Active tectonics in the Calabrian Arc: Insights from the Late Miocene to Recent structural evolution of the Squillace Basin (offshore eastern Calabria)

The Calabrian Arc represents one of the most active sectors of the upper plate of the Tyrrhenian-Ionian subduction system. This research aims to reconstruct the evolution of the Squillace Basin (Ionian offshore of the Calabrian Arc) from the Late Miocene to Recent times and recognise active shallow and deep structures using a multiscale approach. The latter is based on interpreting high-penetration and high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, calibrated with well-log data coupled with bathymetric data and the distribution of instrumental earthquakes. Data highlight three steps in the evolution of the Squillace Basin. A Late Miocene extensional event led to the formation of WNW-ESE orien…

Volcanism at Slab Tear Faults: the Diamante-Enotrio-Ovidio volcanic complex (offshore north-west Calabria)

Several arc-shape sectors form the central and southern part of the Italian peninsula, representing the emerged portion of the continental crust disjoined by slab tear faults (e.g., Olevano-Antrodoco, Ortona-Roccamonfina Tindari-Letojanni faults). These sectors are characterized by different drift velocities and tectonic patterns, while above to them important volcanic phases developed, such as the Vulture volcano (onshore) and the Vulcano-Lipari-Salina alignment (offshore). In the Tyrrhenian basin such kind of volcanism is still poorly investigated and understood though it could be revealed by low-resolution geophysical anomalies and volcanic seafloor morphologies. This is probably due to …

An Integrated Multiscale Method for the Characterisation of Active Faults in Offshore Areas. The Case of Sant’Eufemia Gulf (Offshore Calabria, Italy)

Diagnostic morphological features (e.g., rectilinear seafloor scarps) and lateral offsets of the Upper Quaternary deposits are used to infer active faults in offshore areas. Although they deform a significant seafloor region, the active faults are not necessarily capable of producing large earthquakes as they correspond to shallow structures formed in response to local stresses. We present a multiscale approach to reconstruct the structural pattern in offshore areas and distinguish between shallow, non-seismogenic, active faults, and deep blind faults, potentially associated with large seismic moment release. The approach is based on the interpretation of marine seismic reflection data and …

An improved non-invasive method for measuring heartbeat of intertidal animals

Since its emergence two decades ago, the use of infrared technology for noninvasively measuring the heartbeat rates of invertebrates has provided valuable insight into the physiology and ecology of intertidal organisms. During that time period, the hardware needed for this method has been adapted to currently available electronic components, making the original published description obsolete. This article reviews the history of heartbeat sensing technology, and describes the design and function of a modern and simplified infrared heartbeat rate sensing system compatible with many intertidal and marine invertebrates. This technique overcomes drawbacks and obstacles encountered with previous …

Estimation of historical vertical displacement at the Capo d’Orlando coast (Northern Sicily) based on submerged grinding wheels of Greek age

Geodetic, geological and geophysical evidence of active tectonics in south-western Sicily and offshore

tIntegrated geological, geodetic and marine geophysical data provide evidence of active deformation insouth-western Sicily, in an area spatially coincident with the macroseismic zone of the destructive 1968Belice earthquake sequence. Even though the sequence represents the strongest seismic event recordedin Western Sicily in historical times, focal solutions provided by different authors are inconclusive onpossible faulting mechanism, which ranges from thrusting to transpression, and the seismogenic sourceis still undefined. Interferometric (DInSAR) observations reveal a differential ground motion on a SW–NEalignment between Campobello di Mazara and Castelvetrano (CCA), located just west of…

Geodetic and geological evidences of activetectonics in western Sicily (Italy): insights onthe seismogenic source of the 1968 Beliceearthquake sequence.

The night between the January 14th and 15th 1968, a wide area of western Sicily (Italy) was shaken by a strong earthquake, the main shock of a seismic crisis that hit the region until the January 25th. The disastrous event, that is the strongest seismic event recorded in Western Sicily in historical times, caused about 370 deaths and the destruction of many villages facing the Belice river valley, which was the epicentral area for this unexpected natural disaster. The seismic sequence consisted of a main shock with M=5.9 and a series of pre-shock and aftershocks that were clustered along a NE-SW alignment. Focal planes solutions provided by many authors in the last decades show controversia…

Effect of endodontic treatment on fatigue resistance of fiber posts bonding

Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the endodontic treatment on the fatigue resistance of endodontic post adhesive interfaces. Materials and methods: 50 single-rooted human teeth have been severed at the cement-enamel junction and randomly assigned to 5 groups receiving different endodontic treatments as follows: 1) distilled water + gutta-percha (control); 2) NaOCl 5% + gutta-percha and Pulp Canal Sealer EWT (Kerr); 3) NaOCl 5% + gutta-percha and Top Seal (Dentsply-Maillefer); 4) NaOCl 5% and EDTA 10% (alternatively) + gutta-percha and Pulp Canal Sealer EWT; 5) NaOCl 5% and EDTA 10% (alternatively) + gutta-percha and Top Seal. Subsequently, Light-Post DT #2 quart…

Active volcano-tectonic deformations: a 3D seismic reflection experiment in the resurgent dome of the NYT Caldera (Pozzuoli Bay, Campi Flegrei, Naples)

An ultra-resolution, 3D seismic reflection data cube was collected during an oceanographic cruise organized in the frame of a joint project involving Italian research institutions, the University of Palermo, Catania and Napoli, CNR of Napoli and INGV Roma, and two companies, the Geo Marine Survey System (The Netherlands) and GeoSurvey (Portugal). The data acquisition approach charted during this cooperation was based on innovative technologies for the offshore imaging of stratigraphy and structures at continental margins with horizontal and vertical resolution at decimetric scale. In this work, we present the methodology used for the 3D HR-seismic reflection data acquisition and the prelimi…

Efficacy of diclofenac eyedrops in preventing postoperative inflammation and long-term cystoid macular edema.

Abstract Purpose: To compare the efficacy and tolerance of diclofenac 0.1 % eyedrops with a regimen that included a brief course of steroids in the treatment of postoperative inflammation after extracapsular cataract surgery and posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. A second objective was to compare the efficacy of diclofenac 0.1% eyedrops in the same patients and control group in preventing cystoid macular edema (CME). Setting: Eight university/hospital centers and one company in Italy. Methods: The multicenter, controlled, randomized, prospective, double-blind study included 281 patients. All were evaluated at baseline, at surgery, and after 1, 5, 36, 67, and 140 days. Postoper…

From land to sea: multi-scale and multi-resolution analysis of active deformation and seismogenic sources around the coasts of Southern Italy

During the last decade, we have blended our individual skills to form a research group devoted to investigating active crustal deformation in areas adjacent to the coast of Southern Italy, with the aim to bridge the gap between the onshore and offshore realms. Our research is based on a multi-scale and multi-resolution approach that includes high-resolution seismics, coastal morpho-tectonics and structural geology, complemented by seismicity, Global Positioning System and InSAR. Need and opportunities of such an endeavor arise from the basic observation that, although most population centers lie close to the coastal areas, very little is known about active structures at the sea. However, hi…