors on anterior pituitary gonadotrophs, and stimulate release of LHRH and FSH gonadotropins to control female reproduction. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus) follicle stimulating hormone-releasing factor luteinising hormone-releasing factor luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone

The search textbox has an autosuggest feature. When you enter three or more characters, a list of up to 10 suggestions will popup under the textbox. Use the arrow keys to move through the suggestions. To select a suggestion, hit the enter key. Using the escape key closes the listbox and puts you back at the textbox. The radio buttons allow you to toggle between having all search items start with o

In December 2004, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review (Bulletin) establishing minimum peer review standards, a transparent process for public disclosure of peer review planning, and opportunities for public participation. The OMB Bulletin, implemented under the Information Quality Act (Public Law 106-554), is intended to enhance the quality and credibility of the federal government's scientific information, and applies to influential scientific information disseminated on or after June 16, 2005. The Bulletin directs federal agencies to adopt or adapt the National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) policy for committee selection with respect to evaluating conflicts of interest when[Note 1] selecting peer reviewers who are not federal government employees.[Note 2] The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has adapted the NAS conflict of interest policy as set forth below. Conflict of Interest Policy It is essential that individuals serving as peer reviewers of influential scientific information or highly influential scientific assessments that NOAA intends to disseminate not be compromised by any significant conflict of interest. For this purpose, the term "conflict of interest" means any financial or other interest which conflicts with the service of the individual on the review panel because it (1) could significantly impair the individual's objectivity or (2) could create an unfair competitive advantage for any person or organization. Except for those situations in which NOAA determines that a conflict of interest is unavoidable and promptly and publicly discloses the conflict of interest, no individual can be appointed to review documents subject to the OMB Bulletin if that individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the functions to be performed. Involves an Interest The term "conflict of interest" means something more than individual bias. There must be an interest, ordinarily financial, that could be directly affected by the work of the peer reviewers. Conflict of interest requirements are objective and preventive. They are not an assessment of one's actual behavior or character, one's ability to act objectively despite the conflicting interest, or one's relative insensitivity to particular dollar amounts of specific assets because of one's personal wealth. Conflict of interest requirements are objective standards designed to eliminate certain specific, potentially compromising situations from arising, and thereby protect the individual, other peer reviewers , NOAA, and the public interest. The individual, the other peer reviewers, and NOAA should not be placed in a situation where the findings and conclusions of a review could be reasonably questioned, and perhaps discounted or dismissed, simply because of the existence of conflicting interests. Applies Only to Current Interests The term "conflict of interest" applies only to current interests. It does not apply to past interests that have expired, no longer exist, and cannot reasonably affect current behavior. Nor does it apply to possible interests that may arise in the future but do not currently exist, because such future interests are inherently speculative and uncertain. For example, a pending formal or informal application for a particular job is a current interest, but the mere possibility that one might apply for such a job in the future is not a current interest. Potentially Affects the Interests of Others The term "conflict of interest" applies not only to the personal financial interests of the individual but also to the interests of others with whom the individual has substantial common financial interests if these interests are relevant to the functions to be performed. Thus, in assessing an individual's potential conflicts of interest, consideration must be given not only to the interests of the individual but also to the interests of the individual's spouse and minor children, the individual's employer, the individual's business partners, and others with whom the individual has substantial common financial interests. Consideration must also be given to the interests of those for whom one is acting in a fiduciary or similar capacity (e.g., being an officer or director of a corporation, whether profit or nonprofit, or serving as a trustee). The term "conflict of interest" as used herein ordinarily refers to financial conflicts of interest. In assessing potential conflicts of interest in connection with an individual's service as a peer reviewer, particular attention will be given to the following kinds of financial interests if they are relevant to the functions to be performed: · Employment relationships (including private and public sector employment and self-employment). · Consulting relationships (including commercial and professional consulting and service arrangements, scientific and technical advisory board memberships, and serving as an expert witness in litigation). · Stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments and investments including partnerships. · Real estate investments; patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property interests. · Commercial business ownership and investment interests. · Service provided in exchange for honorariums and travel expense reimbursements. · Research funding and other forms of research support. · Financial ties to entities regulated by NOAA, other stakeholders and NOAA itself. Limits Access to Confidential Information During the course of peer review activity for NOAA, the opportunity to have access to confidential information, if abused or misused, may confer an unfair competitive advantage. If an individual during the course of participating in a peer review for NOAA obtains and uses, or intends to use, confidential information not reasonably available to the public for the individual's own direct and substantial economic benefit, such conduct constitutes a conflict of interest. The same rule applies if the individual discloses, or intends to disclose, such information (albeit lawfully) to other individuals or to organizations in such a manner that a direct and substantial economic benefit may be conferred on such individuals or organizations. These restrictions do not apply to information once it has entered the public domain. In some situations - for example, access to confidential or proprietary information, - special limitations on access to and use of such information will be imposed. Substantial legal penalties may apply for noncompliance. In addition, an individual employed by or associated with a particular organization or enterprise should not be given access to proprietary information of a competitor or potential competitor unless appropriate safeguards have been established that reasonably protect the interests of all parties. Otherwise, such access may create an unfair competitive advantage, as well as possible liability for improper disclosure and use. For further guidance regarding access to confidential information, contact the NOAA Office of the General Counsel. Limits Reviews of One's Own Work It is not uncommon for individuals serving as peer reviewers to find that their own published and professional work, in common with others in the field, is part of the technical basis and literature for the information being reviewed. This ordinarily would not constitute a conflict of interest. However, an individual should not serve as a peer reviewer when a critical review and evaluation of the individual's own work, or that of his or her immediate employer, is a central purpose of the review, because that would constitute a conflict of interest, although such an individual may provide relevant information to the peer reviewers. Public Statements and Positions An individual may have become committed to a fixed position on a particular issue through public statements (e.g., testimony, speeches, interviews), through publications (e.g., articles, books), through close identification or association with the positions or perspectives of a particular group, or through other personal or professional activities. This would ordinarily constitute a potential source of bias but not a conflict of interest. However, in situations where there is some significant, directly related interest or duty of the individual - e.g., where the individual is currently president of a professional society that espouses the same fixed position on the issue - the situation may constitute a conflict of interest. Implementation of this Conflict of Interest Policy Requires Background Information and Confidential Conflict of Interest Disclosures To address questions of conflict of interest, individuals selected to perform peer review of scientific information subject to the OMB Bulletin are required to submit certain background information and information regarding conflicts of interest to NOAA (or the entity commissioned by NOAA to manage the peer review process) for review. NOAA has developed a "Background Information and Confidential Conflict of Interest Disclosure" form for this purpose. The disclosure of relevant information is a continuing obligation for the duration of the peer review process for which the "Background Information and Confidential Conflict of Interest Disclosure" form was prepared. If during an individual’s period of service as a peer reviewer it becomes apparent to the individual that there has been a change in the information disclosed, or that there is new information that needs to be disclosed, such information must be reported promptly to NOAA or the entity commissioned by NOAA to manage the peer review process. Except as otherwise provided herein, specific conflict of interest information obtained by NOAA, or the entity commissioned by NOAA to manage the peer review process, from the "Background Information and Confidential Conflict of Interest Disclosure" form, from amended disclosures, and from the public and other sources will be held in confidence by NOAA. Access to such information within NOAA will be limited to those offices whose proper business requires access to that information. Such information will not be released by NOAA, or the entity commissioned by NOAA to manage the peer review process, except with the approval of the individual to whom the information pertains, unless release is required by law. Requires Public Notice For peer reviews of information subject to the OMB Bulletin, NOAA will disclose the names of the reviewers and their affiliation in a report of findings and conclusions prepared by the peer reviewers. The report will be posted on the Department of Commerce Information Quality web site (http://www.osec.doc.gov/cio/oipr/info_qual.html). For peer review of highly influential scientific assessments, the report will also include the credentials and relevant experiences of each peer reviewer. Reviewers shall be notified in advance regarding the extent of disclosure and attribution planned by the agency. Uses Background Information to Make Determinations on Conflicts of Interest Information obtained from the "Background Information and Confidential Conflict of Interest Disclosure" forms and from other sources, including the public, will be used by NOAA in addressing and resolving questions of conflict of interest. Except for those situations in which the agency determines that a conflict of interest is unavoidable and promptly and publicly discloses the conflict of interest, no individual can be appointed to serve (or continue to serve) as a peer reviewer for NOAA of information subject to the OMB Bulletin if the individual has a conflict of interest that is relevant to the peer review to be performed. A particular individual's conflict of interest may be determined to be unavoidable if, for example, the individual's qualifications, knowledge, and experience are particularly valuable to the peer review in question and the agency is unable to identify another individual with comparable qualifications, knowledge, and experience who does not also have a conflict of interest. Determinations that a conflict of interest exists and that a conflict of interest is unavoidable are made jointly by the NOAA office managing the peer review (or commissioning the entity to manage the peer review) and the NOAA General Counsel's office. Note 1: The NAS Policy on Committee Composition and Balance and Conflicts of Interest can be found at: http://www.nationalacademies.org/coi/index.html. Back to text. Note 2: Peer reviewers who are federal employees must comply with applicable federal ethics requirements. Back to text.

In December 2004, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a Final Information Quality Bulletin for Peer Review (Bulletin) establishing minimum peer review standards, a transparent process for public disclosure of peer review planning, and opportunities for public participation. The OMB Bulletin, implemented under the Information Quality Act (Public Law 106-554), is intended to

Noninvasive Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C Recruitment status was Recruiting Chronic viral hepatitis C is a frequent liver disease. It is associated with variable degree of hepatic fibrosis. To date, liver histology is still regarded as the gold standard to detect, diagnose and quantify liver fibrosis. This requires to perform a liver biopsy. Severe complications are associated to this procedure in 0.01 to 0.1% of cases. Because of this, the repetition of the biopsy to evaluate the progression of the disease or the response to treatment poses ethical questions. Also, liver biopsy only explore a minimal portion of the liver and liver fibrosis, which is not homogeneous, may be under- or over-estimated. To avoid risks linked to invasive technique and sampling errors associated to liver biopsy, efforts are being made to develop non-invasive technology to detect and quantitate liver fibrosis. In this study we will perform in patients with chronic hepatitis C, serum tests, fibroscan (elastography of liver parenchyma determined by ultra-sounds), and elastography of liver parenchyma by MRI. This study will allow - to determine whether non-invasive tests effectively measure liver fibrosis - to compare each non-invase test with results of liver biopsy - to determine whether a non-invasive test or a combination of non invasive tests may be used to accurately evaluate liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Hepatitis C, Chronic |Study Design:||Observational Model: Case Control Time Perspective: Prospective |Contact: Yves J Horsmans, M.D., Ph.D.||32 2 764 28 email@example.com| |Contact: Bernard VanBeers, M.D.,||32 2 764 29 firstname.lastname@example.org| |Cliniques Universitaires StLuc, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL)||Recruiting| |Brussels, Belgium, 1200| |Study Director:||Yves J Horsmans, M.D., Ph.D.||Cliniques Universitaires StLuc, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium|

Noninvasive Evaluation of Hepatic Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C Recruitment status was Recruiting Chronic viral hepatitis C is a frequent liver disease. It is associated with variable degree of hepatic fibrosis. To date, liver histology is still regarded as the gold standard to detect, diagnose and quantify liver fibrosis. This requires to perform a liver biopsy. Severe complications are associa

Today marks the day that consumers will see a new generation of safer cribs for sale at local and national retail stores. Safer cribs will mean a safer sleep for babies across the country. On December 15, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to approve new mandatory crib standards, establishing the most stringent crib safety standards in the world. Starting today, all importers, distributors, manufacturers, and retailers must offer only cribs that meet the CPSC's new and improved full-size and non-full-size crib standards. Some of the new mandatory rules for cribs include: (1) stopping the manufacture and sale of dangerous, traditional drop-side cribs; (2) strengthening mattress supports and crib slats; (3) requiring crib hardware to be more durable; and (4) making safety testing more rigorous. "A safe crib is the safest place for a baby to sleep. It is for this reason that I am so pleased that parents, grandparents and caregivers now can shop with confidence and purchase cribs that meet the most stringent crib standards in the world," said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "From the start, our goal has been to prevent deaths and injuries to babies in cribs, and now the day has come where only stronger and safer cribs are available for consumers to purchase." CPSC has recalled more than 11 million dangerous cribs since 2007. Drop-side cribs with detaching side rails were associated with at least 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. Additional deaths have occurred due to faulty or defective crib hardware. The new standards aim to prevent these tragedies and keep children safer in their cribs. Starting on December 28, 2012, child care facilities, including family child care homes and infant Head Start centers, as well as places of public accommodation, such as hotels and motels, and rental companies must use only cribs that comply with the new crib standards. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) required the CPSC to update the old crib standards, which had not gone through a major revision in more than 30 years, to ensure that the standards provided the highest level of safety possible. For more information on crib safety and the most up-to-date information on how to create a safe sleep environment for your baby, visit CPSC's crib information center at: www.cpsc.gov/cribs The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to http://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Subscribe/ (http://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/Subscribe/). Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov (http://www.cpsc.gov).

Today marks the day that consumers will see a new generation of safer cribs for sale at local and national retail stores. Safer cribs will mean a safer sleep for babies across the country. On December 15, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously to approve new mandatory crib standards, establishing the most stringent crib safety standards in the world. Starting to

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (continued) The Corps of Discovery When the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Pacific, the expedition consisted of thirty-three people and one dog. Of the thirty-three, most were American frontiersmen or furtraders. A few were French-Canadian or other European descent. Toussaint Charbonneau and his American Indian wife, Sacagawea, were hired as interpreters for the expedition and were accompanied by their infant child. William Clark's African-American slave York was also a member of the expedition. After reaching the Pacific Ocean, the Corps voted to move up the Netul River (the present day Lewis and Clark River) to a camp site selected by Captain Lewis in early December, 1805. Work clearing the site for a fort began immediately. By December 10, the foundations for their rooms were laid and by December 14, they had finished the room walls and had begun roofing the meat house room. All roofing was completed by December 24 and the walls were daubed with mud. The captains moved into their room on December 23, the rest of the expedition moving in on Christmas Eve and Day. The rooms had bunks and puncheon5 ] floors. After Christmas, they installed interior chimneys in the living quarters and installed pickets and gates. On December 31, they built a sentinel box and dug two "sinks."6] The journals do not give a detailed description of the fort. Expedition journals offer two floor plans, one drawn by Sergeant John Ordway and one by Captain William Clark. The two floor plans differ. Precedence has traditionally been given to Clark's documentation due to his rank and role in directing construction. By Clark's description, the fort was fifty feet square with two parallel cabins. One cabin contained 3 rooms, each with a central firepit, which were the enlisted men's quarters. The opposite cabin contained four rooms, two with firepits and one with a fireplace and exterior chimney. The orderly room, which had a firepit; the store room, which had a locking door; the room shared by the captains, which had a fireplace and exterior chimney; and the Charbonneau family room were all located on this side. Two gates were installed, one at each end of the parade ground. One was the main gate, which was locked at night. At the opposite end, the second gate was used to access the spring for water or other necessary trips outside the fort. The expedition party stayed at Fort Clatsop until March 23, 1806, when they set out on their return journey. During their stay, hunting was a major occupation for the Expedition members, and hunting parties were often away from the fort overnight or even for a few days. It was a continual process providing food for so many people. The party lived primarily off elk, consuming also deer and fish, wapato roots, some water fowl and beaver, dog, and the rare treat of whale blubber. Well before they had selected the site of Fort Clatsop and built their quarters, the damp climate had rotted their clothing, tents, and other hide based goods. The animal hides brought in from hunting were used to make new clothing, moccasins, bags, and covers for their luggage. Members also spent time preparing game meat, rendering candles, and repairing weapons. A group from the expedition party was sent to the coast to extract salt from sea water, leaving Fort Clatsop on December 28, 1805. They established a camp site near a Clatsop village at present day Seaside and made salt continuously until their return to Fort Clatsop on February 21, 1806. A system of guard duty was established which constantly occupied a sergeant and three enlisted men. The guard was in charge of announcing approaching groups of Indians, opening and closing the gates, tending the meat house fires and wood supply, periodically checking the condition of the canoes at the landing site, and bringing in wood for the fireplace in the captains' quarters. Chinook and Clatsops interacted extensively with the Expedition, exchanging goods, services, and information on a regular basis. The captains occupied their time preparing their journals and maps. Lewis' journal from Fort Clatsop ended a three month hiatus from journal keeping and provides some of his best ethnographic and botanical information recorded during the expedition. Both captains made separate trips out to the coast, one of these being a trip led by Captain Clark to procure some blubber and oil from a beached whale. Generally speaking, the expedition party was miserable while at Fort Clatsop. Fleas tormented them and it rained on all but twelve days of their stay. The weather was usually grey and wet, which made them disagreeable. Illness and injuries abounded during their stay, ranging from colds, fevers, and muscle strains, which the men contracted while tracking, hunting, and carrying game long distances in rough, damp terrain often miles away from the fort, to venereal disease. Their diet was usually less than desirable owing to the dampness which quickly spoiled their meat. Their general discomfort and the movement of elk herds to the mountains persuaded the expedition to leave on March 23, 1806, rather than the April 1 departure date established earlier. Last Updated: 20-Jan-2004

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND (continued) The Corps of Discovery When the Corps of Discovery arrived at the Pacific, the expedition consisted of thirty-three people and one dog. Of the thirty-three, most were American frontiersmen or furtraders. A few were French-Canadian or other European descent. Toussaint Charbonneau and his American Indian wife, Sacagawea, were hired as interpreters for the expedition

Tourists Visit Pentagon Crash Site as Anniversary Approaches By Carmen L. Gleason American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2007 On a day as clear and sunny as the fateful one six years before, tourists and local citizens came to the Pentagon today to pay homage and honor those who lost their lives when a terrorist-controlled airliner crashed into the building Sept. 11, 2001. Carlos and Nubia Castona, from Miami, take a moment to write their condolences to the family members of those killed at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001. The two visited the Pentagon's Memorial Chapel on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, Sept. 8, 2007. Photo by Carmen L. Gleason (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. In hushed voices or with respectful silence, nearly 300 people came to the U.S. military’s headquarters to see the crash site of American Airlines Flight 77 that left 184 people dead and a country grief-stricken. Spectators filed by the side of the building draped with a gigantic American flag in honor of the anniversary and viewed the only remnant of the day’s destruction: a blacked stone bearing the date of the attack. “I hurt for all the suffering that has gone on here, and for the loss of the families,” said Nubia Castano, as she clasped her hands to her heart and struggled to overcome her emotions. “We wish so badly that this wouldn’t have happened.” She and her husband, Carlos, are visiting the nation’s capital from Miami. They said they consider it luck that the day before they are to return home they could come to the crash site to pay their respects. Although they consider all the monuments in Washington to be “magnificent,” they said the Pentagon has the most meaning to them. Servicemembers working at the Pentagon as tour guides provided the timeline and logistics of the day’s attack on the building as visitors entered into the America’s Heroes Memorial and the Pentagon’s Memorial Chapel. “Just think, I was pregnant with you when this happened,” Susan Ciconte whispered to her 5-year-old daughter, Kaitlynn, as they stepped through the doors of the chapel. Ciconte, an Air Force wife of more than 20 years, said she and her family had just arrived to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana the day before the attacks. President Bush, having left Florida upon getting word of the attacks, stopped briefly at Barksdale in the early hours of the crisis. “I have a photo of Air Force One as it’s taking off from the base,” Ciconte said. “I will never forget that day.” Washington native Nancy Fearheiley was just as awestruck as the out-of-town tourists during her first visit to the Pentagon. “We all remember where we were that day,” she said, as she looked off into the distance. Had it not been for her taking an alternate route to work that morning due to road construction, Fearheiley said, she would have been driving by the building at the moment the plane hit. Living only a mile from the Pentagon, she said, she clearly remembers every sight, sound and smell of that day. “It was devastating,” she said. “It was an absolutely gorgeous day, but following the attack … it was just surreal.” Fearheiley described how the city took on the quality of an empty movie set. The absence of traffic, planes overhead and ambient noise in general caused the city to fall into an eerie silence, she recalled. As she drove home that evening, she said, the city‘s Georgetown neighborhood was like a ghost town, with armed soldiers posted on street corners to provide security. “And the smell in the air – I will never be able to get it out of my memory,” she said, cringing. “It was the smell of jet fuel, burnt clothing … and of people. A smell doesn’t often make a memory, but that one did.” Although she drives by the site daily, Fearheiley said, visiting the Pentagon today gave her a different perspective. “I got chills and teared up while standing in the chapel,” she said softly. “I realized the sanctity of what occurred here. This will be hallowed, honored ground forever.”

