Combined Ground Deformation Study Of Broader Area Of Patras Gulf (W. Greece) Using PSI-WAP, DGPS And Seismicity Analyses

Long-term ground deformation monitoring using the Persistent Scatterer Interferometry Wide Area Product (PSI-WAP) technique for the period 1992-2003, combined with Differential GPS measurements and seismicity analysis has provided useful information about the tectonic motions of the tectonically complex area of Patras Gulf (Western Greece), and lead to new insights on the geotectonic regime of this region. Descending ERS radar images were used to compile the PSI-WAP product that has been calibrated using the absolute velocity field of available GPS stations in the area. It has been found that the deformation of the southern part of Patras Gulf near the coastline has been characterized by considerable subsidence (>-5mm/yr), where unconsolidated sediments usually prevail, compared to the northern part of the gulf. Significant subsidence has also been identified in areas along the down-throw side of possible faults, as well as areas where extensive ground water pumping has occurred for irrigation. These results correlate well with local GPS and seismicity data

Search for composite and exotic fermions at LEP 2

A search for unstable heavy fermions with the DELPHI detector at LEP is reported. Sequential and non-canonical leptons, as well as excited leptons and quarks, are considered. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 48 pb^{-1} at an e^+e^- centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV and about 20 pb^{-1} equally shared between the centre-of-mass energies of 172 GeV and 161 GeV. The search for pair-produced new leptons establishes 95% confidence level mass limits in the region between 70 GeV/c^2 and 90 GeV/c^2, depending on the channel. The search for singly produced excited leptons and quarks establishes upper limits on the ratio of the coupling of the excited fermio

Search for lightest neutralino and stau pair production in light gravitino scenarios with stau NLSP

Promptly decaying lightest neutralinos and long-lived staus are searched for in the context of light gravitino scenarios. It is assumed that the stau is the next to lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) and that the lightest neutralino is the next to NLSP (NNLSP). Data collected with the Delphi detector at centre-of-mass energies from 161 to 183 \GeV are analysed. No evidence of the production of these particles is found. Hence, lower mass limits for both kinds of particles are set at 95% C.L.. The mass of gaugino-like neutralinos is found to be greater than 71.5 GeV/c^2. In the search for long-lived stau, masses less than 70.0 to 77.5 \GeVcc are excluded for gravitino masses from 10 to 150 \eVcc . Combining this search with the searches for stable heavy leptons and Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model staus a lower limit of 68.5 \GeVcc may be set for the stau mas

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Positive urinary cytology in patients with lung cancer, in the absence of obvious urine tract metastases

