scholarly journals Analysis of the local lithospheric magnetic activity before and after Panzhihua <i>M</i><sub>w</sub> = 6.0 earthquake (30 August 2008, China)

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 3171-3180 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Dudkin ◽  
V. Korepanov ◽  
D. Yang ◽  
Q. Li ◽  
O. Leontyeva

Abstract. Lithospheric ultra low frequency (ULF) magnetic activity is recently considered as a very promising candidate for application to short-time earthquake forecasting. However the intensity of the ULF lithospheric magnetic field is very weak and often masked by much stronger ionospheric and magnetospheric signals. The study of pre-earthquake magnetic activity before the occurrence of a strong earthquake is a very hard problem which consists of the identification and localization of the weak signal sources in earthquake hazardous areas of the Earth's crust. For the separation and localization of such sources, we used a new polarization ellipse technique (Dudkin et al., 2010) to process data acquired from fluxgate magnetometers installed in the Sichuan province, China. Sichuan is the region of the strongest seismic activity on the territory of China. During the last century, about 40 earthquakes with magnitude M ≥ 6.5 happened here in close proximity to heavy populated zones. The Panzhihua earthquake Mw = 6.0 happened in the southern part of Sichuan province on 30 August 2008 at 8:30:52 UT. The earthquake hypocentre was located at 10 km depth. During the period 30–31 August – the beginning of September 2008, many clustered aftershocks with magnitudes of up to 5.6 occurred near the earthquake epicentre. The data from three fluxgate magnetometers (belonged to China magnetometer network and placed near to the clustered earthquakes at a distance of 10–55 km from main shock epicenter) have been processed. The separation between the magnetometers was in the range of 40–65 km. The analysis of a local lithospheric magnetic activity during the period of January–December 2008 and a possible source structure have been presented in this paper.

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsien-Tsai Wu ◽  
Hong-Ruei Chen ◽  
Wen-Yao Pan ◽  
Cyuan-Cin Liu ◽  
Mao-Chang Su ◽  
...  

Studies regarding the effects of short-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy are not sufficient. A total of 35 patients with moderate to severe untreated OSA were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 comprised 22 patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) for one night, and Group 2 comprised 13 patients who received PSG combined with CPAP therapy. To evaluate the influence of receiving CPAP therapy for one night, we measured 5 min wrist pulse signals before and after the experiment to assess heart rate variability, as well as novel short time multiscale entropy (sMSE) indicator that examines complexity in physiological signals. The results show that the participants in Group 1 exhibited significant changes in normalized low-frequency power/normalized high-frequency power (nLF/nHF) (0.72 ± 0.09 versus 1.11 ± 0.11,P=0.006) values before and after the PSG study. By contrast, the participants in Group 2 showed no significant changes in the 3 indicators. Regarding the sMSE indicator, Group 2 patients exhibited significant increases in the sMSE. CPAP therapy administered for one night can reduce the sympathovagal imbalance in patients with moderate to severe untreated OSA and increase the complexity of the patient’s physiological system, thereby reflecting their overall improved health.


2008 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yolanda A. Métrailler ◽  
Ester Reijnen ◽  
Cornelia Kneser ◽  
Klaus Opwis

This study compared individuals with pairs in a scientific problem-solving task. Participants interacted with a virtual psychological laboratory called Virtue to reason about a visual search theory. To this end, they created hypotheses, designed experiments, and analyzed and interpreted the results of their experiments in order to discover which of five possible factors affected the visual search process. Before and after their interaction with Virtue, participants took a test measuring theoretical and methodological knowledge. In addition, process data reflecting participants’ experimental activities and verbal data were collected. The results showed a significant but equal increase in knowledge for both groups. We found differences between individuals and pairs in the evaluation of hypotheses in the process data, and in descriptive and explanatory statements in the verbal data. Interacting with Virtue helped all students improve their domain-specific and domain-general psychological knowledge.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1289-1293
Author(s):  
Oana Mihai ◽  
Octav Pantea ◽  
Daniela Roxana Popovici ◽  
Catalina Gabriela Gheorghe

