On the Transit Potential of the Planet Orbiting iota Draconis

Most of the known transiting exoplanets are in short-period orbits, largely due to the bias inherent in detecting planets through the transit technique. However, the eccentricity distribution of the known radial velocity planets results in many of those planets having a non-negligible transit probability. One such case is the massive planet orbiting the giant star iota Draconis, a situation where both the orientation of the planet's eccentric orbit and the size of the host star inflate the transit probability to a much higher value than for a typical hot Jupiter. Here we present a revised fit of the radial velocity data with new measurements and a photometric analysis of the stellar variability. We provide a revised transit probability, an improved transit ephemeris, and discuss the prospects for observing a transit of this planet from both the ground and space.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ. Radial velocities will be made available in the on-line version and through the NASA Star and Exoplanet Database (NStED). Minor corrections from ApJ proof have been applie

Structural and functional changes of soft-bottom ecosystems in northern fjords invaded by the red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus)

The red king crab invaded Norwegian coastal waters in the early 1990s after having been introduced from the northern Pacific to the Russian Barents Sea coast. The crab stock increased rapidly in NE northern Norway in the latter half of the 1990s, and since 2002 there has been a commercial fishery in the eastern invaded areas. The crab is an active predator on benthic fauna especially feeding in deep soft-bottom environments. The present study is a follow-up of previous studies (2007–09) to assess the effects of the king crab predation on soft bottom species composition, ecological functioning and sediment quality. Macroinfauna (> 1 mm) was investigated in three fjord areas in the Varanger region with low, moderate and very high crab abundances, respectively. Compared with data from 1994, most benthic species were markedly reduced in abundance, in particular non-moving burrowing and tube-dwelling polychaetes, bivalves and echinoderms. However, a few species appeared to recover from 2007–09 to 2012. Changes in ecological functioning were assessed using ‘biological traits analysis (BTA)’. Following the crab invasion there was a relative reduction of suspension and surface deposit feeding species, an increase in mobile and predatory organisms and an increase in those with planktotrophic larval development. From low to high crab abundances functioning changed from tube-building, deep deposit feeding and fairly large size to free-living, shallow burrowing and rather small size. With regard to sediment reworking, downward and upward conveyors were reduced whereas surficial modifiers increased. The changes imply that sediment biomixing and bioirrigation were reduced leading to a degraded sedimentary environment. It is suggested that establishing relationships between ecosystem functioning and crab abundances may form the basis for estimating ecological costs of the crab invasion. Such knowledge is important for managing the crab in the Barents Sea area being both a non-indigenous species affecting native ecosystems as well as a valuable resource for commercial fishery.publishedVersio

Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Seismic Risk and Adaptive Capacity to Earthquake: The Case of Anse-à-Veau (Haiti)

Earthquakes were responsible for more than half of all natural disaster deaths worldwide between 2000 and 2019. Populations in developing countries are the most affected. What can help stakeholders to increase people adaptive capacity to earthquake in a context of very limited financial resources? The perception of seismic risk by the stakeholders and the perception of their adaptive capacity seemed to be able to influence the stakeholder’s adaptive capacity to earthquakes as well as that of the population. Haiti, a country at risk of earthquakes and ranked among the poorest in the world, is a relevant place to explore the potential people adaptive capacity to earthquake. In 2020, qualitative methods through face-to-face interviews were conducted with 21 stakeholders in the town of Anse-à-Veau. This paper, therefore, focuses on exploring their perceptions of risk and adaptive capacity, just one year before an earthquake in the region. The results show that stakeholders were mostly aware of earthquake risk. This was identified by their perception of seismic risk related to the zone and the perception of their adaptative capacity to deal with earthquakes. Respondents perceived that some drivers such as self-capacity, motivation, and selfresponsibility can increase their adaptive capacity. Some temporal and physical factors have been highlighted as constraints to stakeholders’ adaptive capacity to earthquake. As expected, training, awareness, and appropriate constructions were identified as effective ways to increase the adaptive capacity of stakeholders and that of the local populations to earthquakes. Currently, earthquake unpredictability was seen as a barrier of preparedness. However, some respondents perceived unpredictability as a factor of motivation for earthquake preparedness. Thus, this observation must be examined to find the way that unpredictability can facilitate stakeholders’ adaptive capacity to earthquake or not. Human resources are targeted as the main resource to cope with an earthquake. Also, training and awareness were recognized as means to increase the adaptive capacity of stakeholders and that of the local populations to deal with such an event, despite the limited financial resources

Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Seismic Risk and Adaptive Capacity to Earthquake: The Case of Anse-à-Veau (Haiti)

Earthquakes were responsible for more than half of all natural disaster deaths worldwide between 2000 and 2019. Populations in developing countries are the most affected. What can help stakeholders to increase people adaptive capacity to earthquake in a context of very limited financial resources?The perception of seismic risk by the stakeholders and the perception of their adaptive capacity seemed to be able to influence the stakeholder’s adaptive capacity to earthquakes as well as that of the population. Haiti, a country at risk of earthquakes and ranked among the poorest in the world, is a relevant place to explore the potential people adaptive capacity to earthquake. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 21 stakeholders in the Town of Anse-à-Veau, in 2020 to focus on their perceptions of risk and adaptive capacity, just one year before an earthquake in the region.Results show that stakeholders were mostly aware of earthquake risk. This was identified by their perception of seismic risk related to the zone and the perception of their adaptative capacity to deal with earthquakes. Respondents perceived some drivers such as self-capacity, motivation and self-responsibility can increase their adaptive capacity. Some temporal and physical factors have been highlighted as constraints to stakeholders’ adaptive capacity to earthquake.As expected, training, awareness, and appropriate constructions were identified as effective ways to increase the adaptive capacity of stakeholders and the one of the local populations to earthquakes. Surprisingly, earthquake unpredictability was seen as a barrier but also as a motivation for preparedness. Thus, this observation must be examined to find in which way it can facilitate adaptive capacity or not.Human resources are targeted as the main resource to cope with an earthquake. Also, training and awareness were recognized as means to increase stakeholders’ adaptive capacity and the one of the local populations to deal with such an event despite the limited financial resources

Analysis of the peasants’ livelihood strategies in the Paute basin of Ecuador

The article analyses the livelihood of peasant farmers in the rural area of three parishes in the Paute basin in Ecuador. First, the article presents the gathered empirical data of the study sites, respectively the Pichacay in the Santa Ana parish, Caldera in the Javier Loyola parish, and Llavircay in the Rivera parish. Applying the Chayanovian and van der Ploeg interpretation frames, three types of peasant households could be distinguished, based upon their specific organizational forms of producing and reproducing their livelihoods. The article concludes that a more in-depth analysis is needed in the peasant’s art of farming, particularly in their core balance of being conditioned by and linked to as well as resistant to the capitalist economy.El artículo analiza la forma de sustento de los campesinos en el área rural de tres parroquias de la cuenca del Paute en Ecuador. En primer lugar, el artículo presenta los datos empíricos recopilados de los sitios de estudio, respectivamente Pichacay en la parroquia Santa Ana, Caldera en la parroquia Javier Loyola y Llavircay en la parroquia Rivera. Aplicando el marco de interpretación de Chayanov y van der Ploeg, se podrían distinguir tres tipos de hogares campesinos, basados en sus formas organizativas específicas de producir y reproducir sus medios de vida. El artículo concluye que es necesario un análisis más profundo del arte campesino de la agricultura, particularmente en su balance central de estar condicionado y vinculado y resistir a la economía capitalista

Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Seismic Risk and Adaptive Capacity to Earthquake: The Case of Anse-à-Veau (Haiti)