Tourists Visit Pentagon Crash Site as Anniversary Approaches By Carmen L. Gleason American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2007 On a day as clear and sunny as the fateful one six years before, tourists and local citizens came to the Pentagon today to pay homage and honor those who lost their lives when a terrorist-controlled airliner crashed into the building Sept. 11, 2001. Carlos and N

New York State Eric R. Dinallo Superintendent of Insurance 25 Beaver Street New York, N.Y. 10004 |ISSUED 11/19/2007||FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE| WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INSURANCE BEFORE REACHING THE CAR RENTAL COUNTER Survey Reveals Confusion Among Consumers Regarding Rental Car Insurance A large percentage of U.S. consumers are confused about whether to buy insurance when renting a car, according to new research by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the New York State Insurance Department. In fact, many people purchase insurance at the rental counter without knowing whether their existing auto policies or credit card benefits already cover their needs. “When renting a car, many consumers purchase unnecessary insurance and end up wasting money. Meanwhile, other drivers inadvertently underinsure their rental car, placing themselves at risk,” said New York State Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo. “As travel increases around the holiday season, the New York State Insurance Department encourages consumers to investigate whether their existing auto insurance provides sufficient protection for car rental.” The New York State Insurance Department and the NAIC’s national survey of 632 consumers, conducted from Sept. 19-30, 2007, revealed these findings: “Drivers should educate themselves before they reach the auto rental counter,” Dinallo said. “Carefully review your auto insurance policy and check with your credit card issuer about auto insurance benefits. Protect yourself and save money by taking a few precautions and asking the right questions.” Prior to renting a car, Dinallo recommends that renters ask the following questions: The New York State Insurance Department’s Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance offers comprehensive information on auto insurance. This free booklet is available by calling the Department at 1-800-342-3736 or visiting the Department’s website at www.ins.state.ny.us. Car Rental Insurance Tips from the New York State Insurance Department and the NAIC’s Insure U Web Site Get more information about the types of insurance products car rental companies tend to provide, as well as additional auto insurance information by visiting www.InsureUonline.org and the New York State Insurance Department’s website at www.ins.state.ny.us. You can also get extensive information, tips and considerations regarding life, health and home insurance by life stage. The entire site is available in Spanish at www.insureuonline.org/espanol. ABOUT THE NAIC Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC’s overriding objective is to assist state insurance regulators in protecting consumers and helping maintain the financial stability of the insurance industry by offering financial, actuarial, legal, computer, research, market conduct and economic expertise. Formed in 1871, the NAIC is the oldest association of state officials. For more than 135 years, state-based insurance supervision has served the needs of consumers, industry and the business of insurance at-large by ensuring hands-on, frontline protection for consumers, while providing insurers the uniform platforms and coordinated systems they need to compete effectively in an ever-changing marketplace. For more information, visit NAIC at www.naic.org/press_home.htm. ABOUT THE NEW YORK STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT Established in 1849, the New York State Insurance Department supervises and monitors the financial condition and market conduct of insurers in the state. The Department has responsibility for approving corporate formations, mergers and consolidations of insuring organizations, licensing insurance agents, brokers, adjusters, consultants and reinsurance intermediaries and disciplining licensees who violate the Insurance Law. The Department regulates premium rates and policy forms and provisions, services complaints and inquiries from consumers, administers the affairs of companies that are placed in liquidation or rehabilitation and investigates insurance fraud. For more information, visit www.ins.state.ny.us.

New York State Eric R. Dinallo Superintendent of Insurance 25 Beaver Street New York, N.Y. 10004 |ISSUED 11/19/2007||FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE| WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT INSURANCE BEFORE REACHING THE CAR RENTAL COUNTER Survey Reveals Confusion Among Consumers Regarding Rental Car Insurance A large percentage of U.S. consumers are confused about whether to buy insurance when renting a car, according

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Other Common Names German carp, European carp, mud bass, buglemouth bass Very large member of the minnow family. Thick bodied, with a brassy sheen, humped back, very large scales, large lips, barbles extending from lips, and spines on the front of dorsal and anal fins. Commonly attain 15 to 20 lbs. Carp have acute senses of hearing, smell and taste, and are very skittish in clear water. They will bite in hot summer when other fish are not very active, but are a challenge to catch on hook and line. Carp often go on feeding sprees after a rain. Sometimes it pays to chum an area with kernel corn, oatmeal, cooked vegetables or similar materials. Baits include bread dough balls, canned corn or peas, marshmallows, cheese mixed with cotton to keep it on the hook, and worms. Baits must lie on unobstructed bottom. Tackle is usually a spinning, spincasting or casting rod at least six feet long with plenty of backbone; reels should be fitted with at least 100 yds. of 12 to 30 lb. test line. Hooks from #2 down to #10 are favored, and a sliding sinker should be used because of the carp's wariness. Carp dig down into the bottom or amid vegetation, sucking up mouthfuls of silt and debris, somehow straining out food items such as snails, mussels, vegetation, worms, aquatic larvae and organic debris through their gill rakers, then spitting out mud and other non-food particles. Not native to the U.S., but widely introduced in the late 1800's and found in all Virginia drainages. Prefers clean water, but capable of tolerating and dominating degraded waters. Prefers sluggish, vegetated areas with soft bottoms. Spawns in shallow bays, tributary headwaters, marshy river sloughs and marshes, wallowing around muddy shallows amid cattails or other emergent vegetation where they lay their eggs. Broadcasts its eggs in late April and early May over and amid aquatic vegetation.

Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Other Common Names German carp, European carp, mud bass, buglemouth bass Very large member of the minnow family. Thick bodied, with a brassy sheen, humped back, very large scales, large lips, barbles extending from lips, and spines on the front of dorsal and anal fins. Commonly attain 15 to 20 lbs. Carp have acute senses of hearing, smell and taste, and are very skittish in

Good afternoon Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Jackson Lee, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) international cooperation on transportation security, challenges we face, and areas for improved partnerships that will promote both security and commerce. TSA recognizes the significance of the growth in the Asia Pacific region given that it is expected for the region’s share of global GDP to increase significantly over the next 30 years. This will likely result in significant increases in the transportation sector as people and goods move to, from and within the region. With industry projecting that Asia Pacific countries will account for roughly half of the world’s air traffic growth by 2030, TSA has made a concerted effort to engage with the major economies of the region, including China, Korea, and Japan. The People’s Republic of China China’s civil aviation sector has undergone significant development in the last two decades and continues on a fast-paced upward trajectory. Sustained economic growth and increasingly high tourism rates have driven the need for infrastructure development and capacity building in its aviation sector. With such expansion in the aviation sector, China is an important partner for TSA both on a bilateral basis and as a player in the transportation sector. TSA actively seeks new ways to engage with China and, in 2011, became a member of the Aviation Cooperation Program (ACP) which is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Government, the Chinese Government, U.S. industry, and the Chinese aviation industry. In 2011, the ACP hosted the U.S.-China Aviation Summit to address areas of continued growth and partnership in aviation development between the two nations. Participants in the summit discussed airport development, air cargo infrastructure, airport and aircraft security, general aviation, air traffic management, airline operations and training opportunities. In promoting specific commercial opportunities for American businesses and expanding overall trade opportunities in China, TSA hopes to introduce U.S. security and safety technologies and operations that can improve immediate and long-term aviation interests globally. TSA also hopes to work with its Chinese counterparts, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on aviation security technology development and standards including collaboration on product capability, standards, quality control and maintenance in order to harmonize the capabilities and standards of Chinese manufactured aviation security equipment to complement screening technologies internationally. Chinese technology experts currently test and qualify U.S. manufactured equipment as part of the tendering process for equipment bids in China. In concert with these activities, TSA will continue testing aviation security equipment from Chinese companies to promote greater partnership in this area. Going forward, TSA and its Chinese counterparts have agreed to exchange information and best practices regarding a number of aviation security programs including behavioral detection, supply chain security, and airport design. Additionally, both sides have committed to work toward harmonization in future multilateral forums. While the goal of “harmonization” is lofty, TSA will begin progress in this area by simply sharing positions in advance with CAAC and soliciting their comment/input for the upcoming International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. To this end, Administrator Pistole recently met with CAAC counterparts in September 2011 and hopes to personally visit Beijing this year for an expanded conversation. Assistant Administrator Halinski also visited CAAC in Beijing in March 2012 and will return to China in May to participate in the China Civil Aviation Forum. The Republic of Korea As a result of rapid economic growth, high exports, and increased tourism, Korea’s aviation market has grown significantly. In May 2010, TSA and its Korean counterpart, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs (MLTM), signed a Terms of Reference establishing a formal bilateral cooperation group through which the two entities could pursue multiple work streams for consideration and possible action. Areas of particular mutual interest between the two countries include joint airport inspections and collaboration on policy and technology for screening of Liquids, Aerosols, and Gels (LAGs). The next Aviation Security Cooperation Group meeting is scheduled to take place in May 2012 in Seoul and will be attended by Assistant Administrator Halinski. Administrator Pistole met with his MLTM counterpart for bilateral discussions at an ICAO meeting in Malaysia during January 2012. In addition, Korea was the first Asia Pacific country to have purchased and deployed Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT). TSA assisted its Korean counterparts by providing resources and information regarding the technology and background information regarding U.S. studies on the equipment particularly in Automated Target Recognition for AIT and LAGs screening equipment. In addition to these activities, TSA has provided enhanced security measures on flights to Seoul during the lead-up to major international events including the G20 and Nuclear Security summit. With its multiple international airports, eleven of which have last point of departure (LPD) service to the U.S., Japan is considered a regional transportation hub and is a strong aviation security leader in international and multilateral fora. Following the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and subsequent Fukushima nuclear incident, Japan has focused its efforts inward on recovery and stabilization. Funding previously designated for aviation security infrastructure investments, particularly screening equipment such as AIT, has been reallocated to recovery efforts. While TSA had no direct role in disaster recovery, the incident highlighted the strong relationship shared with Japan, evident though constant communication and coordination. TSA is coordinating efforts to re-engage with Japan on aviation security, particularly as a regional partner in enhancing baseline aviation security in other Asia-Pacific countries. Japan is active within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and regularly invites TSA subject matter experts to participate in the aviation security working group. Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau has also requested that TSA work on capacity building with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which conducts aviation security training and hosts training sessions for a wide spectrum of nations. TSA participated in JICA training in February 2010 and has been offered the opportunity to participate in extended training at the Yokohama facility in the future. TSA intends to harmonize capacity development efforts to maximize the value of both USG and Japanese efforts. In addition to our bilateral relationships, TSA engages with international partners via multilateral fora, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which supports sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the region with the collaboration of 21 economies. APEC also works to advance transportation security through the APEC Counter-terrorism Task Force (CTTF) and the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG). Through key projects and proposals, TSA seeks to advance information sharing, capacity building, and public awareness in areas such as canine screening, cargo security, bus transportation anti-terrorism practices, and checkpoint optimization measures while encouraging economic development. APEC representatives from Japan, China, and Korea have engaged in these efforts by providing expert knowledge and feedback that help shape agendas to best address the needs of the participating economies while benefiting from the exchange of information and best practices on key transportation security issues. From a global perspective, the most important multilateral forum with which TSA engages is ICAO, a subsidiary of the United Nations and aviation’s international governing body. As the U.S. Government’s representative to the ICAO Aviation Security Panel of Experts (AVSECP), TSA works with other international representatives to shape international aviation security standards on important issues such as cargo security and coordination of capacity development. Strengthening International Cooperation While transportation security varies from country to country, China, Korea, and Japan are leaders within the Asia Pacific region. All three countries are compliant with baseline ICAO requirements following routine TSA airport assessments and air carrier inspection and are considered to have a strong security posture by TSA’s international compliance branch. A significant ICAO initiative to strengthen baseline aviation security is centered on promoting air cargo supply chain security practices amongst ICAO Member States. These efforts focus on defining high risk cargo and appropriate mitigation measures, known consignors, and regulated agent security standards. Regulated agent programs are a widely accepted baseline security measure implemented by many Member States, though there is significant room for growth to expand and strengthen these principles in the region. TSA’s efforts are directly aligned with the National Strategy for Supply Chain Security and TSA’s risk-based security approach for the aviation sector. Developed in close coordination with industry stakeholders, these efforts coalesce in a consistent message from both the U.S. public and private sector and enhance both the security and facilitation of commerce. To this end, TSA works to recognize National Cargo Security Programs (NCSPs) around the world in order to further strengthen international air cargo arena security regimes. This effort allows operators to accept cargo screened and secured throughout the supply chain, decreases the re-screening requirements at last point of departure airports, limits backlogs, and facilitates commerce. TSA has been coordinating with Japan and is working with Korea to identify potential paths forward. We plan to engage China on a bilateral basis to evaluate their supply chain security systems, promote solutions which increase global security, and allow for the facilitation of international commerce. TSA plans to continue strengthening supply chain security with China, Korea, and Japan. In addition to NCSP recognition, TSA will work to develop baseline technology standards and define high risk cargo and appropriate mitigation methods. TSA also hopes to leverage the strength of China, Korea, and Japan across the Asia Pacific region to harmonize training, capacity improvement, and outreach to developing countries. TSA will utilize multilateral fora such as APEC and ICAO, as well as bilateral engagement, to strengthen baseline international security standards while continuing to develop partnerships within the region. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss TSA’s cooperation with international partners on transportation security, challenges we face, and areas for improved relationships that will promote the free and secure flow of travelers and commerce.

Good afternoon Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Jackson Lee, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) international cooperation on transportation security, challenges we face, and areas for improved partnerships that will promote both security and commerce. TSA recognizes the significance of the growth i

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Sumario: 17 February 2011, Strasbourg - Climate change and commodity speculation are among the main factors threatening food security inside and outside the EU, according to a European Parliament resolution adopted on Thursday. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) call for urgent measures to combat food price manipulation and ensure that food production is maintained in the EU. Droughts, floods, fires and storms, on a greater scale than in the past, are reducing agricultural capacity all over the world, says the resolution. Soil and water management must be improved to prevent loss of farmland, and the Commission should monitor national climate change mitigation measures, believe MEPs. MEPs criticise speculation in food commodities, agricultural raw materials and energy markets, all of which puts food security at risk. The G20 is urged to work for the convergence of market regulations by involving countries that are not part of the G20 in the fight against food price manipulation. Parliament asks the Commission to consider giving the new European Security and Markets Authority more power to prevent abuses in commodity markets. Dealing in food commodities should be limited to investors who have a genuine link with agricultural markets, MEPs believe. In addition, MEPs call on national governments not to impose curbs on exports, as these "provoke greater uncertainty in the markets and disrupt world markets, and therefore have the potential to drive prices up further at global level". Helping EU farmers To guarantee food security in the EU, a strong Common Agricultural Policy is needed, says the resolution. Declining farm incomes, caused by higher production costs to meet health, environmental and animal welfare standards, need to be urgently addressed to ensure there are farmers in the EU in the future. Market intervention tools, such as intervention and strategic stocks, must be part of the policy, says Parliament. Support for farmers in developing countries Since agriculture is a key economic sector in the developing world, MEPs call for a larger proportion of the financial aid for this sector to be used to support more effective and sustainable farming practices. They add that land ownership should be promoted to reduce poverty and increase food security. The resolution was approved by show of hands.

