Impact of global seismicity on sea level change assessment

We analyze the effect of seismic activity on sealevel variations, by computing the time-dependent vertical crustal movement and geoid change due to coseismic deformations and postseismic relaxation effects. Seismic activity can affect both the absolute sealevel, by changing the Earth gravity field and hence the geoid height, and the relative sealevel, i.e. the radial distance between seafloor and geoid level. By using comprehensive seismic catalogues we assess the net effect of seismicity on tidal relative sealevel measurements as well as on the global oceanic surfaces, and we obtain an estimate of absolute sealevel variations of seismic origin. Our results confirm that, on a global scale, most of the signal is associated with few giant thrust events, and that RSL estimates obtained using tide-gauge data can be sensibly affected by the seismic driven sealevel signal. The recent measures of sealevel obtained by satellite altimetry show a wide regional variation of sealevel trends over the oceanic surfaces, with the largest deviations from the mean trend occurring in tectonically active regions. While our estimates of average absolute sealevel variations turn out to be orders of magnitude smaller than the satellite measured variations, we can still argue that mass redistribution associated with aseismic tectonic processes may contribute to the observed regional variability of sealevel variations.Comment: 34 pages, submitted to Journal of Geophysical Researc

Modeling sea level changes and geodetic variations by glacial isostasy: the improved SELEN code

We describe the basic features of SELEN, an open source Fortran 90 program for the numerical solution of the so-called "Sea Level Equation" for a spherical, layered, non-rotating Earth with Maxwell viscoelastic rheology. The Sea Level Equation was introduced in the 70s to model the sea level variations in response to the melting of late-Pleistocene ice-sheets, but it can be also employed for predictions of geodetic quantities such as vertical and horizontal surface displacements and gravity variations on a global and a regional scale. SELEN (acronym of SEa Level EquatioN solver) is particularly oriented to scientists at their first approach to the glacial isostatic adjustment problem and, according to our experience, it can be successfully used in teaching. The current release (2.9) considerably improves the previous versions of the code in terms of computational efficiency, portability and versatility. In this paper we describe the essentials of the theory behind the Sea Level Equation, the purposes of SELEN and its implementation, and we provide practical guidelines for the use of the program. Various examples showing how SELEN can be configured to solve geodynamical problems involving past and present sea level changes and current geodetic variations are also presented and discussed

Extracting the top-quark running mass using ttˉt\bar{t}+1-jet events produced at the Large Hadron Collider

We present the calculation of the next-to-leading order QCD corrections for top-quark pair production in association with an additional jet at hadron colliders, using the modified minimal subtraction scheme to renormalize the top-quark mass. The results are compared to measurements at the Large Hadron Collider run I. In particular, we determine the top-quark running mass from a fit of the theoretical results presented here to the LHC data

Quality and properties of titanium used in orthopedic surgery

Puesto que en los momentos actuales se está usando el titanio de manera habitual como componente de todas las endoprótesis, y de manera cada vez más importante se está incluyendo en la fabricación de los implantes de osteosíntesis y estabilización osteoarticular, es necesario que los cirujanos ortopédicos nos acerquemos al conocimiento de sus bondades o de sus inconvenientes. Tratamos por ello de situarlo en sus coordenadas de aplicación clínica, resaltando sus virtudes en los aspectos biomecánicos, en las garantías de biocompatibilidad que permiten que se pueda realizar por parte del hueso receptor el fenómeno de la osteointegración, y en general en la respuesta del huésped ante este metal no desde el punto de vista de la unión al mismo, sino de las reacciones adversas o no, que pueda ocasionar sistémica o localmente. Desde el punto de vista biomecánico, su ductilidad y resistencia y su gran capacidad de autorreparación por el mecanismo de la pasivación inmediata anulando por tanto el fenómeno corrosivo, son sus mejores credenciales. Biológicamente, su compatibilidad con el medio que lo recibe permitiendo el crecimiento hístico a su alrededor sin interferirlo, junto a su baja o nula capacidad de reacción a cuerpo extraño y mucho menos en la producción de fenómenos de sensibilidad son las otras características que avalan su uso. Como material endoprotésico, junto a indudables constataciones clínicas y de laboratorio que le sitúan como el mejor metal proosteointegración, otras tratan de encontrar sombras para su empleo

