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At Mt. Etna (Italy), volcano‐tectonic earthquakes produce impressive surface faulting despite their moderate magnitude (M < 5.5), with historically well‐documented ruptures featuring end‐to‐end lengths up to 6–7 km. The 26 December 2018, Mw 5.0 earthquake represents the strongest event of the last 70 years, with ground ruptures extending for 7.5 km along the Fiandaca fault, a partially hidden structure in the volcano's eastern flank. Field data collected by the EMERGEO Working Group (INGV) are here integrated with high‐resolution photogrammetric surveys and geological‐morphological observations to enable a detailed structural analysis and to reconstruct the morphotectonic process of fault growth. The deformation zone develops in a transtensional regime and shows a complex pattern, consisting of brittle structures arranged in en‐échelon scale‐invariant overlapping systems. Offsets and kinematics vary along the strike due to a major bend in the fault trace. We reconstructed a prevailing right‐lateral displacement in the northern section of the fault and a dextral oblique slip in the southern one (max 35 cm); the dip‐slip component increases southward (max 50 cm) and overall resembles the along‐strike pattern of the long‐term morphological throw. The kinematic analysis indicates a quasi‐rigid behavior of the two fault blocks and suggests a geological model of rupture propagation that explains both the location of the seismic asperity in the northern section of the Fiandaca fault and the unclamping in the southern one. These findings are used to propose a conceptual model of the fault, representing insights for local fault‐based seismic hazard assessment. Key Points: The pattern of the 2018 rupture is characterized by scale‐invariant overlapping systems of structures organized in a hierarchical wayThe along‐strike distribution of the coseismic vertical displacement mimics the pattern of the long‐term morphological throw of the faultFindings constrain fault behavior and maximum expected magnitude as possible inputs for local fault‐based seismic hazard assessment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Vettore–Bove normal fault system in central Italy ruptured during the 2016 MW 6.5 Norcia earthquake causing extensive surface faulting. At the Pian Grande di Castelluccio hanging wall basin, along the southern section of the fault ruptured during the MW 6.5 mainshock, we performed a high‐resolution seismic reflection/refraction experiment aimed at (a) imaging the shallow pattern of the fault system, and (b) reconstructing the architecture of the continental infill. We collected three profiles for a total length of ∼8 km. We used a reflection processing flow and non‐linear refraction tomography to obtain migrated stack sections and P‐wave velocity images resolved down to the depth of the pre‐Quaternary substratum. The main profile in the northern part of the basin crosses the westernmost splays of the ruptured fault zone striking N150°–170°. Seismic imaging unravels a ∼1 km‐wide fault zone comprising three W‐throwing splays and subsidiary faults, which affect the continental infill and produce a minimum aggregate Quaternary throw of ∼400 ± 100 m. Recent deformation is localized in this part of the surveyed fault section, attesting active displacement accumulation of the Vettore–Bove fault system. The other profiles in the central‐southern part of the basin show additional faults, likely striking N20°–40° and which concurred to generate a ∼500 m‐deep depocenter. These faults were mostly active during an early extensional phase; however, one of them likely displaces shallow layers with a throw close to the resolution limit of seismic data (<10 m), suggesting activity in the Late Pleistocene. Key Points: Three high resolution seismic profiles image the hanging wall of southern part of the 2016 MW 6.5 central Italy earthquake fault zoneThe surveyed ∼1 km‐wide hidden fault section displays three active W‐dipping splays with a minimum aggregate Quaternary throw of ∼400 mP‐wave velocity tomographic images and migrated sections depict a ∼500 m‐deep Quaternary depocenter in the earthquake fault hanging wall [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide the first 3‐D resistivity image of the Pian Grande di Castelluccio basin, the main Quaternary depocenter in the hangingwall of the Mt.Vettore–Mt. Bove normal fault system (VBFS), responsible for the October 30, 2016 Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake (central Italy). The subsurface structure of the basin is poorly known, and its relation with the VBFS remains debated. Using the recent Fullwaver technology, we carried out a high‐resolution 2‐D transect crossing the 2016 coseismic ruptures coupled with an extensive 3‐D survey with the aim of: (a) mapping the subsurface of the basin‐bounding splays of the VBFS and the downdip extent of intrabasin faults; (b) imaging the infill and pre‐Quaternary