Postseismic recovery within fault damage zones involves slow healing of coseismic fractures leading to permeability reduction and strength increase with time. To better understand this process, ...experiments were performed by long‐term fluid percolation with calcite precipitation through predamaged quartz‐monzonite samples subjected to upper crustal conditions of stress and temperature. This resulted in a P wave velocity recovery of 50% of its initial drop after 64 days. In contrast, the permeability remained more or less constant for the duration of the experiment. Microstructures, fluid chemistry, and X‐ray microtomography demonstrate that incipient calcite sealing and asperity dissolution are responsible for the P wave velocity recovery. The permeability is unaffected because calcite precipitates outside of the main flow channels. The highly nonparallel evolution of strength recovery and permeability suggests that fluid conduits within fault damage zones can remain open fluid conduits after an earthquake for much longer durations than suggested by the seismic monitoring of fault healing.
Key Points
Calcite sealing assisted recovery experiments detail the evolution of seismic velocities and permeability with time
The P wave velocity recovers but permeability remains more or less similar due to the location of calcite precipitation
Results imply that fault zones remain fluid conduits for longer than seismic observations suggest
Background
Nomenclature for mesh insertion during ventral hernia repair is inconsistent and confusing. Several terms, including ‘inlay’, ‘sublay’ and ‘underlay’, can refer to the same anatomical ...planes in the indexed literature. This frustrates comparisons of surgical practice and may invalidate meta‐analyses comparing surgical outcomes. The aim of this study was to establish an international classification of abdominal wall planes.
Methods
A Delphi study was conducted involving 20 internationally recognized abdominal wall surgeons. Different terms describing anterior abdominal wall planes were identified via literature review and expert consensus. The initial list comprised 59 possible terms. Panellists completed a questionnaire that suggested a list of options for individual abdominal wall planes. Consensus on a term was predefined as occurring if selected by at least 80 per cent of panellists. Terms scoring less than 20 per cent were removed.
Results
Voting started August 2018 and was completed by January 2019. In round 1, 43 terms (73 per cent) were selected by less than 20 per cent of panellists and 37 new terms were suggested, leaving 53 terms for round 2. Four planes reached consensus in round 2, with the terms ‘onlay’, ‘inlay’, ‘preperitoneal’ and ‘intraperitoneal’. Thirty‐five terms (66 per cent) were selected by less than 20 per cent of panellists and were removed. After round 3, consensus was achieved for ‘anterectus’, ‘interoblique’, ‘retro‐oblique’ and ‘retromuscular’. Default consensus was achieved for the ‘retrorectus’ and ‘transversalis fascial’ planes.
Conclusion
Consensus concerning abdominal wall planes was agreed by 20 internationally recognized surgeons. Adoption should improve communication and comparison among surgeons and research studies.
Antecedentes
La nomenclatura de la inserción de una malla para la reparación de una hernia incisional ventral (ventral hernia, VH) es inconsistente y confusa. En la literatura indexada se usan varios términos, tales como ‘inlay’, ‘sublay’, y ‘underlay’ que pueden referirse a los mismos planos anatómicos. Este hecho frustra las comparaciones de técnicas quirúrgicas e invalida los metaanálisis que comparan resultados quirúrgicos en función del plano de inserción de la malla. En consecuencia, el objetivo de este estudio fue establecer una clasificación internacional de los planos de la pared abdominal (International Classification of Abdominal Wall Planes, ICAP).
Métodos
Se realizó un estudio Delphi, en el que participaron 20 cirujanos de pared abdominal reconocidos internacionalmente. Se identificaron diferentes términos que describían los planos de la pared abdominal anterior mediante la revisión de la literatura y el consenso de expertos. La lista inicial incluía 59 términos posibles. Los panelistas completaron un cuestionario que sugería una lista de opciones para los planos individuales de la pared abdominal. El consenso sobre un término fue predefinido cuando dicho término había sido seleccionado por ≥ 80% de panelistas. Se eliminaron los términos con una puntuación < 20%.
