Pharmaceutics

To assess real-world outcomes of fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) implant in treating diabetic macular edema (DME), a systematic literature review was conducted on PubMed in order to identify publications assessing the efficacy and safety of the FAc implant in DME in daily practice. Case reports and randomized controlled trials were excluded. Twenty-two observational real-world studies analyzing a total of 1880 eyes were included. Mean peak visual gain was +8.7 letters (11.3 months post-FAc injection) and was greater for lower baseline best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and for more recent DME. Mean central retinal thickness (CRT) decreased 34.3% from baseline. 77.0% of the analyzed studies reported both BCVA improvement of at least five letters and a CRT decrease by 20% or more. Rescue therapy was needed more frequently when FAc was administered for chronic DME. FAc-induced ocular hypertension was reported in 20.1% of patients but only 0.6% needed surgery. Cataract extraction was performed in 43.2% of phakic patients. Adequate patient selection is essential for optimal FAc response and better safety profile. Currently positioned as second- or third-line treatment in the management algorithm, FAc implant decreases treatment burden and provides better letter gain when administered for more recent DME

Bilobate comet morphology and internal structure controlled by shear deformation

Bilobate comets—small icy bodies with two distinct lobes—are a common configuration among comets, but the factors shaping these bodies are largely unknown. Cometary nuclei, the solid centres of comets, erode by ice sublimation when they are sufficiently close to the Sun, but the importance of a comet’s internal structure on its erosion is unclear. Here we present three-dimensional analyses of images from the Rosetta mission to illuminate the process that shaped the Jupiter-family bilobate comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko over billions of years. We show that the comet’s surface and interior exhibit shear-fracture and fault networks, on spatial scales of tens to hundreds of metres. Fractures propagate up to 500 m below the surface through a mechanically homogeneous material. Through fracture network analysis and stress modelling, we show that shear deformation generates fracture networks that control mechanical surface erosion, particularly in the strongly marked neck trough of 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, exposing its interior. We conclude that shear deformation shapes and structures the surface and interior of bilobate comets, particularly in the outer Solar System where water ice sublimation is negligible.Additional co-authors: M. A. Barucci, J.-L. Bertaux, I. Bertini, D. Bodewits, G. Cremonese, V. Da Deppo, S. Debei, M. De Cecco, J. Deller, S. Fornasier, M. Fulle, P. J. Gutiérrez, C. Güttler, W.-H. Ip, H. U. Keller, L. M. Lara, F. La Forgia, M. Lazzarin, A. Lucchetti, J. J. López-Moreno, F. Marzari, M. Massironi, S. Mottola, N. Oklay, M. Pajola, L. Penasa, F. Preusker, H. Rickman, F. Scholten, X. Shi, I. Toth, C. Tubiana & J.-B. Vincen

Crustal movements in northeastern Italy derived from permanent GPS stations

The horizontal absolute motion vectors of northeastern Italy, obtained from the GPS data of the permanent stations of the Department of Physics of the University of Bologna, are quite similar to the NUVEL1A NNR plate motion model. However, the results indicate that these sites are moving faster than predicted by the model and with azimuths slightly more northward oriented. The directions of absolute motion in the no-net-rotation system confirm the motion of the Adriatic plate in the global circuit where both Africa, Europe and the intervening Adriatic plate are moving north-eastward, although at different velocities and with small variable azimuths which determine relative plate interactions. The motions of the Marina di Ravenna, Medicina and Bologna stations are respectively 30.9, 27.6, and 29.4 mm/yr; Trieste moves at a rate of 27.9 mm/yr. The azimuths have similar values. The data suggest shortening of about 2-to-4 mm/yr between Trieste, located at the leading edge of the Dinarides orogen and the Emilia-Romagna Marina di Ravenna, Medicina and Bologna sites positioned above the Apennines accretionary prism. This can be interpreted either as active thrusting of the Dinarides or/and active thrusting in the Apennines accretionary prism. Seismic reflection profiles and seismicity indicate that both orogens are active, but the Dinarides appear to have slower convergence rates. Active thrusting supports the notion of a lively and retreating subduction beneath the northern Apennines. The height time data of the same sites show subsidence rates of different magnitude: Medicina -2.44 0.05 mm/yr; Marina di Ravenna \u201310.82 0.04; Bologna \u201317.93 0.09; Trieste \u20135.71 0.10. The rates of Marina di Ravenna and Bologna are, to a large extent, of anthropogenic nature. They were induced by groundwater exploitation, which was subjected to control policies only starting from the early 80's. These values indicate faster subsidence close to the depocenter of the Apennines foredeep (Bologna), with lower values above anticlines of the accretionary prism (Medicina). Subsidence in Marina di Ravenna can be interpreted as related to both foredeep subsidence plus sediment loading and natural and anthropogenic compaction in the Po delta area

