Amphibious Seismic Survey Images Plate Interface at 1960 Chile Earthquake

The southern central Chilean margin at the site of the largest historically recorded earthquake in the Valdivia region, in 1960 (Mw = 9.5), is part of the 5000-km-long active subduction system whose geodynamic evolution is controversially debated and poorly understood. Covering the area between 36° and 40°S, the oceanic crust is segmented by prominent fracture zones. The offshore forearc and its onshore continuation show a complex image with segments of varying geophysical character, and several fault systems active during the past 24 m.y. In autumn 2001, the project SPOC was organized to study the Subduction Processes Off Chile, with a focus on the seismogenic coupling zone and the forearc. The acquired seismic data crossing the Chilean subduction system were gathered in a combined offshore-onshore survey and provide new insights into the lithospheric structure and evolution of active margins with insignificant frontal accretion

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications: LAS VEGAS - An observational study in 29 countries

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (V T) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg−1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P ˂ 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P ˂ 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high V T and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome.</p

Der Einsatz von Duennschichtverdampfung zur Behandlung von fluessigen DWR-Konzentraten, speziell aus KKW sowjetischen Typs mit WWER-Reaktoren

SIGLEAvailable from TIB Hannover: D.Dt.F.QN1(15,6) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekBundesministerium fuer Forschung und Technologie (BMFT), Bonn (Germany)DEGerman

Serological survey and risk factors of Aelurostrongylus abstrusus infection among owned cats in Italy

Feline lungworms affect the respiratory tract of domestic cats causing respiratory conditions of various degrees. In this study, we investigated the exposure of cats to feline lungworm infections by detecting antibodies in a large population of animals from several regions of Italy. Sera of 1087 domestic cats living in regions of the north (n = 700), the centre (n = 227) and the south (n = 160) of Italy were examined by a newly developed indirect ELISA conceived for detection of antibodies against the most frequently occurring feline lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus. Individual cat data (i.e., age, sex, neutering status and provenience) were analysed as potential risk factors for exposure to lungworm infections. Samples were additionally screened for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) proviral DNAs. Overall, 9% (98/1087; 95% confidence interval (CI) 7.4–10.9%) of the animals tested seropositive to lungworm antibodies. Positive cats were identified in the north (7.1%; CI 5.5–9.3%), in the centre (5.3%; CI 3.0–9.0%) and in the South (22.5%; CI 16.7–29.6%), with more seropositive animals in the latter area (p &lt; 0.05). The risk of lungworm infection in cats was significantly associated with age less than 6&nbsp;months (i.e. 24.4%, p &lt; 0.05) and FIV infection (p &lt; 0.05). This large-scale serological survey confirms the exposure of cats to lungworm infections in Italy and that serological tests can be used to assess the distribution of lungworm infections in large populations of animals

Seroprevalence of the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in Central Italy

NTRODUCTION. Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Metastrongyloidea, Angiostrongyliidae), i.e. the “cat lungworm” infects cats worldwide. The Baermann’s method is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of A. abstrusus infection, although its sensitivity and specificity can be impaired by different factors (e.g. prepatency, intermittent larval shedding and low parasite burdens) (Traversa et al., 2010, Parasit. Vectors, 3:62). To overcome these limitations an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has recently been developed (Zottler et al., 2017, Vet. Parasitol., 235:75-82) as an alternative diagnostic tool. This is the first field study relying on this ELISA for the serological detection of antibodies vs the cat lungworm A. abstrusus in endemic areas. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Sera samples of 250 cats from two endemic regions of Italy were tested for the presence of antibodies vs A. abstrusus by the ELISA, i.e. 162 from Abruzzo (Site A) and 88 from Umbria (Site B). In particular, 20 serum samples of cats infected with A. abstrusus and 20 of cats negative for lungworms by Baermann’s and PCR were used to select an OD cut off value (Subset A). Sera of 210 cats scoring negative for lungworms at Baermann’s were also tested (Subset B). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS. A cut off value of 0.347 OD (sensitivity 95% and specificity 100%) was determined. Antibodies vs A. abstrusus were present in 45 samples (21.4%) from Subset B, in particular 28/142 (19.7%) and 17/68 (25%) from sites A and B respectively. These results show a higher prevalence of A. abstrusus if compared with those obtained in other surveys carried out in the same areas (Traversa et al., 2008, Parasitol. Res., 103:1191-1196; Di Cesare et al., 2011, Parasitol. Res., 1S87:96; Di Cesare et al., 2015, Parasitol. Res., 114:4463-4469) that used the Baermann’s test to diagnose the infection. This study confirms the endemicity of cat aelurostrongylosis in Italy, and shows that the newly developed ELISA represents a potential alternative for future large-scale epidemiological studies and for the clinical diagnosis of the infection, being able to detect even subclinical non patent infections and therefore overcoming the existing difficulties of copromicroscopic examinations

Seroprevalence of antibodies against the cat lungworm Aelurostrongylus abstrusus in cats from endemic areas of Italy

Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (Nematoda, Metastrongyloidea) is a worldwide occurring lungworm causing verminous pneumonia in cats. To date the Baermann method is the most used procedure to diagnose A. abstrusus infection by isolating first stage larvae from faeces, though its sensitivity and specificity can be impaired by several factors. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against A. abstrusus has been recently developed as a diagnostic alternative. The present study evaluated the seroprevalence for A. abstrusus infection in cats from two endemic areas of Italy. Overall, 250 sera were sampled and tested for the presence of antibodies against A. abstrusus. Based on the results obtained from 20 cats proven to be infected by A. abstrusus using Baermann technique and molecular methods, and from 20 negative cats (Subset A), a cut off value of 0.347 optical density (OD) was determined, leading to a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100%. Two-hundred and ten cats (142 and 68 from Abruzzo and Umbria regions, respectively) were included in Subset B (i.e. 202 negative by Baermann examination and 8 positive for Troglostrongylus brevior). Antibodies against A. abstrusus were detected in forty-five (21.4%, 95% CI: 16.1–27.6%) samples. This study confirms the occurrence of A. abstrusus in endemic areas of Italy and indicates that one-fifth of randomly selected cats have or had a lungworm infection with production of antibodies