scholarly journals Evolution of views on the structure of sources of strong earthquakes at the end of XX and beginning of XXI centuries

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-148
Author(s):  
E. A. Rogozhin

The paper addresses the evolution of scientific views on the structure of the sources of strong earthquakes at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21th century in Russia. The scientific concepts that emerged in the main developed countries initially typically lacked a clear and consistent understanding of the structure of sources of the strongest seismic events. In the 1950s, at the Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth of the USSR Academy of Sciences, G.A. Gamburtsev formulated a hypothesis of a long-term (a few hundred years) stability of seismic regime of a system of seismic sutures. The recently studied earthquakes have their sources in the regions of the large faults. The earthquakes of larger magnitudes have more extended and structurally more complex sources. Some sources in the considered cases are relatively simple to reconstruct (they encompass the fault planes of the large faults, e.g., the Spitak source, M = 6.8). Other sources are more complex; they are formed in the disjunctive nodes or encompass the crustal blocks. For example, the seismic source of the Altai earthquake (M = 7.3) has a volumetric structure and is developed along the boundaries of the large seismogenic blocks. The Wenchuan earthquake (M = 7.9) has a most complicated source which looks as a three-dimensional (3D) structure composed of a few crustal blocks framed by two extended northeast striking faults and separated by the northwesterly trending transverse fault. The structurally different sources differently manifest themselves in the pattern of seismic dislocations on the surface and in the distribution of aftershock hypocenters at depth. The anomalously low velocity “pockets” identified by local seismic tomography in the source areas of the Spitak and Altai earthquakes which accompany the main and secondary faults at depth are likely to be the zones of dynamic control of these faults. The breaked near-fault zones abundant with cracks and fractures are the severely looze inclusions in the crustal rocks hampering the propagation of seismic waves. Therefore, the P-waves in these pockets propagate at lower velocities than in the undamaged geological medium. The paleoseismological studies of seismic faults in trenches have shown that the strong earthquakes have occurred in the same sources in the past and the recurrence period of the strongest seismic events ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand years. Thus, the combined studies of the source zones of the strongest earthquakes conducted in the past decades in the different regions of Eurasia have shown that Gamburtsev’s hypothesis has remained relevant.

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (03) ◽  
pp. 324-334
Author(s):  
Gautam Biswas

Abstract Reconstruction of the complex anatomy and aesthetics of the midface is often a challenge. A careful understanding of this three-dimensional (3D) structure is necessary. Anticipating the extent of excision and its planning following oncological resections is critical.In the past over two decades, with the advances in microsurgical procedures, contributions toward the reconstruction of this area have generated interest. Planning using digital imaging, 3D printed models, osseointegrated implants, and low-profile plates, has favorably impacted the outcome. However, there are still controversies in the management: to use single composite tissues versus multiple tissues; implants versus autografts; vascularized versus nonvascularized bone; prosthesis versus reconstruction.This article explores the present available options in maxillary reconstruction and outlines the approach in the management garnered from past publications and experiences.


2014 ◽  
Vol 501-504 ◽  
pp. 1447-1452
Author(s):  
Yan Yan Yu ◽  
Qi Fang Liu

Seismic response of the Shidian basin to moderate scenario earthquake is investigated considering 3D basin model incorporated with real topography by using the spectral-element method and parallel computing technique. The wave propagation process, the generation of surface wave, and the impact of soil deposits velocity to the basin-induced surface wave are studied in this paper. The results show that the amplification behavior of the basin is the interactions of basin geometry and low velocity soil deposits. First, locally small hollows in the basin are apt to trap seismic waves and produce much stronger ground motion, basin edge and areas with deep sediments are also characterized with large amplification. Then, basin with softer soil deposits produces stronger surface waves with lower propagation velocity and higher mode.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela de los Angeles Gonzalez de Lucio ◽  
Claudia Finger ◽  
Erik Saenger

