Multi-scale approach to analyse the evolution of soft rock coastal cliffs and role of controlling factors: a case study in South-Eastern Italy

The evolution of soft rock coastlines is strictly related to natural and anthropogenic conditions, which in some cases can determine also an acceleration of coastal retreat. The recent evolution of a soft rocky coastal stretch on the Italian southern Adriatic sector is analysed. To investigate the most important contributing factors to coastal evolution, a detailed multi-temporal (1954–2017) morphological analysis with photo-interpretation is carried out, which allows gaining a general understanding of the cliff evolution. The coastal retreat was then evaluated by exploiting the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool. From that, site-specific analyses are carried out to explore the role of four environmental factors: rock mechanical properties, geostructural setup of the rock mass along the coast, emerged rock platform at the toe, and the storm waves. Analyses highlighted how the most significant retreat is detected along cliff segments characterized by the presence of low strength rocks susceptible to water-induced weakening, moderate fracturing degree of the rock mass, absence of the emerged platform at the toe, and wave storms. This work shows how a multi-scale methodology could represent an efficient approach to gain an interpretation of the instability processes and thus prepare risk mitigation plans and land management strategies

Tidal notches in Mediterranean Sea: a comprehensive analysis

Recent works (Evelpidou et al., 2012) suggest that the modern tidal notch is disappearing worldwide due sea level rise over the last century. In order to assess this hypothesis, we measured modern tidal notches in several of sites along the Mediterranean coasts. We report observations on tidal notches cut along carbonate coasts from 73 sites from Italy, France, Croatia, Montenegro, Greece, Malta and Spain, plus additional observations carried outside the Mediterranean. At each site, we measured notch width and depth, and we described the characteristics of the biological rim at the base of the notch. We correlated these parameters with wave energy, tide gauge datasets and rock lithology. Our results suggest that, considering \u2018the development of tidal notches the consequence of midlittoral bioerosion\u2019 (as done in Evelpidou et al., 2012) is a simplification that can lead to misleading results, such as stating that notches are disappearing. Important roles in notch formation can be also played by wave action, rate of karst dissolution, salt weathering and wetting and drying cycles. Of course notch formation can be augmented and favoured also by bioerosion which can, in particular cases, be the main process of notch formation and development. Our dataset shows that notches are carved by an ensemble rather than by a single process, both today and in the past, and that it is difficult, if not impossible, to disentangle them and establish which one is prevailing. We therefore show that tidal notches are still forming, challenging the hypothesis that sea level rise has drowned them

Rock cliff instability mechanisms and erosional processes along the Adriatic Salento coast (Southern Italy)

The recent Ordinance of the Gallipoli Harbour Office and the Coast Guards with the consequent interdiction for any activities along more than 50 km of the Adriatic Salento coasts brought the widespread instability processes to the attention of the public opinion. The coastal morphology is characterized by vertical rock cliffs, locally with overhanging blocks, articulated in caps and promontories, stacks, inlets and beaches. The evolution of the coastal morphology of the Southern Apulian coasts is mainly related to the rock mass movements, erosion and weathering phenomena due to the abrasive action of the marine spray and the wave action at the cliff foots. A predisposing factor of the instability processes of the cliffs is represented by the outcropping geological formations made of poorly cemented Pleistocenic calcarenites and by the presence of ancient coastal quarries. The instability processes are represented by rock falls, block slidings and toppling. This paper is aimed at exploring the different causes that promote the instability processes and the possible landsliding kinematics, also by means of numerical modelling techniques. The knowledge of the cliff behavior may provide a valuable support for predicting the possible failure occurrence and modeling the coastal morphological evolution

Multi-scale approach to analyse the evolution of soft rock coastal cliffs and role of controlling factors: a case study in south-eastern Italy

The evolution of soft rock coastlines is strictly related to natural and anthropogenic conditions, which in some cases can determine also an acceleration of coastal retreat. The recent evolution of a soft rocky coastal stretch on the Italian southern Adriatic sector is analysed. To investigate the most important contributing factors to coastal evolution, a detailed multi-temporal (1954–2017) morphological analysis with photo-interpretation is carried out, which allows gaining a general understanding of the cliff evolution. The coastal retreat was then evaluated by exploiting the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) tool. From that, site-specific analyses are carried out to explore the role of four environmental factors: rock mechanical properties, geostructural setup of the rock mass along the coast, emerged rock platform at the toe, and the storm waves. Analyses highlighted how the most significant retreat is detected along cliff segments characterized by the presence of low strength rocks susceptible to water-induced weakening, moderate fracturing degree of the rock mass, absence of the emerged platform at the toe, and wave storms. This work shows how a multi-scale methodology could represent an efficient approach to gain an interpretation of the instability processes and thus prepare risk mitigation plans and land man agement strategies

Botulinum Toxin-A Injection in Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Treatment: A Systematic Review and Pooled Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Pain management of patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is challenging, because pain is often refractory to conventional treatments. Botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for these patients. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the role of BTX-A in CPPS treatment. Methods: We reviewed the literature for prospective studies evaluating the use of BTX-A in the treatment of CPPS. A comprehensive search in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases was performed from English language articles published between January 2000 and October 2021. The primary outcome was to evaluate pain improvement in CPPS after BTX-A treatment. Pooled meta-analysis of the included studies, considering the effect of BTX-A on pain evaluated at last available follow-up compared to baseline values, was performed together with meta-regression analysis. Results: After screening 1001 records, 18 full-text manuscripts were selected, comprising 13 randomized clinical trials and five comparative studies. They covered overall 896 patients of both sexes and several subtype of CPPS (interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, chronic prostatitis/prostate pain syndrome, chronic scrotal pain, gynecological pelvic pain, myofascial pelvic pain). The clinical and methodological heterogeneity of studies included makes it difficult to do an overall estimation of the real effect of BTX-A on pain and other functional outcomes of various CPPS subtypes. However, considering pooled meta-analysis results, a benefit in pain relief was showed for BTX-A-treated patients both in the overall studies populations and in the overall cohorts of patients with CPP due to bladder, prostate, and gynecological origin. Conclusions: BTX-A could be an efficacious treatment for some specific CPPS subtypes. Higher level studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of BTX-A and provide objective indications for its use in CPPS management

Human settlements in the Mediterranean and the sea level changes from 12 ka to the present

No abstract availabl