Spatial variability of shear wave velocity: implications for the liquefaction response of a case study from the 2010 Maule Mw 8.8 Earthquake, Chile

Assessing the potential and extent of earthquake-induced liquefaction is paramount for seismic hazard assessment, for the large ground deformations it causes can result in severe damage to infrastructure and pose a threat to human lives, as evidenced by many contemporary and historical case studies in various tectonic settings. In that regard, numerical modeling of case studies, using state-of-the-art soil constitutive models and numerical frameworks, has proven to be a tailored methodology for liquefaction assessment. Indeed, these simulations allow for the dynamic response of liquefiable soils in terms of effective stresses, large strains, and ground displacements to be captured in a consistent manner with experimental and in-situ observations. Additionally, the impact of soil properties spatial variability in liquefaction response can be assessed, because the system response to waves propagating are naturally incorporated within the model. Considering that, we highlight that the effect of shear-wave velocity Vs spatial variability has not been thoroughly assessed. In a case study in Metropolitan Concepción, Chile, our research addresses the influence of Vs spatial variability on the dynamic response to liquefaction. At the study site, the 2010 Maule Mw 8.8 megathrust Earthquake triggered liquefaction-induced damage in the form of ground cracking, soil ejecta, and building settlements. Using simulated 2D Vs profiles generated from real 1D profiles retrieved with ambient noise methods, along with a PressureDependentMultiYield03 sand constitutive model, we studied the effect of Vs spatial variability on pore pressure generation, vertical settlements, and shear and volumetric strains by performing effective stress site response analyses. Our findings indicate that increased Vs variability reduces the median settlements and strains for soil units that exhibit liquefaction-like responses. On the other hand, no significant changes in the dynamic response are observed in soil units that exhibit non-liquefaction behavior, implying that the triggering of liquefaction is not influenced by spatial variability in Vs. We infer that when liquefaction-like behavior is triggered, an increase of the damping at the shallowest part of the soil domain might be the explanation for the decrease in the amplitude of the strains and settlements as the degree of Vs variability increases

Infection control, genetic assessment of drug resistance and drug susceptibility testing in the current management of multidrug/extensively-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) in Europe: A tuberculosis network European Trialsgroup (TBNET) study

Aim Europe has the highest documented caseload and greatest increase in multidrug and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) of all World Health Organization (WHO) regions. This survey examines how recommendations for M/XDR-TB management are being implemented. Methods TBNET is a pan-European clinical research collaboration for tuberculosis. An email survey of TBNET members collected data in relation to infection control, access to molecular tests and basic microbiology with drug sensitivity testing. Results 68/105 responses gave valid information and were from countries within the WHO European Region. Inpatient beds matched demand, but single rooms with negative pressure were only available in low incidence countries; ultraviolet decontamination was used in 5 sites, all with >10 patients with M/XDR-TB per year. Molecular tests for mutations associated with rifampicin resistance were widely available (88%), even in lower income and especially in high incidence countries. Molecular tests for other first line and second line drugs were less accessible (76 and 52% respectively). A third of physicians considered that drug susceptibility results were delayed by > 2 months. Conclusion Infection control for inpatients with M/XDR-TB remains a problem in high incidence countries. Rifampicin resistance is readily detected, but tests to plan regimens tailored to the drug susceptibilities of the strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are significantly delayed, allowing for further drug resistance to develop

World-wide distributions of lactase persistence alleles and the complex effects of recombination and selection

The genetic trait of lactase persistence (LP) is associated with at least five independent functional single nucleotide variants in a regulatory region about 14 kb upstream of the lactase gene [-13910*T (rs4988235), -13907*G (rs41525747), -13915*G (rs41380347), -14009*G (rs869051967) and -14010*C (rs145946881)]. These alleles have been inferred to have spread recently and present-day frequencies have been attributed to positive selection for the ability of adult humans to digest lactose without risk of symptoms of lactose intolerance. One of the inferential approaches used to estimate the level of past selection has been to determine the extent of haplotype homozygosity (EHH) of the sequence surrounding the SNP of interest. We report here new data on the frequencies of the known LP alleles in the 'Old World' and their haplotype lineages. We examine and confirm EHH of each of the LP alleles in relation to their distinct lineages, but also show marked EHH for one of the older haplotypes that does not carry any of the five LP alleles. The region of EHH of this (B) haplotype exactly coincides with a region of suppressed recombination that is detectable in families as well as in population data, and the results show how such suppression may have exaggerated haplotype-based measures of past selection

