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The document is a reply to a comment regarding research on the Magallanes Fault System (MFS) in Tierra del Fuego, Patagonia. The authors address criticisms of their work and discuss overlapping results with another study on fault slip rates in Argentina. They highlight the importance of fieldwork, drone photography, and data integration in determining fault slip rates. The study emphasizes the need for further research on other active faults in the MFS and the implications for seismic hazard and neotectonics. [Extracted from the article]

The Engineering Ocean Seismic 3D system, which enables ultra-high-resolution seismic surveys on a smaller survey scale, was deployed in Yeongil Bay, Pohang, South Korea. The region is renowned for abundant shallow gas deposits and faults. Based on acoustic impedance contrast and abnormal behavior observations, two seismic anomalies termed channel and polka-dot anomalies have been identified in the seismic volume. Seismic attribute analysis based on the signal amplitude and structural characteristics reveals that these anomalies correspond to shallow biogenic gas deposits. Structural interpretation of the seismic volume revealed that the contractional deformation resulting from post-Miocene neotectonics has resulted in uplift and reverse faulting in the Pohang region, contributing to the formation of anomalies. The channel anomalies correspond to gas-saturated tidal channels that formed during eustatic sea-level changes in the post-Last Glacial Maximum period. The polka-dot anomalies are located in topographic lows and are overlain by neotectonic sediment. The different behaviors of these anomalies in a seismic volume can be attributed to the different thicknesses of overburden overlying each of the anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen morphometric relief parameters have been identified whose positive anomalies correspond with seismic areas in the Greater Caucasus. An analysis of four parameters which were considered to provide the most information using the γ-operator in fuzzy logic has enabled us to develop a scheme for an index of neotectonic activity that was used along with the results of computerized geodynamic simulation to identify zones of possible earthquake sources. The new approach does not require detailed information on present-day and paleo seismicity, hence can be used to deal with an analogous problem for territories whose seismotectonics is poorly known. We have demonstrated an interrelationship between recent deformations and regional seismicity, and the possibilities offered by the method of lineament analysis due to Yu.V. Nechaev (2010) for identification of active faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to determine submarine structural elements by analysing high-resolution magnetic data sets and to examine the impact of geological surface structures characterizing Lake Sapanca. Lake Sapanca is located on the northern branch of the North Anatolian Fault Zone. The study area and its immediate surroundings are located within the most active tectonic structure of Turkey. A magnetic study was carried out in Sapanca Lake to reveal the structural elements that caused the formation of the lake. Diurnal corrections were applied to the magnetic data. During the analysis of the marine magnetic data set, there are variations in the mean field level of the magnetic field caused by the routing effects of ship noise on the measurements. To eliminate this noise effect, directional correction was performed. Then, de-stripping correction was also applied. It is essential to estimate the boundaries and depths of the structural features of the region. In order to elucidate the structural features of the region, different techniques such as tilt angle derivative, the total horizontal derivative of tilt angle derivative, Euler 2D deconvolution, horizontal gradient magnitude, and source edge detection were applied to magnetic data. 2-D modelling using GM-SYS in Oasis Montaj were performed. These techniques identified and mapped the edges of anomalous sources related to magnetic data corresponding to geological elements in the study area. The results allow us to image the submarine lineaments for the survey area. These structural lineaments are in E–W, NE–SW and NW–SE trends. These lineaments in our results are quite compatible with the faults in previous geophysical results. The E–W trending lineaments are related to the E–W trending faults in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the degradation of river channels is crucial in the Anthropocene era, particularly in the deltaic areas worldwide. The present study aims to investigate the degradation of the Mathabhanga-Churni River giving emphasis on the temporal change of channel morphology and hydraulic behaviour and comparing the current situation with the historical past based on planform morphology and meander geometry of 118 meander loops, and width, depth, cross-sectional area, and hydraulic behaviour (velocity, discharge, stream power) at 47 cross-sections. The absence of lateral dynamicity, the static character of channel sinuosity during the last century (1913–2018), and the constant meander morphology reflects the static meander geometry and degradation of the river. The reduction of average channel width, depth, and cross-sectional area supports the falling trend of channel forms. Findings on hydraulic behaviour indicate declining discharge (~50% reduction during 1915–2018) that induces the present-day downscaled velocity and lowered stream power. Neotectonics (eastward tilting of the Bengal delta) and anthropogenic stressors such as stream crossings, agriculture on river beds, brickfields, and urbanisation have a severe impact on the hydromorphology of the channel, turning the active river into a stagnant and polluted channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution sedimentological and geochronological investigations of paleochannel systems in the Ried Central d'Alsace (northeastern France) allow for the reconstruction of the late glacial and Holocene fluvial evolution of this section of the Upper Rhine alluvial plain. During the Oldest Dryas, the landscape featured a dominant braided Rhine system and, to a lesser extent, a braided Fecht system. The shift to the Bølling-Allerød saw a narrowing of the Rhine's active channel belt, the development of a complex channel pattern, and the genesis of the Ill River. The river channel patterns remained unchanged during the Younger Dryas. In the Early Holocene, the Rhine's active belt narrowed further, and the Rhine and Ill Rivers developed braided-anastomosing and anastomosing channel patterns, respectively. Throughout the Holocene, both rivers maintained their channel patterns while migrating east and west across the alluvial plain, respectively. In the late glacial, fluvial dynamics in this section of the Upper Rhine plain were primarily influenced by climate-related environmental and hydrogeomorphological changes. Conversely, during the Holocene, the evolution of the fluvial hydrosystems was driven by a complex interaction of climatic and non-climatic factors, including human activity at the catchment scale, alluvial plain architecture, and local neotectonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kosovo is distinguished by a particularly high degree of seismic activity as a result of its location in the alpine-Mediterranean seismic area. The thickness of the seismic zone in the Earth's crust is a crucial element in seismotectonics, as it affects the design of fault systems, relative fault activity, earthquake size and distribution within a fault system, and the long-term accumulation of tectonic deformation. Kosovo's large depressions and high relief make it challenging geomorphologically. The country of Kosovo is divided into numerous chunks along the fault lines because of the inclinations of these prevalent motions. Normal faults, along which differentiations on the order of 2000 m occurred during the neotectonics period, identify the contacts between these blocks. Understanding Kosovo's seismotectonic characteristics requires an exact analysis of hypocenter parameters when historical earthquakes that have struck the country are reassessed for magnitude. This study deals with the seismicity and tectonics of the territorial space of the Republic of Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a finite‐differences 3D numerical model that simulates the gravity and thermal structure of the Corsica‐Sardinia Block (CSB), an apparently stable lithospheric domain characterized by cryptic tectonic activity. In the experiments, we change the density and heat production rate of the model crust within a range of geologically realistic values to fit the measured Bouguer gravity anomaly and surface heat flow pattern. The discrepancy between the observed geophysical structure and the outcomes of numerical modelling are discussed in relation to the composition of the CSB crust and finally recast in the geodynamic framework of the western Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quarter of a century ago, during cartographic works using then-known field methods for measuring structural features, on the boundary of the Sudetic and Fore-Sudetic blocks, new phenomena were recognised; these were interpreted to be tectonic in nature and the result of left-lateral strike-slip movement in the subsurface. Grabens, half-grabens, shear zones and seismites in the gold-bearing sands and gravels that form the slopes of the valley of the River Kaczawa, are estimated to be of Pliocene and early Pleistocene age, having been interpreted as deposits of the pre-Kaczawa alluvial fan system. The natural exposures documented 25 years age have now all disappeared. In 2022, these levels became exposed again as a result of renewed gravel exploitation and phenomena described in the past reappeared. Field measurements were made again, this time using modern data-recording techniques, such as photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanning. This work has enabled a comparison of field measurement methods with those obtained from the point clouds data. The results were found to be highly consistent. At the same time, precise reconstructions of the structures and their connection to the geodetic reference system make it possible to supplement previous geokinematic interpretations for this segment of the Sudetic Marginal Fault Zone (SMFZ). A formerly postulated left-lateral strike-slip regime in this zone was confirmed during the period of formation of the pre-Kaczawa alluvial fan deposits, but also probable is a kinematic inversion that must have occurred during, or just after, the early Pleistocene.

