DISS3 TUTORIAL SERIES: GUIDELINES FOR COMPILING RECORDS OF THE DATABASE OF INDIVIDUAL SEISMOGENIC SOURCES, VERSION 3

This document illustrates in details the raw structure of the Database of Individual Seismogenic Sources, version 3 [Basili et al., 2008; http://diss.rm.ingv.it/diss/] - hereinafter referred to as the Database – and is dedicated at instructing any potential contributor, outside the DISS Working Group, on how to populate it with new seismogenic sources. It is worth of notice that the primary purpose of the Database is to provide a seismogenic source model at regional scale. It is hence usually populated by filling in large regions at once, not record by record

Catheterization of Intestinal Loops in Ruminants

The intestine is a complex structure that is involved not only in absorption of nutrients, but also acts as a barrier between the individual and the outside world. As such, the intestine plays a pivotal role in immunosurveillance and protection from enteric pathogens. Investigating intestinal physiology and immunology commonly employs 'intestinal loops' as an experimental model. The majority of these loop models are non-recovery surgical procedures that study short-term (<24 hr) changes in the intestine (1-3). We previously created a recovery intestinal loop model to specifically measure long-term (<6 mo) immunological changes in the intestine of sheep following exposure to vaccines, adjuvants, and viruses (4). This procedure localized treatments to a specific 'loop', allowing us to sample this area of the intestine. A significant drawback of this method is the single window of opportunity to administer treatments (i.e. at the time of surgery). Furthermore, samples of both the intestinal mucosa and luminal contents can only be taken at the termination of the project. Other salient limitations of the above model are that the surgical manipulation and requisite post-operative measures (e.g. administration of antibiotics and analgesics) can directly affect the treatment itself and/or alter immune function, thereby confounding results. Therefore, we modified our intestinal loop model by inserting long-term catheters into the loops. Sheep recover fully from the procedure, and are unaffected by the exteriorized catheters. Notably, the establishment of catheters in loops allows us to introduce multiple treatments over an extended interval, following recovery from surgery and clearance of drugs administered during surgery and the post-operative period

Towards a seismogenic source model of the Dinarides

Geology-based seismogenic source models are becoming the fundamental input for seismic hazard assessment at the scale of an entire country. In this work, we will illustrate in simple steps the complex process that leads from basic data to a fully-fledged seismogenic source model of the Dinaride thrust belt, running along coastal Croatia, Montenegro and part of Albania. We started from a layer of basic geological and structural data and explored a wide range of indicators of recent tectonic activity, such as drainage anomalies/diversions and displaced or warped geological markers. We then analyzed the interplay of these indicators with known or prospective tectonic structures. To the picture thus obtained, we added a layer with a revised historical seismic catalog and selected a few earthquakes for which we re-estimate epicenter and magnitude. At the end of our analyses we combined all these data in a structured GIS database. With these data at hand, we also compared the longer-term indicators with present-day stress/strain data such as GPS velocities and earthquake focal solutions. Following the approach already developed for the construction of the Database of Individual Seismogenic Sources for Italy, we developed a seismogenic source model for the Dinarides in which the better constrained seismogenic faults have been mapped and parameterized and made ready for use in seismic hazard practice. We believe that our experience in the Dinarides will become useful in unifying and formalizing the process of constructing seismic source models in other countries

Prevalence of non-aureus Staphylococcus species causing intramammary infections in Canadian dairy herds

Non-aureus staphylococci (NAS), the microorganisms most frequently isolated from bovine milk worldwide, are a heterogeneous group of numerous species. To establish their importance as a group, the distribution of individual species needs to be determined. In the present study, NAS intramammary infection (IMI) was defined as a milk sample containing ≥1,000 cfu/mL in pure or mixed culture that was obtained from a cohort of cows assembled by the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network. Overall, 6,213 (6.3%) of 98,233 quarter-milk samples from 5,149 cows and 20,305 udder quarters were associated with an NAS IMI. Of the 6,213 phenotypically identified NAS isolates, 5,509 (89%) were stored by the Canadian Bovine Mastitis Research Network Mastitis Pathogen Collection and characterized using partial sequencing of the rpoB housekeeping gene, confirming 5,434 isolates as NAS. Prevalence of each NAS species IMI was estimated using Bayesian models, with presence of a specific NAS species as the outcome. Overall quarter-level NAS IMI prevalence was 26%. The most prevalent species causing IMI were Staphylococcus chromogenes (13%), Staphylococcus simulans (4%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (3%), Staphylococcus xylosus (2%), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (1%). The prevalence of NAS IMI as a group was highest in first-parity heifers and was evenly distributed throughout cows in parities ≥2. The IMI prevalence of some species such as S. chromogenes, S. simulans, and S. epidermidis differed among parities. Overall prevalence of NAS IMI was 35% at calving, decreased over the next 10 d, and then gradually increased until the end of lactation. The prevalence of S. chromogenes, Staphylococcus gallinarum, Staphylococcus cohnii, and Staphylococcus capitis was highest at calving, whereas the prevalence of S. chromogenes, S. haemolyticus, S. xylosus, and S. cohnii increased during lactation. Although the overall prevalence of NAS IMI was similar across barn types, the prevalence of S. simulans, S. xylosus, S. cohnii, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, S. capitis, and Staphylococcus arlettae IMI was higher in tie-stall barns; the prevalence of S. epidermidis IMI was lowest; and the prevalence of S. chromogenes and Staphylococcus sciuri IMI was highest in bedded-pack barns. Staphylococcus simulans, S. epidermidis, S. xylosus, and S. cohnii IMI were more prevalent in herds with intermediate to high bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) and S. haemolyticus IMI was more prevalent in herds with high BMSCC, whereas other common NAS species IMI were equally prevalent in all 3 BMSCC categories. Distribution of NAS species IMI differed among the 4 regions of Canada. In conclusion, distribution differed considerably among NAS species IMI; therefore, accurate identification (species level) is essential for studying NAS epidemiology

Tsunamis scenarios in the Adriatic Sea

We calculated the expected impact on the Italian coast of the Adriatic Sea of a large set of tsunamis resulting from potential earthquakes generated by major fault zones. Our approach merges updated knowledge on the regional tectonics and scenario-like calculations of expected tsunami impact. We selected six elongated potential source zones. For each of them we determined a Maximum Credible Earthquake and the associated Typical Fault, described by its size, geometry and kinematics. We then let the Typical Fault float along strike of its parent source zone and simulated all tsunamis it could generate. Simulations are based on the solution of the nonlinear shallow water equations through a finite-difference technique. For each run we calculated the wave fields at specified simulation times and the maximum water height field (above mean sea level), then generated travel-time maps and maximum wave height profiles along the target coastline. Maxima were also classified in a three-level code of expected tsunami threat. We found that the southern portion of Apulia facing Albania and the Gargano promontory are especially prone to the tsunami threat. We also found that some bathymetric features are crucial in determining the focalization-defocalization of tsunami energy. We suggest that our results be taken into account in the design of early-warning strategies