To investigate the kinematics of the Adriatic region, we integrate continuous and episodic GPS measurements with Mw > 4.5 earthquake slip vectors selected from the Regional Centroid Moment Tensor ...catalogue. Coherent motion of GPS sites in the Po Valley, in Apulia, and in the Hyblean Plateau allows us to estimate geodetically constrained angular velocities for these regions. The predictions of the GPS‐inferred angular velocities are compared with the earthquake slip vectors, showing that the seismically expressed deformation at the microplate boundaries is consistent with the observed geodetic motion. The remarkable consistency between geodetic, seismological, and geological evidence of active tectonics suggests that active deformation in the central Adriatic is controlled by the relative motion between the Adria and Apulia microplates. The microplates' angular rotation rates are then compared with the rotation rates calculated with a simple block model supporting the hypotheses (1) that Apulia forms a single microplate with the Ionian Sea and possibly with the Hyblean region and (2) that Adria and Apulia rotate in such a way as to accommodate the Eurasia‐Nubia relative motion. We suggest that the present‐day microplate configuration follows a recent fragmentation of the Adriatic promontory that during the Neogene rigidly transferred the Africa motion to the orogenic belts that now surround the Adriatic region.
We use velocity measurements from a network of continuous GPS sites spanning the Apennines of peninsular Italy to test the hypothesis that the active deformation of the region is explained by ...variations in gravitational potential energy of the lithosphere. The simple geometry of the mountain chain allows us to treat the deformation as two-dimensional, neglecting gradients of velocity along the strike of the chain. Under this assumption, the integral of gravitational potential energy per unit area of the lithosphere (GPE) in the direction perpendicular to the chain is related by a simple expression to the velocity in the same direction. We show that the observed velocities match this expression with an RMS misfit of 0.5mm/yr. This agreement suggests that deformation of the Apennines reflects a balance, within the mountain chain itself, between lateral variations in GPE and the stresses required to deform the lithosphere. Forces arising from processes external to the belt are not required to explain the observations.
•We investigate role of gravitational potential energy (GPE) in narrow mountain belts.•The simple geometry leads to a direct relationship between crustal velocities and GPE.•141 CGPS observations across the Apennines agree within error with this relationship.•Deformation is explained by internal GPE variations; external forces are not required.•Dynamical models of deformation may be useful for assessment of seismic hazard.
Here we inverted the GPS data to infer the coseismic slip of the Tohoku-Oki earthquake and the time-dependent afterslip distribution in the 4 months following the main shock. The Tohoku-Oki ...earthquake showed an unexpected magnitude and a characteristic depth-dependent differentiation of seismic energy radiation. In this context the estimation and comparison of the distribution of the fault portions that slip coseismically and post-seismically contribute to a better understanding of the variation of frictional characteristics of the plate interface. The inferred coseismic slip extends in a relatively compact region located updip from the hypocentre and reaches its highest value (about 60 m) near the trench. Afterslip occurs mostly outside the coseismic rupture and is distributed in two main modal centres. It reaches its largest values in an area located downdip of the coseismic slip and extends to a depth of 80 km. In the depth range between 30 and 50 km afterslip overlaps the portion of the fault that experienced historical moderate earthquakes, high-frequency seismic radiation and thrust-type aftershocks. The behaviour of this area can be explained by a rheologically heterogeneous region made of a ductile fault matrix interspersed with compact brittle asperities. On the contrary, the region beneath 50–60 km depth is probably characterized by a fully velocity strengthening behaviour. Southern afterslip, located off-Chiba Prefecture, is probably related to the M
w 7.9 Ibaraki-Oki aftershock. The northward extension of the afterslip stops at a latitude of about 40°N, just south of the off-Aomori region. This may be related to three large events occurred in this area during the last century and the consequent strong coupling or complete depletion of the accumulated strain that characterize this region.