<p>The Ruhr district meets the necessary elements to carry out geothermal projects due to its geothermal potential and demand, as it is a densely populated industrial area. Currently, there are projects for direct use, whereas projects for electricity generation are planned. The latter, due to greater depths, reservoir enhancement techniques are required in some cases. This may increase the associated seismic risk which should be elaborated in detail.</p><p>With available data, a three-dimensional geological and structural model was created. The shallower parts have been widely studied and documented by mining activity in the Ruhr region during the last century.  Below a depth of 1 km, data are scarce, and uncertainties increase. The full elastic wavefield emitted by a realistic seismic source has been simulated using a finite differences scheme and the derived geological model. The elastic properties were estimated with well data. The source has common characteristics of real seismic events in the area.</p><p>The wave propagation simulations let us analyze the seismic response with different sources and velocities models. Three cases are considered, two seismic events with distinct depths based on real events. The third case is based on the proposed location of a deep geothermal project.</p><p>Especially for the case with the deeper source, the areas with relatively high amplitudes of displacement correlated with structural features of the model. Applying the imaging condition of maximum energy density allows us to define zones with a potentially increased seismic risk that should be monitored more closely.</p>


Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-49
Author(s):  
Aleksei Titov ◽  
Gary Binder ◽  
Youfang Liu ◽  
Ge Jin ◽  
James Simmons ◽  
...  

Optimization of well spacings and completions are key topics in research related to the development of unconventional reservoirs. In 2017, a vertical seismic profiling (VSP) survey using fiber-optic-based distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology was acquired. The data include a series of VSP surveys taken before and immediately following the hydraulic fracturing of each of 78 stages. Scattered seismic waves associated with hydraulic fractures are observed in the seismic waveforms. Kinematic traveltime analysis and full-wavefield modeling results indicate these scattered events are converted PS-waves. We tested three different models of fracture-induced velocity inhomogeneities that can cause scattering of seismic waves: single hydraulic fracture, low-velocity zone, and tip diffractors. We compare the results with the field observations and conclude that the low-velocity zone model has the best fit for the data. In this model, the low-velocity zone represents a stimulated rock volume (SRV). We propose a new approach that uses PS-waves converted by SRV to estimate the half-height of the SRV and the closure time of hydraulic fractures. This active seismic source approach has the potential for cost-effective real-time monitoring of hydraulic fracturing operations and can provide critical constraints on the optimization of unconventional field development.


2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (6) ◽  
pp. 1135-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREA BROGI ◽  
ENRICO CAPEZZUOLI

AbstractThe role of travertine fissure-ridges in reconstructing tectonics and related earthquakes is a challenging issue of recent debate directed at delineating historical/prehistorical seismic records. Indeed, direct measurements on a travertine fissure-ridge immediately after a seismic event have never been previously performed. We describe the co- and post-seismic effects of a M = 3.6 earthquake on fluid flow and travertine deposition in a geothermal area of Tuscany (Italy). Direct observation allows us to demonstrate that thermal spring (re)activation is directly influenced by transient seismic waves, therefore providing a basis for reconstructing seismic events in the past.


Author(s):  
Jerome J. Paulin

Within the past decade it has become apparent that HVEM offers the biologist a means to explore the three-dimensional structure of cells and/or organelles. Stereo-imaging of thick sections (e.g. 0.25-10 μm) not only reveals anatomical features of cellular components, but also reduces errors of interpretation associated with overlap of structures seen in thick sections. Concomitant with stereo-imaging techniques conventional serial Sectioning methods developed with thin sections have been adopted to serial thick sections (≥ 0.25 μm). Three-dimensional reconstructions of the chondriome of several species of trypanosomatid flagellates have been made from tracings of mitochondrial profiles on cellulose acetate sheets. The sheets are flooded with acetone, gluing them together, and the model sawed from the composite and redrawn.The extensive mitochondrial reticulum can be seen in consecutive thick sections of (0.25 μm thick) Crithidia fasciculata (Figs. 1-2). Profiles of the mitochondrion are distinguishable from the anterior apex of the cell (small arrow, Fig. 1) to the posterior pole (small arrow, Fig. 2).


Author(s):  
J. Frank ◽  
B. F. McEwen ◽  
M. Radermacher ◽  
C. L. Rieder

The tomographic reconstruction from multiple projections of cellular components, within a thick section, offers a way of visualizing and quantifying their three-dimensional (3D) structure. However, asymmetric objects require as many views from the widest tilt range as possible; otherwise the reconstruction may be uninterpretable. Even if not for geometric obstructions, the increasing pathway of electrons, as the tilt angle is increased, poses the ultimate upper limitation to the projection range. With the maximum tilt angle being fixed, the only way to improve the faithfulness of the reconstruction is by changing the mode of the tilting from single-axis to conical; a point within the object projected with a tilt angle of 60° and a full 360° azimuthal range is then reconstructed as a slightly elliptic (axis ratio 1.2 : 1) sphere.