Structural and geophysical indicators of neotectonics in the area of the continental margin of Côte d'Ivoire are represented in three interacting zones: oceanic, continental and transitional. Together with the time-varying gravitational field, they form a system in which neotectonic processes are enhanced due to their equatorial position. Seismicity is represented by dense clusters of events in the areas of junction of the Strakhov, Sao Paulo and Romansh oceanic transform faults with the continent and their overland continuation. Seismicity and gravity variations show the relationship of deep density changes to stress discharge in the area and the effect of volumetric forces on lithospheric blocks. Free air and isostasy anomalies along the shelf are segmented by the effects of vertical motions. Pull-apart depressions near the passive parts of transform faults indicate basement deformations in the interfault blocks and activation of shear displacements of dextral kinematics near the bend of the passive parts of the faults to the northeast from main oceanic azimuth. Segments with isostasy maxima on the shelf correspond to areas with coarser grain size granulometric composition, indicating leaching of fine sedimentary fraction from the bottom material.

We present a parallel combination of existing, well-known and robust software used in modelling the neotectonics of planetary lithosphere, which we call ShellSet. An added parallel framework allows multiple models to be run at the same time with varied input parameters. Additionally, we have included a grid search option to automatically generate models within a given parameter space. ShellSet offers significant advantages over the original programs through its simplicity, efficiency and speed. We demonstrate the performance improvement obtained by ShellSet's parallel framework by presenting timing and speedup information for a parallel grid search, varying the number of processes and models, on both a typical computer and a high-performance computing cluster node. A possible use case for ShellSet is shown using two examples in which we improve on an existing global model. In the first example we improve the model using the same data, and in the second example we further improve the model through the addition of a new scoring dataset. The necessary ShellSet program version along with all the required input and post-processing files needed to recreate the results presented in this article are available at 10.5281/zenodo.7986808. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—It is generally recognized that the formation of the fold-and-thrust tectonic structures of mobile belts on continents is associated with crushing and narrowing of the Earth's crust due to collision of lithospheric plates. The deformation of the Caucasian lithosphere in the recent time is generally consistent with these ideas. However, the block differentiation of the Caucasian lithosphere brings specificity into the directionality of recent vertical and horizontal movements. In this paper, we analyze vertical movements of the Caucasus estimated by means of high-precision leveling over a period of more than a century and consider their spatial correlation with the tectonics, seismicity, stress-strain state, and geophysical fields. A clear correlation indicating the deep tectonic nature of the long-term uplifts of the Caucasus crust is revealed. The differentiation of the Arabian plate movement causes partitioning of the Caucasus territory into provinces that differ by the pattern of recent movements, orientation of faults, and stress-strain state of the geomaterial. These provinces also have distinctions in seismicity in terms of the number of seismic events and focal mechanisms of the earthquakes. We propose a model of a deformation mechanism of the Greater Caucasus, which accommodates the long-term trend of the Caucasus uplift in the conditions of general shortening of the Earth's crust. The results of the analysis provide a basis for discussion of a probable mechanism of neotectonic evolution of the Greater Caucasus, which can be used in the seismic hazard assessment of the North Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molasses of foredeeps are important indicators of the newest orogenic uplifts, as well as the source of data on climate and landscape changes. One of the fullest sections of Neogene–Quaternary deposits is studied in valleys of the Belaya, Pshekha, and Psekups rivers at the junction of the Western and Northwestern Caucasus with the Eastern Kuban and Western Kuban foredeeps. The formation of the deposits corresponds to the main evolution stages of the Great Caucasus orogen, as well as the foredeeps. A summary of extensive published and original tectonostratigraphic materials has shown that the lowland and then hilly relief in an axial zone of Western Caucasus existed at least from the Middle Miocene. At the same time, the northern flank of the present-day orogen and the foredeeps were located at sea level and were repeatedly flooded by the seas up to the Kuyalnikian (Piacenzian–Gelasian) time, and the Western Kuban Foredeep was flooded even later. The main data on stratigraphy of the upper molasses and Pliocene–Quaternary tectonic movements of the region are based on facies analysis and bio- and magnetostratigraphic studies of the Upper Pliocene–Lower Pleistocene Belorechensk Formation. Its sedimentation started at the beginning of the Kuyalnikian as a result of an increase in the energy of mountain rivers due to the uplift of the riverheads. It is stated that the minimum average rate of uplift of the Western Caucasus in the basin of the Belaya River is 0.8 mm/year over last 4 mln years with acceleration up to 1.7 mm/year from the beginning of the Calabrian. The Belorechensk Formation includes three subformations, which successively become coarser clastic and correspond to the main stages of the accumulation of upper molasses in the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene during the intensification of uplifts and landscape-climate changes of Western Caucasus and Ciscaucasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Late Oligocene–Miocene evolution of deep-water circulation in the abyssal South China Sea, using Nd isotopes from fossil fish teeth to trace historical changes in oceanic currents. It details the geological and oceanographic background of the region, the methods for sampling and analyzing Nd isotopic compositions, and the implications of these findings for understanding ancient deep-water circulation patterns.

