Broadband time domain modeling of earthquakes from Friuli, Italy

Short-period (SP) and long-period (LP) seismograms written by the main shock and two principal aftershocks of the 1976 Friuli, Italy, earthquake sequence are modeled in the time domain using synthetic seismograms. The main shock occurred on 6 May 1976 (20h 00m, M_s = 6.5) and both aftershocks on 15 September 1976 (03h 15m, M_s = 6.0 and 09h 21m, M_s = 5.9). Source models were determined initially by trial and error and then refined using a waveform inversion program. Two point sources of radiation are required to adequately model the aftershock short-period records. For the 09h 21m aftershock, the model derived from short-period records also produces good fits to the long-period data. The seismic moment of this earthquake is found to be 0.8 to 1.0 × 10^(25) dyne-cm. The SP model for the 03h 15m aftershock, on the other hand, predicts long-period synthetics which do not agree with the observations. In particular, the SP moment (0.37 × 10^(25) dyne-cm) is about Formula times smaller than the LP moment (1 × 10^(25) dyne-cm). Adding a long-period component to the SP model considerably improves LP waveform and moment agreement. In the case of the main shock, a reasonable fit to the observed SP data is obtained using three point sources of radiation. However, LP synthetics computed using this model do not agree with the observations, and the SP moment (0.65 × 10^(25) dyne-cm) is a small fraction of the LP moment (3 to 5 × 10^(25) dyne-cm). Time function durations indicate that the individual events inferred from the SP records are radiated from patches of the fault having radii of 2 to 4 km and stress drops in the range 35 to 276 bars. In comparison, stress drops estimated from LP data are found to be 12 bars (main shock) and 24 bars (09h 21m aftershock). These observations suggest that the short-period instruments are sensitive to the high-frequency radiation emitted from small, high-stress drop areas on the fault plane whereas the long-period instruments record the overall motion during the earthquake

Teleseismic observations of the 1976 Friuli, Italy earthquake sequence

Teleseismic long-period body and surface waves radiated by the May 6, 1976 Friuli, Italy earthquake and its principal aftershock of September 15, 1976 (09h 21 m) are studied to determine source characteristics. Focal mechanisms along with geological evidence suggest that both events represent the underthrusting of the Friuli Plain beneath the southern Alps. The depths of both earthquakes, estimated by matching synthetic body-wave seismograms to observations, are found to lie between 6 and 10 km. It is not possible to discern any evidence of source directivity in the observed main shock body waves. Synthetic seismogram calculations which include rupture effects suggest that the fault length of the main shock could not be much larger than 16 km for a unilaterally propagating fault or about 24 km for a symmetrical rupture assuming a rupture velocity of 3.0 km/sec. Observations of 100-sec Rayleigh waves confirm the focal mechanism deduced from body waves, but suggest that the seismic moment of the main shock is 5 × 10^(25) dyne-cm compared to 2.9 × 10^(25) dyne-cm estimated from body waves. The P-wave moment of the aftershock is 1 × 10^(25) dyne-cm. The aftershock studied in this paper is one of four large events which occurred in the epicentral area of the main shock more than 4 months after the main shock. These aftershocks had a combined seismic moment over twice that of the main shock. It is suggested that these earthquakes represent deformation in a different part of the seismic zone than the main shock. Large earthquakes with series of severe aftershocks are well known in the historical record of the Friuli region. The average displacement and stress drop are estimated to be 33 cm and 12 bars for the main shock and 33 cm 24 bars for the aftershock

Source processes of the Haicheng, China earthquake from observations of P and S waves

The Haicheng, China earthquake of February 4, 1975, was the first major seismic event to be predicted. In this paper, long-period teleseismic P waves and S waves from this event are compared directly to time-domain synthetic seismograms to infer the source parameters. Results indicate the focal mechanism of the earthquake is nearly left-lateral strike slip along a northwest striking nodal plane (strike = 288°, dip = 78° N, rake = 342°). The strike of this nodal plane agrees with the trend of the aftershock distribution. Seismic moment is 3 × 10^(26) dyne-cm and source duration is 7 sec. Azimuthal variation of P-wave duration is attributed to fault propagation in a northwesterly direction along the strike of the aftershock zone. A model with a fault length of 22 km and rupture velocity of 3.2 km/sec can explain the observed P waves quite well. There is considerable discrepancy between observed SH waves and synthetics computed using this model. These discrepancies are due to source structure complexities and/or changes of fault mechanism as the rupture propagated along strike. The average dislocation is computed to be 2.8 m and the stress drop is 53 bars

