USE OF SATELLITE SAR DATA FOR SEISMIC RISK MANAGEMENT: RESULTS FROM THE PRE-OPERATIONAL ASI-SIGRIS PROJECT

In the framework of the National Space Programme, and of the European GMES Programme, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) has funded several pilot projects aimed at demonstrating the full potential of Earth Observation data in the monitoring and management of natural hazards. The SIGRIS (Earth Observation System for Seismic Risk Management) pilot project has developed a hardware/software infrastructure for the generation of decision support products for the seismic risk management. A pre-operational demonstration of the SIGRIS system is being carried out since June 2009 and various products to be used by civil protection authorities in either the Knowledge & Prevention or Crisis Management phases of seismic risk management, have been generated. SIGRIS products to support the Knowledge & Prevention activities are based on the integration of satellite and ground-based observations to constrain analytical and numerical models of the tectonic strain accumulation and of its long-term effects on the earthquake source. They include crustal deformation maps from time series DInSAR and GPS, and fault models to improve the seismic hazard assessment. SIGRIS products for the Crisis Management phase are instead focused on the quick generation of value added information needed to devise damage or event scenarios, and typically consist of damage assessment maps from high resolution optical and SAR data, co-seismic displacements maps from DInSAR analysis, seismic source models, maps of earthquake-induced environmental effects (landslides, surface fractures, ecc.). For these products a near-real time capability is required and new constellations, as COSMO-SkyMed , can now provide the necessary temporal revisit to fulfil this need. The SIGRIS system is also depending on other SAR satellites to ensure a faster and better coverage of the disaster areas: ENVISAT, Radarsat, TerraSar X, ALOS. We will present examples of the SIGRIS decision support products based on the integration of Earth Observation and ground data and discuss important issues related to disaster applications, as EO data programming, fast data access, data archival

The Virgo 3 km interferometer for gravitational wave detection

Virgo, designed, constructed and developed by the French-Italian VIRGO collaboration located in Cascina (Pisa, Italy) and aiming to detect gravitational waves, is a ground-based power recycled Michelson interferometer, with 3 km long suspended Fabry-Perot cavities. The first Virgo scientific data-taking started in mid-May 2007, in coincidence with the corresponding LIGO detectors. The optical scheme of the interferometer and the various optical techniques used in the experiment, such as the laser source, control, alignment, stabilization and detection strategies are outlined. The future upgrades that are planned for Virgo from the optical point of view, especially concerning the evolution of the Virgo laser, are presented. Finally, the next generation of the gravitational wave detector (advanced Virgo) is introduced from the point of view of the laser system

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

USE OF SATELLITE SAR DATA FOR SEISMIC RISK MANAGEMENT: RESULTS FROM THE PRE-OPERATIONAL ASI-SIGRIS PROJECT

In the framework of the National Space Programme, and of the European GMES Programme, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) has funded several pilot projects aimed at demonstrating the full potential of Earth Observation data in the monitoring and management of natural hazards. The SIGRIS (Earth Observation System for Seismic Risk Management) pilot project has developed a hardware/software infrastructure for the generation of decision support products for the seismic risk management. A pre-operational demonstration of the SIGRIS system is being carried out since June 2009 and various products to be used by civil protection authorities in either the Knowledge & Prevention or Crisis Management phases of seismic risk management, have been generated. SIGRIS products to support the Knowledge & Prevention activities are based on the integration of satellite and ground-based observations to constrain analytical and numerical models of the tectonic strain accumulation and of its long-term effects on the earthquake source. They include crustal deformation maps from time series DInSAR and GPS, and fault models to improve the seismic hazard assessment. SIGRIS products for the Crisis Management phase are instead focused on the quick generation of value added information needed to devise damage or event scenarios, and typically consist of damage assessment maps from high resolution optical and SAR data, co-seismic displacements maps from DInSAR analysis, seismic source models, maps of earthquake-induced environmental effects (landslides, surface fractures, ecc.). For these products a near-real time capability is required and new constellations, as COSMO-SkyMed , can now provide the necessary temporal revisit to fulfil this need. The SIGRIS system is also depending on other SAR satellites to ensure a faster and better coverage of the disaster areas: ENVISAT, Radarsat, TerraSar X, ALOS. We will present examples of the SIGRIS decision support products based on the integration of Earth Observation and ground data and discuss important issues related to disaster applications, as EO data programming, fast data access, data archival.PublishedBergen, NO1.10. TTC - Telerilevamentoope

Treating Type 1 Diabetes by Pancreas Transplant Alone: a Cohort Study on Actual Long-Term (10 Years) Efficacy and Safety

Background: Physiologically regulated insulin secretion and euglycemia are achievable in type 1 diabetes (T1D) by islet or pancreas transplantation. However, pancreas transplant alone (PTA) remains a debated approach, with uncertainties on its relative benefits and risks. We determined the actual long-term (10 years) efficacy and safety of PTA in carefully characterized T1D subjects. Methods: This is a single-centre, cohort study in 66 consecutive T1D subjects who received a PTA between April 2001 and December 2007, and were then all followed until 10 years since transplant. Main features evaluated were patient survival, pancreas graft function, C-peptide levels, glycemic parameters, and the function of the native kidneys. Results: Ten-year actual patient survival was 92.4%. Optimal (insulin-independence) or good (minimal insulin requirement) graft function was observed in 57.4 and 3.2% of patients, respectively. Six (9.0%) patients developed stage 5 or 4 chronic kidney disease. In the remaining individuals bearing a successful PTA, eGFR decline per year was -2.29±2.69 ml/min/1.73m. Reduction of eGFR at 1 year post-PTA was higher in those with pre-PTA hyperfiltration and higher HbA1c concentrations; eGFR changes afterwards significantly correlated with diabetes duration. In recipients with normoglycemia at 10 years, 74% of normo- or micro-albuminuric subjects pre-PTA remained stable, and 26% progressed towards a worse stage; conversely, in 62.5% of the macro-albuminuric individuals albuminuria severity regressed. Conclusions: These long-term effects of PTA on patient survival, graft function and the native kidneys support PTA as a suitable approach to treat diabetes in selected T1D patients