SUMMARY
We investigated the kinematic rupture model of the 2018 Mw 6.8 Zakynthos, Ionian Sea (Greece), earthquake by using a non-linear joint inversion of strong motion data, high-rate GPS ...time-series and static coseismic GPS displacements. We also tested inversion results against tide-gauge recordings of the small tsunami generated in the Ionian Sea. In order to constrain the fault geometry, we performed several preliminary kinematic inversions by assuming the parameter values resulting from different published moment tensor solutions. The lowest cost function values were obtained by using the geometry derived from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) focal solution. Between the two conjugate USGS planes, the rupture model which better fits the data is the one with the N9°E-striking 39°ESE-dipping plane. The rupture history of this model is characterized by a bilateral propagation, featuring two asperities; a main slip patch extending between 14 and 28 km in depth, 9 km northeast from the nucleation and a slightly shallower small patch located 27 km southwest from the nucleation. The maximum energy release occurs between 8 and 12 s, when both patches are breaking simultaneously. The maximum slip is 1.8 m and the total seismic moment is 2.4 × 1019 Nm, corresponding to a Mw value of 6.8. The slip angle shows a dominant right-lateral strike-slip mechanism, with a minor reverse component that increases on the deeper region of the fault. This result, in addition to the observed possibility of similar mechanisms for previous earthquakes occurred in 1959 and 1997, suggests that the tectonic deformation between the Cephalonia Transform Fault Zone and the northern tip of the Hellenic Arc Subduction zone may be accommodated by prevailing right lateral low-dipping faults, occurring on re-activated structures previously experiencing (until Pliocene) compressional regime. Comparison of predicted and observed tsunami data suggests the need of a better characterization of local harbour response for this type of relatively short-wavelength events, which is important in the context of tsunami early warning. However, the suggested dominantly strike-slip character would in turn imply a reduced tsunami hazard as compared to a dominant thrust faulting regime from this source region.
Background: Pivotal studies indicate a role of excision repair cross-complementation 1 (ERCC1) gene and ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) gene in conferring a differential sensitivity to cytotoxic ...chemotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene has been recently extensively investigated in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Design: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded bronchoscopic/fine needle aspiration biopsies obtained from 70 patients with advanced NSCLC were retrospectively collected to investigate the expression level of ERCC1, RRM1 and EGFR by real-time PCR. Sufficient amounts of messenger RNA (mRNA) were successfully extracted from 61 (87%) specimens, reverse transcribed and amplified with intron-spanning primers. Forty-one patients had stage IV disease and 43 received cisplatin/gemcitabine chemotherapy. Results: A strong correlation between ERCC1 and RRM1 mRNA levels (rs = 0.624, P < 0.0001) was found. Median survival time in patients with low ERCC1 was significantly longer (17.3 versus 10.9, P = 0.0032 log-rank test) as well as in patients with low RRM1 (13.9 versus 10.9, P = 0.0390 log-rank test). Concomitant low expression levels of ERCC1 and RRM1 (n = 33) were predictive of a better outcome (14.9 versus 10.0, P = 0.0345 log-rank test). Among cisplatin-treated patients, a low ERCC1 level was highly predictive of a longer survival (23.0 versus 12.4, P = 0.0001 log-rank test). No correlation between gene expression levels and histology was reported. No significant correlation between EGFR expression level and survival was found. At multivariate analysis, performance status, response to chemotherapy, presence of weight loss and ERCC1 were independent prognostic factors for survival. Conclusions: This retrospective study further validates ERCC1 and RRM1 genes as reliable candidates for customized chemotherapy and shows a higher impact on the survival of NSCLC patients treated with cisplatin/gemcitabine for ERCC1. Prospective pharmacogenomic studies represent a research priority in early and advanced NSCLC.
Here we use continuous GPS observations to document the geodetic strain accumulation across the South‐Eastern Alps (NE Italy). We estimate the interseismic coupling on the intracontinental collision ...thrust fault and discuss the seismic potential and earthquake recurrence. We invert the GPS velocities using the back slip approach to simultaneously estimate the relative angular velocity and the degree of interseismic coupling on the thrust fault that separates the Eastern Alps and the Venetian‐Friulian plain. Comparison between the rigid rotation predicted motion and the shortening observed across the area indicates that the South‐Eastern Alpine thrust front absorbs about 70% of the total convergence between the Adria and Eurasia plates. The coupling is computed on a north dipping fault following the continuous external seismogenic thrust front of the South‐Eastern Alps. The modeled thrust fault is currently locked from the surface to a depth of ≈10 km. The transition zone between locked and creeping portions of the fault roughly corresponds with the belt of microseismicity parallel and to the north of the mountain front. The estimated moment deficit rate is 1.3 ± 0.4 × 1017 Nm/yr. The comparison between the estimated moment deficit and that released historically by the earthquakes suggests that to account for the moment deficit the following two factors or their combination should be considered: (1) a significant part of the observed interseismic coupling is released aseismically and (2) infrequent “large” events with long return period (> 1000 years) and with magnitudes larger than the value assigned to the largest historical events (Mw≈ 6.7).