Sumario: 17 February 2011, Strasbourg - Climate change and commodity speculation are among the main factors threatening food security inside and outside the EU, according to a European Parliament resolution adopted on Thursday. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) call for urgent measures to combat food price manipulation and ensure that food production is maintained in the EU. Droughts, floo

Towards an EU system of employment and industrial relations? Without any doubt the influence of the European Union in the field of employment and industrial relations has assumed greater importance since the mid-1980s than in the decades before. This is mainly due to three factors. The first was the idea of a European type of capitalism which includes a specific social model and the idea of a ‘social dimension’ of European policies that was adopted by the European Commission in the mid-1980s. The second factor was the move towards a common currency and more liberalised markets within the EU since the 1990s, which led to attempts to improve the coordination of economic and social policies among EU Member States across a whole range of issues. And the third factor was an increasing pressure form different actors of what is now being called the ‘civil society’ to have their positions being taken into account at European level. The Treaties of Rome (1957) The Treaties of Rome were the founding document for the European Community. The main aim of the treaties was to create a common market in services, goods, capital and labour. In terms of employment relations the project of creating a common market mainly implied free movement of workers in an integrated European labour market. Nevertheless, the Treaties of Rome also included some basic principles of social and employment policies: - equal pay between men and women; - help for improving employment opportunities and enhancing geographical and occupational mobility of workers in the Common Market; the instrument created to achieve this aim was the ‘European Social Fund’. Beside these concrete measures, the Treaties of Rome recognised the general need for a 'social dimension’ of Europe: ‘It shall be the aim of the Commission to promote close cooperation between member states in the social field, particularly in matters relating to employment, labour legislation and working conditions, social security, protection against occupational accidents and diseases, industrial hygiene, the law as to trades unions, and collective bargaining between employers and workers’ (Art. 118). Despite this article of the Treaties of Rome, the then Member States quickly adopted the position that the Commission should not promote a common social policy. First Programme of Social Action (1974) In 1974 the Council adopted the First Programme of Social Action. This programme emphasised the need to ensure more co-operation between the Member States in the social field. In order to meet the action programme's objectives of improving living and working conditions for particularly vulnerable groups in society, the Council adopted directives on equal opportunities and on health and safety at work as well as action programmes for the disabled, the poor and the elderly. During the 1970s the Council of the European Union also adopted directives and recommendations in regard to the action programme's objective of improving the conditions of employees and their legal position in undertakings, especially in the case of a collective redundancy, transfer of an undertaking and mergers of limited companies. The Val Duchesse initiative (1985) Despite the First Programme of Social Action, little progress had been made concerning the social dimension of Europe until the mid-1980s. Only after Jacques Delors became President of the European Commission were major initiatives started and a more systematic approach to social policy on a European level attempted. In 1985, Delors invited representatives of the national organisations affiliated to the EU-level employer and worker organisations and the EU level social partners themselves to a meeting at the castle of Val Duchesse. This meeting can be regarded as the starting point of the European social dialogue. The Single European Act (1986) Mainly adopted in order to facilitate the implementation of a Single European Market by 1992, the Single European Act also included two major innovations concerning the Community's working environment policy. The first one was that decisions could now be made in the Council by qualified majority voting and co-operation with the European Parliament. Three objectives were sought through the introduction of this article: - greater effort to improve workers' health and safety at work, - the same conditions for all workers in terms of their working environment, regardless of which Member State they work in, - prevention of 'social dumping' as the internal market was completed. The Single European Act also prepared grounds for a further institutionalisation of the European Social dialogue by stating that ‘the Commission shall endeavour to develop the dialogue between management and labour at European level which could, if the two sides consider it desirable, lead to relations based on agreement’ (Art. 118b). The Social Charter (1989) In Strasbourg, in December 1989, the Heads of States and Governments of 11 Member States - with the UK opting out - adopted the Community Charter of the fundamental social rights of workers or 'Social Charter' for short. Based on the Council of Europe's Social Charter and the ILO's core conventions, it lays down a range of social rights that are to be guaranteed in the European labour market. It is a political declaration of intent and, as such, is not legally binding. It deals with rights in 12 main areas. The Commission drew up a Social Action Programme (SAP) implementing the Social Charter, containing proposals for initiatives of various kinds, both binding and non-binding. Adoption of the SAP made slow progress, particularly as regards the binding legal acts. The Council adopted a directive on the obligation on employers to inform employees of the conditions applicable to their employment relationship but, otherwise, the main success has been the adoption of directives concerning health and safety of employees at work. The Maastricht Treaty (1992) The Treaty of Maastricht (also known as the Treaty of the European Union) increased the Community's powers in the social sphere. The Community was supposed not only to work towards raising living standards but also to ensure a high level of social protection. The Social Fund's remit was widened and a whole new section was inserted on education and vocational training. The adoption of the treaty meant that two sets of rules applied in the social area: the EC Treaty covering all 15 Member States and the Agreement set out in the 'Protocol (No 14) on social policy' from which the UK opted out. The Social Protocol and the Agreement on Social Policy attached to the Protocol contained two significant innovations: - a major boost for the role of social partner, giving employers and unions the right to negotiate binding European framework agreements; - the extension of qualified majority voting in the Council in the following areas: improvements in the working environment to protect employees, working conditions, information and consultation of workers, equal opportunities for men and women on the labour market and equal treatment at work, and occupational integration of people excluded from the labour market. The Amsterdam Treaty (1999) After a change of government in the UK an agreement could be reached with the Treaty of Amsterdam to delete the Social Protocol to the Treaty of Maastricht in favour of the inclusion of a 'Social Agreement' within the Treaty. The Agreement on Social Policy was also integrated in the Treaty with some amendments. Apart from this, the main provisions affecting employment relations were: - the introduction of an Employment Chapter which for the first time required to co-ordinate their employment strategies (including the requirement for the national governments to produce an annual report on the employment situation). - a renewed commitment ‘to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual discrimination’. - a renewed obligation that the principle of equal pay is applied. The Treaty of Lisbon 2007 The Treaty of Lisbon includes enhancements of the social dimension of the European Union. ‘Non-discrimination’ and ‘equality between women and men’ are added to the values of the European Union (Article 2 TEU). The treaty also introduces a social clause that obliges the European Union to respect the social dimension and the fight against discrimination in all its policies and activities, and officially recognises the role and the autonomy of the social partners: ‘The Union recognises and promotes the role of the social partners at its level, taking into account the diversity of national systems. It shall facilitate dialogue between the social partners, respecting their autonomy’ (Art. 152 TFEU). The Lisbon Treaty also shifts the responsibility of promoting social dialogue from the Commision to the European Union, and institutionalises, in primary law, the Tripartite Social Summit for Growth and Employment. Finally, in the recast of Art.139 (2) EC (now Article 155(2) TFEU) the European Parliament shall be informed if the social partners wish to extend their framework agreements via Council decision. An emerging system of European industrial relations The emergence of an EU system of industrial relations has specific features which relate to current economic, political and social developments in the EU. These features include the social dialogue, the European Employment Strategy (EES), the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, transnational co-ordination of collective bargaining, the macroeconomic dialogue, European works councils, consultation and information rights and the development of a European Company (Societas Europaea, SE) which prescribes certain forms of employee involvement. The Report of the Commission's High-Level Group on Industrial Relations (March 2002) highlighted three issues: the interaction between European industrial relations and the national and local level; the interaction between bipartite and tripartite processes at European level; and the interaction between the sectoral and intersectoral levels. The constitution of a specifically EU system of employment and industrial relations comprises as essential components: the European social dialogue, cross-border co-ordination of collective bargaining, co-ordination of national employment policies, open method of coordination, and fundamental rights. Like many younger constitutions, however, the elements are not all at the same stage of development. The dominant feature of European collective industrial relations is social dialogue. Consultation and cooperation between the social partners had already begun in the 60s and 70s. However, it was in 1985, with the launch of a bipartite social dialogue initiated by Jacques Delors that the dialogue started to become a forum for negotiation on a European level. In the introduction to the Commission's Communication on ‘The European social dialogue, a force for innovation and change’ (COM (2002) 341 final) it is stated: 'The social dialogue is rooted in the history of the European continent, and this distinguishes the Union from most other regions of the world' (p.6). One may differ between three distinct stages in the development of the European Social Dialogue: In the first period, lasting until 1991, was marked by bipartite activities on declarations and opinions without any binding power. The second stage began with an agreement between the social partners, which was later incorporated into the Protocol on Social Policy, itself annexed to the Maastricht Treaty (1993). Now, agreements negotiated by the European social partners could be given legal force through a decision by the Council, which would then have to be integrated into the legislation of each Member State. In 2001, the third period started when the European social partners presented a ‘joint contribution’ to the Laeken European Council. This phase is characterised by the growth in independence and autonomy of the European social dialogue. As part of the policy of promoting the engagement of the European social partners in the formulation of Union social policy, including through the social dialogue, the Commission is obliged by the Treaty to consult the European social partners before submitting proposals in the social policy field (Article 154 TFEU) (European social dialogue via Articles 154-155 TFEU). Article 154(2) and 154(3) TFEU set out two stages of the process of EU social partner consultation in the development of EU social policy: first, consultation 'on the possible direction of Union action', and, secondly, 'on the content of the envisaged proposal.' In the course of these stages of consultation, the social partners also address the question posed by Article 154(4) TFEU: whether they wish to initiate the process provided for in Article 155 TFEU - the social dialogue which may lead to contractual relations, including agreements. A framework agreement is the term commonly used to describe the successful result of the European social dialogue. The 1996 Parental Leave Directive, the first product of the EU social dialogue under the Protocol and Agreement on Social Policy attached to the Treaty on European Union, illustrates the practice of mandatory consultation of the European social partners and subsequent EU social dialogue. Framework agreements on part-time work (1997), fixed-term work (1999) followed. Other European framework agreements have not been transformed into Directives but shall be implemented in accordance with national practices. Examples of such cross-industry autonomous agreements refer to telework (2002), work-related stress (2004), harassment and violence at work (2007), and social inclusion (2010). There are also autonomous agreements on sectoral level (as e.g. the ‘Agreement on the European licence for drivers carrying out a cross-border interoperability service’ ); until 2010 only one multi-sector agreement - the ‘Agreement on Workers Health Protection through the Good Handling and Use of Crystalline Silica and Products containing it’ (2006) – could be reached. The Court of First Instance (CFI) has asserted a specific vision of the legal nature of the EU social dialogue: the European social dialogue as legislative process (Union Européenne de l'Artisanat et des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (UEAPME) v. Council of the European Union, Case T-135/96, ECR II-2335). 'Representativeness' is a criterion adopted by the Commission in identifying the 'management and labour' with whom it must consult and who may initiate the social dialogue (Article 138 EC/now Article 154 TFEU) which may lead to contractual relations including agreements between them, such agreements to be implemented (Article 139 EC/now Article155 TFEU). The criterion of 'sufficient collective representativity' was put forward in litigation before the European Court of First Instance (CFI) to identify the social partners referred to in Articles 138-139 EC (now Articles 154 and 155 TFEU) as entitled to engage in the European social dialogue (Union Européenne de l'Artisanat et des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (UEAPME) v. Council of the European Union, Case T-135/96, ECR II-2335). For an agreement to be implemented by a Council decision, the CFI stipulates that it must be ascertained: (paragraph 90) 'whether, having regard to the content of the agreement in question, the signatories, taken together, are sufficiently representative' (European social dialogue and implementation of agreements). Representativeness is a quality requiring close scrutiny (European social partners). For example, although there is as yet no sectoral social dialogue in the public sector, CEEP (the European Centre of Enterprises with Public Participation and of Enterprises of General Economic Interest) purports to be representative. The European Court of First Instance (CFI) specifically singled out the CEEP as an essential social partner in the context of the Agreement on Parental Leave. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound) supports the Commission in identifying the relevant ‘representative’ national and supranational associations – that is, the trade unions and employer organisations – in the field of industrial relations in the different business sectors which shall be consulted under the provisions of the TFEU. Article 155(2) TFEU provides: 'Agreements concluded at Union level shall be implemented either in accordance with the procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States or, in matters covered by Article 153, at the joint request of the signatory parties, by a Council decision on a proposal from the Commission. The European Parliament shall be informed.' Article 155(2) TFEU is a unique amalgam of EC legislative processes and national labour law traditions which results in an extension of EU social dialogue agreements. The extension erga omnes of collective agreements is a conceptual bridge between the pure industrial relations discourse of articulation ('the procedures and practices specific to management and labour and the Member States') and the pure constitutional law discourse of negotiated legislation ('at the joint request of the signatory parties, by a Council decision on a proposal from the Commission'). In its Communication of 26 June 2002, the Commission placed particular emphasis on the European sectoral social dialogue: social dialogue at the sectoral level 'is the proper level for discussion on many issues linked to employment, working conditions, vocational training, industrial change, the knowledge society, demographic patterns, enlargement and globalisation' (Section 2.3.2, p.16). Under Commission Decision 98/500/EC of 20 May 1998 (OJ L 225/27 of 12.8.98), 36 European sectoral social dialogue committees have been set up with a view to promoting the social dialogue at sectoral level. Many different kinds of European sectoral social dialogue instruments are emerging from the social dialogue at the EU sectoral level. To date the 40 sectoral social dialogue committees have concluded a plethora of more than 500 texts out of which 7 are binding agreements. Cross-border trade union cooperation Cross-border trade union co-operation refers to unilateral forms of co-operation among trade unions across more than one Member State. It is a pre-condition for bilateral cross-border social dialogue with employers and their organisations. The Commission's Communication of 18 September 1996 concerning the development of the social dialogue at Community level emphasised the growing need to assist the development of new levels of dialogue and referred specifically to the social dialogue in transnational enterprises and at regional level, particularly in cross-border regions. For example, the Doorn Group takes its name from the Dutch town where, on 4-5 September 1998, trade union confederations from Belgium (FGTB/ABVV and CSC/ACV), Germany (DGB and DAG), Luxembourg (CGT-L and LCGB) and the Netherlands (CNV, FNV and MHP), as well as major sectoral unions representing metalworking, chemicals, construction and private and public services, met to discuss recent trends in collective bargaining and the possible impact of EU Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Co-ordination of collective bargaining at EU level is the consequence of a political rationale resulting from European Monetary Union and aims to counter downwards pressure on wage costs. It parallels the co-ordinated national bargaining which has been practised in some Member States where centralised national bargaining has been replaced by more decentralised systems of bargaining, but there is still a role for the national level. The process is sometimes called centrally co-ordinated decentralisation, or organised decentralisation. The co-ordination of European collective bargaining reflects this Member State experience by attempting at EU level to co-ordinate national and sub-national levels of collective bargaining. For example, the European Metalworkers' Federation's (EMF) 3rd Collective Bargaining Conference in 1998 proposed sectoral co-ordination of collective bargaining at national level. A year later, the EMF Executive Committee and EMF Congress confirmed this proposal. The rule states, 'that the main reference point for the EMF affiliates must be to maintain purchasing power and achieve a balanced participation in productivity increases.' The rule has had effects, not so much on individual bargaining situations, but mainly in the sharing of information and growing co-operation, which can provide support in cases of conflicts. In a communication on the Social Agenda (COM (2005) 33 final), the European Commission announced the development of an optional framework designed to enable the social partners to formalise transnational collective bargaining (EU0602203F). Additionally, in the Commission’s Annual Policy Strategy for 2007 (COM (2006)122 final) formal consultation of the European social partners on ‘cross-border collective bargaining’ was announced. Despite all these efforts coordinated collective bargaining on a European level has never really taken off. Collective bargaining does not increasingly take place at European level and competencies for collective bargaining are not delegated to the European level. One of the main reasons for this is that, until now, the employers have categorically refused to take part in such an exercise. Coordination of national employment policies The Lisbon European Council of 23-24 March 2000 articulated a new strategic goal for the EU: 'to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion' (Lisbon Presidency Conclusions, paragraph 5) (Lisbon Strategy). In particular, this included modernising the 'European social model, investing in people and combating social exclusion.' The strategy was designed 'to enable the Union to regain the conditions for full employment' (paragraph 6). It was underlined that implementing the Lisbon agenda successfully requires the active participation of the social partners. The relevance of the European social dialogue was also emphasised at the 2001 Nice European Council were a Social Policy Agenda was approved. This document stated the importance of the social dialogue in promoting competitiveness, solidarity and an appropriate balance between flexibility and security in employment. In 2004, the Commission published a Communication on ‘Partnership for change in an enlarged Europe. Enhancing the role of European Social Dialogue’ (COM (2004) 557 final), emphasising the necessity of a well functioning social dialogue in view of the enlargement of the EU. The European Commission launched a revamped Lisbon strategy on growth and jobs on 2 February 2005. A Communication to the Spring European Council, Working together for growth and jobs – A new start for the Lisbon Strategy (COM (2005)24), presented policy recommendations for the mid-term review of the so-called Lisbon agenda. The Commission forewarned Member States that the Lisbon strategy was not on track to deliver the expected results. A Lisbon action plan (SEC (2005) 192) provides recommendations for actions to Member States for inclusion in their National Reform Programmes. Again, the importance of the social partners’ active involvement in order to achieve the Lisbon strategy’s objectives on growth and employment was reiterated. The Spring Council debated the mid-term review of the Lisbon Agenda and welcomed the Commission's communication. The March 2005 Employment and Social Affairs Council stressed that the strategy on economic growth and quality job creation must be combined with the promotion of social objectives The Council emphasised the need for the employment aspect of the Lisbon Strategy to focus on four priority actions: attracting more people to and keeping them in the labour market; increasing the adaptive capacities of workers and undertakings; investing more – and more effectively – in human capital and making lifelong education and training a reality; and ensuring the effective implementation of reforms through better governance. The European social partners supported the Commission's Lisbon Strategy in a Joint Declaration on the mid-term review of the Lisbon Strategy. The new Social Agenda 2005-2010 was launched in February 2005 (COM (2005)33). The review was considered to have played a key role in fostering the social dimension of economic growth and in supporting the revamped Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. The new Social Agenda presents key measures under two major headings covered by the Commission's strategic objectives 2005-2009 (COM (2005)12): employment and equal opportunities, and inclusion. In terms of employment this includes both the quantity and the quality of jobs and the productivity of work, as well as the issue of economic migration. Open method of coordination The Commission's Communication of 26 June 2002 on 'The European social dialogue, a force for innovation and change' recommended: 'The social partners are requested to: adapt the open method of coordination to their relations in all appropriate areas'. The Lisbon Council also highlighted the 'open method of co-ordination' as a principal process through which this goal was to be achieved. The specific application of this method to the European Employment Strategy was confirmed, as already begun in the Luxembourg process, and was to be strengthened through an additional annual meeting of the European Council in the spring of each year, for which an annual synthesis report would be prepared, devoted to considering economic and social questions (paragraph 36). Other processes are complementary: the Cardiff Process and the Cologne Process, and reflect trends at national level, as in Pacts for Employment and Competitiveness (PECs). Employment policy is the paradigm case of the open method of co-ordination. The OMC in the field of employment is encapsulated in Article 148 TFEU. The Council and Commission formulate an annual joint report put to the European Council, which adopts conclusions and draws up guidelines that the Member States 'shall take into account in their employment policies.' Each Member State has to make an annual report on 'the principal measures taken to implement its employment policy in the light of the guidelines for employment' (the National Action Plans). These are prepared with varying degrees of social partner involvement. The National Action Plans have been replaced by National Reform Programmes which are a key instrument in the integrated package of employment guidelines and Broad Economic Policy Guidelines. The National Reform Programmes are intended to be forward-looking political programmes setting out a comprehensive three-year strategy to implement the integrated guidelines. On the basis of proposals by the Commission, the Council may then make (non-binding) recommendations to Member States concerning their employment policies. Other follow-up procedures may take the form of peer review, launched in 1999 with the aim of promoting the transferability of good practice in active labour market policy. A critical issue concerns the respective importance in combating unemployment of the Guidelines' proposals for structural labour market reforms as compared to macro-economic reforms. In this respect, the last sentence of Article 148(3) TFEU is important: 'These guidelines shall be consistent with the broad guidelines adopted pursuant to Article 121(2).' Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs) adopted pursuant to Article 121(2) TFEU aim to implement the undertaking in Article 121(1) TFEU that 'Member States shall regard their economic policies as a matter of common concern and shall co-ordinate them within the Council…' At present the social dialogue is not institutionally integrated into the open method of co-ordination (OMC) implementing the European Employment Strategy through Article 148 TFEU. However, an institutional design could integrate the best features of the EU social dialogue and of OMC. Various fundamental trade union rights are protected by all Member States, and in a number of Member States have acquired constitutional status. Despite differences in their precise scope, there are elements of trade union rights which all, or most Member States agree are protected. Many are derived from international labour standards in the form of ILO Conventions ratified by all Member States (international labour standards) or the instruments of the Council of Europe. For example, there is a unanimous consensus among all EU Member States in favour of fundamental trade union rights such as freedom of association/to join trade unions, not to join trade unions (negative freedom of association), to autonomous organisation, to trade union activity (including in works councils) and to a legal status for collective agreements. Some of these were given early recognition in the Community Charter of the Fundamental Rights of Workers of 1989 (Freedom of association and the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers). These and other rights in individual employment and collective labour relations are now to be found in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights signed in 2007 and which came into force together with the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009. For example, freedom of association which is critical to the issue of Freedom of association at EU level, the right of collective bargaining at EU level, and the right of transnational industrial action. The role of the EU Charter is to provide the constitutional legitimacy of the EU system of employment and industrial relations. Fundamental rights in the Charter ascribe legitimacy to collective bargaining and collective action, information and consultation on a wide range of issues, free movement, fair and just working conditions, including health and safety in individual employment, non-discrimination and equal treatment, solidarity, and so on. The EU Charter legitimises the actors, processes and outcomes of the EU system of employment relations and the institutional and legal structure of a system of industrial relations at EU level.