Geophysical characterization of the chilean seismological stations: first results

The Chilean Seismological Network has been rapidly growing in recent years, going from a few dozens stations working before 2010 to nearly a 100 installed all over the territory. Even more, nearly 300 strong-motion stations from the Accelerographic National Network have recently complemented this network, mainly deployed in large cities, at a variety of site conditions. All of these stations are currently providing useful information of Chilean earthquakes and are expected to record moderate-to-large events. However, the lack of appropriate site characterization sets an important limit to its usefulness. In this work, we present the geophysical characterization of 163 stations, the first results of larger effort to complete the characterization at all sites, based on array measurements of microtremors and horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios. This information will help improve our understanding of the dynamic behavior of soils during earthquakes, providing relevant information for seismic design and seismic codes.National Fund for Scientific and Technological Research (FONDECYT) Project 117043

Site effects in Mexico City basin: Past and present

Due to the unique subsoil conditions prevailing in the Mexico City basin, seismic risk has been strongly correlated to site effects. Thus, during the Mw 8.1 09/19/1985 subduction fault earthquake, and its strong aftershock Mw 7.5 09/21/1985, extensive damage was observed in the area, along with the loss of thousands of lives, despite these events had an epicentral distance of around 430 km from Mexico City. The observed damage was mostly due to site affects originated by the high plastiCity clay deposits found in the basin, which lead to large amplifications, and duration elongation of the ground motions coming from the epicenter. In addition, a frequency content modification occurs, which in turn, leads to a double resonance effect between the incoming ground motions, soil deposits, and the damaged buildings. Exactly 32 years after this devastating event, the Mw 7.1 09/19/2017 normal fault earthquake, reminded us of the importance of accounting for site effects, and most importantly the need to carry out a proper characterization of basin geometry, soil profile configuration, hydraulic conditions, and maintenance-structure periodic assessments of the building stock in Mexico City. This is required to reduce uncertainties of seismic vulnerability studies for extreme-event seismic hazard scenarios. In this paper, the role of site response and seismic soil-structure interaction as key factors responsible of the observed damage in the City is revisited, through series of 3D finite difference models of typical structure-foundation-soil typologies found at the areas where most of the damage was observed, highlighting its clear impact in the final damage distribution observed around the City

Revistas Veja e ?poca : um olhar complexo

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T14:41:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 445031.pdf: 6702410 bytes, checksum: ac2480e83891faa9bb80316634cbeef6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-10This study will seek to understand and explain the production of meaning in magazine journalism, from a complex view to weekly magazines, Veja and ?poca. To investigate the spinning of significations, we need the unraveling of the weave. To this end, we selected the categories, a priori, that will guide our gaze: Figures of Language, from Domingos Paschoal Cegalla, and Stereotype, Myth, Culture, Power and sociolect, from Roland Barthes. Through them, barthesian Semiology, as analysis technique, and Paradigm of Complexity morinean, as research method, we will quest for decoding of signs of our object. During the course of investigation, we will see, still, two categories emerge a posteriori, that will contribute to our vision and vidence of speech in magazines: Postmodernity, from Michel Maffesoli, and Self-Help, from Arnaldo Chagas. On this basis, theoretical and methodological, we will reflect by a transdisciplinary and dialogic way on the metamorphoses in making and narrating of the magazines, at contemporaneity. We will see that the interactions, complementary, competing and antagonistic, between reason and emotion, ethics and esthetics, wisdom and dementia, reveals a postmodern magazine journalism, with their own strategies for adherence and enchantmentEste estudo buscar? compreender e explicar a produ??o de sentido no Jornalismo de revista, a partir de um olhar complexo ?s semanais de informa??o, Veja e ?poca. Para investigarmos o tecer dos significados ser? preciso o desfazer da trama. Com este fim, selecionamos as categorias, a priori, que nortear?o o nosso olhar: Figuras de Linguagem, de Domingos Paschoal Cegalla, e Estere?tipo, Mito, Cultura, Poder e Socioleto, de Roland Barthes. Por meio delas, da Semiologia barthesiana, como t?cnica de an?lise, e do Paradigma da Complexidade moriniano, como m?todo de pesquisa, iremos ao encontro da decifra??o dos signos de nosso objeto. Durante a trajet?ria de investiga??o, veremos, ainda, surgirem duas categorias, a posteriori, que contribuir?o para a nossa vis?o e vid?ncia do discurso nos magazines: P?s- Modernidade, de Michel Maffesoli, e, Autoajuda, de Arnaldo Chagas. Com esta base, te?rica e metodol?gica, refletiremos de forma transdisciplinar e dial?gica sobre as metamorfoses no modo de fazer e de narrar dos magazines, na contemporaneidade. Veremos que as intera??es, complementares, concorrentes e antag?nicas, entre raz?o e emo??o, ?tica e est?tica, sabedoria e dem?ncia, revelam um Jornalismo de revista p?s-moderno, com estrat?gias pr?prias de ades?o e de encantamento

