Full integration of geomorphological, geotechnical, A-DInSAR and damage data for detailed geometric-kinematic features of a slow-moving landslide in urban area

AbstractThe reconnaissance, mapping and analysis of kinematic features of slow-moving landslides evolving along medium-deep sliding surfaces in urban areas can be a difficult task due to the presence and interactions of/with anthropic structures/infrastructures and human activities that can conceal morphological signs of landslide activity. The paper presents an integrated approach to investigate the boundaries, type of movement, kinematics and interactions (in terms of damage severity distribution) with the built environment of a roto-translational slow-moving landslide affecting the historic centre of Lungro town (Calabria region, southern Italy). For this purpose, ancillary multi-source data (e.g. geological-geomorphological features and geotechnical properties of geomaterials), both conventional inclinometer monitoring and innovative non-invasive remote sensing (i.e. A-DInSAR) displacement data were jointly analyzed and interpreted to derive the A-DInSAR-geotechnical velocity (DGV) map of the landslide. This result was then cross-compared with detailed information available on the visible effects (i.e. crack pattern and width) on the exposed buildings along with possible conditioning factors to displacement evolution (i.e. remedial works, sub-services, etc.). The full integration of multi-source data available at the slope scale, by maximizing each contribution, provided a comprehensive outline of kinematic-geometric landslide features that were used to investigate the damage distribution and to detect, if any, anomalous locations of damage severity and relative possible causes. This knowledge can be used to manage landslide risk in the short term and, in particular, is propaedeutic to set up an advanced coupled geotechnical-structural model to simulate both the landslide displacements and the behavior of interacting buildings and, therefore, to implement appropriate risk mitigation strategies over medium/long period

Identification of sex determination genes and their evolution in Phlebotominae sand flies (Diptera, Nematocera)

Phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera, Nematocera) are important vectors of several pathogens, including Leishmania parasites, causing serious diseases of humans and dogs. Despite their importance as disease vectors, most aspects of sand fly biology remain unknown including the molecular basis of their reproduction and sex determination, aspects also relevant for the development of novel vector control strategies

Human, donkey and cow milk differently affects energy efficiency and inflammatory state by modulating mitochondrial function and gut microbiota

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Mapping Flood-Related Mortality in the Mediterranean Basin. Results from the MEFF v2.0 DB

Recent events in Western Attica in Greece (24 deaths in November 2017), in the Balearic Islands (13 deaths in October 2018), and in southern France (15 deaths in October 2018) show that flood-related mortality remains a major concern in Mediterranean countries facing flash floods. Over the past several years, many initiatives have arisen to create databases on flood-related mortality. An international initiative started in 2011 pooling regional and national databases on flood mortality from region and/or countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The MEditerranean Flood Fatality Database (MEFF DB) brings together, in 2018, six Mediterranean regions/countries: Catalonia (Spain), Balearic Islands (Spain), Southern France, Calabria (Italy), Greece, and Turkey, and covers the period 1980-2018. MEFF DB is on progress and, every year, new data are included, but for this study, we kept only the preliminary data that were geolocated and validated on 31st of December 2018. This research introduces a new step in the analysis of flood-related mortality and follows the statistical description of the MEFF DB already published. The goals of this paper are to draw the spatial distribution of flood mortality through a geographical information system (GIS) at different spatial scales: country, NUTS 3 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics. Level 3) regions, catchment areas, and grid. A fatality rate (F: number of deaths/year/million of inhabitants) is created to help this analysis. Then, we try to relate mortality to basic (human or physical) drivers such as population density, rainfall seasonality, or rainfall frequency across the Mediterranean Basin. The mapping of F shows a negative mortality gradient between the western and the eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea. The south of France appears to be the most affected region. The maps also highlight the seasonality of flood-related deaths with the same west-east gradient. It confirms that flood mortality follows the climatological seasonal patterns across the Mediterranean Basin. Flood-related fatalities mainly occur during the early fall season in the western part of the Mediterranean area, while the Easter Basin is affected later, in November or during the winter season. Eastern Turkey introduces another pattern, as mortality is more severe in summer. Mortality maps are then compared with factors that potentially contribute to the occurrence of flood fatalities, such as precipitation intensity (rainfall hazard), to explain geographical differences in the fatality rate. The density of a fatal event is correlated to the population density and the rainfall frequency. Conversely, the average number of deaths per event depends on other factors such as prevention or crisis managemen

Flood Fatalities in Europe, 1980-2018: Variability, Features, and Lessons to Learn

