Mapping long-period soil resonances in the Kathmandu basin using microtremors

This study reports the geostatistical analysis of a set of 40 single-station horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) passive seismic survey data collected in the Kathmandu basin (Nepal). The Kathmandu basin is characterized by a heterogeneous sedimentary cover and by a complex geo-structural setting, inducing a high spatial variability of the bedrock depth. Due to the complex geological setting, the interpretation and analysis of soil resonance periods derived from the HVSR surveys is challenging, both from the perspective of bedrock depth estimation as well as of seismic-site effects characterization. To exploit the available information, the HVSR data are analyzed by means of a geostatistical approach. First, the spatial continuity structure of HVSR data is investigated and interpreted taking into consideration the geological setting and available stratigraphic and seismic information. Then, the exploitation of potential auxiliary variables, based on surface morphology and distance from outcropping bedrock, is evaluated. Finally, the mapping of HVSR resonance periods, together with the evaluation of interpolation uncertainty, is obtained by means of kriging with external drift interpolation. This work contributes to the characterization of local seismic response of the Kathmandu basin. The resulting map of soil resonance periods is compatible with the results of preceding studies and it is characterized by a high spatial variability, even in areas with a deep bedrock and long resonance periods

Informática para a terceira idade – características de um curso bem sucedido

The increase in life expectancy of humans brings new demands, particularly in the areas of health, in which actions must be planned to ensure a healthy elderly ageing. Among these are the actions that stimulate mental and social activities of the individual, slowing the degenerative processes of the mind and depression due to isolation. In this sense, computer courses have been of great importance to this age group, providing both benefits. However, activities geared to call elderly should be specific to it, so as to meet their needs without causing discomfort and/or feelings of failure. This article reports a study that is being developed in a course in basic computing for the elderly, offered at the Chemistry Institute at UNESP, Araraquara campus whose proposal is to focus in its planning and development, the peculiarities of the elderly. Therefore, the methodology adopted for the teaching-learning is different and the material is adequately prepared for the course.El aumento de la expectativa de vida de los seres humanos acarreta nuevas necesidades, especialmente en las áreas de salud, cuyas acciones deben estar previstas con el propósito de garantizar al anciano un envejecimiento saludable. Entre estas acciones estan las que estimulan las actividades mentales y sociales del individuo, retardando los procesos degenerativos y depresivos de la mente, que son resultados del aislamiento. En este sentido los cursos de imformática han sido de gran importancia para esa faja de edad,proporcionando benefícios en ambos lados de la actividad individual.Aún más, las actividades dirigidas especialmente para la tercera edad deben ser bastante específicas, visando atender a las necesidades, sin causar deconfort o sensación de incapacidad. Este articulo relata un trabajo desarrollado en un curso de informática Básica para la Tercera Edad, ofrecido por el Instituto de Química de la UNESP Campus de Araraquara, cuya propuesta visa en su plan el desarrollo peculiar del idoso. Asi, la metodología adoptada en el proceso de enseñanza -aprendizaje es diferenciada como también el material adecuado para el curso.O aumento da expectativa de vida dos seres humanos traz consigo novas demandas, especialmente nas áreas da saúde, na qual devem estar previstas ações no sentido de garantir ao idoso um envelhecimento saudável. Entre estas ações estão as que estimulam as atividades mentais e sociais do indivíduo, retardando os processos degenerativos e os depressivos da mente, resultantes do isolamento. Neste sentido, os cursos de informática têm sido de grande relevância para esta faixa etária, proporcionando benefícios aos dois âmbitos de atividade do indivíduo. Todavia, as atividades voltadas para a chamada terceira idade devem ser específicas para ela, de modo a atender às suas necessidades sem causar desconforto e/ou sensação de incapacidade. Este artigo relata um trabalho que vem sendo desenvolvido em um curso de Informática Básica para a Terceira Idade, oferecido no Instituto de Química da UNESP, campus de Araraquara, cuja proposta é focar, no seu planejamento e desenvolvimento, as peculiaridades do idoso. Assim, a metodologia adotada para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem é diferenciada e o material é adequadamente preparado para o curso