Towards an EU system of employment and industrial relations? Without any doubt the influence of the European Union in the field of employment and industrial relations has assumed greater importance since the mid-1980s than in the decades before. This is mainly due to three factors. The first was the idea of a European type of capitalism which includes a specific social model and the idea of a ‘soc

Press Release – The FAA warns packing fireworks can ruin your New Year For Immediate Release Release No. AWP-5 13-01 December 7, 2001 Contact: Jerry Snyder Phone: (310) 725-3580 There is much to celebrate this time of year and fireworks can play a big part in the festivities. However, packing fireworks in your checked or carry-on baggage is dangerous business and illegal. Now, with the United States in a heightened state of security it is more important than ever that passengers be aware of the regulations prohibiting fireworks on commercial passenger flights. Passengers risk substantial fines and up to five years in prison by carrying fireworks in their bags or on their person on commercial passenger flights. Fireworks of all shapes and sizes, from sparklers and poppers to cherry bombs and rockets, are strictly prohibited because of the extreme danger they pose should they ignite during flight. The potential for spontaneous ignition, combined with improper packing and resulting fire in an aircraft’s inaccessible cargo hold, are well know. Any person carrying fireworks onto an aircraft or attempting to ship them illegally faces civil penalties of up to $27,500 per violation, or criminal prosecution that would carry penalties of $500,000 and five years in prison. Falsely stating to the air carrier that there are no fireworks in your checked or carry-on baggage may be considered an aggravating factor that may result in compounded penalties. Certain fireworks may be shipped as cargo on some airlines, but only if shipments are properly packaged, marked and declared under the hazardous material regulations of the Department of Transportation’s Research and Special Program Administration (RSPA). For detailed information, call the RSPA hotline at 1-800-467-4922 or email RSPA at email@example.com.

Press Release – The FAA warns packing fireworks can ruin your New Year For Immediate Release Release No. AWP-5 13-01 December 7, 2001 Contact: Jerry Snyder Phone: (310) 725-3580 There is much to celebrate this time of year and fireworks can play a big part in the festivities. However, packing fireworks in your checked or carry-on baggage is dangerous business and illegal. Now, with the United Stat

Animal & Veterinary FDA Issues a Notice of Proposed Rule Making Defining Small Number of Animals for Minor Use Designation March 18, 2008 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a notice of proposed rule making today to amend the implementing regulations of the Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004 (MUMS Act). The designation provision of the MUMS Act provides incentives to animal drug sponsors to encourage drug development and approval for minor species and for minor uses in major animal species. The MUMS act includes a definition for the term "minor use" that relies on the phrase "small number of animals" to characterize such use. In response to Congress’ charge to the agency to further define minor use this amendment proposes a definition for the term "small number of animals" which includes a specific threshold number of animals for each of the seven major animal species to be used in determining whether any particular intended use in a major species is a minor use. The seven major species are cattle, horses, swine, chickens, turkeys, dogs, and cats. Additional information about the proposed rule is included in the March 18, 2008, Federal Register. Additional information about the proposed rule is included in the March 18, 2008, Federal Register, which can be found at the following link http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/E8-5385.htm. Written or electronic comments to this proposed rule may be submitted for the next 120 days. For additional information on animal drugs for minor uses and minor species, please see http://www.fda.gov/cvm/minortoc.htm.

Animal & Veterinary FDA Issues a Notice of Proposed Rule Making Defining Small Number of Animals for Minor Use Designation March 18, 2008 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a notice of proposed rule making today to amend the implementing regulations of the Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004 (MUMS Act). The designation provision of the MUMS Act provides incentives

|This technical note is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information| Publication Number: N/A ROSAN V - Technical Notes This ROSANV Technical Note is in response to all the inquiries during the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting that was held in January 1997 in Washington, D.C., and subsequent phone, fax and e-mail inquiries. The primary interest appears to be in the areas of aggregate segregation measurement, texture measurement in general, and texture measurement in combination with noise measurement. Measurement of general surface features and the potential subsequent quantification of surface features also drew much attention.BACKGROUND In January 1997, FHWA presented its ROad Surface ANalyzer R&D work, ROSANV to transportation professionals at the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting in January in Washington, D.C. The primary objective of research staff was to get feedback from transportation professionals as to the need for and possible applications of ROSANV. The interest in ROSANV exceeded expectations and has resulted in a quickened pace to deploy the system. The original and primary goal of the ROSANV project at FHWA's TFHRC Pavement Surface Analysis lab was the development of a portable and automated system for the measurement of pavement texture at highway speeds along a linear path as a replacement of the manual Volumetric Patch Method as outlined by ASTM-E965 and ISO 10844. This manual measurement procedure was known previously as the "Sand Patch Test". Volumetric Patch Method procedures are valid for concrete or asphalt paving whose surface has not been treated or designed for improved drainage (such as grooving, tining, or open-graded porous asphalt) or milled to remove rutting. Prior to the completion of the ROSANV research work, ASTM Committee E-17 approved in November of 1996, ASTM Standard E1845, "Standard Practice for Calculating Pavement Macro-texture Mean Profile Depth" from a profile of pavement macrotexture. An automated measurement system such as ROSANV provides a larger quantity of valuable and less expensive texture data while greatly reducing the safety and traffic control problems inherent to the manually performed Volumetric Patch Method. The "v" in ROSANV stands for "vehicle-mounted" in that ROSANV can be quickly mounted on any vehicle using a temporary bumper hitch. APPLICATION AREAS OF ROSANV The following areas of application are feasible with the aid of ROSANV: 1. Texture measurements for Pavement Management Systems 2. Site specific texture measurements for safety investigations 3. Quality Control measurements for new pavement for certifying pavement meeting 4. Combining friction testing equipment such as a skid trailer with ROSANV for simultaneous 5. Texture and surface detail measurements (grooving, tining) in noise research studies 6. Faulting at joints and cracks 7. Joint and crack measurement summaries over a section of pavement 8. Quality Control measurement of sawed concrete grooves 9. Groove maintenance measurements for wear and debris 10 . Memory of repaved surfaces PAVEMENT SURFACE TEXTURE AND FEATURES Data collected during the R&D project and shown on the following pages illustrates the potential uses of the ROSANV system for the measurement of pavement texture and other surface features. Jointed Concrete Pavement Figure 1 shows a graph of ROSAN ETD (Estimated Texture Depth) for each one meter analysis window of 106 meters of a concrete pavement. ROSAN ETD is fairly consistent across the graph except for some "spikes" in the data. ROSANV can be used to look at individual analysis window surface profiles. Figure 1. One meter ETD analysis windows of a jointed concrete pavement Shown in Figure 2 is the analysis window for one of the "spikes". The profile clearly shows a typical wide runway joint in the pavement. Figure 2. One meter wide window showing typical runaway segment joint. These two figures demonstrate that ROSANV does record surface features but does not yet remove joints (or cracks and grooves) from the measurement of pavement texture. ROSANV does provide statistics for ROSAN ETD such as mean, median, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, and the number of analysis windows. Because of the effect of joints and cracks, ROSAN ETD median is a more representative number than ROSAN ETD mean. With joint and crack identification algorithms, it would be possible to measure faulting. Grooved Concrete Pavement Figure 3 shows a one meter analysis window profile of a grooved concrete pavement which was recorded at a one millimeter sampling interval and 100 kph. The grooving is clearly visible although the sharp edges of the sawed grooved are somewhat rounded. Figure 3. Grooved concrete detail, 1 mm sample interval at 100 kph. Figure 4 shows the same grooving with a sampling interval of .25 millimeters at 40 kph. The grooves now show a much sharper edge with more surface texture showing between the grooves. Figure 5 shows the results of an uneven height setup in the equipment that was used to cut the grooves. With groove identification, the program could provide groove width, depth, and pitch measurement summaries and possible compute a texture estimate between the grooves. A beam-based system with a laser could measure texture of grooved pavement as its travel path can be set between the grooves. Figure 5. Uneven height setup of groove sawing equipment. Asphalt Pavement and Aggregate Segregation Figure 6 shows the graph of ROSAN ETD over a 148-meter length of asphalt pavement. The graph shows a large but expected variability in texture as compared to concrete pavement. A possible recurring pattern can be discerned within the graph. Figure 6. Variable ETD for 148-meter section of asphalt pavement. By using an analysis window that is four meters long, the pattern is more clearly visible as shown in Figure 7. Each of the "waves" is about 24-25 meters in length. Figure 7. Four meter wide analysis window showing probable aggregate segregation. These waves or "delta" pattern probably represent individual truck loads of asphalt and what is seen is the interaction of the truck with the paver and the processing of the load through the paver. FHWA R&D staff may observe a paving operation this spring -- record all paver, truck, and roller operations, and then use ROSANV to measure texture for correlation analysis with observed operations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN / DATA GATHERING In August 1996, the ROSANV research team went to Wallops Island, Virginia, which is a small NASA research facility located near Chincoteage, Virginia. The airport at Wallops Island has a runway with a wide range of pavement types, treatments, and textures as the facility is used for runway friction measurement testing. Texture depth varies from 0.24 mm to 2.65 mm as measured using the Volumetric Patch Method. Approximately a dozen different pavement sections of varying surface texture were recorded with the ROSANV system and the Volumetric Patch Method. For each pavement section, the ROSANV system was used to record data at five speeds (40, 60, 80, 100, and 110 kph) with each speed repeated three times. The same driver was used for all the ROSANV data collections. The driver used a "line of sight" method for positioning the vehicle a "fixed" distance offset from a longitudinal joint or seam. A location marker placed in the roadway was used to identify the beginning of each pavement section as the laser would record this object. The vehicle used in the data collection has a calibrated distance pulser. The ROSANV system utilizes the distance pulser in "research operating mode" for computation of MPD in spatially fixed analysis windows along the traveled path. These analysis windows are normally one meter in length and therefore each window could be accurately located on the pavement for the corresponding Volumetric Patch Method measurement. The three passes at 80 kph where used to locate the one meter analysis windows of interest for the Volumetric Patch Method measurement. Three Volumetric Patch Method measurements were made within each one meter window. A total of 150 analysis windows, or 450 Volumetric Patch Method measurements were taken and used as the basis for calibration. ROSANV ALGORITHMS AND CALIBRATION ASTM Standard E1845 computes a Mean Profile Depth (MPD) based on a simple computational procedure and uses a linear transform for Estimated Texture Depth (ETD). The ROSANV system relies upon an algorithm that mimics the rubber pad (puck) movement across the pavement surface as used in the Volumetric Patch Method which may be more desirable for measuring MPD as it would be the Volumetric Patch Method measurements to which the system would be calibrated. The MPD computed using the ROSAN algorithm is denoted as RMPD. Details of the statistical analyses and calibration procedures performed are too extensive to include in this document. The research team, in using the wide variety of data collected at Wallops Island, VA., were very pleased with the correlations found between the Volumetric Patch Method Results and the Mean Profile Depths (MPD) computed using the ROSAN MPD algorithms. The statistical tests and results will be included as a Research Reference Manual and will be included in papers to be submitted for publication. ROSANV Main Screen For more information, contact: Topics: Research, infrastructure, pavements Keywords: Research, infrastructure, pavements, surface measurements, ROSAN V, ROad Surface ANalyzer TRT Terms: Pavements; Texture; Materials tests

|This technical note is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information| Publication Number: N/A ROSAN V - Technical Notes This ROSANV Technical Note is in response to all the inquiries during the Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting that was held in January 1997 in Washington, D.C., and subsequent phone, fax and e-mail inquiries. The primary interest

Nigeria’s FMOH is collaborating with several organizations to implement the DIDI Program. Such organizations include: United Nations entities (e.g. WHO, UNFPA); Bilateral Organizations (USAID, UKAID, JICA); international development agencies (e.g. FHI, JSI, PATHS2, MSH, etc.); International Networks: the International Household Survey Network (IHSN), the Accelerated Data Program (ADP), and PARIS 21. These programs are a worldwide effort to promote access to quality data through documentation, preservation and archiving. The ADP and IHSN are funded by the World Bank’s Development Grant Facility and are considered Satellite Programs of the PARIS21 Secretariat at the Organization for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD), International Household Survey Network (IHSN) and other partners (see http://www.surveynetwork.org/adp). The FMOH is also collaborating with Nigeria-based organizations and bureaus, e.g. Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), National Agency for Food and Administration (NAFDAC), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA); and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA). The FMOH is planning to expand this collaboration by including the Nigerian based NGOs and the for-profit private sector.

Nigeria’s FMOH is collaborating with several organizations to implement the DIDI Program. Such organizations include: United Nations entities (e.g. WHO, UNFPA); Bilateral Organizations (USAID, UKAID, JICA); international development agencies (e.g. FHI, JSI, PATHS2, MSH, etc.); International Networks: the International Household Survey Network (IHSN), the Accelerated Data Program (ADP), and PARIS 2

- Latest available (Revised) - Original (As enacted) This is the original version (as it was originally enacted). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. This Act may be cited as the Beverley Freemen Act 2010. In this Act— “the 1813 Order” means the Order of the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Town and Borough of Beverley made on 2 August 1813 and entitled “Regulations as to Freedoms”; “the 1836 Act” means the Act (1836 c. lxx) the title of which is “An Act to provide for the better regulation of certain common pastures within the Borough of Beverley in the East Riding of the County of York”; “the extended Beverley area” means the area described in the Schedule. The entitlement of any person to be included in either of the rolls maintained by a proper officer of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council in accordance with section 27 or section 31 of the 1836 Act shall be determined by reference to the extended Beverley area. (1)Any person who applies to be admitted by birthright to the freedom of Beverley shall provide such information in support of the application as the East Riding of Yorkshire Council may reasonably require. (2)The 1813 Order so far as it remains capable of having effect in relation to the procedure for admission by birthright to the freedom of Beverley shall cease to have effect. In the 1836 Act so far as it remains capable of having effect— (a)any reference to the borough of Beverley shall have effect as if it were a reference to the extended Beverley area; (b)any reference to the limits of the borough of Beverley shall be construed as a reference to the limits of that area; (c)in sections 31 and 33, for “Widows Roll” there shall be substituted “Successors Roll”; and (d)in section 72, after “Male;” there shall be inserted the words “and the words “widow” and “widowhood” and any other word importing the feminine gender only shall extend and be applied to a male as well as a female”. The costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to the preparing for, obtaining and passing of this Act paid or payable by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council may in whole or in part be defrayed out of revenue. Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Original (As Enacted or Made):The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text. Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include: Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include: Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

- Latest available (Revised) - Original (As enacted) This is the original version (as it was originally enacted). This item of legislation is currently only available in its original format. This Act may be cited as the Beverley Freemen Act 2010. In this Act— “the 1813 Order” means the Order of the Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the Town and Borough of Beverley made on 2 August 1813 and entitled

Johnson Space Center, Houston South Texas Students To Call Space Station HOUSTON – Students in Edinburgh, Texas, will make a special call to the International Space Station and Expedition 29 Commander Mike Fossum on Tuesday, September 27. The event, which includes a video link with Fossum, will be broadcast live on NASA Television at 10:10 a.m. CDT. One thousand middle school students are expected to participate, including fifth through eighth grade students from Fossum Middle School in McAllen, Texas, which was named after the astronaut. Fossum is originally from McAllen. The event, hosted by the University of Texas-Pan American, is part of the Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Week, a program designed to encourage South Texas students, many of whom are Hispanic, to study science, engineering, technology and mathematics. Journalists are invited to attend. The in-flight education downlink is part of a series with educational organizations in the United States and abroad to improve teaching and learning in STEM subjects. It is an integral component of Teaching From Space, an agency education program that promotes learning opportunities and builds partnerships with the education community using the unique environment of space and NASA's human spaceflight program. The exact time of the downlink could change. For the latest NASA TV schedule, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For information about NASA's education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education For information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station - end - text-only version of this release

Johnson Space Center, Houston South Texas Students To Call Space Station HOUSTON – Students in Edinburgh, Texas, will make a special call to the International Space Station and Expedition 29 Commander Mike Fossum on Tuesday, September 27. The event, which includes a video link with Fossum, will be broadcast live on NASA Television at 10:10 a.m. CDT. One thousand middle school students are expected

GLAST Spacecraft Arrives in Florida to Prepare for Launch George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Photo release: 08-027 + Large (3000 x 2014, 300 ppi) + Medium (516 x 346, 72 ppi) + Small (100 x 75, 72 ppi) KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility, General Dynamics technicians secure NASA's Gamma-Ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, on a work stand as the overhead crane is lifted away. GLAST will undergo a complete checkout of the scientific instruments aboard. The telescope will launch aboard a Delta II rocket May 16 from Launch Pad 17-B on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. A powerful space observatory, the GLAST will explore the most extreme environments in the universe, and answer questions about supermassive black hole systems, pulsars and the origin of cosmic rays. It also will study the mystery of powerful explosions known as gamma-ray bursts. (NASA/KSC/Kim Shiflett) + News Release

