49 research outputs found
Fault-based earthquake rupture forecast in Central Italy: remarks after the L’Aquila Mw 6.3 event.
No full textFiSH: MATLAB Tools to Turn Fault Data into Seismic-Hazard Models
No full textFaults have been increasingly integrated into seismic-hazard assessments. We have developed a package of MATLAB (http://www.mathworks.com/products/matlab, last accessed January 2016) tools (called FiSH), designed to help seismic-hazard modelers analyze fault data. These tools enable the derivation of expected earthquake rates, given common fault data, and allow researchers to test the consistency between the magnitude-frequency distributions (MFDs) assigned to a fault and some available observations. The basic assumption of FiSH is that the geometric and kinematic features of a fault are the expression of its seismogenic potential. Three tools have been designed to integrate the variable levels of information available: (1) the first tool allows users to convert fault geometry and slip rates into a global budget of the seismic moment released in a given time frame, taking uncertainties into account; (2) the second tool computes the recurrence parameters and associated uncertainties from historical and/or paleoseismological data; and (3) the third tool outputs time-independent or time-dependent earthquake rates for different MFD models. We present a test case to illustrate the capabilities of FiSH, on the Paganica normal fault in central Italy that ruptured during the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake sequence (mainshock Mw 6.3). The source codes are open, and we encourage users to handle the scripts, communicate with us regarding bugs, and/or suggest further improvements. Our intent is to distribute these tools in order to help researchers to pinpoint potential inconsistencies and obtain reliable fault-based seismic-hazard evaluations
Ovarian artery Doppler velocimetry effects after myoinositol and lipoic acid therapy in PCOs patients
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Mixtures of environmental pharmaceuticals in marine organisms: Mechanistic evidence of carbamazepine and valsartan effects on Mytilus galloprovincialis
No full textUnravelling the adverse outcomes of pharmaceuticals mixture represents a research priority to characterize the risk for marine ecosystems. The present study investigated, for the first time, the interactions between two of the most largely detected pharmaceuticals in marine species: carbamazepine (CBZ) and valsartan (VAL), elucidating mechanisms that can modulate bioaccumulation, excretion and the onset of toxicity. Mytilus galloprovincialis were exposed to environmental levels of CBZ and VAL dosed alone or in combination: measurement of drug bioaccumulation was integrated with changes in the whole transcriptome and responsiveness of various biochemical and cellular biomarkers. Interactive and competing mechanisms between tested drugs were revealed by the much higher CBZ accumulation in mussels exposed to this compound alone, while an opposite trend was observed for VAL. A complex network of responses was observed as variations of gene expression, functional effects on neurotransmission, cell cycle, immune responses and redox homeostasis. The elaboration of results through a quantitative Weight of Evidence model summarized a greater biological reactivity of CBZ compared to VAL and antagonistic interactions between these compounds, resulting in a reduced effect of the antiepileptic when combined with valsartan. Overall, new perspectives are highlighted for a more comprehensive risk assessment of environmental mixtures of pharmaceuticals
Use of impedance-based catheter tip-to-tissue contact assessment (electroanatomic coupling index, ECI) in typical right atrial flutter ablation
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The Role of Viscoelastic Stress Transfer in Long-Term Earthquake Cascades: Insights After the Central Italy 2016–2017 Seismic Sequence
No full textCentral Italy is characterized by a network of active faults that interact in a complex manner. Coseismic Coulomb stress changes have been invoked by several authors to explain the concentration of moderate-to-strong earthquakes in this region, but none has considered the time-dependent viscoelastic relaxation of the lower crust and upper mantle as a possible additional source of stress changes at a regional scale. Here starting from the 1915 Mw 6.9 ± 0.2 Fucino earthquake, we calculated the coseismic plus postseismic Coulomb failure stress changes (ΔCFS) due to eight moderate-to-strong earthquakes that have struck Central Italy in the last century and culminated with the 2016–2017 sequence. Results from this modeling coupled with some synthetic tests simulating normal fault earthquakes with different magnitudes allowed us to highlight the importance of postseismic processes. In particular, the viscoelastic stress transfer due to events of Mw ≥ 6.5 can modify the spatial distribution of ΔCFS on a centennial timescale and therefore trigger events at larger distances. In addition, using these results, we identified other earthquake clusters in the historical catalogue (last 618 years), which, like the 1915–2017 series, were potentially modulated by both coseismic and postseismic processes. Finally, considering our calculations combined with historical and paleoseismological data, we suggest that several faults in Central Italy may be at present close to failure
Endocavitary electrophysiological study by percutaneous antecubital vein and without X-ray for risk stratification of asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation in young athletes
No full textBackground: Athletes with asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation (VP) should undergo electrophysiological study for risk stratification. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, safety and tolerability of an electrophysiological study using a percutaneous antecubital vein access and without the use of X-ray (ESnoXr). Methods: We collected data from all young athletes < 18 year-old with AVP, who underwent ESnoXr from January 2000 to September 2020 for evaluation of accessory pathway refractoriness and arrhythmia inducibility using an antecubital percutaneous venous access. Endocavitary signals were used to advance the catheter in the right atrium and ventricle. Results: We included 63 consecutive young athletes (mean age 14.6 ± 1.9 years, 46% male). Feasibility of the ESnoXr technique was 87% while in 13% fluoroscopy and/or a femoral approach were needed. Specifically, fluoroscopy was used in 7 cases to position the catheter inside the heart cavities with an average exposure of 43 ± 38 s while in 2 femoral venous access was needed. The mean procedural time was 35 ± 11 min. The exam was diagnostic in all patients, there were no procedural complications and tolerability was excellent. 53% of the patients had an accessory pathway with high refractoriness and no inducible atrio-ventricular reentry tachycardia: this subgroup was considered eligible to competitive sports and no event was observed during long-term follow-up (13.6 ± 5.2 years) without drug use. The others underwent catheter ablation. Conclusion. ESnoXr has been shown to be a feasible, effective, safe and well-tolerated procedure for the assessment of arrhythmic risk in a population of young athletes with asymptomatic VP