substratum down to ∼1 km depth. The 2‐D resistivity section highlights under the coseismic ruptures a main dip‐slip fault zone with conjugated splays. The 3‐D resistivity model suggests that the basin consists of two depocenters (∼300 and ∼600 m deep, respectively) filled with silty sands and gravels (resistivity <300 Ωm), bounded and cross‐cut by NNE‐, WNW‐, and NNW‐trending faults with throws of ∼200–400 m. We hypothesize that the NNE‐trending system acted during the early basin development, followed by NNW‐trending and currently active splays of the VBFS that overprint pre‐existing structures and locally control the infill architecture. Moreover, beneath the basin we detect a shallow NW‐dipping blind fault. The latter is likely a hangingwall splay of the adjacent regional Mts. Sibillini Thrust, which may have been partly involved in the rupture process of the Norcia mainshock. Key Points: We show the first 3‐D shallow resistivity image of the Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake fault system and its main Quaternary hangingwall basinThe mainshock fault system overprints NNE‐ and WNW‐trending faults that promoted the complex evolution of the Castelluccio hangingwall basinWe detect two main depocenters, 300 and 500–600 m deep, and a low‐angle fault to the south‐east of the basin, likely related to thrusting [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case reports the successful management of a traumatic diaphyseal femoral fracture in an infant Western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) from a rescue centre in Sierra Leone using a 2.4‐mm intramedullary pin and two 2.7‐mm String of Pearls™ locking plates. Locking plate use has not been previously described in chimpanzees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki and Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Blattoidea: Rhinotermitidae) are invasive subterranean termite pest species with a major global economic impact. However, the descriptions of the mutualistic protist communities harbored in their respective hindguts remain fragmentary. The C. formosanus hindgut has long been considered to harbor three protist species, Pseudotrichonympha grassii (Trichonymphida), Holomastigotoides hartmanni, and Cononympha (Spirotrichonympha) leidyi (Spirotrichonymphida), but molecular data have suggested that the diversity may be higher. Meanwhile, the C. gestroi community remains undescribed except for Pseudotrichonympha leei. To complete the characterization of these communities, hindguts of workers from both termite species were investigated using single‐cell PCR, microscopy, cell counts, and 18S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The two hosts were found to harbor intriguingly parallel protist communities, each consisting of one Pseudotrichonympha species, two Holomastigotoides species, and two Cononympha species. All protist species were unique to their respective hosts, which last shared a common ancestor ~18 MYA. The relative abundances of protist species in each hindgut differed remarkably between cell count data and 18S rRNA profiles, calling for caution in interpreting species abundances from amplicon data. This study will enable future research in C. formosanus and C. gestroi hybrids, which provide a unique opportunity to study protist community inheritance, compatibility, and potential contribution to hybrid vigor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large number of failures in phase III clinical trials, which occur at a rate of approximately 45%, is studied herein relative to possible countermeasures. First, the phenomenon of failures is numerically described. Second, the main reasons for failures are reported, together with some generic improvements suggested in the related literature. This study shows how statistics explain, but do not justify, the high failure rate observed. The rate of failures due to a lack of efficacy that are not expected, is considered to be at least 10%. Expanding phase II is the simplest and most intuitive way to reduce phase III failures since it can reduce phase III false negative findings and launches of phase III trials when the treatment is positive but suboptimal. Moreover, phase II enlargement is discussed using an economic profile. As resources for research are often limited, enlarging phase II should be evaluated on a case‐by‐case basis. Alternative strategies, such as biomarker‐based enrichments and adaptive designs, may aid in reducing failures. However, these strategies also have very low application rates with little likelihood of rapid growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tsunami deposits present an important archive for understanding tsunami histories and dynamics. Most research in this field has focused on onshore preserved remains, while the offshore deposits have received less attention. In 2009, during a coring campaign with the Italian Navy Magnaghi, four 1 m long gravity cores (MG cores) were sampled