GLAST Spacecraft Arrives in Florida to Prepare for Launch George H. Diller Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala. Photo release: 08-027 + Large (3000 x 2014, 300 ppi) + Medium (516 x 346, 72 ppi) + Small (100 x 75, 72 ppi) KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In the Astrotech payload processing facility, General Dynamics techn

- Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive - Daily images of stellar areas in our solar system. - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Here’s a good "first stop" to research a wide range of topics. - Digital Librarian - A brief yet comprehensive list of links by subject, which leads to thousands of other sites. - Discovery Channel - A promotion for the TV show, but has a variety of interesting information. - Education World Search Engine - Over 50,000 links, as well as teacher aids such as sample lesson plans, curriculum materials, monthly educational site reviews, and educator forums. Nominations for the weekly "Cool School" recognition are accepted on-line. - Guide to Online Schools - Guide To Online Schools is an online education directory that specializes in online degrees, online schools, and distance learning. - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE) - The world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology. - Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators - A well-organized listing of other sites to browse. - Kids.net.au - This is for teachers who send their students on Web searches, and who want to keep things both suitable and safe. - Math Forum at Swarthmore College - Need help with a math problem? Ask Dr. Math. - National Geographic - Learn about environmental concerns such as acid rain and rain forests. - Robots on IEEE Spectrum - Sciencenter - The Sciencenter in Ithaca, N.Y. has created fun, easy, and safe chemistry experiments for use in museums and classrooms. The goal of the program was to develop simple activities so that children ages 5-12 can investigate the properties of chemicals to solve puzzles or challenges, such as “Fruit Juice Mystery” and “Disappearing Stains.” The activities are available to museum educators and teachers through the Sciencenter’s website and are free to download. - Smithsonian Institution - Information about its museums, research centers, and affiliates. - US FIRST Robotics Competition F.I.R.S.T. (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) The FIRST Competition is a national robotics contest which immerses high school students in the exciting world of engineering. - Yahooligans! For Kids - Has a good listing of mathematics links, plus many others (like a list of every Nobel Prize winner in Physics). |U.S. Government Links - Ask a Scientist - Answers to more than 20,000 science related questions - College Planning Guide for Students and Families - DOE Energy Information Agency - Classroom projects, games, and energy basics. - DOE Office of Fossil Energy - Educational activities for students and teachers. - DOE Workforce Development - EERE EnergySmart Schools - DOE seeks to catalyze significant improvements in energy efficiency in the nation's K-12 schools at a time of enormous opportunity. - EPA - The Explorer Club. There is a section for kids and for teachers. Has a clubhouse, coloring books, games, factsheets, etc. ... lots of graphics. - Federal Emergency Management Agency - The FEMA homepage has lots of information about disasters. The Kids section has photos, games, and even a Real Audio rap song (original). - Geological Survey - The U.S. Geological Survey website of volcanoes and the Earth. - National Science Bowl® - USDOE related information. - National Science Bowl® is a nationwide academic competition that tests students' knowledge in all areas of science. - Parents Guide to the Internet, from the US Department of Education, is the most complete guidance that you will find to help kids make use of the internet as a learning tool. Don't miss this one. - Recycle City - Another EPA link. This one about recycling. - Treasury - The U.S. Treasury's page for kids. A good site for monetary concerns hosted by "trez" the cat and even has a "dog" of the Month. - United States Department of Energy: For Educators - Energy’s education programs help ensure an adequate supply of scientists, engineers and technicians for energy-related research, production activities, and the transfer of technology. - United States Department of Energy: For Students and Kids - Smart energy use. - Whitehouse - Life in the Whitehouse.

- Astronomy Picture of the Day Archive - Daily images of stellar areas in our solar system. - Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh - Here’s a good "first stop" to research a wide range of topics. - Digital Librarian - A brief yet comprehensive list of links by subject, which leads to thousands of other sites. - Discovery Channel - A promotion for the TV show, but has a variety of interesting information

Batterer Intervention Programs: Where Do We Go From Here?June 2003 This NIJ Special Report describes the most common types of batterer intervention programs and evaluates two recent studies of batterer intervention programs in Broward County, Florida and Brooklyn, New York. Evaluations of both programs call into question the effectiveness of such programs in either changing batterer attitudes or behaviors. However, researchers in the Broward study did find that batterers who were employed, married, owned their own homes, or otherwise had a stake in the community were less likely to reoffend. Although the Broward study was marred by low victim response rates, collection of information from multiple sources, each reaching similar conclusions, bolstered researchers' confidence in the results. The Brooklyn study showed that men who attended treatment sessions for a longer period (26 weeks compared with 8 weeks) committed fewer new violent acts; however, batterers were more likely to complete the shorter program. The study left open the question of whether batterer intervention programs alter batterers' attitudes and behaviors or merely suppress violence behavior for the duration of the study.

Batterer Intervention Programs: Where Do We Go From Here?June 2003 This NIJ Special Report describes the most common types of batterer intervention programs and evaluates two recent studies of batterer intervention programs in Broward County, Florida and Brooklyn, New York. Evaluations of both programs call into question the effectiveness of such programs in either changing batterer attitudes or b

Common Names: Quaking Aspen, Trembling Aspen, "Quakies" Scientific Name: Populus tremuloides Size (height) English & Metric: 40-100 ft (12-30 m) tall Habitat: Moist soils in openings or along edges of pine and spruce/fir forests Flowering Season: May & June but rarely flowers Range: From New England through Canada, into Alaska, and south into California, Arizona and New Mexico. Aspens can be identified by their smooth, white bark marked by black scars where lower branches are naturally self-pruned. Quaking Aspen leaves are somewhat heart shaped, with finely saw-toothed margins and range in size from 1.25-3" (3-8 cm) long. The leaves attach to branches via a long and flattened petiole, so that even the slightest breeze causes the leaves to flutter. This gives the overall tree the appearance that it is quaking or trembling - hence the common name Quaking Aspen and the scientific name's specific epithet - tremuloides. In the spring and summer, leaves are glossy green on the upper surface and dull green underneath. In the fall leaves turn yellow, gold, and in rare instances, even red. Quaking Aspens grow in large and dense colonies throughout North America enduring lows of -78° F and highs of 110° F. They prefer moist soil, but can grow near intermittent springs in desert environments that receive less then 7 inches of annual precipitation. The only absolute requirement for Quaking Aspen is lots of sunlight. Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Although aspen are somewhat similar in appearance to some species of birch, birch trees belong to an entirely different family of trees. Birch are famous for having bark that peels back like paper; aspen bark does not peel. Whereas aspen leaves are perfectly flat, birch leaves are slightly "V" shaped and more elongated than Quaking Aspen leaves. Aspen are remarkable and unique trees. In fact they are so different that it may be better not to think of aspens as trees. First of all, a stand of aspen is really only one huge organism where the main life force is underground. Think of aspens as large 1-20 acre systems of roots that remain hidden underground until there's enough sunlight. Then the roots sprout up white things called trunks that then leaf off green things called leaves. This is called "vegetative" or asexual reproduction. Only after severe fire and under ideal climatic conditions, will aspen reproduce sexually as a flowering plant. With careful inspection, clones can be mapped, as all the trees that sprout from a single clone will have the same branching structure because they are genetically identical to one another. Even easier and more obvious is to watch as aspen forests change color in the fall. Members of different clones will all have the same shade of color transitioning from green to yellow at the same time. By examining this different color patchwork along a mountainside you can distinguish individual clones from each other. Asexual or vegetative reproduction from root systems offers many benefits including phenomenal longevity. Aspen "clones," as the individual root systems are called, can live to be thousands of years old. The oldest known clone in existence is called "Pando" and is located in the Fishlake National Forest north of Bryce Canyon National Park in central Utah. It has been aged at 80,000 years! Although 5-10,000 year-old clones are much more common, even these youngsters are much older than Sequoias and even Bristlecone Pines. Current research on fungal mats in Oregon and Creosote Bushes in the Desert Southwest may rival aspen for the title of "Oldest-known Living Thing." The other aspect of their lifestyle that makes them unique is that beneath the thin white outer bark is a thin photosynthetic green layer that allows the plant to synthesize sugars and keep growing even during the winter when all other deciduous trees go into dormancy. This green layer of the bark makes it survival food for deer and elk during hard winters. Aspens can be identified by their smooth, white bark marked by black scars. Because of their vegetative reproduction, aspens are in no danger of going extinct. Aspen forests will eventually become spruce and fir forests as the taller, more dense trees shade out the aspen underneath the canopy. However, even after 100 years or more, the dormant root system will spring back to life sprouting new trees once sunlight is allowed to reach the forest floor again. Therefore, forest fires, no matter how severe, encourage the growth of new aspen trunks in the asexual process also known as "root suckering." Aspens are so successful that curious foresters have tried everything in an effort to determine what it takes to kill an aspen clone. The only sure method is injecting tons of herbicides directly into the root system. Even "discing" (a huge roto-tiller pulled by bulldozers) down to three feet below the soil will not kill an aspen clone. The chopped up roots keep right on growing. Heavy browsing by deer and elk is hypothesized to be detrimental to aspens, but in reality, only kills individual trees. Individual trunks invariably become afflicted with disease after 100 years or more, but the root systems are apparently immune. The only natural force that appears to limit growth of aspen are pocket gophers, which in abundance, can chew aspen root systems back faster than they can grow. The above-ground portions of Quaking Aspens are few and far between at Bryce Canyon National Park. Historic photographs show that these kinds of forest used to be much more common. The aggressive suppression of forest fires, (natural or otherwise) has allowed spruce and fir forests to overshadow the once common aspen groves. Using prescribed fires to burn away key portions of the spruce and fir forests will allow aspen to quickly return to their former glory as a keystone species that assures the survival of many other kinds of plants and animals. Look for little pockets of aspen along the scenic drive at the southern end of the park and also tucked underneath the canyon rim between Sunset and Sunrise Points. Buchanan, Hayle 1992. Wildflowers of Southwestern Utah. Bryce Canyon Natural History Association. Bryce Canyon, Utah Lanner, Ron. & Rasmuss, Christine. 1988. Trees of the Great Basin: a Natural History. University of Nevada Press Little, Elbert L. 2001 National Audubon Society Field Guide to Trees - Western Region. Random House Inc. New York, NY Stuckey, Martha & Palmer, George. 1998. Western Trees: A Field Guide. Falcon Publishing, Inc. Helena, MT Did You Know? March 13, 1919: A Utah Joint Memorial passed legislation which read in part: We urge that the Congress of the United States set aside for the use and enjoyment of the people a suitable area embracing "Bryce's Canyon" as a national monument under the name: "Temple of the Gods National Monument." More...

Common Names: Quaking Aspen, Trembling Aspen, "Quakies" Scientific Name: Populus tremuloides Size (height) English & Metric: 40-100 ft (12-30 m) tall Habitat: Moist soils in openings or along edges of pine and spruce/fir forests Flowering Season: May & June but rarely flowers Range: From New England through Canada, into Alaska, and south into California, Arizona and New Mexico. Aspens can be ident

On October 29, 1995, at 1925 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N4110C, collided with trees during a forced landing near Madera, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. The certificated private pilot and his three passengers sustained minor injuries. The flight originated from the Redlands, California, airport about 1600 on the day of the accident as a flight to Modesto, California. Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page The pilot reported that he was in level cruise when the engine surged several times, then quit. The aircraft was pointed toward the Madera airport; however, insufficient altitude remained to make the runway. The pilot made a forced landing in an almond orchard. Review of aircraft use logs maintained for the partnership which owns the aircraft revealed that the pilot flew 5.6 hours during the trip from Modesto to Redlands and then to the accident site. Fueling records at Redlands disclosed that the pilot purchased 12.6 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline from Redlands Aviation just prior to departure. FAA airworthiness inspectors from the Fresno, California, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft at the accident site. The left fuel tank was compromised in the accident. The right fuel tank was intact. The fuel selector was positioned to the right tank, which contained only residual fuel. No fuel was found in the fuel inlet line to the servo. No fuel was found in the distributor manifold. The engine starter drive was engaged into the starter ring. No engine discrepancies were found.

On October 29, 1995, at 1925 hours Pacific standard time, a Cessna 177RG, N4110C, collided with trees during a forced landing near Madera, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of power during cruise. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot and was on a personal cross-country flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. T

On December 26, 1995, at 1430 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150 M, N66172, nosed over during a precautionary landing at Quartzsite, Arizona. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the student pilot was not injured. The flight was operating on a VFR flight plan and had departed Ryan Airport at Tucson, Arizona at 1142 hours. The intended destination was Blythe, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page The operator told the NTSB investigator that the student pilot was on his solo long cross-country flight and became anxious when the aircraft's fuel quantity reached the 1/4 level. The pilot observed a private airport at Quartzsite and elected to make a precautionary landing. The aircraft landed to the south on the 2,000-foot-long dirt airstrip and touched down about 500 feet beyond the threshold. It then veered off the 75-foot-wide runway to the left, struck a 3-foot-high dirt pile and a small tree, and nosed over. The aircraft came to rest inverted on the east side of the runway, about 800 feet from the threshold. The surface wind at Blythe, 28 miles southwest of Quartzsite, was from 010 degrees at 9 knots. The pilot reported that the surface wind at the accident location was calm.

On December 26, 1995, at 1430 hours mountain standard time, a Cessna 150 M, N66172, nosed over during a precautionary landing at Quartzsite, Arizona. The aircraft was substantially damaged; however, the student pilot was not injured. The flight was operating on a VFR flight plan and had departed Ryan Airport at Tucson, Arizona at 1142 hours. The intended destination was Blythe, California. Visual

Link to PDF January 13, 2004 TO: Designated Agency Ethics Officials, Alternate Designated Ethics Officials FROM: Marilyn L. Glynn Acting Director SUBJECT: 25th Anniversary Year Ethics Message As you know, this is the 25th anniversary year of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (EIGA). Enacted on October 26, 1978, the EIGA established the foundation of the modern executive branch ethics program by creating the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) to provide overall policy direction for the ethics program. And just as importantly, the EIGA also set forth certain responsibilities for the administration of the ethics program in each agency by the Designated Agency Ethics Official (DAEO). OGE began to operate as an office on January 14, 1979, a date that marks the beginning of the partnership between OGE and DAEOs in administering the ethics program. In order to commemorate the beginning of this partnership, I would like to invite you to take notice of this occasion in the 25th anniversary year through an ethics message to the employees of your agency. The purpose of the message is to heighten employee awareness and understanding of the ethics program. In order to assist you, I have attached a draft of a sample ethics message that you could adapt or modify for your own use on a website, via email communication, or otherwise. As ethics officials, you play a key role in the effective administration of the ethics program. I want to thank you for the professionalism, dedication, and commitment that you bring to the program that are so essential to its success. I look forward to working with you to continue to improve and modernize the ethics program in the future. Anniversary Year Ethics Message This is the 25th anniversary year of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, a landmark ethics law that established the foundation of the modern ethics program in executive branch departments and agencies. On this occasion, I want to encourage you to make use of the ethics resources that are available to our employees. The agency’s ethics staff, both in Washington and in its regional offices, is ready to provide advice whenever you are unsure about a situation and may need help in identifying and resolving an ethics issue. Our ethics staff can also help you understand your obligations under federal ethics laws and regulations, including what is required to meet financial disclosure obligations. In addition to our regular training activities, we are happy to provide additional ethics training and briefings as needed and requested. The ethics laws and rules that govern employee conduct establish baseline legal standards to ensure that agency decision making is carried out in a fair and impartial manner and that employee’s relationships with contractors and others who do business with us are not tainted by personal gain. Ethics rules also help to ensure an ethical workplace, free of improper pressures. Finally, observing high ethical standards is essential to overall effectiveness in achieving our agency mission and promoting public confidence in the integrity of our programs and our employees.

