bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermal Infrared Polarimetric Sensor for Automated Detection of Oil Spills
Authors: Chenault David B. , Vaden Justin P. , Mitchell Douglas A. , Demicco Erik D.
Published: December 2017

One of the most effective ways of minimizing oil spill impact is early detection. Effective early detection requires automated detection that relies as little as possible on an operator and can operate 24/7. A new and innovative optical detection system exploits the polarization of light, the same physics used to reduce glare through the use of polarized glasses but in the thermal infrared (TIR) portion of the optical spectrum. Measuring the polarization of thermally emitted radiation from an oil spill enhances the detection over conventional thermal cameras and has the potential to provide automated day / night monitoring and surveillance. The sensors developed thus far are relatively small and inexpensive and can be easily mounted in areas that need monitoring and installed in unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Since the sensor is adapted from a conventional TIR camera, thermal imagery as currently used is collected in addition to the polarimetric imagery to further improve the detection performance. Lens options enable wide area coverage at shorter ranges and higher resolution at longer ranges from the camera position.

A TIR Polarimetric camera was tested at Ohmsett to establish performance under a variety of conditions. The Polarimetric camera was tested during the day and at night, under several different wave conditions generated in the wave tank, and with oil of different compositions and thicknesses. The imagery collected was analyzed to establish the contrast improvement through the polarimetric properties of the oil and to assess the automation of the detection process. In this poster, the sensor and test setup will be briefly described with detailed description of the results and the potential of this detection approach for automated detection.
Emergency Response to a significant jet fuel release in Honolulu
Authors: Zuroski D. , Johnson T. , Benson C. , Stroud F.
Published: December 2017

In December of 2014, there was a substantial shortage (42,000 gallons) of Jet fuel noted in the inventory at the tank farm that supplies jet fuel to the Honolulu International Airport. The tank farm is directly adjacent to Ke'ehi Lagoon and in near proximity to Honolulu Harbor. Jet fuel was found floating on the water table (less than two feet below the ground surface) throughout a large area of the tank farm, as well as outside the tank farm and within 150 feet of the lagoon.

EPA, the State of Hawaii, and the RP utilized a streamlined and nimble approach to Unified Command in performing the successful Emergency Response. Operations were conducted in close coordination with the USCG and Honolulu FD. All actions were designed to keep the fuel from reaching the surface water. This case study will detail the line of attack which included aggressive extraction the jet fuel, definition of the extent of the (subsurface) release, and design and installation of engineered capture, removal, and monitoring systems.
RETOS™: USE OF AN INTERNATIONAL TOOL FOR ASSESSING OIL SPILL PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS
Authors: Taylor Elliott , Moyano Miguel , Miranda-Rodríguez Darío
Published: December 2017

The “Readiness Evaluation Tool for Oil Spills (RETOS™)” is an application upgraded in 2014 with the support of regional and international experts from industry and government, including associations such as Oil Spill Response (OSRL), the Regional Activity Centre / Regional Marine Pollution, Emergency, Information and Training Centre – Caribe (RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The ARPEL Manual and RETOS™ provide a comprehensive set of criteria for industry and governments to assess their level of oil spill response (OSR) planning and readiness. The assessment criteria, agreed upon by the participating companies and institutions, provide the foundation for a series of checklists whereby gaps can be identified in spill response planning and readiness programs. The background for the tools is the “Assessment of Oil Spill Response Capabilities: A Proposed International Guide for Oil Spill Response Planning and Readiness Assessment”, developed for the 2008 International Oil Spill Conference.

The RETOS™ Excel application and Manual list evaluation criteria according to the type of OSR program to be assessed. These tools have:Seven different scopes and two general perspectives (government and industry) are considered, including facilities, companies’ business lines, and government national programs.For each scope, there are three possible assessment levels for which OSR planning and readiness assessment criteria become increasingly more demanding.Each level contains criteria in 10 different categories (topic areas) and identifies critical criteria deemed necessary for completeness at a basic level.An additional category for institution-specific added criteria.

Given that the criteria utilized relate to best international practices, RETOS™ represents a powerful tool for international benchmarking purposes. As of the end of 2016, workshops on how to use the tools have been presented in at least seven countries with over 400 total participants. RETOS™ has been used in more than 30 countries worldwide with most of those assessing national spill preparedness programs. Initial assessment results for Level A (basic) ranged from approximately 20% to 99% completion. Over 20 companies and institutions have utilized the tool with a similar range of results. Re-assessment provides a clear indication of progress toward higher levels of preparedness. The Manual and RETOS™ are currently available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French and can be downloaded free of charge from the ARPEL web site (www.arpel.org).
SPILL IMPACT MITIGATION ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK FOR OIL SPILL RESPONSE PLANNING IN THE ARCTIC ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Robinson Hilary , Gardiner William , Wenning Richard J. , Rempel-Hester Mary Ann
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT #2017-351

