Response of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) to different types of acoustic harassment devices and subsequent piling during the construction of offshore wind farms

Before piling of offshore wind farm foundations, acoustic harassment devices (AHDs) are used to drive harbor porpoises out of the area where they could suffer injuries. Until 2017, a combination of pingers and seal scarer devices (usually SPL = 174-193 dB re 1 μPa (rms) @ 1m at 1 to 20 kHz depending on the device) was prescribed for mitigation purposes in Germany. However, seal scarers led to decreased porpoise detection rates in much larger distances than intended, when 750 m is usually rendered sufficient to avoid injuries. Therefore, devices specifically designed for mitigation purposes were developed and are prescribed since then. These acoustic porpoise deterrents (APDs; e.g. FaunaGuard Porpoise Module; SPL = 172 dB re 1 μPa (rms) @ 1m at 60 to 150 kHz) aim to keep the animals away from offshore construction sites but should not lead to large-scale disturbance as caused by a seal scarer. Although project-specific evaluations indicated that APDs are effective, a cross-project analysis and a comparison with data from previous piling procedures employing seal scarers were still pending. The present study aimed to fill this gap. Between March 2018 and April 2019, harbor porpoise detection rates were monitored acoustically in four offshore wind farm projects using CPODs before, during and after piling at different distances up to 10 km from piling. APD operation led to a significant decrease in detection rates in the vicinity of the device, indicating the displacement of the animals from a small-scale area. Depending on the wind farm, detection rates during APD operation decreased by 30 to 100% at 750 m distance compared to 6 hours before APD operation. Furthermore, reduced detection rates during APD operation were only observed up to about 2.5 km distance even when the APD was switched on for over 40 minutes. Given that the extent of disturbance to harbor porpoises is lower when using an acoustic porpoise deterrent compared to the seal scarer, we consider that preferential use of an acoustic porpoise deterrent is an improvement to mitigation strategies and an important step forward to a less harmful piling procedure

Consistent Calculation of the Nucleon Electromagnetic Polarizabilities in Chiral Perturbation Theory Beyond Next-to-Leading Order

We calculate the nucleons' electromagnetic polarizabilities in heavy baryon chiral perturbation theory including all terms to order ${\cal O} (q^4)$. The chiral prediction of the electric polarizabilities for the neutron and the proton are in good agreement with the data. In the case of the magnetic polarizabilities the big positive contribution from the $\Delta(1232)$ resonance is largely cancelled by a non--analytic loop contribution of the $\ln M_\pi$ type. This novel effect helps to understand the rather small empirical value of the nucleons' magnetic polarizability.Comment: 10 pp, TeX, BUTP-93/22 and CRN-93-3

Investigation of chlorine radical chemistry in the Eyjafjallajkull volcanic plume using observed depletions in non-methane hydrocarbons

As part of the effort to understand volcanic plume composition and chemistry during the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajkull, the CARIBIC atmospheric observatory was deployed for three special science flights aboard a Lufthansa passenger aircraft. Measurements made during these flights included the collection of whole air samples, which were analyzed for non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs). Hydrocarbon concentrations in plume samples were found to be reduced to levels below background, with relative depletions characteristic of reaction with chlorine radicals (Cl). Recent observations of halogen oxides in volcanic plumes provide evidence for halogen radical chemistry, but quantitative data for free halogen radical concentrations in volcanic plumes were absent. Here we present the first observation-based calculations of Cl radical concentrations in volcanic plumes, estimated from observed NMHC depletions. Inferred Cl concentrations were between 1.3 × 10 and 6.6 × 10 Cl cm. The relationship between NMHC variability and local lifetimes was used to investigate the ratio between OH and Cl within the plume, with [OH]/[Cl] estimated to be ∼37. Copyright 2011 by the American Geophysical Union

Long-range aerosol transport and impacts on size-resolved aerosol composition in Metro Manila, Philippines