The main aim of the study is to perform a high-precision mapping of geological features (lineaments and faults) using advanced gravity processing methods. The main techniques used for gravity data processing are the tilt angle of horizontal gradient (TAHG), the improved logistic filter (ILF), the fast sigmoid edge detector filter (FSF), and an edge detection filter based on the arcsine function (ASF). Before applying these edge detection filters to major geological units of North Cameroon, their effectiveness and performance have been assessed on synthetic gravity data and on random noise incorporated synthetic data. In addition, the Euler deconvolution has been used to estimate the position and depth of anomalous gravity sources in the study region. Using these edge detection techniques, a precise mapping of structural lineaments in the region has been established. It appears that the main structural features are trending along the N-S, NNE-SSW and NE-SW directions. The deepest density anomalies in the region are identified in the NW–SE direction, which coincides well with the extension of the Central and West African rift system in the study area. The advanced edge detection techniques and the Euler deconvolution method have both identified a network of superficial lineaments around longitude 13oN and latitude 8oN, and located between 0 and 4 km depth. The NW–SE trending crustal features outlined in the northeast of the region indicate that the area would have been the target of a uniform tectonic activity. This study is crucial to improve the knowledge of the configuration of fractures network, and to a better exploitation of groundwater resources available in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newest structures of the east of the Taimyr Peninsula, which are manifested in relief, have been studied using the structural and geomorphological method; this allows us to identify the latest deformations, which have been compared with the features of the gravitational field and its transformants. A good correspondence between gravitational anomalies and magnitude of conerosional rises has been shown. It has been established that the selected blocks and their boundaries are attributed of to the specific features of the transformant field. The zones of seismicity within the Eastern Taimyr and adjacent territories tend to faults that were active in the Cenozoic, as well as to an elongated zone of contrasting values of the gravitational anomalies and their NW-striking transformants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grabens, or valleys formed during extensional tectonic events, are common but rarely observed during formation. In November 2023, inelastic surface deformation formed abruptly along Iceland's plate boundary in Grindavík. We documented graben formation in real‐time through satellite mapping (InSAR), seismicity, GNSS data, repeated lidar surveys, and field mapping. Five normal faults and ∼12 fissures ruptured the surface delineating two grabens separated by a horst, a context not present in other contemporary case studies. The graben normal faults slipped rapidly (over hours) and maximum surface motions coincided with the occurrence of turbulent seismic swarms in both space and time. Although 3 eruptions took place ∼15 km northeast of Grindavík from 2021 to 2023, attributed to magma intrusions (i.e., dikes), none of these also formed grabens. Thus, the Grindavík grabens shows evidence for tectonic origins. Real‐time monitoring of these phenomena provide insight into graben formation on Earth and potentially on other planets. Plain Language Summary: Valleys known as grabens, typically caused by extensional tectonic events, are a common geological feature, yet their formation is rarely observed. In November 2023, such two grabens suddenly emerged along the boundary between tectonic plates in the town of Grindavík, Iceland. The grabens were shaped by tectonic activity expressed by a swarm of earthquakes and associated ground deformation and resulted in normal faults rupturing the surface and cutting through houses, linear infrastructure including water pipelines and roads within Grindavík. We document the grabens and horst in real time using satellite mapping (InSAR), geodetic GPS data, repeated drone surveys, field mapping, and seismic recordings from a local seismic network. The combination of these data provide unprecedented level of precision in characterizing surface and sub‐surface deformations, especially when maximum surface motions correlate with a turbulent seismic activity in both space and time. Critically, following the formation of the grabens, a series of intensive through short‐lived eruptions happened in December 2023, January 2024, February 2024, March, and May 2024 within the northernmost portion of the grabens. Our observations provide valuable insights into the natural laboratory of Iceland and contribute to the understanding of plate tectonics both on Earth and other planets. Key Points: The 2023 seismic swarm and extension lead to a graben forming that coincides in time and space along Iceland's plate boundaryDuring 2021 to December 2023 only one tectonic graben formed, although 4 eruptions have taken placeThe graben in Grindavík, Iceland is wider at the surface than most recently documented grabens (∼4,500 m vs. <1,000 m) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slip rate of strike-slip active faults is crucial for fault rupture behavior analysis and seismic hazard assessment. Although many segments of the Yilan-Yitong Fault Zone (YYFZ) in NE China have been strongly deformed since the late Quaternary, little progress has been made on its slip rate. With the help of highresolution satellite images, detailed field investigations, seismic reflections, and Quaternary chronological dating, we mainly studied the late Quaternary rightslip rate of the YYFZ. Field investigations revealed an ~15 km long by ~1-2 m high-surface scarp belt extending along the Tangyuan graben interior, with a series of sag ponds and small parallel bulges. Research has revealed that the most recent paleoearthquake (~M 7.0) occurred between 2,800± 600 a BP and 1,700 ± 200 a BP, with evidence of coseismic surface rupture. The T2 terrace abandonment age of the Heijin River is approximately 55.13 ± 1.78 ka (OSL), and the maximum cumulative right-lateral offset may reach 110 ±5 m. Thus, the maximum right-slip rate of the Tangyuan segment of the YYFZ since the late Quaternary is constrained to 1-2 mm/a according to the upper terrace model. This study suggests that the presence of a new fault in the basin interior merits more attention when assessing the influential surface range and earthquake potential along the YYFZ, and the features of "low tectonic loading rate, activity migration in space, and clustering in time separated by ten thousand years of seismic quiescence" observed along the YYFZ are highly important for earthquake model construction and tectonic deformation studies in stable continental regions (SCRs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slip rate of strike-slip active faults is crucial for fault rupture behavior analysis and seismic hazard assessment. Although many segments of the Yilan-Yitong Fault Zone (YYFZ) in NE China have been strongly deformed since the late Quaternary, little progress has been made on its slip rate. With the help of highresolution satellite images, detailed field investigations, seismic reflections, and Quaternary chronological dating, we mainly studied the late Quaternary rightslip rate of the YYFZ. Field investigations revealed an ~15 km long by ~1-2 m high-surface scarp belt extending along the Tangyuan graben interior, with a series of sag ponds and small parallel bulges. Research has revealed that the most recent paleoearthquake (~M 7.0) occurred between 2,800± 600 a BP and 1,700 ± 200 a BP, with evidence of coseismic surface rupture. The T2 terrace abandonment age of the Heijin River is approximately 55.13 ± 1.78 ka (OSL), and the maximum cumulative right-lateral offset may reach 110 ± 5 m. Thus, the maximum right-slip rate of the Tangyuan segment of the YYFZ since the late Quaternary is constrained to 1-2 mm/a according to the upper terrace model. This study suggests that the presence of a new fault in the basin interior merits more attention when assessing the influential surface range and earthquake potential along the YYFZ, and the features of "low tectonic loading rate, activity migration in space, and clustering in time separated by ten thousand years of