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The methodology of analysing the biomass burning events recorded in the database of the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network in the framework of the Aerosol, Clouds and Trace Gases Research Infrastructure is presented. The period of 2008–2017 was chosen to analyse all of the events stored in the database under the Forest Fire category for a total of 14 stations available. The data provided ranged from complete datasets (particle backscatter, extinction and linear depolarization ratio profiles) to single profiles (particle backscatter coefficient profile). Smoke layers geometry was evaluated and the mean optical properties within each layer were computed. The back-trajectory technique was used to double-check the source of all pollution layers. The biomass burning layers were identified by taking into account the presence of the fires along the back trajectory. The biomass burning events are analysed by the means of the intensive parameters. The analysis was structured in three directions: (I) common biomass burning source (fire) recorded by at least two stations, (II) long-range transport from North America, and (III) analysis over four geographical regions (south-eastern Europe, north-eastern Europe, central Europe, and south-western Europe). Based on back-trajectory calculations and fire locations, the lidar measurements can be labelled either as measurements of a “single fire” or “mixed fires” (case I), measurements of North American fires, or measurements of mixed North American and local fires (case II). The histogram of the fire locations reveals the smoke sources for each region. For each region, statistics on intensive parameters are performed. The source origin of the intensive parameters is categorized based on the continental origin of the air mass (European, African, Asian, North American, or a combination of them). The methodology presented here is meant to provide a perspective to explore a large number of lidar data and deliver novel approaches to analyse the intensive parameters based on the assigned biomass burning sources. A thorough consideration of all potential fire sources reveals that most of the time the lidar measurements characterize the smoke from a mixture of fires. A comprehensive discussion of all the results (based on the intensive parameters and the source locations) will be given in a companion paper submitted to the ACP EARLINET special issue.

A 46-year-old female with a history of 5 months of progressive painless visual loss in the left eye was found to have an optic nerve sheath meningioma. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed a reduction in the superficial capillary plexus density consistent with her visual field defect and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thinning. Moreover, abnormalities in the choriocapillaris were found in the affected eye compared to the fellow eye. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed. Further studies and a consistent number of cases are needed to correctly assess the impairment of ocular blood flow in optic nerve sheath meningioma.

According to conventional wisdom private law should be excluded from redistributive policies. Redistribution of resources should be carried out by tax law and public spending. In this paper, I argue that private law can contribute to redistributive goals in a significant way. Against the usual objections, I try to show that some of its rules, especially those relating to tort law and contracts, are not particularly ineffective or inefficient as compared to public law alternatives. This being the case, the rejection of private law as proper means for the implementation of redistributive policies is unwarranted De acuerdo con una visión ampliamente aceptada, el derecho privado debe quedar al margen de la redistribución de recursos. Esta tarea debe dejarse al derecho tributario y al gasto público. En este artículo argumento que el derecho privado puede contribuir en esta tarea de modo significativo. Contra las objeciones usuales, intentaré mostrar que algunas de sus normas, en especial las relativas a la responsabilidad civil y los contratos, no son particularmente ineficaces o ineficientes en comparación con las alternativas propias del derecho público. Siendo esto así, el rechazo del derecho privado como un medio idóneo para la implementación de políticas redistributivas carece de fundamento Con apoyo del proyecto "Los errores en la producción y en la aplicación del derecho" (PID2020-114765GB-I00), financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)

