Delphinus delphis Linnaeus 1758 is considered an endangered species in the Mediterranean. The species is resident in the Bay of Algeciras - Gibraltar (southern Spain; waters partially shared with ...Gibraltar, UK). This area is subject to strong anthropogenic pressure, but with an input of renewed waters in its central area. During three consecutive years (March 2017–March 2020), sightings were observed concentrated along the submarine canyon that runs north to south across the bay, forming a “specular S″ with a maximum depth of 460 m. The pods of Dd showed a continuous or semi-continuous spatial distribution along the vertical axis of the submarine canyon, where they feed, mate, breed and rear calves in a well-defined area that constitutes a critical habitat. This area has been cartographically delimited, choosing the area of maximum dolphin frequency as highly vulnerable due to the possibility of collisions with small vessels (<15 m) and interactions with sport fishing activities (popping, ballooning, trolling) which constitute the main threat counting the derived impacts from noise pollution. Spatio-temporal mapping has been developed to visualize the overlapping between the dolphin groups and small vessels. Mapping analysis has shown that an international Spanish-British micro-sanctuary urgently needs to be established in order to create a protected area specifically for the common dolphins, and for other species which inhabit/use the waters between Spain and Gibraltar. Coordinates and a delimited surface area have been proposed in this paper.
Display omitted
•Algeciras Bay concentrates common dolphins and boats in its central and deepest area.•The continuous presence of dolphins over the submarine canyon could be related to the existence of the canyon.•A statistical and cartographic study of common dolphin and boat sightings is carried out.•Sport fishing boats and propeller boats are a threat to dolphins.•The creation of an international micro-sanctuary for common dolphins is proposed.
Context.
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft cruised in the inner heliosphere during Feb. 2020 – Jan. 2021, moving between ∼0.5–1.0 au radial distance. The Energetic Particle Detector suite operated ...continuously during this period.
Aims.
The Suprathermal Ion Spectrograph and High Energy Telescope observations made during intervals in between transient intensity increases were used to determine the low energy ion spectra and composition during quiet times.
Methods.
Energetic particle spectra and major ion components, including
3
He, were measured over the range ∼0.1–100 MeV nucleon
−1
. The radial dependence of 4.4 MeV nucleon
−1
4
He and O was measured. A short interval of extremely low intensities (“super-quiet”) was also studied.
Results.
Spectra measured during the quiet period showed transitions, including galactic cosmic rays (> 50 MeV nucleon
−1
), anomalous cosmic rays (a few to ∼50 MeV nucleon
−1
), and a steeply rising “turn-up” spectrum below a few MeV nucleon
−1
whose composition resembled impulsive,
3
He-rich solar energetic particle events. The radial dependence had large uncertainties but was consistent with a small gradient. During the super-quiet interval, the higher energy components remained similar to the quiet period, while the approximately flat low energy
4
He spectrum extended downward, reaching ∼300 keV nucleon
−1
before transitioning to a steeply rising spectrum.
Context.
On 2020 November 29, the first widespread solar energetic particle (SEP) event of solar cycle 25 was observed at four widely separated locations in the inner (≲1 AU) heliosphere. ...Relativistic electrons as well as protons with energies > 50 MeV were observed by Solar Orbiter (SolO), Parker Solar Probe, the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)-A and multiple near-Earth spacecraft. The SEP event was associated with an M4.4 class X-ray flare and accompanied by a coronal mass ejection and an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wave as well as a type II radio burst and multiple type III radio bursts.
Aims.
We present multi-spacecraft particle observations and place them in context with source observations from remote sensing instruments and discuss how such observations may further our understanding of particle acceleration and transport in this widespread event.
Methods.
Velocity dispersion analysis (VDA) and time shift analysis (TSA) were used to infer the particle release times at the Sun. Solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements were examined to identify structures that influence the properties of the energetic particles such as their intensity. Pitch angle distributions and first-order anisotropies were analyzed in order to characterize the particle propagation in the interplanetary medium.
Results.
We find that during the 2020 November 29 SEP event, particles spread over more than 230° in longitude close to 1 AU. The particle onset delays observed at the different spacecraft are larger as the flare–footpoint angle increases and are consistent with those from previous STEREO observations. Comparing the timing when the EUV wave intersects the estimated magnetic footpoints of each spacecraft with particle release times from TSA and VDA, we conclude that a simple scenario where the particle release is only determined by the EUV wave propagation is unlikely for this event. Observations of anisotropic particle distributions at SolO, Wind, and STEREO-A do not rule out that particles are injected over a wide longitudinal range close to the Sun. However, the low values of the first-order anisotropy observed by near-Earth spacecraft suggest that diffusive propagation processes are likely involved.
