GPS Seismology for a moderate magnitude earthquake: Lessons learned from the analysis of the 31 October 2013 ML6.4 Ruisui (Taiwan) earthquake

The 31 October 2013 ML 6.4 Ruisui earthquake was well recorded by twelve 50-Hz, four 20-Hz and thirteen 1-Hz GPS receivers, and twenty-five strong motion stations located within the epicentral distance of 90 km in eastern Taiwan. Kinematic positioning solutions estimated by four GNSS software (TRACK, RTKLIB, GIPSY, VADASE) are used to derive the seismic waveforms and the co-seismic displacements for this event; strong motion accelerometers are used to verify the capability of high rate GPS to detect seismic waves generated by this earthquake. Results show that the coordinate repeatability of the GPS displacements time series are ~6 mm and ~20 mm standard deviation in the horizontal and vertical components respectively, after applying spatial filtering. The largest co-seismic displacement derived from high-rate GPS is nearly 15 centimeter at 5 km northeast of the epicenter. S waves and surface waves are successfully detected by motions of high-rate GPS and double-integrated accelerometers within the 15 km epicentral distance. For the first time twelve 50-Hz and four 20 Hz GPS observations for seismological study were used and analyzed in Taiwan; a clear benefit was evidenced with regard to the seismic waves features detection, with respect to the 1-Hz GPS data, so that ultra-high rate (> 1-Hz) observations can compensate the sparse coverage of seismic data, provided proper monuments for the GPS permanent stations are realized. Spectra analysis between co-located GPS and strong motion data further suggests that the optimal sampling rate for high-rate GPS Seismology study is 5 Hz. The 2013 Ruisui Taiwan earthquake recorded by the high-rate GPS permanent stations network in Taiwan demonstrates the benefits of GPS Seismology for a moderate size earthquake at a local scale

Spatio-temporal analysis of SAR based time series for slope instability characterization : the Corvara in Badia landslide ( Dolomites , Italy )

The aim of this study is to estimate the influence of different forcing factors acting on instability phases of a slow alpine earthslide-earthflow, by means of the characteristics of decomposed deformations signals derived by displacement rates measured in its different sectors. In this work we analyze a slow landslide located ESE from Corvara in Badia, a famous tourist area in the Dolomites (NE Italy). Road, infrastructure, ski and other recreational facilities, isolated buildings close to the town of Corvara and finally an artificial reservoir for snow production are threatened and occasionally damaged by this mass movement. It flows from 2000m s.l. to 1500m s.l. where a paleo-landslide deposit is partially covered and re-activated. In the last 10 years the Province of Bolzano carried out discontinuous GPS surveys between 5 and 1 times per year to define the landslide’s level of hazard. The landslide volume is resulted to be 30Mm3, xtending downslope for approx. 3km, with displacement rates between few centimeters and slightly less than 10m per year. To analyze this area we used data from active radar sensors (SAR – Synthetic perture Radar). The SAR-based dataset consists in high resolution X-band SAR data from the Cosmo SkyMed (CSK) mission acquired every 8 days from August 2010 to September 2011. Part of the 38 CSK scenes contain the back-scattering signal from 17 artificial reflectors (AR) installed along the AOI and partially on existing GPS benchmarks for data validation and integration. The ARs back scattering signal has been elaborated in order to track their displacement from August 2010 to September 2011, in the lower zone of the landslide, as well as from March 2011 to September 2011 in the higher part, excluding the period when the snow was covering the surface. The signals have been analyzed with Fourier and wavelet methods to identify the different frequencies and nature of the components. T and Mann-Kendall tests have been used to assess the presence of trends. Fits with exponential functions of the de-trended and de-seasonalized signal have been performed to identify the presence of dissipating deformations. We observed that the signal of velocity and acceleration is characterized by the coexistence of different factors: first, periodic signals associated to seasonal and gravitational kinematic behavior; second, decay effects due to instability events. Moreover, using different points is possible to observe the signal propagation both in time and space. This analysis allow us to determine the spatio-temporal scale of different forcing events and their effect on the total landslide area. Finally, this study represent a new approach for identify the spatio-temporal nature of different factors in the evolution of the landslide for setting-up a system of conscious prediction of aintenance tasks of he exposed structures. The use of the SAR data demonstrated to be an innovative tool for high temporal resolution surveys with a big amount of points that in comparison with GPS surveys results to be conomically convenient in wide AOI

