High resolution spectral characteristics of the Earth-ionosphere cavity resonances

The natural resonances of the Earth-ionosphere cavity at frequencies between 5 and 100 Hz have been studied since the fundamental paper by Schumann. While the gross features of the phenomena are now well understood, considerable work remains to be done on their detailed behaviour. In the present study a high resolution, data adaptive spectral technique is applied to digital electromagnetic data obtained at a moderate latitude. A particular feature of the method employed is that spectral properties become available on the same time scale as many ELF events, thus both time local and time averaged resonance features can be readily established. The technique can thus be applied to both dynamic and steady-state descriptions of the cavity's properties. For the data set considered, the technique adequately resolves the first six resonance modes on a time scale of 0.75 s. The presence of higher order modes is also indicated. The time averaged frequencies obtained are in accord with those of previous experimental determinations. When the time local properties of individual transient waveforms are examined, however, we observe a number of detailed effects which are predicted by theory. The precise spectral structure of the resonance modes appears influenced by the differing locations of the sources of transient excitation. In the case of the first order resonance mode, the properties of the cavity consistently support both singlet and doublet resonance behaviour

Audiomagnetotelluric sounding using the Schumann resonances

The Schumann resonance waveforms in the lower ELF band (5-100 Hz) are produced within the Earth-ionosphere cavity by distant lightning discharges; they provide a useful source field for shallow audiomagnetotclluric (AMT) crustal sounding. In this study we investigate their waveform characteristics that are important to the assumptions of AMT sounding. A time-domain polarization analysis technique is applied to a variety of examples of Schumann resonance waveforms. The multiplicity of worldwide thunderstorm centres provides a background activity which is generally incoherent and, accordingly, displays incoherent polarization characteristics. Superimposed on the back­ground are larger-amplitude transient events (sferics) from individual thunderstorm centres; they represent the response of the Earth-ionosphere cavity to very large lightning discharges and are generally linearly polarized at a given azimuth. The analysis indicates that the Schuman resonance waveforms provide a plane-wave source field, as required for electromagnetic crustal sounding. The differences in the "received" characteristics between the two waveform types prompted an investigation of the extent to which the waveform type and its particular polarization characteristics influence the determination of a geoelectric sounding curve. A detailed study, carried out with a multivariate maximum entropy spectral analysis algorithm, indicates that the two types of Schumann resonance waveform provide repeatable and consistent results at the 95% confidence level and that the linear polarizations associated with the sferics do not influence the estimation of the Earth response

Chirurgie hépatique mineure par laparoscopie en ambulatoire : étude rétrospective observationnelle

RésuméAu cours de la dernière décennie, la chirurgie hépatique laparoscopique (CHL) a connu un essor dans le monde entier. Parallèlement, la chirurgie ambulatoire a été développée afin d’améliorer le confort des patients et de réduire les dépenses de santé. L’objectif de cette étude est de rapporter notre expérience préliminaire de la CHL en ambulatoire. Entre 1999 et 2014, 172 patients ont été opérés dans notre institution d’une CHL, incluant 151 résections hépatiques et 21 fenestrations de kystes hépatiques. Tous les patients consécutifs, hautement sélectionnés, opérés d’une CHL en ambulatoire ont été inclus. Vingt patients ont été opérés d’une CHL en ambulatoire. Les indications étaient des kystes hépatiques dans 10 cas, un angiome hépatique dans 3 cas, une hyperplasie nodulaire focale dans 3 cas, et une métastase hépatique de cancer colorectal dans 4 cas. La durée opératoire médiane était de 92minutes (dispersion : 50–240minutes). La perte sanguine médiane était de 35mL (dispersion : 20–150mL). Il n’a pas été observé de complication ni de réhospitalisation. Tous les patients étaient hospitalisés en postopératoire dans notre unité de chirurgie ambulatoire, et ont pu quitter l’établissement 5 à 7heures après la fin de la chirurgie. Le score médian de douleur postopératoire à la sortie était de 3 (échelle visuelle analogique à 10 niveaux ; dispersion : 0–4). Le score médian de qualité de vie à la première consultation postopératoire était de 8 (dispersion : 6–10), et le score médian de satisfaction esthétique était de 8 (dispersion : 7–10). Cette série montre que la CHL ambulatoire est faisable et sûre et chez des patients sélectionnés pour des interventions mineures.SummaryOver the last decade, laparoscopic hepatic surgery (LHS) has been increasingly performed throughout the world. Meanwhile, ambulatory surgery has been developed and implemented with the aims of improving patient satisfaction and reducing health care costs. The objective of this study was to report our preliminary experience with ambulatory minimally-invasive LHS. Between 1999 and 2014, 172 patients underwent LHS at our institution, including 151 liver resections and 21 fenestrations of hepatic cysts. The consecutive series of highly selected patients who underwent ambulatory LHS were included in this study. Twenty patients underwent ambulatory LHS. The indications were liver cysts in 10 cases, liver angioma in 3 cases, focal nodular hyperplasia in 3 cases, and colorectal hepatic metastasis in 4 cases. The median operative time was 92minutes (range: 50–240minutes). The median blood loss was 35mL (range: 20–150mL). There were no postoperative complications or re-hospitalizations. All patients were hospitalized after surgery in our ambulatory surgery unit, and were discharged 5–7hours after surgery. The median postoperative pain score at the time of discharge was 3 (visual analogue scale 0–10; range: 0–4). The median quality-of-life score at the first postoperative visit was 8 (range: 6–10) and the median cosmetic satisfaction score was 8 (range: 7–10). This series shows that, in selected patients, ambulatory LHS is feasible and safe for minor hepatic procedures

Non-destructive evaluation of cement-based materials from pressure-stimulated electrical emission - Preliminary results