When there is risk for oil release into the marine environment, the priority for planners and responders is to protect human health and to minimize environmental impacts. The selection of appropriate response option(s) depends upon a wide range of information including data on the fate and behavior of oil and treated oil, the habitats and organisms that are potentially exposed, and the potential for effects and recovery following exposure. Spill Impact Management Assessment (SIMA; a refinement of Net Environmental Benefits Analysis, or NEBA, in the context of oil spill response) and similar comparative risk assessment (CRA) approaches provide responders a systematic method to compare and contrast the relative environmental benefits and consequences of different response alternatives. Government and industry stakeholders have used this approach increasingly in temperate and subtropical regions to establish environmental protection priorities and identify response strategies during planning that minimize impacts and maximize the potential for environmental recovery. Historically, the ability to conduct CRA-type assessments in the Arctic has been limited by insufficient information relevant to oil-spill response decision making. However, with an increased interest in shipping and oil and gas development in the Arctic, a sufficiently robust scientific and ecological information base is emerging in the Arctic that can support meaningful SIMA. Based on a summary of over 3,000 literature references on Arctic ecosystems and the fate and effects of oil and treated oil in the Arctic, we identify key input parameters supporting a SIMA evaluation of oil spill response in the Arctic and introduce a web portal developed to facilitate access to the literature and key considerations supporting SIMA.
Putting SIMA into Action for Spill Response Planning in the US
Authors: Coelho Gina M. , Staves James C. , Fritz David E.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-413

The term Spill Impact Mitigation Assessment (SIMA) is used to describe the risk-based decisions that are made when considering response options during oil spills, and is offered here as a replacement for the historically used term Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA). Despite many papers, fact sheets, and presentations on the topic, the term still means different things to different people. Most agree that the concept of SIMA is an important one, but trying to put SIMA into action for contingency planning – or a response - may mean something very different to a regulator or stakeholder than it means to a responsible party or an oil spill removal organization. In Summer 2015, the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues (known as IPIECA), released a NEBA “Good Practice Guide” (GPG) that incorporates NEBA into the response strategy selection process primarily during the contingency planning stage. This paper applies those concepts within the United States (US) regulatory framework, highlights how SIMA can be applied not only to contingency planning, but to response actions and drills, and provides case studies on the use of SIMA in the US.
Revised PREP Guideline Review: What You Should Know?
Authors: Sobieski Daniel M. , Kelley Kathryn L.
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT No. 2017 – 296

On April 11, 2016 the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) released the 2016 National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines. The new guidelines became effective on June 10, 2016 and replaced the previous guidelines issued in 2002.

Established under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the PREP guidelines were developed to provide a mechanism for compliance with response plan drill and exercise requirements under the Act and implementing regulations. Use of the PREP Guidelines is voluntary, however, compliance with the PREP guidelines will satisfy these requirements.

The 2016 PREP Guidelines apply to all OPA 90 response plan holders including USCG regulated vessels and marine transportation-related facilities, EPA non-transportation-related onshore and offshore facilities, PHMSA-regulated facilities and pipelines, BSEE-regulated offshore facilities and area on-scene coordinator (OSC) exercises. The guidelines specify that, within a three-year cycle, all elements of the Facility Response Plan (FRP) or Vessel Response Plan (VRP), including the 15 core components, should be exercised in a drill, or series of drills, involving the Owner/Operator, Qualified Individual (QI), Oil Spill Removal Organizations (OSRO) and Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF) resource providers.

This paper will provide an overview of the PREP requirements, including plan holder initiated exercises, the remote assessment and consultation exercises (RACE) for vessels, shore-based tabletop exercises, response equipment deployment exercises, and Government Initiated Unannounced Exercises (GUIEs). As the QI, O’Brien’s has designed, conducted, played, and or evaluated well over 1,000 PREP related activities. This paper will discuss the implementation of PREP from the QI’s perspective, and the identification of some lessons learned and best practices that may be applicable more broadly to support the regulated industry and response community with the implementation of PREP.
Detection of oil in and under ice
Authors: Pegau W. Scott , Garron Jessica , Zabilansky Leonard , Bassett Christopher , Bello Job , Bradford John , Carns Regina , Courville Zoe , Eicken Hajo , Elder Bruce , Eriksen Peter , Lavery Andone , Light Bonnie , Maksym Ted , Marshall Hans-Peter , Oggier Marc , Perovich Don , Pacwiardowski Pawel , Singh Hanumant , Tang Dajun , Wiggins Chris , Wilkinson Jeremy
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT (2017-147)

In 2014, researchers from ten organizations came to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL) in New Hampshire to conduct a first of its kind large-scale experiment aimed at determining current sensor capabilities for detecting oil in and under sea ice. This project was the second phase of the Oil Spill Detection in Low Visibility and Ice research project of the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), Arctic Oil Spill Response Technology - Joint Industry Programme.

