Seasonal and depth-driven changes in rhodolith bed structure and associated macroalgae off Arvoredo island (southeastern Brazil)

Rhodoliths are formed by coralline red algae and can form heterogeneous substrata with high biodiversity. Here we describe a rhodolith bed at the southern limit of the known distribution of this habitat in the western Atlantic. We characterized rhodolith and macroalgal assemblages at 5, 10 and 15. m depth during summer and winter. Lithothamnion crispatum was dominant amongst the six rhodolith-forming species present. Most rhodoliths were spheroidal in shape indicating high mobility due to water movement. Rhodolith density decreased with increasing depth and during winter. Turf-forming seaweeds accounted for 60% of the biomass growing on rhodoliths. Macroalgae increased abundance and richness in the summer, but was similar between 5 and 15. m depth. They were less abundant and diverse than that recorded in rhodolith beds further north in Brazil. Both, season and depth, affected the structure of the macroalgae assemblages. We conclude that Lithothamniom is the most representative genus of Brazilian rhodolith beds. Summer is responsible for increasing the diversity and richness of macroalgae, as well as increasing rhodolith density. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Mapping case studies of public engagement and participation in science and technology

In recent years, increasing criticism has been levelled against case study based research on public engagement and participation in science and technology (PEST). Most critics argue that such case studies are highly contextual and fail to provide global, holistic and systemic views of public engagement phenomena. In this study, we mapped the case study literature on PEST by identifying a robust sample of articles, and analysed it looking for emerging patterns that could provide empirical evidence for new frameworks of public engagement design and analysis. Results show that the case study based literature on PEST continues to grow, although concentrated in a few countries and knowledge domains. The trends that emerged from the sample reveal high centralisation and planning and suggest that deficit science communication models are still common. We argue that future frameworks may focus on decentralising hierarchical power and dependency relationships between agents.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study on Doping Prevention: A map of Legal, Regulatory and Prevention Practice Provisions in EU 28

Historically, anti-doping efforts have focused on the detection and deterrence of doping in elite and competitive sport. There is, however, a growing concern that doping is occurring outside the organised sporting system; giving rise to the belief that the misuse of doping agents in recreational sport has become a societal problem and a public health issue that must be addressed. The EU Commission awarded a contract (EAC/2013/0617) to a Consortium to undertake this Study with the aim of developing the evidence-base for policies designed to combat doping in recreational sport. Fourteen internationally recognised experts shaped the Study which comprised (i) the collection of primary data through a structured survey, and (ii) secondary data through literature searches and website analysis. All 28 Member States participated in the information-gathering process. Specifically, this involved a systematic study of the ethical considerations, legal position, prevention research landscape, and current practise in relation to the prevention of doping in recreational sport. The Study provides a comprehensive overview of current practice and legislation as it applies to the prevention of doping and promotes and supports the sharing of best practices in the EU regarding the fight against doping in recreational sport. It concludes with seven recommendations for future action that focus on the need for a coordinated response in relation to the problems arising from doping in recreational sport

Surface water on the influence of the Carajás Mineral Province (Brazil) – Consequences to an indigenous community

The Cateté River belongs to the Itacaiúnas River watershed, including the most prominent mining area of Brazil with active mines of Fe, Cu, Ni, and Mn. This river has a high vulnerability associated with the drainage of mining effluents and crosses the “XikrinCateté Indigenous Land”. Most water samples from Cateté river are neutral and poorly mineralized, but with high concentrations of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, and Pb. Some waters are contaminated and unsuitable for human consumption and agricultural activities. The water contamination is mainly associated with mine activities; however, Fe is also related to geological setting and lithologies

Langley's CSI evolutionary model: Phase O

A testbed for the development of Controls Structures Interaction (CSI) technology to improve space science platform pointing is described. The evolutionary nature of the testbed will permit the study of global line-of-sight pointing in phases 0 and 1, whereas, multipayload pointing systems will be studied beginning with phase 2. The design, capabilities, and typical dynamic behavior of the phase 0 version of the CSI evolutionary model (CEM) is documented for investigator both internal and external to NASA. The model description includes line-of-sight pointing measurement, testbed structure, actuators, sensors, and real time computers, as well as finite element and state space models of major components

Age at menarche associated with subsequent educational attainment and risk-taking behaviours: the Pelotas 1982 Birth Cohort.

Background: Earlier age at menarche (AAM), a marker of puberty timing in females, has been associated with a higher likelihood of adolescent risk-taking behaviours and variably associated with educational attainment.Aim: To examine the association between AAM and educational attainment in the Pelotas, Brazil, 1982 Birth Cohort.Subjects and methods: AAM was categorised as Early (7-11 years), Average (12-13 years), or Late (14+ years). Primary outcome: years of education (age 30). Secondary outcomes: risk-taking behaviours, adult income and school grade failure.Results: In adjusted models, compared to Average AAM, Late AAM was associated with 0.64 fewer years of education (95% CI: -1.15, -0.13). Early AAM was associated with earlier age at first sexual intercourse (-0.25 years; 95% CI: -0.39, -0.12), whereas Late AAM was associated with 17% lower adult income (0.83; 95% CI: 0.71, 0.95) and 0.31 years older age at first alcohol consumption (95% CI: 0.10, 0.52).Conclusions: Our findings confirm the association between earlier puberty timing in females and a greater likelihood of risk-taking behaviours in this setting of recent secular changes towards earlier puberty. However, the association between Late AAM and lower education was surprising and may support a psychosocial rather than biological link between puberty timing and educational outcomes

