Entire Zone Research Articles

Phenotypic diversity of Bordetella pertussis against Trimethoprim/Sulphamethoxazole in vitro tests

BackgroundTrimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), traditionally a second-line drug, is now proposed as the primary alternative treatment for macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis (B.pertussis). Thus, there is an urgent need to evaluate the phenotypic profile of B. pertussis regarding susceptibility to TMP/SMZ. MethodsKirby-Bauer (KB) disk diffusion methods and E-test strips were employed to assess the in vitro susceptibility profiles of 128 B. pertussis strains isolated in China between 2017 and 2022 against TMP/SMZ. Additionally, whole genome sequencing was performed on one strain exhibiting a heterogeneous phenotype. ResultsB. pertussis displayed three phenotypes to TMP/SMZ based on the first 10 days of culture: a predominant fuzzy-bordered phenotype (118/128, 92.2%), a minority with a clear-bordered phenotype (8/128, 6.3%), and a sporadic heterogeneous phenotype (2/128, 1.6%) where TMP/SMZ heterozygous colonies emerged on the 9th day of incubation. The diameter of the inhibition zone around the paper disk will decrease as the culture time extends, while the MIC value will change in the opposite direction. Almost in all tests, the bacterial colony will cover the entire inhibitory zone after 10-14 days of incubation. Strains exhibiting heterogeneity were compared with the complete genomes of Tohama I and CS strains, and 191 and 179 point mutation sites were identified, respectively, with multiple variants associated with the expression of transcriptional regulators. ConclusionThis study highlights the diverse drug sensitivity phenotypes of B. pertussis to TMP/SMZ and the importance of uniform testing protocols. Continuous and dynamic monitoring of B. pertussis isolates for TMP/SMZ sensitivity, along with investigating its correlation with epidemiological changes, is essential for establishing a scientific foundation for the effective management and control of pertussis.

Computation of Particulate Emission Load from Vehicular Traffic on Road Network

The present study on traffic volume monitoring aims to compute total particulate emission load from urban road vehicular traffic and to find average emission factor. An industrial area Pandesara was selected as study area for its commercial and industrial activity, the contribution of public and private vehicle emissions in this area were high. Vehicle emissions include tailpipe emissions and road dust resuspensions. Tailpipe emission was the highest in off- road vehicles even their traffic volume was the least of all. Road dust resuspension due to vehicular speed was highest in 2 wheelers. Road dust resuspension concentrations due to silt fraction was found to be maximum in heavy motor vehicles. Total particulate matters concentrations emitted from vehicles and average emission factor were found to be 251616 gm/hr and 0.79 gm/Veh/Km respectively for entire Pandesara zone. Road dust resuspension plays a significant role in vehicular emission, still having less awareness among people worldwide. Keywords: Particulate Matter, Tailpipe Emission, Traffic Volume, Speed, Road Dust Resuspension, Turbulent Wake Height

Numerical simulation of seismic stress evolution in the Lajishan Fault zone on the northeastern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau

To analyze the triggering relationship of historical earthquakes to the 2023 Jishishan earthquake and estimate the seismic risk in the adjacent region after the earthquake, we calculate the evolution process of seismic stress generated by 11 earthquakes with MS ≥ 6.0 and 1 earthquake with MS5.7 near the source in the past 100 years. The results show that before the 2023 Jishishan earthquake, the entire Lajishan Northern Edge Fault zone was under the stress shadow generated by the 12 earthquakes. The stress reduction at the 2023 Jishishan earthquake epicenter was approximately 15.1 kPa, and the contribution of this stress shadow mainly comes from the 1920 MS8.5 Haiyuan earthquake. The coseismic stress drop at the epicenter was around −292.1 kPa, and the maximum stress drop for the 2023 Jishishan earthquake was around −346.2 kPa. The Jishishan earthquake increased the stress of the two seismic gaps in the Lajishan Northern Edge Fault by 14.7 kPa and 59.7 kPa respectively, the stress on the Lajishan Southern Edge Fault zone increased by 10.9 kPa, and the stress on the east section of Xunhua Nanshan Fault increased by 11.1 kPa. These stress increments potentially elevate the seismic hazard along these fault zones. In the future earthquake prevention and disaster reduction, attention should be paid to the seismic risk of these fault zones.

