Linear-Time--Branching-Time Spectroscopy Accounting for Silent Steps

We provide the first generalized game characterization of van Glabbeek's linear-time--branching-time spectrum with silent steps. Thereby, one multi-dimensional energy game can be used to decide a wide array of behavioral equivalences between stability-respecting branching bisimiarity and weak trace equivalence in one go. To establish correctness, we relate attacker-winning energy budgets and distinguishing sublanguages of Hennessy--Milner logic characterized by eight dimensions of formula expressiveness. We outline how to derive exponential-time algorithms and divergence-preserving variants

Consumer protection and the regulation of mobile phone contracts : a study of automatically renewable long-term contracts across jurisdictions

This article deconstructs mobile phone contracts as an example of long-term contractual relations in four jurisdictions to reveal that there are three elements which define consumer protection. The elements are contract duration, renewal of the agreement and unilateral modification. Each of these factors are regulated differently in each of the jurisdictions, but, assessed collectively, similar levels of consumer protection are found. The authors show that the reason for the different weighting is determined by regulation (subject-specific or general); by external factors, such as technological development, geography or business considerations; and by wider cultural considerations. The comparison of these features across the jurisdictions shows that, ultimately, regulatory intervention plays little role in contract design, unless an overwhelming policy goal is pursued, which means that, in most cases, regulators would be advised to avoid or reduce regulation of mobile phone and other long-term contracts

Hanford Site environmental data for calendar year 1994: Surface and Columbia River

Environmental monitoring at the Hanford Site, located in southeastern Washington State, is conducted by Battelle Memorial Institute, Pacific Northwest Division, as part of its contract to operate the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL) for the US Department of Energy. The data collected provide a historical record of radionuclide and radiation levels attributable to natural causes, worldwide fallout, and Hanford operations. Data are also collected to monitor several chemicals. Pacific Northwest Laboratory publishes an annual environmental report for the Hanford Site each calendar year. The Hanford Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 1994 describes the Site mission and activities, general environmental features, radiological and chemical releases from operations, status of compliance with environmental regulations, status of programs to accomplish compliance, and environmental monitoring activities and results. The report includes a summary of offsite and onsite environmental monitoring data collected during 1994 b PNL`s Environmental Monitoring Program. Appendix A of that report contains data summaries created from raw surface and river monitoring data. This volume contains the actual raw data used to create the summaries

Hanford Site Environmental Surveillance Master Sampling Schedule for Calendar Year 2011

This document contains the calendar year 2011 schedule for the routine collection of samples for the Surface Environmental Surveillance Project and the Drinking Water Monitoring Project. Each section includes sampling locations, sampling frequencies, sample types, and analyses to be performed. In some cases, samples are scheduled on a rotating basis. If a sample will not be collected in 2011, the anticipated year for collection is provided. Maps showing approximate sampling locations are included for media scheduled for collection in 2011

Labor Queues, Discrimination, and Affirmative Action

Economic

Using Augusto Boal-Based Theatre for Development Methods to Mediate the Introduction of Fuel-Efficient Cook Stoves in Chajul, Guatemala: Provoking Action through an Ethical Intervention.

This dissertation examines how theatre for development methods, developed and influenced by Augusto Boal, were employed to provide energy-oppressed people with opportunities to reflect and take action to improve their lives. Specifically, this research study examines two theatre for development interventions conducted in Chajul, Guatemala, where I worked with indigenous citizens of Chajul and a host nongovernmental organization, Limitless Horizons Ixil, to create theatre pieces that confronted people‘s home energy-use habits, focusing, specifically, on the dangers of indoor air pollution caused by the use of open fires in homes. The first intervention occurred during a seven-day trip to Chajul in July 2009, and involved devising and staging an original play, ―Life with a Cookstove/Life without a Cookstove,‖ that was presented to more than 300 community members. The second intervention, which took place over ten days in June 2010, consisted of staging original theatre pieces in people‘s homes around their open fires. In addition to using theatre as an educational tool, information was collected about people‘s attitudes and behaviors related to indoor air pollution and cookstoves. Additionally, the theatre interventions gave people the opportunity to practice taking action to reduce dangers associated with indoor air pollution in their homes through the proposed use of cookstoves. This investigation provides insight into common theatre for development practices that can be used in Latin America, a portion of the world that has been significantly understudied, and with other underrepresented populations around the world that are not accustomed to using theatre to reflect on their home energy use or other significant issues of concern in need of action. Additionally, this research assisted Limitless Horizons Ixil to achieve its development goals of reducing indoor air pollution in Chajul through the introduction of cookstoves in an ethical and sustainable way. As the only study on using theatre for development methods to introduce, investigate, and promote cookstoves as an appropriate and sustainable energy technology, this research serves as an example of employing participatory and ethical theatre for energy justice methods to provide people with opportunities to reflect on and take action to solve their energy needs