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Construction and Building Materials. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2010 Elsevier B.V.This paper introduces the possibility of in situ assessment of loading and remaining strength in concrete structures by means of measuring discharge of electric current from loaded specimens. The paper demonstrates that the techniques have been applied to other rock-like materials, but that for the first time they are applied to cement-based materials and a theoretical model is proposed in relation to the appearance of electrical signals during sample loading and up to fracture. A series of laboratory experiments on cement mortar specimens in simple uniaxial compression, and subsequently in bending – hence displaying both tension and compression – are described and show clear correlations between resulting strains and currents measured. Under uniaxial loading there is a well-defined relationship between the pressure-stimulated current (PSC) as a result of a monotonic mechanical loading regime. Similar results are observed in the three-point bending tests where a range of loading regimes is studied, including stepped changes in loading. While currents can be measured at low strains, best results seem to be obtained when strains approach and exceed yield stress values. This technique clearly has immense potential for structural health monitoring of cement-based structures. Both intermittent and continuous monitoring becomes possible, and given an ongoing campaign of monitoring, remaining strength can be estimated

Investigation of genetically regulated gene expression and response to treatment in rheumatoid arthritis highlights an association between IL18RAP expression and treatment response.

This article has been accepted for publication in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2020 following peer review, and the Version of Record can be accessed online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-217204OBJECTIVES: In this study, we sought to investigate whether there was any association between genetically regulated gene expression (as predicted using various reference panels) and anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment response (change in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)) using 3158 European ancestry patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: The genetically regulated portion of gene expression was estimated in the full cohort of 3158 subjects (as well as within a subcohort consisting of 1575 UK patients) using the PrediXcan software package with three different reference panels. Estimated expression was tested for association with anti-TNF treatment response. As a replication/validation experiment, we also investigated the correlation between change in ESR with measured gene expression at the Interleukin 18 Receptor Accessory Protein (IL18RAP) gene in whole blood and synovial tissue, using an independent replication data set of patients receiving conventional synthetic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, with directly measured (via RNA sequencing) gene expression. RESULTS: We found that predicted expression of IL18RAP showed a consistent signal of association with treatment response across the reference panels. In our independent replication data set, IL18RAP expression in whole blood showed correlation with the change in ESR between baseline and follow-up (r=-0.35, p=0.0091). Change in ESR was also correlated with the expression of IL18RAP in synovial tissue (r=-0.28, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IL18RAP expression is worthy of further investigation as a potential predictor of treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis that is not specific to a particular drug type

Comparison and complementary use of in situ and remote sensing aerosol measurements in the Athens Metropolitan Area

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.In the summer of 2014 in situ and remote sensing instruments were deployed in Athens, in order to study the concentration, physical properties, and chemical composition of aerosols. In this manuscript we aim to combine the measurements of collocated in situ and remote sensing instruments by comparison and complementary use, in order to increase the accuracy of predictions concerning climate change and human health. We also develop a new method in order to select days when a direct comparison on in situ and remote sensing instruments is possible. On selected days that displayed significant turbulence up to approximately 1000 m above ground level (agl), we acquired the aerosol extinction or scattering coefficient by in situ instruments using three approaches. In the first approach the aerosol extinction coefficient was acquired by adding a Nephelometer scattering coefficient in ambient conditions and an Aethalometer absorption coefficient. The correlation between the in situ and remote sensing instruments was good (coefficient of determination R2 equal to 0.69). In the second approach we acquired the aerosol refractive index by fitting dry Nephelometer and Aethalometer measurements with Mie algorithm calculations of the scattering and absorption coefficients for the size distribution up to a maximum diameter of 1000 nm obtained by in situ instruments. The correlation in this case was relatively good (R2 equal to 0.56). Our next step was to compare the extinction coefficient acquired by remote sensing instruments to the scattering coefficient calculated by Mie algorithm using the size distribution up to a maximum diameter of 1000 nm and the equivalent refractive index (ERICOR), which is acquired by the comparison of the size distributions obtained by a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and an Optical Particle Counter (OPC). The agreement between the in situ and remote sensing instruments in this case was not satisfactory (R2 equal to 0.35). The last comparison for the selected days was between the aerosol extinction Ångström exponent acquired by in situ and remote sensing instruments. The correlation was not satisfactory (R2 equal to 0.4), probably due to differences in the number size distributions present in the air volumes measured by in situ and remote sensing instruments. We also present a day that a Saharan dust event occurred in Athens in order to demonstrate the information we obtain through the synergy of in situ and remote sensing instruments on how regional aerosol is added to local aerosol, especially during pollution events due to long range transport.Peer reviewe

Non-destructive Techniques Methodologies for the Detection of Ancient Structures under Heritage Buildings

[EN] Structures and elements buried beneath heritage buildings are frequent but are often unknown and inaccessible. Therefore, they are difficult to locate in general if an archaeological excavation is not carried out, with the economic cost and time involved. It is important to discover them in order to increase our knowledge of cultural heritage, as well as to know, recover and improve the state of conservation of the materials that make up these structures. This paper presents methodologies for locating old structures using a low-cost NDT approach, with a qualitative and quantitative analysis of GPR profiles in heritage buildings. Small perforations are performed at critical points and introducing an endoscope for verification. Various crypts have been located using the proposed methodologies in a real study case: The Church of the Asución of Llíria in Spain.Gil Benso, E.; Mas Tomas, MDLA.; Lerma Elvira, C.; Torner, ME.; Vercher Sanchis, J. (2021). Non-destructive Techniques Methodologies for the Detection of Ancient Structures under Heritage Buildings. International journal of architectural heritage (electronic). 15(10):1457-1473. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2019.1700320S14571473151