Responses of king penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus adults and chicks to two food-related odours

Increasing evidence suggests that penguins are sensitive to dimethyl sulphide (DMS), a scented airborne compound that a variety of marine animals use to find productive areas of the ocean where prey is likely to be found. Here we present data showing that king penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus are also sensitive to DMS. We deployed DMS on a lake near a king penguin colony at Ratmanoff beach in the Kerguelen archipelago. We also presented DMS to ‘sleeping’ adults on the beach. On the lake, penguins responded to the DMS deployments by swimming more, while on the beach, penguins twitched their heads and woke up more for the DMS than for the control presentations. Interestingly, penguins did not respond to cod liver oil deployments on the lake; mirroring at-sea studies of other penguins. Although at-sea studies are needed to confirm that king penguins use DMS as a surface cue that informs them of productivity under the water, this study is an important first step in understanding how these birds locate prey over significant distances

Hermite regularization of the Lattice Boltzmann Method for open source computational aeroacoustics

The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) is emerging as a powerful engineering tool for aeroacoustic computations. However, the LBM has been shown to present accuracy and stability issues in the medium-low Mach number range, that is of interest for aeroacoustic applications. Several solutions have been proposed but often are too computationally expensive, do not retain the simplicity and the advantages typical of the LBM, or are not described well enough to be usable by the community due to proprietary software policies. We propose to use an original regularized collision operator, based on the expansion in Hermite polynomials, that greatly improves the accuracy and stability of the LBM without altering significantly its algorithm. The regularized LBM can be easily coupled with both non-reflective boundary conditions and a multi-level grid strategy, essential ingredients for aeroacoustic simulations. Excellent agreement was found between our approach and both experimental and numerical data on two different benchmarks: the laminar, unsteady flow past a 2D cylinder and the 3D turbulent jet. Finally, most of the aeroacoustic computations with LBM have been done with commercial softwares, while here the entire theoretical framework is implemented on top of an open source library (Palabos).Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (in press

How much penicillin is needed to treat early syphilis in people living with HIV?

A clinical decision report using: Andrade R, Rodriguez-Barradas MC, Yasukawa K, Villarreal E, Ross M, Serpa JA. Single Dose Versus 3 Doses of Intramuscular Benzathine Penicillin for Early Syphilis in HIV: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2017;64(6):759-764. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciw862 to inform treatment of syphilis for a person living with HIV with multiple socioeconomic barriers to care

A quantitative uncertainty assessment of eruptive parameters derived from tephra deposits: the example of two large eruptions of Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador

Physical parameters of explosive eruptions are typically derived from tephra deposits. However, the characterization of a given eruption relies strongly on the quality of the dataset used, the strategy chosen to obtain and process field data and the particular model considered to derive eruptive parameters. As a result, eruptive parameters are typically affected by a certain level of uncertainty and should not be considered as absolute values. Unfortunately, such uncertainty is difficult to assess because it depends on several factors and propagates from field sampling to the application and interpretation of dispersal models. Characterization of explosive eruptions is made even more difficult when tephra deposits are poorly exposed and only medial data are available. In this paper, we present a quantitative assessment of the uncertainty associated with the characterization of tephra deposits generated by the two largest eruptions of the last 2,000years of Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador. In particular, we have investigated the effects of the determination of the maximum clast on the compilation of isopleth maps, and, therefore, on the characterization of plume height. We have also compared the results obtained from the application of different models for the determination of both plume height and erupted volume and for the eruption classification. Finally, we have investigated the uncertainty propagation into the calculation of mass eruption rate and eruption duration. We have found that for our case study, the determination of plume height from isopleth maps is more sensitive to the averaging techniques used to define the maximum clast than to the choice of dispersal models used (i.e. models of Carey and Sparks 1986; Pyle 1989) and that even the application of the same dispersal model can result in plume height discrepancies if different isopleth lines are used (i.e. model of Carey and Sparks 1986). However, the uncertainties associated with the determination of erupted mass, and, as a result, of the eruption duration, are larger than the uncertainties associated with the determination of plume height. Mass eruption rate is also associated with larger uncertainties than the determination of plume height because it is related to the fourth power of plume height. Eruption classification is also affected by data processing. In particular, uncertainties associated with the compilation of isopleth maps affect the eruption classification proposed by Pyle (1989), whereas the VEI classification is affected by the uncertainties resulting from the determination of erupted mass. Finally, we have found that analytical and empirical models should be used together for a more reliable characterization of explosive eruptions. In fact, explosive eruptions would be characterized better by a range of parameters instead of absolute values for erupted mass, plume height, mass eruption rate and eruption duration. A standardization of field sampling would also reduce the uncertainties associated with eruption characterizatio