Disk winds have been postulated as a mechanism for angular momentum release in protostellar systems for decades. HD 163296 is a Herbig Ae star surrounded by a disk and has been shown to host a series ...of HH knots (HH 409) with bow shocks associated with the farthest knots. Here we present ALMA science verification data of CO J = 2–1 and J = 3–2 emission, which are spatially coincident with the blue shifted jet of HH knots, and offset from the disk by −18.6 km s-1. The emission has a double corkscrew morphology and extends more than 10′′ from the disk with embedded emission clumps coincident with jet knots. We interpret this double corkscrew as emission from material in a molecular disk wind, and that the compact emission near the jet knots is being heated by the jet that is moving at much higher velocities. We show that the J = 3–2 emission is likely heavily filtered by the interferometer, but the J = 2–1 emission suffers less due to the larger beam and sensitivity to larger scale structures. Excitation analysis suggests temperatures exceeding 900 K in these compact features, with the wind mass, momentum and energy being of order 10-5 M⊙, 10-4 M⊙ km s-1 and 1040 erg, respectively. The high mass loss rate suggests that this star is dispersing the disk faster than it is funneling mass onto the star.
Context. Asymmetries in atomic hydrogen (HI) in galaxies are often caused by the interaction with close companions, making isolated galaxies an ideal framework to study secular evolution. The AMIGA ...project has demonstrated that isolated galaxies show the lowest level of asymmetry in their HI integrated profiles compared to even field galaxies, yet some present significant asymmetries. CIG 96 (NGC 864) is a representative case reaching a 16% level. Aims. Our aim is to investigate the HI asymmetries of the spiral galaxy CIG 96 and what processes have triggered the star-forming regions observed in the XUV pseudo-ring. Methods. We performed deep optical observations at CAHA1.23m, CAHA2.2m and VST (OmegaCAM wide-field camera) telescopes. We reach surface brightness (SB) limits of μCAHA2.2m = 27.5 mag arcsec−2 (Cousins R) and μVST = 28.7 mag arcsec−2 (SDSS r) that show the XUV pseudo-ring of the galaxy in detail. Additionally, a wavelet filtering of the HI data cube from our deep observations with VLA/EVLA telescope allowed us to reach a column density of NHI = 8.9 × 1018 cm−2 (5σ) (28″ × 28″ beam), lower than in any isolated galaxy. Results. We confirm that the HI of CIG 96 extends farther than 4 × r25 in all directions. Furthermore, we detect for the first time two gaseous structures (∼106 M⊙) in the outskirts. The SDSS g - r colour index image from CAHA1.23m shows extremely blue colours in certain regions of the pseudo-ring where NHI > 8.5 × 1020 cm−2, whereas the rest show red colours. Galactic cirrus contaminate the field, setting an unavoidable detection limit at 28.5 mag arcsec−2 (SDSS r). Conclusions. At the current SB and NHI levels, we detect no stellar link within 1° × 1° or gaseous link within 40′ × 40′ between CIG 96 and any companion. The isolation criteria rule out interactions with other similar-sized galaxies for at least ∼2.7 Gyr. Using existing stellar evolution models, the age of the pseudo-ring is estimated at 1 Gyr or older. Undetected previously accreted companions and cold gas accretion remain as the main hypothesis to explain the optical pseudo-ring and HI features of CIG 96.
Context.
Following a multi-year minimum of solar activity, a solar energetic particle event on 2020 Nov. 29 was observed by multiple spacecraft covering a wide range of solar longitudes including ...ACE, the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory-A, and the recently launched Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.
Aims.
Multi-point observations of a solar particle event, combined with remote-sensing imaging of flaring, shocks, and coronal mass ejections allows for a global picture of the event to be synthesized, and made available to the modeling community to test, constrain, and refine models of particle acceleration and transport according to such parameters as shock geometries and particle mass-to-charge ratios.
Methods.
Detailed measurements of heavy ion intensities, time dependence, fluences, and spectral slopes provided the required test data for this study.
Results.