Coherence of Multidimensional Pair Production Discharges in Polar Caps of Pulsars

We report on the first self-consistent multidimensional particle-in-cell numerical simulations of nonhomogeneous pair discharges in polar caps of rotation-powered pulsars. By introducing strong inhomogeneities in the initial plasma distribution in our simulations, we analyze the degree of self-consistently emerging coherence of discharges across magnetic field lines. In 2D, we study discharge evolution for a wide range of physical parameters and boundary conditions corresponding to both the absent and free escape of charged particles from the surface of a neutron star. We also present the results of the first 3D simulations of discharges in a polar cap with a distribution of the global magnetospheric current appropriate for a pulsar with 60° inclination angle. For all parameters, we find the coherence scale of pair discharges across magnetic field lines to be of the order of the gap height. We also demonstrate that the popular “spark” model of pair discharges is incompatible with the universally adopted force-free magnetosphere model: intermittent discharges fill the entire zone of the polar cap that allows pair cascades, leaving no space for discharge-free regions. Our findings disprove the key assumption of the spark model about the existence of isolated distinct discharge columns.

THE URBAN EVOLUTION OUAD EL HAD: FROM A MINOR URBAN EXTENSION TO AN INFAMOUS AND ILLICIT NEIGHBORHOOD

Informal housing represents a complex phenomenon with far-reaching implications for urban development and social equity, it is characterized by its spontaneous and unauthorized nature, it has emerged as a significant phenomenon in urban areas worldwide and usually arises a multitude of socio-economic challenges such as rapid urbanization, poverty, and as in our case, rural migration, Therefore, understanding the spatial evolution of informal settlements is crucial for designing more equitable and sustainable living environments. That was the case of “Ouad El Had”, a neighborhood that may be considered as one of the focal points in metropolis of Constantine, informal housing started as an extension, an illicit urbanization due to rural-to-urban migration led to the perpetuation of informal settlements on what was in that time the outskirts of city, Nowadays, housing shortages caused the proliferation of informal settlements, those settlements presented a chance to obtain a house in the social housing program given by the government leading it to get repopulated every time and after several attempts to evacuate the entire zone starting from 2012 to this actual day. Our paper offers an in-depth analysis of the spatial and temporal evolution to the informal housing situated in the neighborhood “Cité des Fréres Abbas” (Ouad El Had) and its evolution within urban and social contexts with the objective of understanding the complex case of this neighborhood that led to its repopulation after every evacuation or displacement and identifying the urban model generated of during this process.

Incorporating Effects of Slope Units and Sliding Areas into Seismically Induced Landslide Risk Modeling in Tectonically Active Mountainous Areas

Traditional Newmark models estimate earthquake-induced landslide hazards by calculating permanent displacements exceeding the critical acceleration, which is determined from static factors of safety and hillslope geometries. However, these studies typically predict the potential landslide mass only for the source area, rather than the entire landslide zone, which includes both the source and sliding/depositional areas. In this study, we present a modified Newmark Runout model that incorporates sliding and depositional areas to improve the estimation of landslide chain risks. This model defines the landslide runout as the direction from the source area to the nearest river channel within the same slope unit, simulating natural landslide behavior under gravitational effects, which enables the prediction of the entire landslide zone. We applied the model to a subset of the Minjiang Catchment affected by the 1933 MW 7.3 Diexi Earthquake in China to assess long-term landslide chain risks. The results indicate that the predicted total landslide zone closely matches that of the Xinmo Landslide that occurred on 24 June 2017, despite some uncertainties in the sliding direction caused by the old landslide along the sliding path. Distance-weighted kernel density analysis was used to reduce the prediction uncertainties. The hazard levels of the buildings and roads were determined by the distance to the nearest entire landslide zone, thereby assessing the landslide risk. The landslide dam risks were estimated using the kernel density module for channels blocked by the predicted landslides, modeling intersections of the total landslide zone and the channels. High-risk landslide dam zones spatially correspond to the locations of the knickpoints primarily induced by landslide dams, validating the model’s accuracy. These analyses demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented model for Newmark-based landslide risk estimations, with implications for geohazard chain risk assessments, risk mitigation, and land use planning and management.