Author(s):  
Jaap Brink ◽  
Wah Chiu

The crotoxin complex is a potent neurotoxin composed of a basic subunit (Mr = 12,000) and an acidic subunit (M = 10,000). The basic subunit possesses phospholipase activity whereas the acidic subunit shows no enzymatic activity at all. The complex's toxocity is expressed both pre- and post-synaptically. The crotoxin complex forms thin crystals suitable for electron crystallography. The crystals diffract up to 0.16 nm in the microscope, whereas images show reflections out to 0.39 nm2. Ultimate goal in this study is to obtain a three-dimensional (3D-) structure map of the protein around 0.3 nm resolution. Use of 100 keV electrons in this is limited; the unit cell's height c of 25.6 nm causes problems associated with multiple scattering, radiation damage, limited depth of field and a more pronounced Ewald sphere curvature. In general, they lead to projections of the unit cell, which at the desired resolution, cannot be interpreted following the weak-phase approximation. Circumventing this problem is possible through the use of 400 keV electrons. Although the overall contrast is lowered due to a smaller scattering cross-section, the signal-to-noise ratio of especially higher order reflections will improve due to a smaller contribution of inelastic scattering. We report here our preliminary results demonstrating the feasability of the data collection procedure at 400 kV.Crystals of crotoxin complex were prepared on carbon-covered holey-carbon films, quench frozen in liquid ethane, inserted into a Gatan 626 holder, transferred into a JEOL 4000EX electron microscope equipped with a pair of anticontaminators operating at −184°C and examined under low-dose conditions. Selected area electron diffraction patterns (EDP's) and images of the crystals were recorded at 400 kV and −167°C with dose levels of 5 and 9.5 electrons/Å, respectively.


Author(s):  
Jose-Maria Carazo ◽  
I. Benavides ◽  
S. Marco ◽  
J.L. Carrascosa ◽  
E.L. Zapata

Obtaining the three-dimensional (3D) structure of negatively stained biological specimens at a resolution of, typically, 2 - 4 nm is becoming a relatively common practice in an increasing number of laboratories. A combination of new conceptual approaches, new software tools, and faster computers have made this situation possible. However, all these 3D reconstruction processes are quite computer intensive, and the middle term future is full of suggestions entailing an even greater need of computing power. Up to now all published 3D reconstructions in this field have been performed on conventional (sequential) computers, but it is a fact that new parallel computer architectures represent the potential of order-of-magnitude increases in computing power and should, therefore, be considered for their possible application in the most computing intensive tasks.We have studied both shared-memory-based computer architectures, like the BBN Butterfly, and local-memory-based architectures, mainly hypercubes implemented on transputers, where we have used the algorithmic mapping method proposed by Zapata el at. In this work we have developed the basic software tools needed to obtain a 3D reconstruction from non-crystalline specimens (“single particles”) using the so-called Random Conical Tilt Series Method. We start from a pair of images presenting the same field, first tilted (by ≃55°) and then untilted. It is then assumed that we can supply the system with the image of the particle we are looking for (ideally, a 2D average from a previous study) and with a matrix describing the geometrical relationships between the tilted and untilted fields (this step is now accomplished by interactively marking a few pairs of corresponding features in the two fields). From here on the 3D reconstruction process may be run automatically.


2020 ◽  
pp. 49-57
Author(s):  
S. V. Orlova ◽  
E. A. Nikitina ◽  
L. I. Karushina ◽  
Yu. A. Pigaryova ◽  
O. E. Pronina

Vitamin A (retinol) is one of the key elements for regulating the immune response and controls the division and differentiation of epithelial cells of the mucous membranes of the bronchopulmonary system, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, eyes, etc. Its significance in the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic is difficult to overestimate. However, a number of studies conducted in the past have associated the additional intake of vitamin A with an increased risk of developing cancer, as a result of which vitamin A was practically excluded from therapeutic practice in developed countries. Our review highlights the role of vitamin A in maintaining human health and the latest data on its effect on the development mechanisms of somatic pathology.


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