Vertical profiling of aerosol particles was performed during the PANhellenic infrastructure for Atmospheric Composition and climatE chAnge (PANACEA) winter campaign (10 January 2020–7 February 2020) over the city of Ioannina, Greece (39.65° N, 20.85° E, 500 m a.s.l.). The middle-sized city of Ioannina suffers from wintertime air pollution episodes due to biomass burning (BB) domestic heating activities. The lidar technique was applied during the PANACEA winter campaign on Ioannina city, to fill the gap of knowledge of the spatio-temporal evolution of the vertical mixing of the particles occurring during these winter-time air pollution episodes. During this campaign the mobile single-wavelength (532 nm) depolarization Aerosol lIdAr System (AIAS) was used to measure the spatio-temporal evolution of the aerosols’ vertical profiles within the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and the lower free troposphere (LFT; up to 4 km height a.s.l.). AIAS performed almost continuous lidar measurements from morning to late evening hours (typically from 07:00 to 19:00 UTC), under cloud-free conditions, to provide the vertical profiles of the aerosol backscatter coefficient (baer) and the particle linear depolarization ratio (PLDR), both at 532 nm. In this study we emphasized on the vertical profiling of very fresh (~hours) biomass burning (BB) particles originating from local domestic heating activities in the area. In total, 33 out of 34 aerosol layers in the lower free troposphere were characterized as fresh biomass burning ones of local origin, showing a mean particle linear depolarization value of 0.04 ± 0.02 with a range of 0.01 to 0.09 (532 nm) in a height region 1.21–2.23 km a.s.l. To corroborate our findings, we used in situ data, particulate matter (PM) concentrations (PM2.5) from a particulate sensor located close to our station, and the total black carbon (BC) concentrations along with the respective contribution of the fossil fuel (BCff) and biomass/wood burning (BCwb) from the Aethalometer. The PM2.5 mass concentrations ranged from 5.6 to 175.7 μg/m3, while the wood burning emissions from residential heating were increasing during the evening hours, with decreasing temperatures. The BCwb concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 17.5 μg/m3, with an extremely high mean contribution of BCwb equal to 85.4%, which in some cases during night-time reached up to 100% during the studied period.

De acuerdo con una visión ampliamente aceptada, el derecho privado debe quedar al margen de la redistribución de recursos. Esta tarea debe dejarse al derecho tributario y al gasto público. En este artículo argumento que el derecho privado puede contribuir en esta tarea de modo significativo. Contra las objeciones usuales, intentaré mostrar que algunas de sus normas, en especial las relativas a la responsabilidad civil y los contratos, no son particularmente ineficaces o ineficientes en comparación con las alternativas propias del derecho público. Siendo esto así, el rechazo del derecho privado como un medio idóneo para la implementación de políticas redistributivas carece de fundamento. According to conventional wisdom private law should be excluded from redistributive policies. Redistribution of resources should be carried out by tax law and public spending. In this paper, I argue that private law can contribute to redistributive goals in a significant way. Against the usual objections, I try to show that some of its rules, especially those relating to tort law and contracts, are not particularly ineffective or inefficient as compared to public law alternatives. This being the case, the rejection of private law as proper means for the implementation of redistributive policies is unwarranted. Con apoyo del proyecto «Los errores en la producción y en la aplicación del derecho» (PID2020-114765GB-I00), financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España).

In this essay, I analyze the functions most frequently attributed to tort law. I claim that implementing interpersonal justice is its only distinctive function. The rest of the functions can be satisfied by other institutions with equal or greater success than tort law. Finally, I try to show that some functions, without being distinctive, are necessary, in the sense that once a system of tort law is in place, they are unfailingly fulfilled En este trabajo, analizo las funciones más frecuentemente atribuidas a la responsabilidad civil. Sostendré que la única función distintiva es la implementación de la justicia interpersonal. El resto de las funciones pueden ser satisfechas por otras instituciones con igual o mayor éxito que la responsabilidad civil. Finalmente, intento mostrar que algunas funciones, sin ser distintivas, son necesarias, en tanto una vez se pone en marcha un sistema de responsabilidad, estas se cumplen indefectiblemente

Six months of stratospheric aerosol observations with the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) from August 2017 to January 2018 are presented. The decay phase of an unprecedented, record-breaking stratospheric perturbation caused by wildfire smoke is reported and discussed in terms of geometrical, optical, and microphysical aerosol properties. Enormous amounts of smoke were injected into the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere over fire areas in western Canada on 12 August 2017 during strong thunderstorm–pyrocumulonimbus activity. The stratospheric fire plumes spread over the entire Northern Hemisphere in the following weeks and months. Twenty-eight European lidar stations from northern Norway to southern Portugal and the eastern Mediterranean monitored the strong stratospheric perturbation on a continental scale. The main smoke layer (over central, western, southern, and eastern Europe) was found at heights between 15 and 20 km since September 2017 (about 2 weeks after entering the stratosphere). Thin layers of smoke were detected at heights of up to 22–23 km. The stratospheric aerosol optical thickness at 532 nm decreased from values > 0.25 on 21–23 August 2017 to 0.005–0.03 until 5–10 September and was mainly 0.003–0.004 from October to December 2017 and thus was still significantly above the stratospheric background (0.001–0.002). Stratospheric particle extinction coefficients (532 nm) were as high as 50–200 Mm−1 until the beginning of September and on the order of 1 Mm−1 (0.5–5 Mm−1) from October 2017 until the end of January 2018. The corresponding layer mean particle mass concentration was on the order of 0.05–0.5 µg m−3 over these months. Soot particles (light-absorbing carbonaceous particles) are efficient ice-nucleating particles (INPs) at upper tropospheric (cirrus) temperatures and available to influence cirrus formation when entering the tropopause from above. We estimated INP concentrations of 50–500 L−1 until the first days in September and afterwards 5–50 L−1 until the end of the year 2017 in the lower stratosphere for typical cirrus formation temperatures of −55 ∘C and an ice supersaturation level of 1.15. The measured profiles of the particle linear depolarization ratio indicated a predominance of nonspherical smoke particles. The 532 nm depolarization ratio decreased slowly with time in the main smoke layer from values of 0.15–0.25 (August–September) to values of 0.05–0.10 (October–November) and < 0.05 (December–January). The decrease of the depolarization ratio is consistent with aging of the smoke particles, growing of a coating around the solid black carbon core (aggregates), and thus change of the shape towards a spherical form. We found ascending aerosol layer features over the most southern European stations, especially over the eastern Mediterranean at 32–35∘ N, that ascended from heights of about 18–19 to 22–23 km from the beginning of October to the beginning of December 2017 (about 2 km per month). We discuss several transport and lifting mechanisms that may have had an impact on the found aerosol layering structures.