Seismic tomography reveals contrasting styles of subduction-channel and mantle-wedge exhumation controlled by upper plate divergent motion

In fossil subduction zones associated with massive exhumation of (ultra)high-pressure ((U)HP) rocks such as the Western Alps, the geometry and behavior of subduction-channel and mantle-wedge rocks during exhumation are still poorly constrained by independent geophysical observations. Here we use a new local earthquake tomography model of the entire fossil subduction zone of the Western Alps based on data collected during the CIFALPS and CIFALPS2 passive seismic experiments, and the first receiver-function profile across the Ligurian Alps, to investigate the styles of subduction-channel and mantle-wedge exhumation as a function of increasing upper-plate divergence motion. In the northern Western Alps (low divergence), a thickened subduction channel can be detected, but no exhumed mantle wedge is found beneath the Gran Paradiso (U)HP dome. In the southern Western Alps (intermediate divergence), an exhumed mantle wedge is detected beneath the Dora-Maira (U)HP dome above a serpentinized subduction channel. In the Ligurian Alps (high divergence), an exhumed mantle wedge and a former subduction channel are detected at much shallower levels beneath the Voltri-Valosio (U)HP dome, and above a shallow-dipping lower-plate Moho. In this latter case, the lower boundary of the exhumed subduction channel is the most evident seismic-velocity interface, which may be easily misinterpreted as a true Moho. Similar Moho-like interfaces are found beneath the exhumed (U)HP domes of eastern Papua New Guinea and the Dabie Shan, which suggests that the results of the CIFALPS experiments may be used as a reference case for the interpretation of other (U)HP terranes worldwide.

Combining mathematical models and machine learning algorithms to predict the future regional-scale actual transpiration by maize

Plants on the land surface play a vital role in the hydrological water cycle as they transport soil water to the atmosphere through transpiration. Root water uptake (RWU) is considered a crucial step in this process as it is the first stage of transpiration, directly determining the actual transpiration (Ta) of plants. However, accurately measuring RWU or Ta in situ poses significant challenges. Here, we establish an overall approach of combining mathematical models and machine learning algorithms to obtain high-precision (500 m×500 m) regional-scale daily Ta maps for various future climate patterns. The Hydrus-1D and AquaCrop models were employed to calculate the total RWU fluxes across the entire root zone, aiming to achieve Ta at a point scale. A machine learning model was developed using the CatBoost algorithm and environmental covariates extracted from the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to upscale these point-scale Ta to the regional scale. Furthermore, a total of 22 CMIP6 Earth System Models (ESMs) were evaluated, and among them, ACCESS-CM2 and ACCESS-ESM1–5 were selected for simulating future climate scenarios. Based on the established machine learning model and selected ESMs, regional-scale Ta maps were generated from 2020 to 2100 for the SSP245 and SSP585 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways) scenarios. The results indicate that near-surface specific humidity, mean near-surface air temperature, latitude, and surface downwelling shortwave radiation are the critical factors influencing regional-scale Ta. As greenhouse gas emissions intensify and temperatures rise, regional-scale Ta is enhanced, leading to an accelerated transfer of soil water to atmospheric water. Under the SSP245 scenario, Ta increases on average by 0.55–1.16 % every 20 years, with its incremental value ranging from 7.14∙10−4 to 8.65∙10−4 cm day−1, while under the SSP585 scenario, Ta increases more significantly, achieving an average increase of 0.64–1.81 % every 20 years, with its incremental value ranging from 1.595∙10−3 to 2.821∙10−3 cm day−1. This study provides a robust integrated approach to assess the future regional-scale Ta providing valuable insights into the underlying water cycle mechanisms and regional water requirements for future climate scenarios.