The heavy ion abundances, timing, and spectral forms for this event fall well within the range found in prior surveys at 1 au. The spectra were well fitted by broken power law shapes; the Fe/O ratio was somewhat lower than the average of other events. In addition,
3
He/
4
He was very low, with only the upper limits established here.
Whole-body vibration (WBV) is being promoted as an efficient complement to resistance training. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week program of WBV in combination with ...resistance training on knee extensors muscular performance. A group of 29 young adults (25 men, 4 women; age 21.8 ± 1.5) performed a WBV plus resistance training program (WBV + RES) or an identical exercise program in absence of vibration (placebo plus resistance training, PL + RES). Participants were evaluated for anthropometry, muscle strength (half-squat three repetition maximum, 3RM), knee extensors isokinetic dynamometry (180° and 60° s
−1
) and counter-movement jump (CMJ). After the intervention, percent body fat significantly decreased 2.1% only in WBV + RES (
P
< 0.001), while muscle mass significantly increased in both groups (
P
< 0.01): 2.2 and 2.8 kg in PL + RES and WBV + RES, respectively. No significant differences were observed in isokinetic strength or CMJ, and 3RM significantly increased in both groups (
P
< 0.001): 64.2 kg (52% of baseline) in PL + RES, and 46.9 kg (43%) in WBV + RES. The addition of WBV to resistance training during 8 weeks, in recreationally active young adults, did not result in a larger muscular performance improvement compared to an identical exercise program in absence of vibration. Muscle mass also seemed to be equally affected with or without vibration, yet body fat could be exclusively decreased by WBV. Further research is required to clarify whether WBV, as a complement to resistance training, produces additional specific benefits.
Energy performance and thermal comfort in historic and traditional urban environments are important because of the social and cultural requirement to conserve these areas as living entities, but also ...for the environmental obligation to decrease the impact of existing buildings globally. The objective of ENERPAT approach is to address this global challenge from the local perspective, through the co-creation of efficient solutions that improve the energy performance of historic areas considering local techniques and skills, taking into account the whole life cycle of the solutions, and supporting local economy and business. The objective is to test the efficiency and suitability of eco-renovation strategies that have been co-created with local stakeholders and are based on traditional energy conservation measures, as a way to work with locally-based business models that can safeguard cultural aspects and enable economic development. Two living labs have been established in the cities of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Spain) and Cahors (France) in two representative buildings of the historic urban area of each city. The living labs operate as inclusive multi-agent discussion arenas with a long-term vision, where multi-criteria co-creation processes are implemented to select conservation-friendly solutions based on local materials including criteria such as operational energy, impact on heritage values, quality of life, socio-economic development and easy logistics. The energy behaviour of the buildings and the hygrothermal performance of the external walls have been studied using on-site and laboratory experiments, through an efficient partnership between local authorities and universities. Likewise, local-based refurbishment solutions that were designed in the co-creation processes have been thermally characterised in the laboratory, through thermal conductivity and guarded hot box tests. Finally, the energy improvement of the whole renovation strategy has been simulated showing the enhancement of the two buildings.
•Energy efficiency of historic centres through eco-renovation and vernacular culture.•Energy transition based on co-creation and evolutionary development.•Urban labs to merge evidence-based knowledge with socio-economic considerations.•Architectural heritage is broadened to include traditional techniques.•Results of the co-creation process are tested with experimental and numerical work.
Methyl‐CpG binding proteins (MBDs) mediate histone deacetylase‐dependent transcriptional silencing at methylated CpG islands. Using chromatin immunoprecitation (ChIP) we have found that gene‐specific ...profiles of MBDs exist for hypermethylated promoters of breast cancer cells, whilst a common pattern of histone modifications is shared. This unique distribution of MBDs is also characterized in chromosomes by comparative genomic hybridization of immunoprecipitated DNA and immunolocalization. Most importantly, we demonstrate that MBD association to methylated DNA serves to identify novel targets of epigenetic inactivation in human cancer. We combined the ChIP assay of MBDs with a CpG island microarray (ChIP on chip). The scenario revealed shows that, while many genes are regulated by multiple MBDs, others are associated with a single MBD. These target genes displayed methylation‐ associated transcriptional silencing in breast cancer cells and primary tumours. The candidates include the homeobox gene PAX6, the prolactin hormone receptor, and dipeptidylpeptidase IV among others. Our results support an essential role for MBDs in gene silencing and, when combined with genomic strategies, their potential to ‘catch’ new hypermethylated genes in cancer.
PDF
