The new methods for rapid exposure and seismic vulnerability assessment. How do they adapt to different scenarios?

We present a procedure for exposure and vulnerability evaluation that integrates LiDAR, orthophotos, and other ancillary datasets. It comprises three phases: (1) city stratification into homogeneous regions; (2) exposure database compilation; and (3) vulnerability allocation using predictive modelling. We have conducted two applications in Lorca (Spain) and Port-au-Price (Haiti) and here we compare them. Each phase of the method is subject to variations due mainly to data availability; however, it does not affect the final accuracy that remains high in both scenarios (over 80%). It is a flexible procedure that is able to adapt to the particular features of two different cities

Assessing Building Habitability after an Earthquake Using Building Typology and Damage Grade. Application in Lorca, Spain

The present study proposes a statistical methodology to rate the habitability of different types of buildings after an earthquake. The first step was to rank variables that affect the vulnerability of a building and formulate a statistical study with a discrimination index that makes it possible to identify buildings as habitable or non-habitable. This ranking applied the criteria established in various international guidelines that are used to distinguish between habitable (undamaged/no structural damage) and non-habitable buildings (structural damage). The proposed methodology was applied to a database with information about buildings and damage grade experienced following the 2011 earthquake in Lorca. The approach presented could be extended to other regions where neccessary data are available

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) gene polymorphisms have an impact on survival in a subgroup of indolent patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated angiogenesis contributes to the pathogenesis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We investigated the impact of VEGFA gene diversity on the clinical outcome of patients with this disease. A VEGFA haplotype conformed by positions rs699947 (-1540C>A), rs833061 (-460T>C) and rs2010963 (405C>G) and two additional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs3025039 (936C>T) and rs25648 (1032C>T), were analysed in 239 patients at the time of their CLL diagnosis. Here, we showed that homozygosity for rs699947/rs833061/rs2010963 ACG haplotype (ACG+/+ genotype) correlated with a reduced survival in CLL patients (ACG+/+ vs other genotypes: HR = 2.3, p = 0.002; recessive model). In multivariate analysis, the ACG+/+ genotype was identified as a novel independent prognostic factor (HR = 2.1, p = 0.005). Moreover, ACG homozygosity subdivided patients with CLL with otherwise indolent parameters into prognostic subgroups with different outcomes. Specifically, patients carrying the ACG+/+ genotype with mutated IgVH, very low and low-risk cytogenetics, initial clinical stage, CD38 negative status or early age at diagnosis showed a shorter survival (ACG+/+ vs other genotypes: HR = 3.5, p = 0.035; HR = 3.4, p = 0.001; HR = 2.2, p = 0.035; HR = 3.4, p = 0.0001 and HR = 3.1, p = 0.009, respectively). In conclusion, VEGFA ACG+/+ genotype confers an adverse effect in overall survival in CLL patients with an indolent course of the disease. These observations support the biological and prognostic implications of VEGFA genetics in CLL

Minor allele frequencies (MAF) of the <i>VEGF</i> polymorphisms studied in CLL patients.

<p>Minor allele frequencies (MAF) of the <i>VEGF</i> polymorphisms studied in CLL patients.</p

Distribution of <i>VEGF</i> genotypes in B-CLL groups with different mutational status of the<i>IgV_H</i> genes.

<p>M: patients with mutated <i>IgV_H</i> genes, UM: patients with unmutated<i>IgV_H</i> genes.</p><p>OR: odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.</p>a<p>Haplotype rs699947/rs833061/rs2010963. X genotype corresponds to n haplotypes other than ACG (CTC or CTG).</p>b<p>The upper homozygous genotype of each variant is designated the reference with an arbitrary OR value of 1 upon which the OR of the other genotypes are based.</p><p>Significant risk factors are shown in bold.</p

Association of <i>VEGFA</i> genotypes and OS of 239 CLL patients.

<p>Kaplan-Maier curves according to: (A) a recessive comparison of rs699947/rs833061/rs2010963 ACG^+/+ genotype and, (B) number of copies of ACG haplotype.</p

Multivariate analysis of the associations between <i>VEGFA</i>rs699947/rs833061/rs2010963 genotypes and OS of CLL patients.

a<p>Patients aged 65 year have been classified >65.</p>b<p>Haplotype rs699947/rs833061/rs2010963.</p><p>HR: hazard ratio, Pos: positive, Neg: negative.</p

Clinical and molecular characteristics of the CLL patients.

<p>NC: normal karyotype, n.d: not determined.</p

Association of <i>VEGFA</i> ACG+/+ genotype and OS of CLL patients with good prognostic features.

<p>Kaplan-Maier curves according to <i>VEGFA</i> ACG^+/+ genotype (solid line) and other genotypes (dotted line) in subgroups of patients divided by (A) age at diagnosis, (B) <i>IgVH</i> mutational status, (C) Binet stage, (D) CD38 status and, (E) genetic abnormalities. ^aVery low (del13q), low (normal karyotype), intermediate (Δ<i>ATM</i>) and high-risk (Δ<i>TP53</i>).</p