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BackgroundConverging theoretical frameworks suggest a role and a therapeutic potential for spinal interoceptive pathways in major depressive disorder (MDD). We aimed to evaluate the antidepressant effects and tolerability of transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS) in MDD.MethodsThis was a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel group, pilot clinical trial in unmedicated adults with moderate MDD. Twenty participants were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio) to receive “active” 2.5 mA or “sham” anodal tsDCS sessions with a thoracic (anode; T10)/right shoulder (cathode) electrode montage 3 times/week for 8 weeks. Change in depression severity (MADRS) scores (prespecified primary outcome) and secondary clinical outcomes were analyzed with repeated measures ANOVA models. An E-Field model was generated using the active tsDCS parameters.ResultsCompared to sham (n=9), the active tsDCS group (n=10) showed a greater baseline to endpoint decrease in MADRS score with a large effect size (−14.6± 2.5 vs −21.7±2.3, p=0.040, d=0.86). Additionally, compared to sham, active tsDCS induced a greater decrease in MADRS “reported sadness” item (−1.8 vs − 3.2, p=0.012), and cumulatively decreased pre/post tsDCS session diastolic blood pressure. Statistical trends in the same direction were observed for MADRS “pessimistic thoughts” item, and CGI-I scores. No group differences were observed in adverse events (AEs) and no serious AEs occurred. The current flow simulation showed electric field at strength within the neuromodulation range (max. ∼0.45 V/m) reaching the thoracic spinal gray matter.ConclusionsThese preliminary results suggest that tsDCS is feasible, well-tolerated, and shows therapeutic potential in MDD. The underlying mechanisms warrant further study.Clinicaltrials.gov registrationNCT03433339 URL:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03433339

Without a doubt, the impact of the discovery of 2D systems such as graphene has led to both theoretical and experimental investigations of a large number of materials such as Silicene, Borene, Arsenene, Phosphorene, just to mention some of the most emblematic ones, but other materials and its heterostructures are also of interest. From this point of view, in this work we present the band structure, density of states as well as the imaginary part of the dielectric function of a 2D GaAs system, by means of a density functional theory implementation. The aim of this study is to investigate the basic physical properties for a freestanding 2D GaAs sheet, as well as the effect of Si substitutional atoms, since it has an amphoteric nature in the GaAs, which means that depending on which atom is substituted, this can be an n- or p-type impurity atom. We report, as expected, that the levels do indeed appear near the conduction band (or valence) if the impurity is n-type (or p-type), respectively. Also the density of states due to the impurity is modified as well as the imaginary part of the dielectric function

The advantages offered by structured reporting have already been highlighted in the literature. However, there is still no evidence on the validity of this reporting method for the study of abdominal wall defects. This study aims to show the experience of the Trentino Hernia Team (THT) multidisciplinary group in the development and use of a structured CT scan report for the study of abdominal wall defects. A regional multidisciplinary team (THT group) used a Delphi method to identify and select the most important CT scan parameters needed to describe and stage abdominal wall defects for correct preoperative planning. Based on the selected parameters, a CT scan structured report was worked out and collectively accepted. The first 20 structured reports obtained were individually tested for compilation speed and homogeneity of the data reported by five distinct radiologists. The reports were then evaluated by five different surgeons to test the simplicity of interpretation. We produced a model of a structured report for the study of the abdominal wall defects and tested it in our hospital network on the first 20 reports. The average completion time was 18 min (range 12–25). There was no heterogeneity among the reported data. The reports were analysed by five distinct surgeons to evaluate completeness and simplicity of interpretation. Each surgeon used a Likert scale from 0 to 5 to evaluate each report, producing average scores of 4.8 and 4.1 for completeness and comprehensibility respectively, with a mean combined total score of 8.9 out of 10. Our structured report represents a fundamental tool capable of providing the surgeon with all the measurements of the parameters necessary for correct preoperative planning. At the same time, it is of crucial help for the radiologists representing an easy and fast way to report all the needed parameters using the same standards.

We propose the use of statistical measures to quantify robustness, uncertainty, and significance for Markovian models of large magnitude seismic systems, and we also propose a method for choosing the best of different models by using the normalized measures in a discriminant function. We tested the proposed methods on earthquakes occurring in an area around Japan, divided into four regions; modeling the system as having four states, where each state corresponds to the region where the latest large earthquake, larger than a given threshold moment magnitude, has occurred. Our results show that for the 7.0–7.3 threshold magnitude range the seismicity of this region does occur according to a Markovian process, with optimum results for threshold magnitude 7.1, whereas for magnitudes outside this range seismicity is less Markovian.

espanolEl valor b de la distribucion Gutenberg-Richter es una de las herramientas mas importantes para estudios de peligro sismico; dicho valores de gran utilidad para estimar razones de ocurrencia de sismos, y esta relacionado tambien con niveles de esfuerzo del medio y presenta cambios precursores a la ocurrencia de grandes sismos. Sin embargo, determinaciones correctas y confiables del valor b dependen criticamente de contar con muestras suficientes. Llevamos a cabo estudios orientados a corroborar si efectivamente ocurren cambios precursores del valor b antes de sismos grandes (M ≥7.0) a lo largo de la zona de subduccion de Mexico; estos estudios fueron basados en datos del catalogo del Servicio Sismologico Nacional (SSN) de 1988 a 2018. Lo resultados para cinco grandes sismos sugieren que los cambios precursores efectivamente existen, pero las diferencias entre los valores obtenidos no son estadisticamente significativas debido a las incertidumbres causadas porque el SSN usa diferentes escalas de magnitud para sismos pequenos (bajo M ~4.5) y para medianos a grandes (arriba de M ~4.5). Discutimos algunas limitaciones sobre la aplicabilidad de los datos del SSN EnglishThe Gutenberg-Richter b value is one of the most important tools for seismic hazard studies; this value is most useful in estimating seismicity rates, and also is related to ambient stress levels andshows changes precursory to the occurrence of large earthquakes. However,correct and reliable determinations of the b value are critically dependent on having enough data samples. Studies oriented to corroborate whether precursory changes in the b value occur before large (M ≥ 7.0) alongthe Mexican subduction zone, were done based ondata from the Servicio Sismologico Nacional (SSN, Mexico’s National Seismological Service) seismic catalog, from 1988 to 2018. Results for five earthquakes are suggestive that precursory changes may occur, but differences between measured values are not statistically significant because of large uncertainties due to the SSN usingdifferent magnitude scales for small (below M ~4.5) and medium to large (above M ~4.5)magnitudes. We discuss some limitations about the applicability of SSN data

