Relationship between serum soluble endothelial protein C receptor level and COVID-19 findings

Coronavirus-related disease-2019 (COVID-19)-associated coagulopathy presents predominantly with thrombosis and leads to complications in close association with inflammatory process. Soluble endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR), which is the soluble form of EPCR, reduces the anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activity of activated protein C. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between sEPCR and the laboratory parameters and thorax computed tomography (CT) findings in the course of COVID-19. Twenty-five laboratory-confirmed [reverse transcription-quantitative polimerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) positive] and 24 clinically diagnosed (RT-qPCR negative) COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. Blood specimens were collected for sEPCR and haematological and biochemical parameter measurement. Thorax CT was performed to detect COVID-19 findings. These parameters from RT-qPCR positive and negative patients were then compared. Although there was no difference between the groups in terms of symptoms, the time between the onset of symptoms and the admission time was shorter in RT-qPCR positive group (P?=?0.000). sEPCR levels were significantly higher in the RT-qPCR positive group (P?=?0.011). Patients with ground-glass opacity and bilateral involvement on thorax CT have higher serum sEPCR levels (P?=?0.012 and 0.043, respectively). This study has shown for the first time that serum sEPCR levels, which is a member of coagulation cascade and has also been reported to be associated with inflammation, is higher in patients with positive RT-qPCR test and patients with GGO or bilateral involvement on thorax CT regardless of the PCR result. Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved

The 2014 Earthquake Model of the Middle East: seismogenic sources

The Earthquake Model of Middle East (EMME) project was carried out between 2010 and 2014 to provide a harmonized seismic hazard assessment without country border limitations. The result covers eleven countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syria and Turkey, which span one of the seismically most active regions on Earth in response to complex interactions between four major tectonic plates i.e. Africa, Arabia, India and Eurasia. Destructive earthquakes with great loss of life and property are frequent within this region, as exemplified by the recent events of Izmit (Turkey, 1999), Bam (Iran, 2003), Kashmir (Pakistan, 2005), Van (Turkey, 2011), and Hindu Kush (Afghanistan, 2015). We summarize multidisciplinary data (seismicity, geology, and tectonics) compiled and used to characterize the spatial and temporal distribution of earthquakes over the investigated region. We describe the development process of the model including the delineation of seismogenic sources and the description of methods and parameters of earthquake recurrence models, all representing the current state of knowledge and practice in seismic hazard assessment. The resulting seismogenic source model includes seismic sources defined by geological evidence and active tectonic findings correlated with measured seismicity patterns. A total of 234 area sources fully cross-border-harmonized are combined with 778 seismically active faults along with background-smoothed seismicity. Recorded seismicity (both historical and instrumental) provides the input to estimate rates of earthquakes for area sources and background seismicity while geologic slip-rates are used to characterize fault-specific earthquake recurrences. Ultimately, alternative models of intrinsic uncertainties of data, procedures and models are considered when used for calculation of the seismic hazard. At variance to previous models of the EMME region, we provide a homogeneous seismic source model representing a consistent basis for the next generation of seismic hazard models within the region.Published3465-34966T. Studi di pericolosità sismica e da maremotoJCR Journa

New constraints on micro-seismicity and stress state in the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone: Observations from a dense seismic array