The objectives of the project were to:Acquire acoustic, thermal, optical and radar signatures of oil on, within, and underneath a level sheet of laboratory sea ice.Determine the capabilities of various sensors to detect oil in specific ice environments created in a test tank, including freeze-up, growth and melt.Model the potential performance of the sensors under realistic field conditions using the test data for validation.Recommend the most effective sensor suite of existing sensors for detecting oil in the ice environment.

The sensor testing spanned a two-month ice growth phase and a one-month decay/melt period. The growth phase produced an 80 centimeter thick level sheet of salt water ice representative of natural sea ice grown under quiescent conditions.

Above-ice sensors included frequency modulated continuous wave radar, ground penetrating radar, laser fluorescence polarization sensor, spectral radiometer, visible and infrared cameras. Below-ice sensors included acoustics (broadband, narrowband, and multibeam sonars), spectral radiometers, cameras, and fluorescence polarization. Measurements of physical and electrical properties of the ice and oil within the ice were provided to optical, acoustic, and radar modelers as inputs into their models. The models were then used to extrapolate the sensors’ laboratory performance to potential performance over a range of field conditions.

All selected sensors detected oil under some conditions. The radar systems were the only above-ice sensors capable of detecting oil below or trapped within the ice. Cameras below the ice detected oil at all stages of ice growth, and the acoustic and fluorescence systems detected encapsulated oil through limited amounts of new ice growth beneath the oil.

No single sensor detected oil in and below ice under all conditions tested. However, we used the test results to identify suites of sensors that could be deployed today both above and below the ice to detect and map an oil spill within ice covered waters.
What really is meant by a ‘Substantial Threat’ of Pollution? - an examination of the term’s meaning in the United States and elsewhere
Authors: Gonynor Frank J. , Lindholm Erika
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-392

The term ‘substantial threat’ appears in the statutory text of the US Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), and has played a key role as an important triggering mechanism for the operation of the Act in many prospective spill events. Yet this important term is not defined at all in the Act itself.

This paper examines the meaning of this term, looking at other sources of possible definition, including plain language/dictionary meaning, court cases, the decisions of the US National Pollution Funds Center, and other materials.

One way to define ‘substantial threat’ of pollution would be a situation where the risk of a spill is greater than the normal risk posed by a particular vessel in a particular place – but this paper will examine if that possible definition fits with the actual practice and experience of the term. In order to attempt to address that question, we will examine how the US Coast Guard has used this concept in cases in recent years.

The statutory concept of ‘threat’ is also used outside of the US, and the second full section of this paper continues with a discussion of how this concept exists in other countries as to their approach to possible spill events, and how that may differ from the US approach.

The conclusion from the examination of US and non-US terms is that the current ‘ad hoc’ use of the term, without a rigid meaning, is the best approach.
Meso-scale studies on the penetration and retention of diluted bitumen in different types of shorelines, Northern British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Laforest Sonia , Lambert Patrick , Harper John , Sergy Gary
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT 2017-210

Compared to conventional oil, diluted bitumen (dilbit) spills in the environment could be challenging due to the rapid increase in density, viscosity and adhesion properties associated with accelerated weathering. To enhance the response in case of an accidental dilbit spill in the marine environment, a Research & Development program has been developed by the Emergencies Science and Technology Section (ESTS) of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) as a part of the Federal Government’s Enhancing Marine Safety Strategy. One of the goals of this project was to develop science-based decision support for a dilbit spill to the shorelines of northern British Columbia (BC). In response to this objective, the contractor Coastal and Ocean Resources Inc. has conducted a meso-scale Diluted Bitumen Sediment Interactions Experiments (Bit_EX) to evaluate the potential of penetration and retention of dilbit in different types of sediments. In total, two dilbits, Access Western Blend (AWB) and Cold Lake Blend (CLB) at three weathered states (0%, 17% and 26% mass loss), were tested against seven types of sediments (from coarse sand to very large pebble). The adhesion of dilbit on bare cobbles and on cobbles covered with barnacles and seaweed (fucus) was also tested for different time of exposure.