Link to PDF January 13, 2004 TO: Designated Agency Ethics Officials, Alternate Designated Ethics Officials FROM: Marilyn L. Glynn Acting Director SUBJECT: 25th Anniversary Year Ethics Message As you know, this is the 25th anniversary year of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (EIGA). Enacted on October 26, 1978, the EIGA established the foundation of the modern executive branch ethics program by

OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Introduction to the recommendations for controlling antimicrobial resistance Harmonisation of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance and monitoring programmes Monitoring of the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobials agents used in food producing animals Responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine Risk assessment for antimicrobial resistance arising from the use of antimicrobials in animals Monitoring of the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobial agents used in aquatic animals Developpment and harmonisation of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance and monitoring programmes for aquatic animals OIE Manual of diagnostic tests and vaccines for Terrestrial Animals Laboratory methodologies for bacterial antimicrobial susceptibility testing Antimicrobial resistance is a global human and animal health concern that is influenced by both human and non-human antimicrobial agent usage. The human, animal and plant sectors therefore have a shared responsibility to prevent or minimise antimicrobial resistance selection pressures on both human and non-human pathogens. The OIE has worked actively for more than a decade on veterinary products, including antimicrobial agents, and developed a coherent strategy for its activities in this area. Given that antimicrobial resistance is an animal and human health issue, the OIE works closely with its Member Countries, WHO, FAO and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Following the FAO/OIE/WHO workshops on non-human antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance held in 2003 (on scientific assessment) and in 2004 (on management options), the OIE developed a list of antimicrobials of veterinary importance, in parallel with the WHO list for human medicine. The OIE promotes the responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in terrestrial animals, so as to preserve their therapeutic efficacy and prolong their use in both animals and human. It has developed standards on the monitoring of the quantities of antimicrobial agents used and antimicrobial resistance. The OIE also developed standards and guidelines to provide methodologies for OIE Member Countries to appropriately address the risk of the emergence or spread of resistant bacteria that result from the use of antimicrobial agents in food producing animals. These standards and guidelines can be found in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (chapters 6.6., 6.7., 6.8., 6.9. and 6.10. and in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. (Guideline 2.1.). These standards are regularly updated to take account of latest scientific findings. "International Solidarity to Fight against Antimicrobial Resistance" (OIE Headquarters, Paris, 13-15 March 2013)

OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code Introduction to the recommendations for controlling antimicrobial resistance Harmonisation of national antimicrobial resistance surveillance and monitoring programmes Monitoring of the quantities and usage patterns of antimicrobials agents used in food producing animals Responsible and prudent use of antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine Risk assessment for

3D Diode-Cross-Coupled Tapered Lasers for Kilowatt-Class, Chip-Scale, Laser Diode Phased Arrays Agency / Branch: DOD / DARPA Based on promising results obtained under our Phase 1 SBIR contract, nLIGHT wishes to proceed with a Phase 2 program. In the proposed program, nLIGHT will continue the development of high power, single-lateral-mode tapered diode lasers. nLIGHT has identified fundamental limitations to the operation of tapered diode lasers and proposes novel design and fabrication process improvements which directly address these limitations. Prof. Eric Johnson at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte (UNCC) made significant progress towards the development of the MOPA phase-locked array in Phase 1. Using tilted gratings to couple laser emission out-of-plane while simultaneously providing single-mode laser operation, UNCC demonstrated coherent emission from multiple surface-emitting out-couplers in the master oscillator design. This collaboration will be continued, and proof-of-concept phase locking of multiple tapered power amplifiers will be demonstrated by Prof. Johnson's group. nLIGHT also believes the development of high-power, single-transverse-mode tapered diode lasers will enable a new generation of high brightness pump sources for a variety of applications, such as pumping kilowatt-level single-mode fiber lasers. Therefore, leveraging the results of the development proposed herein, nLIGHT will deliver to DARPA a prototype wavelength-stabilized pump module operating at 976 nm, capable of delivering 50 W in a 100-micron-core fiber. Small Business Information at Submission: 5408 NE 88th Street, Bldg E Vancouver, WA 98665 Number of Employees:

3D Diode-Cross-Coupled Tapered Lasers for Kilowatt-Class, Chip-Scale, Laser Diode Phased Arrays Agency / Branch: DOD / DARPA Based on promising results obtained under our Phase 1 SBIR contract, nLIGHT wishes to proceed with a Phase 2 program. In the proposed program, nLIGHT will continue the development of high power, single-lateral-mode tapered diode lasers. nLIGHT has identified fundamental limi

Public - 717-591-1370 The Silver Spring Township Authority was created by the Silver Spring Township Board of Supervisors on September 26, 1984 for the purpose of providing sanitary sewer service within the boundaries of Silver Spring Township. The sewer authority is an instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and operates independently of the township, having its own operating budget funded entirely by user fees, a separate office location, employees and equipment. The authority is governed by a five-member board whose members are appointed to five-year terms by the township supervisors. The authority board members do serve voluntarily and receive no compensation for their service. All members serving on the sewer authority board reside in Silver Spring Township, which is a requirement that is set forth in the Pennsylvania Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, with subsequent amendments. Please (click here) to download a sewer permit. Complete this form and return to the Authority Office with the proper remittance of payment. Online Bill Paying Now Available The Silver Spring Township Sewer Authority is now accepting online payments for your sewer bill. Please click the link below to make an online payment. The authority currently has 7 full-time employees and 1 part-time employee. The office staff includes a manager, office administrator, and part-time clerical assistant. The field staff includes a treatment plant operator, an assistant operator, a full-time laboratory technician, and two authority laborers. Office Location/Contact Information The Silver Spring Township Authority office is located at 5 Willow Mill Park Road, Suite #3, Mechanicsburg, Pa 17050. Our mailing address is: 5 Willow Mill Park Road, Suite #3, Mechanicsburg, Pa 17050 Telephone: (717) 591-1370 Facsimile: (717) 591-1373 The authority is responsible for operating and maintaining a 1,200,000 gallon per day treatment facility, 24 sewer pumping stations, and over sixty miles of sewer line. A recent treatment facility upgrade has enabled the authority to meet the stringent new waste water nutrient discharge requirements that were adopted by the Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Initiative. The original treatment facility was constructed in 1990, and approximately 85% of the total sewer collection system has been installed since that time. While the authority maintains standardized rental and connection fees throughout the township, there are four distinct treatment areas in the township, and three of those areas have sewage flows exported to other municipalities. Those municipalities are: Hampden Township, Mechanicsburg Borough, and Middlesex Township. The Authority also collects and treats sewage at its Milfording Road Waste Water Treatment Plant. Total public sewage flows currently amount to 700,000 gallons per day on a township wide basis. User Fees/Billing Information The current residential sewer rate is $107.00 per quarter, which includes water usage from 0 to 9,000 gallons during that billing period, or up to 100 gallons per day of average water use. Water use beyond the 9,000 gallon quarterly allotment is surcharged at a rate of $6.75 per thousand gallons exceeding the base allotment. The residential rate applies to each residential unit in the case of multiple unit structures. The current commercial sewer rate is $72.85 per month, with a surcharge of $6.75 for every 1,000 gallons of water usage exceeding the base allotment of 3,000 gallons in each monthly billing period. The commercial rate applies to each business unit in the case of a multiple unit structure. Non-metered residential customers (well-users) are charged a flat rate of $151.00 per quarter year period. Non-metered commercial customers (well-users) are charged a flat rate of $189.75 per month. The Non-metered rate is applied per unit in the case of residential and non-residential multiple unit structures. Sewer rental bills are sent out on a quarterly basis for residential customers and on a monthly basis for commercial customers, regardless of the occupancy status of the service address. Residential bills are due within 30 days of the billing date, and commercial bills are due within 14 days of the billing date. Payments received after the due date is subject to a 10% penalty on the most current billing amount. All payments are processed the day that are received at the office. The current tapping fee in Silver Spring Township is $4,350 per unit or single family residential structure. In some cases, a Reimbursement Component Fee may be due in addition to the tapping fee, which goes toward a payment for sewer capacity provided by other parties. Please contact the authority office if you have questions regarding the existence of a reimbursement component in your proposed area. The Silver Spring Township Authority has established a “Lawn Credit” program for new homes that are in the process of establishing a new lawn with frequent watering. The “Lawn Credit” is offered as a one-time credit for applicable customers where upon completing and returning the required form, the authority will cap a residential sewer bill at the Non-metered customer rate of $150.00 for two consecutive quarters. The “Lawn Credit” is only available to new residential construction situations and for two quarters. No extensions beyond the two-quarter period will be granted. The Silver Spring Township Authority administers a “Deduction Meter Program” whereby customers that utilize a large amount of water at their home or business that does not enter the public sewer system may purchase and install a meter that registers the amount of such water, which is then reported to the office and deducted from their total water usage for each month. Water meters may be purchased for $70 and up from plumbing suppliers such as R.F. Fager Co. in Camp Hill or Northeastern Supply in Carlisle. Please contact the office if you have questions or would like to utilize this program. Please note that it may not be cost effective in every case to utilize this program, depending upon your water use habits. There is a $50 annual registration fee (per meter) to enroll in the Deduction Meter Program. Ownership and Responsibility A building sewer is the pipe that connects a house or structure to the public sewer system. The building sewer extends from the building foundation or basement wall to the main sewer line, which is typically located in a street or easement. Building sewers are a part of the property they serve and maintaining and repairing them is the responsibility of the property owner. Most building sewers have cleanouts installed every 75 feet or less, to allow the sewer pipe to be cleared in the event of a clog. The cleanouts are typically 4 inches in diameter and composed of white PVC plastic. A broken cleanout may allow excess surface water into the sewer system during heavy rain events, and also let in dirt and debris that could potentially clog your building sewer. Cleanout covers and collars may be obtained at your local home builder supply for a few dollars in the event that they are broken. Please contact the office for advice on repairs if necessary. If your building sewer is clogged and you are not sure where the clog is located, please call the authority and personnel will check the main sewer serving your property. If the problem is in the authority’s main sewer, we will address the problem immediately. If the main sewer serving your home is not the source of the problem, authority personnel will contact you to report their findings. Please call (717) 591-1370 for this assistance. Some homes are served by grinder pumps instead of gravity sewer lines. The grinder pump unit is owned by the homeowner and the repair and maintenance of that unit is the homeowner’s responsibility. If you are having operational difficulty with your grinder pump, you may contact Lenker’s Excavating at (717) 943-7587 for repair service. Please be aware that sewer easements or rights-of-way are located on some properties in the township, and objects are not to be constructed or placed in those areas. If a private object such as a tree, fence, or shed is placed in such an area, the authority is under no obligation to replace that object or reimburse the owner for damage or loss if it is removed or damaged in the process of sewer maintenance or repair work. Lack of awareness for easement locations does not provide an exception for placing or constructing items upon them. Please protect your investments and do not place them in sewer easements or right-of-way areas. If you are unsure if a sewer easement or right-of-way exists on your property, please contact the authority office at (717) 591-1370 for information and details. The Silver Spring Township Authority is responsible for handling issues related to the public sanitary sewer system. The Township of Silver Spring is responsible for the administration of regulations involving on-lot (septic) sewer systems. If your home or business is sewered by an on-lot septic or sand mound system, you will need to contact the Sewage Enforcement Officer for Silver Spring Township in the event you have questions about on-lot sewer system operations and permits, or require repairs for such systems. Gary Morrow is the Sewage Enforcement Officer for Silver Spring Township, and may be reached at (717) 697-3044. The township office may be contacted at (717) 766-0178. Your sewer rental bill is based upon water consumption, so you may minimize both your water and sewer bill by employing water conservation. For tips on water conservation, please consult your water supplier. All sewer repair and alteration work from your foundation wall to the curb or property line is to be inspected by Authority personnel. Repair/alteration permits for commercial repair work may be obtained at the Silver Spring Township Authority office for a fee of $47.50. The permit fee is waived for residential sewer customer repairs. Go here for answers to some FAQs about Public Sewers. ||James A. Stevens ||Susan F. Hostetler

Public - 717-591-1370 The Silver Spring Township Authority was created by the Silver Spring Township Board of Supervisors on September 26, 1984 for the purpose of providing sanitary sewer service within the boundaries of Silver Spring Township. The sewer authority is an instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and operates independently of the township, having its own operating budget f

Archive of the Workshop on Usability and the Web 4 - 5 November, 2002 National Institute of Standards and Lecture room C, ADMIN (101) Building Gaithersburg (near Washington D.C.), Maryland, USA In collaboration with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hosted a workshop to develop a plan for Web usability efforts. There are three aspects that the workshop considered: A number of speakers were invited to discuss usability of documentation, web usability, and products of various W3C Working Groups. Each attendee was asked to submit a 1-2 page position paper outlining one or more activities/approaches that could be undertaken by the group. - the usability of W3C specifications - how they affect usability of software based on them, and - how to improve the overall usability of the Web The workshop organizers reviewed these prior to the workshop and requested presentations of representative ideas from selected attendees. The outcome of the workshop was an outline of plans and activities that a usability interest group, if approved by the W3C, would Jean Scholtz, email@example.com Steven Pemberton, firstname.lastname@example.org Sharon Laskowski, email@example.com Sharon Laskowski, firstname.lastname@example.org, Last updated: 12/06/2002, W3C Communications Team <email@example.com>, and Paul Hsiao, NIST.

Archive of the Workshop on Usability and the Web 4 - 5 November, 2002 National Institute of Standards and Lecture room C, ADMIN (101) Building Gaithersburg (near Washington D.C.), Maryland, USA In collaboration with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) hosted a workshop to develop a plan for Web usability efforts. There are three aspects th

3.2.1 Courses on the elements of traditional medicine should be introduced early in the curricula of all modern health workers so as to ensure their awareness of the importance of traditional medicine in the context of their cultural settings. 3.2.2 Elements of modern medicine, such as hygiene, anatomy, and physiology, should also be taught to traditional health practitioners in order to make their work more effective. 3.2.3 Special continuing education courses at different levels and of varying duration should be organized for traditional health practitioners and eventually lead to the development of schools of traditional medicine. 3.2.4 To ensure the dissemination of accurate information, national governments, national AIDS programmes, and national AIDS committees should devise strategies for developing rapport with the media in order to continuously and correctly inform and educate the public on the AIDS pandemic. 3.2.5 Countries should develop national education activities aimed at fully involving traditional health practitioners in national AIDS prevention, control, and patient care programmes and making them fully aware of the risk to themselves and all their patients of HIV transmission in their practices.

3.2.1 Courses on the elements of traditional medicine should be introduced early in the curricula of all modern health workers so as to ensure their awareness of the importance of traditional medicine in the context of their cultural settings. 3.2.2 Elements of modern medicine, such as hygiene, anatomy, and physiology, should also be taught to traditional health practitioners in order to make thei

Of 430 human resource professionals surveyed, nearly three in four (72 percent) say the loss of talented older workers is a problem or a potential problem for their organizations. Over 50 percent polled say employees 50-plus have a stronger work ethic, bring more professionalism to their job, and have better writing and grammar skills than younger workers. AARP and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) conducted this poll to learn how employers were preparing for the impending demographic shift in the workplace and to raise awareness about related issues. “Older workers bring unique talents and skills to the workforce, and are a great asset to employers,” says Jean Setzfand, AARP’s Vice President for Financial Security. Indeed, some employers aren’t waiting for the skills and knowledge gap to potentially cause problems for their businesses when older workers retire. Nearly one in three polled (30 percent) say they’ve hired retirees as consultants or temporary workers. More than one in four (27 percent) say they’ve offered flexible work arrangements to keep older workers on the job. Other measures employers have taken to address the looming issue include: - 45 percent of those polled increased training for younger employees - 38 percent developed succession planning - 24 percent designed part-time positions to attract older workers Yet despite the shift in the workforce as 77 million Boomers begin to reach the traditional retirement age of 65 over the next two decades, not all employers appear to be proactive. About 71 percent say they still have not analyzed the impact on their businesses when workers 50-plus retire. And 27 percent say they’re not concerned about the demographic shift in their company. Still, among those polled, many employers agree that older workers hold an advantage over younger employees in these areas: - Problem solving (27 percent) - Self direction (16 percent) - Leadership (15 percent) - Teamwork and collaboration (10 percent) For more information, read the complete SHRM/AARP survey. Photo by billpellegrini1 via Flickr Creative Commons.

Of 430 human resource professionals surveyed, nearly three in four (72 percent) say the loss of talented older workers is a problem or a potential problem for their organizations. Over 50 percent polled say employees 50-plus have a stronger work ethic, bring more professionalism to their job, and have better writing and grammar skills than younger workers. AARP and the Society for Human Resource M

Vetrazzo…Environmental Award Winning Countertops About the author: Sara Jacobs recently celebrated her 10th year working at EPA Region 9. She has spent most of her years in the Drinking Water Office, but is currently on a detail to the Superfund Division, working with the Navajo EPA. My two-bedroom flat in San Francisco was built in 1926 and I don’t think much has happened to the kitchen since. We still have no dishwasher or disposal and no flooring other than the sub floor since we ripped up the old stained and cracked vinyl. As we dream of some day being able to take on a kitchen remodel, we wonder how we could minimize the environmental impact of our project. Yet, we still need to stay on budget, maintain product quality, and still display our own unique style. Is this even possible? We know that using recycled, locally manufactured, non-toxic materials are all good ideas, but where do we find these products? There is so much information to dig through on the web and as a busy, full-time working mother of two, I am just overwhelmed by the task. That’s why I was so excited when I read that one of the Pacific Southwest Environmental Award winners, Vetrazzo, takes glasses that are not recyclable elsewhere and turns them into beautiful countertops. (I can say beautiful because I saw the samples!) Vetrazzo uses old glass from traffic lights, windshields, plate glass windows, dinnerware, stemware, laboratory glass, stained glass, and beverage bottles and transforms them into a superior green building material. In 2008, Vetrazzo transformed 650 tons of recycled glass into countertops, table tops, bar tops, fireplace hearths, shower surrounds and flooring. Vetrazzo is made from glass processed directly from the recycler without melting. Since 2007, creation of 11,600 metric tons of carbon dioxide has been avoided by transforming recycled glass into Vetrazzo instead of new bottles or fiberglass. That is the same amount of energy saved by removing 2,125 passenger vehicles from the road for an entire year. “Being recognized by the U.S. EPA is a tremendous honor for us,” said James Sheppard, CEO and Co-Founder of Vetrazzo, LLC. “Our product creates a focal point for green building by boldly and visually demonstrating the value of recycling. When an average kitchen counter can contain as many as 1,000 bottles, the impact of using a sustainable surfacing material is undeniable. It gets people talking.” So now I have a solution for my counter tops. Does anyone have a suggestion for flooring? Photo credits: ©2008 Joel Puliatti for Vetrazzo 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.

Vetrazzo…Environmental Award Winning Countertops About the author: Sara Jacobs recently celebrated her 10th year working at EPA Region 9. She has spent most of her years in the Drinking Water Office, but is currently on a detail to the Superfund Division, working with the Navajo EPA. My two-bedroom flat in San Francisco was built in 1926 and I don’t think much has happened to the kitchen since. We

For nearly 20 years, HUD has awarded HOPE VI Revitalization grants to public housing authorities across the U.S.— revitalizing public housing, transforming communities, and improving the lives of residents. Today, HUD is awarding $153 million in HOPE VI grants to eight cities: Boston; Denver; Louisville, Kentucky; Paterson, New Jersey; St. Louis; Taunton, Massachsetts; Phoenix; and Portland, Oregon. Families living in public housing in these cities will soon begin seeing positive changes in their neighborhoods where severely distressed housing will be replaced with a new mixed-income community. But that’s just the start. These HOPE VI grants mark a national turning point in the effort to create new, more comprehensive approach to neighborhood revitalization. It’s called the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. HUD Secretary Donovan said, “No one can dispute the exceptional track record of HOPE VI to improve housing conditions for hundreds of communities and most importantly, thousands of families. As we move toward the next generation of neighborhood revitalization – one that links housing, education, transportation, healthcare, and other support services – we will always remember it all began with HOPE VI.”

For nearly 20 years, HUD has awarded HOPE VI Revitalization grants to public housing authorities across the U.S.— revitalizing public housing, transforming communities, and improving the lives of residents. Today, HUD is awarding $153 million in HOPE VI grants to eight cities: Boston; Denver; Louisville, Kentucky; Paterson, New Jersey; St. Louis; Taunton, Massachsetts; Phoenix; and Portland, Orego

(Entrance to Hyde Hall by Robert Edwards - Creative Commons Licence) Hyde Hall at Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire is the venue on November 1st to see the ghost of Sir John Jocelyn riding a spectral horse down the drive of his former home. Another version says he rides his white horse furiously along an avenue near the church, Sir John was a Nonconformist in an area dominated by Quakers. The church authorities rejected his request to be buried in the churchyard along with his favourite horse, so he left instructions that he was to be buried in the Hall grounds. In November 1741 he was buried, as per his instructions, without a coffin or shroud in a circle of yews along the main driveway to the Hall. There is no evidence that his horse was slaughtered and buried next to him. The singer Suzi Quatro who once owned the Hall claimed that a guest room was haunted by a ghost named Richard. Supposedly the spirit of a little girl also walked around parts of the house. The Hall later became a girls’ school. On 3rd November the ghost of Lady Costania Coleraine runs through the rooms of Bruce Castle in Tottenham screaming in anguish. (Bruce Hall by Julian Osley -Creative Commons Licence} Henry, the 2nd Lord Coleraine took over the house after his father’s death renaming it Bruce Castle. He had married Costania in an effort to restore his family’s fortune lost in the Civil War. He had a continuing affair with Sarah Alston (who he married in 1661 after the death of his wife. Henry was a cruel man and confined his wife to upper rooms in the Castle, later effectively imprisoning her in the small rooms of the clock tower. On 3rd November 1680 she managed to escape with her infant son and flung herself off the Castle balcony to her death. Supposedly her suicide is replayed on the anniversary. A reference to the Ghostly Lady of Bruce Castle appeared in the 1858 March Edition of the Tottenham and Edmonton Advertiser. Bruce Castle, once the home of Sir Rowland Hill, is now a museum. In addition to local history records its exhibits include displays from the early postal service. The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore is built on the site of a former convent. On 13th November the host of a grey lady, thought to be a nun, returns to haunt the wards.