from the northern part of Augusta Bay, along a transect in 60 to 110 m water depth. These cores were taken in the same area where a core (MS06) was collected in 2007 about 2·3 km offshore Augusta at a water depth of 72 m below sea level. Core MS06 consisted of a 6·7 m long sequence that included 12 anomalous intervals interpreted as the primary effect of tsunami backwash waves in the last 4500 years. In this study, tsunami deposits were identified, based on sedimentology and displaced benthic foraminifera (as for core MS06) reinforced by X‐ray fluorescence data. Two erosional surfaces (L1 and L2) were recognized coupled with grain‐size increase, abundant Posidonia oceanica seagrass remains and a significant amount of Nubecularia lucifuga, an epiphytic sessile benthic foraminifera considered to be transported from the inner shelf. The occurrence of Ti/Ca and Ti/Sr increments, coinciding with peaks in organic matter (Mo incoherent/coherent) suggests terrestrial run‐off coupled with an input of organic matter. The L1 and L2 horizons were attributed to two distinct historical tsunamis (ad 1542 and ad 1693) by indirect age‐estimation methods using 210Pb profiles and the comparison of Volume Magnetic Susceptibility data between MG cores and MS06 cores. One most recent bioturbated horizon (Bh), despite not matching the above listed interpretative features, recorded an important palaeoenvironmental change that may correspond to the ad 1908 tsunami. These findings reinforce the value of offshore sediment records as an underutilized resource for the identification of past tsunamis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We integrate paleoseismic data sets along the Mt. Vettore‐Mt. Bove normal fault system rupturing at the surface in the 30 October 2016 Norcia earthquake. Through the analysis of new trenches from this work and a review of the preexisting data, we correlate events among trench sites along antithetic and synthetic fault splays. We recognize seven M 6.5, 2016 Norcia‐type (or larger) surface‐faulting events in the last ~22 kyr, including 2016. Before 2016, one event occurred in the past two millennia (260–575 CE) and possibly corresponds to the event damaging Rome in 443 or 484/508 CE. Three previous events occurred between 10590 and 415 BCE, whereas the two oldest ones date between 19820 and 16540 BCE. The average recurrence time is 3,360–3,640 years for the last ~22 kyr and 1,220–1,970 years for the last ~4 kyr. We infer a minimum dip‐slip rate of 0.26–0.38 mm/year on the master fault in the central portion of the Mt. Vettore–Mt. Bove normal fault system and a dip‐slip rate of at least 0.10 mm/year on the southernmost portion. We infer a Middle–Late Pleistocene inception of the long‐term scarp of the investigated splays. The along‐strike variation of slip rates well reproduces the trend of the 2016 surface slip; thus, the time window exposed in the trenches is representative for the present fault activity. Based on trenching data, different earthquake rupture scenarios should be also considered for local hazard assessment. Key Points: We integrate paleoseismic datasets along the Mt. Vettore‐Mt. Bove normal fault system rupturing on 30 October 2016, M6.5, Norcia EarthquakeSeven surface faulting events ruptured the Mt. Vettore-Mt. Bove fault systemin the past ~22 kyrPaleoseismologic slip rates, recurrence intervals, and rupture scenarios contribute to the understanding of seismogenic processes in central pennines [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative evaluation of individual and collective ethics is proposed here, with the aim of providing a tool for sample size determination/estimation that goes further than the standard power setting of 80–90%. Individual ethics deal with issues that concern the patients enrolled in the trial, where collective ones concern the patients not enrolled in the trial, and who might benefit from a positive result. The global ethical utility (GEU) of a phase III trial is introduced here, being the summation of individual and collective ethical utilities, and can be viewed as a function of the sample size. The GEU model is based on the extent of the efficacy of the treatments in study, of the quality of life of the patients being treated, of the effects of potential adverse reactions, it accounts for the duration of the periods of interest and for the size of population groups, and also embeds the experimental power. This work aims at arguing the case for GEU adoption for sample size determination. The sample size that maximizes GEU can be adopted for planning the trial, even when providing a power value out of the classical range [.8,.9]. Alternatively, among the sample sizes based on power values of 80% and 90%, the one providing the highest GEU can be adopted. Intuitively, when a treatment is assumed to work well, to have few adverse effects, and is expected to improve the QoL of the ill population for a considerable amount of time, collective ethics may