A menudo se piensa que los estándares genéricos de diligencia son una fuente importante de incertidumbre ya que están radicalmente indeterminados. A fin de favorecer la seguridad jurídica, el derecho de daños debería prescindir de ellos tanto como sea posible y optar por ofrecer estándares específicos, redactados en un lenguaje preciso. En este trabajo argumento que los estándares genéricos no están tan indeterminados como usualmente se asume y que, además, cumplen un papel normativo fundamental en la práctica de la responsabilidad civil.

Particle number size distribution measurements were conducted during the summer of 2012 at City-Centre Urban Background (Patras-C), Urban Background (ICE-HT in Patras, DEM in Athens, EPT in Thessaloniki), and Regional Background stations (FIN in Crete). At the City-Centre Urban Background station, the average number distribution had a geometric mean diameter peak approximately at 60 nm and the highest number concentration, whereas at the Regional Background station and the Urban Background stations it displayed a major peak approximately at 100 nm, with the Regional Background station exhibiting the lowest number concentration. The particle number size distribution at each site was divided into size fractions and, based on their diurnal variation and previous studies, we concluded that the main sources for the City-Centre Urban Background station are traffic and the regional background concentration, for the Urban Background stations fresh traffic, aged traffic, cooking and the regional background concentration, and for the Regional Background station local activities (tourism, cooking) and regional background concentration. The median number concentration that is attributed to regional background concentration for the City-Centre Urban Background, the Urban Background and the Regional Background stations are respectively 13, 29 and 45% of the total number concentration. Nucleation events were identified at DEM station, where the newly formed particles accounted for 4% of the total particle concentration for the measurement period in the size range 10–20 nm, EPT, where they accounted for 12%, and FIN, where they accounted for 1%, respectively. New Particle Formation events contribution during summer to Condensation Cloud Nuclei were therefore insignificant in the Eastern Mediterranean. Modal analysis was performed on the number distributions and the results were classified in clusters. At the City-Centre Urban Background station, the cluster-source that dominated number concentration and frequency is related to fresh and aged traffic emissions, at the Urban Background stations aged traffic emissions, while at the Regional Background station number and frequency were dominated by the regional background concentration. Based on cluster analysis, 18% of the median number distribution was due to long range transport at the City-Centre Urban Background site, 37% at the Urban Background sites, and 59% at the Regional Background site. The Flexible Particle Dispersion Model (FLEXPART) was used in order to acquire geographic origin clusters and we concluded that the Etesian flow increases the median regional background number concentration in the Mediterranean basin by a factor of 2.5–4.

Integrated Nature CultuRE Approach (INCREAte) promotes the interconnection of culture and nature. this approach primarily targeted toward nature conservation managers but is also applicable to any agent working on nature–culture issues or area and resource management. The focus of this approach is to guide users to design more integrated and efficient conservation projects by working on issues related to culture while also addressing stakeholders’ participation and human wellbeing. Allowing users to be selective and flexible, such issues can also be incorporated in ongoing projects, making the INCREAte approach a practice-oriented guidance and toolkit rather than a "take it or leave it" option. It was developed by the Scientific Secretariat of the Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (MedINA) that, since 2003, promotes joint management of natural and cultural heritage and the strengthening of the diachronic relationship between humankind and nature. This approach has been successfully tested in Kythera, where a strategy for tourism has been designed through a sequence of its relevant steps. The main focus of the strategy is the development of an integrated and innovative trail network, which, coupled with the accompanying activities of the programme, is designed to reveal and sustain the natural and cultural heritage of the island.

