Increasing the treatment motivation of patients with somatic symptom disorder: applying the URICA-S scale

Background: Therapeutic intervention programs for somatic symptom disorder (SSD) show only small-to-moderate effect sizes. These effects are partly explained by the motivational problems of SSD patients. Hence, fostering treatment motivation could increase treatment success. One central aspect in SSD patients might be damage to motivation because of symptomatic relapses. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to investigate associations between motivational relapse struggle and therapeutic outcome in SSD patients. Methods: We assessed 84 inpatients diagnosed with SSD in the early, middle and late stages of their inpatient treatment. The maintenance subscale of the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment-Short (URICA-S) was applied as a measure to assess motivational relapse struggle. Additionally, patients completed measures of treatment outcome that focus on clinical symptoms, stress levels and interpersonal functioning. Results: The results from multiple regression analyses indicate that higher URICA-S maintenance scores assessed in early stages of inpatient treatment were related to more negative treatment outcomes in SSD patients. Conclusions: SSD patients with ambivalent treatment motivation may fail in their struggle against relapse over the course of therapy. The URICA-S maintenance score assessed at therapy admission facilitated early identification of SSD patients who are at greater risk of relapse. Future studies should incorporate randomized controlled trials to investigate whether this subgroup could benefit from motivational interventions that address relapse

On the link between Earth tides and volcanic degassing

Long-term measurements of volcanic gas emissions conducted during the recent decade suggest that under certain conditions the magnitude or chemical composition of volcanic emissions exhibits periodic variations with a period of about two weeks. A possible cause of such a periodicity can be attributed to the Earth tidal potential. The phenomenology of such a link has been debated for long, but no quantitative model has yet been proposed. The aim of this paper is to elucidate whether a causal link from the tidal forcing to variation in the volcanic degassing can be traced analytically. We model the response of a simplified magmatic system to the local tidal gravity variations and derive a periodical vertical magma displacement in the conduit with an amplitude of 0.1–1 m, depending on geometry and physical state of the magmatic system. We find that while the tide-induced vertical magma displacement has presumably no significant direct effect on the volatile solubility, the differential magma flow across the radial conduit profile may result in a significant increase of the bubble coalescence rate in a depth of several kilometres by up to several ten percent. Because bubble coalescence facilitates separation of gas from magma and thus enhances volatile degassing, we argue that the derived tidal variation may propagate to a manifestation of varying volcanic degassing behaviour. The presented model provides a first basic framework which establishes an analytical understanding of the link between the Earth tides and volcanic degassing

Periodicity in the BrO/SO2 molar ratios in the volcanic gas plume of Cotopaxi and its correlation with the Earth tides during the eruption in 2015

We evaluated NOVAC (Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change) gas emission data from the 2015 eruption of Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador) for BrO/SO2 molar ratios. Statistical analysis of the data revealed a conspicuous periodic pattern with a periodicity of about two weeks in a three month time series. While the time series is too short to rule out a chance recurrence of transient geological or meteorological events as a possible origin for the periodic signal, we nevertheless took this observation as a motivation to examine the influence of natural forcings with periodicities of around two weeks on volcanic gas emissions. One strong aspirant with such a periodicity are the Earth tides, which are thus central in this study. We present the BrO/SO2 data, analyse the reliability of the periodic signal, discuss a possible meteorological or eruption-induced origin of this signal, and compare the signal with the theoretical ground surface displacement pattern caused by the Earth tides. Central result is the observation of a significant correlation between the BrO/SO2 molar ratios with the North-South and vertical components of the calculated tide-induced surface displacement with correlation coefficients of 47 % and 36 %, respectively. From all other investigated parameters, only the correlation between the BrO/SO2 molar ratios and the relative humidity in the local atmosphere resulted in a comparable correlation coefficient of about 33 %

Geochemical characterization of volcanic gas emissions at Santa Ana and San Miguel volcanoes, El Salvador, using remote-sensing and in situ measurements

