Effects of offshore wind farms operational noise on bluefin tuna behaviour

The number of offshore wind farms is growing up quickly in the lasts years. Several studies about its environmental acoustic impacts have been developed at the same time the industry expands, most of them related to the high level impulsive noise produced during the pile diving process associated to the construction stage. Nevertheless, the study of the impact of the operational noise of turbines is very limited. In this paper we investigate the behavioural response of Bluefin tuna when exposed to the operation noise of a turbine. We analysed tuna reaction in terms of three parameters: depth of the school, swimming pattern and changes in the swimming direction. The experiment was developedin a fixed commercial tuna cage in the Mediterranean Sea. The usual behaviour of Bluefin tuna in captivity conditions was previously analysed using a continuous monitorization. Variations in depth were observed when feeding boat approaches, which could be interpreted as a consequence of the acoustical stimulus. The turbine noise was acoustically characterized, and reproduced using a broad-band underwater source. To monitor tuna behaviour two echosounders and a video system were simultaneously used. When exposed to short duration noise tuna behaviour does not exhibit clear disturbances. Nevertheless, with long duration emission tuna reacted: school reduced the radio of thecircular swimming region, moved up to the surface and some individuals were disorientated. Tuna seems to be habituated after several repetitions is short time.Proyecto AZIMUT. This work was financially support from Spanish Government by grant AP2009-4459. We thank both personal and material facilities provided by Grup Balfegó and Nuevo Tomás y Carmen crew

Chromomagnetic Dipole Moment of the Top Quark Revisited

We study the complete one-loop contributions to the chromagnetic dipole moment $\Delta\kappa$ of the top quark in the Standard Model, two Higgs doublet models, topcolor assited technicolor models (TC2), 331 models and extended models with a single extra dimension. We find that the SM predicts $\Delta\kappa = - 0.056$ and that the predictions of the other models are also consitent with the constraints imposed on $\Delta\kappa$ by low-energy precision measurements.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, Updat

First case of yellow fever in French Guiana since 1902.

The first case of yellow fever in French Guiana since 1902 was reported in March 1998. The yellow fever virus genome was detected in postmortem liver biopsies by seminested polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis showed that this strain was most closely related to strains from Brazil and Ecuador

Monitoring of Caged Bluefin Tuna Reactions to Ship and Offshore Wind Farm Operational Noises

Abstract: Underwater noise has been identified as a relevant pollution affecting marine ecosystems in different ways. Despite the numerous studies performed over the last few decades regarding the adverse effect of underwater noise on marine life, a lack of knowledge and methodological procedures still exists, and results are often tentative or qualitative. A monitoring methodology for the behavioral response of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) when exposed to ship and wind turbine operational noises was implemented and tested in a fixed commercial tuna feeding cage in the Mediterranean sea. Fish behavior was continuously monitored, combining synchronized echosounder and video recording systems. Automatic information extracted from acoustical echograms was used to describe tuna reaction to noise in terms of average depth and vertical dimensions of the school and the indicators of swimming speed and tilt direction. Video recordings allowed us to detect changes in swimming patterns. Different kinds of stimuli were considered during bluefin tuna cage monitoring, such as noise generated by feeding boats, wind farm operational noise, and other synthetic signals projected in the medium using a broadband underwater projector. The monitoring system design was revealed as a successful methodological approach to record and quantify reactions to noise. The obtained results suggested that the observed reactions presented a strong relationship with insonification pressure level and time. Behavioral changes associated with noise are difficult to observe, especially in semi-free conditions; thus, the presented approach offered the opportunity to link anthropogenic activity with possible effects on a given marine species, suggesting the possibility of achieving a more realistic framework to assess the impacts of underwater noise on marine animals.Versión del edito

PK-guided switch between standard half-life and extended half-life factor VII products

