Ionospheric precursors for crustal earthquakes in Italy

Crustal earthquakes with magnitude 6.0>M 5.5 observed in Italy for the period 1979–2009 including the last one at L’Aquila on 6 April 2009 were considered to check if the earlier obtained relationships for ionospheric precursors for strong Japanese earthquakes are valid for the Italian moderate earthquakes. The ionospheric precursors are based on the observed variations of the sporadic E-layer parameters (h0Es, fbEs) and foF2 at the ionospheric station Rome. Empirical dependencies for the seismo-ionospheric disturbances relating the earthquake magnitude and the epicenter distance are obtained and they have been shown to be similar to those obtained earlier for Japanese earthquakes. The dependences indicate the process of spreading the disturbance from the epicenter towards periphery during the earthquake preparation process. Large lead times for the precursor occurrence (up to 34 days for M=5.8–5.9) tells about a prolong preparation period. A possibility of using the obtained relationships for the earthquakes prediction is discussed

Ionospheric precursors for crustal earthquakes in Italy

Crustal earthquakes with magnitude 6.0&gt;M&ge;5.5 observed in Italy for the period 1979–2009 including the last one at L'Aquila on 6 April 2009 were considered to check if the earlier obtained relationships for ionospheric precursors for strong Japanese earthquakes are valid for the Italian moderate earthquakes. The ionospheric precursors are based on the observed variations of the sporadic E-layer parameters (<I>h</I>'Es, <I>fb</I>Es) and <I>fo</I>F2 at the ionospheric station Rome. Empirical dependencies for the seismo-ionospheric disturbances relating the earthquake magnitude and the epicenter distance are obtained and they have been shown to be similar to those obtained earlier for Japanese earthquakes. The dependences indicate the process of spreading the disturbance from the epicenter towards periphery during the earthquake preparation process. Large lead times for the precursor occurrence (up to 34 days for M=5.8–5.9) tells about a prolong preparation period. A possibility of using the obtained relationships for the earthquakes prediction is discussed

Economic aspects of local authorities functioning

© The authors. The relevance of the study on economic aspects of local authorities' functioning is due to their dual nature in the complex system of market relations. In this regard, this article is aimed at economic aspects' revealing of local authorities' functioning, as well as the disclosure of various interest levels' interaction in the system of municipal management. A leading approach in the study of this problem is the method of the effectiveness assessing of local authorities' functioning. The article presents the analysis of domestic researchers' different points of view in relation to the substantial characteristics of municipal economy, reveals the nature of the interaction of various interest levels in the system of municipal relations, discloses the duality of local authorities' position in the municipal system of economic relations, proposes a classification of business entities under the municipal economy, proves the specificity of the economic and moral relations in the system of local authorities. The article is valuable for researchers, teachers and students studying the problems of formation and development of the national municipal economy, research methods within the discipline "Economics of public (government) services", "Municipal economy", as well as specialists of local authorities who are concerned with the improvement and development of municipal economy

FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC E region observations and daytime foE at middle latitudes

Ionosonde observations at Rome and Gibilmanna (Sicily) for some months of 2006–2007 were analyzed in the connection with recent COSMIC NmE results. Italy was completely located in the NmE enhanced zone according to COSMIC observations for the periods in question. COSMIC‐observed NmE values in the NmE enhanced zone do not coincide with NmE scaled from ionograms in accordance with the URSI Recommendations, but the IRI model correctly describes monthly median NmE contrary to the Chu et al. (2009) conclusion. Three month averaged COSMIC NmE values turn out to be close to monthly median NmE corresponding to the blanketing frequency fbEs. A conclusion is made that sporadic E practically permanently existing during daytime hours in summer strongly contributes to NmE observed by COSMIC. Possible reasons for the occurrence of the NmE enhanced zones at middle latitudes are discussed

FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC E region observations and daytime foE at middle latitudes

Ionosonde observations at Rome and Gibilmanna (Sicily) for some months of 2006–2007 were analyzed in the connection with recent COSMIC NmE results. Italy was completely located in the NmE enhanced zone according to COSMIC observations for the periods in question. COSMIC‐observed NmE values in the NmE enhanced zone do not coincide with NmE scaled from ionograms in accordance with the URSI Recommendations, but the IRI model correctly describes monthly median NmE contrary to the Chu et al. (2009) conclusion. Three month averaged COSMIC NmE values turn out to be close to monthly median NmE corresponding to the blanketing frequency fbEs. A conclusion is made that sporadic E practically permanently existing during daytime hours in summer strongly contributes to NmE observed by COSMIC. Possible reasons for the occurrence of the NmE enhanced zones at middle latitudes are discussed.PublishedA063071.7. Osservazioni di alta e media atmosferaJCR Journalrestricte

RED BLOOD VALUES CHANGES IN CARDIOVASCULAR PATIENTS — EPIDEMIOLOGY, PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT APPROACHES

The review highlights a significance of anemic syndrome in cardiovascular patients, which is certainly negatively related to life quality and prognosis of patients. The main causes for its development are discussed, of those the main are hemodilution, inflammatory cytokines, iron deficiency. Also anemia correction is discussed and the main trials of this field are mentioned. The U-shaped relation is discussed for hemoglobin concentration and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality which reflect that higher levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit are associated with poorer outcome. There is lack of information on the prevalence and influence of hemoconcentration on prognosis in cardiological patients, as the data available is usually controversial. The conclusion is made that at the moment the problem of target hemoglobin and hematocrit levels definition for anemia treatment in cardiological patients, as also the data on the hemoconcentration influence of course and prognosis of cardiovascular diseases remains open

ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AT SPORT ACTIVITIES IN MIDDLE AGE AND ELDERLY SPORTSMEN

Aim. To analyze the changes of systemic arterial pressure (BP) before and after sport load, incl. the diagnosis of arterial hypertension (AH) and antihypertensive treatment, in veteran sportsmen.Material and methods. Questionnaires were applied for the main cardiovascular risk factors assessment, and BP measurement upright resting (before warming up exercises) and just after the load in 108 competitive sportsmen 40-72 y.o. In the study, the previously set diagnosis of systemic hypertension was taken in consideration and its treatment type.Results. Among all participants, 41% had increased systolic BP (SBP) and 29,6% — diastolic (DBP) at baseline. After exercises, increase of SBP was found in 41% and DBP — in 50,9%. During competition, baseline increase of SBP had 61,8% of all participants, increased DBP — 35,3%. After competition, increase of SBP was found in 67,6% sportsmen, of DBP — 41,2%. Among those with no AH diagnosis, 30,6% had SBP &gt;139 mmHg at baseline, and 42% — after warming up. In sportsmen with already diagnosed AH, raised SBP before warming up was found in 56%, after — 60%. The tendency was even more prominent during competitions. In AH sportsmen, the characteristics of BP change at sport loads did not differ significantly by the type and regularity of antihypertension drugs intake.Conclusion. Almost a half of adult and elderly sportsmen have AH diagnosis, and of those less than a half do take regular antihypertensive therapy. Most of veteran sportsmen experience raised BP before and after sport load, including those taking regular therapy and a third of those not diagnosed with AH