With the aim of extensively investigating the crustal structure beneath the western segment of the North Anatolian Fault Zone where it splays into northern and southern branches, a temporary seismic network (dense array for North Anatolia-DANA) consisting of 70 stations was deployed in early May 2012 and operated for 18 months in the Sakarya region during the FaultLab experiment. Out of 2437 events contaminated by explosions, we extracted 1371 well located earthquakes. The enhanced station coverage having a nominal station spacing of 7 km, lead to a minimum magnitude calculation of 0.1. Horizontal and vertical location uncertainties within the array do not exceed 0.8 km and 0.9 km, respectively. We observe considerable seismic activity along both branches of the fault where the depth of the seismogenic zone was mostly confined to 15 km. Using our current earthquake catalog we obtained a b-value of 1. We also mapped the b-value variation with depth and observed a gradual decrease. Furthermore, we determined the source parameters of 41 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 1.8 using P-wave first motion polarity method. Regional Moment Tensor Inversion method was also applied to earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 3.0. Focal mechanism solutions confirm that Sakarya and its vicinity is stressed by a compressional regime showing a primarily oblique-slip motion character. Stress tensor analysis indicates that the maximum principal stress is aligned in WNW-ESE direction and the tensional axis is aligned in NNE-SSW direction. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Surface Fault Breaks, Aftershock Distribution, and Rupture Process of the 17 August 1999 Izmit

Rupture process analysis suggests two stages of rupture separated in space and time, with an estimated total scalar seismic moment of 2.42 X 10(20) N in. The first stage initiated at the epicenter, near Izmit, and propagated asymmetric ally-first eastward and then westward with a total scalar moment of 1.6 X 10(20) N in, showing predominantly right-lateral strike-slip faulting followed by a minor subevent extending the rupture further east. The second stage took place at the western and eastern ends of the source area, rupturing two segments within the Marmara Sea, west of the Hersek Delta, and two segments between Akyazi and Golyaka. The rupture process analysis indicates that six fault segments were ruptured during the mainshock: four of them on land and two within the Marmara Sea. The major moment release of 1.2 X 10(20) N m is found on the 64-km-long Sapanca segments located between the easternmost tip of the Gulf of izmit and Akyazi, with an estimated maximum slip of 5.3 in. The moment release on the Golcuk segment, with a length of 30 km, is about 3.7 X 10(19) N in, and the estimated slip on this segment is 4.1 in. Rupture process analysis suggests two 20-km-long segments between Akyazi and Golyaka striking N70degreesE. The scalar moment releases on these segments are 2.7 X 10(19) and 1.9 X 10(19) N in, with estimated offsets of 2.2 and 1.6 in, respectively. The last two subevents took place to the west of the Hersek Delta on the Yalova segment and within the Marmara Sea, with estimated offsets of 1.3 and 1.0 in, respectively

The use of electromagnetic and vertical electrical sounding methods in groundwater exploration

Electromagnetic (EM) profiling and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) studies were carried out for groundwater exploration in the Twifo - Hemang Lower Denkyira Districts of Ghana. These two geophysical methods were used for exploring the groundwater potentials beneath Achiase Community, Mbaa Mpe Hia Community and Moseaso Community. This paper seeks to encourage the use of inversion for interpreting electromagnetic data rather than the usual qualitative interpretation method using line graphs and also the use of apparent resistivity maps as 2D pseudo resistivity maps to support interpretations of the ID inversion results (in cases where the available budget could not permit 2D and or 3D inversion). These would help in enhancement of obtained results, reduce ambiguity and help decision making. The EM results revealed that, the three communities are underlain by two layers with the first layer having the thickness range between 2 to 10 m and the second layer is a half space. The results from VES studies indicate that; Achiase Community and Mbaa Mpc Hia No. 2 community are underlain by three geoelectrical layers and Moseaso Community is underlain by four geoelectrical layers. On the basis of this study the Moseaso Community is ranked highest in Willis of groundwater potential followed by the Achiase community and finally the Mbaa Mpe Hia No.2 Community. Several sites were recommended for drilling boreholes for water supply in these communities

Cytherella maremensis sp n., a new ostracod from the Sea of Marmara (Turkey) (Crustacea: Ostracoda)

Cytherella maremensis sp. n., belonging to the family Cytherellidae, is described as new from a hydrothermal vent, located in the west of Marmara Island on the North Anatolian Fault crossing the Sea of Marmara. It was collected from a sediment core 55 m below sea level. Cytherella maremensis sp. n. is clearly separated from closely related species by its shape, length-height ratio and ornamentation