The advantages offered by structured reporting have already been highlighted in the literature. However, there is still no evidence on the validity of this reporting method for the study of abdominal wall defects. This study aims to show the experience of the Trentino Hernia Team (THT) multidisciplinary group in the development and use of a structured CT scan report for the study of abdominal wall defects.A regional multidisciplinary team (THT group) used a Delphi method to identify and select the most important CT scan parameters needed to describe and stage abdominal wall defects for correct preoperative planning. Based on the selected parameters, a CT scan structured report was worked out and collectively accepted. The first 20 structured reports obtained were individually tested for compilation speed and homogeneity of the data reported by five distinct radiologists. The reports were then evaluated by five different surgeons to test the simplicity of interpretation.We produced a model of a structured report for the study of the abdominal wall defects and tested it in our hospital network on the first 20 reports. The average completion time was 18 min (range 12-25). There was no heterogeneity among the reported data. The reports were analysed by five distinct surgeons to evaluate completeness and simplicity of interpretation. Each surgeon used a Likert scale from 0 to 5 to evaluate each report, producing average scores of 4.8 and 4.1 for completeness and comprehensibility respectively, with a mean combined total score of 8.9 out of 10.Our structured report represents a fundamental tool capable of providing the surgeon with all the measurements of the parameters necessary for correct preoperative planning. At the same time, it is of crucial help for the radiologists representing an easy and fast way to report all the needed parameters using the same standards.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is caused by a compression of the brachial plexus and the subclavian vessels in their passage to the upper limb. It mostly occurs in women aged 20-50, so it is infrequent in children. We present our results in the diagnosis and management of pediatric TOS.Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with TOS between December 2017 and June 2018. Clinical, radiological, surgical, and evolution variables were assessed.Five TOS were diagnosed in 4 patients - one TOS was bilateral. Mean age at diagnosis was 12.5 years (7-15), and there was a delay in diagnosis of 153 days (10-36). TOS was either venous (3) or neurogenic (2). Patients presented with pain (5/5), edema (4/5), hypoesthesia (3/5), decreased strength (3/5), and cervical pain (2/5). One patient presented with sport-related pain. Neurophysiological study was normal in three cases. Two patients presented bone anomalies at CT-scan. Three surgeries were performed in two patients using the supraclavicular approach with resection of the anomalous first rib and scalenectomy. One patient refused surgery, and another patient remained expectant without reappearance of symptoms. Postoperative follow-up was 9 months (6-12), with progressive improvement of symptoms.TOS may occur in adolescents in the form of upper limb pain and edema. Imaging tests are recommended to detect abnormal anatomical structures. The supraclavicular approach represents a safe and effective technique in decompressing the thoracic outlet.El síndrome del opérculo torácico (SOT) está causado por una compresión del plexo braquial y vasos subclavios en su paso hacia la extremidad superior. Patología típica de mujeres entre 20 y 50 años, que es infrecuente diagnosticar en niños. Presentamos nuestros resultados en el diagnóstico y tratamiento del SOT pediátrico.Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes diagnosticados de SOT entre diciembre 2017 y junio 2018. Se analizaron variables clínicas, radiológicas, quirúrgicas y de evolución.Cinco SOT fueron diagnosticados en cuatro pacientes, uno de ellos bilateral. La edad media al diagnóstico fue de 12,5 años (7-15) y hubo una demora en el diagnóstico de 153 días (10-360). SOT venoso (3) y neurológico (2). Presentaron dolor (5/5), edema (4/5), hipoestesia (3/5), disminución de fuerza (3/5) y dolor cervical (2/5). Una paciente presentaba dolor asociado al deporte. El estudio neurofisiológico fue normal en tres casos. Dos pacientes presentaron anomalías óseas por TAC. Se realizaron tres intervenciones quirúrgicas en dos pacientes por abordaje supraclavicular realizando resección de la primera costilla anómala y escalenectomía. Una paciente rechazo la intervención y en otra se mantuvo en una actitud expectante sin reaparición de los síntomas. Seguimiento posoperatorio de 9 meses (6-12) con mejoría progresivas de los síntomas.El SOT puede darse en adolescentes siendo el dolor y edema de la extremidad superior lo más específico. Se recomienda la realización de pruebas de imagen para detectar estructuras anatómicas anómalas. El abordaje supraclavicular se presenta como una técnica segura y eficaz en la descompresión del desfiladero torácico.

Ceboruco volcano in western Mexico is catalogued as one of the five most hazardous volcanoes in the country (National Center for Disaster Prevention; CENAPRED); 32,927 people, distributed in several smaller cities, towns and villages, live within a 10 km radius from the volcano. Two permanent Global Navigation Satellite system (GNSS) stations were installed on the Ceboruco volcano in October 2018 to start monitoring surface deformation; we present the results from these two stations. The data was processed using a double-difference strategy to obtain velocity vectors in the ITRF2014 reference frame and 3D position time series. Daily position time series show periods of small-amplitude deflation and inflation of the volcanic edifice that may correspond to changes in its magmatic system. These results confirm that the Ceboruco volcano is currently active so that continuous monitoring is necessary to anticipate possible explosive activity.