Aerosol and cloud condensate nuclei (CCN) measurements in the area of Athens during HyGRA-CD campaign (May–June 2014) identified a significant diversity in particle properties. In this study we select two distinct cases in terms of meteorology and air mass origin in order to analyze the transport mechanisms inside the Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and in the free troposphere and discuss the possible contribution of aerosol in cloud formation. The detection of aerosol layers was based on the lidar technique using multi-wavelength detection schemes. The first case is characterized by a double dust layer arriving over Athens with a shallow and younger plume centered at about 1.8 km and a deeper and more aged plume centered at 3.4 km. These layers originate from different sources and follow different transport paths in the atmosphere which explains also their different optical/geometrical properties. The second case is typical of frontal activity and low cloud formation during daytime. Low level convergence of maritime and continental air masses enhances the updraft velocities inside Athens basin and results in CCN activation and cloud formation along the frontal line.

¿Existe alguna razón para preferir que la gestión de los daños que nos causamos unos a otros sea mediante un sistema de responsabilidad civil en lugar de un fondo social de compensación? La justificación de los fondossociales de compensación es más bien obvia, pues se intenta atender con celeridad las necesidades de las víctimas. En cambio, la justificación de la responsabilidad civil genera amplias controversias. Si la responsabilidad civil ha de ser justificada, parece que debe encontrarse en ella un valor que no puede ser perfectamente realizado con mecanismos alternativos. Ese será su valor intrínseco. En este trabajo se ofrece una visión de cuál es ese valor, y se argumenta que en última instancia resulta insuficiente para justificarplenamente la responsabilidad civil.

BACKGROUND: To date there are yet no available approved therapies for Geographic Atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: Single site, non-randomized safety and efficacy study presenting the preliminary results in a cohort of five late stage AMD (GA) patients successfully implanted with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System (Second Sight Medical Products Inc., Sylmar, CA, USA). Extensive fundus imaging including retinal photographs from which the GA area was measured. A combination of custom and traditional tests designed for very low vision subjects assessed visual function in study subjects. A Functional Low-Vision Observer Rated Assessment was carried out to evaluate the impact of the system on the subject's daily life. In addition, a study to evaluate structural characteristics of the visual cortex of the brain was performed in one subject using magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Seven device-related adverse events were reported, four of which were classed as serious adverse events. Retinal detachment was reported in three patients and was successfully treated within 12 months of onset. Testing showed an improvement in visual function in three of five patients with the system turned on. Magnetic resonance imaging assessed in one patient after implantation indicates a selective increase in cortical myelin and thickness in visual brain regions 1 year post implantation. CONCLUSIONS: Epiretinal prostheses can successfully be implanted in those affected by GA secondary to late-stage AMD and can elicit visual percepts by electrical stimulation of residual neuroretinal elements and improve basic visual function in those affected.

Background: To date there are yet no available approved therapies for Geographic Atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods: Single site, non-randomized safety and efficacy study presenting the preliminary results in a cohort of five late stage AMD (GA) patients successfully implanted with the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System (Second Sight Medical Products Inc., Sylmar, CA, USA). Extensive fundus imaging including retinal photographs from which the GA area was measured. A combination of custom and traditional tests designed for very low vision subjects assessed visual function in study subjects. A Functional Low-Vision Observer Rated Assessment was carried out to evaluate the impact of the system on the subject’s daily life. In addition, a study to evaluate structural characteristics of the visual cortex of the brain was performed in one subject using magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Seven device-related adverse events were reported, four of which were classed as serious adverse events. Retinal detachment was reported in three patients and was successfully treated within 12 months of onset. Testing showed an improvement in visual function in three of five patients with the system turned on. Magnetic resonance imaging assessed in one patient after implantation indicates a selective increase in cortical myelin and thickness in visual brain regions 1 year post implantation. Conclusions: Epiretinal prostheses can successfully be implanted in those affected by GA secondary to late-stage AMD and can elicit visual percepts by electrical stimulation of residual neuroretinal elements and improve basic visual function in those affected.