Session B2: A Quantitative, Traits-based Approach for Choosing and Prioritizing Study Species for Evaluating the Impacts of Turbine Passage

Abstract: The choice of study species when conducting environmental assessments of hydropower facilities is of great importance from a licensing and policy perspective. Power analyses are commonly used to provide quantitative backing for the numbers of study organisms and trials used, but there is not frequent use of quantitative methods for choosing appropriate study species. Species choice can be especially important when measuring the impacts of ecosystem alteration, such as in a hydropower system, when study species must be chosen that are both sensitive to the alteration and of sufficient abundance for study. In this study, we step through two examples using a combination of GIS, a fish traits database, and multivariate statistical analyses to present a quantitative, traits-based approach for designating study species. In our first example, we present a case study where we select broadly-representative fish species for understanding the effects of turbine passage on fishes based on traits that suggest sensitivity to turbine passage. In our second example, we build off of our first example and present a framework for selecting a surrogate species for an endangered species. We suggest that our traits-based framework can provide quantitative backing and added justification to selection of study species while also delineating the expanded inference space of study results

Microstructural control of TiC/a-C nanocomposite coatings with pulsed magnetron sputtering

In this paper, we report some striking results on the microstructural control of TiC/a-C nanocomposite coatings with pulsed direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering. The interface morphology and microstructure evolution as a function of pulse frequency and duty cycle were scrutinized using atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy techniques. It is shown that, with increasing pulse frequency, the nanocomposite coatings exhibit evolutions in morphology of the growing interface from rough to smooth and in the microstructure from strongly columnar to fully columnar-free. In addition, the smoothly growing interface favors the formation of a tailor-made multilayered nanocomposite structure. The fundamental mechanisms are analyzed with the assistance of plasma diagnostic experiments. Ion mass/energy spectrometry measurements reveal that, depending on the frequency and duty cycle of DC pulses, pulsing of the magnetrons can control the flux and energy distribution of Ar+ ions over a very broad range for concurrent impingement on the growing interface of deposited coatings, in comparison with DC sputtering. The significantly enhanced energy flux density is thought to be responsible for the "adatom transfer" in interface smoothening and thus the restraint of columnar growth. (C) 2007 Acta Materialia, Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p

High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering of CIGS Thin Films for High Efficiency Thin Film Solar Cells

In this work CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) thin films with three different values of x (0; 0.28; 1) were preparedby nonreactive sputtering of Cu, In and Ga in HiPIMS (High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering) orDC magnetron and subsequently selenized in an Ar+Se atmosphere. Optical emission spectroscopy(OES) was used to monitor some basic plasma parameters during sputtering of metallic precursors. CIGSthin film characteristics were measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and other techniques

Computational prediction of pressure change in the vicinity of tidal stream turbines and the consequences for fish survival rate

The presence of Tidal Stream Turbines (TST) for tidal power production, leads to changes in the local physical environment that could affect fish. While other work has considered the implications with respect to conventional hydroelectric devices (i.e. hydroelectric dams), including studies such as physical impact with the rotors and pressure variation effects, this research considers the effects of sudden changes in pressure and turbulence on the hypothetical fish with respect to TSTs. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is used to investigate changes to the environment, and thus study the implications for fish. Two CFD methods are employed, an embedded Blade Element representation of the rotor in a RANS CFD model, and a blade resolved geometry using a moving reference frame. A new data interpretation approach is proposed as the primary source of environmental impact data; ‘rate of change of pressure’ with time along a streamtrace. This work also presents results for pressure, pressure gradients, shear rates and turbulence to draw conclusions about changes to the local physical environment. The assessment of the local impact is discussed in terms of the implications to individual fish passing a single or array of TST devices

Legacy of pre-disturbance spatial pattern determines early structural diversity following severe disturbance in mountain spruce forests in Czech Republic

Background Severe canopy-removing disturbances are native to many temperate forests and radically alter stand structure, but biotic legacies (surviving elements or patterns) can lend continuity to ecosystem function after such events. Poorly understood is the degree to which the structural complexity of an old-growth forest carries over to the next stand. We asked how predisturbance spatial pattern acts as a legacy to influence post-disturbance stand structure, and how this legacy influences the structural diversity within the early-seral stand. Methods Two stem-mapped one-hectare forest plots in the Czech Republic experienced a severe bark beetle outbreak, thus providing before-and-after data on spatial patterns in live and dead trees, crown projections, down logs, and herb cover. Results Post-disturbance stands were dominated by an advanced regeneration layer present before the disturbance. Both major species, Norway spruce (Picea abies) and rowan (Sorbus aucuparia), were strongly self-aggregated and also clustered to former canopy trees, predisturbance snags, stumps and logs, suggesting positive overstory to understory neighbourhood effects. Thus, although the disturbance dramatically reduced the stand’s height profile with ~100% mortality of the canopy layer, the spatial structure of post-disturbance stands still closely reflected the pre-disturbance structure. The former upper tree layer influenced advanced regeneration through microsite and light limitation. Under formerly dense canopies, regeneration density was high but relatively homogeneous in height; while in former small gaps with greater herb cover, regeneration density was lower but with greater heterogeneity in heights

New label no progress: institutional racism and the persistent segregation of Romani students in the Czech Republic

The over-representation of Romani children in special schools in the Czech Republic is well documented and widely condemned. In 2007 the European Court of Human Rights found the state guilty of discrimination against Romani children on the basis of disproportionate placement of children in remedial special schools. In 2015 high numbers of Romani children are still being misdiagnosed with Special Educational Needs and offered a limited and inappropriate education. This article explores the challenges which continue to hamper their successful inclusion in the Czech education system. Using Critical Race Theory as a lens to examine the Czech case, problems with the current policy trajectory are identified. The article shows that institutional racism persists in the Czech Republic, shaping attitudes and practices at all levels. Policy makers demonstrate little recognition of ingrained educational inequalities and Roma continue to be widely perceived as ‘others’ who must learn to adapt to Czech ways rather than as citizens who are entitled to services on their own terms

Horizontal control for stable cadastre and second military survey (Franziszeische Landesaufnahme) in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia

The paper deals about significant projects of large scale mapping at the beginning of 19th century in the Habsburg Empire. They have been already based on uniform geodetic horizontal control. Basic parameters and features of Second Military Survey in the territory of the Czech Lands as well as links with project of Stable cadastre are delineated. Technology of establishing the horizontal control (1st order trigonometric networks) is described in detail. Qualitative parameters of geodetically measured data and the survey documentation are analysed. Accuracy analysis of angular measurements and methodology of co-ordinate computations in the Gusterberg coordinate system are also discussed.By means of identical points the horizontal control enables unambiguous transformation from the Gusterberg and St. Stephen co-ordinate systems into the national co-ordinate system (JTSK) or WGS 84 with the accuracy higher than graphical accuracy of original maps. This transformation, published here as the global transformation key (GTK), is of great importance. The results of tests of GTKs compiled separately for Bohemia and Moravia+Silesia together with the analysis of contact zone of both above mentioned historical co-ordinate systems are introduced.As an example of GTK application georeferenced map sheets from Second Military Survey are presented. GTKs are of fundamental importance in unification of heterogeneous geodetic information files of cadastre of real estates in the Czech Republic