The Konitsa, Epirus-NW Greece, July 26 (Ms=5.4) and August 5, 1996, (Ms=5.7) earthquakes sequence

On August 5, 1996, at 22:46 GMT (August 6, 01:46 local time), a strong shallow earthquake of Ms=5.7 occurred at the area of Konitsa, Epirus-northwestern Greece. The earthquake caused significant damage in the city of Konitsa as well as the neighbouring villages. In the same area on July 26, at 18:55 GMT (21:55 local time), another strong earthquake of Ms=5.4 had occurred, mainly causing damage at the lower part of Konitsa. In this study, data from seismological stations located in the broader area of NE Greece and neighbouring countries were used in order to study the spatial and temporal characteristics of this earthquake sequence. Focal mechanisms of the stronger shocks were also plotted. All the observations are combined, in order to obtain a better understanding of the regional tectonics and its seismic activity

Recent micro-earthquake activity at Northern Evoikos gulf, Central Greece

During the last 4 months of 1999, the Institute of Geodynamics, of the National Observatory of Athens, deployed in the area of north Evoikos gulf, a local seismic network of 5 digital stations equipped with sensitive 3-components seismometers. The recorded micro-earthquakes, located in the upper part of the crust, show that there is significant seismic activity in the area of northern Evoikos gulf. This activity could be correlated not only with the main faults of the area, which are the Atalanti fault and the fault running parallel to the coasts of Evia island but also with other faults which are assumed to be, till now, less active or not so important

Assessment of neotectonic landscape deformation in Evia Island, Greece, using GIS-based multi-criteria analysis

This study deals with the assessment and mapping of neotectonic landscape deformation in the northern part of the Evia Island (Central Greece). Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) utilizing Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) andWeighted Linear Combination (WLC) procedures were conducted for the calculation of the Neotectonic Landscape Deformation Index (NLDI). The study is based on the combination of morphotectonic, geomorphological and geological parameters. The GIS-based spatial MCDA led to the classification of the study area into five classes of neotectonic deformation (from very low to very high) and to a neotectonic deformation map. The results were compared with the outputs of a relative tectonic activity classification approach based on quantitative geomorphic analysis at a regional scale, including site-specific field observations. Areas of high and very high deformation are related to the major active faults of Dirfis, Kandili and Gregolimano- Telethrio. Other minor active normal faults of medium to high seismic risk level, affecting the northern and northeastern parts of the island, are also associated with areas of intense landscape neotectonic deformation

Is vertebral augmentation the right choice for cancer patients with painful vertebral compression fractures?

pre-printCancer-related fractures of the spine are different from osteoporotic ones, not only in pathogenesis but also in natural history and treatment. Higher class evidence now supports offering balloon kyphoplasty to a patient with cancer, provided that the pain is significant in intensity, has a positional character, and correlates to the area of the fractured vertebrae. Absence of clinical spinal cord compression and overt instability are paramount. Because of the frequent disruption of the posterior vertebral body cortex in these patients, the procedure should be performed by experienced operators who could also quickly perform an open decompression if cement extravasation occurs. Patients will benefit from vertebral augmentation, even in chronic malignant fractures. A biopsy should be routinely performed and a combination with radiation treatment would be beneficial in most cases

Ti Isotope Abundances in Whole Meteorites

Previous work has identified the presence of nonlinear isotope effects for Ti in CM and CV chondrites (NPW, 1984, 1985; KPW, 1985; Niemeyer and Lugmair, 1984). We report new measurements on CO and CV meteorites, two chondrites (Parnallee, LL3; Parsa, E4) and a shergottite. Since our earlier reports (NPW, 1985; KPW, 1985) on the absolute Ti composition, we have concentrated on the measurement of Ti abundances normalized to ^(46)Ti/^(48)Ti, in order to establish first the extent of nonlinear effects

Problems with Re-Os isochron determinations

We have developed closed-system techniques for the equilibration of Os isotopes and for the calibration of Re and Os tracers using high-purity metals [1]. The results show reproducibility of ±0.5% for calibrations for Os using different chunks of the same high-purity Os metal produced by vacuum arc melting

Correlated Isotope Fractionation and Formation of Purple FUN Inclusions

Allende coarse-grained inclusions characterized by a distinct purple color and high spinel contents (≤ 50 vol.%) exhibit a higher frequency of FUN isotopic anomalies (≈20%) than the general CAI population (≤6%). We used the ion microprobe to measure Mg, Si, Cr and Fe isotopic compositions of three Purple Spinel-rich Inclusions (PSI = ψ) which are petrographically similar to Type B CAl to investigate: 1) variations in isotopic fractionation within inclusions, including secondary phases; 2) correlated isotopic fractionation; and 3) excess ^(26)Mg