The present work aims with the evaluation of copper, manganese and zinc concentrations (mobile forms) from vineyard soil before and after phytosanitary treatment with Curzate Manox and Dithane M-45 compounds, during and after remanence period. Different vineyard soils types were collected at 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm depths. Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) method was used for measurements of the micronutrients. The soil samples were analyzed after 5 and 21 days after treatment application. Since copper is mainly accumulates in the upper layer following fungicidal sprays application, high levels of copper concentrations are obtained. The soil samples exhibits different behavior in terms of manganese and zinc contents. Manganese and zinc levels are classified as medium in the beginning of the experiment (Mn-M0 and Zn-M0), whereas these levels increased in the soil samples (at moments M1- 5 days and M2- 21 days after treatment). This behavior can be due to the Mancozeb decomposition, knowing that Mancozeb decomposes in the pH range 5-9 and it remains short time into the soil.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1754
Author(s):  
Anlaug Ådland Hansen ◽  
Solveig Langsrud ◽  
Ingunn Berget ◽  
Mari Øvrum Gaarder ◽  
Birgitte Moen

Improved quality control and prolonged shelf life are important actions in preventing food waste. To get an overview of the bacterial diversity of fillets from live stored mature Atlantic cod, bacterial isolates were identified before and after storage (air and vacuum) and freezing/thawing. Based on the load of dominating bacteria, the effect of different packaging methods and a short freezing/thawing process on prolonged shelf-life was evaluated (total viable counts, bacteriota, sensory attributes, and volatile components). Hand filleted (strict hygiene) cod fillets had a low initial bacterial load dominated by the spoilage organism Photobacterium, whereas industrially produced fillets had higher bacterial loads and diversity (Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Psychrobacter, Shewanella). The identified bacteria after storage in vacuum or air were similar to the initially identified bacteria. Bacteriota analysis showed that a short time freezing/thawing process reduced Photobacterium while modified atmosphere packaging (MAP; 60%CO2/40%O2 or 60%CO2/40%N2) inhibited the growth of important spoilage bacteria (Photobacterium, Shewanella, Pseudomonas) and allowed the growth of Carnobacterium/Carnobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter. Despite being dominated by Photobacterium, fresh fillets stored in MAP 60%CO2/40%N2 demonstrated better sensory quality after 13 days of storage than fillets stored in MAP 60%CO2/40%O2 (dominated by Carnobacterium/Carnobacteriaceae). Carnobacterium spp. or other members of Carnobacteriaceae may therefore be potential spoilage organisms in cod when other spoilage bacteria are reduced or inhibited.


1999 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 1337-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart A. Binder-Macleod ◽  
David W. Russ

No comparison of the amount of low-frequency fatigue (LFF) produced by different activation frequencies exists, although frequencies ranging from 10 to 100 Hz have been used to induce LFF. The quadriceps femoris of 11 healthy subjects were tested in 5 separate sessions. In each session, the force-generating ability of the muscle was tested before and after fatigue and at 2, ∼13, and ∼38 min of recovery. Brief (6-pulse), constant-frequency trains of 9.1, 14.3, 33.3, and 100 Hz and a 6-pulse, variable-frequency train with a mean frequency of 14.3 Hz were delivered at 1 train/s to induce fatigue. Immediately postfatigue, there was a significant effect of fatiguing protocol frequency. Muscles exhibited greater LFF after stimulation with the 9.1-, 14.3-, and variable-frequency trains. These three trains also produced the greatest mean force-time integrals during the fatigue test. At 2, ∼13, and ∼38 min of recovery, however, the LFF produced was independent of the fatiguing protocol frequency. The findings are consistent with theories suggesting two independent mechanisms behind LFF and may help identify the optimal activation pattern when functional electrical stimulation is used.