Use and misuse of benzodiazepines in patients with PTSD-a

CILJEVI ISTRAŽIVANJA: Ciljevi istraživanja bili su ispitati karakteristike uporabe benzodiazepina u oboljelih od PTSP-a te ispitati pojavnost razvoja ovisnosti o benzodiazepinima u oboljelih od PTSP-a. USTROJ STUDIJE: Presječno istraživanje. ISPITANICI I METODE: U istraživanje je uključeno 30 ispitanika s dijagnozom PTSP-a koji u terapiji koriste benzodiazepine i bolnički su liječeni u Klinici za psihijatriju KBC-a Osijek. Kao instrumenti istraživanja korišteni su sociodemografski upitnik i Bendep-SRQ samoocjenski upitnik za utvrđivanje težine ovisnosti o benzodiazepinima kroz 4 domene: problematična uporaba, preokupacija, smanjena suradljivost i simptomi sustezanja. REZULTATI: Većina ispitanika, njih 90 % benzodiazepine koristi dulje od godine dana, što se smatra dugotrajnom ili kroničnom uporabom. Njih 64 % ima jako visoku ili visoku problematičnu uporabu. Točno 80 % ispitanika jako su ili iznimno jako preokupirani lijekom. Polovica ispitanika ima smanjenu suradljivost, a svi koji su pokušali koristiti manje lijeka ili su pokušali prestati s uporabom imali su određene simptome sustezanja. Ispitanici koji su dulje na terapiji benzodiazepinima imaju statistički značajno smanjenu suradljivost (Spearmanov koeficijent korelacije Rho = 0,478 P = 0,008). ZAKLJUČAK: Ispitanici u većini slučajeva imaju jako visoke i visoke rezultate za svaku pojedinu domenu Bendep-SRQ upitnika, što ide u prilog ovisničkom ponašanju. Potrebno je provoditi istraživanja, pokrenuti rasprave, napraviti smjernice i podizati svijest o boljoj kontroli propisivanja benzodiazepina u svrhu racionalizacije njihove primjene.OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to examine the characteristics of benzodiazepine use in patients with PTSD, and to examine the development of benzodiazepine dependence in patients with PTSD. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The research included 30 patients diagnosed with PTSD, who have been prescribed benzodiazepines in their therapy and were hospitalized at the Clinic of Psychiatry, Clinical Hospital Centre Osijek. The instruments used in this study were: socio-demographic survey and Benzodiazepine Dependence Self-Report Questionnaire (Bendep-SRQ), which reflects the severity of benzodiazepine dependence via 4 dimensions: problematic use, preoccupation, lack of compliance and withdrawal symptoms. RESULTS: 90 % of the participants are long-term benzodiazepine users. 64 % of the participants are recorded to have high or very high problematic use. 80 % of the participants are preoccupied with the medication, and half of them are recorded to lack compliance. All participants who tried to use less medication or tried to cease the use of the medication had some withdrawal symptoms. Participants who receive benzodiazepine therapy for a longer period of time have statistically significant lack of compliance (Spearman correlation coefficient Rho = 0.478 P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: In most cases, participants have very high and high scores for each dimension of the Bendep-SRQ, so these facts indicate addictive behaviour. Further studies, discussions and better guidelines for benzodiazepine use are extremely needed

Seismic Source Processes and Tectonics: Observations of Four Intracontinental Earthquakes