A fast GIS-based risk assessment for tephra fallout: the example of Cotopaxi volcano, Ecuador: Part I: probabilistic hazard assessment

We present a comprehensive probabilistic hazard assessment for tephra fallout of Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador), a quiescent but active stratovolcano known for its highly explosive behaviour. First, we developed a set of possible eruptive scenarios based on thorough field investigations, literature studies and using the Global Volcanism Program (GVP) database. Five eruption scenarios were identified, including two based on large pre-historical sub-Plinian/Plinian eruptions with eruptive parameters constrained from field investigations (One Eruption Scenario; OES) and three Eruption Range Scenarios (ERS) based on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) classification, for which eruptive parameters (i.e. erupted volume, plume height and median grainsize) were stochastically sampled within boundaries defined by VEI 3, 4 and 5. Second, the modelling was performed using the advection-diffusion model TEPHRA2 in combination with wind profiles from the NOAA NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis 1 database. We performed 1,000 runs for each eruption scenario, stochastically sampling a wind profile (OES and ERS) and a set of eruptive parameters (ERS only) at each run. Using the conditional probabilities of occurrence of eruption of VEI 3, 4 and 5 calculated from the GVP catalogue, we assessed the probability of tephra accumulation in a given time window. Based on the GVP database, a simple Poisson model shows that an eruption of VEI≥3 has a 36% probability of occurrence in the next 10years. Finally, the hazard assessment was compiled based on three different outputs, including (i) probability maps for a given tephra accumulation, (ii) isomass maps for a given probability value and (iii) hazard curves for a given location. We conclude that the area west of Cotopaxi is exposed to light to severe tephra fallout for the smallest eruption magnitude considered (i.e. VEI 3). This area comprises a main communication axis (Panamerican Highway) topographically constrained at the bottom of the Interandean Valley, as well as the capital Quito and the town of Latacunga. In a companion paper, Biass etal. (this volume) propose a method for a rapid risk assessment for tephra fallout using global and easily accessible data and the hazard assessment described her

AN ANALYSIS OF FOODSERVICE AND ACCOMMODATION INDUSTRY IN EUROPE USING SECONDARY STATISTICS

The foodservice and accommodation industry makes a major contribution to the European economy. This industry has been particularly chosen for a study because it is an important and extremely competitive and dynamic industry, which is characterized by continuous transformation. The article presents an overview and analysis of the foodservice and accommodation industry in countries in the European Union (EU) to assess its importance in the European economic system. Secondary sources of information were used to reach the scope of the paper. The analysis presented in this article is based on the main dataset for structural business statistics (SBS), size class data and regional data. The research period was the years 2010 – 2014. A comparative method was applied for the analysis of collected data and materials. In this research, industrial analysis was used, which was a statistical analysis of the size, demographic, and other economic dimensions of any industry of an economy. Findings show that this industry contributes to job creation and economic growth in favorable times but the support of decision–makers, legal and fiscal rules is needed if the hospitality industry must be considered for a key driver for welfare and sustainability in Europe.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Proton Pump Inhibitors

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