Holocene slip rate variability along the Pernicana fault system (Mt. Etna, Italy): Evidence from offset lava flows

The eastern flank of the Mount Etna stratovolcano is affected by extension and is slowly sliding eastward into the Ionian Sea. The Pernicana fault system forms the border of the northern part of this sliding area. It consists of three E-W−oriented fault sectors that are seismically active and characterized by earthquakes up to 4.7 in magnitude (M) capable of producing ground rupture and damage located mainly along the western and central sectors, and by continuous creep on the eastern sector. A new topographic study of the central sector of the Pernicana fault system shows an overall bell-shaped profile, with maximum scarp height of 35 m in the center of the sector, and two local minima that are probably due to the complex morphological relation between fault scarp and lava flows. We determined the ages of lava flows cut by the Pernicana fault system at 12 sites using cosmogenic 3He and 40Ar/39Ar techniques in order to determine the recent slip history of the fault. From the displacement-age relations, we estimate an average throw rate of ∼2.5 mm/yr over the last 15 k.y. The slip rate appears to have accelerated during the last 3.5 k.y., with displacement rates of up to ∼15 mm/yr, whereas between 3.5 and 15 ka, the throw rate averaged ∼1 mm/yr. This increase in slip rate resulted in significant changes in seismicity rates, for instance, decreasing the mean recurrence time of M ≥ 4.7 earthquakes from ∼200 to ∼20 yr. Based on empirical relationships, we attribute the variation in seismic activity on the Pernicana fault system to factors intrinsic to the system that are likely related to changes in the volcanic system. These internal factors could be fault interdependencies (such as those across the Taupo Rift, New Zealand) or they could represent interactions among magmatic, tectonic, and gravitational processes (e.g., Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii). Given their effect on earthquake recurrence intervals, these interactions need to be fully assessed in seismic hazard evaluations

Kajian Sensoris, Sifat Kimia Dan Sifat Fungsional Mi Instan Dengan Substitusi Bekatul Beras Merah Dan Tepung Ubi Jalar Ungu

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menentukan formula produk mi instan yang dibuat dengan substitusi tepung ubi jalar ungudan bekatul beras merah, mengetahui sifat kimiawi (air, abu, protein, lemak dan karbohidrat) produk mi instan yang dibuat dengansubstitusi tepung ubi jalar ungu dan bekatul beras merah serta mengetahui sifat fungsional (aktivitas antioksidan, serat kasar danserat pangan) produk mi instan yang dibuat dengan substitusi tepung ubi jalar ungu dan bekatul beras merah yang paling disukaipanelis.Digunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL). Konsentrasi bekatul beras merah dan tepung ubi jalar ungu yang ditambahkansebesar 0%, 5%, 10%, 15% dan 30% (hanya tepung ubi ungu). Sifat sensoris meliputi parameter warna, rasa, tekstur, aroma danoverall. Sifat kimia dan sifat fungsional yang diuji adalah sampel K1 (100% terigu), B2 (10% bekatul beras merah, 10% tepung ubijalar ungu dan 80% terigu) dan K2 (30% tepung ubi ungu dan 70% terigu).Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa mi instan dengan perbandingan bekatul beras merah, tepung ubi jalar ungu:tepungterigu=10:10:80, paling disukai panelis, mi instan dengan perbandingan bekatul beras merah:tepung ubi jalar ungu:tepungterigu=10:10:80 mengandung 4,65% air, 3,36% abu, 11,36% protein, 16,65% lemak dan 67,50% karbohidrat. Subtitusi bekatulberas merah berpengrauh terhadap karakteristik mi instan

LADDER PROOF OF NONLOCALITY WITHOUT INEQUALITIES : THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

We show how a previous demonstration of nonlocality without inequalities for two spin-half particles can be improved so that a greater proportion of the pairs are shown to be subject to a contradiction with local realism. This is achieved by considering more settings of the apparatus at each end. Also, we report on an experimental realization employing a tunable source of polarization entangled photons. The experimental results violate locality (modulo, the efficiency loophole). {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society

Experimental Realization of Teleporting an Unknown Pure Quantum State via Dual Classical and Einstein-Podolski-Rosen Channels

We report on a quantum optical experimental implementation of teleportation of unknown pure quantum states. This realizes all the nonlocal aspects of the original scheme proposed by Bennett et al. and is equivalent to it up to a local operation. We exhibit results for the teleportation of a linearly polarized state and of an elliptically polarized state. We show that the experimental results cannot be explained in terms of a classical channel alone.Comment: 11 pages LaTeX, 3 figures, 1 page figures captions. The figures and figures captions are not encapsulated; please print them separatel