This thesis presents studies of the source processes of four shallow earthquakes and their relation to regional tectonics. In the first chapter, long-period teleseismic P and S waves from the Haicheng, China earthquake of February 4, 1975 are compared directly to time domain synthetic seismograms to infer source parameters. The P-wave focal mechanism indicates that faulting was dominantly left-lateral strike-slip along a northwest striking nodal plane (strike = 288°, dip = 78°N, rake = 342°). The strike of this nodal plane agrees with the trend of the aftershock distribution. Azimuthal variation of P-wave duration is attributed to fault rupture 22 km in a northwesterly direction, along strike of the aftershock zone. There is considerable discrepancy between the observed SH waves and synthetics computed using this model. These discrepancies are due to either structural complexities in the source region or change in fault mechanism as the rupture propagated along strike. Seismic moment, average dislocation and stress drop are computed to be 2.7 x 1026 dyne-cm, 2.5 meters and 48 bars, respectively. The remaining three chapters present a detailed examination of seismograms recorded by the 1976 Friuli, Italy earthquake (May 6, 1976, MS = 6.5) and two major aftershocks (both on September 15, 1976 at 03h 15m, MS = 6.0 and 09h 21m, MS = 5.9). Teleseismic long-period body waves and surface waves radiated by the mainshock and 09h 21m aftershock are studied in Chapter Two to determine source characteristics. Focal mechanisms along with geological evidence suggest that both events represent underthrusting of the Friuli Plain beneath the Southern Alps. The depths of both earthquakes, estimated by matching synthetic body wave seismograms to observations, are found to lie between 6 and 10 km. Synthetic seismogram calculations which include source directivity effects suggest that the fault length of the mainshock is approximately 16 to 24 km assuming a rupture velocity of 3.0 km/sec. Observations of 100 sec Rayleigh waves confirm the body wave focal mechanism, but suggest that the seismic moment of the mainshock is 5 x 1025 dyne-cm compared to 2.9 x 1025 dyne-cm estimated from body waves. The P-wave moment of the aftershock is 1 x 1025 dyne-cm. In Chapter Three, short-period records are modeled to obtain additional details of the source time history. Two point sources of radiation are required to adequately model the aftershock short-period records. For the 09h 21m aftershock, the model derived from short-period records also produces good fits to the long-period data. The SP model for the 03h 15m aftershock, on the other hand, predicts long-period synthetics which do not agree with the observations. In particular, the SP moment (0.37 x 1025 dyne-cm) is about 2-1/2 times smaller than the LP moment (1 x 1025 dyne-cm). Adding a long-period component to the SP model considerably improves LP waveform and moment agreement. In the case of the mainshock, a reasonable fit to the observed SP data is obtained using three point sources of radiation. However, LP synthetics computed using this model do not agree with the observations, and the SP moment (0.65 x 1025 dyne-cm) is a small fraction of the LP moment (3-5 x 1025 dyne-cm). Time function durations indicate that the individual events inferred from the SP records are radiated from patches of the fault having radii of 2 to 4 km and stress drops in the range 35 to 276 bars. In comparison, overall stress drops estimated from LP data are found to be 12 bars (mainshock) and 24 bars (09h 21m aftershock). Strong-motion accelerograms are used to put additional constraint on the source geometry of the 09h 21m aftershock. The 03h 15m and 09h 21m aftershocks are the culminating events of a series of large aftershocks which began on September 11, 1976. Cumulative seismic moment of the Friuli aftershock sequence was as large as the moment released by the mainshock. By comparison, aftershock moments of California earthquakes are typically 1 to 10 percent of the mainshock moment. The large size, location and focal mechanism of the aftershocks suggest that they represent failure of major stress concentrations remaining after the mainshock.</p

Allelic diversity of S‑RNase alleles in diploid potato species

S-ribonucleases (S-RNases) control the pistil specificity of the self-incompatibility (SI) response in the genus Solanum and several other members of the Solanaceae. The nucleotide sequences of S-RNases corresponding to a large number of S-alleles or S-haplotypes have been characterised. However, surprisingly few S-RNase sequences are available for potato species. The identification of new S-alleles in diploid potato species is desirable as these stocks are important sources of traits such as biotic and abiotic resistance. S-RNase sequences are reported here from three distinct diploid types of potato: cultivated Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja, S. tuberosum Group Stenotomum, and the wild species Solanum okadae. Partial S-RNase sequences were obtained from pistil RNA by RT-PCR or 3’RACE (Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends) using a degenerate primer. Full length sequences were obtained for two alleles by 5’RACE. Database searches with these sequences, identified sixteen S-RNases in total, all of which are novel. The sequence analysis revealed all the expected features of functional S-RNases. Phylogenetic analysis with selected published S-RNase and S-like-RNase sequences from the Solanaceae revealed extensive trans-generic evolution of the S-RNases and a clear distinction from S-like-RNases. Pollination tests were used to confirm the self-incompatibility status and cross-compatibility relationships of the S. okadae accessions. All the S. okadae accessions were found to be self-incompatible as expected with crosses amongst them exhibiting both cross-compatibility and semi-compatibility consistent with the S-genotypes determined from the S-RNase sequence data. The progeny analysis of four semi-compatible crosses examined by allele-specific PCR provided further confirmation that these are functional S-RNases

DNA methylation in diploid inbred lines of potatoes and its possible role in the regulation of heterosis

Self-incompatible diploid potatoes were altered to self-compatible ones by a function of S-locus inhibitor gene and continued selfing generated highly homozygous inbreds. In this study, this process was investigated for the status of DNA methylation by a simple method using genomic DNA digested by methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes prior to RAPD analysis. We detected 31 methylation-sensitive RAPD bands, of which 11 were newly appeared in the selfed progenies, and 6 of them stably inherited to subsequent generations. Aberrant segregations and paternal- or atavism-like transmission were also found. Segregating methylation-sensitive bands in initial populations became fixed in the advanced selfed progenies by 75.0–93.8%, of which 41.7% were fixed to all present and 58.3% to all absent. Because DNA methylation is generally recognized to suppress gene expression as regulatory factors, homozygosity/heterozygosity of methylated DNA may be involved in inbreeding depression/heterosis