1991 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-239
Author(s):  
G. Cheron

This study was intended to test the adaptive plasticity of the vestibulo-ocular reflex before and after either a midsagittal or parasagittal incision in the brainstem. Eye movements were measured with the electromagnetic search coil technique during the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VORD) in the dark, the optokinetic reflex (OKN), and the visuo-vestibular adaptive training procedure. Two types of visual-vestibular combined stimulation were applied by means of low frequency stimuli (0.05 to 0.10 Hz). In order to increase or decrease the VORD gain, the optokinetic drum was oscillated either 180∘ out-of-phase or in-phase with the vestibular stimulus turntable. This “training” procedure was applied for 4 hours. Initial measurements of the VORD were normal with a mean gain value of 0.92 ± 0.08. After 4 hours of “training” with the out-of-phase condition (180∘), VORD gain reached mean values of 1.33 ± 0.11 (n = 6 cats). In the in-phase combination, the mean VORD gain decreased from 1.0 to 0.63 ± 0.02 (n = 2 cats). No significant change of VORD phase was found in any of the cats. Midsagittal or parasagittal pontomedullary brainstem incisions were performed in 4 cats. Recovery of the VOR was tested on the 2nd, 7th, and 30th day after operation. After the 30th day, recovery of the VORD gain stabilized at about 66% of the initial preoperative value. At this stage of the recovery, the optokinetic response (OKN) of the midsagittal-Iesioned cats was practically normal: in the parasagittal-Jesioned cats, the postoperative OKN responses were asymmetric. After stabilization of recovery, lesioned cats were trained with the same adaptation procedure. Although the direct effect of the visuo-vestibular combined stimulation during the training was still operative in all lesioned cats, the adaptive plasticity was completely abolished by the lesions. These results suggest that the commissural brainstem network may play a crucial role in the acquisition of the forced VOR adaptation.


2005 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 965-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Holliday ◽  
K. Z. Nanjo ◽  
K. F. Tiampo ◽  
J. B. Rundle ◽  
D. L. Turcotte

Abstract. No proven method is currently available for the reliable short time prediction of earthquakes (minutes to months). However, it is possible to make probabilistic hazard assessments for earthquake risk. In this paper we discuss a new approach to earthquake forecasting based on a pattern informatics (PI) method which quantifies temporal variations in seismicity. The output, which is based on an association of small earthquakes with future large earthquakes, is a map of areas in a seismogenic region ("hotspots'') where earthquakes are forecast to occur in a future 10-year time span. This approach has been successfully applied to California, to Japan, and on a worldwide basis. Because a sharp decision threshold is used, these forecasts are binary--an earthquake is forecast either to occur or to not occur. The standard approach to the evaluation of a binary forecast is the use of the relative (or receiver) operating characteristic (ROC) diagram, which is a more restrictive test and less subject to bias than maximum likelihood tests. To test our PI method, we made two types of retrospective forecasts for California. The first is the PI method and the second is a relative intensity (RI) forecast based on the hypothesis that future large earthquakes will occur where most smaller earthquakes have occurred in the recent past. While both retrospective forecasts are for the ten year period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009, we performed an interim analysis 5 years into the forecast. The PI method out performs the RI method under most circumstances.