seismic quiescence" observed along the YYFZ are highly important for earthquake model construction and tectonic deformation studies in stable continental regions (SCRs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The engagement of construction firms in corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gained strategic importance in facilitating the long-lasting transformation of the construction industry, particularly in light of the proliferation of sustainable development goals (SDGs). While previous studies have acknowledged the influence of regulative and normative pressures on CSR engagement, the impact of mimetic pressures, namely peer effects, on a construction firm's CSR engagement remains unexplored. In the diffusion of peer effects, limited information on CSR-related activities of peer firms hampers the observation and learning from each other, where the interconnections between firms through directors serving on multiple boards come into play as a valuable resource in presenting opportunities for mutual learning and knowledge sharing. Therefore, drawing on the neoinstitutional theory, this study seeks to address this research gap by conducting a multiple regression analysis using secondary data from 35 Chinese-listed construction firms between 2010 and 2020. Specifically, this study investigates how and to what extent peer effects shape a construction firm's CSR engagement through board interlocking ties and examines the moderating role of corporate governance mechanisms, such as ownership concentration and board independence. The results reveal the positive and significant influence of peer effects on the CSR engagement of construction firms through board interlocking ties. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that both ownership concentration and board independence serve as positive moderators in the relationship between peer effects and CSR engagement. This study contributes to the expanding body of research on the environmental, social, and governance practices of construction firms and provides novel insights into the role of board interlocking ties in promoting CSR imitation in the context of construction industry transformation. The findings not only broaden the understanding of CSR imitation among construction firms but also provide practical guidance for aligning the governance mechanisms of construction firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chiusella Valley (NW Italian Alps) is a key area for both the history of the alpine orogeny and its environmental context. It presents major structural features (including the Traversella neoalpine intrusion and a section of the Insubric line) and evidence of past climate changes in the region. Even if the Chiusella Valley was previously renowned for mining activities and most recently considered an alpine rural area with minor tourist attractions, its important geoheritage could offer alternatives to traditional mountain activities, which are facing adversity from increasing temperatures. This paper emphasises the role of geotourism in both enhancing sustainable development and raising awareness of climate change. For this purpose, the geodiversity of the Chiusella Valley has been analysed and several geosites have been identified. The research methodology includes field surveys, analysis of an existing educational activities and scientific literature, and assessment of geosites by quantitative analysis of five groups of indicators, including scientific, cultural, and educational values. The geosite selection within the Chiusella Valley reveals memories of past and present climate changes but also supports the development of targeted geotourism activities in the area. Additionally, a specific location has been identified for hosting indoor activities showcasing climate change action. These valuable contributions to sustainable geotourism provide opportunities for exploring the Alps in the vicinity of the Po Plain urban areas, while minimizing the environmental impact and facilitating educational activities on geodiversity and geoheritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing neotectonic activity along mountain fronts in active orogens is the key to better understanding trajectories of landscape evolution, climatic‐tectonic couplings and natural hazards. One such prominent mountain front is the Western Andean Front (WAF), which defines the boundary between two main physiographic units along the Chilean Andes (15°S to 39°S): the Central Depression and Principal Cordillera. This study analyses the geomorphic imprints of neotectonic fault activity in the WAF between 35°S and 37°S. We used several topographic metrics, including the mountain‐front sinuosity index (Smf), the valley floor width‐to‐height ratio (Vf) and the stream length‐gradient (SL) index to gain information about the regional distribution of deformation patterns and its relative tectonic activity for distinctive segments. In addition, a raster map combining rock strength (RS) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) allowed discriminating lithology‐climate vs. tectonics influence on SL anomalies from catchments spanning from the main deformation zone to the regional drainage divide. We use the local relief and swath profiles to quantify the incision and transient state of mountain fronts to evaluate the geomorphic response to tectonic and/or climatic input. Our analysis highlights significant variations from north to south, delineating two distinct segments with different topographic, geomorphic and geometric fault characteristics. These segments are indented at approximately 36°S. From north to south, there is a segment with an inactive thrust front with a primarily climate‐driven fluvial response over long timescales and a second segment with a transient state adjusting to relatively high uplift rates. Morphometric data analysis, DEM‐based morpho‐structural maps, geological maps and previous research support the interpretation of two sets of neotectonic faults: (1) NNE‐striking reverse faults with a dextral slip component and (2) NW‐striking sinistral slip faults, likely a response to deformation partitioning caused by oblique subduction on a continental margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of geophysical methods in saline environments is limited in their ability to discern shallow subsurface geology and tectonics due to the high subsurface conductivity, which can play havoc with the geophysical signal. Recent changes in the hypersaline Dead Sea provided the opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness and adequacy of the terrestrial frequency domain electromagnetic (henceforth FDEM) method in such settings. Since the International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) 5017-3-C borehole was cored in 2011 in a water depth of ~2.1 m, the lake level has dropped by almost 15 m, exposing some 320 m of a new, salt-encrusted shore. An FDEM survey was carried out on what is now land across the borehole. The results of the survey were compared to downhole gamma ray logging data. Three lithologies were found based on gamma-ray cutoff values, and they are in agreement with changes in apparent electric conductivity. The FDEM survey supplied additional spatial information on the subsurface geology, highlighting areas of fluid flow and fracturing, which were found to be aligned with the trend of small strike-slip faults and earthquake clusters from previous studies. The FDEM method is a reliable way of discerning shallow subsurface geology, even in harsh conditions where other geophysical methods are limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatolia is the global archetype of tectonic escape, as witnessed by the devastating 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake sequence, and the 2020 Samos Earthquake, which show different kinematics related to the framework of the escape tectonics. Global Positioning System (GPS) motions of the wedge-shaped plate differ regionally from northwestwards to southwestwards (from east to west). Anatolia was extruded westward from the Arabian-Eurasian collision along the North and East Anatolian fault systems, rotating counterclockwise into the oceanic free-faces of the Mediterranean and Aegean, with dramatic extension of western Anatolia in traditional interpretations. However, which is the dominant mechanism for this change in kinematics, extrusion related to the Arabia/Eurasia collision or rollback of the African slab beneath western Anatolia is still unclear. To