The Aki-Utsu method of Gutenberg-Richter (G-R) b value estimation is often misapplied so that estimations not using the G-R histogram are often meaningless because they are not based on adequate samples. We propose a method to estimate the likelihood Pr(bǀb m , N, M 1, M 2) that an observed b m estimate, based on a sample of N magnitudes within an [M 1 − ≤ ΔM/2, M 2 + ΔM/2) range, where ΔM = 0.1 is the usual rounding applied to magnitudes, is due to a “true” source b value, b, and use these likelihoods to estimate source b ranges corresponding to various confidence levels. As an example of application of the method, we estimate the b values before and after the occurrence of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in the Mexican subduction zone, and find a difference of 0.82 between them with 100% confidence that the b values are different.

América Latina, a grandes rasgos, es un continente con varios niveles contextuales, dependientes de las características históricas, económicas, políticas y sociales. Con todo, hay aspectos que –como la brecha tecnológica- se reproducen en mayor o menor medida en los distintos países. Dicha brecha promueve unas sociedades parcialmente desconectadas –y, por tanto, invisibilizadas- y tiende a aminorar las posibilidades de innovación y desarrollo del periodismo digital. Metodología: En este estudio, y a partir de un análisis de contenido, hemos analizado la gestión de la interactividad en 87 cibermedios de Colombia, México y Ecuador durante 2016. Resultados y conclusiones: Los resultados muestran una baja implementación general de las opciones de interactividad en los ecosistemas digitales de estos tres países latinoamericanos.

Aki’s maximum likelihood method of Gutenberg–Richter b-value estimation is based on the premise that magnitudes above a given threshold are distributed exponentially and presupposes that sampling is adequate for all these magnitudes; clearly, sampling will not be adequate for magnitudes having average recurrence times longer than the observation time. Thus, for any given sample, there is a higher-magnitude completeness threshold. The importance of considering this higher-magnitude threshold is discussed, the effect of incomplete large-magnitude sampling is evaluated, and a method is given for correcting the observations.

Large earthquakes have semi-periodic behavior as a result of critically self-organized processes of stress accumulation and release in seismogenic regions. Hence, large earthquakes in a given region constitute semi-periodic sequences with recurrence times varying slightly from periodicity. In previous papers, it has been shown that it is possible to identify these sequences through Fourier analysis of the occurrence time series of large earthquakes from a given region, by realizing that not all earthquakes in the region need belong to the same sequence, since there can be more than one process of stress accumulation and release in the region. Sequence identification can be used to forecast earthquake occurrence with well determined confidence bounds. This paper presents improvements on the above mentioned sequence identification and forecasting method: the influence of earthquake size on the spectral analysis, and its importance in semi-periodic events identification are considered, which means that earthquake occurrence times are treated as a labeled point process; a revised estimation of non-randomness probability is used; a better estimation of appropriate upper limit uncertainties to use in forecasts is introduced; and the use of Bayesian analysis to evaluate the posterior forecast performance is applied. This improved method was successfully tested on synthetic data and subsequently applied to real data from some specific regions. As an example of application, we show the analysis of data from the northeastern Japan Arc region, in which one semi-periodic sequence of four earthquakes with M ≥ 8.0, having high non-randomness probability was identified. We compare the results of this analysis with those of the unlabeled point process analysis.

The Aki-Utsu maximum likelihood method is widely used for estimation of the Gutenberg-Richter b-value, but not all authors are conscious of the method’s limitations and implicit requirements. The Aki/Utsu method requires a representative estimate of the population mean magnitude; a requirement seldom satisfied in b-value studies, particularly in those that use data from small geographic and/or time windows, such as b-mapping and b-vs-time studies. Monte Carlo simulation methods are used to determine how large a sample is necessary to achieve representativity, particularly for rounded magnitudes. The size of a representative sample weakly depends on the actual b-value. It is shown that, for commonly used precisions, small samples give meaningless estimations of b. Our results give estimates on the probabilities of getting correct estimates of b for a given desired precision for samples of different sizes. We submit that all published studies reporting b-value estimations should include information about the size of the samples used.

The slipping rib syndrome (SRS) is an unknown pathology for the pediatric surgeon due to its low incidence in children. The weakness of the costal ligaments allowing an area of rib hypermobility has been postulated recently as the main etiology. It produces an intermittent pain in the lower thorax or upper abdomen that can affect to the daily activities and can be the origin of unspecific chronic pain.A retrospective review of patients diagnosed with SRS between october 2012 and march 2017 was performed. Data of demographics, symptoms, imaging studies, surgical findings and long-term follow-up were collected.During this period, 4 patients were diagnosed with SRS. Median age at diagnosis was 13 years (12-15 years) with a mean duration of symptoms of 13 months (12-36 months). In 2 patients the SRS was associated with Costal Dysmorphia (CD). The initial diagnosis was clinical with posterior ultrasound confirmation. Resection of the affected cartilages was performed in 3 patients and after a follow-up of 6 months (3-30 months), they all are painless and refer a good cosmetic result. One patient refused the intervention.The SRS is an infrequent cause of thoracic pain with an etiology not well understood. The awareness of this disease and its typical presentation can avoid unnecessary studies. The resection of the affected cartilages is a safe and effective treatment.El síndrome de costilla deslizante (SCD) es una entidad poco frecuente en niños. Se cree que su causa es una debilidad en los ligamentos costales que permite una hipermovilidad de las costillas. Genera un dolor intermitente en la región baja del tórax o alta del abdomen que puede afectar a las actividades de la vida diaria o generar un dolor crónico.Revisión retrospectiva de SCD entre octubre de 2012 y diciembre de 2017. Se recogió información acerca de los datos demográficos, síntomas, estudios de imagen, hallazgos intraoperatorios, material fotográfico y seguimiento a largo plazo.Durante este periodo, 4 pacientes fueron diagnosticados de SCD. La mediana de edad al diagnóstico fue de 13 años (12-15 años) con una duración previa de los síntomas de 13 meses (12-36 meses). En 2 pacientes se asoció una dismorfia costal (DC). El diagnóstico fue clínico con confirmación ecográfica. Se realizó resección de los cartílagos afectos en 3 pacientes con un seguimiento posterior de 6 meses (3-30 meses). Actualmente se encuentran sin dolor y con un resultado estético satisfactorio. Un paciente rechazó la intervención.El SCD aparece en pacientes preadolescentes que en algunos casos asocian DC. Una exploración física y ecografía enfocada son las claves para un diagnóstico certero. La resección de cartílagos es efectiva a largo plazo.