Crustal movements in northeastern Italy from permanent GPS stations

The horizontal absolute motion vectors of northeastern Italy, obtained from the GPS data of a permanent network are compared to the NUVEL1A NNR plate motion model. The results indicate that these sites are moving faster than predicted by the model and with azimuths slightly more northward oriented. The directions of absolute motion in the no-net-rotation system confirm the motion of the Adriatic plate in the global circuit where Africa, Europe and the intervening Adriatic plate are moving north-eastward, although at different velocities and with small variable azimuths which determine relative plate interactions. The data suggest shortening of a few mm/yr between Trieste, located at the leading edge of the Dinarides orogen and the Emilia-Romagna Marina di Ravenna, Medicina and Bologna sites positioned above the Apennines accretionary prism. This can be interpreted either as active thrusting of the Dinarides or/and active thrusting in the Apennines accretionary prism. Seismic reflection profiles and seismicity indicate that both orogens are active, but the Dinarides appear to have slower convergence rates. Active thrusting supports the notion of a lively and retreating subduction beneath the northern Apennines. The height time data of the same sites show subsidence rates of different magnitude. The rates of Marina di Ravenna and Bologna are, to a large extent, of anthropogenic nature

Crustal movements in northeastern Italy from permanent GPS stations

The horizontal absolute motion vectors of northeastern Italy, obtained from the GPS data of a permanent network are compared to the NUVEL1A NNR plate motion model. The results indicate that these sites are moving faster than predicted by the model and with azimuths slightly more northward oriented. The directions of absolute motion in the no-net-rotation system confirm the motion of the Adriatic plate in the global circuit where Africa, Europe and the intervening Adriatic plate are moving north-eastward, although at different velocities and with small variable azimuths which determine relative plate interactions. The data suggest shortening of a few mm/yr between Trieste, located at the leading edge of the Dinarides orogen and the Emilia-Romagna Marina di Ravenna, Medicina and Bologna sites positioned above the Apennines accretionary prism. This can be interpreted either as active thrusting of the Dinarides or/and active thrusting in the Apennines accretionary prism. Seismic reflection profiles and seismicity indicate that both orogens are active, but the Dinarides appear to have slower convergence rates. Active thrusting supports the notion of a lively and retreating subduction beneath the northern Apennines. The height time data of the same sites show subsidence rates of different magnitude. The rates of Marina di Ravenna and Bologna are, to a large extent, of anthropogenic nature

Long-Term crustal deformation monitored by gravity and space techniques at Medicina, Italy and Wettzell, Germany.

Series of gravity recordings at the stations Medicina (Italy) and Wettzell (Germany) are investigated to separate seasonal gravity variations from long-term trends in gravity. The findings are compared to height variations monitored by continuous GPS observations. To study the origin of these variations in height and gravity the environmental parameters at the stations are included in the fact finding. In Medicina, a clear seasonal signal is visible in the gravity and height data series, caused by seasonal fluctuations in the atmosphere including mass redistribution, the ocean, groundwater but also by geo-mechanical effects such as soil consolidation and thermal expansion of the structure supporting the GPS antenna. In Wettzell, no seasonal effect could be clearly identified, and the long-term trend in gravity is mainly caused by ground water variations. The successful combination of height and gravity series with the derived ratio of gravity to height changes indicates that the long-term trends in height and gravity are most likely due to mass changes rather than to tectonic movements

Monitoring Crustal Deformation by Continuous Gravity and GPS Observations

At Medicina, near Bologna, Italy, a superconducting gravimeter, periodically controlled by absolute gravity observations, is acquiring continuous data series since the beginning of measurements in October 1996. A permanent GPS receiver was also installed at the station and is providing continuous observations since mid 1996. The time series are about 8 years long and they constitute, together with a remarkable ensemble of environmental parameters, a unique data set. The results of the gravity data analysis are interpreted to separate seasonal oscillations from a long-term trend and are compared with the height variations estimated by means of GPS. Noticeable seasonal oscillations are present both in the gravity and GPS time series and they were modeled by accounting for atmospheric, hydrological and non-tidal oceanic effects. Interannual variability is observed. A mean seasonal model derived by stacking of the observations is computed both for the gravity and GPS data series and it is compared with that obtained from the models. A moderate long-term trend has been identified in gravity, which is confirmed by the GPS height variations