assess the dominant driving mechanisms across Anatolia, we analyze recent GPS velocity datasets, and decomposed them into N-S and E-W components, revealing that westward motion is essentially constant across the whole plate and consistent with the slip rates of the North and East Anatolia fault zones, while southward components increase dramatically in the transition area between central and western Anatolia, where a slab tear is suggested. This phenomenon is related to different tectonic driving mechanisms. The Arabia-Eurasia collision drives the Anatolian Plate uniformly westwards while western Anatolia is progressively more affected by the southward retreating African subducting slab west of the Aegean/Cypriot slab tear, which significantly increases the southward component of the velocity field and causes the apparent curve of the whole modern velocity field. The 2020 and 2023 earthquake focal mechanisms also confirm that the northward colliding Arabian Plate forced Anatolia to the west, and the retreating African slab is pulling the upper plate of western Anatolian apart in extension. We propose that the Anatolian Plate is moving westwards as one plate with an additional component of extension in its west caused by the local driving mechanism, slab rollback (with the boundary above the slab tear around Isparta), rather than separate microplates or a near-pole spin of the entire Anatolian Plate, and the collision-related extrusion is the dominant mechanism of tectonic escape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The estimation of the degree of tectonic fragmentation for upper lithosphere following the method of Yu.V. Nechaev (2010) is based on calculations of specific lineament lengths. We used data for three regions—Northwest Caucasus, the Voronezh Anteclise, and the Malko–Petropavlovsk zone in Kamchatka—to test whether other morphometric parameters could be used: specific lengths of "weak" zones, elongation lines and water streams, as well as relief curvature. Their anomalies are confined to seismic areas and to areas of hydrothermal and magmatic activity. We show that the most information is provided by 3D models of tectonic fragmentation that incorporate specific lengths of "weak" zones and water stream lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Alborz Mountains are among the areas exhibiting high tectonic and seismic activity in northern Iran. Studying key parameters of tectonic structures, including quantitative analysis and observational studies, in such active regions is essential to identify potential active faults and assess the consequent seismic hazards. This study focuses on seismicity and seismotectonics by analyzing seismic parameters, including b-value, mean seismic activity rate, earthquake recurrence time, seismic moment, and fractal dimension derived from micro and teleseismic data. The b-values vary between 0.6 and 1.1 in the tectonically active parts of the study area, corresponding with the reverse/thrust and strike-slip active faults. Large earthquakes might be prone to occur at 10–25 km depth because both catalogues show low b-values (b < 1.0) concentrations at this depth range. The high fractal dimension (> 1.5), high seismic activity rate, large seismic moment parameters, and its continuously increasing trend. Short recurrence periods (20–50 years) of M 6.5 events also emphasize the high seismic activity and high seismic hazard. On the other hand, the prevalence of low b-values is notably observed in areas encompassing densely populated cities such as Rasht, Lahijan, Amol, Babol, Sari, Behshahr, Gorgan, and the megacity of Tehran. Furthermore, we have identified asperities where the Gorgan Plain, the Khazar, and the Alamutrud Fault Zones are located. These findings emphasize the seismic hazard potential in the identified areas and urban centers within the study area. Therefore, particular attention should be directed towards areas exhibiting low b-values when assessing and mitigating seismic hazards. It underscores the necessity for additional focus on seismic hazard assessment and implementation of mitigation strategies in the Alborz region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On 2 December 2020 10:54 UTC a shallow earthquake of MW (NOA) = 4.6 occurred near the village of Kallithea (to the east of Thiva), central Greece, which, despite its modest size, was locally damaging. Using InSAR and GNSS data, we mapped a permanent change on the ground surface, i.e., a subsidence of 7 cm. Our geodetic inversion modelling indicates that the rupture occurred on a WNW–ESE striking, SSW-dipping normal fault, with a dip-angle of ~ 54°. The maximum slip value was 0.35 m, which was reached at a depth of about 1100 m. The analysis of broadband seismological data also provided kinematic source parameters such as moment magnitude MW = 4.6 (± 0.1), rupture area 6.3 km2 and mean slip 0.16 m, which agree with the values obtained from the geodetic model. The effects of the earthquake were disproportionate to its moderate magnitude, probably due to its unusually shallow depth (slip centroid at 1.1 km) and the high efficiency of the earthquake (radiation efficiency η = 0.62). The geodetic data inversion also indicates that within the uncertainty limits of the technique, three scenarios are possible (a) the earthquake responsible for the mapped surface deformation may have occurred on a ~ 2-km long, blind normal fault different from the well-known active Kallithea normal fault or (b) could have occurred along a secondary fault that branches off the Kallithea fault or (c) it may have occurred along the Kallithea fault itself, but with its geometrical configuration could not be modelled with available data. We have also concluded that with a high dip-angle Kallithea Fault forward model it is not possible to fit the geodetic data. The rupture initiated at a very shallow depth (1.1 km) and it could not propagate deeper possibly because of a structural barrier down-dip. The 2020 event near Kallithea highlighted the structural complexity in this region of the Asopos Rift valley as the reactivation of the WNW–ESE structures indicates their significant role in strain accommodation and that they still represent a seismic hazard for this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents seismological evidence that the northern sector of the front of the Salient of Monterrey, Sierra Madre Oriental, in northeastern México, is nowadays under tectonic compressional stress. This is derived through the seismic moment tensor inversion of two earthquakes related to a small shallow seismic sequence of four events that occurred from March 16 to 23, 2022, in southern Monterrey. The main earthquake of March 16 (Mw3.69) was felt in some cities of the Monterrey Metropolitan area. The thrust fault mechanisms of the March 16 and March 20 (Mw3.25) earthquakes had depths of 4 and 7 km, respectively, and could be linked with the reactivation of thrust faults below the boundary between the detachment horizon and the basement, which is correlated with geological evidence. For the March 16 earthquake, the nodal fault plane has the following values: strike = 158°, dip = 66°, and rake = 87°, and for the March 20 earthquake, the values were the following: strike = 146°, dip = 82°, and rake 42. These values coincide with the regional trend of the front of the Salient of Monterrey. For this area, recent seismicity recorded at the front of the fold–thrust belt shows a neotectonic compression process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Archean Western Dharwar Craton supergroup has volcanic and sedimentary rocks deposited during 2900–2600 Ma underlain by the Sargur Group basement of 3.36–3.2 Ga granitic gneiss and older supracrustal rocks. The western part of the craton, known as the western province (Dharwar Foreland), comprises four major schist belts (Western Ghats-Bababudhan-Shimoga-Chitradurga). A regional gravity and magnetic (Total Field) survey was done in the Shimoga region. The geophysical data of the study area reveal the subsurface extension and behaviour of the exposed rocks of the area. The Euler deconvolution was used to define the depth of the anomaly sources. Euler depth solution for the spherical body (structural index 2), window size = 10, and depth tolerance = 5% depicts the depth of the various sources. The Euler depth solutions cluster over the hook-shaped schist rock of the Medur group (at the northern part of the area) reveals that the body's depth varies from 1 to 4 km in the central part, and at