Oral mucositis (OM) is a painful and inflammatory ulcerative lesion occurring as an adverse effect during chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). This condition may cause significant systemic anomalies such as malnutrition, opportunistic infections, and delay in the chemotherapy course. This report aims to describe a case series of 11 ALL patients treated with methotrexate as chemotherapy agent.Each patient was carefully followed-up and orally examined for 14 days after their chemotherapy session. OM occurred in all children. Then, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer and the International Society of Oral Oncology (MASCC/ISOO) management protocol for OM was applied to them. The mean time of the lesion total resolution was 3.7 days.It is necessary to emphasise the importance of early detection of OM through a close clinical oral examination of children and adolescents with ALL undergoing methotrexate chemotherapy. Pain/infection control and the maintenance of good levels of oral hygiene are fundamental during the management of OM. Therefore, paediatric dentists need to be part of the oncology care team, and thus contributing and helping with ALL treatment.

To perform a scoping review of the existing literature in order to gather the most relevant information in the paediatric dentistry field related to the oral management of children affected by Henoch-Schönlein Purpura and associated Glomerulonephritis (HSPG).Using scoping review methodology for the screening and selection of valid articles, the steps of this review were the following: first, to pose a research question; second, to identify relevant studies; third, to select and retrieve the studies; fourth, to chart the critical data, and finally, to collate, summarise, and report the results from the included articles. Relevant articles published over a 25-year period, up to July 31, 2017, were identified and retrieved from four Internet databases: PubMed; EMBASE/Ovid; Ebsco/DentistryOral Science Source, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library.By title and abstract screening and after removing duplicates, four articles were finally included in the scoping review. According to the extracted data, the following are the most important clinical issues to be considered: (1) the disease can appear as a consequence of a dental treatment, such as those indicated for oral infectious processes; (2) children with HSPG are highly susceptible to dental caries and apical periodontitis, and (3) in affected children, oral infectious foci must be exhaustively eradicated in order to avoid the dissemination of the infection.Paediatric Dentists should be aware of HSPG, because the disease can be triggered or worsen subsequent to dental treatment. Adequate treatment of oral active infectious processes, together with an exhaustive oral preventive programme and long-term patient screening, are the best management approaches for children with HSPG.

Nuñez-Cornu, Francisco ... et al.-- 14 pages, 9 figures, 1 table, In the spring of 2014, an onshore–offshore geophysical experiment (“Crustal Characterization of the Rivera plate–Jalisco Block Boundary and Its Implications for Seismic and Tsunami Hazard Assessment”) was carried out in the frame of the TsuJal project to define the crustal architecture of the western Mexican active margin and identify potential structural sources that can trigger earthquakes and tsunamis at the convergence between the Rivera plate (RP) and the Jalisco Block (JB) within the North American plate. In this work, we present the preliminary results about bathymetric, structural geology, and wide‐angle seismic data of the southern coast of Bahía de Banderas. These data indicate the slab thickness in this area is about 10 km and presents a dip angle of about 8°. Continental crustal thickness below Puerto Vallarta is about 20 km, but no evidences of continental Moho and clear subduction features (trench, accretionary prism) are observed. Nevertheless, this model supports the hypothesis that the region of Bahía de Banderas is under strong crustal stresses generating structural lineaments with the same trends offshore and inland due to the convergence of the RP against the JB. Most of the seismicity reported can be associated with the main structural lineaments. Moreover, the Banderas Canyon (BC) is apparently in an eastward opening process, which seems to continue through the Rio Pitillal river valley; no seismic or morphological evidences were found to suggest the BC is a continuation of the Vallarta graben. Offshore, the Sierra de Cleofas, located south of María Cleofas Island, marks the limit between the RP and the JB along 100 km. It may be the result of the RP pushing against the JB establishing the beginning of the current subduction process, with associated seismic activity. If a subduction type earthquake occurs in this area, the associated magnitude will be about 7.5 and could have a tsunamigenic effect, This Research is funded by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) – Fondo Mixto CONACYT – Gobierno de Jalisco (FOMIXJAL) 2008-96567 (2009); CONACYT–FOMIXJAL 2008-96539 (2009); CONA-CYT–FOMIXJAL 2010-149245 (2011); CONACYT–FOMIXJAL (2012-08-189963) (MEXICO); Ciencias de la Tierra y Cambio Global (CGL; 2011-29474-C02-01) Dirección General de Investigación (DGI) Plan Nacional I+D+i (España). National Oceanography Centre (NOC) Cruise JC098, RRS James Cook (United Kingdom); Funding for the EL PUMA campaign was provided by Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (Comisión Académica de los Buques Oceanográficos de la UNAM [CABO]) and Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico de la UNAM (DGAPA) Grant Number IN115513-3; Secretaría de Marina (Mexico) ARM Holzinger; Secretaría de Defensa Nacional (Mexico); Unidad Municipal de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico); Unidad Estatal de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos (Nayarit State, Mexico); Unidad Municipal de Proteccion Civil y Bomberos (Jalisco State, Mexico); Reserva de la Biosfera (Islas Marías) Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales y Protegidas (CONANP)-Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (SEMARNAT); Órgano Desconcentrado de Prevención y Readaptacion Social de la Secretaría de Gobernación (SEGOB); Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (Mexico)