P117 Introduction: Extended half-life (EHL) factor VIII (FVIII) requires improvements in half-life (t1/2) & area under the curve (AUC) of 1.3 & 1.25 times compared to standard half-life (SHL) products. The aim of this study is compare pharmacokinetics (PK) after the switch from SHL to EHL in patients with hemophilia A (HA). Methods: Multicenter comparative, cross-sectional, prospective study analyzing PK differences after switch from SHL to EHL (ef-moroctocog alfa [rFVIII-Fc] & rurioctocog alfa pegol [PEG-rFVIII]). WAPPS- Hemo® was used to analyze PK parameters with 2-3 samples: t1/2; AUC, peak level (PL); trough level at 24, 48 & 72 hours (TL24, TL48, TL72); & time to reach FVIII levels of 1, 2, 5% (T1%, T2%, T5%). Ratio of t1/2 & AUC, the number of weekly doses & the dose/kg/week before & after the switch were compared. Wilcoxon & Kruskal-Wallis tests (SPSS®) were used to compare the PK parameters. Results: Eightythree patients from 8 Spanish hospitals were analyzed (62 rFVIII-Fc; 21 PEG-rFVIII), 79 had severe HA & 4 moderate HA. Median age was 30 years (range = 3-64) & no differences in weight were observed between both periods.Dose/kg/week & weekly infusion frequency were reduced after the switch to EHL, & significant improvements were observed in all PK parameters after the change from SHL to EHL (Table 1). The median ratios of t1/2 & AUC were 1.3 (IQR:1.2-1.6) and 1.6 (IQR:1.3-2.2) in the entire cohort. In patients with =12 years ratios of t1/2 & AUC were 1.4 (IQR:1.3-1.6) & 1.7 (IQR:1.3-2.3), and in the cohort of 16 patients <12 years treated with rFVIII-Fc were 1.3 (IQR:0.9-1.5) and 1.4 (IQR:1.1- 2.1).After the switch to EHL, median weekly dose frequency (30%, IQR:0-33.3%) & dose/kg/week (16.9%, IQR:8.7-32.8%) were reduced. In a small subset of 15 younger patients the dose/kg/week was increased a median of 28.6% (IQR:11.7-40-7%). No differences were observed in any of the PK parameters & median ratios of t1/2 & AUC in patients aged =12 years treated with rFVIII-Fc vs. PEG-rFVIII (46 rFVIII-Fc; 21 PEG-rFVIII). Discussion/Conclusion: EHL FVIII have shown significant PK improvements in clinical real practice, allowing to reduce weekly infusion number & dose/kg/week. Outside the clinical trial setting, we have observed an increase in t1/2 & AUC ratios accordingly to EHL definition. Comparisons regarding clinical outcomes (bleeding rate after switch) will be performed after a follow-up of 1 year with EHL for the full cohort

A multiple stakeholder multicriteria decision analysis in diabetic macular edema management: the MULTIDEX‑EMD study

Background The clinical and economic management of retinal diseases has become more complex following the introduction of new intravitreal treatments. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) ofers the potential to overcome the challenges associated with traditional decision-making tools. Objectives A MCDA to determine the most relevant criteria to decision-making in the management of diabetic macular edema (DME) based on the perspectives of multiple stakeholders in Spain was developed. This MCDA was termed the MULTIDEX-EMD study. Methods Nineteen stakeholders (7 physicians, 4 pharmacists, 5 health authorities and health management experts, 1 psychologist, and 2 patient representatives) participated in this three-phase project. In phase A, an advisory board defned all of the criteria that could infuence DME treatment decision-making. These criteria were then screened using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) (phase B). Next, a multinomial logit model was ftted by applying the backward elimination algorithm (relevant criteria: p value<0.05). Finally, the results were discussed in a deliberative process (phase C). Results Thirty-one criteria were initially defned (phase A) and grouped into 5 categories: efcacy/efectiveness, safety, organizational and economic impact, patient-reported outcomes, and other therapeutic features. The DCE results (phase B) showed that 10 criteria were relevant to the decision-making process for a 50- to 65-year-old DME patient: mean change in best corrected visual acuity (p value<0.001), percentage of patients with an improvement of ≥15 letters (p value<0.001), efect duration per administration (p value=0.008), retinal detachment (p value<0.001), endophthalmitis (p value=0.012), myocardial infarction (p value<0.001), intravitreal hemorrhage (p value=0.021), annual treatment cost per patient (p value=0.001), health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (p value=0.004), and disability level (p value=0.021). Conclusions From a multi-stakeholder perspective, the selection of an appropriate treatment for DME patients should guarantee patient safety and maximize the visual acuity improvement and treatment efect duration. It should also contribute to system sustainability by being afordable, it should have a positive impact on HRQoL, and it should prevent disability