A Prognostic Model to Predict Ruxolitinib Discontinuation and Death in Patients with Myelofibrosis

Most patients with myelofibrosis (MF) discontinue ruxolitinib (JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor) in the first 5 years of therapy due to therapy failure. As the therapeutic possibilities of MF are expanding, it is critical to identify patients predisposed to early ruxolitinib monotherapy failure and worse outcomes. We investigated predictors of early ruxolitinib discontinuation and death on therapy in 889 patients included in the "RUX-MF" retrospective study. Overall, 172 patients were alive on ruxolitinib after ≥5 years (long-term ruxolitinib, LTR), 115 patients were alive but off ruxolitinib after ≥5 yrs (short-term RUX, STR), and 123 patients died while on ruxolitinib after <5 yrs (early death on ruxolitinib, EDR). The cumulative incidence of the blast phase was similar in LTR and STR patients (p = 0.08). Overall survival (OS) was significantly longer in LTR pts (p = 0.002). In multivariate analysis, PLT < 100 × 109/L, Hb < 10 g/dL, primary MF, absence of spleen response at 3 months and ruxolitinib starting dose <10 mg BID were associated with higher probability of STR. Assigning one point to each significant variable, a prognostic model for STR (STR-PM) was built, and three groups were identified: low (score 0-1), intermediate (score 2), and high risk (score ≥ 3). The STR-PM may identify patients at higher risk of failure with ruxolitinib monotherapy who should be considered for alternative frontline strategies

Long-period surface motion of the multi-patch Mw9.0 Tohoku-Oki earthquake

We show that it is possible to capture the oscillatory ground motion induced by the Tohoku-Oki event for periods ranging from 3 to 100s using Precise Point Positioning (PPP). We find that the ground motions of the sedimentary basins of Japan were large (respectively > 0.15m/s and >0.15m/s2 for velocity and acceleration) even for periods larger than 3s. We compare geodetic observables with a Ground Motion Prediction Equation (GMPE) designed for Japan seismicity and find that the Spectral Acceleration (SA) is well estimated for periods larger than 3s and distances ranging from 100 to 500km. At last, through the analysis of the displacement attenuation plots, we show that the 2011 Tohoku-Oki event is likely composed of multiple rupture patches as suggested before by time-reversal inversions of seismic data

In vitro mycorrhization of micropropagated plants: studies on Castanea sativa Mill.

In vitro mycorrhization can be made by several axenic and nonaxenic techniques but criticism exists about their artificiality and inability to reproduce under natural conditions. However, artificial mycorrhization under controlled conditions can provide important information about the physiology of symbiosis. Micropropagated Castanea sativa plants were inoculated with the mycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius after in vitro rooting. The mycorrhizal process was monitored at regular intervals in order to evaluate the mantle and hartig net formation, and the growth rates of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. Plant roots show fungal hyphae adhesion at the surface after 24 hours of mycorrhizal induction. After 20 days a mantle can be observed and a hartig net is forming although the morphology of the epidermal cells remains unaltered. At 30 days of root–fungus contact the hartig net is well developed and the epidermal cells are already enlarged. After 50 days of mycorrhizal induction, growth was higher for mycorrhizal plants than for nonmycorrhizal ones. The length of the major roots was lower in mycorrhizal plants after 40 days. Fresh and dry weights were higher in mycorrhizal plants after 30 days. The growth rates of chestnut mycorrhizal plants are in agreement with the morphological development of the mycorrhizal structures observed at each mycorrhizal time. The assessment of symbiotic establishment takes into account the formation of a mantle and a hartig net that were already developed at 30 days, when differences between fresh and dry weights of mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants can be quantified. In vitro conditions, mycorrhization influences plant physiology after 20 days of root–fungus contact, namely in terms of growth rates. Fresh and dry weights, heights, stem diameter and growth rates increased while major root growth rate decreased in mycorrhizal plants.Springe

