Early Neoproterozoic limestones from the Gwna Group, Anglesey

Limestone megaclasts up to hundreds of metres in size are present within the Gwna Group mélange, North Wales, UK. The mélange has been interpreted as part of a Peri-Gondwanan fore-arc accretionary complex although the age of deposition remains contentious, proposals ranging from Neoproterozoic to Early Ordovician. This paper uses strontium isotope chemostratigraphy to establish the age of the limestone blocks and thus provide a maximum age constraint on mélange formation. Results show that, although the carbonates are locally dolomitized, primary 87Sr/86Sr ratios can be identified and indicate deposition sometime between the late Tonian and earliest Cryogenian. This age is older than that suggested by stromatolites within the limestone and indicates that the limestone did not form as cap carbonate deposits

Construction of probabilistic event trees for eruption forecasting at Sinabung volcano, Indonesia 2013-14

Eruptions of Sinabung volcano, Indonesia have been ongoing since 2013. Since that time, the character of eruptions has changed, from phreatic to phreatomagmatic to magmatic explosive eruptions, and from production of a lava dome that collapsed to a subsequent thick lava flow that slowly ceased to be active, and later, to a new lava dome. As the eruption progressed, event trees were constructed to forecast eruptive behavior six times, with forecast windows that ranged from 2. weeks to 1. year: November 7-10, December 12-14, and December 27, 2013; and January 9-10, May 13, and October 7, 2014. These event trees were successful in helping to frame the forecast scenarios, to collate current monitoring information, and to document outstanding questions and unknowns. The highest probability forecasts closely matched outcomes of eruption size (including extrusion of the first dome), production of pyroclastic density currents, and pyroclastic density current runout distances. Events assigned low probabilities also occurred, including total collapse of the lava dome in January 2014 and production of a small blast pyroclastic density current in February 2014

Comparison of Urine Output among Patients Treated with More Intensive Versus Less Intensive RRT: Results from the Acute Renal Failure Trial Network Study

Intensive RRT may have adverse effects that account for the absence of benefit observed in randomized trials of more intensive versus less intensive RRT. We wished to determine the association of more intensive RRT with changes in urine output as a marker of worsening residual renal function in critically ill patients with severe AKI

High resolution infrared absorption spectra, crystal field, and relaxation processes in CsCdBr_3:Pr^3+

High resolution low-temperature absorption spectra of 0.2% Pr^3+ doped CsCdBr_3 were measured in the spectral region 2000--7000 cm-1. Positions and widths of the crystal field levels within the 3H5, 3H4, 3F2, and 3F3 multiplets of the Pr^3+ main center have been determined. Hyperfine structure of several spectral lines has been found. Crystal field calculations were carried out in the framework of the semiphenomenological exchange charge model (ECM). Parameters of the ECM were determined by fitting to the measured total splittings of the 3H4 and 3H6 multiplets and to the observed in this work hyperfine splittings of the crystal field levels. One- and two-phonon relaxation rates were calculated using the phonon Green's functions of the perfect (CsCdBr_3) and locally perturbed (impurity dimer centers in CsCdBr_3:Pr^3+) crystal lattice. Comparison with the measured linewidths confirmed an essential redistribution of the phonon density of states in CsCdBr_3 crystals doped with rare-earth ions.Comment: 16 pages, 5 tables, 3 figure

Exposure to noise and ototoxic chemicals in the Australian workforce

Objective: To determine the current prevalence of exposure to workplace noise and ototoxic chemicals, including co-exposures. Method: A cross-sectional telephone survey of nearly 5000 Australian workers was conducted using the web-based application, OccIDEAS. Participants were asked about workplace tasks they performed and predefined algorithms automatically assessed worker's likelihood of exposure to 10 known ototoxic chemicals as well as estimated their full shift noise exposure level (LAeq,8h) of their most recent working day. Results were extrapolated to represent the Australian working population using a raked weighting technique. Results: In the Australian workforce, 19.5% of men and 2.8% of women exceeded the recommended full shift noise limit of 85 dBA during their last working day. Men were more likely to be exposed to noise if they were younger, had trade qualifications and did not live in a major city. Men were more likely exposed to workplace ototoxic chemicals (57.3%) than women (25.3%). Over 80% of workers who exceeded the full shift noise limit were also exposed to at least one ototoxic chemical in their workplace. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that exposures to hazardous noise and ototoxic chemicals are widespread in Australian workplaces and co-exposure is common. Occupational exposure occurs predominantly for men and could explain some of the discrepancies in hearing loss prevalence between genders

Chemical composition of evolved stars of high galactic latitude

We have carried out abundance analysis for a sample of high galactic latitude supergiants in search of evolved stars. We find that HD 27381 has atmospheric parameters and an abundance pattern very similar to that of the post-AGB star HD 107369. HD 10285 and HD 25291 are moderately metal-poor and show the influence of mixing that has brought the products of NeNa cycle to the surface. The high galactic latitude B supergiant HD 137569 shows selective depletion of refractory elements normally seen in post-AGB stars. We find that the high velocity B type star HD 172324 shows moderate deficiency of Fe group elements but the CNO abundances are very similar to that of disk B supergiants. The observed variations in the radial velocities, transient appearance of emission components in hydrogen line profiles and doubling of O I lines at 7774\AA support the possibility of this star being a pulsating variable or a binary star.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in A&

High resolution spectroscopy of the high velocity hot post-AGB star LS III +52 24 (IRAS 22023+5249)