Results showed that unweathered (or fresh) dilbit has its maximum penetration and retention in coarse sand or granule whereas moderately weathered dilbit has maximum penetration and retention in small pebbles or larger sediment sizes. Heavily weathered dilbits have very limited penetration in finer sediments but are expected to penetrate and have high retention in permeable coarse sediments. Moreover, we have observed that dilbit adherence could be enhanced with longer drying time. In northern BC, the bedrock platforms with thin overlays of various types of sediment, from sand to boulders, are common and presents a complex case for treatment. Because dilbit characteristics change rapidly, early SCAT survey data combined with rapid decision and operational response in the initial stages of the spill could reduce dilbit retention and adhesion. The Bit_EX also suggests that existing techniques for protection and cleanup of conventional oil on shorelines could be applicable or can be adjusted for dilbit spills. This experiment provides information suitable to a first response guide for protecting and cleaning shorelines in case of bitumen spills in northern BC.
Promoting Unity of Effort Regarding the Use of Science to Inform Decision-making during Crises
Authors: Brown Pete , DeMarco Greg , Keldsen Don , Mainzer Hugh , Resta John , Turner Ryan , Marcus Leonard
Published: December 2017

Following a disaster, decisions are often made under conditions that are volatile and uncertain. Decision-makers have sometimes taken actions during responses that may not adequately reflect scientific or technical input. This may result in longer term harm to people and the environment. This paper will describe the work of a diverse project team that attended Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Program, which promotes the concept of using meta-leadership principles to improve response to crises. For its meta-leadership project, the team investigated the role of science in informing decision-making through the lens of the DWH response and other natural and man-made disasters. In simple terms, the team recommends a wide, “meta” view to better assess problems, applying a better informed scientific basis for decision making during times of crisis. Furthermore, the team believes that solutions derived from such a “meta” view would better track to the situation at hand. The conclusion was that leaders assuming this perspective are better equipped to do just that.

The goal of the project was to utilize meta-leadership principles to:Identify means to better acquire, incorporate and apply scientific input including relative risks and rewards into crisis decision-making.Ensure that decision making protocols regarding response tactics, techniques and procedures include sound science that will lead to outcomes that minimize overall harm to human health and the environment in both the short and longer term.Effectively lead up, down, across and beyond by creating suggestions on how to appropriately create connectivity and communicate the basis for science-based decisions to key stakeholders, partners, and constituencies - including the public.
Incident Management Preparedness Advisors - from Concept to Reality and Beyond
Authors: Lloyd CAPT Anthony , Ormes David
Published: December 2017

Coast Guard Incident Management Preparedness Advisors, or IMPA’s, have existed now for nearly five years. Have they lived up to their original billing or have they missed the mark? Was the original concept for IMPAs properly implemented? Today’s complex response and planning environment and governance structure provides ample justification for IMPAs and their work but challenges in implementation continue. The authors will review the original concept and discuss how IMPA implementation is understood both within the Coast Guard, and the interagency amongst partners and the private sector. Actual IMPA experiences and observations will be reviewed to identify gaps and suggest ways to leverage this important resource. Other preparedness advisor efforts will be compared to the current CG effort to suggest, or confirm, best practices.

The National Contingency Plan envisions a robust preparedness program which is detailed in the Preparedness for Response (PREP) guidelines. The focus on preparedness, however, often is overshadowed by day-to-day concerns and all too often slides down the list of priorities without an “active” and forward leaning approach. IMPAs are conceptually intended to take this “active” approach in hopes of stabilizing preparedness initiatives, across all hazards, for the Coast Guard. IMPAs have had success nationally for the CG and continue to steward deeper improvements in preparedness, certainly as it relates to the NCP. They must also focus on the National Response Framework (NRF) which encompasses the NCP structure within Emergency Support Function 10 and utilizes many of the same concepts to support preparing for the use of response management systems. The IMPA’s must interact with FEMA via the Regional Incident Steering Committee (RISC) and have an understanding of the impacts of the recently National Frameworks. The authors’ recommendations will highlight strengths to the IMPA concept and suggest ways to positively lever IMPA support within a particular region. Additionally, a recommended list of IMPA common responsibilities will be proposed to further standardize IMPA efforts nationally.
Assessing the Representativeness and Sufficiency of Chemical Data from Water Samples Collected During an Oil Spill
Authors: Morrison Ann Michelle , Edwards Melanie , Buonagurio John , Cook Linda , Murray Karen , Boehm Paul D.
Published: December 2017