Volcanic degassing provides important information for the assessment of volcanic hazards. Santa Ana and San Miguel are open vent volcanoes along the Central American Volcanic Arc–CAVA, where the magmatism, basaltic to dacitic, is related to the near-orthogonal convergence of the Caribbean Plate and the subducting Cocos Plate. Both volcanoes are the most active ones in El Salvador with recent eruptive events in October 2005 (Santa Ana) and December 2013 (San Miguel), but still not much data on gas composition and emission are available today. At each volcano, SO2 emissions are regularly monitored using ground-based scanning Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer (Scan-DOAS) instruments that are part of the global “Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change” (NOVAC). We used the data series from these NOVAC stations in order to retrieve SO2 and minimum bromine emissions, which can be retrieved from the same spectral data for the period 2006–2020 at Santa Ana and 2008–2019 at San Miguel. However, BrO was not detected above the detection limit. SO2 emission ranged from 10 to 7,760 t/d, and from 10 to 5,870 t/d for Santa Ana and San Miguel, respectively. In addition, the SO2 emissions are complemented with in situ plume data collected during regular monitoring surveys (2018–2020) and two field campaigns in El Salvador (2019 and 2020). MultiGAS instruments recorded CO2, SO2, H2S and H2 concentrations. We determined an average CO2/SO2 ratio of 2.9 ± 0.6 when peak SO2 concentration exceeded 15 ppmv at Santa Ana, while at San Miguel the CO2/SO2 ratio was 7.4 ± 1.8, but SO2 levels reached only up to 6.1 ppmv. Taking into account these ratios and the SO2 emissions determined in this study, the resulting CO2 emissions are about one order of magnitude higher than those determined so far for the two volcanoes. During the two field campaigns Raschig tubes (active alkaline trap) were used to collect plume samples which were analyzed with IC and ICP-MS to identify and quantify CO2, SO2, HCl, HF, and HBr. Additionally, also 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene (TMB)-coated denuders were applied and subsequently analyzed by GC-MS to determine the sum of the reactive halogen species (RHS: including Cl2, Br2, interhalogens, hypohalous acids). The RHS to sulfur ratios at Santa Ana and San Miguel lie in the range of 10−5. Although no new insights could be gained regarding changes with volcanic activity, we present the most comprehensive gas geochemical data set of Santa Ana and San Miguel volcanoes, leading to a solid data baseline for future monitoring purposes at both volcanoes and their improved estimate of CO2, SO2 and halogens emissions. Determining the reactive fraction of halogens is a first step towards a better understanding of their effects on the atmosphere

Halogen activation in the plume of Masaya volcano : field observations and box model investigations

Volcanic emissions are a source of halogens in the atmosphere. Rapid reactions convert the initially emitted hydrogen halides (HCl, HBr, and HI) into reactive species such as BrO, Br2, BrCl, ClO, OClO, and IO. The activation reaction mechanisms in the plume consume ozone (O3), which is entrained by ambient air that is mixed into the plume. In this study, we present observations of the oxidation of bromine, chlorine, and iodine during the first 11 min following emission, examining the plume from Santiago crater of the Masaya volcano in Nicaragua. Two field campaigns were conducted: one in July 2016 and one in September 2016. The sum of the reactive species of each halogen was determined by gas diffusion denuder sampling followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, whereas the total halogens and sulfur concentrations were obtained by alkaline trap sampling with subsequent ion chromatography (IC) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurements. Both ground and airborne sampling with an unoccupied aerial vehicle (carrying a denuder sampler in combination with an electrochemical SO2 sensor) were conducted at varying distances from the crater rim. The in situ measurements were accompanied by remote sensing observations (differential optical absorption spectroscopy; DOAS). The reactive fraction of bromine increased from 0.20 ± 0.13 at the crater rim to 0.76 ± 0.26 at 2.8 km downwind, whereas chlorine showed an increase in the reactive fraction from (2.7 ± 0.7) × 10−4 to (11 ± 3) × 10−4 in the first 750 m. Additionally, a reactive iodine fraction of 0.3 at the crater rim and 0.9 at 2.8 km downwind was measured. No significant change in BrO / SO2 molar ratios was observed with the estimated age of the observed plume ranging from 1.4 to 11.1 min. This study presents a large complementary data set of different halogen compounds at Masaya volcano that allowed for the quantification of reactive bromine in the plume of Masaya volcano at different plume ages. With the observed field data, a chemistry box model (Chemistry As A Boxmodel Application Module Efficiently Calculating the Chemistry of the Atmosphere; CAABA/MECCA) allowed us to reproduce the observed trend in the ratio of the reactive bromine to total bromine ratio. An observed contribution of BrO to the reactive bromine fraction of about 10 % was reproduced in the first few minutes of the model run