Tuberculosis, COVID-19 and migrants: Preliminary analysis of deaths occurring in 69 patients from two cohorts

Little is known about the relationship between the COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study is to describe a group of patients who died with TB (active disease or sequelae) and COVID-19 in two cohorts. Data from 49 consecutive cases in 8 countries (cohort A) and 20 hospitalised patients with TB and COVID-19 (cohort B) were analysed and patients who died were described. Demographic and clinical variables were retrospectively collected, including co-morbidities and risk factors for TB and COVID-19 mortality. Overall, 8 out of 69 (11.6%) patients died, 7 from cohort A (14.3%) and one from cohort B (5%). Out of 69 patients 43 were migrants, 26/49 (53.1%) in cohort A and 17/20 (85.0%) in cohort B. Migrants: (1) were younger than natives; in cohort A the median (IQR) age was 40 (27\u201349) VS. 66 (46\u201370) years, whereas in cohort B 37 (27\u201346) VS. 48 (47\u201360) years; (2) had a lower mortality rate than natives (1/43, 2.3% versus 7/26, 26.9%; p-value: 0.002); (3) had fewer co-morbidities than natives (23/43, 53.5% versus 5/26\u201319.2%) natives; p-value: 0.005). The study findings show that: (1) mortality is likely to occur in elderly patients with co-morbidities; (2) TB might not be a major determinant of mortality and (3) migrants had lower mortality, probably because of their younger age and lower number of co-morbidities. However, in settings where advanced forms of TB frequently occur and are caused by drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis, higher mortality rates can be expected in young individuals

Tuberculosis, COVID-19 and migrants: Preliminary analysis of deaths occurring in 69 patients from two cohorts

Little is known about the relationship between the COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study is to describe a group of patients who died with TB (active disease or sequelae) and COVID-19 in two cohorts. Data from 49 consecutive cases in 8 countries (cohort A) and 20 hospitalised patients with TB and COVID-19 (cohort B) were analysed and patients who died were described. Demographic and clinical variables were retrospectively collected, including co-morbidities and risk factors for TB and COVID-19 mortality. Overall, 8 out of 69 (11.6%) patients died, 7 from cohort A (14.3%) and one from cohort B (5%). Out of 69 patients 43 were migrants, 26/49 (53.1%) in cohort A and 17/20 (85.0%) in cohort B. Migrants: (1) were younger than natives; in cohort A the median (IQR) age was 40 (27\u201349) VS. 66 (46\u201370) years, whereas in cohort B 37 (27\u201346) VS. 48 (47\u201360) years; (2) had a lower mortality rate than natives (1/43, 2.3% versus 7/26, 26.9%; p-value: 0.002); (3) had fewer co-morbidities than natives (23/43, 53.5% versus 5/26\u201319.2%) natives; p-value: 0.005). The study findings show that: (1) mortality is likely to occur in elderly patients with co-morbidities; (2) TB might not be a major determinant of mortality and (3) migrants had lower mortality, probably because of their younger age and lower number of co-morbidities. However, in settings where advanced forms of TB frequently occur and are caused by drug-resistant strains of M. tuberculosis, higher mortality rates can be expected in young individuals