The 2013 European seismic hazard model : key components and results

The 2013 European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM13) results from a community-based probabilistic seismic hazard assessment supported by the EU-FP7 project “Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe” (SHARE, 2009–2013). The ESHM13 is a consistent seismic hazard model for Europe and Turkey which overcomes the limitation of national borders and includes a through quantification of the uncertainties. It is the first completed regional effort contributing to the “Global Earthquake Model” initiative. It might serve as a reference model for various applications, from earthquake preparedness to earthquake risk mitigation strategies, including the update of the European seismic regulations for building design (Eurocode 8), and thus it is useful for future safety assessment and improvement of private and public buildings. Although its results constitute a reference for Europe, they do not replace the existing national design regulations that are in place for seismic design and construction of buildings. The ESHM13 represents a significant improvement compared to previous efforts as it is based on (1) the compilation of updated and harmonised versions of the databases required for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, (2) the adoption of standard procedures and robust methods, especially for expert elicitation and consensus building among hundreds of European experts, (3) the multi-disciplinary input from all branches of earthquake science and engineering, (4) the direct involvement of the CEN/TC250/SC8 committee in defining output specifications relevant for Eurocode 8 and (5) the accounting for epistemic uncertainties of model components and hazard results. Furthermore, enormous effort was devoted to transparently document and ensure open availability of all data, results and methods through the European Facility for Earthquake Hazard and Risk (www.efehr.org)

Potential benefits and constraints of development of critical raw materials' production in the EU: analysis of selected case studies

ABSTRACT: Major benefits and constraints related to mineral extraction within the EU have been identified on the examples of selected critical raw materials’ deposits. Analyzed case studies include the following ore deposits: Myszków Mo-W-Cu (Poland), Juomasuo Au-Co (Finland), S. Pedro das Águias W-Sn (Portugal), Penouta Nb-Ta-Sn (Spain), Norra Kärr REEs (Sweden) and Trælen graphite (Norway). They represent different stages of development, from the early/grassroot exploration stage, through advanced exploration and active mining, up to reopening of abandoned mines, and refer to different problems and constraints related to the possibility of exploitation commencement. The multi-criteria analysis of the cases has included geological and economic factors as well as environmental, land use, social acceptance and infrastructure factors. These factors, in terms of cost and benefit analysis, have been considered at three levels: local, country and EU levels. The analyzed cases indicated the major obstacles that occur in different stages of deposit development and need to be overcome in order to enable a new deposit exploitation commencement. These are environmental (Juomasuo and Myszków), spatial (Juomasuo) as well as social constraints (Norra Kärr, Juomasuo). In the analyzed cases, the most important constraints related to future deposit extraction occur primarily at a local level, while some important benefits are identified mainly at the country and the EU levels. These major benefits are related to securing long-term supplies for the national industries and strategically important EU industry sectors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The 2013 European Seismic Hazard Model: key components and results

The 2013 European Seismic Hazard Model (ESHM13) results from a community-based probabilistic seismic hazard assessment supported by the EU-FP7 project “Seismic Hazard Harmonization in Europe” (SHARE, 2009–2013). The ESHM13 is a consistent seismic hazard model for Europe and Turkey which overcomes the limitation of national borders and includes a through quantification of the uncertainties. It is the first completed regional effort contributing to the “Global Earthquake Model” initiative. It might serve as a reference model for various applications, from earthquake preparedness to earthquake risk mitigation strategies, including the update of the European seismic regulations for building design (Eurocode 8), and thus it is useful for future safety assessment and improvement of private and public buildings. Although its results constitute a reference for Europe, they do not replace the existing national design regulations that are in place for seismic design and construction of buildings. The ESHM13 represents a significant improvement compared to previous efforts as it is based on (1) the compilation of updated and harmonised versions of the databases required for probabilistic seismic hazard assessment, (2) the adoption of standard procedures and robust methods, especially for expert elicitation and consensus building among hundreds of European experts, (3) the multi-disciplinary input from all branches of earthquake science and engineering, (4) the direct involvement of the CEN/TC250/SC8 committee in defining output specifications relevant for Eurocode 8 and (5) the accounting for epistemic uncertainties of model components and hazard results. Furthermore, enormous effort was devoted to transparently document and ensure open availability of all data, results and methods through the European Facility for Earthquake Hazard and Risk (www.​efehr.​org)

Cholera Toxin Regulates a Signaling Pathway Critical for the Expansion of Neural Stem Cell Cultures from the Fetal and Adult Rodent Brains