The Relation Between the Surface Brightness and the Diameter for Galactic Supernova Remnants

In this work, we have constructed a relation between the surface brightness ($\Sigma$) and diameter (D) of Galactic C- and S-type supernova remnants (SNRs). In order to calibrate the $\Sigma$-D dependence, we have carefully examined some intrinsic (e.g. explosion energy) and extrinsic (e.g. density of the ambient medium) properties of the remnants and, taking into account also the distance values given in the literature, we have adopted distances for some of the SNRs which have relatively more reliable distance values. These calibrator SNRs are all C- and S-type SNRs, i.e. F-type SNRs (and S-type SNR Cas A which has an exceptionally high surface brightness) are excluded. The Sigma-D relation has 2 slopes with a turning point at D=36.5 pc: $\Sigma$(at 1 GHz)=8.4$^{+19.5}_{-6.3}$$\times10^{-12}$ D$^{{-5.99}^{+0.38}_{-0.33}}$ Wm$^{-2}$Hz$^{-1}$ster$^{-1}$ (for $\Sigma$$\le3.7\times10^{-21}$ Wm$^{-2}$Hz$^{-1}$ster$^{-1}$ and D$\ge$36.5 pc) and $\Sigma$(at 1 GHz)=2.7$^{+2.1}_{-1.4}$$\times$ 10$^{-17}$ D$^{{-2.47}^{+0.20}_{-0.16}}$ Wm$^{-2}$Hz$^{-1}$ster$^{-1}$ (for $\Sigma$$>3.7\times10^{-21}$ Wm$^{-2}$Hz$^{-1}$ster$^{-1}$ and D$<$36.5 pc). We discussed the theoretical basis for the $\Sigma$-D dependence and particularly the reasons for the change in slope of the relation were stated. Added to this, we have shown the dependence between the radio luminosity and the diameter which seems to have a slope close to zero up to about D=36.5 pc. We have also adopted distance and diameter values for all of the observed Galactic SNRs by examining all the available distance values presented in the literature together with the distances found from our $\Sigma$-D relation.Comment: 45 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomical and Astrophysical Transaction

Estimating the Fractal Dimension, K_2-entropy, and the Predictability of the Atmosphere

The series of mean daily temperature of air recorded over a period of 215 years is used for analysing the dimensionality and the predictability of the atmospheric system. The total number of data points of the series is 78527. Other 37 versions of the original series are generated, including ``seasonally adjusted'' data, a smoothed series, series without annual course, etc. Modified methods of Grassberger and Procaccia are applied. A procedure for selection of the ``meaningful'' scaling region is proposed. Several scaling regions are revealed in the ln C(r) versus ln r diagram. The first one in the range of larger ln r has a gradual slope and the second one in the range of intermediate ln r has a fast slope. Other two regions are settled in the range of small ln r. The results lead us to claim that the series arises from the activity of at least two subsystems. The first subsystem is low-dimensional (d_f=1.6) and it possesses the potential predictability of several weeks. We suggest that this subsystem is connected with seasonal variability of weather. The second subsystem is high-dimensional (d_f>17) and its error-doubling time is about 4-7 days. It is found that the predictability differs in dependence on season. The predictability time for summer, winter and the entire year (T_2 approx. 4.7 days) is longer than for transition-seasons (T_2 approx. 4.0 days for spring, T_2 approx. 3.6 days for autumn). The role of random noise and the number of data points are discussed. It is shown that a 15-year-long daily temperature series is not sufficient for reliable estimations based on Grassberger and Procaccia algorithms.Comment: 27 pages (LaTex version 2.09) and 15 figures as .ps files, e-mail: [email protected]