The first high-resolution (R~50,000) optical spectrum of the B-type star, LS III +52 24, identified as the optical counterpart of the hot post-AGB candidate IRAS 22023+5249 (I22023) is presented. We report the detailed identifications of the observed absorption and emission features in the full wavelength range (4290-9015 A) as well as the atmospheric parameters and photospheric abundances (under the Local Thermodinamic Equilibrium approximation) for the first time. The nebular parameters (Te, Ne) are also derived. We estimate Teff=24,000 K, log g=3.0, xi=7 kms-1 and the derived abundances indicate a slightly metal-deficient evolved star with C/O<1. The observed P-Cygni profiles of hydrogen and helium clearly indicate on-going post-AGB mass loss. The presence of [N II] and [S II] lines and the non-detection of [O III] indicate that photoionisation has just started. The observed spectral features, large heliocentric radial velocity, atmospheric parameters, and chemical composition indicate that I22023 is an evolved post-AGB star belonging to the old disk population. The derived nebular parameters (Te=7000 K, Ne=1.2x104 cm-3) also suggest that I22023 may be evolving into a compact, young low-excitation Planetary Nebula. Our optical spectroscopic analysis together with the recent Spitzer detection of double-dust chemistry (the simultaneous presence of carbonaceous molecules and amorphous silicates) in I22023 and other B-type post-AGB candidates may point to a binary system with a dusty disk as the stellar origin common to the hot post-AGB stars with O-rich central stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS (22 pages, 4 figures, and 8 tables). arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:0707.059

Intrusión magmática asociada a la sismicidad distal en el volcán Sabancaya, 2020 – 2021

El volcán Sabancaya ha registrado entre el 2020 y 2021 una importante sismicidad volcano tectónica distal – VTD, la cual se ha manifestado en algunas ocasiones a modo de enjambres sísmicos. El registro de enjambres sísmicos VTD en ambientes volcánicos se asocia a la sobrepresurización de los acuíferos que cruzan las fallas tectónicas debido a la intrusión de magma, y en el volcán Sabancaya ha sido asociada a intrusiones importantes de magma provenientes de la cámara magmática localizada por debajo del volcán Hualca Hualca. La cual al migrar hacia el volcán muestra incrementos de sismicidad proximal asociada a la dinámica de fluidos y actividad explosiva y el registro de valores importantes de anomalías térmicas, que indicaría un mayor volumen de magma involucrado en el conducto del cráter, que conllevo a la formación domos exógenos y endógenos. La sismicidad desde el 2013 y aquella como parte del proceso eruptivo, sigue el modelo conceptual de 4 etapas de sismicidad de White y McCausland (2019) que precede a las erupciones en volcanes inactivos. Antes sus inicios en 2016, el proceso eruptivo sugiere un sistema más abierto, es por ello, que no ocurren todas las etapas, como es el caso del periodo comprendido entre el 2020 y 2021, en el cual el patrón sísmico muestra el registro de sismos VTDs debido a la intrusión de magma (Etapa 2) seguida por sismicidad proximal asociada a la migración de fluidos y gases hacia la superficie (Etapa 3) y el ascenso final del magma a modo de sismos acoplados (Etapa 4)

Atmospheric Abundances in Post-AGB candidates of Intermediate Temperature

Detailed atmospheric abundances have been calculated for a sample of A-G supergiant stars with IR fluxes and/or high galactic latitudes. HD 172481 and HD 158616 show clear indications of being post-AGB stars that have experienced third dredge-up. HD 158616 is carbon-rich while the abundance pattern of HD 172481 and its large Li enhancement gives support to the hot bottom burning scenario that explains paucity of carbon-rich stars among AGB stars. HD 172324 is very likely a hot post-AGB star that shows a strong carbon deficiency. HD 725, HD 218753 and HD 331319 also appear to be evolved objects between the red giant and the AGB. HD 9167, HD 173638 with a few exceptions, reflect solar abundances and no signs of post red giant evolution. They are most likely young massive disk supergiants. Further analysis of proto-Planetary Nebula HDE 341617 reveals that He lines show signs of velocity stratification. The emission lines have weakened considerably since 1993. The envelope expands at 19 km s$^{-1}$ relative to the star. Atmospheric abundances, evolutionary tracks and isochrones are used to estimate masses and ages of all stars in the sample.Comment: 19 pages (text), 14 tables, 5 figure

Western Irish Sea Nephrops Grounds (FU15) 2017 UWTV Survey Report and catch options for 2018

This report provides the main results and findings of the 15th annual underwater television survey on the ‘Irish sea west Nephrops grounds’ ICES assessment area, Functional Unit 15. The survey was multi-disciplinary in nature collecting UWTV and other ecosystem data. The 2017 design consisted of a randomised isometric grid of 100 stations at 4.5 nautical mile intervals out over the full known extent the stock. The resulting krigged burrow abundance estimate was 5.3 billion burrows. This was a similar result of that obtained in 2006, and 4% higher than the abundance in 2016. In contrast to 2016 the spatial distribution of burrows appears more homogenous across the survey area. Overall densities are high and abundance remains stable, well above MSY Btrigger. Reducing the number of stations compared to 2011 has not affected the accuracy of the survey estimate to date. The CV (or relative standard error) of 3% is in line with previous estimates and well below the upper limit of 20% recommended by SGNEPS 2012. Total catches and landings options at various different fishing mortalities were calculated and fishing at Fmsy in 2017 implies a total catch option at Fmsy (=Fmax) of 11,807 tonnes which results in landings of no more than 9,630 tonnes. The only sea-pen species observed in 2017 was Virgularia mirabilis and this was found at 16% of stations ranging from occasional to common, with high densities observed in the south-west of the ground. Trawl marks were noted at 36% of the UWTV stations