Abstract
Analysis of seismicity can illuminate active fault zone structures but also deformation within large volumes of the seismogenic zone. For the M
w
6.5 2016–2017 Central Italy seismic ...sequence, seismicity not only localizes along the major structures hosting the mainshocks (on-fault seismicity), but also occurs within volumes of Triassic Evaporites, TE, composed of alternated anhydrites and dolostones. These volumes of distributed microseismicity show a different frequency-magnitude distribution than on-fault seismicity. We interpret that, during the sequence, shear strain-rate increase, and fluid overpressure promoted widespread ductile deformation within TE that light-up with distributed microseismicity. This interpretation is supported by field and laboratory observations showing that TE background ductile deformation is complex and dominated by distributed failure and folding of the anhydrites associated with boudinage hydro-fracturing and faulting of dolostones. Our results indicate that ductile crustal deformation can cause distributed microseismicity, which obeys to different scaling laws than on-fault seismicity occurring on structures characterized by elasto-frictional stick-slip behaviour.
A 57-year-old man underwent prone position computed tomography (CT) guided percutaneous transthoracic lung biopsy. After removal of the 18-gauge biopsy needle, the patient lost consciousness and ...developed shock. CT showed signs of air embolism in descending aorta and left atrium. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was unsuccessful. A postmortem CT scan confirmed a massive air embolism in the descending aorta, left ventricle and brain. Systemic air embolism occurs in around 0.001-0.003% of lung biopsy procedures. Recommendations to reduce the risk include requesting the patient to stop breathing during the procedure and preventing the exposure of the outer cannula of a coaxial biopsy needle to the atmosphere.
Our knowledge of subsurface structures often derives from seismic velocities that are measured during seismic acquisition surveys. These velocities can greatly change due to lithological, fracture ...frequencies and/or effective pressure/temperature variations. However, the influence of such intrinsic lithological properties and environmental conditions at the large scale is poorly understood due to the lack of comprehensive datasets. Here, we analyze 43 borehole-derived velocity datasets of 3 end-member tight carbonate sequences from Central Italy, including massive pure limestone (Calcare Massiccio, CM), thick-layered (20-50 cm) pure limestone (Maiolica, MA), and thin-layered (2-20 cm) marly limestone (Calcareous Scaglia, CS). Our results show that the main rock parameters and environmental conditions driving large scale velocity variations are bedding and paleostresses, while mineralogical composition and current tectonic stress also play a role. For each of the 3 end-members, measured V
values vary differently with depth, as the thin-layered CS units show a clear increase in Vp, while velocity slightly increases and remains constant for the thick-layered MA and massive CM units, respectively. Such observations show that velocities are affected by specific characteristics of lithological discontinuities, such as the thickness of bedding. Counterintuitively, larger Vp values were recorded in the deformed mountain range than in the undeformed foreland suggesting that higher paleo-stresses increase velocity values by enhancing diagenesis and healing of discontinuities. Our results thus demonstrate that large scale velocity variations are strictly related to variation of lithological properties and to the geological and tectonic history of an area. We suggest that such lithological and environmental controls should be taken into account when developing velocity and mechanical models for tectonically active regions of the Mediterranean Area, where earthquakes mostly nucleate and propagate through carbonate formations, and for resource exploration in fractured carbonate reservoirs.
We report measurements of oscillation parameters from ν(μ) and ν(μ) disappearance using beam and atmospheric data from MINOS. The data comprise exposures of 10.71×10(20) protons on target in the ...ν(μ)-dominated beam, 3.36×10(20) protons on target in the ν(μ)-enhanced beam, and 37.88 kton yr of atmospheric neutrinos. Assuming identical ν and ν oscillation parameters, we measure |Δm2| = (2.41(-0.10)(+0.09))×10(-3) eV2 and sin2(2θ) = 0.950(-0.036)(+0.035). Allowing independent ν and ν oscillations, we measure antineutrino parameters of |Δm2| = (2.50(-0.25)(+0.23))×10(-3) eV2 and sin2(2θ) = 0.97(-0.08)(+0.03), with minimal change to the neutrino parameters.
We report on ν(e) and ν(e) appearance in ν(μ) and ν(μ) beams using the full MINOS data sample. The comparison of these ν(e) and ν(e) appearance data at a 735 km baseline with θ13 measurements by ...reactor experiments probes δ, the θ23 octant degeneracy, and the mass hierarchy. This analysis is the first use of this technique and includes the first accelerator long-baseline search for ν(μ) → ν(e). Our data disfavor 31% (5%) of the three-parameter space defined by δ, the octant of the θ23, and the mass hierarchy at the 68% (90%) C.L. We measure a value of 2sin(2)(2θ13)sin(2)(θ23) that is consistent with reactor experiments.