(Entrance to Hyde Hall by Robert Edwards - Creative Commons Licence) Hyde Hall at Sawbridgeworth in Hertfordshire is the venue on November 1st to see the ghost of Sir John Jocelyn riding a spectral horse down the drive of his former home. Another version says he rides his white horse furiously along an avenue near the church, Sir John was a Nonconformist in an area dominated by Quakers. The church

Phytoplankton Toxin Kills Cancer Cells A National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science scientist and partners have identified and characterized a powerful fish-killing toxin that has cancer-killing properties. Laboratory tests indicate that even low concentrations of euglenophycin led to a significant decrease in cancer cell growth, and can kill cancer cells. Preliminary studies show the toxin is highly effective against renal cancer, one of the most challenging cancers to treat. Euglenophycin is found in a unicellular pond organism called Euglena sanguinea, and has a molecular structure similar to a toxin in fire ant venom. This work is an example of natural products derived from freshwater and marine organisms as effective new treatments for a variety of human diseases, including cancer. This research was conducted by NOAA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advance human health and well-being. The findings were published in the journal Toxicon online July 15, 2009, and in the January 2010 paper issue.

Phytoplankton Toxin Kills Cancer Cells A National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science scientist and partners have identified and characterized a powerful fish-killing toxin that has cancer-killing properties. Laboratory tests indicate that even low concentrations of euglenophycin led to a significant decrease in cancer cell growth, and can kill cancer cells. Preliminary studies show the toxin is hig

Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement on a landmark vote in the United States Senate on whether to change the course of the war in Iraq. “Today’s vote demonstrated the difference between Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate. Democrats believe that our troops should not be policing a civil war, that Iraq must take responsibility for its own future, and that our troops should begin to come home. Senate Republicans support President Bush’s plan to commit more men and women to policing an open-ended civil war. For months, Democrats have pushed for a vote on the most important issue facing this country. Today was one step. We will not stop until President Bush and Senate Republicans listen to the American people and change course in Iraq.”

Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid released the following statement on a landmark vote in the United States Senate on whether to change the course of the war in Iraq. “Today’s vote demonstrated the difference between Democrats and Republicans in the United States Senate. Democrats believe that our troops should not be policing a civil war, that Iraq must take responsibility for its

Interstate 10 is a heavily traveled roadway connecting Floridaís panhandle to the west. The road stretches from the eastern shore of northern Florida to Los Angeles, California, skirting the Gulf shore to Houston, then following the Mexican border to California. Just before leaving Florida, a traveler on I-10 would cross Escambia Bay near Pensacola. That was before Hurricane Ivan blasted through the Florida panhandle. The stormís fierce 130-mile-per-hour winds and possibly its storm surge cut through the bridge, leaving a wide gap in Interstate 10. The gap is visible in this image, acquired by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard NASAís Terra satellite on September 21, 2004, five days after Ivan made landfall. The road forms a thin white line across the dark waters of Escambia Bay in a comparison image, taken on September 28, 2003. In the 2004 image, the line is broken. Further evidence of Ivan’s fury is visible in the top image. Large tracts of darker red regions along the Escambia River, left, and the Yellow River, right, are probably flooded. This pair of false-color composite images was made by combining the near infrared, red, and green wavelengths (ASTER bands 3, 2, & 1), making vegetation appear red and water look black. NASA image created by Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory from data provided by Michael Abrams and the MITI, ERSDAC, JAROS, and the U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team. - Terra - ASTER

Interstate 10 is a heavily traveled roadway connecting Floridaís panhandle to the west. The road stretches from the eastern shore of northern Florida to Los Angeles, California, skirting the Gulf shore to Houston, then following the Mexican border to California. Just before leaving Florida, a traveler on I-10 would cross Escambia Bay near Pensacola. That was before Hurricane Ivan blasted through t

Indication of Geographic Variations of Organochlorine Concentrations in the Blubber of Antarctic Weddell SealsEntry ID: ECA046 Abstract: This dataset highlights that samples of Weddell seals blubber from King George Island (the region with the mildest climate in the Antarctic) in 1994 showed the lowest DDT (11 to19 ng/g)and PCB (1 to 2.5 ng/g) concentrations so far detected in comparable marine mammals from all over the world and one order of magnitude lower than in samples of the same species from other sites in Antarctica ... (located between 69°S and 78°S). This suggests a wide variability of organohalogen levels in the Antarctic, depending on the geographic site. This raises the question whether high proportions of organohalogens are being deposited on the Antarctic continent where they are not available to marine organisms and clearly demonstrates that it is complicated to derive time trends in concentrations of POPs in biota from different reference sites in the Antarctic. Start Date: 1994-01-01Stop Date: 1994-01-30 ISO Topic Category Data Set Progress Vetter, W., Alder, L., Kallenborn, R., Schlabach, M. 2000. Determination of Q1, an unknown organochlorine contaminant, inhuman milk, Antarctic air, and further environmental samples. Environmental Pollution. 110, 401-409. Vetter, W, Weichbrodt, M., Stoll, E., 2003. Indication of Geographic Variations of Organochlorine Concentrations in the Blubber of Antarctic Weddell Seals (Leptonychotes Weddelli). Environ Sci Technol., 37 (5), 840 –844. Creation and Review Dates DIF Creation Date: 2010-06-25 Last DIF Revision Date: 2010-06-30

Indication of Geographic Variations of Organochlorine Concentrations in the Blubber of Antarctic Weddell SealsEntry ID: ECA046 Abstract: This dataset highlights that samples of Weddell seals blubber from King George Island (the region with the mildest climate in the Antarctic) in 1994 showed the lowest DDT (11 to19 ng/g)and PCB (1 to 2.5 ng/g) concentrations so far detected in comparable marine ma

Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced Friday the formation of the Governor’s School Efficiency Task Force to examine education spending and to develop guidelines on how to get more funding into classrooms where teachers teach and students learn. Currently only 15 of the 286 school districts in Kansas adhere to state law that requires at least 65% of funds provided by the state to school districts are to be spent in the classroom or for instruction. “Providing a quality education to the children of Kansas is one of the core functions of state government and will remain a top funding priority for my administration,” Governor Brownback said. “It is critically important for state policy makers to be confident that state resources for education are spent as efficiently and effectively as possible. We must ensure that classroom teachers have the resources they need to educate effectively. We need more money in the classroom and less in administration and overhead costs.” More than half of total state spending is directed towards K-12 education. Since 2000, Kansas has increased K-12 education spending by nearly $1 billion dollars while the number of K-12 students has remained almost the same. “The task force also will identify best practices for cutting administration cost, reducing overhead, and providing a greater percentage of state resources to support instruction,” Brownback said. A Kansas State Board of Education member since 2003, Ken Willard of Hutchinson will chair the task force. Willard served on the USD 309 Nickerson School Board from 1997-2002 and retired last year after a 38-year career in the insurance industry. “I look forward to working with this outstanding group of Kansans who have varied private and public sector experiences and expertise – especially in accounting and budget planning. They will bring a lot of good ideas to the table to assist Governor Brownback in meeting his goals to improve our state’s education system,” Chairman Willard said. In Governor Brownback’s Road Map for Kansas, two of his five goals are directly impacted by quality of our education system: - Increase the percentage of high school graduates who are career or college ready. - Increase the percentage of 4th graders who can read at grade level. The Road Map also lists the focusing of resources on the classroom and transparency in education spending as priorities. The Kansas Department of Education recently announced a task force that will identify strategies for increasing student achievement generally, and more specifically, narrowing the achievement gap. Governor’s School Efficiency Task Force - Ken Willard, Hutchinson, Kansas State Board of Education member since 2003, USD 309 Nickerson School Board member (1997-2002); Retired after 38-year career in insurance industry. - Jim Churchman, Overland Park, 27 years of experience in business management includingoperations, purchasing, supply chain and strategic planning. - DeAnn Hill, Baxter Springs, CPA, 32 years of experience in public accounting including closely held, family-owned businesses and outside controllerships. - Theresa Dasenbrock, Garden City, CPA, 28 years of experience in public accounting including audits and budget development for public sector entities. - Thomas D. Thomas, Emporia, CPA, 44 years of experience in public accounting including audits and budget preparation for counties, cities, unified school districts and colleges. - James Dunning, Jr., Wichita, CPA, 31 years of experience in public accounting including planning and tax. - Stephen Iliff, Topeka, CPA, 31 years of experience in public accounting including auditing & tax. - Dave Jackson, Topeka, business owner, USD 345 Seaman School District school board member (1980-1992) and former state legislator. - Tim Witsman, Wichita, 32 years of experience in public & private sector business management; Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning board member for more than 20 years. - Steve Anderson, Topeka, CPA and State Budget Director, 34 years of experience in public accounting including auditing and budget planning for public sector entities.

Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced Friday the formation of the Governor’s School Efficiency Task Force to examine education spending and to develop guidelines on how to get more funding into classrooms where teachers teach and students learn. Currently only 15 of the 286 school districts in Kansas adhere to state law that requires at least 65% of funds provided by the state to school

- found: Work cat.: 2006030813: Distributed cognition and the will, 2007. - found: Wikipedia WWW site, Sept. 22, 2006 (Distributed cognition is a branch of cognitive science that proposes that human knowledge and cognition are not confined to the individual. Instead, it is distributed by placing memories, facts, or knowledge on the objects, individuals, and tools in our environment.) - found: Corsini, R. Dictionary of psychology, c1999 (distributed cognition: the argument that several agents sharing information between themselves can accomplish tasks that could not otherwise be done.) - 2006-11-15: new - 2012-12-11: revised The LC Linked Data Service welcomes any suggestions you might have about terminology used for a given heading or concept. Would you like to suggest a change to this heading? Please provide your name, email, and your suggestion so that we can begin assessing any terminology changes. Fields denoted with an asterisk (*) are required.

- found: Work cat.: 2006030813: Distributed cognition and the will, 2007. - found: Wikipedia WWW site, Sept. 22, 2006 (Distributed cognition is a branch of cognitive science that proposes that human knowledge and cognition are not confined to the individual. Instead, it is distributed by placing memories, facts, or knowledge on the objects, individuals, and tools in our environment.) - found: Cors

Land access policy framework The Queensland Government's Land Access Policy Framework sets out important policy and legislative reforms to foster improved relationships between the agriculture and resources sectors. The policy framework, which was developed with the assistance of the Government's Land Access working group, aims to ensure consistent processes that are clear, fair and reasonable for all parties. Queensland's land access laws give force to the Policy Framework and provide clarity and consistency so both the agricultural and resource sector can co-exist for the benefit of Queensland. The land access laws came into effect in Queensland on 29 October 2010 for the petroleum and gas, greenhouse gas and geothermal energy sectors. Land access laws for the minerals and coal exploration sector will start later this year. This follows passage by the Queensland Parliament on 19 August 2010 following earlier introduction and debate of draft legislation included in the Geothermal Energy Bill 2010. These laws provide landholders with greater protection and security about their rights related to land access by resource companies carrying out activities on their land. They also set out the Government's required standards for conduct and compensation and provide landholders with a clear and consistent framework for negotiated compensation when they are affected by a resource company's activities. Legislation and application The laws generally apply to the activities of resource companies involved in mineral, petroleum and gas, geothermal and greenhouse gas storage exploration and development in Queensland. They amend legislation and apply to respective tenures or authorities as follows: - Mineral Resources Act 1989 - exploration permits, mineral development licenses - Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety ) Act 2004 - all authorities - Petroleum Act 1923 - all authorities - Greenhouse Gas Storage Act - all authorities - Geothermal Energy Bill 2010 - all authorities. Key features of the laws The laws include: - a requirement that all resource authority holders comply with a single Land Access Code (PDF, 100 kB) - entry notice requirements for 'preliminary activities' i.e. those that will have no or only a minor impact on landholders - a requirement that Conduct and Compensation agreements be negotiated before a company comes onto a landholder's property to undertake advanced activities' i.e. those likely to have a significant impact on a landholder's business or land use - a graduated process for negotiation and resolving disputes about agreements which ensure matters are only referred to the Land court as a last resort - stronger compliance and enforcement powers for government agencies where breaches of the land access code occur. Additional regulations have been put in place to deliver transparency in the petroleum and gas industry and ensure landholders are kept fully informed about the type and extent of authorised activities conducted on their land. Companies must give landholders at least 10 business days' written notice before undertaking petroleum and CSG activities on their land. Companies must again notify landholders in writing within 10 business days of completing those activities. Mandatory notification applies to the following activities: - carrying out and completing hydraulic fracturing - notification must include the intended and actual chemicals and volumes used - drilling, completing, altering and abandoning a well or bore - carrying out and completing a seismic survey or scientific or technical survey. Within two months of completing hydraulic fracturing activity, companies must also submit a detailed report to Government that includes the composition of all fraccing fluids used in each well and the potential impacts on water aquifers. If you have difficulty accessing files from this website please . Last updated 06 April 2011

Land access policy framework The Queensland Government's Land Access Policy Framework sets out important policy and legislative reforms to foster improved relationships between the agriculture and resources sectors. The policy framework, which was developed with the assistance of the Government's Land Access working group, aims to ensure consistent processes that are clear, fair and reasonable for

Place: Miramichi, N.B. Ownership/Collection: The Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa Source: Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax Reference Number: III-F-310 Image Use: Free for personal research and non-commercial educational use. The Nova Scotia Museum reserves the right to refuse requests. There are five people shown; the two central males appear to be arguing. A caption, in barely legible pencil, reads L-R: "Salie Cando, Deposed chief of Pogmouche, Rebel Chief of Restigouche, Christine Condo, [Man's name, illegible]." men; women; politics; wampum belts; medals; Cando, Salie; chiefs; Pogmouche; Restigouche; Quebec; Condo, Christine; Miramichi; New Brunswick

Place: Miramichi, N.B. Ownership/Collection: The Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ottawa Source: Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax Reference Number: III-F-310 Image Use: Free for personal research and non-commercial educational use. The Nova Scotia Museum reserves the right to refuse requests. There are five people shown; the two central males appear to be arguing. A caption, in barely legible pencil, r

The Classification of Instructional Programs is a list of instructional programs used by postsecondary institutions when reporting on completions by field of study. The 2010 CIP Website can be accessed on line at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cip2010. The CIP website consists of three modules: the CIP Homepage, the CIP Wizard, and the CIP Selector. The CIP Homepage allows users to browse the 2010 CIP, search for CIP codes using keywords, view a list of codes that have been added, deleted or moved, crosswalk the 2000 and 2010 CIP, and access current and previous electronic versions of the CIP. The CIP Wizard provides users with a list of CIP codes previously reported by institutions for their last three years of completions data and maps these codes on to the 2010 CIP. The CIP Selector helps users to select a CIP code which best describes their instructional program. When developing the 2010 CIP, NCES focused on adding new instructional programs; CIP codes were only deleted in order to avoid duplication with newly added codes. The 2010 CIP contains approximately 350 new 6-digit CIP codes and 50 new 4-digit CIP codes. No new 2-digit CIP codes were added. IPEDS keyholders and coordinators will begin using the 2010 CIP for the Completions survey in Fall 2010, which will collect awards and degrees conferred between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. Fall 2010 enrollment for the 9 special fields of study reported by 4-year institutions will also use CIP 2010. For questions about the 2010 CIP or CIP Website, please call the IPEDS Help Desk at 1-877-225-2568 or email CIP@ed.gov. A Technical Review Panel (TRP) meeting was recently convened to discuss new requirements included in the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA). The specific requirements discussed are related to "State Higher Education Spending Charts." A report and suggestions from this meeting are now available for comment on the RTI website: https://edsurveys.rti.org/IPEDS_TRP/Index.aspx Comments should be sent by July 20, 2009. Please see the meeting report for additional details. IPEDS Help Desk Toll Free 1-877-225-2568

The Classification of Instructional Programs is a list of instructional programs used by postsecondary institutions when reporting on completions by field of study. The 2010 CIP Website can be accessed on line at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cip2010. The CIP website consists of three modules: the CIP Homepage, the CIP Wizard, and the CIP Selector. The CIP Homepage allows users to browse the 2010 CIP,

Within the next month or so four new planetary CD-ROM sets will be available from NSSDC. The Viking Lander Experiment Data Record (EDR) Archive set, produced by the Planetary Data System, will contain all the raw images taken in the mid-1970s by the Viking Landers on two volumes, images from Viking 1 on one CD-ROM and Viking 2 on the other. The images, all black and white, vary in size from narrow-angle views of the terrain to wide-angle panoramas. Information on the image time, filters, and lighting conditions is also contained on the CDs. Viking Lander image of the Martian surface A set of 15 CDs containing base map mosaics of the Moon produced from images taken by the Clementine spacecraft will be arriving in late September or early October 1997. Volumes 1 through 14 of this set will contain mosaics covering the Moon by geographic sector at a resolution of 100 meters/pixel. Volume 15 will contain global mosaics at 500, 2,500, and 12,500 meters/pixel. The mosaics are all in sinusoidal equal-area projection and were created using 43,000 visible images taken by the Clementine UV/Visible camera over a two-month period in 1994. These CD-ROMs were produced by the United States Geological Service (USGS) Astrogeology Branch. Clementine image of the Moon featuring Messier Craters. Also, two new CD-ROM sets of Pioneer Venus mission data have recently become available from the Planetary Data System. The first is a two CD-ROM set that consists of data from the orbiter Electron Temperature Probe (OETP) instrument (including high- and low-resolution data of electron density as well as other data) and covers the time span of the mission. The second set is a single volume CD-ROM that consists of data from the orbiter Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ONMS) instrument (including high-resolution and 12 s sub-sampled neutral density as well as other data) and covers the time span of the mission as well. More information on these as well as other CD-ROMs available through NSSDC can be found in the on-line CD-ROM catalog at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cd-rom/. An ordering capability is also available on these pages. Erin D. Gardner, firstname.lastname@example.org, (301) 286-0163 Hughes STX, Code 633, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD 20771, U.S.A.

