Aeolus winds impact on volcanic ash early warning systems for aviation.

Forecasting volcanic ash atmospheric pathways is of utmost importance for aviation. Volcanic ash can interfere with aircraft navigational instruments and can damage engine parts. Early warning systems, activated after volcanic eruptions can alleviate the impacts on aviation by providing forecasts of the volcanic ash plume dispersion. The quality of these short-term forecasts is subject to the accuracy of the meteorological wind fields used for the initialization of regional models. Here, we use wind profiling data from the first high spectral resolution lidar in space, Aeolus, to examine the impact of measured wind fields on regional NWP and subsequent volcanic ash dispersion forecasts, focusing on the case of Etna's eruption on March 2021. The results from this case study demonstrate a significant improvement of the volcanic ash simulation when using Aeolus-assimilated meteorological fields, with differences in wind speed reaching up to 8 m/s when compared to the control run. When comparing the volcanic ash forecast profiles with downwind surface-based aerosol lidar observations, the modeled field is consistent with the measurements only when Aeolus winds are assimilated. This result clearly demonstrates the potential of Aeolus and highlights the necessity of future wind profiling satellite missions for improving volcanic ash forecasting and hence aviation safety.

Multi-sectoral impact assessment of an extreme African dust episode in the Eastern Mediterranean in March 2018.

In late March 2018, a large part of the Eastern Mediterranean experienced an extraordinary episode of African dust, one of the most intense in recent years, here referred to as the "Minoan Red" event. The episode mainly affected the Greek island of Crete, where the highest aerosol concentrations over the past 15 yeas were recorded, although impacts were also felt well beyond this core area. Our study fills a gap in dust research by assessing the multi-sectoral impacts of sand and dust storms and their socioeconomic implications. Specifically, we provide a multi-sectoral impact assessment of Crete during the occurrence of this exceptional African dust event. During the day of the occurrence of the maximum dust concentration in Crete, i.e. March 22nd, 2018, we identified impacts on meteorological conditions, agriculture, transport, energy, society (including closing of schools and cancellation of social events), and emergency response systems. As a result, the event led to a 3-fold increase in daily emergency responses compare to previous days associated with urban emergencies and wildfires, a 3.5-fold increase in hospital visits and admissions for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbations and dyspnoea, a reduction of visibility causing aircraft traffic disruptions (eleven cancellations and seven delays), and a reduction of solar energy production. We estimate the cost of direct and indirect effects of the dust episode, considering the most affected socio-economic sectors (e.g. civil protection, aviation, health and solar energy production), to be between 3.4 and 3.8 million EUR for Crete. Since such desert dust transport episodes are natural, meteorology-driven and thus to a large extent unavoidable, we argue that the efficiency of actions to mitigate dust impacts depends on the accuracy of operational dust forecasting and the implementation of relevant early warning systems for social awareness.

Validation of the Six-item Female Sexual Function Index in Middle-Aged Brazilian Women.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the six-item female sexual function index (FSFI-6) in middle-aged Brazilian women. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study, involving 737 (premenopausal n = 117, perimenopausal n = 249, postmenopausal n = 371) Brazilian sexually active women, aged between 40 and 55 years, not using hormonal contraceptive methods. The Brazilian FSFI-6 was developed from the translation and cultural adaptation of the Portuguese FSFI-6 version. The participants completed a general questionnaire, the FSFI-6, and the menopause rating scale (MRS). The validation was performed by AMOS 16.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The chi-square of degrees of freedom (χ2/df), the comparative fit index (CFI), the Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) and the root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) were used as indices of goodness of fit. Cronbach α coefficient was used for internal consistency. RESULTS: The process of cultural adaptation has not altered the Brazilian FSFI-6, as compared with the original content. The CFA for the FSFI-6 score showed an acceptable fit (χ2/df = 3.434, CFI = 0.990, TLI = 0.980, RMSEA = 0.058, 90% confidence interval (90%CI) = 0.033-0.083, p ≤ 0.001) and a good reliability was established in FSFI-6 and MRS (Cronbach α = 0.840 and = 0.854, respectively). In addition, 53.5% of the sample had low sexual function. CONCLUSION: The FSFI-6 was translated and adapted to the Brazilian culture and is a consistent and reliable tool for female sexual dysfunction screening in Brazilian middle-aged women.