Evolution of the 2015 Cotopaxi Eruption Revealed by Combined Geochemical & Seismic Observations

Through integration of multiple data streams to monitor volcanic unrest scientists are able to make more robust eruption forecast and to obtain a more holistic interpretation of volcanic systems. We examined gas emission and gas geochemistry and seismic and petrologic data recorded during the 2015 unrest of Cotopaxi (Ecuador) in order to decipher the origin and temporal evolution of this eruption. Identification of families of similar seismic events and the use of seismic amplitude ratios reveals temporal changes in volcanic processes. SO2 (300 to 24,000 t/d), BrO/SO2 (5–10 7 10−5), SO2/HCl (5.8 \ub1 4.8 and 6.6 \ub1 3.0), and CO2/SO2 (0.6 to 2.1) measured throughout the eruption indicate a shallow magmatic source. Bulk ash and glass chemistry indicate a homogenous andesitic (SiO2 wt % = 56.94 \ub1 0.25) magma having undergone extensive S-exsolution and degassing during ascent. These data lead us to interpret this eruption as a magma intrusion and ascend to shallow levels. The intrusion progressively interacted with the hydrothermal system, boiled off water, and produced hydromagmatic explosions. A small volume of this intrusion continued to fragment and produced episodic ash emissions until it was sufficiently degassed and rheologically stiff. Based on the 470 kt of measured SO2 we estimate that ~65.3 7 106 m3 of magma were required to supply the emitted gases. This volume exceeds the volume of erupted juvenile material by a factor of 50. This result emphasizes the importance of careful monitoring of Cotopaxi to identify the intrusion of a new batch of magma, which could rejuvenate the nonerupted material

Religion in Form bringen! – Aber wie? Performative Religionsdidaktik in katholischer und evangelischer Auslegung

Religion in Form bringen! – Aber wie? Performative Religionsdidaktik in katholischer und evangelischer Auslegun

Osmosekraftwerke und ihr Potential

Auf dem Weg zu einer vollständig regenerativen Energieversorgung müssen zusätzliche Alternativen zu Wind- und Sonnenenergie erforscht werden. Die Osmosekraft stellt mit einem theoretischen globalen Potential von bis zu 14000TWh pro Jahr eine solche dar. Sie beruht darauf, dass beim Vermischen von Salz- und Süßwasser (z.B. an einer Flussmündung) pro 1m3 Süßwasser ungefähr 2.9MJ Energie freigesetzt werden. In dieser Arbeit wird behandelt wie ein Osmosekraftwerk funktioniert und welche Einstellungen für die optimale Leistung erforderlich sind. Außerdem werden Investitionskosten und ökonomische Realisierung diskutiert. Die Erkenntnis ist, dass sich ein Osmosekraftwerk heute noch nicht lohnt. Mit steigendem Strompreis bringt ein Osmosekraftwerk hingegen schon mit der aktuellen Membranqualität Gewinne ein. Abschließend werden die besten Standorte Europas gesucht. Deutschlands Potential fällt dabei gering aus, während das Mittelmeer den besten Standort weltweit bietet, Salzseen ausgenomme

Characterisation of a Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer for measuring CO2, CH4, delta13CO2, and delta13CH4 in ambient air

