Community Perception and Communication of Volcanic Risk from the Cotopaxi Volcano in Latacunga, Ecuador

he inhabitants of Latacunga living in the surrounding of the Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador) are exposed to several hazards and related disasters. After the last 2015 volcanic eruption, it became evident once again how important it is for the exposed population to understand their own social, physical, and systemic vulnerability. Effective risk communication is essential before the occurrence of a volcanic crisis. This study integrates quantitative risk and semi-quantitative social risk perceptions, aiming for risk-informed communities. We present the use of the RIESGOS demonstrator for interactive exploration and visualisation of risk scenarios. The development of this demonstrator through an iterative process with the local experts and potential end-users increases both the quality of the technical tool as well as its practical applicability. Moreover, the community risk perception in a focused area was investigated through online and field surveys. Geo-located interviews are used to map the social perception of volcanic risk factors. Scenario-based outcomes from quantitative risk assessment obtained by the RIESGOS demonstrator are compared with the semi-quantitative risk perceptions. We have found that further efforts are required to provide the exposed communities with a better understanding of the concepts of hazard scenario and intensity

Rostral Middle Frontal Volumetric Differences in Bipolar Offspring versus Community Controls Offspring

Neuroanatomical findings in the anterior limbic network in bipolar disorder (BD) adults have not been replicated in other populations such as bipolar offspring (BO). The aim of this study was to compare some brain areas volumes between BO with and without a lifetime affective disorder (AD) to a group of community control offspring (CCO). Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study was carried out, with multiple comparison groups. Seven subjects (11-17 years old) from the BO with AD group were compared to seven subjects from the BO without AD group and seven subjects from the CCO group (match by age, gender and Tanner stage). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with a Philips 3 Teslas device and volumetric segmentation was performed with the Freesurfer image analysis suite. Results: A larger size was found in the right middle frontal rostral region in the BO with AD group compared to the other two groups (p = 0.041). A higher volume was also found in BO with AD group in the left pars opercularis (Cohen d = 0.63) and in the right cingulate isthmus (d = 0.53) when compared with BO without AD group, and in the right hippocampus (d = 0.53) when compared to CCO group. A smaller volume was found in the BO without AD group versus CCO group in the left anterior caudate (d = 0.6). The BO groups (with and without AD) compared to CCO have a higher volume in the right frontal pole (d = 0.52). These volumetric differences can be attributed to the condition of BO with AD

Earth observation-based disaggregation of exposure data for earthquake loss modelling

We use TanDEM-X and Sentinel-2 observations to disaggregate earthquake risk-related exposure data. We use the refined exposure data and model earthquake loss. Results for the city of Santiago de Chile show that earthquake risk has been underestimated before due to aggregated exposure data

Evolution of clinical and functional results after arthroscopic treatment of Discoid Meniscus. A case series study of 31 cases.