the northern flank, it goes up to 7 km. The solution also brought out the depth of the anomalous body near Hithala, within 4 km. The 2D forward depth modelling of the anomalous zone brings out the involvement of the tectonic forces in the generation of this anomalous body. The more precise depth from the model has been estimated between 2 and 3 km. The model clearly shows the relationship between schist rocks and the basement. However, the high-gravity anomaly has been modelled as the manganese bearing horizon, which has come to optimum depth because of folding and faulting in the region, thus providing a favourable zone for manganese deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the thin‐skinned Subandean foreland fold‐and‐thrust belt of northern Argentina and Bolivia, the tectonically active morphotectonic province of the Santa Bárbara System in the Andean broken foreland of northwestern Argentina is characterized by a temporally and spatially disparate deformation style. Although there is no well‐defined orogenic deformation front associated with the uplift of these basement‐cored, reverse‐fault bounded mountain ranges, there has been an overall eastward trend in Andean compressional deformation since the Miocene. While reactivation of basement anisotropies, such as early Paleozoic metamorphic fabrics and Cretaceous normal faults, has been proposed to have profoundly affected deformation processes in the Santa Bárbara System, other mechanisms involving Mesozoic and Cenozoic cover rocks may also have played an important role in orogenic deformation in this sector of the Andean foreland. We present structural field observations, interpretations of seismic reflection profiles, and kinematic modeling from the basins bordering the Candelaria Range in the southern sector of the Santa Bárbara System at 26°S. Our analysis features a 110‐km‐long structural cross section that images and links deep‐seated structures with shallow neotectonic faults. We find that regional shortening has been facilitated by several faults associated with a regional detachment at a depth of 23 km, resulting in total horizontal shortening of about 17% (18.4 km). While the deep‐seated first‐order structures seem closely linked to seismogenic processes in the Andean foreland, shallow second‐order structures within the sedimentary cover modify the intermontane landscapes and appear to be associated with aseismic creep. Key Points: Kinematic model for the Santa Bárbara System shows a 1st‐order detachment at 23 km depth, contributing to 18.4 km of Cenozoic shorteningDeformation shows spatiotemporal variations, linked to reactivation of Cretaceous extensional faults and/or basement heterogeneitiesSeismicity is closely associated with deep faults rather than shallow structures affecting the sedimentary cover [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately identifying the Bottom Simulating Reflector (BSR) is a crucial and fundamental task in seismic exploration and the interpretation of gas hydrates in marine areas. During our seismic interpretation and inference work on a gas hydrate survey in the Qiongdongnan Sea area, we encountered a phenomenon that closely resembled the seismic reflection characteristics of BSR. By comparing and identifying various geological phenomena, we have determined that this unique seismic reflection phenomenon is, in fact, the reflection of the depositional bottom interface known as "mass transport deposits (MTDs)" as described by previous researchers. The physical properties of the MTDs developed on the shallow surface of the seafloor are similar to those of gas hydrate reservoirs in the seismic exploration of marine areas, particularly in the northern South China Sea's Qiongdongnan Sea area. Due to the lack of active neotectonic movement in the area, most identified BSR reflection occurrences are parallel to the seafloor. Consequently, during the process of seismic interpretation of BSR in the Qiongdongnan Sea area, it may be confused with the bottom boundary reflection interface of MTDs. Accurately identifying MTDs' sedimentary bodies in gas hydrate exploration activities in this area would greatly enhance the accurate identification of BSR and support the refined evaluation of gas hydrate resources. In this paper, the structural characteristics of MTDs are compared with the reflection characteristics of seismic profiles, the reflectors are identified as MTDs rather than BSR through analysis and interpretation, and the possible mechanism of hydrate accumulation in this region is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Puerto Rico is part of the Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands microplate, along the Caribbean–North American plate boundary between the Puerto Rico trench subduction zone and the Muertos Trough incipient subduction zone. Despite recent seismicity and geodetically constrained deformation of ~3 mm/yr of left-lateral shear across the island, Quaternary fault locations remain largely uncertain. Preservation of recent faulting in the landscape is masked by distributed faulting, high weathering rates of the tropical climate, steep topography, widespread landsliding, and extensive agriculture, deforestation, and urbanization throughout the island. We present an updated active fault map of Puerto Rico, created through neotectonic mapping using historical aerial imagery from the 1930s-60s and < 1-m lidar topography, integrated with field observations, to create an updated active fault map of Puerto Rico. We focus on faults that offset younger geomorphic surfaces, with ages estimated by geologic mapping, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and radiocarbon dating, and morphologic interpretations. We present new evidence for Quaternary activity on seven faults, including the South Lajas, Salinas, Punta Montalva, Great Southern Puerto Rico, Cerro Goden, Parguera, and San Marcos faults. We find that active faulting occurs preferentially near the southern and western coasts and in part spatially coincides with preexisting bedrock faults, possibly reflecting reactivation of some older faults in the modern strain field.

Kosovo is located in a key position in the central-west part of the Balkans providing an opportunity to understand the far-field effects of distributed intracontinental deformation caused by the Aegean extension in the south and Adriatic compression in the west. It is also situated along the NE-SW trending Shkodër-Pejë transverse zone, where the Dinarides and Albanides-Hellenides orogenic belts are juxtaposed. While the instrumental seismicity of Kosovo indicates the activity of this fault zone and many others, the active faults in the country were not discussed in detail in the current literature. In this study, we analyzed both the geomorphic and structural features of major mountain front faults in western Kosovo (i.e., Pejë, Istog, Krojmir, and Prizren faults) to reveal the relative assessment of their activities and kinematic characters. Geomorphic and morphometric analyses of all the studied four different mountain fronts indicated high activity and tectonic uplift rates of over 0.5 mm/a. On the other hand, according to the collected kinematic data from the observed fault planes, the studied faults are mainly of normal character representing a dominance of NWSE- directed extension in western Kosovo, which is most probably caused by the rollback of the subducting slab in the Hellenic trench.

ABSTRACTThe Shillong Plateau is the only elevated topography in the Himalayan foreland bounded and crisscrossed by several prominent faults and shear zones. The plateau is situated in a complex tectonic compressional set up, owing to which the fault systems both at the periphery and within tend to be neotectonically active. Due to the elevation difference of the plateau with the Brahmaputra and Meghna River valleys flanking it, coupled with the impervious lithologies present, an intricate network of drainage system has developed in the plateau. In this paper, morphometric and structural analyses of four selected drainage basins from the east-central part of Shillong Plateau have been carried out to comprehend the effects of neotectonic reactivation of fault systems and associated basin tilting which in turn controls the development of drainage pattern. This has led to the understanding of the effects of the ever-evolving fluvial landforms on the anthroposphere in this part of Indian sub-continent, where the agrarian-economy is completely dependent on the intricate fluvial systems.

