Open-Source ANSS Quake Monitoring System Software

ANSS stands for the Advanced National Seismic System of the U.S.A., and ANSS Quake Monitoring System (AQMS) is the earthquake management system (EMS) that most of its member regional seismic networks (RSNs) use. AQMS is based on Earthworm, but instead of storing files on disk, it uses a relational database with replication capability to store pick, amplitude, waveform, and event parameters. The replicated database and other features of AQMS make it a fully redundant system. A graphical user interface written in Java, Jiggle, is used to review automatically generated picks and event solutions, relocate events, and recalculate magnitudes. Add‐on mechanisms to produce various postearthquake products such as ShakeMaps and focal mechanisms are available as well. It provides a configurable automatic alarming and notification system. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, one of the Tier 1 ANSS RSNs, has modified AQMS to be compatible with a freely available, capable, open‐source database system, PostgreSQL, and is running this version successfully in production. The AQMS Software Working Group has moved the software from a subversion repository server hosted at the California Institute of Technology to a public repository at gitlab.com. The drawback of AQMS as a whole is that it is complex to fully configure and comprehend. Nevertheless, the fact that it is very capable, documented, and now free to use, might make it an attractive EMS choice for many seismic networks

Open-Source ANSS Quake Monitoring System Software

ANSS stands for the Advanced National Seismic System of the U.S.A., and ANSS Quake Monitoring System (AQMS) is the earthquake management system (EMS) that most of its member regional seismic networks (RSNs) use. AQMS is based on Earthworm, but instead of storing files on disk, it uses a relational database with replication capability to store pick, amplitude, waveform, and event parameters. The replicated database and other features of AQMS make it a fully redundant system. A graphical user interface written in Java, Jiggle, is used to review automatically generated picks and event solutions, relocate events, and recalculate magnitudes. Add‐on mechanisms to produce various postearthquake products such as ShakeMaps and focal mechanisms are available as well. It provides a configurable automatic alarming and notification system. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, one of the Tier 1 ANSS RSNs, has modified AQMS to be compatible with a freely available, capable, open‐source database system, PostgreSQL, and is running this version successfully in production. The AQMS Software Working Group has moved the software from a subversion repository server hosted at the California Institute of Technology to a public repository at gitlab.com. The drawback of AQMS as a whole is that it is complex to fully configure and comprehend. Nevertheless, the fact that it is very capable, documented, and now free to use, might make it an attractive EMS choice for many seismic networks

When is it biological control? A framework of definitions, mechanisms, and classifications

Biological control, or biocontrol, is the exploitation of living agents (incl. viruses) to combat pestilential organisms (incl. pathogens, pests, and weeds) for diverse purposes to provide human benefits. Thus, during the last century the practices and concepts involved have evolved in separate streams associated with distinct scientific and taxonomic disciplines. In parallel developments, there have been increasing references to biological control in industrial contexts and legislation, resulting in conceptual and terminological disintegration. The aim of this paper is to provide a global conceptual and terminological platform that facilitates future development of the field. We review use of previously suggested terms in key fields (e.g., phytopathology, entomology, and weed science), eliminate redundant terminology, identify three principles that should underpin the concept, and then present a new framework for biological control, rooted in seminal publications. The three principles establish that (1) only living agents can mediate biological control, (2) biological control always targets a pest, directly or indirectly, and (3) all biocontrol methods can be classified in four main categories depending on whether resident agents are utilized, with or without targeted human intervention (conservation biological control and natural biological control, respectively) or agents are added for permanent or temporary establishment (classical biological control and augmentative biological control, respectively). Correct identification of what is, and is not, biological control can help efforts to understand and optimize biological pest control for human and environmental benefits. The new conceptual framework may contribute to more uniform and appropriate regulatory approaches to biological control, and more efficient authorization and application of biocontrol products

Detection of intrinsic source structure at ~3 Schwarzschild radii with Millimeter-VLBI observations of SAGITTARIUS A*