Earthquakes were responsible for more than half of all natural disaster deaths worldwide between 2000 and 2019. Populations in developing countries are the most affected. What can help stakeholders to increase people adaptive capacity to earthquake in a context of very limited financial resources?The perception of seismic risk by the stakeholders and the perception of their adaptive capacity seemed to be able to influence the stakeholder’s adaptive capacity to earthquakes as well as that of the population. Haiti, a country at risk of earthquakes and ranked among the poorest in the world, is a relevant place to explore the potential people adaptive capacity to earthquake. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 21 stakeholders in the Town of Anse-à-Veau, in 2020 to focus on their perceptions of risk and adaptive capacity, just one year before an earthquake in the region.Results show that stakeholders were mostly aware of earthquake risk. This was identified by their perception of seismic risk related to the zone and the perception of their adaptative capacity to deal with earthquakes. Respondents perceived some drivers such as self-capacity, motivation and self-responsibility can increase their adaptive capacity. Some temporal and physical factors have been highlighted as constraints to stakeholders’ adaptive capacity to earthquake.As expected, training, awareness, and appropriate constructions were identified as effective ways to increase the adaptive capacity of stakeholders and the one of the local populations to earthquakes. Surprisingly, earthquake unpredictability was seen as a barrier but also as a motivation for preparedness. Thus, this observation must be examined to find in which way it can facilitate adaptive capacity or not.Human resources are targeted as the main resource to cope with an earthquake. Also, training and awareness were recognized as means to increase stakeholders’ adaptive capacity and the one of the local populations to deal with such an event despite the limited financial resources

Influence of rectal prolapse on the asymmetry of the anal sphincter in patients with anal incontinence

BACKGROUND: Anal sphincter defects have been shown to increase pressure asymmetry within the anal canal in patients with fecal incontinence. However, this correlation is far from perfect, and other factors may play a role. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of rectal prolapse on anal pressure asymmetry in patients with anal incontinence. METHODS: 44 patients, (42 women, mean age: 64 (11) years), complaining of anal incontinence, underwent anal vector manometry, endo-anal ultrasonography (to assess sphincter defects) and pelvic viscerogram (for the diagnosis of rectal prolapse). Resting and squeeze anal pressures, and anal asymmetry index at rest and during voluntary squeeze were determined by vector manometry. RESULTS: Ultrasonography identified 19 anal sphincter defects; there were 9 cases of overt rectal prolapse, and 14 other cases revealed by pelvic viscerogram (recto-anal intussuception). Patients with rectal prolapse had a significantly higher anal sphincter asymmetry index at rest, whether patients with anal sphincter defects were included in the analysis or not (30 (3) % versus 20 (2) %, p < 0.005). Among patients without rectal prolapse, a higher anal sphincter asymmetry index during squeezing was found in patients with anal sphincter defects (27 (2) % versus 19 (2) %, p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In anal incontinent patients, anal asymmetry index may be increased in case of anal sphincter defect and/or rectal prolapse. In the absence of anal sphincter defect at ultrasonogaphy, an increased anal asymmetry index at rest may point to the presence of a rectal prolapse

A discontinuous Galerkin approach for atmospheric flows with implicit condensation

We present a discontinuous Galerkin method for moist atmospheric dynamics, with and without warm rain. By considering a combined density for water vapour and cloud water, we avoid the need to model and compute a source term for condensation. We recover the vapour and cloud densities by solving a pointwise non-linear problem each time step. Consequently, we enforce the requirement for the water vapour not to be supersaturated implicitly. Together with an explicit time-stepping scheme, the method is highly parallelisable and can utilise high-performance computing hardware. Furthermore, the discretisation works on structured and unstructured meshes in two and three spatial dimensions. We illustrate the performance of our approach using several test cases in two and three spatial dimensions. In the case of a smooth, exact solution, we illustrate the optimal higher-order convergence rates of the method

In situ multi‐axial loading frame to probe elastomers using X‐ray scattering

International audienceAn in situ tensile-shear loading device has been designed to study elastomer crystallization using synchrotron X‐ray scattering at the Synchrotron Soleil on the DiffAbs beamline. Elastomer tape specimens of thickness 2 mm can be elongated by up to 500% in the longitudinal direction and sheared by up to 200% in the transverse direction. The device is fully automated and plugged into the TANGO control system of the beamline allowing synchronization between acquisition and loading sequences. Experimental results revealing the evolution of crystallization peaks under load are presented for several tension/shear loading sequences