Floods are still a significant threat to people, despite of the considerable developments in forecasting, management, defensive, and rescue works. In the near future, climate and societal changes as both urbanization of flood prone areas and individual dangerous behaviors could increase flood fatalities. This paper analyzes flood mortality in eight countries using a 39-year database (1980-2018) named EUFF (EUropean Flood Fatalities), which was built using documentary sources. The narratives of fatalities were investigated and standardized in the database reporting the details of the events. The entire dataset shows a stable trend on flood fatalities, despite the existence of individual increasing (Greece, Italy, and South France) and decreasing (Turkey and Catalonia) trends. The 2466 fatalities were mainly males, aged between 30-49 years and the majority of them happened outdoor. Most often people were dragged by water/mud when travelling by motor vehicles. Some cases of hazardous behaviors, such as fording rivers, were also detected. The primary cause of death was drowning, followed by heart attack. This work contributes to understand the human-flood interaction that caused fatalities. The changes in society's vulnerability highlighted throughout this study contribute to manage future risks, to improve people protection actions, and to reduce risk behaviors

Analisi numerica del comportamento non lineare di un edificio in muratura soggetto a spostamenti indotti da una frana a cinematica lenta

Il presente contributo mostra i risultati preliminari di un'analisi numerica volta ad indagare la risposta – in termini di insorgenza e sviluppo del danno – di un edificio in muratura con fondazioni superficiali affetto da una frana a cinematica lenta in terreni alterati a struttura complessa. L’analisi, eseguita con l’ausilio di un codice di calcolo che implementa il metodo dell’Equivalent Frame (EF), si è avvalsa di dati di spostamento acquisiti mediante tecniche di monitoraggio sia convenzionali (da terra) sia innovative (di telerilevamento). La bontà dei risultati ottenuti, testimoniata dalla corrispondenza della risposta dell’edificio modellato con i dati sul danno acquisiti mediante rilievi multi-temporali in sito, invita alla definizione di modelli “edificio-frana” rappresentativi da utilizzare in attività finalizzate all’individuazione di strategie di intervento per la salvaguardia del patrimonio edilizio nelle aree urbane sede di frane a cinematica lenta

Numerical analysis of the nonlinear behaviour of a masonry building undergoing slow-moving landslide-induced displacements

The paper shows the preliminary results of a numerical analysis aimed at investigating the response – in terms of onset and development of damage – of a masonry building with shallow foundations undergoing slow-moving landslide-induced displacements. The analysis is performed by applying the Equivalent Frame method to a representative damaged masonry building located in the historic centre of Lungro town (Calabria region, southern Italy) interacting with a slow-moving landslide in complex-structured and weathered soils. A three-dimensional settlement pattern is imposed at the foundation level by way of a displacement-controlled analysis that makes use of both vertical and horizontal displacement information gathered from conventional (ground-based) and innovative (remote-sensing) monitoring techniques. The obtained outcomes, owing to the good matching of the modeled building response with damage data collected by multi-temporal in-situ surveys, can help in defining representative building-landslide models to be used for predicting and preventing the damage in slow-moving landslide-affected urban areas

Integration of DInSAR and multi-source data for the multi-scale management of built-up areas exposed to slow-moving landslide risk

The integration of Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) displacement data with groundbased monitoring and ancillary multi-source information (deriving from geological-geomorphological-geotechnical analyses and damage surveys to the built-up environment) can nowadays provide a useful support to activities pursuing the management and protection of structures (e.g., buildings) and infrastructure (including roads, bridges, embankments) exposed to slow-moving landslide risk. Indeed, the implementation of the most suitable risk mitigation strategies requires appropriate procedures tailored on the quality and quantity of available datasets and their joint use according to the scope and the related scale of analysis. As a result of a 15-year multidisciplinary joint research activity, this paper presents a multi-scale methodology which is applied to buildings affected by slow-moving landslides located in selected areas of the Cosenza Province (Calabria region, southern Italy)

The Effects of the Perception of Being Recognized by Patients With Alzheimer Disease on a Caregiver’s Burden and Psychophysical Health

Caring for a patient with Alzheimer disease (AD) represents a real challenge that can have considerable long-term psychological and physical consequences. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the perception of being recognized on both the psychophysical health and the level of burden reported in caregivers of patients with AD. The secondary aim was to evaluate the association between the use of a home care assistance service and the burden and psychophysical health in caregivers. The Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI), the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), and a visual analog scale (VAS) to evaluate the level of perception of being recognized were administered to 31 caregivers of patients with AD. Data were also collected from patients with AD using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). The level of perception of being recognized was significantly and negatively correlated with total burden (r = −0.36; P =.045) and objective burden (r = −0.53; P =.002). It was also significantly and positively correlated with the MMSE score (r = 41; P =.02). Regression models showed that only the perception of being recognized, and not MMSE, significantly predicted lower caregiver objective burden scores. Furthermore, the use of a home care assistance service significantly predicted higher caregiver physical functioning. The perception of being recognized by an AD relative significantly predicted the caregiver’s objective burden associated with a shortage of time. The use of a home care assistance service also resulted in a promotion in the caregiver’s social functioning. Further studies are needed to confirm these results