Yellowfin tuna (
Thunnus albacares
; YFT) is an apex marine predator inhabiting tropical and sub-tropical pelagic waters. It supports the second largest tuna fishery in the world. Here, we review the ...available literature on YFT to provide a detailed overview of the current knowledge of its biology, ecology, fisheries status, stock structure and management, at global scale. YFT are characterized by several peculiar anatomical and physiological traits that allow them to survive in the oligotrophic waters of the pelagic realm. They are opportunistic feeders, which allows fast growth and high reproductive outputs. Globally, YFT fisheries have expanded over the last century, progressively moving from coastal areas into the majority of sub-tropical and tropical waters. This expansion has led to a rapid increase in global commercial landings, which are predominantly harvested by industrial longline and purse seine fleets. For management purposes, YFT is divided into four stocks, each of which is currently managed by a separate tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organization. Our current understanding of YFT stock structure is, however, still uncertain, with conflicting evidence arising from genetic and tagging studies. There is, moreover, little information about their complex life-history traits or the interactions of YFT populations with spatio-temporally variable oceanographic conditions currently considered in stock assessments. What information is available, is often conflicting at the global scale. Finally, we suggest future research directions to manage this valuable resource with more biological realism and more sustainable procedures.
Anticancer drug research based on natural compounds enabled the discovery of many drugs currently used in cancer therapy. Here, we report the in vitro, in vivo and in silico anticancer and ...estrogen-like activity of Psidium guajava L. (guava) extracts and enriched mixture containing the meroterpenes guajadial, psidial A and psiguadial A and B. All samples were evaluated in vitro for anticancer activity against nine human cancer lines: K562 (leukemia), MCF7 (breast), NCI/ADR-RES (resistant ovarian cancer), NCI-H460 (lung), UACC-62 (melanoma), PC-3 (prostate), HT-29 (colon), OVCAR-3 (ovarian) and 786-0 (kidney). Psidium guajava's active compounds displayed similar physicochemical properties to estradiol and tamoxifen, as in silico molecular docking studies demonstrated that they fit into the estrogen receptors (ERs). The meroterpene-enriched fraction was also evaluated in vivo in a Solid Ehrlich murine breast adenocarcinoma model, and showed to be highly effective in inhibiting tumor growth, also demonstrating uterus increase in comparison to negative controls. The ability of guajadial, psidial A and psiguadials A and B to reduce tumor growth and stimulate uterus proliferation, as well as their in silico docking similarity to tamoxifen, suggest that these compounds may act as Selective Estrogen Receptors Modulators (SERMs), therefore holding significant potential for anticancer therapy.
Abstract
Changing environmental temperatures impact the physiological performance of fishes, and consequently their distributions. A mechanistic understanding of the linkages between experienced ...temperature and the physiological response expressed within complex natural environments is often lacking, hampering efforts to project impacts especially when future conditions exceed previous experience. In this study, we use natural chemical tracers to determine the individual experienced temperatures and expressed field metabolic rates of Atlantic bluefin tuna (
Thunnus thynnus
) during their first year of life. Our findings reveal that the tuna exhibit a preference for temperatures 2–4 °C lower than those that maximise field metabolic rates, thereby avoiding temperatures warm enough to limit metabolic performance. Based on current IPCC projections, our results indicate that historically-important spawning and nursery grounds for bluefin tuna will become thermally limiting due to warming within the next 50 years. However, limiting global warming to below 2 °C would preserve habitat conditions in the Mediterranean Sea for this species. Our approach, which is based on field observations, provides predictions of animal performance and behaviour that are not constrained by laboratory conditions, and can be extended to any marine teleost species for which otoliths are available.
The production of protons, anti-protons, neutrons, deuterons and tritons in minimum bias p+C interactions is studied using a sample of 385 734 inelastic events obtained with the NA49 detector at the ...CERN SPS at 158 GeV/c beam momentum. The data cover a phase space area ranging from 0 to 1.9 GeV/c in transverse momentum and in Feynman
x
from −0.8 to 0.95 for protons, from −0.2 to 0.3 for anti-protons and from 0.1 to 0.95 for neutrons. Existing data in the far backward hemisphere are used to extend the coverage for protons and light nuclear fragments into the region of intra-nuclear cascading. The use of corresponding data sets obtained in hadron–proton collisions with the same detector allows for the detailed analysis and model-independent separation of the three principle components of hadronization in p+C interactions, namely projectile fragmentation, target fragmentation of participant nucleons and intra-nuclear cascading.
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