Geomorphological map of the NW Coast of the Island of Malta (Mediterranean Sea)

This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried along the north-western coast of the Island of Malta. Field surveys, accompanied by aerial photo-intepretation, have led to the production of a geomorphological map at 1:7500 scale which outlines the main processes and related landforms. The latter are the result of the complex interplay of structural, gravitational, coastal and karst processes. Particular attention was devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of landslides which affect large coastal sectors of the study area, locally giving rise to hazard conditions

Apolipoprotein E in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Apolipoprotein E in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis.BackgroundHyperlipemia characterizes nephrotic syndrome (NS) and contributes to the progression of the underlying nephropathy. The data in the literature support an implication of apolipoprotein E (apoE) in both hyperlipemia and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), a malignant condition associated with NS.MethodsThe apoE genotype was determined in 209 nephrotic patients, who were classified according to age and their response to steroids as resistant children (N = 96) and adults (43), and steroid dependent (33) and steroid responder (37) children. A total of 123 presented the histological features of FSGS. In a subgroup of 28 patients, serum and urinary levels of apoE and renal deposits were evaluated by immunofluorescence.ResultsThe allelic frequencies of the three major haplotypes γ2, γ3, and γ4 were the same in nephrotic patients versus controls, and homozygosity for γ3γ3 was comparably the most frequent genotype (70 vs. 71%) followed by γ3γ4, γ2γ3, γ2γ4, γ4γ4. Serum levels of apoE were fivefold higher in NS and in FSGS patients than in controls, with a direct correlation with hypercholesterolemia and proteinuria. ApoE genotypes did not influence serum levels. Urinary levels were 1/10,000 of serum with an increment in nephrotic urines. Finally, immunofluorescence demonstrated the absence of apoE in sclerotic glomeruli, while comparably nephrotic patients with membranous nephropathy had an increased glomerular expression of apoE.ConclusionsApoE is dysregulated in NS with a marked increment in serum, which is a part of the complex lipid metabolism. Down-regulation of glomerular apoE instead is a peculiarity of FSGS and may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. The normal distribution of apoE genotypes in nephrotic patients with FSGS excludes a pathogenetic role of genetic variants

Geomorphological map of the NW coast of the island of Malta

This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried along the north-western coast of the Island of Malta. Field surveys, accompanied by aerial photo-interpretation, have led to the production of a geomorphological map at 1:7500 scale which outlines the main processes and related landforms. The latter are the results of the complex interplay of structural, gravitational, coastal and karst processes. Particular attention was devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of landslides which affect large coastal sectors of the study area, locally giving rise to hazardous conditions

Land Management Versus Natural Factors in Land Instability

The objective of this work is to test a hypothesis formulated on the basis of former results which considers that there might be a ''global geomorphic change,'' due to activities related to land management and not determined by climate change, which could be causing an acceleration of geomorphic processes. Possible relationships between some geomorphic processes related to land instability (landslides or sediment generation) and potential triggering factors are analyzed in study areas in northern Spain. The analysis is based on landslide inventories covering different periods, as well as the determination of sedimentation rates. Temporal landslide and sedimentation rate trends are compared with different indicators of human activities (land-use change, logging, forest fires) and with potential natural triggers (rainfall, seismicity). The possible influence of the road network in the distribution of landslides is also analyzed. Results obtained show that there is a general increase of both landslide and sedimentation rates with time that cannot be explained satisfactorily by observed rainfall trends and even less by seismicity. Landuse change appears to be by far the main factor leading to land instability, with some changes producing up to a 12-fold increase of landslide rate. A relationship between road network and the spatial distribution of landslides has also been observed. These results do confirm the existence of an acceleration of geomorphic processes in the region, and also suggest that climate-related factors play a limited role in the changes observed