Traditionally, the representativeness and sufficiency of data in environmental monitoring efforts are judged against an external standard, such as a pre-determined statistically-based survey design intended to achieve specified data quality objectives. However, given the nature of oil spill responses, where the primary focus is usually on finding the oil and documenting exposure related to the release, samples collected from oil spill studies rarely follow a statistically-based, pre-determined sampling design. Using water chemistry data from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, we have developed statistical, observational, and forensic approaches to evaluate the representativeness and sufficiency of field-collected chemistry data to characterize exposure in the water column. Three complementary approaches were selected for evaluating water chemistry data. The first “Zone” approach evaluates properties of the data within defined spatial-temporal exposure zones. The second “Probability” approach examines the data independent of predetermined zones using three dimensional (3D; i.e., latitude, longitude, depth) modeling methods (interpolation, contouring) to assess whether the field-collected water chemistry data alone provide sufficient information to model chemical exposure in the water column. The final “Design” approach compares the field-collected sample data to a theoretical sampling design that could have been developed at the beginning of the incident. Integral to all of these approaches is a pre-analysis screening that considers the original objective of each sample collection and the method of sample collection. Review of the chemical forensics of samples can provide further refinement. In this way, samples that were collected as part of a targeted effort based on visual or sensor observations can be considered in light of the context in which they were collected. The results of this analysis can be used to inform future oil spill sample collections to provide sufficient and representative samples that meet the immediate needs of the response as well as longer-term damage assessment determinations.
The Use and Misuse of SCAT in Spill Response
Authors: Cariglia Nicky , Challenger Greg , Beer Nicola
Published: December 2017

The Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Technique (SCAT) is a well-tested tool that enables the systematic surveying of shorelines affected by oil spills. Using standardised terminology to document the nature and degree of shoreline oiling, SCAT was designed to support decision-making for shoreline clean-up operations. Formally integrated into the US response structure, this method is increasingly being adopted as a standard response procedure around the world.

Over the years, SCAT has evolved to meet changing expectations of shoreline response into a tool that can formally guide and document decisions from the initial emergency phase of a response through to the termination of activities – which in large, complex cases could be many months or even years after the incident. The framework of developing a shoreline response programme at the beginning of an incident, implemented by SCAT teams providing shoreline treatment recommendations in support of operations throughout the duration of shoreline response was used extensively in DEEPWATER HORIZON.

A properly designed SCAT programme able to gather the necessary relevant shoreline oiling data quickly and accurately for use in addressing immediate response needs can greatly reduce delays in action and the footprint of the response itself. SCAT’s core principle of guiding operations can be overlooked in instances with inexperienced personnel or inappropriate competing objectives, resulting inconsiderable effort expended on SCAT surveys with no clear purpose or objective of how the data will be used to support response operations.

In this paper we review the use and misuse of SCAT in several recent small-scale incidents and discuss the implications for the wider implementation of SCAT moving forward.
One Gulf – Commitment to Preparedness
Authors: Drieu Michael , Sams Michael , Wilson Kelly
Published: December 2017

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District and the Mexican Navy (SEMAR Zone 1) in a multi-year Mexico-United States (MEXUS) exercise series. The MEXUS Plan is a Joint Contingency Plan between the United Mexican States and the United States of America Regarding Pollution of the Marine Environment by Discharges of Hydrocarbons or other Hazardous Substances. It provides standard operational procedures with respect to bi-national coordination in case of pollution incidents that may represent a threat to coastal waters or the marine environment of the border zone of both countries. The MEXUS Agreement and Plan were developed after the Ixtoc I well blowout in June 1979. This international agreement entered into force on 30 March 1981.

Under the MEXUS Plan there are two regional annexes: Gulf (MEXUSGULF) and Pacific (MEXUSPAC). Each Annex incorporates regional resource and high-level strategic information to assist each country in communication and coordination during an incident that impacts both countries’ jurisdiction. The regional annexes are not tactical; tactical planning remains at the local level (Area Contingency Plans in the U.S.; Local Contingency Plans in Mexico), led by the respective Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC). For the U.S., the U.S. Coast Guard is the lead agency serving as the Federal On-Scene Coordinator; the Mexican Navy serves as the lead agency in Mexico.

The U.S. Coast Guard has been working with the Mexican Navy (SEMAR) to update the MEXUS Plan, with a near final draft as of March 2017. The proposed changes incorporate several organizational changes that have occurred over the years while reiterating the core purpose as a communication and coordination plan.

With the impending development of offshore leases in Mexico, coupled with efforts to update the MEXUS Plan, a tabletop exercise was conducted in 2016. This tabletop exercise allowed senior officials from federal and state agencies and industry representatives to openly discuss emerging scenarios and high-level strategies to identify gaps and shortfalls in existing plans, policies and procedures. To achieve this concept, both countries shared procedures and processes to allow for resources to operate in each respective country to minimize impact to natural resources and sensitive shoreline areas. In 2017, the lessons learned were incorporated in a multi-day exercise to demonstrate how industry, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies would manage a hypothetical offshore subsea well incident originating from the U.S. with resulting impacts in Mexican waters.