Kinetics of the thermal degradation of Erica arborea by DSC: Hybrid kinetic method

The scope of this work was the determination of kinetic parameters of the thermal oxidative degradation of a Mediterranean scrub using a hybrid method developed at the laboratory. DSC and TGA were used in this study under air sweeping to record oxidative reactions. Two dominating and overlapped exothermic peaks were recorded in DSC and individualized using an experimental and numerical separation. This first stage allowed obtaining the enthalpy variation of each exothermic phenomenon. In a second time, a model free method was applied on each isolated curve to determine the apparent activation energies. A reactional kinetic scheme was proposed for the global exotherm composed of two independent and consecutive reactions. In fine mean values of enthalpy variation and apparent activation energy previously determined were injected in a model fitting method to obtain the reaction order and the preexponential factor of each oxidative reaction. We plan to use these data in a sub-model to be integrated in a wildland fire spread model

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in elderly patients with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine ward

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases are a common cause of increased morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. Bacteraemia in the elderly is a difficult diagnosis and a therapeutic challenge due to age-related vicissitudes and to their comorbidities. The main purpose of the study was to assess independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality among the elderly with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine Ward. METHODS: Overall, a cohort of 135 patients, 65 years of age and older, with bacteraemia were retrospectively studied. Data related to demographic information, comorbidities, clinical parameters on admission, source and type of infection, microorganism isolated in the blood culture, laboratory data and empirical antibiotic treatment was recorded from each patient. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of these 135 patients, 45.9% were women. The most common infections in this group of patients were urinary tract infections (46.7%). The main microorganisms isolated in the blood cultures were Escherichia coli (14.9%), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (12.0%), non-MRSA (11.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (8.0%). The in-hospital mortality was 22.2%. Independent prognostic factors associated with in-hospital mortality were age ≥ 85 years, chronic renal disease, bacteraemia of unknown focus and cognitive impairment at admission (OR, 2.812 [95% CI, 1.039-7.611; p = 0.042]; OR, 6.179 [95% CI, 1.840-20.748; p = 0.003]; OR, 8.673 [95% CI, 1.557-48.311; p = 0.014] and OR, 3.621 [95% CI, 1.226-10.695; p = 0.020], respectively). By multivariate analysis appropriate antibiotic therapy was not associated with lower odds of mortality. CONCLUSION: Bacteraemia in the elderly has a high mortality rate. There are no set of signs or clinical features that can predict bacteraemia in the elderly. However, older age (≥ 85 years), chronic renal disease, bacteraemia of unknown focus and severe cognitive impairment adversely affects the outcome of elderly patients with bacteraemia admitted to an Internal Medicine ward

Severe Tracheobronchomalacia after Prolonged Intubation of Multitrauma Patient

Tracheobronchomalacia is a condition with significant morbidity with many etiologies including iatrogenic ones and should be considered in critically ill ventilated trauma patients. We present a case of a multitrauma patient who had difficulty weaning from the ventilator after prolonged intubation followed by tracheostomy tube placement. We describe her presentation, diagnosis, and management provide and as well a discussion of the condition

Alcohol-induced blood-brain barrier impairment: An in vitro study

In recent years, alcohol abuse has dramatically grown with deleterious consequence for people’s health and, in turn, for health care costs. It has been demonstrated, in humans and animals, that alcohol intoxication induces neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration thus leading to brain impairments. Furthermore, it has been shown that alcohol consumption is able to impair the blood– brain barrier (BBB), but the molecular mechanisms underlining this detrimental effect have not been fully elucidated. For this reason, in this study we investigated the effects of alcohol exposure on a rat brain endothelial (RBE4) cell line, as an in vitro-validated model of brain microvascular endothelial cells. To assess whether alcohol caused a concentration-related response, the cells were treated at different times with increasing concentrations (10–1713 mM) of ethyl alcohol (EtOH). Microscopic and molecular techniques, such as cell viability assay, immunofluorescence and Western blotting, were used to examine the mechanisms involved in alcohol-induced brain endothelial cell alterations including tight junction distribution, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species production. Our findings clearly demonstrate that alcohol causes the formation of gaps between cells by tight junction disassembly, triggered by the endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress, highlighted by GRP78 chaperone upregulation and increase in reactive oxygen species production, respectively. The results from this study shed light on the mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced blood–brain barrier dysfunction and a better understanding of these processes will allow us to take advantage of developing new therapeutic strategies in order to prevent the deleterious effects of alcohol