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On 6 April 2009, a moderate earthquake (Mw = 6.3; Ml = 5.8) struck the Abruzzo region in central Italy, causing more than 300 fatalities and heavy damage to L'Aquila and surrounding villages. Coseismic surface effects have been thoroughly documented by timely field surveys as well as by remote sensing analyses of satellite images. The outstanding quality of geological, seismological, geodetic, and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) information arguably represents the best ever data set made available immediately after a moderate seismic event. Based on this data set, we aim at testing the capability of coupled geological and InSAR data to map surface faulting patterns associated with moderate earthquakes. Coseismic ground ruptures have been mapped at a scale of 1:500 in the whole epicentral area. Traces of surface ruptures have been inferred from linear phase discontinuities identified in the interferogram. A very good agreement between the two methods resulted in the characterization of the main surface rupture along the Paganica fault. The same approach applied to ground ruptures hypothesized along other capable fault segments provided more questionable results. Thus, the combined field and InSAR approach appeared useful for detecting continuous surface ruptures exceeding 1 km in length and showing displacements greater than a few centimeters. These are the typical faulting parameters for moderate earthquakes (6.0 < Mw < 6.5) in central Apennines. For continuous ground cracks shorter than a few hundred meters and/or that show displacements smaller than 1–2 cm, the described approach may be less helpful, most probably due to the limited resolution of the data.

Using 3D terrestrial laser scan (TLS) technology, we have recorded postseismic deformation on and adjacent to the surface rupture formed during the 6th April 2009 L'Aquila normal faulting earthquake (Mw 6.3). Using surface modeling techniques and repeated surveys 8–124 days after the earthquake, we have produced a 4D dataset of postseismic deformation across a 3 × 65 m area at high horizontal spatial resolution. We detected millimetre‐scale movements partitioned between discrete surface rupture slip and development of a hangingwall syncline over 10's of meters. We interpret the results as the signal of shallow afterslip in the fault zone. We find 52% of the total postseismic hangingwall vertical motion occurs as deformation within 30 m of the surface rupture. The total postseismic vertical motions are approximately 50% that of the coseismic. We highlight the importance of quantifying partitioned postseismic contributions when applying empirical slip‐magnitude datasets to infer palaeoearthquake magnitudes.

The review of all available contemporary documents, i.e., technical and photographic reports, newspapers, and other archive material, of the 1908, M 7.1, Messina–Reggio Calabria earthquake has allowed to recognize and classify a large number (365) of independent environmental effects of the earthquake and the subsequent tsunami. The effects have been categorized as slope movement, ground settlement, ground vertical movement and coastal retreat, liquefaction, ground crack, hydrological anomaly, gas emission, light, and rumble. No undisputable evidence of surface faulting has been pointed out. Nevertheless, the widespread and rather homogeneous subsidence of the coastal area of Messina (40–70 cm) might have been caused by slip along a NNE–SSW-trending, east-dipping fault, corresponding to the here proposed Messina Lineament. Likewise, slips along the Reggio Calabria, Armo and Motta San Giovanni faults, suggested by coastal subsidence and slides, ground cracks, and leveling data, cannot be ruled out. A large part of the achieved information has allowed to evaluate the epicentral intensity and local intensities at 74 sites, by applying the environmental seismic intensity scale ESI 2007. This study has led to the most comprehensive picture of the distribution and characteristics of coseismic environmental effects of that earthquake, a crucial knowledge to better estimate the future impact of a similar earthquake on a region that has seen a broad, and often poorly concerned, urban and infrastructural development since then.

We present the first paleoseismological results along the Fiandaca Fault, source of the 26 December 2018, Mw 5.0 Fleri earthquake. This earthquake caused extensive damage and 8 km of surface faulting. We excavated two exploratory trenches close to the Fiandaca village, in the central segment of the 2018 coseismic rupture. Analysis of trench walls allows identifying, besides the 2018 event, two additional historical surface faulting events. Based on amount of displacement of dated stratigraphic units, including tephra from the 122 BCE eruption, these historical events were similar to the 2018 earthquake. The most recent one occurred in the period 1281–1926 CE, most likely during the1894 earthquake. The oldest one, previously unknown, occurred in the Early Middle Ages (757–894 CE). When compared with the available seismic catalogue for Mt. Etna volcano, this paleoseismic evidence might suggest increased seismic activity along the Fiandaca Fault in the last centuries. In order to test this hypothesis, we conducted detailed morphotectonic analyses and throw rate measurements across offset historical lava flows. In addition, we developed a trishear kinematic model that describes the fault zone and the morphological features of the scarps. Throw rates mean values show an increase from 3.3 mm yr−1 since the Greek-Roman period reaching 7.8 mm yr−1 since the Late Middle Ages. These findings highlight the needs of further investigations to evaluate the slip rates variations of other faults accommodating the flank instability. Our findings confirm that paleoseismological and morphotectonic studies are of critical value for defining surface faulting and seismic hazard in volcanic settings.