Purpose: To evaluate the evolution of clinical and functional outcomes of symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus treated arthroscopically over time and to investigate the relationship between associated intra-articular findings and outcomes.\ud Methods: Of all patients treated arthroscopically between 1995 and 2010, patients treated for symptomatic discoid meniscus were identified in the hospital charts. Baseline data (demographics, previous trauma of ipsilateral knee, and associated intra-articular findings) and medium term outcome data from clinical follow-up examinations (pain, locking, snapping and instability of the operated knee) were extracted from clinical records. Telephone interviews were conducted at long term in 28 patients (31 knees). Interviews comprised clinical outcomes as well as functional outcomes as assessed by the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC).\ud Results: All patients underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. The mean follow-up time for data extracted from clinical records was 11 months (SD ± 12). A significant improvement was found for pain in 77% (p<0.001), locking in 13%, (p=0.045) and snapping in 39 % (p<0.005). The mean follow-up time of the telephone interview was 60 months (SD ± 43). Improvement from baseline was generally less after five years than after one year and functional outcomes of the IKDC indicated an abnormal function after surgery (IKDC mean= 84.5, SD ± 20). In some patients, 5 year-outcomes were even worse than\ud their preoperative condition. Nonetheless, 74% of patients perceived their knee function as improved. Furthermore, better results were seen in patients without any associated intra-articular findings.\ud Conclusions: Arthroscopical partial meniscectomy is an effective intervention to relieve symptoms in patients with discoid meniscus in the medium-term; however, results trend to deteriorate over time. A trend towards better outcome for patients with no associated intra-articular findings was observed.AO clinical investigation and documentationPurpose: To evaluate the evolution of clinical and functional outcomes of symptomatic discoid lateral meniscus treated arthroscopically over time and to investigate the relationship between associated intra-articular findings and outcomes.\ud Methods: Of all patients treated arthroscopically between 1995 and 2010, patients treated for symptomatic discoid meniscus were identified in the hospital charts. Baseline data (demographics, previous trauma of ipsilateral knee, and associated intra-articular findings) and medium term outcome data from clinical follow-up examinations (pain, locking, snapping and instability of the operated knee) were extracted from clinical records. Telephone interviews were conducted at long term in 28 patients (31 knees). Interviews comprised clinical outcomes as well as functional outcomes as assessed by the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Evaluation Form (IKDC).\ud Results: All patients underwent arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. The mean follow-up time for data extracted from clinical records was 11 months (SD ± 12). A significant improvement was found for pain in 77% (p<0.001), locking in 13%, (p=0.045) and snapping in 39 % (p<0.005). The mean follow-up time of the telephone interview was 60 months (SD ± 43). Improvement from baseline was generally less after five years than after one year and functional outcomes of the IKDC indicated an abnormal function after surgery (IKDC mean= 84.5, SD ± 20). In some patients, 5 year-outcomes were even worse than\ud their preoperative condition. Nonetheless, 74% of patients perceived their knee function as improved. Furthermore, better results were seen in patients without any associated intra-articular findings.\ud Conclusions: Arthroscopical partial meniscectomy is an effective intervention to relieve symptoms in patients with discoid meniscus in the medium-term; however, results trend to deteriorate over time. A trend towards better outcome for patients with no associated intra-articular findings was observed

Rostral Middle Frontal Volumetric Differences in Bipolar Offspring versus Community Controls Offspring

Neuroanatomical findings in the anterior limbic network in bipolar disorder (BD) adults have not been replicated in other populations such as bipolar offspring (BO). The aim of this study was to compare some brain areas volumes between BO with and without a lifetime affective disorder (AD) to a group of community control offspring (CCO). Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study was carried out, with multiple comparison groups. Seven subjects (11-17 years old) from the BO with AD group were compared to seven subjects from the BO without AD group and seven subjects from the CCO group (match by age, gender and Tanner stage). Magnetic resonance imaging was performed with a Philips 3 Teslas device and volumetric segmentation was performed with the Freesurfer image analysis suite. Results: A larger size was found in the right middle frontal rostral region in the BO with AD group compared to the other two groups (p = 0.041). A higher volume was also found in BO with AD group in the left pars opercularis (Cohen d = 0.63) and in the right cingulate isthmus (d = 0.53) when compared with BO without AD group, and in the right hippocampus (d = 0.53) when compared to CCO group. A smaller volume was found in the BO without AD group versus CCO group in the left anterior caudate (d = 0.6). The BO groups (with and without AD) compared to CCO have a higher volume in the right frontal pole (d = 0.52). These volumetric differences can be attributed to the condition of BO with AD.Los hallazgos neuroanatómicos en la red límbica anterior en el trastorno bipolar (TB) en adultos no se han replicado en otras poblaciones, como en los hijos de pacientes con trastorno bipolar (HPTB). El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los volúmenes de áreas del cerebro entre HPTB, con y sin algún trastorno afectivo (TA) a lo largo de la vida, con un grupo de hijos de padres control de la comunidad (HPC). Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, con múltiples grupos de comparación. Siete sujetos (11-17 años) del grupo HPTB con TA se compararon con siete sujetos del grupo HPTB sin TA y siete sujetos del grupo HPC (pareados por edad, sexo y estadio Tanner). La resonancia magnética nuclear se realizó con un resonador Philips 3 Teslas y la segmentación volumétrica se realizó con el conjunto de análisis de imagen Freesurfer. Resultados: Se encontró un tamaño mayor en la región frontal rostral medial derecha en el grupo HPTB con TA en comparación con los otros dos grupos (p = 0.041). También se encontró un mayor volumen en el grupo HPTB con TA en el opérculo frontal izquierdo (Cohen d = 0,63) y en el istmo del giro del cíngulo derecho (d = 0,53) cuando se comparó con el grupo sin TA, y en el hipocampo derecho (d = 0,53) en comparación con el grupo HPC. Se encontró un volumen más pequeño en el grupo HPTB sin TA versus grupo HPC en el caudado anterior izquierdo (d = 0,6). Los grupos HPTB (con y sin TA) en comparación con HPC tienen un volumen mayor en el polo frontal derecho (d = 0.52). Estas diferencias volumétricas pueden atribuirse a la condición de HPTB con TA