The Mexicali Valley (northwestern Mexico), situated in the southern part of the San Andreas fault system, is an area with high tectonic deformation, recent volcanism, and active seismicity. Since 1973, fluid extraction, from the 1500–3000 m depth range, at the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field (CPGF), has influenced deformation in the Mexicali Valley area, accelerating the subsidence and causing slip along the traces of tectonic faults that limit the subsidence area. Detailed field mapping done since 1989 (González et al., 1998; Glowacka et al., 2005; Suárez-Vidal et al., 2008) in the vicinity of the CPGF shows that many subsidence induced fractures, fissures, collapse features, small grabens, and fresh scarps are related to the known tectonic faults. Subsidence and fault rupture are causing damage to infrastructure, such as roads, railroad tracks, irrigation channels, and agricultural fields. Since 1996, geotechnical instruments installed by CICESE (Centro de Investigación Ciéntifica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada, B.C.) have operated in the Mexicali Valley, for continuous recording of deformation phenomena. Instruments are installed over or very close to the affected faults. To date, the network includes four crackmeters and eight tiltmeters; all instruments have sampling intervals in the 1 to 20 min range. Instrumental records typically show continuous creep, episodic slip events related mainly to the subsidence process, and coseismic slip discontinuities (Glowacka et al., 1999, 2005, 2010; Sarychikhina et al., 2015). The area has also been monitored by levelling surveys every few years and, since the 1990's by studies based on DInSAR data (Carnec and Fabriol, 1999; Hansen, 2001; Sarychikhina et al., 2011). In this work we use data from levelling, DInSAR, and geotechnical instruments records to compare the subsidence caused by anthropogenic activity and/or seismicity with slip recorded by geotechnical instruments, in an attempt to obtain more information about the process of fault slip associated with subsidence.

Ground deformation and seismicity in Mexicali Valley, Baja California, Mexico, the southern part of the Mexicali-Imperial valley, are influenced by active tectonics and human activity. In this study, data from two successive leveling surveys in 2006 and 2009/2010 are used to estimate the total deformation occurred in Mexicali Valley during 2006–2009. The leveling data span more than 3.5 years and include deformation from several natural and anthropogenic sources that acted at different temporal and spatial scales during the analyzed period. Because of its large magnitude, the aseismic anthropogenic deformation caused by fluid extraction in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field obscures the deformation caused by other mechanisms and sources. The method of differential interferograms stacking was used to estimate the aseismic (interseismic tectonic and anthropogenic) components of the observed displacement, using SAR images, taken in 2007 during a period when no significant seismicity occurred in the study area. After removing the estimated aseismic signal from the leveling data, residual vertical displacement remained, and to identify possible sources and mechanisms of this displacement, a detailed analysis of records from tiltmeters and creepmeters was performed. The results of this analysis suggest that the residual displacement is mainly caused by moderate-sized seismicity in the area of study. Modeling of the vertical ground deformation caused by the coseismic slip on source fault (primary mechanism) of the two most important earthquakes, May 24, 2006 (Mw = 5.4) and December 30, 2009 (Mw = 5.8), was performed. The modeling results, together with the analysis of geotechnical instruments data, suggests that this moderate-sized seismicity influences the deformation in the study area by coseismic slip on the source fault, triggered slip on secondary faults, and soft sediments deformation.

The effects of magnitude rounding and of the presence of noise in the rounded magnitudes on the estimation of the Gutenberg–Richter b-value are explored, and the ways to correct for these effects are proposed. For typical values, b = 1 and rounding interval ΔM = 0.1, the rounding error is approximately −10−3 and it can be corrected to a negligible approximately −10−5. For the same typical values, the effect of noise can be larger, depending on the characteristics of the noise distribution; for normally distributed noise with standard deviation σ = 0.1, the correct b-value may be underestimated by a factor ~0.97.

Among the schemes for earthquake forecasting, the search for semi-periodicity during large earthquakes in a given seismogenic region plays an important role. When considering earthquake forecasts based on semi-periodic sequence identification, the Bayesian formalism is a useful tool for: (1) assessing how well a given earthquake satisfies a previously made forecast; (2) re-evaluating the semi-periodic sequence probability; and (3) testing other prior estimations of the sequence probability. A comparison of Bayesian estimates with updated estimates of semi-periodic sequences that incorporate new data not used in the original estimates shows extremely good agreement, indicating that: (1) the probability that a semi-periodic sequence is not due to chance is an appropriate estimate for the prior sequence probability estimate; and (2) the Bayesian formalism does a very good job of estimating corrected semi-periodicity probabilities, using slightly less data than that used for updated estimates. The Bayesian approach is exemplified explicitly by its application to the Parkfield semi-periodic forecast, and results are given for its application to other forecasts in Japan and Venezuela.

On a global scale, large earthquakes are Poisson-distributed in time which implies that the inter-earthquake intervals are exponentially distributed. Thus, a simple-minded estimation of the most probable interval could conclude that the most probable occurrence time for a large earthquake would be now! This thesis is unsupported by observations. The apparent paradox is explained when characteristics of the interval cumulative distributions are explored for different seismicity rates.