Continuous measurements of the greenhouse gases CO2 and CH4, along with their isotopologues 13CO2 and 13CH4, are the basis for estimating the atmospheric CO2 and CH4 fluxes on high temporal resolution and for identifying their sources and sinks. The Cavity Ring-Down Spectrometer (CRDS) G2201-i measures 12CO2, 13CO2, 12CH4, 13CH4, and H2O continuously and simultaneously in a gas sample. In this thesis, the CRDS G2201-i has been installed in Heidelberg for routine ambient air analysis and for measurements of highly concentrated CH4 samples. It has been characterised and thoroughly tested in terms of accuracy, precision, and compatibility. It was found, that for accurate results, the internal water vapour correction is insufficient, which makes a preceding drying necessary. Furthermore, an instrumental non-linearity in the CO2 and CH4 concentrations was observed. Nevertheless, a single-point calibration yields CO2 and CH4 concentrations which are compatible to other routine instruments (i.e. Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometer (FTIR) and gas chromatograph) in Heidelberg within the World Meteorological Organization recommendations. The delta13CO2 results of CRDS, FTIR, and the mass spectrometer in Heidelberg are compatible for cylinder measurements. For continuous ambient air measurements a systematic offset of Delta(delta13CO2)_{CRDS-FTIR} = (0.07+-0.11) per mil was observed