Resultados
La votación comenzó en agosto de 2018 y se completó en enero de 2019. Durante la Ronda 1, 43 (73%) términos fueron seleccionados por < 20% de los panelistas y se sugirieron 37 términos nuevos, dejando 53 términos para la Ronda 2. Cuatro planos alcanzaron un consenso en la Ronda 2 con los términos ‘onlay’, ‘inlay’, ‘pre‐peritoneal’ e ‘intra‐peritoneal’. Treinta y cinco (66%) términos fueron seleccionados por < 20% de los panelistas y fueron eliminados. Después de la Ronda 3, se logró un consenso para ‘anterectus’ (ante‐recto), ‘interoblique’ (inter‐oblicuo), ‘retrooblique’ (retro‐oblicuo) y ‘retromuscular’. Se alcanzó un consenso por defecto para los planos ‘retrorectus’ (retro‐recto) y ‘transversalis fascial’ (fascial transverso).
Conclusión
La ICAP ha sido desarrollada por el consenso de 20 cirujanos reconocidos internacionalmente. Su implementación debería mejorar la comunicación y la comparación entre cirujanos y estudios de investigación.
Current nomenclature for abdominal wall planes is inconsistent; this confuses clinical practice and frustrates comparative studies. A Delphi study was performed, involving 20 international hernia experts, to define abdominal wall planes precisely. Via consensus, an international classification of abdominal wall planes was established.
Order created by consensus
Background
No standardized written or volumetric definition exists for ‘loss of domain’ (LOD). This limits the utility of LOD as a morphological descriptor and as a predictor of peri- and ...postoperative outcomes. Consequently, our aim was to establish definitions for LOD via consensus of expert abdominal wall surgeons.
Methods
A Delphi study involving 20 internationally recognized abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR) surgeons was performed. Four written and two volumetric definitions of LOD were identified via systematic review. Panelists completed a questionnaire that suggested these definitions as standardized definitions of LOD. Consensus on a preferred term was pre-defined as achieved when selected by ≥80% of panelists. Terms scoring <20% were removed.
Results
Voting commenced August 2018 and was completed in January 2019. Written definition: During Round 1, two definitions were removed and seven new definitions were suggested, leaving nine definitions for consideration. For Round 2, panelists were asked to select all appealing definitions. Thereafter, common concepts were identified during analysis, from which the facilitators advanced a new written definition. This received 100% agreement in Round 3. Volumetric definition: Initially, panelists were evenly split, but consensus for the Sabbagh method was achieved. Panelists could not reach consensus regarding a threshold LOD value that would preclude surgery.
Conclusions
Consensus for written and volumetric definitions of LOD was achieved from 20 internationally recognized AWR surgeons. Adoption of these definitions will help standardize the use of LOD for both clinical and academic activities.
We show that the Higgs boson structure functions observable in the inclusive process $e^-e^+ \to H + {\rm "anything"}$ may reveal the presence of anomalous contributions corresponding to several ...types of new physics partners, Higgs boson compositeness or invisible (dark) matter. This could be done without making a difficult or even an impossible experimental analysis of the contents of the "anything". We give illustrations showing how the shapes of the various structure functions containing such typical new contributions may differ from the standard prediction and allow their identification.
It is widely recognized that nonagricultural earnings are crucial for the welfare of rural households in developing countries. In this study, we investigate whether workers close to cities are paid ...higher nonagricultural wages than workers in outlying rural areas. We find that workers close to urban areas not only benefit from more opportunities to engage in nonagricultural activities, but also from better paid jobs. In addition, we provide evidence on the transmission channels at work. The issue of spatial differences in nonagricultural earnings that we highlight is extremely serious for rural China where, because of the strong institutional restrictions on labour mobility, living conditions in an individual's birthplace still significantly affect his well-being.
Many extensions of the Standard Model involve two Higgs doublet fields to break the electroweak symmetry, leading to the existence of three neutral and two charged Higgs particles. In particular, ...this is the case of the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model, the MSSM. A very important parameter is tanβ defined as the ratio of the vacuum expectation value of the two Higgs doublets. In this Letter we focus on the left–right asymmetry in the production of polarised top quarks in association with charged Higgs bosons at the LHC. This quantity allows for a theoretically clean determination of tanβ. In the MSSM, the asymmetry remains sensitive to the strong and electroweak radiative corrections and, thus, to the superparticle spectrum. Some possible implications of these results are discussed.
