Distributed archive and single access system for accelerometric event data : a NERIES initiative

We developed a common access facility to homogeneously formatted accelerometric event data and to the corresponding sheet of ground motion parameters. This paper is focused on the description of the technical development of the accelerometric data server and the link with the accelerometric data explorer. The server is the third node of the 3-tier architecture of the distributed archive system for accelerometric data. The server is the link between the data users and the accelero- metric data portal. The server follows three main steps: (1) Reading and analysis of the end-user request; (2) Processing and converting data; and (3) Archiving and updating the accelerometric data explorer. This paper presents the description of the data server and the data explorer for accessing data

Flash sourcing, or rapid detection and characterization of earthquake effects through website traffic analysis

This study presents the latest developments of an approach called ‘flash sourcing’, which provides information on the effects of an earthquake within minutes of its occurrence. Information is derived from an analysis of the website traffic surges of the European–Mediterranean Seismological Centre website after felt earthquakes. These surges are caused by eyewitnesses to a felt earthquake, who are the first who are informed of, and hence the first concerned by, an earthquake occurrence. Flash sourcing maps the felt area, and at least in some circumstances, the regions affected by severe damage or network disruption. We illustrate how the flash-sourced information improves and speeds up the delivery of public earthquake information, and beyond seismology, we consider what it can teach us about public responses when experiencing an earthquake. Future developments should improve the description of the earthquake effects and potentially contribute to the improvement of the efficiency of earthquake responses by filling the information gap after the occurrence of an earthquake

Ultrafast laser ablation for targeted atherosclerotic plaque removal

Coronary artery disease, the main cause of heart disease, develops as immune cells and lipids accumulate into plaques within the coronary arterial wall. As a plaque grows, the tissue layer (fibrous cap) separating it from the blood flow becomes thinner and increasingly susceptible to rupturing and causing a potentially lethal thrombosis. The stabilization and/or treatment of atherosclerotic plaque is required to prevent rupturing and remains an unsolved medical problem. Here we show for the first time targeted, subsurface ablation of atherosclerotic plaque using ultrafast laser pulses. Excised atherosclerotic mouse aortas were ablated with ultrafast near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses. The physical damage was characterized with histological sections of the ablated atherosclerotic arteries from six different mice. The ultrafast ablation system was integrated with optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging for plaque-specific targeting and monitoring of the resulting ablation volume. We find that ultrafast ablation of plaque just below the surface is possible without causing damage to the fibrous cap, which indicates the potential use of ultrafast ablation for subsurface atherosclerotic plaque removal. We further demonstrate ex vivo subsurface ablation of a plaque volume through a catheter device with the high-energy ultrafast pulse delivered via hollow-core photonic crystal fiber

RESORCE (Reference database for seismic ground motion in Europe)

With the aim of improving seismic ground-motion models in Europe and reducing associated uncertainties, the compilation of a high-quality database of seismic-motion recordings and associated metadata is of primary importance. SIGMA research and development project, devoted to the improvement of seismic hazard estimates, methods and data for France and nearby regions, has been funding the implementation of RESORCE (Reference databaSe fOR seismiC ground-motion in Europe, Akkar et al., 2014)

Le plaisir anticipé s'apprend

La perte de plaisir et de motivation fait partie des caractéristiques de la schizophrénie. Un procédé développé à Lausanne aide les patients à développer le plaisir anticipé et encourage ainsi leur motivation