Explore the vast range of titles available.

The MITO-END3 trial compared carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) with avelumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel (CPA) as first-line treatment in endometrial cancer (EC) patients and demonstrated a significant interaction between avelumab response and mismatch repair status. To investigate prognostic/predictive biomarker, 29 MITO-END3-EC patients were evaluated at pretreatment (B1) and at the end of CP/CPA treatment (B2) for peripheral myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and Tregs. At B2, effector Tregs frequency was significantly higher in patients treated with CPA as compared to CP ( p  = 0.038). Both treatments (CP/CPA) induced significant decrease in peripheral M-MDSC (− 5.41%) in TCGA 2-MSI-high as compared to TCGA-category 4 tumors ( p  = 0.004). In accordance, both treatments induced M-MDSCs (+ 5.34%) in MSS patients as compared to MSI-high patients ( p  = 0.001). Moreover, in a subgroup of patients, primary tumors were highly infiltrated by M-MDSCs in MSS as compared to MSI-high ECs. A post hoc analysis displayed higher frequency of M-MDSCs ( p  = 0.020) and lower frequency of CD4+ ( p  < 0.005) at pretreatment in EC patients as compared to healthy donors. In conclusion, the peripheral evaluation of MDSCs and Tregs correlated with molecular features in EC treated with CP/CPA and may add insights in identifying EC patients responder to first-line chemo/chemo-immunotherapy. Graphical abstract

In this paper, we tackle the problem of the intensity attenuation at Ischia, a critical parameter in a high seismic risk area such as this volcanic island. Starting from the new revised catalogue of local earthquakes, we select a dataset of 118 macroseismic observations related to the four main historical events and analyse the characteristics of the intensity attenuation according to both the deterministic and probabilistic approaches, under the assumption of a point seismic source and isotropic decay (circular spreading). In the deterministic analysis, we derive the attenuation law through an empirical model fitting the average values of ΔI (the difference between epicentral intensity I 0 and intensities observed at a site I S ) versus the epicentral distances by the least-square method. In the probabilistic approach, the distribution of I S conditioned on the epicentre-site distance is given through a binomial-beta model for each class of I 0 . In the Bayesian framework, the model parameter p is considered as a random variable to which we assign a Beta probability distribution on the basis of our prior belief derived from investigations on the attenuation in Italy. The mode of the binomial distribution is taken as the intensity expected at that site ( I exp ). The entire calculation procedure has been implemented in a python plugin for QGIS ® software that, given location and I 0 (or magnitude) of the earthquake to be simulated, generates a probabilistic seismic scenario according to the deterministic or probabilistic models of attenuation. This tool may be applied in seismic risk analyses at a local scale or in the seismic surveillance to produce real-time intensity shake-maps for this volcanic area.

In this paper we describe the macroseismic effects produced by the long and destructive seismic sequence that hit Central Italy from 24 August 2016 to January 2017. Starting from the procedure adopted in the complex field survey, we discuss the characteristics of the building stock and its classification in terms of EMS-98 as well as the issues associated with the intensity assessment due to the evolution of damage caused by multiple shocks. As a result, macroseismic intensity for about 300 localities has been determined; however, most of the intensities assessed for the earthquakes following the first strong shock on 24 August 2016, represent the cumulative effect of damage during the sequence. The earthquake parameters computed from the macroseismic datasets are compared with the instrumental determinations in order to highlight critical issues related to the assessment of macroseismic parameters of strong earthquakes during a seismic sequence. The results also provide indications on how location and magnitude computation can be strongly biased when dealing with historical seismic sequences.

A preliminary study targeting to evaluate the local seismic response was performed in the eastern flank of Mt. Etna (southern Italy) using ambient noise measurements. The obtained spectral ratios were subdivided through cluster analysis into different classes of fundamental frequency permitting to draw an iso-frequency contour map. The analysis set into evidence the extreme heterogeneity of lava sequences, which makes difficult to identify a single seismic bedrock formation. Another important outcome, concerning the local seismic effects in terms of frequency and azimuth, is the important role played by the fracture fields associated with the main structural systems of the area. The existence of two zones with strong directional effects striking WNW–ESE and NW–SE, nearly orthogonal to the orientation of the main fracture fields, corroborate such hypothesis.