Utilising Injection Logging Tool: A Case Study of a Well in An Iraqi Oil Field

Injection logging tools (ILT) have long been used in the industry to evaluate well performance and make strategic decisions. This case study validates the application of ILT in diagnosing anomalies and evaluating well-injection performance. An injector in Iraq's southern oil fields has three perforations, each in a different zone (commingled injection). Throughout the ILT job interpretation, at the flow pass analysis, according to the spinner recording, the first zone perforation takes all the injected water confirmed by the temperature sensor. While in the shut-in pass, the temperature sensor detects an anomaly, a cooling effect, on the entire first zone, not just in front of the injection perforation; there is also a cooling effect across the last perforation that is supposed to take nothing based on the spinner record at the flowing pass. Considering the interpretation, the whole first zone was connected vertically, with good rock quality, which made it cold by the effect of injected water. Also, a small amount of injected water goes to the other perforation, less than the value the spinner can detect. The downhole profile confirmed the perforations contribution.

Development of an IoT-Based Device for Data Collection on Sheep and Goat Herding in Silvopastoral Systems.

To evaluate the ecosystem services of silvopastoral systems through grazing activities, an advanced Internet of Things (IoT) framework is introduced for capturing extensive data on the spatial dynamics of sheep and goat grazing. The methodology employed an innovative IoT system, integrating a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) tracker and environmental sensors mounted on the animals to accurately monitor the extent, intensity, and frequency of grazing. The experimental results demonstrated the high performance and robustness of the IoT system, with minimal data loss and significant battery efficiency, validating its suitability for long-term field evaluations. Long Range (LoRa) technology ensured consistent communication over long distances, covering the entire grazing zone and a range of 6 km in open areas. The superior battery performance, enhanced by a solar panel, allowed uninterrupted operation for up to 37 days with 5-min interval acquisitions. The GNSS module provided high-resolution data on movement patterns, with an accuracy of up to 10 m after firmware adjustments. The two-part division of the device ensured it did not rotate on the animals' necks. The system demonstrated adaptability and resilience in various terrains and animal conditions, confirming the viability of IoT-based systems for pasture monitoring and highlighting their potential to improve silvopastoral management, promoting sustainable practices and conservation strategies. This work uniquely focuses on documenting the shepherd's role in the ecosystem, providing a low-cost solution that distinguishes itself from commercial alternatives aimed primarily at real-time flock tracking.

Reduction of Water Consumption for Heating Plant Cooling with an Indirect Cooling System

In order to combat drought, many industrial companies are taking austerity measures in their water management. They are driven not only by economic reasons but also by tightening legislation, directly prohibiting the extraction of water from the environment when a drought is declared. The article deals with the case of a company that operates a heating plant for an industrial zone and the adjacent town. The water source is a river 2.5 km away. In the event of a drought, the company is affected by a ban on river-water extraction, which has a direct impact on the operation of the heating plant and the entire industrial zone, with the current heating-plant cooling system consuming up to 60% of the industrial water. Previous studies have shown the impossibility of installing a dry or hybrid cooling system in the area. A possible economical option is closed-loop cooling. Most of the cooling water is lost by evaporation, the rest by surface blowdown, neither of which occurs in a closed circuit. This paper deals with an alternative closed cooling system using a river and its design parameter calculation, including a comparison of the different options for pipe location and routing.

Compensatory movements in the source zone of the 2023 high-magnitude earthquake swarm in Herat province, Afghanistan

A source of a strong earthquake, as a rule, consists of subsources which are identified by waveform modeling. The modeling does not yield an unambiguous result. In this paper, we present an example when two significantly different focal mechanism solutions are published for the same earthquake: in one solution, the subsources are characterized by a similar type of faulting, while in the other solution, the last subsource has an opposite mechanism. In (Vakarchuk et al., 2013), this discrepancy was interpreted by the realization of a compensatory motion. The compensatory movements are detected not only in the subsources but also at the scale level of the entire source zone, which manifest itself in a certain regularity of the aftershock mechanisms discovered in the study of the 1970 Dagestan earthquake by Kuznetsova et al. (1976). In this paper, perhaps for the first time, compensatory movements are detected in a high-magnitude earthquake swarm without a pronounced main shock, which occurred in 2023 in Herat Province, Afghanistan. The results are supported by a series of seismological and satellite interferometric data.