On long-term variations in the BrO/SO2 molar ratios in volcanic gas plumes

This dissertation reports, analyses, and compares multi-year time series of the sulphur dioxide (SO2) and bromine monoxide (BrO) slant column densities and the BrO/SO2 molar ratios in the gas plumes emitted by 6 volcanoes in Central and South America (Nevado del Ruiz, Cotopaxi, Masaya, Tungurahua, Galeras, Villarrica). The time series have been obtained from assessing remote-sensing data from the Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change (NOVAC) with differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS). This data set exceeds 10 years of continuous data and thus provides not only a unique empirical foundation for studies on the atmospheric bromine chemistry but allows also for the first time for an investigation of long-term variations in the chemical composition in volcanic gas plumes. The observed long-term variations in the BrO/SO2 time series range from sudden changes, linear long-term trends, annual periodicities, and a fortnightly periodicity at Cotopaxi. For Masaya, Nevado del Ruiz, and Cotopaxi, the BrO/SO2 time series have been compared with the meteorological conditions obtained from ECMWF simulation data. A strong anti-correlation between the BrO/SO2 molar ratios and the specific humidity has been observed at Masaya (coefficient of -42%, average humidity of 14 g/kg). No such correlation has been observed for Nevado del Ruiz or Cotopaxi (both with an average humidity of 4 g/kg). At Nevado del Ruiz, an asymptotic increase of the mean BrO/SO2 molar ratios depending on the atmospheric age of the volcanic gas plumes has been observed; the mean BrO/SO2 molar ratios there reached an equilibrium around 9 min after the release to the atmosphere and remained at this level for at least 60 min. In contrast, the mean BrO/SO2 molar ratios were the same for all observed plume ages at Masaya (2-20 min) and Cotopaxi (9-60 min). A mean long-term BrO/SO2 molar ratio of about 4x10^-5 has been observed for 4 of the 5 reported low-latitude volcanoes. Decreased BrO/SO2 molar ratios correlated with enhanced volcanic activity on several time scales, for example, persistently lower BrO/SO2 molar ratios during multi-month phases of high activity at Nevado del Ruiz and Tungurahua and lower BrO/SO2 molar ratios at the starts of a multi-year eruption period when compared to the long-term means. The Earth tides have been identified as the most likely cause for the fortnightly periodicity observed at Cotopaxi (correlation coefficient of 50%). A quantitative model has been developed to investigate a possible causal link between the Earth tides and volcanic degassing. The model describes the impact of the tide-induced gravity variations on the bubble coalescence rate in magmatic melt and suggests a tide-induced enhancement by up to a multiple of 10%. Another novel model investigates under which conditions the mechanical interaction between gas bubbles and tilted crystals in magmatic melt could cause an erection of the crystals or an enhanced bubble coalescence rate.Diese Dissertation veröffentlicht, analysiert und vergleicht mehrjährige Zeitreihen der schrägen Säulendichten von Schwefeldioxid (SO2) und Brommonoxid (BrO) sowie dem BrO/SO2 Molverhältnis in den Gasfahnen von 6 zentral- und südamerikanischen Vulkanen (Nevado del Ruiz, Cotopaxi, Masaya, Tungurahua, Galeras, Villarrica). Die Zeitreihen wurden durch die Auswertung von Fernerkundungsdaten des Network for Observation of Volcanic and Atmospheric Change (NOVAC) mittels differenzieller optischer Absorptionsspektroskopie (DOAS) ermittelt. Dieser Datensatz umfasst mehr als 10 Jahre kontinuierliche Daten und stellt damit nicht nur Studien zur atmosphärischen Bromchemie ein einzigartiges empirisches Fundament bereit sondern erlaubt zum ersten Mal auch die Untersuchung von Langzeitvariationen der chemischen Zusammensetzung von vulkanischen Gasfahnen. Die beobachteten Langzeitvariationen reichen von plötzlichen Änderungen, linearen Langzeittrends und Jahresgängen hin zu einer zweiwöchigen Periodizität am Cotopaxi. Für Masaya, Nevado del Ruiz und Cotopaxi wurden die BrO/SO2 Zeitreihen mit meteorologischen ECMWF Simulationsdaten verglichen. Am Masaya wurde eine starke Antikorrelation zwischen den BrO/SO2 Molverhältnissen und der spezifischen Feuchte beobachtet (Koeffizient von -42%, mittlere Feuchte von 14 g/kg). Am Nevado del Ruiz oder Cotopaxi wurden keine solche Korrelation beobachtet (jeweils mittlere Feuchte von 4 g/kg). Am Nevado del Ruiz wurde ein asymptotischer Anstieg der mittleren BrO/SO2 Molverhältnisse in Abhängigkeit vom atmosphärischen Alter der vulkanischen Gasfahnen beobachtet; die mittleren BrO/SO2 Molverhältnisse erreichten dort etwa 9 min nach der Freizetzung in die Atmosphäre ein Gleichgewicht und blieben für mindestens 60 min auf diesem Level. Im Gegensatz dazu waren die mittleren BrO/SO2 Molverhältnise am Masaya (2-20 min) und Cotopaxi (9-60 min) für alle beobachteten Fahnenalter gleich. An 4 der 5 diskutierten Vulkane niedriger Breite wurde ein mittleres Langzeit–BrO/SO2–Molverhältnis von etwa 4x10^-5 beobachtet. Niedrige BrO/SO2 Molverhältnisse waren auf mehreren Zeitskalen mit erhöhter vulkanischer Aktivität korreliert, zum Beispiel beständig niedrigere BrO/SO2 Molverhältnisse während mehrmonatigen Phasen hoher Aktivität am Nevado del Ruiz und Tungurahua und niedrigere BrO/SO2 Molverhältnisse jeweils am Anfang mehrjähriger Eruptionsperioden. Als wahrscheinlichste Ursache für die zweiwöchige Periodizität am Cotopaxi wurde die Erdtiden identifiziert (Korrelationskoeffizient von 50 %). Zur Untersuchung eines möglichen kausalen Zusammenhangs zwischen den Erdtiden und vulkanischer Entgasung wurde ein quantitatives Modell entwickelt. Das Modell beschreibt den Einfluss der tideninduzierten Gravitationsvariationen auf die Blasenkoaleszenzrate in Magma und schlägt eine tideninduzierte Steigerung um bis zu mehrere 10% vor. Ein weiteres Modell beschreibt unter welchen Umständen die mechanische Wechselwirkung zwischen Gasblasen und gekippten Kristallen in Magma zu einem Aufstellen der Kristalle oder zu einer erhöhten Blasenkoaleszenzrate führen kann