This paper discusses the planning process and shares the lessons learned from both exercises in an effort to promote continued preparedness and improved response coordination. With the help of Mexican Association of Hydrocarbon Companies (AMEXHI), Mexico’s newly-formed national oil and gas industry association, these lessons learned will further help promote implementing Mexico’s new subsea containment and offshore response requirements.
In a Hostile Environment? Skills Needed for Success
Authors: Shupe LCDR Danielle M. , Plourde Kristy L. , Creelman Matthew , Ott Gary
Published: December 2017

The response landscape is changing as a result of social, political and technological influences. The Incident Commander’s work environment, driven by today’s 24/7 media and social media coverage, can become hostile. The frequency of incidents that raise public concern has increased. It is no longer sufficient for responders to manage the response. They must also ensure stakeholders are invested in the response process, but there is a gap between stakeholder’s wants and what responders can realistically deliver. What are the appropriate skills and training needed by Incident Commanders to address this gap? What are the skills responders need when some individuals or organizations fan public fear, anger, and frustration to advance their own causes? What are the skills responders need to build public trust in the response organization and Government? The Coast Guard is committed to meeting the training needs of responders and preparing them to meet the demands of today’s challenging, and potentially hostile, response environment. The authors identify skills for Incident Commanders to improve their crisis leadership, community engagement, and to increase the effectiveness and resiliency of their Incident Management Teams.
Structural basis for Ufm1 recognition by UfSP
Authors: Kim Kyung Hee , Ha Byung Hak , Kim Eunice EunKyeong
Published: December 2017

Ubiquitin and ubiquitin‐like proteins (Ubls) are involved in a variety of cellular functions, and dysfunction of these proteins often leads to disease, thus requiring the precise molecular recognition of the partner. Here, we report a structural basis for the recognition of Ufm1 by the Ufm1‐specific protease (UfSP), both from Caenorhabditis elegans. Ufm1 functions in endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, cell cycle regulation, and dysfunctions of this protein can result in breast cancer and neurological disorders. The structure reveals that in addition to the extended β‐structure at the C‐terminus of cUfm1, the interactions made by the completely conserved residues in Ufm1 orthologs, Pro88‐Val92, corresponding to P6‐P2 positions from the cleavage site, seem to be important for the specific recognition of Ufm1 by cUfSP.
Magma Plumbing System at a Young Back‐Arc Spreading Center: The Marsili Volcano, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea
Authors: Trua T. , Marani M. P. , Gamberi F.
Published: December 2017

Although spreading rate is commonly taken as a proxy for decompression mantle melting at mid‐ocean ridges (MORs), magmatism at back‐arc spreading centers (BASCs) is further influenced by the subduction‐related flux melting of the mantle. These regions consequently show a diversity of crustal structures, lava compositions, and morphologies not typically found in MORs. Here we investigate the crustal plumbing system of the small‐scale, Marsili back‐arc spreading center of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea using plagioclase data from a wide spectrum of lavas (basalts to andesites) dredged from its summit and flanks. We employ petrological modeling to identify the plagioclase populations carried in the individual lavas, allocate them to plausible magmatic components present within the plumbing system, and trace the processes occurring during magma ascent to the surface. The properties of the system, such as mush porosity and abundance of the melt bodies, vary from one magma extraction zone to another along the BASC, evidencing the local variability of melt supply conditions. The plagioclase crystals document a range of relationships with the host lavas, indicating magma extraction from a composite, vertically extensive mush and melt‐lens system resembling that of MORs. At the same time, however, in small BASCs, such as in the case of the Marsili Basin, crustal accretion and resulting morphology are significantly influenced by the three‐dimensional setting of the basin margins. This is an important deviation from the conventional model based on the linear continuity and essentially two‐dimensional framework of MORs.
Seasonal and ENSO Influences on the Stable Isotopic Composition of Galápagos Precipitation
Authors: Martin N. J. , Conroy J. L. , Noone D. , Cobb K. M. , Konecky B. L. , Rea S.
Published: December 2017

The origin of stable isotopic variability in precipitation over time and space is critical to the interpretation of stable isotope‐based paleoclimate proxies. In the eastern equatorial Pacific, modern stable isotope measurements in precipitation (δ18Op and δDp) are sparse and largely unevaluated in the literature, although insights from such analyses would benefit the interpretations of several regional isotope‐based paleoclimate records. Here we present a new 3.5 year record of daily‐resolved δ18Op and δDp from Santa Cruz, Galápagos. With a prior 13 year record of monthly δ18Op and δDp from the island, these new data reveal controls on the stable isotopic composition of regional precipitation on event to interannual time scales. Overall, we find Galápagos δ18Op is significantly correlated with precipitation amount on daily and monthly time scales. The majority of Galápagos rain events are drizzle, or garúa, derived from local marine boundary layer vapor, with corresponding high δ18Op values due to the local source and increased evaporation and equilibration of smaller drops with boundary layer vapor. On monthly time scales, only precipitation in very strong, warm season El Niño months has substantially lower δ18Op values, as the sea surface temperature threshold for deep convection (28°C) is only surpassed at these times. The 2015/2016 El Niño event did not produce strong precipitation or δ18Op anomalies due to the short period of warm SST anomalies, which did not extend into the peak of the warm season. Eastern Pacific proxy isotope records may be biased toward periods of high rainfall during strong to very strong El Niño events.
MJO‐Related Intraseasonal Variation in the Stratosphere: Gravity Waves and Zonal Winds
Authors: Alexander M. J. , Grimsdell A. W. , Stephan C. C. , Hoffmann L.
Published: December 2017