Structural and stratigraphic history of the southern domain of the Indian Mountain Deformed Zone, southeastern New Brunswick, Canada: Tournaisian (Lower Carboniferous) tectonic ‘pop-up’ and collapse

The southern domain of the Indian Mountain Deformed Zone (IMDZ) in southeastern New Brunswick marks a major right-lateral strike-slip fault belt active during late Tournaisian (Lower Carboniferous) sedimentation. The rocks of the Sussex Group, representing a depositional cycle from subsidence to basin inversion, occupy this zone and lie unconformable on crystalline basement, the latter representing a partially exhumed portion of the adjacent (to the south) buried Westmorland uplift. Deformation is related to early reverse faults/thrusts, later strike-slip faults. and latest normal faults. The Gorge Fault zone in the southern domain of the IMDZ demonstrates many essential features of the entire zone. The offset of The Gorge Fault zone increases to the east. In the west it forms a blind thrust and asymmetric anticline whereas in the east it expands into a reverse fault/thrust complex. A progressive evolution from reverse faults/thrusts to strike-slip fault movement resulted in a tectonic pop-up, culminating in gravitational collapse along normal faults with listric profiles that flatten out within 100–200 metres of the present erosion surface. Megabreccias formed during deposition of the Sussex Group are contemporary with reverse fault/thrusts. The geometry of the various faults is best explained by progressive deformation within an overall right-lateral strike-slip regime under general shear, with early formed features rotating both congruently and incongruently to the main IMDZ boundaries. Further complexity is a consequence of many reverse faults/thrusts and normal faults occurring close to a free surface and the latter a response to gravitational instability of the pop-up structure controlled by topography. A revised stratigraphy for the Sussex Group in the Indian Mountain Deformed Zone and its interpretation is integral to constructing the structural history. Two units, Stilesville Formation and Briggs Cross Formation, are formally defined here.

Magmatic and sedimentological arguments for an Ediacaran active margin in the Bayankhongor Zone in western Mongolia, Central Asian Orogenic Belt

Geochronological and geochemical investigation of the magmatic and sedimentary rocks from the south-eastern tip of the Bayankhongor Zone (central Mongolia) constrains the Neoproterozoic evolution of the northern margin of the Baidrag Block. There, ultramafic to felsic igneous rocks of the Khan-Uul Massif intruded the volcano-sedimentary sequence of the Ulziit Gol Unit. U–Pb zircon ages show that both the plutonic and volcanic rocks were coeval products of the same Ediacaran (598–564 Ma) magmatism. Most of the samples have low contents of high field strength elements typical of arc-related magmas; however, some mafic rock samples display N-MORB-like chemistry. Magmatic rocks in the Khan-Uul Massif and Ulziit Gol Unit yielded exclusively positive initial εHf in zircon values (+4.9 to +13.8), implying derivation from depleted-mantle sources. Furthermore, heterogeneity of the whole-rock initial εNd values (–4.0 to +2.1) documents that fractional crystallization was accompanied by variable crustal contamination. The detrital zircon age patterns of the sandstone and tuffites in the Ulziit Gol Unit indicate that the sequence was filled dominantly by Ediacaran magmatic detritus derived from the Khan-Uul Massif and its volcanic equivalents, while the older cratonic material from the Baidrag basement represented only a subordinate component. Combined magmatic and sedimentary records imply that both the Khan-Uul Massif and the Ulziit Gol Unit may have formed in the same back-arc basin environment. This challenges the previous view that the entire Bayankhongor Zone was ophiolitic in nature. Distribution of coeval Ediacaran supra-subduction systems on the scale of the Mongolian Collage indicates the closure of multiple oceanic basins rimming the Siberian Continent. Following Rodinia break-up, this peri-Siberian realm was presumably formed by sub-parallel continental ribbons and oceanic basins. It is proposed that the amalgamation of these blocks and closure of intervening oceans reflected the Ediacaran advancing mode of the Palaeo-Pacific subduction.