Earth Observation Techniques for Spatial Disaggregation of Exposure Data

Exposure describes elements which are imperiled by natural hazards and susceptible to damage. The affiliated vulnerability characterizes the likelihood to experience damage regarding a given level of hazard intensity. Frequently, the compilation of exposure information is the costliest component (in terms of time and labor) in risk assessment. Existing data sets and models often describe exposure in an aggregated manner, e.g., by relying on statistical/census data for given administrative entities. Nowadays, earth observation techniques allow to collect spatially continuous information for large geographic areas while enabling a high geometric and temporal resolution. In parallel, modern data interpretation tools based on Artificial Intelligence concepts enable the extraction of thematic information from such data with a high accuracy and detail. Consequently, we exploit measurements from the earth observation missions TanDEM-X and Sentinel-2, which collect data on a global scale, to characterize the built environment in terms of fundamental morphologic properties, namely built-up density and height. Subsequently, we use this information to constrain existing exposure data in a spatial disaggregation approach. Thereby, we compare different methods for disaggregation and evaluate how different resolution properties of the earth observation data affect the risk assessment result. Results are presented for the city of Santiago de Chile, Chile, which is prone to natural hazards such as earthquakes. We present loss estimations and corresponding sensivity with respect to the resolution properties of the exposure data used in the model. Thereby, it can be noted how loss estimations vary substantially and that aggregated exposure information underestimates losses in our scenarios. As such, this study underlines the benefits of deploying modern earth observation technologies for refined exposure estimation and related loss estimation

Benefits of global earth observation missions for disaggregation of exposure data and earthquake loss modeling: evidence from Santiago de Chile

Funder: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) (4202)AbstractExposure is an essential component of risk models and describes elements that are endangered by a hazard and susceptible to damage. The associated vulnerability characterizes the likelihood of experiencing damage (which can translate into losses) at a certain level of hazard intensity. Frequently, the compilation of exposure information is the costliest component (in terms of time and labor) of risk assessment procedures. Existing models often describe exposure in an aggregated manner, e.g., by relying on statistical/census data for given administrative entities. Nowadays, earth observation techniques allow the collection of spatially continuous information for large geographic areas while enabling a high geometric and temporal resolution. Consequently, we exploit measurements from the earth observation missions TanDEM-X and Sentinel-2, which collect data on a global scale, to characterize the built environment in terms of constituting morphologic properties, namely built-up density and height. Subsequently, we use this information to constrain existing exposure data in a spatial disaggregation approach. Thereby, we establish dasymetric methods for disaggregation. The results are presented for the city of Santiago de Chile, which is prone to natural hazards such as earthquakes. We present loss estimations due to seismic ground shaking and corresponding sensitivity as a function of the resolution properties of the exposure data used in the model. The experimental results underline the benefits of deploying modern earth observation technologies for refined exposure mapping and related earthquake loss estimation with enhanced accuracy properties.</jats:p