In the framework of the UPStrat-MAFA project, a seismic hazard assessment has been undertaken in the volcanic region of Mt. Etna as a first step in studies aimed at evaluating the risk on an urban scale. The analysis has been carried out with the SASHA code which uses macroseismic data in order to calculate, starting from the site seismic history, the maximum intensity value expected in a given site with a probability of exceedance of 10 % (I ref ), for a fixed exposure time. Depending on the aims of the project, hazard is estimated for local volcano-tectonic seismicity and short exposure times (10 and 30 years), without taking into account the contribution of “regional” events characterized by much longer recurrence times. Results from tasks A, B and D of the project have produced an updated macroseismic dataset, better performing attenuation models and new tools for SASHA, respectively. The maps obtained indicate that the eastern flank of Etna, the most urbanized sector of the volcano, is characterized by a high level of hazard with I ref values up to degree VIII EMS, and even IX EMS locally. The disaggregated data analysis allows recognizing the “design earthquake” and the seismogenic fault which most contribute to the hazard at a site-scale. The latter analysis is the starting point to select the scenario earthquake to be used in the analyses of tasks C and F of the project dealing with, respectively, synthetic ground motion simulations and the evaluation of the Disruption Index .

In this paper we describe an advanced database for the site characterization of seismic stations, named “CRISP—Caratterizzazione della RIsposta sismica dei Siti Permanenti della rete sismica” ( http://crisp.ingv.it , quoted with https://doi.org/10.13127/crisp ), designed for the Italian National Seismic Network (Rete Sismica Nazionale, RSN, operated by Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia). For each site, CRISP collects easily accessible station information, such as position, type(s) of instrumentation, instrument housing, thematic map(s) and descriptive attributes (e.g., geological characteristics, etc.), seismic analysis of recordings, and available geophysical investigations (shear-wave velocity [ V S ] profile, non-linear decay curve). The archive also provides key proxy indicators derived from the available data, such as the time-averaged shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m from the surface (V S30 ) and site and topographic classes according to the different seismic codes. Standardized procedures have been applied as motivated by the need for a homogenous set of information for all the stations. According to European Plate Observing System infrastructural objectives for the standardization of seismological data, CRISP is integrated into pre-existing INGV instrument infrastructures, shares content with the Italian Accelerometric Archive, and complies map information about the stations, as well as local geology, through web services managed by Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale. The design of the CRISP archive allows the database to be continually updated and expanded whenever new data are available from the scientific community, such as the ones related to new seismic stations, map information, geophysical surveys, and seismological analyses.

We provide a database of the surface ruptures produced by the 26 December 2018 Mw 4.9 earthquake that struck the eastern flank of Mt. Etna volcano in Sicily (southern Italy). Despite its relatively small magnitude, this shallow earthquake caused about 8 km of surface faulting, along the trace of the NNW-trending active Fiandaca Fault. Detailed field surveys have been performed in the epicentral area to map the ruptures and to characterize their kinematics. The surface ruptures show a dominant right-oblique sense of displacement with an average slip of about 0.09 m and a maximum value of 0.35 m. We have parsed and organized all observations in a concise database, with 932 homogeneous georeferenced records. The Fiandaca Fault is part of the complex active Timpe faults system affecting the eastern flank of Etna, and its seismic history indicates a prominent surface-faulting potential. Therefore, this database is essential for unravelling the seismotectonics of shallow earthquakes in volcanic areas, and contributes updating empirical scaling regressions that relate magnitude and extent of surface faulting.Measurement(s)coseismic surface rupture • surface rupture kinematics • surface rupture displacement • surface rupture locationTechnology Type(s)field survey • GPS navigation systemFactor Type(s)offset • strike • angle • length • latitude • longitude • elevationSample Characteristic - Environmentvolcanic fieldSample Characteristic - LocationIsland of Sicily • Mount EtnaMachine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.11673027