Background: New mechanisms that regulate neural stem cell (NSC) expansion will contribute to improved assay systems and the emerging regenerative approach that targets endogenous stem cells. Expanding knowledge on the control of stem cell self renewal will also lead to new approaches for targeting the stem cell population of cancers. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here we show that Cholera toxin regulates two recently characterized NSC markers, the Tie2 receptor and the transcription factor Hes3, and promotes the expansion of NSCs in culture. Cholera toxin increases immunoreactivity for the Tie2 receptor and rapidly induces the nuclear localization of Hes3. This is followed by powerful cultured NSC expansion and induction of proliferation both in the presence and absence of mitogen. Conclusions/Significance: Our data suggest a new cell biological mechanism that regulates the self renewal and differentiation properties of stem cells, providing a new logic to manipulate NSCs in the context of regenerative disease and cancer

Seismotectonics of the Cyprian Arc

The Cyprian Arc forms the plate boundary between the Anatolian plate in the north and the Nubian and Sinai plates in the south. We examine the tectonic setting and seismic activity along the arc in light of new geodetic studies indicating relative NE–SW plate motions across the arc. The first-order tectonic variations are determined by the arc's geometry. The eastern arc, oriented subparallel to relative motion, is dominated by transcurrent tectonism. The western arc is oriented almost normal to relative plate motion and is subjected to convergent processes. Variations in the level and depth of seismic activity along the western arc suggest that the northwestern section of the arc represents a subduction boundary, whereas the southeastern section represents a collision boundary. The two tectonic domains of the western arc are separated by a NE–SW trending tear fault, which produces large earthquakes, such as the MW = 6.8, 1996 Paphos earthquake. We compare the geometrically similar Cyprian and Hellenic Arcs and find significant differences in the rate, direction and type of convergence across the two arcs. The Hellenic Arc is subjected mainly to subduction, whereas the shorter Cyprian Arc is subjected to subduction, collision and transcurrent tectonic processes

Deliverable 2.1: Policy. A review of policies and practices throughout Europe on mineral resources and land use

Access to mineral resources in Europe is important for the economic development of Europe. At the same time, it is widely recognised that it is essential that minerals are responsibly sourced for the sustainable development of Europe. The question is how to balance societal interests, such as expanding cities, infrastructure development, agriculture and nature conservation with the exploration and mining of mineral resources. Land-use planning is a key- mechanism to balance various societal interests to guide sustainable spatial development. Therefore, the integration of mineral resources policies into land-use planning at different levels is a key factor for achieving responsibly sourced minerals. This deliverable of MinLand assesses the current state of affairs on land-use planning in relation to mineral exploration and the safeguarding of mineral resources. The deliverable reviews the issue of governance (e.g. the division of responsibilities between different levels) with a special emphasis on the coherence between existing mineral policies, legislation and land use planning. To analyse this, a survey was conducted amongst 18 participating countries (16 EU Member States plus Ukraine and Norway) to assess the current state of affairs. The mineral land use process has been further visualized for nine EU countries in section 2. In addition to the questionnaire and its updates, additional information has been gathered by contact through emails with consortium experts. Mineral land use processes are further analysed and scrutinized in Deliverable D4.2. D4.2 provides the reader with an evaluation of the interplay between the different parts of the land use processes and permitting procedures. The current deliverable is one in a series related to mineral policies and land use. This is a first step in describing how mineral raw materials relate to land use together with deliverables D2.3, D3.2 and D3.3. These land use issues will be further elaborated within WP4 (particularly D4.2), WP5, WP6 and WP7. The next step in this process building upon the gathered information is the D4.2. <br/

Deliverable 2.1: Policy. A review of policies and practices throughout Europe on mineral resources and land use

Access to mineral resources in Europe is important for the economic development of Europe. At the same time, it is widely recognised that it is essential that minerals are responsibly sourced for the sustainable development of Europe. The question is how to balance societal interests, such as expanding cities, infrastructure development, agriculture and nature conservation with the exploration and mining of mineral resources. Land-use planning is a key- mechanism to balance various societal interests to guide sustainable spatial development. Therefore, the integration of mineral resources policies into land-use planning at different levels is a key factor for achieving responsibly sourced minerals. This deliverable of MinLand assesses the current state of affairs on land-use planning in relation to mineral exploration and the safeguarding of mineral resources. The deliverable reviews the issue of governance (e.g. the division of responsibilities between different levels) with a special emphasis on the coherence between existing mineral policies, legislation and land use planning. To analyse this, a survey was conducted amongst 18 participating countries (16 EU Member States plus Ukraine and Norway) to assess the current state of affairs. The mineral land use process has been further visualized for nine EU countries in section 2. In addition to the questionnaire and its updates, additional information has been gathered by contact through emails with consortium experts. Mineral land use processes are further analysed and scrutinized in Deliverable D4.2. D4.2 provides the reader with an evaluation of the interplay between the different parts of the land use processes and permitting procedures. The current deliverable is one in a series related to mineral policies and land use. This is a first step in describing how mineral raw materials relate to land use together with deliverables D2.3, D3.2 and D3.3. These land use issues will be further elaborated within WP4 (particularly D4.2), WP5, WP6 and WP7. The next step in this process building upon the gathered information is the D4.2. <br/