Laboratory observations of slow earthquakes and the spectrum of tectonic fault slip modes

Slow earthquakes represent an important conundrum in earthquake physics. While regular earthquakes are catastrophic events with rupture velocities governed by elastic wave speed, the processes that underlie slow fault slip phenomena, including recent discoveries of tremor, slow-slip and low-frequency earthquakes, are less understood. Theoretical models and sparse laboratory observations have provided insights, but the physics of slow fault rupture remain enigmatic. Here we report on laboratory observations that illuminate the mechanics of slow-slip phenomena. We show that a spectrum of slow-slip behaviours arises near the threshold between stable and unstable failure, and is governed by frictional dynamics via the interplay of fault frictional properties, effective normal stress and the elastic stiffness of the surrounding material. This generalizable frictional mechanism may act in concert with other hypothesized processes that damp dynamic ruptures, and is consistent with the broad range of geologic environments where slow earthquakes are observed

Magnetic and electronic properties of M-Ba-Cu-O (M: Y, Er, Eu)

Various high-Tc superconductors of the La-(Ba,Sr)-Cu-O and the M-Ba-Cu-O systems with M = Y, Er, and Eu have been prepared by the solid-state reaction method. Single-phase samples with no additional diffraction peaks as verified by x-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements have been obtained. Measurements of the electrical resistivity and of the magnetization showed sharp superconducting transitions with a width of 1 K. The measurements of the magnetic susceptibility have been extended above room temperature up to 770 K. There is clear evidence for the formation of a magnetic moment in all M-Ba-Cu-O samples. Monochromated x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (MXPS) valence band and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) core level spectra have been measured on various samples at room temperature and at liquid nitrogen temperatur

Origin of Hawaiian Tholeiites: Trace Element Constraints

We report here geochemical studies of Hawaiian tholeiites and ultramafic xenoliths from Salt Lake Crater, Oahu. We focus attention on tholeiitic basalts that comprise the bulk of Hawaiian volcanoes. When the samples are screened to include only those lying neat the log-MgO (about 7 percent) end of olivine-control lines (Wright, 1971), tholeiites from individual volcanoes are remarkably uniform. On this basis, we show that, for tholeiites from six volcanoes, systematic geochemical differences exist that cannot be attributed to differentiation of these magmas from a common parental magma. Apparently there have been important differences in the processes of magma generation, source composition, or source mineral constitution. Partial melting calculations based on REE contents emphasize these distinctions, but unique melting models are not presented. In these models, relative REE abundances in the source material is a major uncertainty. Nd isotopic studies of Hawaiian basalts require systematic differences in Sm/Nd for the source material of each volcano. Furthermore, the time-integrated Sm/Nd of the sources must be less than that in chondrites. REE analyses of Hawaiian garnet lherzolite xenoliths show that they have chondritic to light REE-enriched relative abundances with absolute contents (for light REE) about 3 to 8 times chondrites. These data obviously conflict with interpretations of the Nd isotopic data. Several possibilities follow: (1) the available xenoliths are not parental to tholeiite, (2) our simple interpretation of the Nd isotopic data is wrong, and (3) the source regions may have been invaded at geologically recent times by a light REE-enriched phase, in which case the xenoliths may represent the course material. If the xenoliths are characteristic of the source, partial melting calculations indicate that the tholeiites may be generated by 15 to 20 percent melting of garnet lherzolite and at the sane tune conform to constraints imposed by the REE and Ni contents and the partitioning of Fe and Mg between melts and residues. We propose that the primary tholeiitic magmas contain no more than about 12 percent MgO, and that erupted magmas probably fractionated less than 10 to 15 percent of olivine during ascent and storage in high-level chambers

A Single-Center Comparison of Extended and Restricted THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS with LMWH after Metabolic Surgery

IntroductionMorbid obesity is an important risk factor for developing a venous thromboembolic events (VTE) after surgery. Fast-track protocols in metabolic surgery can lower the risk of VTE in the postoperative period by reducing the immobilization period. Administration of thromboprophylaxis can be a burden for patients. This study aims to compare extended to restricted thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) for patients undergoing metabolic surgery.MethodsIn this single center retrospective cohort study, data was collected from patients undergoing a primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) or sleeve gastrectomy (SG) between 2014 and 2018. Patients operated in 2014-2017 received thromboprophylaxis for two weeks. In 2018, patients only received thromboprophylaxis during hospital admission. Patients already using anticoagulants were analyzed as a separate subgroup. The primary outcome measure was the rate of clinically significant VTEs within three months. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative hemorrhage and reoperations for hemorrhage.Results3666 Patients underwent a primary RYGB or SG following the fast-track protocol. In total, two patients in the 2014-2017 cohort were diagnosed with VTE versus zero patients in the 2018 cohort. In the historic group, 34/2599 (1.3%) hemorrhages occurred and in the recent cohort 8/720 (1.1%). Postoperative hemorrhage rates did not differ between the two cohorts (multivariable analysis, p=0.475). In the subgroup of patients using anticoagulants, 21/347(6.1%) patients developed a postoperative hemorrhage. Anticoagulant use was a significant predictor of postoperative hemorrhage (

Low-pressure pneumoperitoneum with deep neuromuscular blockade in metabolic surgery to reduce postoperative pain:a randomized pilot trial

Background For metabolic laparoscopic surgery, higher pressures up to 20 mmHg are often used to create a surgical field of sufficient quality. This randomized pilot study aimed to determine the feasibility, safety and tolerability of low intraabdominal pressure (IAP) and deep neuromuscular blockade (NMB) to reduce postoperative pain. Methods In a teaching hospital in the Netherlands, 62 patients eligible for a laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) were randomized into one of four groups in a 2 x 2 factorial design: deep/moderate NMB and standard (20 mmHg)/low IAP (12 mmHg). Patient and surgical team were blinded. Primary outcome measure was the surgical field quality, scored on the Leiden-Surgical Rating Scale (L-SRS). Secondary outcome measures were (serious) adverse events, duration of surgery and postoperative pain. Results 62 patients were included. L-SRS was good or perfect in all patients that were operated under standard IAP with deep or moderate NMB. In 40% of patients with low IAP and deep NMB, an increase in IAP was needed to improve surgical overview. In patients with low IAP and moderate NMB, IAP was increased to improve surgical overview in 40%, and in 75% of these cases a deep NMB was requested to further improve the surgical overview. Median duration of surgery was 38 min (IQR34-40 min) in the group with standard IAP and moderate NMB and 52 min (IQR46-55 min) in the group with low IAP and deep NMB. Conclusions The combination of moderate NMB and low IAP can create insufficient surgical overview. Larger trials are needed to corroborate the findings of this study. Trial registration: Dutch Trial Register: Trial NL7050, registered 28 May 2018.