prevail giving ethically optimal sample sizes larger than usual, and consequent quite high power values (e.g. 99%). Instead, medium, though still clinically meaningful, levels of effect, considerable adverse reactions, and limited life expectation and QoL improvement, might shift the ethical balance on individual ethics and give an ethically optimal sample size providing a power lower than standard values (e.g. 70%). Some examples and an application in the cardiovascular area, including sensitivity analyses of the results based on the so‐called Bayesian "assurance" technique, are also discussed. Several possible extensions of the model related to particular clinical frameworks are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: We analyze the surface ruptures of the 30 October 2016 Mw 6.5 Norcia normal‐faulting earthquake in central ItalyThe heterogeneity of surface slip, with peaks up to 2.10 m, is controlled by the coseismic rupture process at depthThe scaling properties and the complexity of surface slip reveal processes of fault segmentation and strain localization The study of coseismic surface ruptures provides insights into earthquakes dynamics and fault growth processes. We analyze the surface faulting related to the seismic sequence that hit central Italy in 2016–2017, focusing on the ruptures caused by 30 October 2016 Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake. They are located on the NW trending normal fault splays of the Mount Vettore‐Mount Bove fault system (VBFS), forming a fracture network made of hundreds of strands striking N135–160°. The surface rupture length for this event is ~22 km, with average surface slip of ~0.44 m and peak of ~2.10 m. The collected coseismic slip vectors yield an average N233° trending extension, consistent with the local structural setting and seismological data. Surface slip displays cumulative frequency‐size distributions of rupture length and offset that follow power law and exponential scaling over 2 orders of magnitude, respectively. We observe strain localization on a few major fault splays of the VBFS, causing a markedly asymmetric along‐strike slip profile, with a high gradient to the southeast. The ~5‐km‐long Cordone del Vettore fault accounts for 40% of the overall coseismic surface slip. We infer that the heterogeneous slip at depth, coupled with the highly segmented nature of the VBFS and its interference with thrusts and adjacent active normal faults, has control over the pattern of surface faulting. For the Norcia earthquake, a robust scaling of surface slip area with rupture length accounts for extreme slip peaks over relatively short ruptures, which we envisage may be typical of the VBFS long‐term growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted paleoseismic studies along the Montereale fault system (MFS; central Italy). The MFS shows geomorphological evidence of Late Quaternary activity and falls within the highest seismic hazard zone of central Apennines, between the epicentral areas of two recent earthquake sequences: 2009 L'Aquila and 2016–2017 central Italy. We excavated two trenches along the San Giovanni fault splay of the system, one intercepting the N140° striking bedrock main fault plane and the other cutting two subparallel fault scarps on the colluvial/alluvial deposits on the fault hanging wall. Excavations revealed repeated fault reactivation with surface faulting in prehistorical and historical times. We recognized and dated seven events in the last 26 kyr. The most recent ground‐rupturing event (evb1) possibly occurred 650–1,820 AD, consistent with one of the three main shocks that struck the area in 1,703 AD. A previous event (evb2) occurred between 5,330 bc and 730 bc, while older events occurred at 6,590–5,440 bc (evb3), 9,770–6,630 bc (evb4), and 16,860–13,480 bc (evb5). We documented two older displacement events (evb7 and evb6) between 23,780 bc and 16,850 bc. The minimum vertical slip rate at the trench site in the last 28–24 kyr is 0.3–0.4 mm/year. The inferred average recurrence interval for surface‐faulting events along the MFS is no longer than ~4 kyr. Based on the surface fault length ranging between 12 and 20 km, earthquakes with ≥M 6.0 are possible for the MFS. The MFS is an independent earthquake source, and its paleoseismic data are fully comparable with those known for faults in central Apennines. Key Points: Seven earthquakes ruptured the Montereale fault system (central Italy) since 26 kyrFirst estimates of the Montereale fault parameters: length, earthquake recurrence, and slip rateThe Montereale fault system is an individual earthquake source within the central Apennines seismogenic belt (Italy) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The marine picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus dominate primary production in oligotrophic oceans, but their role in the particulate organic carbon (POC) flux into the deeper ocean remains unresolved. Here, we present for the