Informática para a terceira idade – características de um curso bem sucedido

The increase in life expectancy of humans brings new demands, particularly in the areas of health, in which actions must be planned to ensure a healthy elderly ageing. Among these are the actions that stimulate mental and social activities of the individual, slowing the degenerative processes of the mind and depression due to isolation. In this sense, computer courses have been of great importance to this age group, providing both benefits. However, activities geared to call elderly should be specific to it, so as to meet their needs without causing discomfort and/or feelings of failure. This article reports a study that is being developed in a course in basic computing for the elderly, offered at the Chemistry Institute at UNESP, Araraquara campus whose proposal is to focus in its planning and development, the peculiarities of the elderly. Therefore, the methodology adopted for the teaching-learning is different and the material is adequately prepared for the course.El aumento de la expectativa de vida de los seres humanos acarreta nuevas necesidades, especialmente en las áreas de salud, cuyas acciones deben estar previstas con el propósito de garantizar al anciano un envejecimiento saludable. Entre estas acciones estan las que estimulan las actividades mentales y sociales del individuo, retardando los procesos degenerativos y depresivos de la mente, que son resultados del aislamiento. En este sentido los cursos de imformática han sido de gran importancia para esa faja de edad,proporcionando benefícios en ambos lados de la actividad individual.Aún más, las actividades dirigidas especialmente para la tercera edad deben ser bastante específicas, visando atender a las necesidades, sin causar deconfort o sensación de incapacidad. Este articulo relata un trabajo desarrollado en un curso de informática Básica para la Tercera Edad, ofrecido por el Instituto de Química de la UNESP Campus de Araraquara, cuya propuesta visa en su plan el desarrollo peculiar del idoso. Asi, la metodología adoptada en el proceso de enseñanza -aprendizaje es diferenciada como también el material adecuado para el curso.O aumento da expectativa de vida dos seres humanos traz consigo novas demandas, especialmente nas áreas da saúde, na qual devem estar previstas ações no sentido de garantir ao idoso um envelhecimento saudável. Entre estas ações estão as que estimulam as atividades mentais e sociais do indivíduo, retardando os processos degenerativos e os depressivos da mente, resultantes do isolamento. Neste sentido, os cursos de informática têm sido de grande relevância para esta faixa etária, proporcionando benefícios aos dois âmbitos de atividade do indivíduo. Todavia, as atividades voltadas para a chamada terceira idade devem ser específicas para ela, de modo a atender às suas necessidades sem causar desconforto e/ou sensação de incapacidade. Este artigo relata um trabalho que vem sendo desenvolvido em um curso de Informática Básica para a Terceira Idade, oferecido no Instituto de Química da UNESP, campus de Araraquara, cuja proposta é focar, no seu planejamento e desenvolvimento, as peculiaridades do idoso. Assim, a metodologia adotada para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem é diferenciada e o material é adequadamente preparado para o curso

The leading digit distribution of the worldwide Illicit Financial Flows

Benford's law states that in data sets from different phenomena leading digits tend to be distributed logarithmically such that the numbers beginning with smaller digits occur more often than those with larger ones. Particularly, the law is known to hold for different types of financial data. The Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) exiting the developing countries are frequently discussed as hidden resources which could have been otherwise properly utilized for their development. We investigate here the distribution of the leading digits in the recent data on estimates of IFFs to look for the existence of a pattern as predicted by Benford's law and establish that the frequency of occurrence of the leading digits in these estimates does closely follow the law.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figures, 6 tables, additional data analyi

Failure of Marmolada Glacier (Dolomites, Italy) in 2022: data-based back analysis of possible collapse mechanisms

A small, isolated portion of Marmolada Glacier broke off on 3 July 2022. The detached ice mass had an estimated volume of 70 400 m3 and slid down the slope, killing 11 mountaineers after having traveled for approximately 2.3 km along the northern slope. This event is considered among the deadliest ice avalanches historically recorded in the Alps. The unusually high air temperatures in late spring and early summer of that year led to an excess of meltwater, which, since mid-June, had overpressurized the englacial discharge network, partly blocked due to frozen conditions at its base. Ice temperature, subglacial permafrost and heat exchange from meltwater were among the primary factors controlling the thermal state of the sliding surface. The cause of the collapse was investigated by exploiting a conceptual model that was further corroborated through simplified numerical simulations using the limit equilibrium method. Pre- and post-failure satellite and aerial images, laser mapping, and geophysics and morpho-climatic data were gathered in a comprehensive database and analyzed to better understand the role and interaction of the predisposing and triggering factors as well as their mutual interaction. Particular attention was given to reconstructing the varying conditions of the failure surface, which developed partly along ice foliations near the glacieret's base and partly right at the ice–bedrock interface. An earthquake triggering the failure was excluded based on the processing of the available seismological observations. It transpired that none of the three forces considered in the numerical analysis – namely, hydrostatic pressure in crevasses, hydraulic jacking and basal friction reduction – individually caused the condition of instability. To reach this condition, it was necessary to invoke a combination of these actions, for which it was finally possible to estimate their relative weights.</p

Benford's law predicted digit distribution of aggregated income taxes: the surprising conformity of Italian cities and regions

The yearly aggregated tax income data of all, more than 8000, Italian municipalities are analyzed for a period of five years, from 2007 to 2011, to search for conformity or not with Benford's law, a counter-intuitive phenomenon observed in large tabulated data where the occurrence of numbers having smaller initial digits is more favored than those with larger digits. This is done in anticipation that large deviations from Benford's law will be found in view of tax evasion supposedly being widespread across Italy. Contrary to expectations, we show that the overall tax income data for all these years is in excellent agreement with Benford's law. Furthermore, we also analyze the data of Calabria, Campania and Sicily, the three Italian regions known for strong presence of mafia, to see if there are any marked deviations from Benford's law. Again, we find that all yearly data sets for Calabria and Sicily agree with Benford's law whereas only the 2007 and 2008 yearly data show departures from the law for Campania. These results are again surprising in view of underground and illegal nature of economic activities of mafia which significantly contribute to tax evasion. Some hypothesis for the found conformity is presented.Comment: 18 pages, 5 tables, 4 figures, 61 references, To appear in European Physical Journal