Hanford Site Environmental Surveillance Master Sampling Schedule for Calendar Year 2009

Environmental surveillance of the Hanford Site and surrounding areas is conducted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. Sampling is conducted to evaluate levels of radioactive and nonradioactive pollutants in the Hanford environs, as required in DOE Order 450.1 and DOE Order 5400.5. This document contains the calendar year 2009 schedule for the routine collection of samples for the Surface Environmental Surveillance Project and Drinking Water Monitoring Project. Each section includes sampling locations, sampling frequencies, sample types, and analyses to be performed. In some cases, samples are scheduled on a rotating basis. If a sample will not be collected in 2009, the anticipated year for collection is provided. Maps showing approximate sampling locations are included for media scheduled for collection in 2009

Hanford Site Environmental Surveillance Data Report for Calendar Year 2007

Environmental surveillance on and around the Hanford Site, located in southeastern Washington State, is conducted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy. The environmental surveillance data collected for this report provide a historical record of radionuclide and radiation levels attributable to natural causes, worldwide fallout, and Hanford Site operations. Data were also collected to monitor several chemicals and metals in Columbia River water, sediment, and wildlife. These data are included in this appendix. This report is the first of two appendices that support "Hanford Site Environmental Report for Calendar Year 2007" (PNNL-17603), which describes the Hanford Site mission and activities, general environmental features, radiological and chemical releases from operations, status of compliance with environmental regulations, status of programs to accomplish compliance, Hanford Site cleanup and remediation efforts, and environmental monitoring activities and results

Tissue-specific expression of TRP channel genes in the mouse and its variation in three different mouse strains

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this work was to study the gene expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in the mouse. The application of a standardized and quantitative technique, TaqMan RT-PCR, should give information about the pattern and relative importance of TRP channels for murine tissues and cell types. To verify data sets with an independent method, we studied the occurrence of some of the transcripts by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: We have characterized the mRNA expression of 22 TRP channels in the mouse with a focus on nerve and muscle tissues. This is the first study to describe the expression profiles of all channel isoforms of the four related Group 1 subfamilies (TRPC, TRPV, TRPM and TRPA) with a standardized and quantitative technique. Comparisons of transcript abundance showed a consistent dominance of TRPM7 and TRPC3 in most tissues. We further observed characteristic patterns and differences in gene expression of individual channels ranging over three orders of magnitude. The overall level of TRP channel mRNAs was highest in brain areas followed by kidney, lung, reproductive organs and muscle. In brain TRPM3 and TRPM7 dominated and 19 other isoforms were detected. In lung and kidney TRPV4, TRPV5 and TRPM7 were found in highest levels. TRPM7, TRPC3, TRPC6 and TRPM3 mRNAs were characteristically present in all tested muscle tissues. Most data obtained with the C57Bl/10 mouse strain were confirmed with Balb/c and NOD mice. However, TRPC3, C6, TRPM7, M3, TRPV2 and V4 expression showed marked differences in the three tested mouse strains. In situ hybridization revealed co-expression of transcripts on the cellular level and widely confirmed the data obtained with RT-PCR. CONCLUSION: Transcripts coding for members of the TRPC, TRPV, TRPM and TRPA subfamilies of TRP cation channels are present in a broad spectrum of murine tissues. Several channel isoforms often coexist in a specific tissue or cell type. TRP channel expression does not show typical tissue specific dominance of individual members as is known from other ion channel families. Mouse strain specific variations of TRP channel expression indicate that genetic background or physiological requirements considerably influence expression levels

Hanford Site Environmental Surveillance Master Sampling Schedule

Environmental surveillance of the Hanford Site and surrounding areas is conducted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Sampling is conducted to evaluate levels of radioactive and nonradioactive pollutants in the Hanford environs. The document contains the CY 2002 schedules for the routine collection of samples for the Surface Environmental Surveillance Project (SESP) and Drinking Water Monitoring Project