Key Points
We observe a consistent interseismic coupling across the South‐Eastern Alps
Microseismicity appears due to stress buildup at the tip of the creeping zone
We suggest that occurrence of a Mw 7.5 earthquake cannot be reasonably excluded
SUMMARY
In this study, we revisit the mechanism of the 1976 Friuli (NE Italy) earthquake sequence (main shocks Mw 6.4, 5.9 and 6.0). We present a new source model that simultaneously fits all the ...available geodetic measurements of the observed deformation. We integrate triangulation measurements, which have never been previously used in the source modelling of this sequence, with high‐precision levelling that covers the epicentral area. We adopt a mixed linear/non‐linear optimization scheme, in which we iteratively search for the best‐fitting solution by performing several linear slip inversions while varying fault location using a grid search method. Our preferred solution consists of a shallow north‐dipping fault plane with assumed azimuth of 282° and accommodating a reverse dextral slip of about 1 m. The estimated geodetic moment is 6.6 × 1018 Nm (Mw 6.5), in agreement with seismological estimates. Yet, our preferred model shows that the geodetic solution is consistent with the activation of a single fault system during the entire sequence, the surface expression of which could be associated with the Buia blind thrust, supporting the hypothesis that the main activity of the Eastern Alps occurs close to the relief margin, as observed in other mountain belts. The retrieved slip pattern consists of a main coseismic patch located 3–5 km depth, in good agreement with the distribution of the main shocks. Additional slip is required in the shallower portions of the fault to reproduce the local uplift observed in the region characterized by Quaternary active folding. We tentatively interpret this patch as postseismic deformation (afterslip) occurring at the edge of the main coseismic patch. Finally, our rupture plane spatially correlates with the area of the locked fault determined from interseismic measurements, supporting the hypothesis that interseismic slip on the creeping dislocation causes strain to accumulate on the shallow (above ∼10 km depth) locked section. Assuming that all the long‐term accommodation between Adria and Eurasia is seismically released, a time span of 500–700 years of strain‐accumulating plate motion would result in a 1976‐like earthquake.
We determine geodetic strain in peninsular Italy by the GPS reoccupation of the first order triangulation network of Italy installed from 1860. The uncertainties in the original measurements (about 3 ...ppm), and the time span between the two observations, imply that tectonic signals larger than about 0.03 ppm/yr are resolvable. Along the Apenninic belt, where the largest earthquakes are concentrated, the geodetic deformation has a clear and consistent strain pattern between adjacent regions, well above the uncertainties, and shows a pervasive NE‐SW extension. Along the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts the geodetic signal is not homogeneous and is comparable with the uncertainty in the original measurements. Seismic deformation, calculated over the same time interval, agrees well with estimated extensional direction, but the magnitudes of geodetic and seismic strain differ suggesting that, in part of the Apennines, significant strain accumulation over the past 130 years may not have been released in earthquakes.
Porto‐caval hemitransposition (PCH) in liver transplantation allows revascularization of the liver when the porto‐mesenteric axis is thrombosed. We, here, review our experience over an 11‐year ...period. A total of 23 patients underwent liver transplantation using PCH. Immunosuppression was based on tacrolimus, with sirolimus used in case of renal insufficiency. Most common diagnoses were hepatitis C, Laennec's, Budd‐Chiari and cryptogenic cirrhosis. Six patients needed splenectomy prior to transplant, 5 during transplant, 1 post‐transplant, 11 had no splenectomy. Overall survival was 60% at 1 year and 38% at 3 years, with 10 of 23 patients currently alive and the longest survivor at 9.3 years. Most common cause of death was sepsis/multisystem organ failure, followed by pulmonary embolism. A total of 7/23 patients experienced post‐operative gastrointestinal bleeding episodes, 6/23 patients developed thrombosis of the vena cava (median 162 days post‐op). Post‐operative ascites was noted in almost all patients. Renal dysfunction was commonly seen even after the first month post‐transplant. PCH offers a feasible option for liver transplantation in those patients with complex thrombosis of the mesenteric and portal circulation.
In 23 patients undergoing liver transplantation, using porto‐caval hemitransposition, survival was 38% at three years indicating that this is a possible option in patients with complex thrombosis of the mesenteric and portal circulation.
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