Impact of Sewage Effluent Discharges prediction using QUAL2Kw in a sensitive protected area – Portugal

The quality of water, under the influence of the wastewater treatment plant's discharges, makes the simulation of the water parameters a key issue, broadly when considering intermittent rivers. In the case of study, the Pracana reservoir works as an example of the characterization, monitoring, and control of the impact of several, wastewater treatment plant's discharges, directly contributing to water quality. Proença-a-Nova's wastewater treatment plant contributes directly to the Pracana reservoir (Central Portugal), which is a protected field. Twelve georeferenced water samples were gathered, between the sewage discharge and downstream to the Pracana reservoir, at almost equal distances. Sampling campaigns were taken during three different periods: rainy winter (January), intermediate conditions (March) and dry season (June). The following chemical parameters were analyzed: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Dry Residue, Ptotal, Ntotal, pH, Temperature, and Microbiological Parameters. DO, BOD5 and Microbiological Parameters served as indicators, for environmental pollution evaluation. A coupled hydrodynamic and water dispersion model, QUAL2kw, was used for water's quality simulation. The results lead to conclude that the water quality is acceptable for multiple purposes, except for human consumption, mainly due to moderate to high values of BOD5.Águas do Centro Enterprise and by the Institute of Earth Sciences (ICT), under contracts UID/GEO/04683/2013 with FCT (the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation

Multi-frequency observations of a superbubble in the LMC: The case of LHA 120-N 70

We present a detailed study of new Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) and XMM-Newton observations of LHA 120-N 70 (hereafter N 70), a spherically shaped object in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) classified as a superbubble (SB). Both archival and new observations were used to produce high quality radio-continuum, X-ray and optical images. The radio spectral index of N 70 is estimated to be $\alpha=-0.12\pm 0.06$ indicating that while a supernova or supernovae have occurred in the region at some time in the distant past, N70 is not the remnant of a single specific supernova. N70 exhibits limited polarisation with a maximum fractional polarisation of 9% in a small area of the north west limb. We estimate the size of N 70 to have a diameter of 104 pc ($\pm 1$ pc). The morphology of N 70 in X-rays closely follows that in radio and optical, with most X-ray emission confined within the bright shell seen at longer wavelengths. Purely thermal models adequately fit the soft X-ray spectrum which lacks harder emission (above 1 keV). We also examine the pressure output of N 70 where the values for the hot (PX) and warm (PHii) phase are consistent with other studied Hii regions. However, the dust-processed radiation pressure (PIR) is significantly smaller than in any other object studied in Lopez et al. (2013). N70 is a very complex region that is likely to have had multiple factors contributing to both the origin and evolution of the entire region.Comment: 21 pages 8 figures accepted for publication in A

Major loss of coralline algal diversity in response to ocean acidification

Calcified coralline algae are ecologically important in rocky habitats in the marine photic zone worldwide and there is growing concern that ocean acidification will severely impact them. Laboratory studies of these algae in simulated ocean acidification conditions have revealed wide variability in growth, photosynthesis and calcification responses, making it difficult to assess their future biodiversity, abundance and contribution to ecosystem function. Here, we apply molecular systematic tools to assess the impact of natural gradients in seawater carbonate chemistry on the biodiversity of coralline algae in the Mediterranean and the NW Pacific, link this to their evolutionary history and evaluate their potential future biodiversity and abundance. We found a decrease in the taxonomic diversity of coralline algae with increasing acidification with more than half of the species lost in high pCO2 conditions. Sporolithales is the oldest order (Lower Cretaceous) and diversified when ocean chemistry favoured low Mg calcite deposition; it is less diverse today and was the most sensitive to ocean acidification. Corallinales were also reduced in cover and diversity but several species survived at high pCO2; it is the most recent order of coralline algae and originated when ocean chemistry favoured aragonite and high Mg calcite deposition. The sharp decline in cover and thickness of coralline algal carbonate deposits at high pCO2 highlighted their lower fitness in response to ocean acidification. Reductions in CO2 emissions are needed to limit the risk of losing coralline algal diversity

401 -Solar thermal collector yield -experimental validation of calculations based on steady-state and quasi-dynamic test methodologies

Abstract The characterization of collector efficiency is the fundamental tool for long term calculation of collector yield. It is, thus, one of the most important inputs in software tools aiming the design of solar thermal systems. Presently two test methodologies are available for characterization of the efficiency of glazed collectors: i) steady state test and ii) quasi-dynamic test, methodologies based in different model approaches to a solar collector, providing different collector efficiency curve parameters and, consequently, imposing different power calculation algorithms. Moreover, The present work takes into account the introduction of the above referred test methodologies in the European Test Standard for Solar Thermal Collectors, and aims at clarifying how each test results should be used in long term thermal performance calculations. The paper presents a synthesis of the different efficiency parameters provided by each test methodology and corresponding algorithms, applicable in the calculation of delivered power. Application of these algorithms to two days of measured data allows for a comparison of the results obtained with these different methodologies. For validation purposes, results of tests performed on a CPC type collector with a concentration ratio C=1.72 are used. Measurement sequences are used to validate the calculation of power delivered by the collector using both algorithms based on steady-state methodology (with and without correction) and quasi-dynamic methodology