Aim To evaluate the feasibility of V/Q SPECT and analyze its contribution to planar V/Q lung scintigraphy in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE). Material and methods A total of 109 patients with suspected PE showing Wells score > 2 and elevated D-dimer were studied. The V/Q could not be completed in 7 patients, so they were excluded. Ventilation and perfusion scans were done using Technegas and 99m Tc-MAA. Planar study included 8 projections on a 256 × 256 matrix and 128 projections on a 128 × 128 matrix were acquired for the SPECT study, applying an iterative method. Planar images were interpreted according to modified PIOPED criteria, and SPECT by the guidelines of the EANMMI. The results with both techniques were compared. Results V/Q planar scintigraphy and SPECT could be performed in 102 patients. V/Q planar scintigraphy was considered “diagnostic” in 39 of the 102 patients, and “non-diagnostic” in 63. Of the 39 “diagnostic” studies, 31 were reported as high probability of PE and 8 as normal. Of the 63 “non-diagnostic”, 26 corresponded to intermediate, 29 to low, and 8 to very low probability. The SPECT study was “diagnostic” in 97 and indeterminate in only 5. All patients with a high probability planar scintigraphy had a positive SPECT. In the 8 patients with a normal planar scintigraphy SPECT was negative in 5 and positive in 3. In the 63 patients with a “non-diagnostic” planar scintigraphy SPECT was “diagnostic” in 58 of them, positive in 17 and negative in 41. Conclusion V/Q SPECT is a feasible technique as it was performed in 102 of the 109 patients who were enrolled in the study (94%). The addition of V/Q SPECT to planar V/Q decreases the number of “non-diagnostic” reports from 62% in planar scintigraphy to 4.9% in SPECT. Therefore, V/Q SPECT should be included in the diagnosis approach of PE due to its high diagnostic yield.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the contribution of amyloid imaging with (11)C-Pittsburgh compound B ((11)C-PIB) and of glucose metabolism on F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) PET/CT to the study of cognitive impairment in the clinical setting. Patients and methods Thirty-four patients (15 male, 19 female) were enrolled in the study. They were classified according to their clinically presented symptoms. Six patients had subjective memory complaints, five had nonamnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), seven had amnestic MCI, seven had prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD), five had frontotemporal dementia, two had dementia with Lewy bodies, and two had cortical degeneration. All the scans were conducted to determine the likelihood of AD or to differentiate between AD and other dementia. Static 30-min (11)C-PIB and 15-min (18)F-FDG PET/CT scans were obtained. A visual analysis of images was performed. Results Three of the six patients with subjective memory complaints had positive (11)C-PIB scans and one of them also had (18)F-FDG hypometabolism. All five nonamnestic MCI patients had normal (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG. Four of the seven amnestic MCI patients showed (11)C-PIB cortical retention but only one had positive (18)F-FDG. Positive (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG were detected in five of the seven prodromal AD patients. All the five patients with FDT had positive (18)F-FDG scans, but only one of the five had (11)C-PIB cortical retention. Both dementia with Lewy bodies and cortical degeneration patients had positive (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG scans. Conclusion The combined use of (11)C-PIB and (18)F-FDG PET provides relevant information for the clinical management of cognitive impairment. The detection of positive (11)C-PIB cortical retention in patients may be an indicator of the need for further clinical assessment and monitoring.

Author(s): Gonzalez-Ortega, A; Fialko, Y; Sandwell, D; Nava-Pichardo, FA; Fletcher, J; Gonzalez-Garcia, J; Lipovsky, B; Floyd, M; Funning, G | Abstract: El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake occurred on 4 April 2010 in northeastern Baja California just south of the U.S.-Mexico border. The earthquake ruptured several previously mapped faults, as well as some unidentified ones, including the Pescadores, Borrego, Paso Inferior and Paso Superior faults in the Sierra Cucapah, and the Indiviso fault in the Mexicali Valley and Colorado River Delta.We conducted several Global Positioning System (GPS) campaign surveys of preexisting and newly established benchmarks within 30 km of the earthquake rupture. Most of the benchmarks were occupied within days after the earthquake, allowing us to capture the very early postseismic transient motions. The GPS data show postseismic displacements in the same direction as the coseismic displacements; time series indicate a gradual decay in postseismic velocities with characteristic time scales of 66 ± 9 days and 20 ± 3 days, assuming exponential and logarithmic decay, respectively. We also analyzed interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data from the Envisat and ALOS satellites. The main deformation features seen in the line-of-sight displacement maps indicate subsidence concentrated in the southern and northern parts of the main rupture, in particular at the Indiviso fault, at the Laguna Salada basin, and at the Paso Superior fault. We show that the near-field GPS and InSAR observations over a time period of 5 months after the earthquake can be explained by a combination of afterslip, fault zone contraction, and a possible minor contribution of poroelastic rebound. Far-field data require an additional mechanism, most likely viscoelastic relaxation in the ductile substrate. ©2014. American Geophysical Union.

Background and Objective: Resistance of Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) to antibiotics is the main cause of relapse into Helcobacterial infections. With the use of several antibiotics that have synergistic effect, we can inhibit this antibiotic resistance. Thus, we aimed at determining resistance patterns and assessing the synergy of combining multiple antibiotics on H. pylori. Material and Methods: Biopsy specimens were taken from 100 patients with gastric ulcer referred to Imam Reza hospital in Amol, north of Iran. After isolation and identification of H. Pylori, antibiogram was performed with different antibiotic disks containing one antibiotic, a combination of two antibiotics (metronidazole + clarithromycin) and three antibiotics (metronidazole + Claritromycin + Ciprofloxacin). Results: In this study, H. pylori were isolated from 53 (53%) biopsy specimens. Of these, 49 (5.92%) were resistant to metronidazole, 14 (26%) to amoxicillin, 10 (19%) to clarithromycin, 7 (13%) to tetracycline, 13 (5/24%) to furazolidone and 7 (13%) to ciprofloxacin. In survey of synergistic effect, an increase in inhibition zone diameter around of combined disks was seen up to 5mm compared to the most effective antibiotic. Conclusion: The inhibition zone diameter of discs containing two and three antibiotics was large, in comparison with one antibiotic. Key words: H. Pylori Antibiotic Resistance Synergy Effect