Purpose: positive urinary cytology in patients with lung cancer, in the absence of obvious urine tract metastases, is unanticipated. we prospectively studied the incidence of this phenomenon, the possible correlation with clinicopathologic tumor characteristics and its potential predictive and prognostic significance. clinical/translational and experimental approaches were used to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms. patients and methods: urine cytology of 150 patients with early and metastatic non small cell (nsclc) and small cell lung cancer (sclc), as well as three control groups, was prospectively studied. immunocytochemical (icc) staining (cytokeratins 7, 20, ttf1) was performed in positive urine specimens and the chemokine profile (cxcr4, ccl21) of the primary tumor was studied in a group of patients with positive urinary cytology and a control group. in the experimental model, c57bl/6 balb/c mice injected with llc lung and 4t1 mammary cancer cells were used for the detection of positive urine cytology.results: positive urinary cytology was detected in 11% of patients with nsclc and 7% of patients with sclc and was not observed in any of the control group patients. positive correlation with advanced stage of disease (p=0.01) and high tumor burden (p=0.03) was found in patients with nsclc. in patients with sclc, positive urinary cytology also correlated with extensive disease (p=0.04) and multiple metastatic sites (p=0.02). no correlation of the phenomenon was found with age, gender, histology, performance status (ps), line of chemotherapy, previous platinum-based chemotherapy, adrenal metastases, renal function and presence of abnormal urinary sediment in either group. response to chemotherapy at the time of sampling (p=0.6) and overall survival (p=0.9) were not correlated with the presence of the phenomenon. the primary tumors of patients with positive urine cytology showed distinctive chemokine expression, not observed in negative patients (x2 p=0.008). in the experimental study, the lung cancer cells injected in mice did not metastasize to the kidneys, adrenal glands or bladder but were detected in their urine cytology and this phenomenon was not observed in the case of mouse mammary cancer model.conclusion: this phenomenon, not previously reported in literature, seems to characterize only patients with metastatic/extensive disease and high tumor burden. it carries undefined pathophysiological mechanisms and our preliminary results regarding distinctive chemokine expression in lung carcinomas producing urothelial seedings need validation and further study.Υπόβαθρο: το φαινόμενο της θετικής κυτταρολογικής ούρων σε ασθενείς με καρκίνο του πνεύμονα που δεν έχουν εμφανείς μεταστάσεις στο ουροποιητικό δεν ειχε ξαναπεριγραφει στη διεθνη βιβλιογραφια. σκοπος της μελετης μας ηταν να επιβεβαιωθει η υπαρξη του φαινομενου, να εκτιμηθει η συχνοτητα του σε ασθενεις με μικροκυτταρικο και μη-μικροκυτταρικο καρκινο του πνευμονα ολων των σταδιων καθως και να διερευνηθει η πιθανη συσχετιση με κλινικοπαθολογικες παραμετρους. προσπαθησαμε επισης να βρουμε αν το ευρημα αυτο εχει καποια προγνωστικη η προβλεπτικη αξια για τους ασθενεις μας οπως επισης και τους πιθανους παθογενετικους μηχανισμους. στα πλαισια διερευνησης των μηχανισμων αυτων διενεργηθηκε μελετη του φαινομενου και σε πειραματοζωα. ασθενεις και μεθοδοι: μελετηθηκαν 150 ασθενεις με πρωιμο και προχωρημενο-μεταστατικο καρκινο του πνευμονα και τρεις ομαδες ασθενων ως ομαδες ελεγχου. τρια δειγματα ουρων εληφθησαν απο καθε ασθενη, ενα ανα ημερα για τρεις συνεχομενες ημερες. σε οσα ανιχνευτηκαν καρκινικα κυτταρα, ακολουθησε ανοσοϊστοχημικη χρωση για κυτοκερατινες 7 και 20 καθως και για τον θυρεοειδικο μεταγραφικο παραγοντα 1. στη συνεχεια μελετηθηκε το προφιλ των χημειοκινων cxcr4 και slc/ccl21 στους πρωτοπαθεις ογκους των ασθενων με θετικη κυτταρολογικη ουρων. για την πειραματικη μελετη του φαινομενου χρησιμοποιηθηκαν θηλυκοι και αρσενικοι επιμυες. στο πρωτο πειραματικο μοντελο, χρησιμοποιηθηκαν καρκινικα κυτταρα πνευμονα lewis lung carcinoma