A comprehensive approach to investigate maltese coastal landslides

This paper presents geomorphological and engineering-geological studies carried out along the north-western coast of Malta by research groups belonging to the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy), the National Research Council (Italy), the University of Malta and the University of Cantabria (Spain). The research are funded by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Modena and the European Centre for Geomorphological Hazards (CERG) and focus on the evolution of coastal landslides with emphasis on the issues of hazard and risk, with respect to the recreational infrastructures present in the area and to the several tourists that visit this stretch of coast. The area of study extends for about 12 km2 in Northern Malta and elevation ranges from the coast to about 110 m above the sea level. In this part of the Island, slope failures are abundant and strictly linked to lithological and structural factors. In fact, in the north-western area of Malta, between Paradise Bay and Gnejna Bay, three geological units outcrop that deeply control the morphological setting and the evolution of landscape: Globigerina Formation, Blue Clay Formation and Upper Coralline Formation. The Upper Coralline Limestone, the younger Formation of Malta Island, forms a karst plateau, bordered by vertical cliffs of varying heights, which ranges from a few meters to 30 m. At the foot of the limestone slopes Blue Clays Formation crops out which develops gently slopes that in some cases can reach directly the sea. The different mechanical behaviour of clays and limestone favours the development of lateral spreading phenomena, which occur in particular at Anchor Bay, at Ghajn Tuffieha Bay and along the western sector of Marfa Ridge. The occurence of this type of mass movement causes the presence of vertical joints and cracks near the calcareous slopes, due to the fragile response of rock material. Properties of the cracks, such as their aperture and persistence, depend on the different stages of lateral spreading phenomena; in the areas where the phase of evolution is more mature fractures reach lengths that can exceed 200 meters. A consequence of the presence of these wide discontinuities is the accumulation of large boulders along the coast, due to the detachament and fall of blocks from the vertical cliffs. The deposits are wide and the blocks are slowly scattered on the large terrace gently sloping towards the sea. In order to study and understand the complex evolution of coastal slope failures, a multidisciplinary approach has been applied and a complex system of monitoring has been installed. The research carried out so far has included a retrospective study of slope instability events along the north-west coast of Malta, collection and analysis of climatic data, multi-temporal analysis of aerial photos, geomorphological survey and mapping. In addition, the research plan foresees LIDAR surveys and radar interferometric analyses. The results obtained have permitted to outline the causes and evolution of coastal landslides in the north-western coast of Malta, with specific focus on rock spreading phenomena whose movement velocity and direction have been monitored since 2006 in two field sites. GPS network are located at Il-Qarraba and Anchor Bay. The analysis of monitoring data has shown that lateral spreading phenomena are active in both sites and that the displacements range from a few mm/yr to more then 3 cm/yr. The integration of new monitoring data to be acquired will permit the evaluation and mapping of landslide hazard. The final results of the research are aiming at providing local authorities with a sound knowledge of coastal instability phenomena which might be useful for future land planning and in managing geomorphological risk issues

Natural and human forcing in recent geomorphic change; case studies in the Rio de la Plata basin

An analysis of geomorphic system`s response to change in human and natural drivers in some areas within the Rio de la Plata basin is presented The aim is to determine whether an acceleration of geomorphic processes has taken place in recent years and, if so, to what extent it is due to natural (climate) or human (land-use) drivers Study areas of different size, socio-economic and geomorphic conditions have been selected: the Rio de la Plata estuary and three sub-basins within its watershed Sediment cores were extracted and dated ((210)Pb) to determine sedimentation rates since the end of the 19th century. Rates were compared with time series on rainfall as well as human drivers such as population, GDP, livestock load, crop area, energy consumption or cement consumption, all of them related to human capacity to disturb land surface Data on river discharge were also gathered Results obtained indicate that sedimentation rates during the last century have remained essentially constant in a remote Andean basin, whereas they show important increases in the other two, particularly one located by the Sao Paulo metropolitan area Rates in the estuary are somewhere in between It appears that there is an intensification of denudation/sedimentation processes within the basin. Rainfall remained stable or varied very slightly during the period analysed and does not seem to explain increases of sedimentation rates observed. Human drivers, particularly those more directly related to capacity to disturb land surface (GDP, energy or cement consumption) show variations that suggest human forcing is a more likely explanation for the observed change in geomorphic processes It appears that a marked increase in denudation, of a ""technological"" nature, is taking place in this basin and leading to an acceleration of sediment supply This is coherent with similar increases observed in other regions (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reservedPlan Nacional de I+D+I, Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Spain[CAMGEO]Plan Nacional de I+D+I, Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, Spain[CGL2006-11431]Universidad de Cantabria (Spain)Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Argentina)Universidade de Sao Paulo (USP, Sao Carlos, Brasil)MEC, Spai

A multi-element psychosocial intervention for early psychosis (GET UP PIANO TRIAL) conducted in a catchment area of 10 million inhabitants: study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial

Multi-element interventions for first-episode psychosis (FEP) are promising, but have mostly been conducted in non-epidemiologically representative samples, thereby raising the risk of underestimating the complexities involved in treating FEP in 'real-world' services