The Role of Spatial Distribution of Geotechnical Soil Parameters in Site Investigation

Abstract The correct investigation of the foundation soil is essential for the optimal and efficient design of any structure. The interaction of a structure with the foundation soil can only be evaluated through the physical and mechanical characteristics of the intercepted geotechnical layers on the entire zone of influence. For this reason, the role of technical documentation that includes and summarizes field investigations and laboratory tests is particularly important. An important and sometimes complicated component in providing useful design information is the division into geotechnical or computational layers. This can be done at different levels, starting from the physical characteristics such as color, grain size distribution, plasticity and consistency and can continue with the evaluation of the mechanical characteristics of compressibility and shear strength. The aim of the paper is to create a graphical representation of the geotechnical parameters using a spatial interpolation technique (Kriging method). The creation of 2D maps using SURFER software assists geotechnical engineers in the correct interpretation of the geotechnical parameters. This interpolation technique for division into layers is also useful in quarries and borrows pits, when soil is used as construction material.

Abrasion and dental pulp morphological changes in occlusal dysfunction.

The authors set out to assess if the presence and the degree of severity of the abrasion, as a consequence of the occlusal dysfunction, determine further morphological changes in the dental pulp. Study group included teeth dental pulp from 45 cases with occlusal dysfunction, subsequently divided into two subgroups: 24 cases with abrasion (AB) and 21 cases without abrasion (NONAB). The set of morphological parameters of dental pulp were thicknesses of the outer layer, inner layer and entire peripheral pulp zone, the presence of pulpal calcifications and their extent within the dental pulp, the presence of interstitial fibrosis and its extent within the dental pulp and the vascular density (VD) of pulpal capillary network. Tissue samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned off at 4 μm. Serial slides were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE), Masson's trichrome (MT) and anti-cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34) antibodies labeled with 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine (DAB) and transformed into virtual slides on which the above-mentioned parameters were studied comparatively with the help of a dedicated in-house software, realized in MATLAB (MathWorks, USA). The numerical values of the assessed parameters were also stratified in classes, thus obtaining score scales for each parameter. Statistical tools used were Lilliefors test, t-test (two-sample assuming equal variances), Mann-Whitney test, Pearson's correlation test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and χ² (chi-squared) test. Both peripheral zone (PZ) and its layers individually tended to be thicker in the teeth with abrasion than in those without abrasion. Also, teeth with abrasion tended to develop larger amounts of calcium deposits in their dental pulp than teeth without abrasion. On the other hand, fibrotic tissue in dental pulp had no relationship with the presence or absence of abrasion. PZ as a whole and its layers evolved together in the same way, with a stronger correlation in the group of teeth without abrasion. Deposits of calcium evolved in the opposite direction to both the amount of fibrous tissue and the capillaries density of the dental pulp. Consequently, the amount of fibrous tissue and VD evolved together in the same way, more pronounced in the teeth without abrasion. Our preliminary study pointed out that different components of the dental pulp showed slight to moderate changes depending on the degree of abrasion in teeth with occlusal dysfunction.

The Effect of Pollutantmigration on the Environmental Situation in the Zone of Chemical Weaponinfluence

The article is devoted to the issues of monitoring the environment state in the influence zone of chemically hazardous objects on the example of the environmental monitoring system of a chemical weapons storage and destruction facility (CWDF) in the city of Kambarka, Udmurt Republic. Among the components there are: production control systems and site monitoring, environmental monitoring and health monitoring, however, it is environment in the zone of the chemical waste disposal facility influence which hasthe largest area and is the most difficult to control. Here, due to large areas, the process of migration of pollutants over considerable distances is observedclearly. The importance of the system for arranging sampling points on the topographic map of the waste disposal facility is shown in order to take into account the process of pollutantmigration. Vertical and horizontal migration of pollutants can lead to the emergence of unobvious local areas of pollutantaccumulation both within and outside the influence zone of the chemical waste disposal facility. A solution to the problem of migration process modeling on a conditionally selected area of the territory within the facility influence zone is presented to show the effect pollutantmigration on the dynamics of the environmental situation within the chemical waste disposal area. It has been proven that within the area under consideration there will be a significant amount of pollutant, which, subject to further evaporation of rainwater runoff, will remain in this area. This indicates the inevitability of the appearance of local areas of pollutantaccumulation in the influence zone of chemically-disposable substances in excess of permissible standards for their concentration, which requires a revision of the arranging sampling pointsystem, taking into account the application of migration processmodeling methods. The need for dynamic observations in individual sites of the area, selected with respect to the analysis results of the pollutantmigration routes within the entire influence zone of the chemically-disposable waste disposal facility, in order to assess the degree of impact of the non-toxic waste disposal facility on the environment, is substantiated.