Previous work has shown eastward migrating regions of enhanced temperature variance due to long‐vertical wavelength stratospheric gravity waves that are in sync with intraseasonal precipitation and tropopause wind anomalies associated with the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). Here the origin of these intraseasonal gravity wave variations is investigated with a set of idealized gravity wave‐resolving model experiments. The experiments specifically test whether tropopause winds act to control gravity wave propagation into the stratosphere by a critical level filtering mechanism or play a role in gravity wave generation through an obstacle source effect. All experiments use identical convective latent heating variability, but the large‐scale horizontal wind profile is varied to investigate relationships between stratospheric gravity waves and zonal winds at different levels. Results show that the observed long vertical wavelength gravity waves are primarily sensitive to stratospheric zonal wind variations, while tropopause wind variations have only a very small effect. Thus, neither the critical level filter mechanism nor the obstacle source play much of a role in the observed intraseasonal gravity wave variations. Instead, the results suggest that the stratospheric waves follow the MJO precipitation sources, and tropopause wind anomalies follow the same sources. We further find evidence of intraseasonal wave drag effects on the stratospheric circulation in reanalyzed winds. The results suggest that waves drive intraseasonal stratospheric zonal wind anomalies that descend in altitude with increasing MJO phases 3 through 7. Eastward anomalies descend farther than westward, suggesting that MJO‐related stratospheric waves cause larger eastward drag forces.
New Observations and Modeling of Jupiter's Quasi‐Quadrennial Oscillation
Authors: Cosentino Richard G. , Morales‐Juberías Raúl , Greathouse Thomas , Orton Glenn , Johnson Perianne , Fletcher Leigh N. , Simon Amy
Published: December 2017

The quasi‐quadrennial oscillation (QQO) and its ∼4 year period in Jupiter's atmosphere were first discovered in 7.8 μm infrared observations spanning the 1980s and 1990s from detecting semiregular variations in equatorial brightness temperatures near 10 hPa. New observations that probe between 0.1 and 30 hPa in Jupiter's atmosphere using the Texas Echelon Cross Echelle Spectrograph (TEXES), mounted on the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, have characterized the vertical structure of the QQO during a complete cycle between January 2012 and April 2016. These new observations show the thermal oscillation previously detected at 10 hPa and that it extends over a pressure range of 2–17 hPa. We have incorporated a spectrum of wave drag parameterizations into the Explicit Planetary Isentropic Code general circulation model to simulate the observed Jovian QQO temperature signatures inferred from the TEXES observations as a function of latitude. A new stochastic wave drag parameterization explores vertical wind structure and offers insight into the spectra of waves that likely exist in Jupiter's atmosphere to force the QQO. High‐frequency gravity waves produced from convection likely contribute significantly to the QQO momentum budget. The model temperature outputs show strong correlations to equatorial and surrounding latitude temperature fields retrieved from the TEXES data sets at different epochs. Our results reproduce the QQO phenomenon as a zonal jet that descends over time in response to Jovian atmospheric forcing (e.g., gravity waves from convection).
McSnow: A Monte‐Carlo Particle Model for Riming and Aggregation of Ice Particles in a Multidimensional Microphysical Phase Space
Authors: Brdar S. , Seifert A.
Published: December 2017

We present a novel Monte‐Carlo ice microphysics model, McSnow, to simulate the evolution of ice particles due to deposition, aggregation, riming, and sedimentation. The model is an application and extension of the super‐droplet method of Shima et al. (2009) to the more complex problem of rimed ice particles and aggregates. For each individual super‐particle, the ice mass, rime mass, rime volume, and the number of monomers are predicted establishing a four‐dimensional particle‐size distribution. The sensitivity of the model to various assumptions is discussed based on box model and one‐dimensional simulations. We show that the Monte‐Carlo method provides a feasible approach to tackle this high‐dimensional problem. The largest uncertainty seems to be related to the treatment of the riming processes. This calls for additional field and laboratory measurements of partially rimed snowflakes.
Comparison of Sampling and Detection Methods for Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Naturally Infected with Myxobolus cerebralis
Authors: Chiaramonte Luciano V. , Burbank David , Scott Roberta , Trushenski Jesse T.
Published: December 2017