We report results from very long baseline interferometric (VLBI) observations of the supermassive black hole in the Galactic center, Sgr A*, at 1.3 mm (230 GHz). The observations were performed in 2013 March using six VLBI stations in Hawaii, California, Arizona, and Chile. Compared to earlier observations, the addition of the APEX telescope in Chile almost doubles the longest baseline length in the array, provides additional {\it uv} coverage in the N-S direction, and leads to a spatial resolution of $\sim$30 $\mu$as ($\sim$3 Schwarzschild radii) for Sgr A*. The source is detected even at the longest baselines with visibility amplitudes of $\sim$4-13% of the total flux density. We argue that such flux densities cannot result from interstellar refractive scattering alone, but indicate the presence of compact intrinsic source structure on scales of $\sim$3 Schwarzschild radii. The measured nonzero closure phases rule out point-symmetric emission. We discuss our results in the context of simple geometric models that capture the basic characteristics and brightness distributions of disk- and jet-dominated models and show that both can reproduce the observed data. Common to these models are the brightness asymmetry, the orientation, and characteristic sizes, which are comparable to the expected size of the black hole shadow. Future 1.3 mm VLBI observations with an expanded array and better sensitivity will allow a more detailed imaging of the horizon-scale structure and bear the potential for a deep insight into the physical processes at the black hole boundary.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, accepted to Ap

Population pharmacokinetics of colistin and the relation to survival in critically ill patients infected with colistin susceptible and carbapenem-resistant bacteria

Objectives: The aim was to analyse the population pharmacokinetics of colistin and to explore the relationship between colistin exposure and time to death. Methods: Patients included in the AIDA randomized controlled trial were treated with colistin for severe infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. All subjects received a 9 million units (MU) loading dose, followed by a 4.5 MU twice daily maintenance dose, with dose reduction if creatinine clearance (CrCL) 2 mg/L in 94% (195/208) and 44% (38/87) of patients with CrCL ≤120 mL/min, and >120 mL/min, respectively. Colistin methanesulfonate sodium (CMS) and colistin clearances were strongly dependent on CrCL. High colistin exposure to MIC ratio was associated with increased hazard of death in the multivariate analysis (adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI): 1.07 (1.03–1.12)). Other significant predictors included SOFA score at baseline (HR 1.24 (1.19–1.30) per score increase), age and Acinetobacter or Pseudomonas as index pathogen. Discussion: The population pharmacokinetic model predicted that >90% of the patients had colistin concentrations

Risk Stratification Among Survivors of Cardiac Arrest Considered for Coronary Angiography.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Cardiology Interventional Council published consensus-based recommendations to help identify resuscitated cardiac arrest patients with unfavorable clinical features in whom invasive procedures are unlikely to improve survival. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify how many unfavorable features are required before prognosis is significantly worsened and which features are most impactful in predicting prognosis. METHODS: Using the INTCAR (International Cardiac Arrest Registry), the impact of each proposed unfavorable feature on survival to hospital discharge was individually analyzed. Logistic regression was performed to assess the association of such unfavorable features with poor outcomes. RESULTS: Seven unfavorable features (of 10 total) were captured in 2,508 patients successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest (ongoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and noncardiac etiology were exclusion criteria in our registry). Chronic kidney disease was used in lieu of end-stage renal disease. In total, 39% survived to hospital discharge. The odds ratio (OR) of survival to hospital discharge for each unfavorable feature was as follows: age \u3e85 years OR: 0.30 (95% CI: 0.15 to 0.61), time-to-ROSC \u3e30 min OR: 0.30 (95% CI: 0.23 to 0.39), nonshockable rhythm OR: 0.39 (95% CI: 0.29 to 0.54), no bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation OR: 0.49 (95% CI: 0.38 to 0.64), lactate \u3e7 mmol/l OR: 0.50 (95% CI: 0.40 to 0.63), unwitnessed arrest OR: 0.58 (95% CI: 0.44 to 0.78), pH85 years, time-to-ROSC \u3e30 min, and non-ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation) together or ≥6 unfavorable features predicted a ≤10% chance of survival to discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest with 6 or more unfavorable features have a poor long-term prognosis. Delaying or even forgoing invasive procedures in such patients is reasonable