Avian perching deterrents on ultrasonic sensors at airport wind-shear alert systems

Preventing birds from perching on the sensor units of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Low Level Wind-shear Alert System (LLWAS) is crucial to its successful operation. In this study we evaluated, under controlled conditions, responses of brownheaded cowbirds (Molothrus ater), fish crows (Corvus ossifragus), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), barred owls (Strix varia), and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) to several anti-perching devices. No device was totally successful against every species. Of the 5 original test devices, the most effective perching deterrent was a set of 17 stout spikes (“AgSpikes”) secured to the central portion of the sensor unit that point up 0o to 30o from the vertical. The central spikes were subsequently redesigned and combined with 9 metal bushings (3 for each arm of the sensor unit) that fit loosely on the sensor arms and that were armed with 5 sharp spikes each. This “AgSpikes and SpikedSpinner” combination unit was as effective as the original AgSpikes for all birds except owls, which were able to place their feet within the open spaces of the redesigned AgSpike portion of the device and perch on the 3 horizontal spikes. The combination units should adequately discourage most large and small birds from perching on LLWAS sensors. The availability of alternate perches in the field will likely enhance the effectiveness of the deterrent. Monitoring performance of the combination units deployed in the field is recommended to verify that they are working as expected

Responses of Captive Birds to Candidate Perching Deterrents on FAA LLWAS Units

Successful operation of the FAA’s Low-Level Windshear Alert System (LLWAS) depends largely on birds not perching on the wind-sensing units which are installed atop poles 40-45 m tall. Because new LLWAS units will be erected at airports throughout North America, anti- perching devices must deter numerous avian species ranging widely in body size and behavioral pattern. To determine the most promising devices, we conducted pen trials with brown-headed cowbirds, fish crows, barred owls, great horned-owls and black vultures. Birds were given free access to an unmodified sensor unit mounted on a tripod for 24 hours, during which the only alternative perch was a tree branch at ground level. This was followed by 24 h with a perching deterrent installed on the sensor unit. Trials were video-taped 10 hours daily and the sensors were connected to a computer so that failures in acquisition of wind data due to perching activity were continuously recorded. Smaller birds (cowbirds, crows) tended to perch on the 3 arms of the sensor units and were mostly deterred by “Bird Spinners”, metal bushings slipped onto the sensor arms that turned freely and prevented the birds from obtaining a stable perch. Owls and vultures were not affected by “Bird Spinners”, but “AgSpikes” (sharp, stout spikes emanating from a central base) reduced perching 95-98%. With the “AgSpikes” or “AgCone” (a smooth, solid aluminum cone) installed, owls and vultures attempted to perch but departed when they were not able to obtain a comfortable, stable grip. Commercial bird spikes and a monofilament web attached to the sensor arms were each ineffective regardless of species. It appears that a single perch deterrent device will not suffice for all birds, but a combination of “Bird Spinners” with “AgSpikes” or “AgCone” should be appropriate for most situations. Verification of these findings with field testing is needed

Multi-level study of C3H2: The first interstellar hydrocarbon ring

Cyclic species in the interstellar medium have been searched for almost since the first detection of interstellar polyatomic molecules. Eleven different C3H2 rotational transitions were detected; 9 of which were studied in TMC-1, a nearby dark dust cloud, are shown. The 1 sub 10 yields 1 sub 01 and 2 sub 20 yields 2 sub 11 transitions were observed with the 43 m NRAO telescope, while the remaining transitions were detected with the 14 m antenna of the Five College Radio Observatory (FCRAO). The lines detected in TMC-1 have energies above the ground state ranging from 0.9 to 17.1 K and consist of both ortho and para species. Limited maps were made along the ridge for several of the transitions. The HC3N J = 2 yields 1 transition were mapped simultaneously with the C3H2 1 sub 10 yields 1 sub 01 line and therefore can compare the distribution of this ring with a carbon chain in TMC-1. C3H2 is distributed along a narrow ridge with a SE - NW extension which is slightly more extended than the HC2N J = 2 yields 1. Gaussian fits gives a FWHP extension of 8'5 for C3H2 while HC3N has a FWHP of 7'. The data show variations of the two velocity components along the ridge as a function of transition. Most of the transitions show a peak at the position of strongest HC3N emission while the 2 sub 21 yields 2 sub 10 transition shows a peak at the NH3 position

Hyperspherical harmonics with arbitrary arguments

The derivation scheme for hyperspherical harmonics (HSH) with arbitrary arguments is proposed. It is demonstrated that HSH can be presented as the product of HSH corresponding to spaces with lower dimensionality multiplied by the orthogonal (Jacobi or Gegenbauer) polynomial. The relation of HSH to quantum few-body problems is discussed. The explicit expressions for orthonormal HSH in spaces with dimensions from 2 to 6 are given. The important particular cases of four- and six-dimensional spaces are analyzed in detail and explicit expressions for HSH are given for several choices of hyperangles. In the six-dimensional space, HSH representing the kinetic energy operator corresponding to i) the three-body problem in physical space and ii) four-body planar problem are derived.Comment: 18 pages, 1 figur