Mycorrhization of fagaceae forests within mediterranean ecosystems

Mediterranean Fagaceae forests are valuable due to their ecological and socioeconomic aspects. Some profitable plant species, such as Castanea (timber and chestnut), Quercus (timber and cork), and Fagus (timber), encounter in this habitat the excellent edaphoclimatic conditions to develop. All Fagaceae plants are commonly associated to ECM fungal species, which are found in these forests in quite stable communities, mainly enriched in Russulaceae and Telephoraceae species. Currently, the Mediterranean Basin is considered as one of the global biodiversity hotspots, since many of their endemic plant species are not found elsewhere and are now under threat. Due to climate changing and introduction of disease agents, Fagaceae forests are facing an adaptation challenge to both biotic and abiotic threats. Although ECM communities are highly disturbed by climate factors and tree disease incidence, they could play an important role in increasing water availability to the plant and also improving plant tree defense against pathogens. Recent advances, namely, on genomics and transcriptomics, are providing tools for increasing the understanding of Fagaceae mycorrhization process and stress responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Such studies can provide new information for the implementation of the most adequate management policies for protecting threaten Mediterranean forests.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

GNSS-SDR, un ricevitore software completamente open-source pronto per GALILEO

With the advent of new in-orbit satellites, the landscape of GNSS is going to change rapidly and thereceiver architectures must continuously be able to exploit the full potential of the forthcoming scenarios. For such reasons, the SDR (Software Defined Receiver) philosophy have a great response in the GNSS applications. Here, the first open source SDR software (GNSS-SDR) ready for the Galileo constellation is presented, together with its participation in the Google Summer of Code

Effetto della micorrizazione con Glomus sp sulle infezioni ipogee di Fusarium culmorum e Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici su piante di frumento duro.

E' stato valutato l'effetto della micorrizazione di piante di frumento con il fungo micorrizico VA Glomus sp. nei confronti della malattia determinata da Fusarium culmorum (Fc) e Gaeumannomyces graminis var tritici (Ggt) separatamente o insieme. Le piante precolonizzate con Glomus, sono state fatte sviluppare in un substrato inoculato con Fc, Ggt, Fc+Ggt. Delle piante \ue8 stato calcolato l'indice di micorrizazione, l'indice di malattia, il peso secco. La precolonizzazione con Glomus ha ridotto significativamente la gravit\ue0 della malattia causata dai patogeni separatemente o insieme

Variometric approach for real-time GNSS navigation: First demonstration of Kin-VADASE capabilities

The use of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) kinematic positioning for navigational applications dramatically increased over the last decade. Real-time high performance navigation (positioning accuracy from one to few centimeters) can be achieved with established techniques such as Real Time Kinematic (RTK), and Precise Point Positioning (PPP). Despite their potential, the application of these techniques is limited mainly by their high cost. This work proposes the Kinematic implementation of the Variometric Approach for Displacement Analysis Standalone Engine (Kin-VADASE) and gives a demonstration of its performances in the field of GNSS navigation. VADASE is a methodology for the real-time detection of a standalone GNSS receiver displacements. It was originally designed for seismology and monitoring applications, where the receiver is supposed to move for few minutes, in the range of few meters, around a predefined position. Kin-VADASE overcomes the aforementioned limitations and aims to be a complete methodology with fully kinematic capabilities. Here, for the first time, we present its application to two test cases in order to estimate high rate (i.e., 10 Hz) kinematic parameters of moving vehicles. In this demonstration, data are collected and processed in the office, but the same results can be obtained in real-time through the implementation of Kin-VADASE in the firmware of a GNSS receiver. All the Kin-VADASE processing were carried out using double and single frequency observations in order to investigate the potentialities of the software with geodetic class and low-cost single frequency receivers. Root Mean Square Errors in 3D with respect to differential positioning are at the level of 50 cm for dual frequency and better than 1 meter for single frequency data. This reveals how Kin-VADASE features the main advantage of the standalone approach and the single frequency capability and, although with slightly lower accuracy with respect to the established techniques, can be a valid alternative to estimate kinematic parameters of vehicle in motions