We present a 1:25,000 scale map of the coseismic surface ruptures following the 30 October 2016 M w 6.5 Norcia normal-faulting earthquake, central Italy. Detailed rupture mapping is based on almost 11,000 oblique photographs taken from helicopter flights, that has been verified and integrated with field data (>7000 measurements). Thanks to the common efforts of the Open EMERGEO Working Group (130 people, 25 research institutions and universities from Europe), we were able to document a complex surface faulting pattern with a dominant strike of N135°-160° (SW-dipping) and a subordinate strike of N320°-345° (NE-dipping) along about 28 km of the active Mt. Vettore-Mt. Bove fault system. Geometric and kinematic characteristics of the rupture were observed and recorded along closely spaced, parallel or subparallel, overlapping or step-like synthetic and antithetic fault splays of the activated fault systems, comprising a total surface rupture length of approximately 46 km when all ruptures were considered.

In the original version of the Data Descriptor the surname of author Anne Socquet was misspelled. This has now been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the Data Descriptor. Some authors were also not appropriately associated with their affiliations in the HTML version, due to formatting errors made by the publisher. This has now been corrected in the HTML version of the Data Descriptor, the affiliations in the PDF were correct from the time of publication.

While 30%-70% of RSV-infected infants develop bronchiolitis, 2% require hospitalization. It is not clear why disease severity differs among healthy, full-term infants; however, virus titers, inflammation, and Th2 bias are proposed explanations. While TLR4 is associated with these disease phenotypes, the role of this receptor in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pathogenesis is controversial. Here, we evaluated the interaction between TLR4 and environmental factors in RSV disease and defined the immune mediators associated with severe illness. Two independent populations of infants with RSV bronchiolitis revealed that the severity of RSV infection is determined by the TLR4 genotype of the individual and by environmental exposure to LPS. RSV-infected infants with severe disease exhibited a high GATA3/T-bet ratio, which manifested as a high IL-4/IFN-γ ratio in respiratory secretions. The IL-4/IFN-γ ratio present in infants with severe RSV is indicative of Th2 polarization. Murine models of RSV infection confirmed that LPS exposure, Tlr4 genotype, and Th2 polarization influence disease phenotypes. Together, the results of this study identify environmental and genetic factors that influence RSV pathogenesis and reveal that a high IL-4/IFN-γ ratio is associated with severe disease. Moreover, these molecules should be explored as potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

From the paleoseismological and seismotectonic point of view, the intermountain basins of the Central Apennines of Italy are one of the most studied areas worldwide. Within this context, however, the Rieti Basin, bounded at its sides by active normal faults and with its peculiar rhombohedral shape, is a relatively overlooked area, and its most recent paleoseismological studies date back to the 90s. This is a key area both for completing the paleoseismological history of this sector of the chain and for understanding how the present-day extensional regime is accommodated through time by the faults bounding the basin. With this aim in mind, we excavated 17 paleoseismological trenches along the normal faults bordering the Rieti Basin (Central Apennines, Italy) and unveiled at least 6 paleoearthquakes that ruptured the faults during the last ca. 20 kyr. Our analysis of the paleoearthquake succession along the basin-bounding faults suggests that a spatial pattern is followed during sequences of rupturing events, with a maximum credible earthquake of Mw 6.5, consistently within this sector of the Central Apennines.

Background Anastomotic leak is a dreaded surgical complication that can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Despite its prevalence, there is no consensus on the management of anastomotic leak. This study aimed to review the management of anastomotic leak in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at two institutions. Methods This is a retrospective review of all anastomotic leaks occurring after surgery in the Division of Colon and Rectal Surgery at two teaching institutions during 1997–2008. Results Altogether, 103 leaks occurred in 1,707 anastomoses (6 %), with a median time to diagnosis of 20 days (2–1,400 days). The 90-day mortality rate was 3 %. The majority of cases were managed nonoperatively (73 %), and the majority of leaks were from an extraperitoneal anastomosis (67 %). Success (i.e., radiographic demonstration of a healed leak, restored gastrointestinal continuity) occurred in 54 % of operatively managed leaks and 57 % of nonoperatively managed leaks (56 % overall). Operative management differed by leak location. In 91 % of patients with intraperitoneal leaks, the anastomosis was resected. In 76 % of patients with extraperitoneal leaks, diversion and drainage alone was performed without manipulating the anastomosis. Nonoperative management was successful for 57 % of extraperitoneal leaks and 58 % of intraperitoneal leaks. There was no significant difference in the success rates based on type of management (operative/nonoperative) for either extraperitoneal or intraperitoneal leaks. Conclusions Anastomotic leak continues to result in patient morbidity and mortality. Its diverse presentation requires tailoring management to the patient. Nonoperative and operative treatments are viable options for intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal leaks based on patient presentation.