Within the next month or so four new planetary CD-ROM sets will be available from NSSDC. The Viking Lander Experiment Data Record (EDR) Archive set, produced by the Planetary Data System, will contain all the raw images taken in the mid-1970s by the Viking Landers on two volumes, images from Viking 1 on one CD-ROM and Viking 2 on the other. The images, all black and white, vary in size from narrow

Many of the elegant structures in Saturn's rings result from the influence of the planet's moons. Seen here at center is the Cassini Division, flanked at top and bottom by the outer B-ring edge and the inner A-ring edge, respectively. The gravitational influence of the moon Mimas is responsible for the Cassini Division. See PIA08389 for a labeled map of Saturn's rings. The view looks toward the unilluminated side of the rings from about 33 degrees above the ringplane. The image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Aug. 2, 2008. The view was obtained at a distance of approximately 1 million kilometers (639,000 miles) from Saturn. Image scale is 6 kilometers (4 miles) per pixel. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo. For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/. The Cassini imaging team homepage is at http://ciclops.org.

Many of the elegant structures in Saturn's rings result from the influence of the planet's moons. Seen here at center is the Cassini Division, flanked at top and bottom by the outer B-ring edge and the inner A-ring edge, respectively. The gravitational influence of the moon Mimas is responsible for the Cassini Division. See PIA08389 for a labeled map of Saturn's rings. The view looks toward the un

Income, Wealth, and the Economic Well-Being of Farm Households Ashok K. Mishra, Hisham S. El-Osta, Mitchell J. Morehart, James D. Johnson, and Jeffrey W. Hopkins Agricultural Economic Report No. (AER812) 77 pp, Agricultural policy is rooted in the 1930's notion that providing transfers of money to the farm sector translates into increased economic well-being of farm families. This report shows that neither change in income for the farm sector nor for any particular group of farm business can be presumed to reflect changes confronting farm households. Farm households draw income from various sources, including off-farm work, other businesses operated and, increasingly, nonfarm investments. Likewise, focus on a single indicator of well-being, such as income, overlooks other indicators such as the wealth held by the household and the level of consumption expenditures for health care, food, housing, and other items. Using an expanded definition of economic well-being, we show that farm households as a whole are better off than the average U.S. household, but that 6 percent remain economically disadvantaged. Keywords: farming, farm income, farm households, farm household wealth, off-farm work, farm typology, farm resource regions, operator age, operator education, household consumption, farm business, nonfarm income, ARMS, farm policy In this report ... in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. - Table of Contents, 488 kb - Frontmatter, 526 kb - Executive Summary, 507 kb - Introduction, 494 kb - Income and Well-Being of Farm Households, 554 kb - Composition of Farm Household Income and Wealth , 540 kb - Farm Household Heterogeneity, 690 kb - Variability in Farm Household Income and Wealth, 912 kb - Farm and Nonfarm Household Comparability, 504 kb - Findings and Policy Implications, 1, 082 kb - Appendix A, 1,004 kb - References, 434 kb Order this report (stock #ERSAER812) Updated date: July 1, 2002

Income, Wealth, and the Economic Well-Being of Farm Households Ashok K. Mishra, Hisham S. El-Osta, Mitchell J. Morehart, James D. Johnson, and Jeffrey W. Hopkins Agricultural Economic Report No. (AER812) 77 pp, Agricultural policy is rooted in the 1930's notion that providing transfers of money to the farm sector translates into increased economic well-being of farm families. This report shows tha

2008 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Objective 1: To identify additional components of the CLAVATA meristem signal transduction pathway. Objective 2: To characterize the role of microRNAs and their target genes in regulating Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem activity. Objective 3: To determine the function of the Arabidopsis BOP1 and BOP2 genes in regulating shoot apical meristem activity and leaf development. Objective 4: To develop and test hypotheses to determine how knowledge of plant architectural genes in Arabidopsis can be applied to crop plants. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) Identify, isolate and characterize genes that regulate plant architecture in model systems and agriculturally important crops by. 1)using a sensitized genetic screen to uncover novel components of the Arabidopsis thaliana CLAVATA stem cell signaling pathway;. 2)determining the role of a small regulatory RNA and its five target genes in regulating stem cell maintenance during development;. 3)analyzing the function of the BOP1 and BOP2 genes in regulating stem cell activity and leaf formation; and. 4)developing and testing hypotheses on how knowledge of plant architectural genes in Arabidopsis can be applied to crop plants through the identification and functional analysis of orthologous genes. REPLACES 5335-21000-016-00D (4/06). The first objective of our CRIS project is to identify additional components of the CLAVATA (CLV) signaling pathway. To accomplish this we screened mutagenized clv3 families for modifier phenotypes, but we discontinued screening this population because it was an ineffective mutagenesis. Instead, we are focusing on identifying enhancers and suppressors of a mutation in ULTRAPETALA1 (ULT1), which affects Arabidopsis stem cell accumulation through a pathway overlapping that of CLV3. We have identified two independent enhancers and one suppressor of the ult1 stem cell phenotype, and have completed backcrosses and performed complementation tests with all three lines. The second objective of our CRIS project is to characterize the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes in regulating shoot apical meristem activity. To accomplish this we are have used genetic and molecular techniques to determine which of the five HD-ZIP target genes contribute to the jabba-1D shoot meristem phenotype caused by up-regulation of the miR166g gene. The expression patterns of several of the seven miR166 genes have been recently reported in the literature, and we are in the process of analyzing the expression patterns of the remaining family members. The third objective of our CRIS project is to determine the function of the BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and BOP2 genes in regulating shoot apical meristem activity and leaf formation. To accomplish this we have analyzed the expression patterns of the BOP1 and BOP2 genes throughout wild-type Arabidopsis development, and also in the background of several mutants with reduced shoot apical meristem function. We have also shown that BOP1 acts as a transcriptional activator protein and are in the process of demonstrating direct interaction between BOP1 protein and a key target gene locus. The fourth objective of our CRIS project is to develop and test hypotheses to determine how knowledge of plant architectural genes in Arabidopsis can be applied to crop plants. To accomplish this we have provided BOP1 and BOP2 clones and sequences to maize researchers, and have identified a putative maize BOP2 insertion line. BOP1 and BOP2 gene orthologs have also been annotated on the rice genome sequence by the public rice gene annotation project. These relate to NP302, Component 1. Characterization of EMB1611 Shoot Meristem Regulatory Gene: This work addresses the identification of genetic pathways that control Arabidopsis plant architecture that can be translated to crop species. ARS scientists in the Plant Gene Expression Center in Albany, CA identified a role for the essential gene EMB1611 in shoot stem cell function during development through its maintenance of the CLV stem cell regulatory pathway. We also demonstrated that EMB1611 functions in young plant tissues to sustain the cells in an actively dividing state. Manipulation of pathways such as this in crop plants may lead to increased yields, benefiting domestic farmers as well as export markets. This accomplishment addresses National Program NP302 Component 1, problem statement 1A – Advancing From Model Plants to Crop Plants. Analysis of ULT1 Regulatory Mechanism: This work addresses the question of how the key stem cell regulatory gene ULT1 functions in Arabidopsis for future application to crop plants. ARS scientists in the Plant Gene Expression Center in Albany, CA determined that ULT1 acts genetically as a trithorax Group factor, part of a chromatin remodeling complex that maintains target gene expression in an active state. We also showed that ULT1 maintains an active chromatin state at a target gene locus that is critical for regulating stem cell accumulation for fruit formation. Understanding the mechanism of the ULT1 activity in stem cell regulation may lead to novel ways to control plant architecture in crop plants, and also sheds light on the activities of ULT1-related proteins that play important roles in human disease. This accomplishment addresses National Program NP302 Component 1, problem statement 1A – Advancing From Model Plants to Crop Plants. 5.Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations |Number of Non-Peer Reviewed Presentations and Proceedings||4| Jun, J., Fiume, E., Fletcher, J.C. 2007. The CLE family of plant polypeptide signaling molecules. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 64(11):1420-9071 (Online)

2008 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) Objective 1: To identify additional components of the CLAVATA meristem signal transduction pathway. Objective 2: To characterize the role of microRNAs and their target genes in regulating Arabidopsis shoot apical meristem activity. Objective 3: To determine the function of the Arabidopsis BOP1 and BOP2 genes in regulating shoot apical meristem activit

DATE: May 8, 2006 CONTACT: Mike Brown (775) 753-0386 ELKO FIELD OFFICE: 2006-50 2006 Pre Fire Season #1 PREPARING FOR FIRE SEASON 2006 Fire season 2006 has the potential to see several large wildfires in Northeastern Nevada similar to the 2005 season. “The most recent 2006 fire season forecast indicates higher than normal temperatures and above-normal fire potential for portions of the Great Basin,” said Elko Interagency Dispatch Manager Bill Roach. “One of the key components to a big fire season is the amount of fuel there is to burn. Where we normally measure cheatgrass and annual vegetation fuels in the hundreds of pounds per acre, in 2005 we measured them in tons per acre. This year, we have an even heavier fuels build up because of the wet spring and higher-than-average moisture levels. In addition, all the dead and dry fuel that didn’t burn in 2005 is still out there today.” “One of our primary concerns with heavy vegetation is ‘fine fuels’ such as cheatgrass,” Roach continued. “When cheatgrass catches fire it is a fearsome thing to behold because of the speed and intensity of the fire growth. Even the swiftest-footed mule deer caught by the head of a wind-driven cheatgrass fire can’t outrun the flames, which often race across the landscape at speeds of 30-40 miles per hour.” “Wildfires in this heavy fuel build up could result in erratic fire behavior. Suppression could be more difficult, especially if we have numerous fire ignitions. We definitely need the public’s help and cooperation with fire safety. We’re hoping to avoid fire restrictions and fire closures this year,” Roach added. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and fire fighting partners such as the Nevada Division of Forestry, U.S. Forest Service, and the more than 30 Volunteer Fire Departments in Northeastern Nevada are looking at a number of ways to protect communities including livestock grazing in green strips and/or mowing the green strips to increase their effectiveness. “The key to everyone getting through this year’s fire season with life and property intact – is that everyone must practice fire safety every day,” Roach concluded. “Protecting property starts with every home owner.” Note to editors – This is the first in a series of 4 articles dealing with the coming fire season. Future topics in the series include the role of the public (use of burn barrels, etc.), creating defensible space, and things to think about and prepare if fire comes to your neighborhood.

DATE: May 8, 2006 CONTACT: Mike Brown (775) 753-0386 ELKO FIELD OFFICE: 2006-50 2006 Pre Fire Season #1 PREPARING FOR FIRE SEASON 2006 Fire season 2006 has the potential to see several large wildfires in Northeastern Nevada similar to the 2005 season. “The most recent 2006 fire season forecast indicates higher than normal temperatures and above-normal fire potential for portions of the Great Basin

attlebridge (towns and villages) Attlebridge grew up at an historic crossing point of the River Wensum on the north east side of the Wensum Valley. It was known as 'Atlebruge' at the time of the Domesday Book and lies on the old pilgrims' way from Norwich to the Shrine of Our Lady at Little Walsingham. st andrew's church The village is centred around St Andrew's Church which dates from the 13th century although some restoration was undertaken in 1864. The church is open all day for visitors. During early Summer, the churchyard is filled with gently-nodding meadow saxifrage. Legend has it that as Oliver Cromwell's troops approached Attlebridge, two silver bells were removed from the chapel tower and buried in the river although they were never found nor has any evidence to support this. Until the 16th century a hermitage stood on the banks of the River Wensum as a stopping place for pilgrims on their way to Walsingham. A crop mark showing the position of the fountains can sometimes be seen in a field near the church. The name Attlebridge refers to the 'brycg' (bridge in Old English) reportedly built by Ætla who is believed to have been an Anglo Saxon Archbishop from the 7th century. The site of a former railway station on what used to be the Midland and Great Northern railway line is now home to a first-class 2½ acre campsite. The rail route is now the Marriott's way walk and cycle path. |Aylsham Tourist Information Centre Bure Valley Railway Station Aylsham NR11 6BW |tel: 01263 733903| |fax: 01263 733922|

attlebridge (towns and villages) Attlebridge grew up at an historic crossing point of the River Wensum on the north east side of the Wensum Valley. It was known as 'Atlebruge' at the time of the Domesday Book and lies on the old pilgrims' way from Norwich to the Shrine of Our Lady at Little Walsingham. st andrew's church The village is centred around St Andrew's Church which dates from the 13th ce

Watch and share a selection of online videos that address community health and chronic disease prevention. View CDC-TV and CDC’s YouTube channel for more videos. Visit CDC Social Media Tools, Guidelines & Best Practices for guidelines and best practices on YouTube and online video. Hear how local communities take action to improve the health of their residents and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities. Addressing several chronic health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular health, asthma, cancer, and obesity, innovative programs meet local health needs and demonstrate positive impact. Carolyn Jenkins, DrPh (Medical University of South Carolina) Hear how a community diabetes education class in South Carolina is changing lives and perceptions about diabetes. Karen Hearod, LCSW, Todd Baughman, LPN (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) Learn how a healthy heart message was delivered to the Choctaw Nation through a local cooking show. Charmaine Rudduck, MS (The Institute for Urban Family Health, New York) See how the Bronx Health REACH Coalition and its community partners successfully promoted low-fat, skim milk only policy in New York public schools. Mary Ann Foo, MPH (Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Inc., California) Watch how a local hospital promoted breast and cervical cancer screening to Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian women. Dean Cleghorn, EdD (Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Massachusetts) Hear a personal story about how a community diabetes education program helped a woman learn to better manage her diabetes medications. Mona Fouad, MD, MPH (University of Alabama at Birmingham) Learn how community health advisors were trained to educate racial and ethnic women about the importance of mammography. Elizabeth Woods, MD, MPH (Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts) Through home visits and nurse case management, see how the Community Asthma initiative in Boston is reducing the need for asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions. Nicolette Warren, MS, MCHES (Society for Public Health Education, Washington, DC) Hear how local Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) chapters collaborate with community groups to advance diabetes prevention and management. Simona Kwon, DrPH, MPH (New York University School of Medicine, New York) See how research helped develop a Hepatitis B education program for Chinese and Korean communities in New York City. Joyce Jones Guinyard, DC (UCLA Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Equity, California) Learn how physical activity in the workplace is helping eliminate cardiovascular disease and diabetes disparities in racial and ethnic communities. Kathryn Sen, SPHN (Schenectady County Public Health Service, New York) Hear how community partnerships help the West Indian population of Schenectady County prevent and control type 2 diabetes. This video highlights the efforts of one educational organization, Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), to keep kids healthy at an early age. Childhood obesity now affects approximately one in six kids and disproportionately affects low-income and minority populations. LAUP teaches kids healthy habits and is incorporating small, healthy changes that can be made in any classroom—like teaching fun dances and providing nutritious snacks. The following video highlights the efforts of CPPW communities as they build healthier environments for their residents. This video explains the many factors that have contributed to the obesity epidemic, and showcases several community initiatives taking place to prevent and reduce obesity. Obesity is a national epidemic and a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death in the U.S., including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer. We need to change our communities into places that strongly support healthy eating and active living. More than one third of U.S. adults are obese. Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories than your body uses. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight will help you prevent and control many diseases and conditions. The key is FINDING A BALANCE in your lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity. In this video, experts and people with prediabetes talk about how type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed by making lifestyle changes that include weight loss and more physical activity. People with prediabetes discuss how group lifestyle change classes helped them learn and keep healthy habits. CPPW Community Profile Videos View these videos from Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) communities that have implemented a variety of changes throughout the community to make healthy living easier.

Watch and share a selection of online videos that address community health and chronic disease prevention. View CDC-TV and CDC’s YouTube channel for more videos. Visit CDC Social Media Tools, Guidelines & Best Practices for guidelines and best practices on YouTube and online video. Hear how local communities take action to improve the health of their residents and reduce racial and ethnic health d

Click on the items in the image below to learn how to stay healthy and safe. Health and Safety Tips: - Prevent fires by keeping flammable objects away from the stove. - Keep cleaning products out of reach of children. - Keep medications out of reach of children. - Properly store and prepare foods. - Wash your hands. - Know if your drinking water comes from a private well. If so, test it for contaminants. - Place smoke alarms in the kitchen and cook with care.

Click on the items in the image below to learn how to stay healthy and safe. Health and Safety Tips: - Prevent fires by keeping flammable objects away from the stove. - Keep cleaning products out of reach of children. - Keep medications out of reach of children. - Properly store and prepare foods. - Wash your hands. - Know if your drinking water comes from a private well. If so, test it for contam

Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators: NATIONAL CENTER AND STATE COLLABORATIVE The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce that California has joined the National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) Consortia as a Tier II state. The NCSC is a project led by 27 states (18 Tier I core states and 9 Tier II states) that have committed to develop professional development modules and curriculum/instruction resources, create alternate achievement standards, and develop a multi-state comprehensive assessment system for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Tier I core states are involved in the governance of NCSC and have decision-making authority. Tier II states help develop an individualized plan to implement professional development modules and curriculum/instruction resources, including formative assessment strategies and progress monitoring tools. This will prepare both teachers and students for the summative assessment once the project is complete. Currently, California has committed to review and beta test curriculum/instructional resources and professional development modules. It is not yet clear if the NCSC assessments will ultimately be adopted until the recommendations for the reauthorization of the statewide pupil assessment program are solidified in California. This partnership will allow the CDE to build upon its foundational work with students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, based on an understanding of how students develop competence in the academic domains that are defined in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Having access to professional development and curriculum/instruction resources aligned to the CCSS will give California the opportunity to implement these resources before a summative assessment, if adopted by California, goes operational. Currently, the NCSC alternate assessments are being designed for a wide range of students with significant cognitive disabilities and will assess knowledge of mathematics and English–language arts in grades three through eight and one grade in high school. These alternate assessments are expected to align with the assessment systems being developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and will be ready for use by the 2014–15 school year. Please visit the NCSC Web site at http://www.ncscpartners.org/ for more details. If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Kristen Brown, NCSC State Lead Consultant, Policy and Program Services Unit, Special Education Division, by phone at 916-445-1064 or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org.Sincerely,

Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators: NATIONAL CENTER AND STATE COLLABORATIVE The California Department of Education (CDE) is pleased to announce that California has joined the National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) Consortia as a Tier II state. The NCSC is a project led by 27 states (18 Tier I core states and 9 Tier II states) that have committed to d