A procedure for seismic risk assessment is applied to the Mt. Etna area (eastern Sicily, Italy) through assessment of urban system dysfunction following the occurrence of an earthquake. The tool used is based on the Disruption Index as a concept implemented in Simulator QuakeIST, which defines urban disruption following a natural disaster. The first element of the procedure is the definition of the seismic input, which is based on information about historical seismicity and seismogenic faults. The second element is computation of seismic impact on the building stock and infrastructure in the area considered. Information on urban-scale vulnerability was collected and a geographic information system was used to organise the data relating to buildings and network systems (e.g., building stock, schools, strategic structures, lifelines). The central idea underlying the definition of the Disruption Index is identification and evaluation of the impact on a target community through the physical elements that most contribute to severe disruption. The procedure applied in this study (i.e., software and data) constitutes a very useful operational tool to drive the development of strategies to minimise risks from earthquakes.

The southernmost sector of the Italian peninsula is crossed by an almost continuous seismogenic belt capable of producing M ∼ 7 earthquakes and extending from the Calabrian Arc, through the Messina Straits, as far as Southeastern Sicily. Though large earthquakes occurring in this region during the last millennium are fairly well known from the historical point of view and seismic catalogues may be considered complete for destructive and badly damaging events (IX ≤ Io ≤ XI MCS), the knowledge and seismic completeness of moderate earthquakes can be improved by investigating other kinds of documentary sources not explored by the classical seismological tradition. In this paper, we present a case study explanatory of the problem, regarding the Ionian coast between the Messina Straits and Mount Etna volcano, an area of North-eastern Sicily lacking evidence of relevant seismic activity in historical times. Now, after a systematic analysis of the 18th century journalistic sources (gazettes), this gap can be partly filled by the rediscovery of a seismic sequence that took place in 1780. According to the available catalogues, the only event on record for this year is a minor shock (Io = VI MCS, Mw = 4.8) recorded in Messina on March 28, 1780. The newly discovered data allow to reinstate it as the mainshock (Io = VII–VIII MCS, Mw = 5.6) of a significant seismic period, which went on from March to June 1780, causing severe damage along the Ionian coast of North-eastern Sicily. The source responsible for this event appears located offshore, 40-km south of the previous determination, and is consistent with the Taormina Fault suggested by the geological literature, developing in the low seismic rate zone at the southernmost termination of the 1908 Messina earthquake fault.

The volcanic region of Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy) represents a perfect lab for testing innovative approaches to seismic hazard assessment. This is largely due to the long record of historical and recent observations of seismic and tectonic phenomena, the high quality of various geophysical monitoring and particularly the rapid geodynamics clearly demonstrate some seismotectonic processes. We present here the model components and the procedures adopted for defining seismic sources to be used in a new generation of probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA), the first results and maps of which are presented in a companion paper, Peruzza et al. (2017). The sources include, with increasing complexity, seismic zones, individual faults and gridded point sources that are obtained by integrating geological field data with long and short earthquake datasets (the historical macroseismic catalogue, which covers about 3 centuries, and a high-quality instrumental location database for the last decades). The analysis of the frequency–magnitude distribution identifies two main fault systems within the volcanic complex featuring different seismic rates that are controlled essentially by volcano-tectonic processes. We discuss the variability of the mean occurrence times of major earthquakes along the main Etnean faults by using an historical approach and a purely geologic method. We derive a magnitude–size scaling relationship specifically for this volcanic area, which has been implemented into a recently developed software tool – FiSH (Pace et al., 2016) – that we use to calculate the characteristic magnitudes and the related mean recurrence times expected for each fault. Results suggest that for the Mt. Etna area, the traditional assumptions of uniform and Poissonian seismicity can be relaxed; a time-dependent fault-based modeling, joined with a 3-D imaging of volcano-tectonic sources depicted by the recent instrumental seismicity, can therefore be implemented in PSHA maps. They can be relevant for the retrofitting of the existing building stock and for driving risk reduction interventions. These analyses do not account for regional M  >  6 seismogenic sources which dominate the hazard over long return times (≥ 500 years).