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Abstract: ECMWF analysis data in conjunction with infrared satellite imagery and surface weather analyses from the German Weather Service are used to investigate 15 significant central European tornadoes (F2 intensity on the Fujita scale) that occurred in 2005 and 2006. The primary goals of the work are to: (i) determine the typical synoptic and mesoscale environments that are conducive to European tornadogenesis; (ii) compare and contrast the said environments with those found in the central United States (US), with a specific focus on severe storm predictors; and (iii) elucidate a methodology for the real-time forecasting of these destructive storms that, in addition to the use of severe storm predictors, leans heavily on the potential vorticity (PV) and Lagrangian frameworks of analysis. With the caveats that there is significant case-to-case variability and the sample size is relatively small, the results illustrate that most European tornadoes form close to (within 200km of) a distinct upper-level PV anomaly and a majority under the cyclonic side of an upper-level jet streak. Lower-level forcing, in the form of surface fronts, is also found to be present in a number of cases. With regards to severe storm predictors (convective available potential energy, storm-relative helicity and the energy helicity index), this study confirms the earlier findings that, while representative values for European tornadic environments are substantially lower than their US counterparts, they do provide useful predictive information in that their values tend to be markedly higher than the local, monthly climatology. A subsequent Lagrangian analysis that isolates the coherent air streams present in US and European tornadoes provides significant insight into the discrepancies in both the synoptic environments and the absolute magnitude of the severe storm predictors. Backward trajectories launched from the tornado genesis time and position, illustrate that low-level flow blocking by the Alps and the relatively-colder sea surface temperatures found over the Atlantic Ocean (in contrast to the Gulf of Mexico) play a primary role in reducing the dynamic and thermodynamic instabilities in European tornado environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Examines the application of Proposition 65 to pesticide use in California. Information on the 1996 Food Quality and Protection Act; Discussion of the Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; Details of other federal laws regulating pesticide use.

Examines the Supreme Court's evaluation on the United States v. Winstar case and shows how it misinterprets previous decisions of the Court regarding the role of federal sovereign power in interpreting government contracts. Background information; Analysis of the Winstar decision; Interpretation of federal contract rights after Winstar; Conclusion.

The article presents a research concerning the follow-up study of persons referred for vocational rehabilitation in the U.S. The primary purposes of the study is to provide base rate data of outcome for brain damaged individual applying for services from a state rehabilitation agency. The ratings made by the counselors on the Follow-up Survey of Factors Related to Occupational Adjustment were used in the analysis in brain-injured client problems. It was found out that the central nervous system (CNS) sample did not differ from the non-CNS group regarding the most demographic and outcome characteristics. Among the sample's frequently occurring problems include social immaturity, slowness, depression and poor motor coordination.