Small edifice features in Chryse Planitia, Mars: Assessment of a mud volcano hypothesis

Small edifice features that are less than a few kilometers in diameter and up to a few hundred meters in height are widely distributed in Chryse Planitia on Mars. They exhibit a broad range of morphological properties that are here classified as Type 1 (steep-sided cones typically with a summit crater), Type 2 (nearly flat features with single or multiple central/summit craters or cones) and Type 3 (nearly circular features in plan view, characterized by steep sides and a broadly flat summit area). Their origins have not been determined with certainty, but our study utilizing the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images supports the interpretation of mud volcanism, based on the observed morphological characteristics of these small edifices and comparisons with terrestrial analogs. Additionally, hydrated minerals detected on these edifice features in data from the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM), further support the mud volcano hypothesis. Injection features such as clastic mega-pipes and sand blow features may coexist with the mud volcanoes. Alternative mechanisms such as magmatic volcanism are not excluded, but they have less support from our remote sensing observations. Further confirmation or rejection of the mud volcano hypothesis will require in-situ investigation by landers or rovers

Geology of Danielson Crater, Mars

The Danielson impact crater is located at 8°N 353°E, between Meridiani Planum and Arabia Terra regions. The impact crater hosts one of the best-preserved successions of layered deposits inside a Martian basin, showing an alternation of light- and dark-toned layers, which compose a stairstepped stratal geometry widespread on crater’s surface. Layers were formed in an evaporitic setting, as suggested by sedimentological and morphologic analyses, and were affected by different kind of postdepositional structural deformations. In this work, we present the detailed geological map of the Danielson Crater, at the scale of 1:100,000. The stratigraphic units were distinguished on the basis of the photo-stratigraphic method, which classifies the rocks based on their photographic properties and features. The geological map will be useful for all the further geological analyses, aimed at understanding which depositional environments were present in the basin and how they evolved through time

Geology of Danielson Crater, Mars

<p>The Danielson impact crater is located at 8°N 353°E, between Meridiani Planum and Arabia Terra regions. The impact crater hosts one of the best-preserved successions of layered deposits inside a Martian basin, showing an alternation of light- and dark-toned layers, which compose a stairstepped stratal geometry widespread on crater’s surface. Layers were formed in an evaporitic setting, as suggested by sedimentological and morphologic analyses, and were affected by different kind of postdepositional structural deformations. In this work, we present the detailed geological map of the Danielson Crater, at the scale of 1:100,000. The stratigraphic units were distinguished on the basis of the photo-stratigraphic method, which classifies the rocks based on their photographic properties and features. The geological map will be useful for all the further geological analyses, aimed at understanding which depositional environments were present in the basin and how they evolved through time.</p

Amazonian thermokarst within a trough of Noctis Labyrinthus, Mars

This paper describes the possible ice-related landforms observed on the floor of a trough located in the western part of Noctis Labyrinthus, centred at -6.8° S, 98.9° W, in the equatorial region of Mars. A morphological survey of the study area and of the landforms was investigated through an integrated analysis of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Context Camera (CTX) data. The analysis highlighted the presence of landforms interpreted as being due to thermokarst processes, resembling similarly ice-related landforms found both in the cold-climate non-glacial regions of Earth and in other areas of Mars. These landforms, which are attributed to melting processes of ground ice, suggest significant climatic changes and climatic conditions differing from those existing now. Moreover, they appear to display young erosional age, suggesting that they are probably of Amazonian age

Amazonian thermokarst in Danielson crater, Arabia Terra region, Mars

restricted3noThis paper describe the possible ice-related landforms observed within Danielson crater which is centered at about 81N and 3531E, in the region of southwestern ArabiaTerra about 800km South of Becquerel crater. A morphological survey of the study area through an analysis of the available Mars images was performed. The features of the landforms were investigated through an integrated analysis of Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) and Context Camera (CTX) data. Landforms interpreted as due to thermokarst processes, resembling similarly ice-related landforms found both in the cold-climate non glacial regions of Earth, and putatively in other areas of Mars, was observed. These landforms are attributed to the presence of ground ice/ice melting processes reflect significant climatic changes and different climatic conditions than those existing now. Moreover, they appear to display young erosional age, suggesting that are probably young, probably of Amazonian age.restrictedBaioni, Davide; Murana, Alessio; Tramontana, MarioBaioni, Davide; Murana, Alessio; Tramontana, Mari

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy using "the caudal approach": results and evolution

Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has become a common surgical approach in the diagnosis and treatment of lung and mediastinal diseases. In this study, we reported our current experience of thoracoscopic surgery using a new caudal position technique for anatomical lung resections and compared it with the standard anterior VATS technique.Methods: From January 2016 to October 2017, 92 consecutive patients with lung cancer underwent VATS lobectomy. Among these, 34 patients were treated by conventional anterior three portal VATS lobectomy, and 58 patients were treated using the caudal three port VATS lobectomy. The mean operative time, conversion rate, hospital stay, post-operative drainage, reoperation, post operative pain were compared between each group.Results: No differences between the two groups are showed in terms of surgical time, post-operative drainage, incidence of prolonged air leaks and post-operative pain.Conclusions: The caudal approach to major pulmonary resection of thoracoscopic lobectomy results in a reliable and comfortable procedure for the surgeon. Once demonstrated the reliability of the VATS lobectomy with three accesses using the caudal position, we are starting to standardize biportal and uniportal VATS with the surgeon in the caudal position

Surgical options to treat massive sternal defect after failed Robicsek procedure

Full median sternotomy is still the most commonly used surgical approach for exposing the heart in cardiac surgery. However, early sternotomy wound complications represent a major cause of morbidity in heart surgery with an incidence from 0.5% to 10% in most surgical studies. Different classifications of sternal wound complications were reported. Mainly we consider three principal categories: mechanical uninfected sternal instability/dehiscence; sternal instability/dehiscence with superficial wound sternal infection (SWSI); and deep sternal wound infection (DSWI or mediastinitis) with sternal instability/dehiscence (1,5). In particular mediastinitis with sternal dehiscence is a life-threatening condition with reported mortality between 14% to 47%. The loss of sternal bone and adjacent ribs due to osteomyelitis and previous surgical debridement causes large defects of the anterior chest wall that increase the risk of heart and lung damage and in particular impairs respiratory function due to pain and paradox movement of the thorax, often necessitating prolonged mechanical ventilation and increasing the postoperative mortality. Sometimes DSWI and massive sternal loss is the result of previous attempts to fix mechanical sternal dehiscence with or without SWSI in patients with multiple risk factor for sternal instability and infection. In cardiac surgery the most common technique to repair a sternal instability/dehiscence is the Robicsek technique. Generally this is a very effective procedure, but in case of its failure the subsequent repair of the anterior chest wall could become very complex due to massive bone loss. We report our experience with two different surgical approaches to treat a massive sternal loss after a failed Robicsek repair

Immagini aeree a Tusculum: un approccio multidisciplinare

Trabajo presentado en el 2nd International Conference of Aerial Archaeology (Secondo Convegno Internazionale di Archeologia Aerea), celebrado en Roma del 3 al 5 de febrero de 2016.Since 1994, the Escuela Española de Historia y Arqueología en Roma-CSIC coordinates a research project focusing on the ancient site of Tusculum (Monte Porzio Catone) located less than 30 km. south-east of Rome. This is the institutional project of the CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) in Italy to which many universities and research bodies both Spanish and Italian have contributed. In 2012, a new multidisciplinary archaeological project, titled "Tusculum medievale: territorio, paesaggio economia e società" (Medieval Tusculum: territory, landscape, economy and society), focusing on the post-classical phases of the site, was initiated with a clear willingness to explore novel research trends and different methodological approaches. These have included aerial archaeology, geophysical surveys and archeobiological studies which have been developed with the aim of improving our knowledge on the less-known phases of the city During the last 4 years, the use of aerial images has allowed a better understanding of the urban structure of the medieval city. In fact, in 2012 and 2013 a series of UAV low-level flights over the entire archaeological area were carried out in collaboration with the International Research School of Planetary Science (Università ¿G. D¿Annunzio¿ from Chieti-Pescara) which have allowed the development of a new digital cartographic base of the site. Furthermore, during the 2013-2014 season of excavation, a series of kite aerial photographies (KAP) were taken over the acropolis (Rocca), heart of the Medieval city, producing a new set of medium/low-level (at 50-100 m. of altitude) georeferenced photographs. Finally, during the 2015 archaeological campaign, in cooperation with the Instituto de Agricultura Sostenible (IAS-CSIC) new flights have been carried out using thermal, hyperspectral, infrared and RGB cameras to obtain a diverse range of images. The integration of the data provided by aerial archaeology together with the analysis of the underground features through the use of geophysical techniches (georadar and magnetometry) and the archaeological data coming from excavations are making possible a detailed study of the city urban development as well as the exploration of the real extension of the Medieval city. What is more, the development of non-invasive techniques have permitted the identification of areas of higher archaeological interest and, therefore, the possibility of planning theis excavation saving time and costs.N

Metodologie d’indagine non invasiva a Tusculum: la ricerca archeologica senza scavare

[EN] The EEHAR-CSIC project “Tusculum en época medieval: territorio, paisaje, economía y sociedad” (PIE n. 201210E033) began in 2012 with the clear goal of exploring and incorporating new research trends and different methodological approaches in order to reach a better understanding of the medieval period. Further to its aim of reconstructing the landscape and economic structure of ancient and medieval Tusculum, the archaeological research is complemented by multidisciplinary techniques, such as geophysical surveys, topography, and drone and kite aerial photography.Peer reviewe