This study analyzes long-range transport of aerosol and aerosol chemical characteristics based on instances of high- and low-aerosol-loading events determined via ground-based size-resolved aerosol measurements collected at the Manila Observatory in Metro Manila, Philippines, from July to October 2018. Multiple data sources, including models, remote sensing, and in situ measurements, are used to analyze the impacts of long-range aerosol transport on Metro Manila and the conditions at the local and synoptic scales facilitating this transport. Through the use of case studies, evidence of long-range transport of biomass burning aerosol and continental emissions is identified in Metro Manila. Long-range transport of biomass burning aerosol from the Maritime Continent, bolstered by southwesterly flow and permitted by low rainfall, was identified through model results and the presence of biomass burning tracers (e.g., K, Rb) in the ground-based measurements. The impacts of emissions transported from continental East Asia on the aerosol characteristics in Metro Manila are also identified; for one of the events analyzed, this transport was facilitated by the nearby passage of a typhoon. Changes in the aerosol size distributions, water-soluble chemical composition, and contributions of various organic aerosol species to the total water-soluble organic aerosol were examined for the different cases. The events impacted by biomass burning transport had the overall highest concentration of water-soluble organic acids, while the events impacted by long-range transport from continental East Asia showed high percent contributions from shorter-chain dicarboxylic acids (i.e., oxalate) that are often representative of photochemical and aqueous processing in the atmosphere. The low-aerosol-loading event was subject to a larger precipitation accumulation than the high-aerosol events, indicative of wet scavenging as an aerosol sink in the study region. This low-aerosol event was characterized by a larger relative contribution from supermicrometer aerosols and had a higher percent contribution from longer-chain dicarboxylic acids (i.e., maleate) to the water-soluble organic aerosol fraction, indicating the importance of both primary aerosol emissions and local emissions

An annual time series of weekly size-resolved aerosol properties in the megacity of Metro Manila, Philippines

Size-resolved aerosol samples were collected in Metro Manila between July 2018 and October 2019. Two Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactors (MOUDI) were deployed at Manila Observatory in Quezon City, Metro Manila with samples collected on a weekly basis for water-soluble speciation and mass quantification. Additional sets were collected for gravimetric and black carbon analysis, including during special events such as holidays. The unique aspect of the presented data is a year-long record with weekly frequency of size-resolved aerosol composition in a highly populated megacity where there is a lack of measurements. The data are suitable for research to understand the sources, evolution, and fate of atmospheric aerosols, as well as studies focusing on phenomena such as aerosol-cloud-precipitation-meteorology interactions, regional climate, boundary layer processes, and health effects. The dataset can be used to initialize, validate, and/or improve models and remote sensing algorithms

Diagnostic and Prognostic Implications of FGFR3(high)/Ki67(high) Papillary Bladder Cancers

Prognostic/therapeutic stratification of papillary urothelial cancers is solely based upon histology, despite activated FGFR3-signaling was found to be associated with low grade tumors and favorable outcome. However, there are FGFR3-overexpressing tumors showing high proliferation-a paradox of coexisting favorable and adverse features. Therefore, our study aimed to decipher the relevance of FGFR3-overexpression/proliferation for histopathological grading and risk stratification. N = 142 (n = 82 pTa, n = 42 pT1, n = 18 pT2-4) morphologically G1-G3 tumors were analyzed for immunohistochemical expression of FGFR3 and Ki67. Mutation analysis of FGFR3 and TP53 and FISH for FGFR3 amplification and rearrangement was performed. SPSS 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. Overall FGFR3(high)/Ki67(high) status (n = 58) resulted in a reduced Delta mean progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.01) of 63.92 months, and shorter progression-free survival (p < 0.01;mean PFS: 55.89 months) in pTa tumors (n = 50). FGFR3(mut)/TP53(mut) double mutations led to a reduced Delta mean PFS (p < 0.01) of 80.30 months in all tumors, and FGFR3(mut)/TP53(mut) pTa tumors presented a dramatically reduced PFS (p < 0.001;mean PFS: 5.00 months). Our results identified FGFR3(high)/Ki67(high) papillary pTa tumors as a subgroup with poor prognosis and encourage histological grading as high grade tumors. Tumor grading should possibly be augmented by immunohistochemical stainings and suitable clinical surveillance by endoscopy should be performed

Doing quantitative research in the learning sciences and CSCL:current developments and applications

While quantitative methods are continuously developed in various fields of origin,such as psychology, the specific applications in the core field of learning sciences and CSCL are less well advanced. In this workshop, we explore and discuss current methodological topics in three relevant fields of empirical research: (1) obtaining data, (2) analyzing data, and (3) sharing data, replicating and integrating findings. Outcomes of the discussions are planned to be published in short guidelines facilitating the application of latest developments in quantitative methods in the learning sciences and CSCL research.<br/

Doing quantitative research in the learning sciences and CSCL:current developments and applications

While quantitative methods are continuously developed in various fields of origin,such as psychology, the specific applications in the core field of learning sciences and CSCL are less well advanced. In this workshop, we explore and discuss current methodological topics in three relevant fields of empirical research: (1) obtaining data, (2) analyzing data, and (3) sharing data, replicating and integrating findings. Outcomes of the discussions are planned to be published in short guidelines facilitating the application of latest developments in quantitative methods in the learning sciences and CSCL research.<br/