ενω στο δευτερο πειραματικο μοντελο καρκινικα κυτταρα μαστου 4τ1. τα κυτταρα ενοφθαλμιστηκαν υποδοριως και δειγματα ουρων εληφθησαν τις ημερες 1, 7, 14 και 28 για να εξεταστουν. οι νεφροι, τα επινεφριδια και οι ουροδοχοι κυστεις αφαιρεθηκαν και εξεταστηκαν για παρουσια μεταστασεων μετα τη θυσια τους. αποτελεσματα: μεταξυ των 122 ασθενων με μη-μικροκυτταρικο καρκινο του πνευμονα, θετικη κυτταρολογικη ουρων ανιχνευθηκε σε 13. μεταξυ των 28 ασθενων με μικροκυτταρικο καρκινωμα που συμμετειχαν στη μελετη, οι δυο εμφανισαν θετικη κυτταρολογικη ουρων. το φαινομενο δεν παρατηρηθηκε σε κανεναν απο τους ασθενεις της ομαδας ελεγχου.τα κυτταρα που ανευρεθηκαν στα ουρα ηταν πανομοιοτυπα μορφολογικα με εκεινα του πρωτοπαθους ογκου. η χρωση για ck7, ck20, ttf-1 ηταν θετικες επιβεβαιωνοντας την ιστογενετικη προελευση των κυτταρων. η ανοσοϊστοχημεια για cxcr4 ηταν θετικη και για τους εξι ασθενεις που εξεταστηκαν και ειχαν θετικη κυτταρολογικη ουρων ενω ηταν αρνητικη για τους ασθενεις της ομαδας ελεγχου (χ2 p=0.0068). η ανοσοϊστοχημεια του πρωτοπαθους ογκου για ccl21 κατεδειξε επισης θετικοτητα για το συνολο των ασθενων που ειχαν θετικη κυτταρολογικη ουρων ενω ηταν αρνητικη για την ομαδα ελεγχου (χ2 p=0.33). στους ασθενεις με μη-μικροκυτταρικο καρκινο πνευμονα, η στατιστικη αναλυση των δεδομενων κατεδειξε την συσχετιση του φαινομενου με το σταδιο της νοσου ενω στους ασθενεις με μικροκυτταρικο μονο με το φορτιο της νοσου. δε βρεθηκε συσχετιση με την ηλικια, το φυλο, την κατασταση ικανοτητας, τον ιστολογικο τυπο, την παρουσια η οχι επινεφριδικων και νεφρικων μεταστασεων, τη νεφρικη λειτουργια, το ειδος ΄η τη γραμμη της θεραπειας. η μελετη της κυτταρολογικης εξετασης ουρων στην ομαδα των πειραματοζωων στα οποια εγινε ενοφθαλμισμος των καρκινικων κυτταρων του πνευμονα ηταν θετικη ενω ηταν αρνητικη στην ομαδα με τα καρκινικα κυτταρα μαστου. μεταστασεις δεν ανιχνευθηκαν σε κανενα πειραματοζωο.συμπερασματα: περιγραψαμε, για πρωτη φορα στη διεθνη βιβλιογραφια και σε μια μεγαλη προοπτικη μελετη, το φαινομενο της θετικης κυτταρολογικης ουρων σε ασθενεις με καρκινο του πνευμονα χωρις εμφανεις μεταστασεις στο ουροποιητικο. μελετησαμε τη συσχετιση του φαινομενου με διαφορες κλινικες και παθολογοανατομικες παραμετρους. το φαινομενο δε φαινεται να εχει προγνωστικη αξια για την επιβιωση, ουτε προβλεπτικη αξια για ανταποκριση στη θεραπεια. καταφεραμε επισης να αναπαραγουμε το φαινομενο στο εργαστηριο και να μελετησουμε την παθοφυσιολογια του σε μικρο αριθμο πειραματοζωων. το φαινομενο φαινεται να σχετιζεται: 1) με την χημειοταξια μεσω του αξονα ccr7/ccl21 η του υποδοχεα cxcr4, 2) με το συνδυασμο χημειοταξιας και διηθησης του σπειραματος, των σωληναριων η του διαμεσου ιστου απο τα καρκινικα κυτταρα, 3) με την αιματογενη μικρομεταστατικη νοσο ‘η και 4) με το συνδυασμο των παραπαν

FAULT IDENTIFICATION FOR THE CATASTROPHIC 1894 ATALANTI EARTHQUAKE USING 3D FINITE-DIFFERENCE MODELING AND LOCAL GEOPHYSICAL DATA

An identification of the responsible faults for the destructive earthquakes of 1894 in the Atalanti region was carried out by employing a novel application of 3D finite-difference wavefield modeling. Several faults proposed in the literature were tested in detailed 3D simulations, by also utilizing a detailed local 3D velocity model, as well as the local topography. The assessment of the most probable sources for these events was based on the correlation of reported damages with the distribution of the simulated peak ground acceleration. Furthermore, the distribution of the spectral amplitudes at higher frequencies that are related to the resonant frequencies of the local buildings on that time period was also used as an indicator. The general effect of the local 3D subsurface structure on the propagation of the wavefield and the spatial distribution of the ground motion was also investigated. The Malessina fault was identified as a probable source for the main event of 20/4/1894 based on the results of the 3D modeling, whereas the 3D effect was found to be a highly contributing factor to the distribution of the simulated ground motion