The Presence of Inducible Cytochrome P450 Types 1A1 and 1A2 in the BeWo Cell Line

Please note that this is an author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication following peer review. The publisher version is available on its site.The activity and inducibility of cytochrome P450 systems (CYP1A1:1A2) of the human placenta were assessed in a representative human trophoblast-like cell line, BeWo. The activity of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in microsome preparations from human liver, placenta, primary cultures of human cytotrophoblast, and BeWo cells was measured by O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD), respectively. Results indicated high EROD and MROD activity associated with human liver microsomes, sometimes comparable activities in human placenta microsomes prepared from smokers, and relatively low activities in human placenta microsomes from nonsmokers and in the primary cultures of cytotrophoblasts isolated from nonsmokers. Microsomes from BeWo cell monolayers exhibited the lowest EROD and MROD activities relative to all other microsome preparations. However, compared to primary cultures of normal trophoblasts, the EROD activity of the BeWo cells was far more sensitive to typical inducers, 3-methylcholanthrene, 1,2-benzanthracene, and β-naphthoflavone. EROD activity in BeWo cells was induced approximately 200-fold by 3-methylcholanthrene. Both EROD and MROD activity in BeWo cells was readily induced by 1,2-benzanthracene, 100-fold and 60-fold, respectively. After induction with 1,2-benzanthracene, the CYP1A1 selective inhibitor, α-naphthoflavone, and the CYP1A2 selective inhibitor, furafylline, effectively inhibited enzyme activities with IC50’s of 2.4μM and 12.8μM, respectively, in microsomes from both trophoblasts culture systems. These results show that major cytochrome P450 forms present in human placenta are present and inducible in BeWo cells, a potential model for investigation of drug metabolism mechanisms in the human trophoblast

Hospital Community Benefits After the ACA: The Emerging Federal Framework

Outlines the federal framework on requirements for hospitals to provide community benefit activities in exchange for tax-exempt status under the 2010 healthcare reform, including community health needs assessments; state policy options; and challenges

Open Access Textbooks in a Professional Communication Classroom: A Pilot Study

In this paper, we share our findings from a curricular innovation project: a small pilot study replacing a conventional professional communication textbook with an open access book. Results showed that students received the change favorably and a final grade comparison showed no variation between similar courses that used conventional books and those that used open access books. While far from definitive, this study demonstrates the promise of open access books and open educational resources (OER), and that further study is needed in this area

Effect of photoperiod and host distribution on the horizontal transmission of Isaria fumosorosea (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) in greenhouse whitefly assessed using a novel model bioassay

A model bioassay was used to evaluate the epizootic potential and determine the horizontal transmission efficiency of Isaria fumosorosea Trinidadian strains against Trialeurodes vaporariorum pharate adults under optimum conditions (25±0.5°C, ~100% RH) at two different photoperiods. Untreated pharate adults were arranged on laminated graph paper at different distributions to simulate varying infestation levels on a leaf surface. Four potential hosts were located 7, 14 and 21 mm away from a central sporulating cadaver simulating high, medium and low infestation levels, respectively. Percent hosts colonized were recorded 7, 12, 14 and 21 days post-treatment during a 16- and 24-h photophase. After 21 days, mean percent hosts colonized at the highest, middle and lowest infestation levels were 93 and 100%, 22 and 58%, 25 and 39% under a 16- and 24-h photophase, respectively. From the results, it was concluded that the longer the photophase, the greater the percentage of hosts colonized, and as host distance increased from the central sporulating cadaver, colonization decreased. The use of this novel model bioassay technique is the first attempt to evaluate the epizootic potential and determine the horizontal transmission efficiency of I. fumosorosea Trinidadian strains under optimal environmental conditions at different photoperiods. This bioassay can be used to assess horizontal transmission efficiency for the selection of fungi being considered for commercial biopesticide development

Relative Astrometry of Compact Flaring Structures in Sgr A* with Polarimetric VLBI

We demonstrate that polarimetric interferometry can be used to extract precise spatial information about compact polarized flares of Sgr A*. We show that, for a faint dynamical component, a single interferometric baseline suffices to determine both its polarization and projected displacement from the quiescent intensity centroid. A second baseline enables two-dimensional reconstruction of the displacement, and additional baselines can self-calibrate using the flare, enhancing synthesis imaging of the quiescent emission. We apply this technique to simulated 1.3-mm wavelength observations of a "hot spot" embedded in a radiatively inefficient accretion disk around Sgr A*. Our results indicate that, even with current sensitivities, polarimetric interferometry with the Event Horizon Telescope can achieve ~5 microarcsecond relative astrometry of compact flaring structures near Sgr A* on timescales of minutes.Comment: 9 Pages, 4 Figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Hospital Community Benefits After the ACA: Building on State Experience

Analyzes hospitals' requirements to conduct community health needs assessments, financial assistance and billing and collection policies, and community benefit reporting and oversight strategies. Notes implications for federal and state law and practice