Hydrolysis efficiency of β‐galactosidases is affected due to a strong inhibition by galactose, hampering the complete lactose hydrolysis. One alternative to reduce this inhibition is to perform ...mutations in the enzyme's active site. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of point mutations on the active site of different microbial β‐galactosidases, using computational techniques. The enzymes of Aspergillus niger (AnβGal), Aspergillus oryzae (AoβGal), Bacillus circulans (BcβGal), Bifidobacterium bifidum (BbβGal), and Kluyveromyces lactis (KlβGal) were used. The mutations were carried out in all residues that were up to 4.5 Å from the galactose/lactose molecules and binding energy was computed. The mutants Tyr96Ala (AnβGal), Asn140Ala and Asn199Ala (AoβGal), Arg111Ala and Glu355Ala (BcβGal), Arg122Ala and Phe358Ala (BbβGal), Tyr523Ala, Phe620Ala, and Trp582Ala (KlβGal) had the best results, with higher effect on galactose binding energy and lower effect on lactose affinity. To maximize enzyme reactions by reducing galactose affinity, double mutations were proposed for BcβGal, BbβGal, and KlβGal. The double mutations in BcβGal and BbβGal caused the highest reduction in galactose affinity, while no satisfactory results were observed to KlβGal. Using computational tools, mutants that reduced galactose affinity without significantly affecting lactose binding were proposed. The mutations proposed can be used to reduce the negative feedback process, improving the catalytic characteristics of β‐galactosidases and rendering them promising for industrial applications.
Diagnosis of renal cell carcinomas (RCC) subtypes on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is clinically important. There is increased evidence that confident imaging ...diagnosis is now possible while standardization of the protocols is still required. Fat-poor angiomyolipoma show homogeneously increased unenhanced attenuation, homogeneously low signal on T2-weighted MRI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, may contain microscopic fat and are classically avidly enhancing. Papillary RCC are also typically hyperattenuating and of low signal on T2-weighted MRI and ADC map; however, their gradual progressive enhancement after intravenous administration of contrast material is a differentiating feature. Clear cell RCC are avidly enhancing and may show intracellular lipid; however, these tumors are heterogeneous and are of characteristically increased signal on T2-weighted MRI. Oncocytomas and chromophobe tumors (collectively oncocytic neoplasms) show intermediate imaging findings on CT and MRI and are the most difficult subtype to characterize accurately; however, both show intermediately increased signal on T2-weighted with more gradual enhancement compared to clear cell RCC. Chromophobe tumors tend to be more homogeneous compared to oncocytomas, which can be heterogeneous, but other described features (e.g. scar, segmental enhancement inversion) overlap considerably between tumors. Tumor grade is another important consideration in small solid renal masses with emerging studies on both CT and MRI suggesting that high grade tumors may be separated from lower grade disease based upon imaging features.
This work presents our contribution to one of the data challenges organized by the French Radiology Society during the Journées Francophones de Radiologie. This challenge consisted in segmenting the ...kidney cortex from coronal computed tomography (CT) images, cropped around the cortex.
We chose to train an ensemble of fully-convolutional networks and to aggregate their prediction at test time to perform the segmentation. An image database was made available in 3 batches. A first training batch of 250 images with segmentation masks was provided by the challenge organizers one month before the conference. An additional training batch of 247 pairs was shared when the conference began. Participants were ranked using a Dice score.
The segmentation results of our algorithm match the renal cortex with a good precision. Our strategy yielded a Dice score of 0.867, ranking us first in the data challenge.
The proposed solution provides robust and accurate automatic segmentations of the renal cortex in CT images although the precision of the provided reference segmentations seemed to set a low upper bound on the numerical performance. However, this process should be applied in 3D to quantify the renal cortex volume, which would require a marked labelling effort to train the networks.
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