Multiple Seismic Slip‐Rate Pulses and Mechanical and Textural Evolution of Calcite‐Bearing Fault Gouges

AbstractNatural fault zones are complex, spatially heterogeneous systems. Rock deformation experimental studies simplify the complexity of natural fault zones either as a surface discontinuity between intact rocks (bare‐rock surfaces) or as a few mm‐thick gouge layer. However, depending on the simplified fault type and its slip history, the response to applied deformation can vary. In this work, we conduct laboratory experiments for investigating the evolution of mechanical parameters of simulated faults made of calcite gouge subjected to multiple (four) identical seismic slip‐rate pulses. We observed that, as the number of applied slip‐rate pulses increased, (a) initial friction and steady‐state friction remained approximatively constant, (b) peak friction and normalized strength excess increased and, (c) the slip distances to achieve peak and steady‐state friction, Da and Dc, decreased. The greatest changes occurred between the first and the second slip‐rate pulse. From this pulse onward, the dissipated energy of the calcite gouge fault was similar to those obtained in bare‐rock surfaces experiments. Microstructural analysis showed that, strain is localized in up to two (recrystallized) principal slip zones (PSZ) with sub‐micrometric grain size, surrounded by low porosity sintered and non‐sintered comminuted gouge domains. We conclude that previous seismic slip episodes impact on both the structure and the strain localization processes within a fault, contributing to its shear fabric evolution. We highlight that the strain localization process identifies the PSZ, dissipating the least amount of energy within the entire experimental fault zone.

Effectiveness of the proximal medial branch in DIEP flaps for breast reconstruction using Hartrampf zone IV

BackgroundWhen performing breast reconstruction using a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap, including Hartrampf zone IV, the bipedicled DIEP flap has been argued to be necessary to ensure stable perfusion. However, a proximal medial branch (PMB), which is the most proximal perforator of the deep inferior epigastric artery, may make it possible to obtain adequate perfusion in a unilateral DIEP flap. This study aimed to clarify the detailed anatomical characteristics of PMB and its potential clinical application in breast reconstruction. MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted on breast reconstruction using the DIEP flap between May 2020 and July 2023. Data on PMB anatomy were collected from preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography, and contralateral perfusion of the flap was estimated using intraoperative indocyanine green angiography. ResultsThe PMB was present in approximately 85% of cases, arising near the lateral border of the rectus abdominis, branching caudomedially in over half of the cases, and perforating 2.3cm laterally and 8.8cm caudally on average from the umbilicus. The average perfusion area of both zones II and IV significantly expanded to 96.5% and 74.2%, respectively, when the PMB was included in the DIEP flap, and 9 of 22 cases showed contrast extending to the entire zone IV. ConclusionsThe use of the DIEP flap with PMB is a good option for substantial-volume breast reconstruction. When utilizing the PMB, it is important to consider its specific anatomy, location of the main perforator, and pedicle length.

Analysis Placement of Tsunami Vertical Evacuation Shelters Based on Number and Location (Case Study: Painan City)

Painan City is a city whose part of the area is located on the coast, so it is prone to tsunami disasters. This disaster is unpredictable and can occur at any time. Based on interview data with BPBD South Pesisir Regency, Painan City has 10 shelters ranging from; official shelters, buildings that are multifunctional as shelters, and natural shelters. The purpose of this study is to determine the range of services of the tsunami shelter in Painan City today. The research method used is a quantitative descriptive method. In this study, what was discussed was the evaluation of the number and location of existing shelters, as well as determining the location of planned or additional tsunami shelters, as well as to determine the coverage of areas that can be served by these shelters with the help of GIS applications. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the entire tsunami danger zone area of Painan City could be served by existing shelters, in a span of 26 minutes with a distance of 1,171.56 meters. This means that people in the tsunami danger zone can evacuate safely before the tsunami disaster comes.