OBJETIVO: Validar o Índice de Função Sexual Feminina - 6 itens (FSFI-6, na sigla em inglês) para mulheres brasileiras de meia-idade. MéTODOS: Estudo transversal observacional que incluiu 737 (pré-menopausa n = 117, perimenopausa n = 249, pós-menopausa n = 371) mulheres brasileiras sexualmente ativas, entre 40 e 55 anos, sem métodos contraceptivos hormonais. A versão brasileira do FSFI-6 foi desenvolvida através da tradução e adaptação cultural da versão portuguesa do questionário. As participantes preencheram um questionário com dados gerais, o FSFI-6 e a escala de avaliação da menopausa (menopause rating scale [MRS]). A validação do instrumento se deu através de análise fatorial confirmatória (CFA, na sigla em inglês), realizada pelo software AMOS 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, EUA). Qui-quadrado sobre graus de liberdade (χ2/df), índice de ajuste comparativo (CFI, na sigla em inglês), índice de Tucker-Lewis (TLI) e raiz média dos quadrados dos erros de aproximação (RMSEA, na sigla em inglês) foram utilizados como índices de adequação de ajustes. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi utilizado para avaliar a consistência interna. RESULTADOS: O processo de adaptação cultural não alterou a versão brasileira do FSFI-6, comparado ao conteúdo original. O CFA para o escore do FSFI-6 demonstrou ajuste aceitável (χ2/df = 3,434; CFI = 0,990; TLI = 0,980; RMSEA = 0,058; 90% IC = 0,033 a 0,083; p ≤ 0,001). Demonstrou-se boa confiabilidade entre FSFI-6 e MRS (alfa de Cronbach = 0,840 e = 0,854, respectivamente). Do total, 53,5% da amostra apresentou baixa função sexual. CONCLUSãO: O FSFI-6 foi traduzido e adaptado culturalmente, e é uma ferramenta consistente e confiável no rastreamento de disfunções sexuais em mulheres brasileiras de meia-idade.

Validation of the six-item female sexual function index in middle-aged brazilian women / Validação do índice de funcionamento sexual feminino-6 em mulheres brasileiras de meia-idade

Abstract Objective To validate the six-item female sexual function index (FSFI-6) in middleaged Brazilian women. Methods Cross-sectional observational study, involving 737 (premenopausal n = 117, perimenopausal n = 249, postmenopausal n = 371) Brazilian sexually active women, aged between 40 and 55 years, not using hormonal contraceptive methods. The Brazilian FSFI-6 was developed from the translation and cultural adaptation of the Portuguese FSFI-6 version. The participants completed a general questionnaire, the FSFI-6, and the menopause rating scale (MRS). The validation was performed by AMOS 16.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) for a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The chi-square of degrees of freedom (χ2/df), the comparative fit index (CFI), the Tucker- Lewis index (TLI) and the root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) were used as indices of goodness of fit. Cronbach α coefficient was used for internal consistency. Results The process of cultural adaptation has not altered the Brazilian FSFI-6, as compared with the original content. The CFA for the FSFI-6 score showed an acceptable fit (χ2/df = 3.434, CFI = 0.990, TLI = 0.980, RMSEA = 0.058, 90% confidence interval (90%CI) = 0.033-0.083, p ≤ 0.001) and a good reliability was established in FSFI-6 and MRS (Cronbach α = 0.840 and = 0.854, respectively). In addition, 53.5% of the sample had low sexual function. Conclusion The FSFI-6 was translated and adapted to the Brazilian culture and is a consistent and reliable tool for female sexual dysfunction screening in Brazilianmiddleaged women.

Resumo Objetivo Validar o Índice de Função Sexual Feminina - 6 itens (FSFI-6, na sigla em inglês) para mulheres brasileiras de meia-idade. Métodos Estudo transversal observacional que incluiu 737 (pré-menopausa n = 117, perimenopausa n = 249, pós-menopausa n = 371) mulheres brasileiras sexualmente ativas, entre 40 e 55 anos, sem métodos contraceptivos hormonais. A versão brasileira do FSFI-6 foi desenvolvida através da tradução e adaptação cultural da versão portuguesa do questionário. As participantes preencheramumquestionário comdados gerais, o FSFI-6 e a escala de avaliação da menopausa (menopause rating scale [MRS]). A validação do instrumento se deu através de análise fatorial confirmatória (CFA, na sigla em inglês), realizada pelo software AMOS 16.0 (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, EUA). Qui-quadrado sobre graus de liberdade (χ2/df), índice de ajuste comparativo (CFI, na siglaeminglês), índice de Tucker- Lewis (TLI) e raiz média dos quadrados dos erros de aproximação (RMSEA, na sigla em inglês) foram utilizados como índices de adequação de ajustes. O coeficiente alfa de Cronbach foi utilizado para avaliar a consistência interna. Resultados O processo de adaptação cultural não alterou a versão brasileira do FSFI-6, comparado ao conteúdo original. O CFA para o escore do FSFI-6 demonstrou ajuste aceitável (χ2/df = 3,434; CFI = 0,990; TLI = 0,980; RMSEA = 0,058; 90% IC = 0,033 a 0,083; p ≤ 0,001). Demonstrou-se boa confiabilidade entre FSFI-6 e MRS (alfa de Cronbach = 0,840 e = 0,854, respectivamente). Do total, 53,5% da amostra apresentou baixa função sexual. Conclusão O FSFI-6 foi traduzido e adaptado culturalmente, e é uma ferramenta consistente e confiável no rastreamento de disfunções sexuais em mulheres brasileiras de meia-idade.