ISMD, a Web Portal for Real-Time Processing and Dissemination of INGV Strong-Motion Data

In Italy, strong-motion monitoring started in the early 1970s, when the Rete Accelerometrica Nazionale (RAN, the Italian National Strong Motion Network; http://www.protezionecivile. gov.it/jcms/it/ran.wp;seeData and Resources for a complete listing of all websites listed in this article) was designed and installed by the Agenzia Nazionale per le NuoveTecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA) and ENEL (an Italian power company). The aim was to evaluate the seismic risk in connection with the construction of nuclear power plants. Since 1997, the RAN (Gorini et al.,2010) has been run by the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (DPC). At present, the RAN includes about 500 digital strong-motion stations. The contribution of the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) to Italian strong-motion monitoring started some years later. Through the 2004–2006 agreement between the INGV and the DPC (Strong-Motion Stations Project), the INGV began the phase of strong-motion monitoring (Augliera et al., 2010, 2011). Since 2006, a complete renewal of the (velocimetric) Rete Sismica Nazionale (RSN; Amato and Mele, 2008) was made by installing accelerometers to sites where broadband RSN velocimeters were already present. Altogether, the current∼150 high-dynamics digital strong-motion stations that cover the Italian territory constitute the INGV strong-motion network. The first channel chosen by the INGV to disseminate the recorded waveforms was through the European Integrated Data Archive (EIDA;http://eida.rm.ingv.it/;http://www.orfeus -eu.org/eida/eida.html), a web portal devoted to seismic data exchange that was developed in the framework of the Network of Research Infrastructures for European Seismology (NERIES) European project (www.neries-eu.org, Networking Activity 3 [NA3]). Since 2008, the INGV raw signals have been downloadable in the Standard for the Exchange of Earthquake Data (SEED) format from the continuous data archive of the INGV National Earthquake Centre (Centro Nazionale Terremoti, CNT). However, the EIDA web portal is devoted in particular to expert end users, and it provides raw data without further information about the waveform metadata and recording sites, which is fundamental for engineering purposes. The recorded RAN strong-motion data from 1972 to 2007 have been available to the scientific community only through specific data requests to the DPC. This changed in 2007, when the RAN data were also disseminated online through the ITalian ACcelerometric Archive (ITACA; Pacor et al., 2011), a static databank that arose in the framework of the S6 Seismological Project (Luzi et al., 2008), with the aim of periodically (usually every 1 year) distributing highquality corrected (i.e., manually processed by expert operators) data to the scientific community. Now, in the last release of ITACA version 2.0 (http://itaca.mi.ingv.it), users can find the RAN strong-motion corrected data up to the end of 2013. Even if the periodic publication of an updated version of ITACA provides new data for the scientific community, within the time span of two subsequent versions, significant earthquakes generally shake the Italian territory. Increasing demands for strong-motion data come from the scientific community soon after an important earthquake, in particular, and the INGV needed to homogeneously organize and disseminate the strongmotion data recorded by its own stations through a new dedicated channel. This motivated the co-operation of several INGV Working Groups to design and develop INGV Strong-Motion Data (ISMD), the first Italian real-time strong-motion web portal. The main scope of the ISMD is real-time archiving, processing, and distribution of strong-motion data recorded by the INGV and partner networks, complete with all of the necessary side information to correctly use the published data. In particular, the automatic system on which the new web portal is based can do the following: 1. check the quality of the raw accelerograms recorded by the INGV strong-motion network; 2. archive and process the data in real time to provide rapid estimations of the main strong-motion parameters of an earthquake; 3. disseminate high-quality strong-motion waveforms and related metadata in real time; 4. collect and distribute all of the available information about the recording sites (i.e., geological, morphological, geophysical); 5. check, update, and homogenize the information related to the INGV strong-motion stations currently installed throughout the entire Italian territory (e.g., coordinates, instrumentation); and 6. within minutes after an earthquake occurs, publish on the website (http://ismd.mi.ingv.it/) a real-time report of the event (e.g., event and waveform metadata, seismic response of recording sites, comparisons between observed and predicted data), jointly providing the binary–Seismic Analysis Code (SAC) uncorrected data (i.e., the raw SEED signals, converted into a new data format), the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) corrected accelerograms (i.e., binary-SAC converted into ASCII format, and then processed), as well as the velocity and displacement time series and the related response spectra. The beta version of the ISMD was published during the May–June 2012 ML 5.9 Emilia (northern Italy) seismic sequence. At present it has archived about 23,500 three- component strong-motion records from∼360 Italian events that occurred from 1 January 2012 to the present update of 15 April 2014 with an ML≥3:0Published863-8774T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa

Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Task Group 10 Report Marine Litter

The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC) (MSFD) requires that the European Commis-sion (by 15 July 2010) should lay down criteria and methodological standards to allow consistency in approach in evaluating the extent to which Good Environmental Status (GES) is being achieved. ICES and JRC were contracted to provide scientific support for the Commission in meeting this obligation. A total of 10 reports have been prepared relating to the descriptors of GES listed in Annex I of the Directive. Eight reports have been prepared by groups of independent experts coordinated by JRC and ICES in response to this contract. In addition, reports for two descriptors (Contaminants in fish and other seafood and Marine Litter) were written by expert groups coordinated by DG SANCO and IFREMER respectively. A Task Group was established for each of the qualitative Descriptors. Each Task Group consisted of selected experts providing experience related to the four marine regions (the Baltic Sea, the North-east Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea) and an appropriate scope of relevant scien-tific expertise. Observers from the Regional Seas Conventions were also invited to each Task Group to help ensure the inclusion of relevant work by those Conventions. This is the report of Task Group 10 Marine litter.JRC.DDG.H.5-Rural, water and ecosystem resource

The Alto Tiberina Near Fault Observatory (northern Apennines, Italy)

The availability of multidisciplinary and high-resolution data is a fundamental requirement to understand the physics of earthquakes and faulting. We present the Alto Tiberina Near Fault Observatory (TABOO), a research infrastructure devoted to studying preparatory processes, slow and fast deformation along a fault system located in the upper Tiber Valley (northern Apennines), dominated by a 60 km long low-angle normal fault (Alto Tiberina, ATF) active since the Quaternary. TABOO consists of 50 permanent seismic stations covering an area of 120 × 120 km2. The surface seismic stations are equipped with 3-components seismometers, one third of them hosting accelerometers. We instrumented three shallow (250 m) boreholes with seismometers, creating a 3-dimensional antenna for studying micro-earthquakes sources (detection threshold is ML 0.5) and detecting transient signals. 24 of these sites are equipped with continuous geodetic GPS, forming two transects across the fault system. Geochemical and electromagnetic stations have been also deployed in the study area. In 36 months TABOO recorded 19,422 events with ML ≤ 3.8 corresponding to 23.36e-04 events per day per squared kilometres; one of the highest seismicity rate value observed in Italy. Seismicity distribution images the geometry of the ATF and its antithetic/synthetic structures located in the hanging-wall. TABOO can allow us to understand the seismogenic potential of the ATF and therefore contribute to the seismic hazard assessment of the area. The collected information on the geometry and deformation style of the fault will be used to elaborate ground shaking scenarios adopting diverse slip distributions and rupture directivity models.PublishedS03275T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa

Planning and managing a seismic emergency: The INGV drill of November 26th, 2015 carried out in the framework of the activity line T5 "Seismic surveillance and post-earthquake operational procedures" | Pianificazione e gestione di un'emergenza sismica: Esercitazione INGV del 26 novembre 2015 effettuata nell'ambito della Linea di Attività T5 "Sorveglianza sismica e operatività post terremoto"