Author(s):  
Arundhati Goley ◽  
A. Mooventhan ◽  
NK. Manjunath

Abstract Background Hydrotherapeutic applications to the head and spine have shown to improve cardiovascular and autonomic functions. There is lack of study reporting the effect of either neutral spinal bath (NSB) or neutral spinal spray (NSS). Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of both NSB and NSS in healthy volunteers. Methods Thirty healthy subjects were recruited and randomized into either neutral spinal bath group (NSBG) or neutral spinal spray group (NSSG). A single session of NSB, NSS was given for 15 min to the NSBG and NSSG, respectively. Assessments were taken before and after the interventions. Results Results of this study showed a significant reduction in low-frequency (LF) to high-frequency (HF) (LF/HF) ratio of heart rate variability (HRV) spectrum in NSBG compared with NSSG (p=0.026). Within-group analysis of both NSBG and NSSG showed a significant increase in the mean of the intervals between adjacent QRS complexes or the instantaneous heart rate (HR) (RRI) (p=0.002; p=0.009, respectively), along with a significant reduction in HR (p=0.002; p=0.004, respectively). But, a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.037) and pulse pressure (PP) (p=0.017) was observed in NSSG, while a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p=0.008), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) (p=0.008) and LF/HF ratio (p=0.041) was observed in NSBG. Conclusion Results of the study suggest that 15 min of both NSB and NSS might be effective in reducing HR and improving HRV. However, NSS is particularly effective in reducing SBP and PP, while NSB is particularly effective in reducing DBP and MAP along with improving sympathovagal balance in healthy volunteers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (6) ◽  
pp. 2166-2175 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. J. Green ◽  
T. A. Duhamel ◽  
S. Ferth ◽  
G. P. Holloway ◽  
M. M. Thomas ◽  
...  

This study examined the effects of extended sessions of heavy intermittent exercise on quadriceps muscle fatigue and weakness. Twelve untrained volunteers (10 men and 2 women), with a peak oxygen consumption of 44.3 ± 2.3 ml·kg−1·min−1, exercised at ∼91% peak oxygen consumption for 6 min once per hour for 16 h. Muscle isometric properties assessed before and after selected repetitions (R1, R2, R4, R7, R12, and R15) were used to quantitate fatigue (before vs. after repetitions) and weakness (before vs. before repetitions). Muscle fatigue at R1 was indicated by reductions ( P < 0.05) in peak twitch force (135 ± 13 vs. 106 ± 11 N) and by a reduction ( P < 0.05) in the force-frequency response, which ranged between ∼53% at 10 Hz (113 ± 12 vs. 52.6 ± 7.4 N) and ∼17% at 50 Hz (324 ± 27 vs. 270 ± 30 N). No recovery of force, regardless of stimulation frequency, was observed during the 54 min between R1 and R2. At R2 and for all subsequent repetitions, no reduction in force, regardless of stimulation frequency, was generally found after the exercise. The only exception was for R2, where, at 20 Hz, force was reduced ( P < 0.05) by 18%. At R15, force before repetitions for high frequencies (i.e., 100 Hz) returned to R1 (333 ± 29 vs. 324 ± 27 N), whereas force at low frequency (i.e., 10 Hz) was only partially ( P < 0.05) recovered (113 ± 12 vs. 70 ± 6.6 N). It is concluded that multiple sessions of heavy exercise can reverse the fatigue noted early and reduce or eliminate weakness depending on the frequency of stimulation.


1984 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 1742-1748 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Bai ◽  
B. J. Rabinovitch ◽  
R. L. Pardy

Because of its potential relevance to heavy exercise we studied the ventilatory muscle function of five normal subjects before, during, and after shortterm near-maximal voluntary normocapnic hyperpnea. Measurements of pleural and abdominal pressures and diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) during hyperpnea and of maximum respiratory pressures before and after hyperpnea were made at four levels of ventilation: 76, 79, and 86% maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) and at MVV. Measurements of pleural and abdominal pressures and diaphragm electromyogram (EMG) during hyperpnea and of maximum respiratory pressures before and after hyperpnea were made. The pressure-stimulation frequency relationship of the diaphragm obtained by unilateral transcutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation was studied in two subjects before and after hyperpnea. Decreases in maximal inspiratory (PImax) and transdiaphragmatic (Pdimax) strength were recorded posthyperpnea at 76 and 79% MVV. Decreases in the pressure-frequency curves of the diaphragm and the ratio of high-to-low frequency power of the diaphragm EMG occurred in association with decreases in Pdimax. Analysis of the pressure-time product (P X dt) for the inspiratory and expiratory muscles individually indicated the increasing contribution of expiratory muscle force to the attainment of higher levels of ventilation. Demonstrable ventilatory muscle fatigue may limit endurance at high levels of ventilation.


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