Focal Mechanism Solutions of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence from P-wave polarities and SH/P amplitude ratios: new results and implications

The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, a major intraplate earthquake with Mw 7.9, occurred on the slowly deforming Longmenshan fault. To better understand the causes of this devastating earthquake, we need knowledge of the regional stress field and the underlying geodynamic processes. Here, we determine focal mechanism solutions (FMSs) of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake sequence (WES) using both P-wave first-motion polarity data and SH/P amplitude ratio (AR) data. As P-wave polarities are more reliable information, they are given priority over SH/P AR, the latter of which are used only when the former has loose constraint on the FMSs. We collect data from three categories: (1) permanent stations deployed by the China Earthquake Administration (CEA); (2) the Western Sichuan Passive Seismic Array (WSPSA) deployed by Institute of Geology, CEA; (3) global stations from Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. Finally, 129 events with magnitude over Ms 4.0 in the 2008 WES are identified to have well-constrained FMSs. Among them, 83 are well constrained by P-wave polarities only as shown by Cai et al. (Earthq Sci 24(1):115–125, 2011), and the rest of which are newly constrained by incorporating SH/P AR. Based on the spatial distribution and FMSs of the WES, we draw following conclusions: (1) the principle compressional directions of most FMSs of the WES are subhorizontal, generally in agreement with the conclusion given by Cai et al. (2011) but with a few modifications that the compressional directions are WNW–ESE around Wenchuan and ENE–WSW around Qingchuan, respectively. The subhorizontal compressional direction along the Longmenshan fault from SW to NE seems to have a left-lateral rotation, which agrees well with regional stress field inverted by former researchers (e.g., Xu et al., Acta Seismol Sin 30(5), 1987; Acta Geophys Sin 32(6), 1989; Cui et al., Seismol Geol 27(2):234–242, 2005); (2) the FMSs of the events not only reflected the regional stress state of the Longmenshan region, but also were obviously controlled by the faults to some extent, which was pointed out by Cai et al. (2011) and Yi et al. (Chin J Geophys 55(4):1213–1227, 2012); (3) while the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and some of its strong aftershocks released most of the elastic energy accumulated on the Longmenshan fault, some other aftershocks seem to occur just for releasing the elastic energy promptly created by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and some of its strong aftershocks. (4) Our results further suggest that the Longmenshan fault from Wenchuan to Beichuan was nearly fully destroyed by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake and accordingly propose that there is less probability for great earthquakes in the middle part of the Longmenshan fault in the near future, although there might be a barrier to the southwest of Wenchuan and it is needed to pay some attention on it in the near future.Wenchuan Fault Scientific Drilling Progra

Cerebral hemodynamic characteristics of acute mountain sickness upon acute high-altitude exposure at 3,700 m in young Chinese men.

PURPOSE: We aimed at identifying the cerebral hemodynamic characteristics of acute mountain sickness (AMS). METHODS: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography examinations were performed between 18 and 24 h after arrival at 3,700 m via plane from 500 m (n = 454). A subgroup of 151 subjects received TCD examinations at both altitudes. RESULTS: The velocities of the middle cerebral artery, vertebral artery (VA) and basilar artery (BA) increased while the pulsatility indexes (PIs) and resistance indexes (RIs) decreased significantly (all p < 0.05). Velocities of BA were higher in AMS (AMS+) individuals when compared with non-AMS (AMS-) subjects (systolic velocity: 66 ± 12 vs. 69 ± 15 cm/s, diastolic velocity: 29 ± 7 vs. 31 ± 8 cm/s and mean velocity, 42 ± 9 vs. 44 ± 10 cm/s). AMS was characterized by higher diastolic velocity [V d_VA (26 ± 4 vs. 25 ± 4, p = 0.013)] with lower PI and RI (both p = 0.004) in VA. Furthermore, the asymmetry index (AI) of VAs was significantly lower in the AMS + group [-5.7 % (21.0 %) vs. -2.5 % (17.8 %), p = 0.016]. The AMS score was closely correlated with the hemodynamic parameters of BA and the V d_VA, PI, RI and AI of VA. CONCLUSION: AMS is associated with alterations in cerebral hemodynamics in the posterior circulation rather than the anterior one, and is characterized by higher blood velocity with lower resistance. In addition, the asymmetry of VAs may be involved in AMS

Systematic elucidation of the traditional Chinese medicine prescription Danxiong particles via network pharmacology and molecular docking

Purpose: To investigate the pharmacological effect of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription Danxiong particles (TDX105) and its mechanism of action.Methods: The active compound and targets of TDX105 were investigated via network pharmacology. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were enriched, and protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed. A network of ‘components-targets-pathways’ was developed with Cytoscape 3.8.0 software, while the formation of molecular docking analysis was conducted using Autodock vina software.Results: There were 304 compounds and 482 targets identified in total. Genes with degree ≥ mean node values were selected as the crucial targets, and string database was to be combined to 64 targets identified with cytoscape so as to draw a protein interaction map. A total of 137 pathways were enriched from 64 targets involving mainly 10 pathways, for example, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, human cytomegalovirus infection and focal adhesion. Then, compound-target and compoundtarget- pathways were constructed using cytoscape (3.8.0). Finally, the five most active compounds, viz, quercetin, myricetin, luteolin, ellagic acid and kaempferol, and the top ten targets AKT1, GAPDH, TP53, ALB, EGFR, MAPK3, JUN, MAPK1, SRC and ESR1 were selected for molecular docking. These targets and compounds had strong interactions through a combination of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces.Conclusion: The mechanism of action of TDX105 has been successfully explained using the combination of network pharmacology and molecular docking. This may offer a solid foundation to the clinical use of TDX105, and further strengthen the prospects of its development for clinical use

The effect of different baryons impurities

We demonstrate the different effect of different baryons impurities on the static properties of nuclei within the framework of the relativistic mean-field model. Systematic calculations show that $\Lambda_c^+$ and $\Lambda_b$ has the same attracting role as $\Lambda$ hyperon does in lighter hypernuclei. $\Xi^-$ and $\Xi_c^0$ hyperon has the attracting role only for the protons distribution, and has a repulsive role for the neutrons distribution. On the contrary, $\Xi^0$ and $\Xi^+_c$ hyperon attracts surrounding neutrons and reveals a repulsive force to the protons. We find that the different effect of different baryons impurities on the nuclear core is due to the different third component of their isospin.Comment: 9 page

Two-photon-transition superadiabatic passage in an nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond

Reaching a given target quantum state with high fidelity and fast operation speed close to the quantum limit represents an important goal in quantum information science. Here, we experimentally demonstrate superadiabatic quantum driving to achieve population transfer in a three-level solid-state spin system. Starting from traditional stimulated Raman adiabatic passage (STIRAP), our approach implements superadiabatic corrections to the STIRAP Hamiltonians with several paradigmatic pulse shapes. It requires no need of intense microwave pulses or long transfer times and shows enhanced robustness over pulse imperfections. These results might provide a useful tool for quantum information processing and coherent manipulations of quantum systems.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

Granitic magma evolution to magmatic-hydrothermal processes vital to the generation of HREEs ion-adsorption deposits: Constraints from zircon texture, U-Pb geochronology, and geochemistry

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