Introduction: This study aims to differentiate local and regional ground uplift, as well as sub-regional subsidence induced by groundwater level drawdown, which are possibly enhanced across fault structures, as monitored by various synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) processing methods. A buoyant mantle plume under the Eifel may be responsible for the regional ground uplift, including the Weser-Geul (BE) and South Limburg regions (NL), which could negatively affect the area proposed for the future Einstein Telescope. Methods: Different InSAR processing techniques are compared to evaluate their limits in tracking fault structures on a time series of Copernicus Sentinel-1 images while detecting and measuring ground motion based on their phase signature. The results present an overall stable ground for the Euregio Meuse-Rhine region, especially at the Belgian-Dutch border, while tectonic activity is observed along the German side of the Rhine Graben. Results: As the current neotectonic activity in the target area was not well known, we performed a spatiotemporal analysis of ground deformation associated with the presence of NW-SE-trending normal faults where karst also develops, as well as along the Variscan NE-SW-trending thrust faults. This work demonstrates that the identification of deformation hazards using satellite remote sensing (and connected seismological) techniques is challenging mainly due to (very) small regional scale deformation, terrain conditions, and SAR properties. Discussion: Thus, the results mostly indicate ground stability over the area; however, also some agricultural activities were observed, as was deformation along some infrastructure such as railways. Displacements of millimetric order measured along the faults located near the Geul valley (BE) are probably related to old mining activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rif Cordillera, an Alpine orogen in the Western Mediterranean, was developed by the interaction of Eurasian and African (Nubia) plates. Neotectonic deformations of the Rif foreland influence the relief, especially in post-nappe basins and their boundaries with Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonate mountain massifs, and they contribute to highlighting the recent evolution of the Cordillera. The topographic and hydrological lineaments of these basins were characterised on the basis of multi-scale morphostructural data analysis, supported by digital mapping and GIS. They were correlated with geological structures, essentially with fractures. The outcrops of the Upper Tortonian and Messinian deposits depict well-defined geometric shapes with roughly rectilinear boundaries, as defined by their contacts with the massive and rigid rocks of the Jurassic and Cretaceous series. Upper Tortonian deposits evidence major regional N70°E and N40°E lineaments, which are obliquely intersected by late structures. Messinian N120°E and N25°E lineaments, associated with N140°E lineaments, are also recognised. The interpretation of these lineaments as faults indicates the activity of two systems of transtensive sinistral and then dextral brittle shearing that correspond to two episodes of neotectonic deformation that played a decisive role in shaping the reliefs of the Eastern Rif. These deformations are particularly relevant to isolate basins and likely have a key role during the closure of the South Rifian corridor during the Mediterranean Messinian Salinity crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caves serve as time capsules, preserving significant markers of tectonic activity and offering insights into geological history. Fault geometries and past activations found in caves can be correlated with known deformational events in the broader area, temporally delimiting the speleogenesis. More specifically, cave passage formation is suggested to be affected by the regional stress-field. The Asprorema Cave in Northern Greece is a typical example of a fracture guided cave, with passage geometry influenced by relative sidewall movements, revealing these discontinuities as faults. This study constructs the timeframe and conceptual model of speleogenesis in relation to tectonic events, geomorphological evolution and hydrological zones, and verifies its relation to the stress-field. Active tectonics, mineralogy and cave geomorphology are investigated. Results suggest syntectonic speleogenesis under phreatic and epiphreatic conditions. The absence of corrosion on fault slip surfaces implies recent activations post cave's shift to the vadose zone. Structural analysis identifies three main neotectonic phases: NNW-SSE striking faults (oldest group of structures), NE-SW striking faults with dextral strike-slip movement (post-middle Miocene), and NE-SW striking normal faults indicating extensional stress-regime (Quartenary). The last two phases affect cave passage shape causing wall displacement, highlighting passage formation along discontinuities perpendicular to the horizontal minimum stress axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lakes in seismically active regions preserve valuable sedimentary archives of paleoseismic activity within their catchment and beyond. A series of glacially-excavated lakes positioned directly along the surface trace of the Teton normal fault at the base of the Teton Range, WY, are ideally situated to record past fault activity since their formation approximately 15,000 years ago. Here, we focus on the sediment fill contained in Jenny Lake (5 km²; approximately 73 m max depth) located at the bottom of Cascade Canyon, in the central Tetons, where postglacial slip rates are greatest. Past earthquakes that generated slope failures in and around Jenny Lake are expressed stratigraphically as coseismic turbidite deposits. These deposits were previously identified and dated in sub-bottom profiles and in sediment cores taken from multiple locations around the basin. In this study, we focus on the six thickest turbidites (ranging from 6 to 34 c[sub m] thick) present in multiple cores recovered from the central depositional basin and analyze them at sub-centimeter resolution for changes in physical, biological, and geochemical parameters, including sediment density, magnetic susceptibility, grain size distributions, organic content, and elemental composition. Results reveal each deposit contains a well-defined, three-component sedimentary sequence composed of a relatively homogenous and thick basal sandy unit with a sharp bottom contact, a similarly thick silt-rich middle unit, and a thin top unit of very fine-grained sediments. The characteristics of these components and their similarity between individual deposits suggest consistent sediment sources and transport pathways during successive earthquake events. Based on our analyses and the unique local geomorphic setting, we create a mechanistic model of coseismic turbidite formation in Jenny Lake, which may provide an improved framework for identifying, characterizing, and correlating earthquake-generated disturbance deposits in other Teton lakes and lakes in similar tectonic-geomorphological settings, for example, in the Basin and Range Province, USA or beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoantigens play a pivotal role in the field of tumour therapy, encompassing the stimulation of antitumour immune response and the enhancement of tumour targeting capability. Nonetheless, numerous factors directly influence the effectiveness of neoantigens in bolstering anti-tumour immune responses, including neoantigen quantity and specificity, uptake rates by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), residence duration within the tumour microenvironment (TME), and their ability to facilitate the maturation of APCs for immune response activation. Nanotechnology assumes a significant role in several aspects, including facilitating neoantigen release, promoting neoantigen delivery to antigen-presenting cells, augmenting neoantigen uptake by dendritic cells, shielding neoantigens from protease degradation, and optimizing interactions between neoantigens and the immune system. Consequently, the development of nanotechnology synergistically enhances the efficacy of neoantigens in cancer theranostics. In this review, we provide an overview of neoantigen sources, the mechanisms of neoantigen-induced immune responses, and the evolution of precision neoantigen-based nanomedicine. This