Purpose To compare the contribution of the 18 F-FDG-PET/CT acquisition at 180 min and at 60 min in suspicion of large vessel vasculitis (LVV). Material and methods A prospective study including 23 patients was performed. PET/CT was acquired at 60 and 180 min (early and delayed scan) after 18 F-FDG injection. A visual analysis was performed at the supra-aortic trunks (SAT), thoracic aorta (TA), abdominal aorta (AA), iliac arteries (IA) and femoral/tibioperoneal arteries (FTA). Intensity (0–3) and uptake pattern (diffuse/linear) were assessed in the 115 vascular regions. Results There was no FDG uptake in the early and delayed acquisition in 20/115 vascular regions (17.4%). Of the 95 regions (82.6%) showing FDG uptake at the early, delayed or both acquisitions, intensity did not change in the delayed acquisition in 46 and changed in 49. Of the 49 regions in which the intensity changed, it decreased in 36 and increased in 13 (TA:8, SAT:5). AA, IA and FTA intensity did not increase in any of the cases. Uptake pattern at the TA in the early acquisition was diffuse in 16 patients. In 7, it changed to linear and in 9 the uptake disappeared. The early pattern was linear in 7 patients and 6 of them showed increased intensity in the delayed acquisition and in 1 remained the same. Conclusion The 180 min delayed FDG-PET/CT acquisition provides a more detailed visualized of the vessel wall, showing the washout of the blood pool activity. Therefore, it may contribute to a more accurate diagnosis of LVV.

Aim To assess the calcification process of the carotid plaque by 18 F-sodium fluoride PET/CT imaging. Material and methods A prospectively designed study including 15 patients in whom an atheroma plaque was detected by contrast enhanced CT scan during a neurological work-up was performed. A total of 29 plaques, 19 asymptomatic and 10 symptomatic, were studied. An 18 F-sodium fluoride PET/CT scan was acquired 180 min after the i.v. injection of 370 MBq of 18 F-sodium fluoride in all the patients. The images obtained were analyzed visually according to the intensity of the uptake. Results All the plaques showed 18 F-sodium fluoride uptake, regardless of the intensity. However, the plaques of the symptomatic group showed a level of 2 or greater intensity while the intensity in 6 of the 19 in the asymptomatic group was lower than 2. Conclusions Although the study is limited by the small number of cases, the results show the feasibility of the technique to study the calcification of the atheroma using 18 F-sodium fluoride and suggest an association between symptomatology and higher uptake of 18 F-sodium fluoride. Thus, these results encourage us to continue this study, with the inclusion of a larger number of patients.

We explore fractal properties of two observed seismicity distributions prior to the 2003 M w 7.4 Colima, Mexico and 1992 M w 7.3 Landers, USA earthquakes, together with several mathematical fractal distributions and two non-fractal ones, in order to estimate minimum reliable sample sizes, determine whether fractality for observed seismicity is essentially different from random uniform distributions, and explore the possibility of extracting premonitory information from fractal characteristics of seismicity before large earthquakes. Sample sizes above 800 events for whole catalogs appear to be sufficient to maintain ordered multifractality and to yield dimension estimates that vary smoothly and reliably. Fractal estimates appear to be best for whole catalogs that include aftershocks. The fractal characteristics of spatial distributions of seismicity are essentially different from those of the uniform random distribution, which is the null hypothesis of a non-fractal distribution with minimum information. The fractal dimensions and afractality measures of seismicity distributions change with time and show distinctive behaviors associated with foreshocks and main events, although these behaviors are different for each example. Results suggest the possibility of a priori identification of foreshocks to large earthquakes. A combination of fractal dimension and afractality measures over time may be helpful in large earthquake premonitory studies.

Fault plane solutions from first motion polarity of P -waves give two nodal planes among which it is not possible to distinguish the fault plane from the auxiliary one. We found that, for earthquakes recorded by a dense local network, it is possible to identify the rupture direction from the Doppler effect produced by directivity. This principle was successfully applied, using three different simple techniques (direct inspection and time and frequency domains analyses), to one M L 3.6 and six smaller (1.2≤ M L ≤2.0) well-recorded earthquakes from northern Baja California, Mexico. The results indicate activity in faults conjugate to those currently mapped in this region.

The seismic activity from one of the most active (documented) periods of the Colima volcano, from October 1998 to July 1999, was analyzed using the wavelet transform, to study the evolution in time of energy content at different scales of seismic signals preceding eruptive episodes. Time-scale analysis shows seismic energy concentrations at particular scales preceding significant eruptions; concentrations that do not appear within the same time-frame for non-eruptive stages. Quantification of the energy at each scale eases the recognition of characteristic wavelet patterns before the occurrence of significant effusive or explosive eruptions. The recognition of precursory wavelet patterns, which does not depend on the absolute level of energy release, could help to objectively identify precursors to imminent explosive eruptions, even in cases where other seismic energy-based methods are not conclusive.

Deep fluid extraction in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field (CPGF) has caused subsidence and induced slip on tectonic faults in the Mexicali Valley (Baja California, Mexico). The Mexicali Valley is located in the southern part of the Salton Trough, at the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. The Valley is characterized by being a zone of continuous tectonic deformation, geothermal activity, and seismicity. Within the Cerro Prieto pull-apart basin, seismicity is concentrated mainly in swarms, while strong earthquakes have occurred in the Imperial and Cerro Prieto transform faults, that are the eastern and western bound of the basin. Since 1973, fluid extraction at the CPGF has influenced deformation in the area, accelerating the subsidence and causing rupture (frequently as vertical slip or creep) on the surface traces of tectonic faults. Both subsidence and fault slip are causing damage to infrastructure like roads, railroad tracks, irrigation channels, and agricultural fields. Currently, accelerated extraction in the eastern part of CPGF has shifted eastwards the area of most pronounced subsidence rate; this accelerated subsidence can be observed at the Saltillo fault, a southern branch of the Imperial fault in the Mexicali Valley. Published leveling data, together with field data from geological surveys, geotechnical instruments, and new InSAR images were used to model the observed deformation in the area in terms of fluid extraction. Since the electricity production in the CPGF is an indispensable part of Baja California economy, extraction is sure to continue and may probably increase, so that the problem of damages caused by subsidence will likely increase in the future.