first‐time data on the absolute clade and strain‐specific contribution to POC flux of two of the most abundant clades of Synechococcus (II and III) and strains of Prochlorococcus (high‐light strain MIT 9312 and low‐light strain MIT 9313) in the Sargasso Sea, by targeting the 23S‐16S rDNA internally transcribed spacer region using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction. We collected seawater samples and sinking particles using shallow sediment traps during winter and summer 2012 around the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series station. Both clades of Synechococcus had a higher contribution to the total POC flux during winter compared to the summer, with both clades contributing up to 2.7% to the total winter POC flux. Prochlorococcus was more abundant during the summer, but both strains of Prochlorococcus contributed less than 0.2% to the POC flux in both seasons. We found these differences in the contribution to flux to be mainly due to the smaller size of the Prochlorococcus. In addition, the flux of Synechococcus clade III, and Prochlorococcus MIT9312 was enhanced relative to their standing stock in a cyclonic eddy sampled during winter 2012. Using quantification of genetic markers, this study establishes distinct clade‐and strain specific patterns in POC flux among the most abundant picophytoplankton groups in the Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic interesterification has been shown to be an alternative for the production of structured lipids resembling human milk fat. The knowledge of the physical properties of fat is an important tool for the implementation of this fat in a food matrix. The enzymatic interesterification reaction modifies the composition of triacylglycerols changing the crystallization properties and polymorphic form of fats. Blends containing different proportions of lard and soybean oil (80:20, 70:30, 40:60, 30:70 and 20:80) were enzymatically interesterified in a continuous flow tubular reactor and analyzed for crystalline structure by polarized light microscopy, the polymorphic form using X-ray diffraction and thermal properties by differential scanning calorimetry. The structural modifications resulting from continuous enzymatic interesterification changed the crystallization behavior and thermal profile of the samples, reducing enthalpy values. Structural changes were also evident on polarized light microscopy images, disclosing an increase in the crystallization rate among the samples after the continuous enzymatic reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interesterification of natural fats can improve certain physical and nutraceutical properties by modification of their acylglycerol profile. The aim of this study was the production of structured lipids by lipase-catalyzed interesterification of blends of palm stearin (PS), palm kernel oil (PK), and olive oil (OO), to be incorporated in margarines. Interesterification activity was evaluated by the decrease of the solid fat content at 35°C (SFC35°C) of the blends. The best interesterification conditions, found by response surface methodology (RSM), catalyzed by 'Lipozyme® TL IM' or 'Lipozyme® RM IM,' were 65°C and a blend of 45% w/w of PS, 30% w/w of PK, and 25% w/w of OO. Under these conditions, after 2 h of batch interesterification, the product had a SFC35°C of 3.0%. The reaction was implemented in a continuous packed-bed bioreactor, under optimized conditions, for 226 h ('Lipozyme® TL IM') or 188 h ('Lipozyme® RM IM'), at a residence time of 7 min. The inactivation profile of both biocatalysts followed the first-order deactivation model: half-lives of 88 h ('Lipozyme® TL IM') and 60 h ('Lipozyme® RM IM') were estimated, respectively. Free fatty acid content of continuous interesterified blends (c.a. 1% w/w) was lower than that of batch-interesterified blends (c.a. 4-5% w/w). Practical applications: The obtained structured lipids, with low SFC35°C, are adequate for the production of trans-free table margarines. Using sn-1,3 specific lipases as catalysts, the original fatty acids at sn-2 position will be maintained with nutritional benefits. PS and PK are fats used as trans-free sources of solid fat, for the margarine industry, which are not very sensitive to oxidation. PK, a lauric fat, imparts a fast crystallization rate and confers plasticity to the final products. The incorporation of OO will enrich the blends with natural antioxidants and oleic acid at sn-2 position in acylglycerols. The development of response surface models, describing both final SFC values of interesterified blends and SFC decrease, will allow predicting results for novel proportions of fats and oils and/or a novel combination composition-temperature. The implementation of the interesterification in continuous reactors promotes a faster reaction and lower acidity of interesterified blends, with benefits in terms of product separation and purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]