On the AGN radio luminosity distribution and the black hole fundamental plane

We have studied the dependence of the AGN nuclear radio (1.4 GHz) luminosity on both the AGN 2-10 keV X-ray and the host-galaxy K-band luminosity. A complete sample of 1268 X-ray selected AGN (both type 1 and type 2) has been used, which is the largest catalogue of AGN belonging to statistically well defined samples where radio, X and K band information exists. At variance with previous studies, radio upper limits have been statistically taken into account using a Bayesian Maximum Likelihood fitting method. It resulted that a good fit is obtained assuming a plane in the 3D L_R-L_X-L_K space, namely logL_R= xi_X logL_X + xi_K logL_K + xi_0, having a ~1 dex wide (1 sigma) spread in radio luminosity. As already shown, no evidence of bimodality in the radio luminosity distribution was found and therefore any definition of radio loudness in AGN is arbitrary. Using scaling relations between the BH mass and the host galaxy K-band luminosity, we have also derived a new estimate of the BH fundamental plane (in the L_5GHz -L_X-M_BH space). Our analysis shows that previous measures of the BH fundamental plane are biased by ~0.8 dex in favor of the most luminous radio sources. Therefore, many AGN studies, where the BH fundamental plane is used to investigate how AGN regulate their radiative and mechanical luminosity as a function of the accretion rate, or many AGN/galaxy co-evolution models, where radio-feedback is computed using the AGN fundamental plane, should revise their conclusions.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS. Revised version after minor referee comments. 12 pages, 12 figure

Osteosarcoma extraóseo Presentación de 1 caso y revisión de la literatura

Se presenta un caso de los no frecuentes osteosarcomas extraóseos, con localización en el muslo y que cursó con varias recidivas hasta su fallecimiento por metástasis pulmonares. En la revisión de la bibliografía se puede comprobar que este tipo de tumores tienen una malignidad mayor de la habitualmente reconocida, estando en algunos casos en relación con el empleo de radiaciones ionizantes, con miositis osificantes, con extravasación de líquidos de contraste y con inyecciones intramusculares. Su único tratamiento es la exéresis ablativa, aunque tienen una alta tasa de recidivas.A case of extraosseous osteogenic sarcoma siting in the thigh with a warming follow-up because he was complicated with several recurrences within two years until his exitus is reported. In the revision of the literature is common to see that this tumour has a worse malignant behaviour, and has also a clear relationship in some cases with the use of radiations, with myositis ossificans following intramuscular inyection or by extravessels liquid inyection. The treatment must be a complete ablative surgery although the number of recurrences is ussually high

Hemangioendotelioma epitelioide solitario de hueso: Aportación de dos nuevos casos

El hemangioendotelioma epitelioide, caracterizado por células endoteilales epitelioides o "histiocitoides", en su variantes ósea solitaria, es una neoplasia de difícil diagnóstico, pronóstico incierto y evolución impredecible. De etiología poco clara e infrecuente en su localización ósea, sigue un curso clínico muy variable. La multicentricidad y la multifocalidad son dos características fundamentales de esta neoplasia, con predilección por las extremidades inferiores por ello, las lesiones solitarias pueden ser difíciles de diagnosticar confundiéndose con carcinomas metastáticos y otras entidades. Su tratamiento no está claramente establecido y su potencial de agresividad es impredecible, hasta tal punto que la cirugía ablativo puede ser más frecuente de lo hsta ahora publicado. Su diagnóstico y tratamiento deben ser exhaustivos ya que se han descrito comportamientos agresivos en tumores de bajo grado de malignidad con evoluciones insidiosas que terminan en recidivas tumorales. Los tres pilares en que se debe basar el tratamiento son: la resección en bloque, cobertura completa del defecto óseo y radioterapia postoperativa.Solitary epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of bone, characterized by epitheliolid or "histiocytoid" endotelial cells has a difficult diagnosis, confusing or unknown prognosis and unpredictable outcome. Infrequently recognized in bone, its etiology is not clear with a very variable clinical course. Multicentricity andmultifocality are two characteristics of this tumour, with a predilection for lower extremity bones. Therefore solitary lesions may be difficult to diagnose being confused with metastatic carcinomas and other entities. Its treatment is not well established. Their aggressive potential is unpredictable, to such a point that ablative surgery may be more frequent than previous reports have shown. Its diagnosis and treatment must be exhaustive as aggressive behaviour with insidious evolutions ending as relapses have been described the three pillar on which we will base its treatment are: in-block resection, complete coverage of the residual bone lesion and postoperative radiotherapy