Nella Struttura Terremoti dell’INGV la Linea di Attività T5 “Sorveglianza sismica ed operatività postterremoto” si occupa delle attività di sviluppo di strumenti e procedure per la valutazione in tempo reale degli effetti di terremoti e tsunami e della gestione delle emergenze sismiche. Uno dei suoi obiettivi del 2015 era la formalizzazione dei protocolli di intervento di Gruppi d’Emergenza, avvenuta per Emergeo, Emersito, IES, QUEST e Sismiko con Decreto del Presidente nel luglio 2015. Altro obiettivo era l’elaborazione di un Protocollo di Ente per la gestione delle emergenze sismiche. La bozza preparata nel 2015 prevede l’importante novità dell’Unità di Crisi, mai formalizzata in precedenza. Attraverso questo Protocollo di Ente si auspica di migliorare la risposta logistico-operativa dell’INGV durante l’emergenza, di avere una più rapida conoscenza del fenomeno in corso e di realizzare un’efficace comunicazione verso Protezione Civile, media e pubblico. Per verificare il tutto è stata organizzata un’esercitazione in cui è stato simulato un terremoto di magnitudo 6.4 nel basso Lazio. Si sono così sperimentate l’efficacia del flusso azioni/informazioni durante un’emergenza, il funzionamento dell’Unità di Crisi, la funzionalità dei protocolli dei Gruppi d’Emergenza, l’efficienza delle attività in sede per gli aspetti tecnico-logistici, il flusso di comunicazione interno e le comunicazioni istituzionali esterne (queste ultime simulate). In questo articolo sono descritte le fasi di organizzazione ed attuazione dell’esercitazione. Inoltre, durante il suo svolgimento, la valutazione dell’efficacia dell’organizzazione e delle attività svolte dai gruppi coinvolti è stata affidata ad alcuni osservatori e qui è allegata l’elaborazione dei commenti riportati. Abbiamo fatto infine una sintesi dei risultati positivi e delle criticità emerse dall’esercitazione, attività così importante a nostro avviso da considerarne indispensabile la ripetizione con cadenza quanto meno annuale.Published1SR. TERREMOTI - Servizi e ricerca per la SocietàN/A or not JCRope

Environmental hazard of yperite released at sea: sublethal toxic effects on fish

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential toxicological effects on fish related to the leakage of yperite from rusted bomb shells dumped at sea. Both in vivo and field studies have been performed. As for the in vivo experiment, specimen of European eel were subcutaneously injected with 0.015, 0.15 and 1.5 mg/kg of yperite and sacrificed after 24 and 48 h. In the field study, specimen of Conger eel were collected from a dumping site in the Southern Adriatic Sea. The presence/absence of yperite in tissues, genotoxicity, detoxification enzymes, histological alterations and gross abnormalities were investigated. Results of the in vivo experiment showed a significant increase of EROD activity at both 24 h and 48 h. UGT activity increased significantly at 48 h post injection. An acute inflammatory response after 24 h in skin layers and muscle was observed, associated to cell degeneration and necrosis after 48 h at the highest dose. On field, comet assay revealed genotoxicity in gills of fish from the dumping site. Specimen from the dumping site showed significantly higher EROD activities compared to controls, deep ulcers and papules on skin together with liver and spleen histopathological lesions

THERAPY OF ENDOCRINE DISEASE: GH therapy in adult GH deficiency: A review of treatment schedules and the evidence for low starting doses

Recombinant human GH has been licensed for use in adult patients with GH deficiency (GHD) for over 15 years. Early weight- and surface area-based dosing regimens were effective but resulted in supraphysiological levels of IGF1 and increased incidence of side effects. Current practice has moved towards individualised regimens, starting with low GH doses and gradually titrating the dose according to the level of serum IGF1 to achieve an optimal dose. Here we present the evidence supporting the dosing recommendations of current guidelines and consider factors affecting dose responsiveness and parameters of treatment response. The published data discussed here lend support for the use of low GH dosing regimens in adult GHD. The range of doses defined as 'low dose' in the studies discussed here (∼1–4 mg/week) is in accordance with those recommended in current guidelines and encompasses the dose range recommended by product labels

The alto Tiberina near fault observatory (northern Apennines, Italy)

The availability of multidisciplinary and high-resolution data is a fun- damental requirement to understand the physics of earthquakes and faulting. We present the Alto Tiberina Near Fault Observatory (TABOO), a research infrastructure devoted to studying preparatory processes, slow and fast deformation along a fault system located in the upper Tiber Val- ley (northern Apennines), dominated by a 60 km long low-angle normal fault (Alto Tiberina, ATF) active since the Quaternary. TABOO consists of 50 permanent seismic stations covering an area of 120 × 120 km2. The surface seismic stations are equipped with 3-components seismometers, one third of them hosting accelerometers. We instrumented three shallow (250 m) boreholes with seismometers, creating a 3-dimensional antenna for studying micro-earthquakes sources (detection threshold is ML 0.5) and detecting transient signals. 24 of these sites are equipped with con- tinuous geodetic GPS, forming two transects across the fault system. Geo- chemical and electromagnetic stations have been also deployed in the study area. In 36 months TABOO recorded 19,422 events with ML ≤ 3.8 corresponding to 23.36e-04 events per day per squared kilometres; one of the highest seismicity rate value observed in Italy. Seismicity distribution images the geometry of the ATF and its antithetic/synthetic structures lo- cated in the hanging-wall. TABOO can allow us to understand the seismo- genic potential of the ATF and therefore contribute to the seismic hazard assessment of the area. The collected information on the geometry and de- formation style of the fault will be used to elaborate ground shaking sce- narios adopting diverse slip distributions and rupture directivity models. © 2014 by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. All rights reserved

Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): a target species for monitoring litter ingested by marine organisms in the Mediterranean Sea

Marine litter is any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment. Ingestion of marine litter can have lethal and sub-lethal effects on wildlife that accidentally ingests it, and sea turtles are particularly susceptible to this threat. The European Commission drafted the 2008/56/EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive with the aim to achieve a Good Environmental Status (GES), and the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta, Linnaeus 1758) was selected for monitoring the amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals. An analogous decision has been made under the UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea, following the Ecosystem Approach. This work provides for the first time, two possible scenarios for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive GES, both related to â\u80\u9cTrends in the amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animalsâ\u80\u9d in the Mediterranean Sea. The study validates the use of the loggerhead turtle as target indicator for monitoring the impact of litter on marine biota and calls for immediate use of this protocol throughout the Mediterranean basin and European Region. Both GES scenarios are relevant worldwide, where sea turtles and marine litter are present, for measuring the impact of ingested plastics and developing policy strategies to reduce it. In the period between 2011 and 2014, 150 loggerhead sea turtles, found dead, were collected from the Italian Coast, West Mediterranean Sea Sub-Region. The presence of marine litter was investigated using a standardized protocol for necropsies and lab analysis. The collected items were subdivided into 4 main categories, namely, IND-Industrial plastic, USE-User plastic, RUB-Non plastic rubbish, POL-Pollutants and 14 sub-categories, to detect local diversity. Eighty-five percent of the individuals considered (n = 120) were found to have ingested an average of 1.3 ± 0.2 g of litter (dry mass) or 16 ± 3 items

Combination of an implantable defibrillator multi-sensor heart failure index and an apnea index for the prediction of atrial high-rate events

Aims Patients with atrial fibrillation frequently experience sleep disorder breathing, and both conditions are highly prevalent in presence of heart failure (HF). We explored the association between the combination of an HF and a sleep apnoea (SA) index and the incidence of atrial high-rate events (AHRE) in patients with implantable defibrillators (ICDs).Methods and results Data were prospectively collected from 411 consecutive HF patients with ICD. The IN-alert HF state was measured by the multi-sensor HeartLogic Index (> 16), and the ICD-measured Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) was computed to identify severe SA. The endpoints were as follows: daily AHRE burden of >= 5 min, >= 6 h, and >= 23 h. During a median follow-up of 26 months, the time IN-alert HF state was 13% of the total observation period. The RDI value was >= 30 episodes/h (severe SA) during 58% of the observation period. An AHRE burden of >= 5 min/day was documented in 139 (34%) patients, >= 6 h/day in 89 (22%) patients, and >= 23 h/day in 68 (17%) patients. The IN-alert HF state was independently associated with AHRE regardless of the daily burden threshold: hazard ratios from 2.17 for >= 5 min/day to 3.43 for >= 23 h/day (P < 0.01). An RDI >= 30 episodes/h was associated only with AHRE burden >= 5 min/day [hazard ratio 1.55 (95% confidence interval: 1.11-2.16), P = 0.001]. The combination of IN-alert HF state and RDI >= 30 episodes/h accounted for only 6% of the follow-up period and was associated with high rates of AHRE occurrence (from 28 events/100 patient-years for AHRE burden >= 5 min/day to 22 events/100 patient-years for AHRE burden >= 23 h/day).Conclusions In HF patients, the occurrence of AHRE is independently associated with the ICD-measured IN-alert HF state and RDI >= 30 episodes/h. The coexistence of these two conditions occurs rarely but is associated with a very high rate of AHRE occurrence