A new solution to reservoir saturation logging in highly deviated and horizontal wells leverages a light system using coiled tubing (CT) equipped with fiber optics to overcome reach limitations and provide real-time acquisition of downhole reservoir information. The advantages of the methodology in terms of technical capabilities and efficiency have been demonstrated in wells in Mexico where acquisition of once-inaccessible logging information opened new avenues in the production management of the area. The conveyance of logging tools via wireline cable or wired CT presents significant reach and pumping limitations in highly deviated or horizontal wells. The combination of a recent downhole module development and the use of lighter CT package equipped with fiber optics addresses these conveyance and operating challenges. The optical telemetry link supports real-time logging without the need for wireline surface equipment, and the new downhole module provides power to a wide range of logging tools, including the power-demanding reservoir saturation tools. The lighter system overcomes weight limitations, and logging can be performed in any type of well profile. The new module significantly increases the voltage output from the downhole source to the logging toolstring, thus enabling the use of power-demanding components that were previously unusable with CT systems. It also extends the downhole operating logging time for traditional production logging tools by up to six times over that of previous methods. As the production of mature fields in Southern Mexico is gradually decreasing and water has become an increasing issue, operators in the area are currently performing major workover operations to rejuvenate the fields. This novel approach enabled acquisition of reservoir saturation data in several wells in which this information could not be acquired previously because of reach limitations. The newly acquired data enabled identification of bypassed hydrocarbons in those wells. With this information, the operator could selectively shut off the water-producing zones while opening new hydrocarbon-bearing ones, thus significantly reducing water production and prolonging the life of the wells. The introduction of the innovative methodology not only significantly broadens the range of logging interventions that can be performed, it also enables accessing reservoir data that, in some cases, have been inaccessible for a long time, and which can be key to the optimization of production management of entire fields.

Aim \ud People with diabetes are at an increased risk of developing depression and other psychological disorders. However little is known about the prevalence, correlates, or care pathways in countries other than the UK and the US. A new study, the International Prevalence and Treatment of Diabetes and Depression (INTERPRET-DD) Study aims to address this dearth of knowledge and identify optimal pathways to care across the globe. \ud \ud Method\ud INTERPRET-DD is a two-year longitudinal study, taking place in 16 countries’ diabetes out-patients facilities, investigating the recognition and management of depressive disorders in people with type 2 diabetes. Clinical interviews are used to diagnose depression, with clinical and other data obtained from medical records and through patient interviews. Pathways to care and the impact of treatment for previously unrecognised depression on clinical outcomes and emotional well-being are being investigated. \ud \ud Results\ud Initial evidence indicates a range of pathways to care exist, with few of these based on available recommendations for treatment. Pilot data indicates that the instruments we are using to measure both symptoms and clinical diagnosis of depression are acceptable in our study population and easy to use.\ud \ud Conclusions \ud Our study will increase the understanding of the impact of co-morbid diabetes and depression and identify the most appropriate (country specific) pathways via which patients receive their care. It addresses an important public health problem and lead to recommendations for best practice relevant to the different participating centres with regard to the identification and treatment of people with co-morbid diabetes and depression.

A previous work introduced a new method for seismic hazard evaluation in a system (a geographic area with distinct, but related seismogenic regions) based on modeling the transition probabilities of states (patterns of presence or absence of seismicity, with magnitude greater or equal to a threshold magnitude M r, in the regions of the system, during a time interval Δt) as a Markov chain. Application of this direct method to the Japan area gave very good results. Given that the most important limitation of the direct method is the relative scarcity of large magnitude events, we decided to explore the possibility that seismicity with magnitude M ≥ M r m contains information about the future occurrence of earthquakes with M M r m > M r m . This mixed Markov chain method estimates the probabilities of occurrence of a system state for M ≥ M r M on the basis of the observed state for M ≥ M r m in the previous Δt. Application of the mixed method to the area of Japan gives better hazard estimations than the direct method; in particular for large earthquakes. As part of this study, the problem of performance evaluation of hazard estimation methods is addressed, leading to the use of grading functions.

Previous works have shown that ground deformation and seismicity in the Cerro Prieto geothermal field (CPGF) are due to both tectonics and field exploitation. Here, we use information about current tectonics and data from precision leveling surveys, to model tectonic and anthropogenic subsidence. Our results show that tectonic subsidence constitutes only ∼4% of the measured subsidence. Anthropogenic subsidence was evaluated using a model of rectangular tensional cracks, based on the hydrological model of the field, together with the Coulomb 2.0 program. From the resulting values of the fissure parameters and from extraction and injection data, we calculate that the volume changes caused by closure of the geothermal and cold water reservoirs account for only ∼3% and ∼7%, respectively, of the volume change which should occur due to extraction. Since 18% of the extracted fluids are reinjected, external recharge must compensate for about 72% of the expected volume reduction. An analysis of the changes in Coulomb stress caused by exploitation of the geothermal field suggest that even though the anthropogenic stresses account for only a fraction of tectonic stresses, they are large enough to trigger seismicity.

Seismogenic regions within some geographic area are interrelated through tectonics and seismic history, although this relation is usually complex, so that seismicity in a given region cannot be predicted in a straightforward manner from the activity in other region(s). We present a new statistical method for seismic hazard evaluation based on modeling the transition probabilities of seismicity patterns in the regions of a geographic area during a time interval, as a Markov chain. Application of the method to the Japan area renders good results, considering the occurrence of a high probability transition as a successful forecast. For magnitudes M≥5.5 and time intervals Δ t=0.10 year, the method yields a 78% aftcast (forecast of data already used to evaluate the hazard) success rate for the entire catalog, and an indicative 80% forecast success rate for the last 10 transitions in the catalog. A byproduct of the method, regional occurrence probabilities determined from the transition probabilities, also provides good results; aftcasts of regional activity have a 98% success rate, and those of activity in the highest probability region about 80.5% success rate. All results are superior to those from the null hypotheses (a memory-less Poissonian, fixed-rate, or uniform system) and have vanishingly small probabilities of resulting from purely random guessing.