encompasses various therapeutic modalities, such as neoantigen-based immunotherapy, phototherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, and other strategies tailored to augment precision in cancer therapeutics. We also discuss the current challenges and prospects in the application of neoantigenbased precision nanomedicine, aiming to expedite its clinical translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaternary stable isotope records of marine and lacustrine carbonate deposits as well as speleothems were extensively studied to reconstruct global and regional climatic evolution. This study demonstrates how stable isotope records of travertine provide fundamental information about climate and the consequences of its evolution on groundwater level fluctuations. The deposition of the Lapis Tiburtinus travertine succession occurred during the Late Pleistocene (150-30 ka), coeval with the last activity of the Colli Albani volcanic complex. Two boreholes (Sn1 and Sn2) were drilled into the Acque Albule Basin (23 km E of Rome), crossing the entire Lapis Tiburtinus succession. The Sn1 borehole in the central part of the basin crosscuts a travertine succession of 62.1 m in thickness, while the Sn2 borehole in the southern part of the basin is characterized by a travertine succession 36.3 m in thickness. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios were analysed on 118 samples (59 samples both for Sn1 and Sn2 boreholes) representative of the entire Lapis Tiburtinus travertine succession crossed by the boreholes. Values, measured and correlated in the two drilled boreholes, permitted determination of the sensitivity of the travertine depositional system to glacial and interglacial cycles, unravelling the complex oxygen and carbon cycle dynamic recorded in such sedimentary succession. Moreover, the results obtained correlated with available pollen curves of the Mediterranean area (from the Castiglione crater, 25 km E of Rome). Regional and global oxygen isotope continental and marine curves, calibrated with the stratigraphy of the Acque Albule Basin, and available U/Th dating allow the identification of at least three phases of the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5-MIS5). The carbon isotope record, compared with CO2 flux reconstructed and associated with the volcanic activity of the Colli Albani volcanic complex, instead shows an influence from groundwater level changes. In particular, positive shifts that occurred during arid phases are associated with a lower groundwater level and increased CO2 degassing, inducing a major fractionation effect on carbon isotopes. Instead, the negative shifts occurring during more humid periods indicate the inhibition of CO2 degassing and increase in pressure, attesting to a rise in groundwater level. In this view, travertine deposits, frequently studied to define the tectonic setting and activity of the area where they develop, can thus also be used as a tool to understand climate changes and groundwater variations apparent in their stable oxygen and carbon isotope signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: ABY-029, an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted, synthetic Affibody peptide labeled with a near-infrared fluorophore, is under investigation for fluorescence-guided surgery of sarcomas. To date, studies using ABY-029 have occurred in tumors naïve to chemotherapy (CTx) and radiation therapy (RTx), although these neoadjuvant therapies are frequently used for sarcoma treatment in humans. The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of CTx and RTx on tumor EGFR expression and ABY-029 fluorescence of human soft-tissue sarcoma xenografts in a murine model. Procedures: Immunodeficient mice (n = 98) were divided into five sarcoma xenograft groups and three treatment groups – CTx only, RTx only, and CTx followed by RTx, plus controls. Four hours post-injection of ABY-029, animals were sacrificed followed by immediate fluorescence imaging of ex vivo adipose, muscle, nerve, and tumor tissues. Histological hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed tumor type, and immunohistochemistry staining determined EGFR, cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), and smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression levels. Correlation analysis (Pearson's correlation coefficients, r) and linear regression (unstandardized coefficient estimates, B) were used to determine statistical relationships in molecular expression and tissue fluorescence between xenografts and treatment groups. Results: Neoadjuvant therapies had no broad impact on EGFR expression (|B|≤ 7.0, p ≥ 0.4) or on mean tissue fluorescence (any tissue type, (|B|≤ 2329.0, p ≥ 0.1). Mean tumor fluorescence was significantly related to EGFR expression (r = 0.26, p = 0.01), as expected. Conclusion: Results suggest that ABY-029 as an EGFR-targeted, fluorescent probe is not negatively impacted by neoadjuvant soft-tissue sarcoma therapies, although validation in humans is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The active tectonics of northern Central Mongolia is studied between two largest W–E-trending left lateral fault zones: the Khangai Fault and the Tunka–Mondy. These strike-slip zones are part of a single ensemble of active faults in the Mongol–Baikal region, formed under conditions of maximum northeastern compression and maximum northwestern extension. Their ENE-trending Erzin–Agardag and Tsetserleg faults with a dominant sinistral component extend between these zones. A series of the N-trending graben basins (Busiyngol, Darkhat, and Khubsugul) are located between the eastern end of the Erzin–Agardag strike-slip fault and the western part of the Tunka–Mondy strike-slip zone. The basins form a sinistral deformation zone, which is kinematically similar with the strike-slip faults, which follow the latter. In contrast to the largest boundary strike-slip faults, this structural paragenesis formed under conditions of N–S-trending relative compression and N–S-trending extension. A change in the orientation of the axes of the principal normal stress may be caused by the rotation of the block between the boundary faults. The area of graben-shaped basins is located above the top of a vast volume of low-velocity mantle, which we have identified as the Khangai plume. The lithospheric mantle above this rise is reduced; the remaining part of the lithosphere is heated and softened. The large active strike-slip faults are located above areas of subsidence of the low-velocity top of the mantle. Our trenching of the active faults showed that strong earthquakes repeated in the area of graben-shaped basins more often than in the large strike-slip zones, but they were characterized by lower magnitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard Permanent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) technique, which is commonly used for surface motion analysis, assumes linear deformation velocities. While effective for monitoring urban subsidence over short periods, it falls short when dealing with non-linear, earthquake-related deformations over extended timeframes. To address this limitation, we use a non-linear PSInSAR technique, which is an enhancement of PSInSAR, to identify non-linear deformation patterns. We processed Sentinel-1A images from ascending and descending orbits in the Islamabad/Rawalpindi region from December 2015 to January 2023 using non-linear PSInSAR. By calculating the differences in deformation, we analyzed surface movements and assessed the impact of the 2017 earthquake on urban areas. Our findings reveal that the earthquake significantly increased the deformation in ascending and descending orbit tracks, with an average deformation of up to 70 mm/yr and a line-of-sight movement of up to 30 mm/yr. Our observations indicate that the deformation is directed towards the line of sight in the north and south of the deformed area, suggesting subsidence between the two uplifting faults, potentially linked to a concealed fault line along the deformation zone boundary. This contradicts previous arguments, suggesting that water extraction is the leading cause of deformation. Our analysis with non-linear PSInSAR demonstrates that tectonics play a significant role in deformation, providing valuable insights into tectonic-activity-induced deformations in urban areas over the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]