Myxobolus cerebralis (Mc) is a myxozoan parasite causing whirling disease in hatchery- and natural-origin salmonids. To minimize spread of this parasite and the incidence of its associated disease, fish health professionals routinely screen fish for Mc before stocking or moving the fish to Mc-free waters. Sample collection for Mc traditionally entails lethal sampling of cranial tissue followed by pepsin–trypsin digest (PTD) and screening of the sample for mature myxobolid myxospores (PTD method); however, nonlethal sampling methods would be advantageous in some circumstances, such as when dealing with rare or otherwise valuable fish. Accordingly, we compared Mc detections in cranial cartilage by using the PTD method with PCR assays of fin biopsies collected from juvenile Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and adult steelhead O. mykiss. Cranial samples were also analyzed using PCR methods for comparative purposes. Results indicated that Mc could be detected by PCR in fin clips, but the results generated by this approach differed significantly from those associated with PTD- and/or PCR-based analysis of cranial cartilage samples. Polymerase chain reaction-based analysis—of individual head samples and head digest pools in both species as well as fins in steelhead—yielded more positive detections than PTD analysis alone. The PCR-based analysis of head and fin tissues yielded different Mc detection rates in both species, but the nature of the detection disparity varied depending on the species and/or life stage of the fish. We conclude that for lethal cranial samples, neither PTD nor PCR should be used alone, but using these techniques in concert may provide the most complete and accurate estimation of Mc presence in a group of salmonids. If imperiled or highly valuable fish are in question, nonlethal fin samples may be used to generate some information regarding Mc status, with the understanding that parasite DNA detections do not necessarily signify mature infections or disease.
“Like No One Is Listening to Me”: A Qualitative Study of Patient–Provider Discordance Between Global Assessments of Disease Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Kvrgic Zoran , Asiedu Gladys B. , Crowson Cynthia S. , Ridgeway Jennifer L. , Davis John M.
Published: December 2017

Objective

To explore the perspectives and experiences of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) whose assessments of their disease differ from those of their rheumatology care provider.

Methods

A total of 20 adult RA patients with patient‐provider discordance at their most recent rheumatology appointment (within 4 weeks) were recruited. Discordance was defined by an absolute difference of 25 or more between patient and provider global assessments on a visual analog scale (VAS) of disease activity. For descriptive purposes, participants completed the Health Assessment Questionnaire II, pain VAS, and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 depression scale. Interviews were conducted in person and individually with each patient with a semistructured interview guide. Topics ranged widely, including participants’ perspectives and experiences with living with RA, clinical disease assessments, patient‐provider communication, and psychosocial or other needs. Data from the interviews were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Results

Six major themes emerged from the patient interviews describing patient‐provider discordance and disease assessment: being misunderstood by others, limitations of provider assessments, discrepancy with provider findings, inadequate active listening on the part of health care providers, unmet psychosocial needs, and lack of patient empowerment.

Conclusion

Patients described discordance in terms of symptom assessment and understanding how RA affects everyday life. Typical clinical assessments did not capture their experience. The resulting conceptual framework should inform future interventional studies seeking to enhance concordance of patient‐physician communication and to optimize satisfaction with care and health‐related quality‐of‐life outcomes for patients with RA.
MOF‐Derived Bifunctional Cu3P Nanoparticles Coated by a N,P‐Codoped Carbon Shell for Hydrogen Evolution and Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Wang Rui , Dong Xi‐Yan , Du Jiao , Zhao Jin‐Yan , Zang Shuang‐Quan
Published: December 2017

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as a type of uniformly and periodically atom‐distributed precursor and efficient self‐sacrificial template to fabricate hierarchical porous‐carbon‐related nanostructured functional materials. For the first time, a Cu‐based MOF, i.e., Cu‐NPMOF is used, whose linkers contain nitrogen and phosphorus heteroatoms, as a single precursor and template to prepare novel Cu3P nanoparticles (NPs) coated by a N,P‐codoped carbon shell that is extended to a hierarchical porous carbon matrix with identical uniform N and P doping (termed Cu3P@NPPC) as an electrocatalyst. Cu3P@NPPC demonstrates outstanding activity for both the hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduction reaction, representing the first example of a Cu3P‐based bifunctional catalyst for energy‐conversion reactions. The high performances are ascribed to the high specific surface area, the synergistic effects of the Cu3P NPs with intrinsic activity, the protection of the carbon shell, and the hierarchical porous carbon matrix doped by multiheteroatoms. This strategy of using a diverse MOF as a structural and compositional material to create a new multifunctional composite/hybrid may expand the opportunities to explore highly efficient and robust non‐noble‐metal catalysts for energy‐conversion reactions.