On the shoreline monitoring via earth observation: An isoradiometric method

Shoreline variations, triggered by climate change, eustatism, and tectonic, drive the coastal landscape evolution over multiple spatial and temporal scales. Among the many different existing coast types, sandy coasts are the most sensitive to coastal erosion and accretion processes and, at the same time, often host valuable anthropogenic assets. The rapid and ongoing evolution of these coastal environments poses challenges for their management, necessitating cost-effective and highly reliable methods for measuring these changes. Many remotely sensed shoreline extraction methods have been proposed in the literature, providing valuable tools for improving coastal management. Even if these methodologies allow the demarcation of the shoreline, its pixelated shape usually requires refinement through subsequent smoothing or vector generalization processes. It is important to note that the position of the thus extracted coastline is not a direct result of a measured physical quantity but rather a product of these refinement techniques. To address this problem, we developed a sub-pixel resolution method for extracting shorelines from remotely sensed images of sandy beaches, leveraging the radiometric signature of the shoreline. Validated through precise Global Navigation Satellite System field surveys for positioning the beach foreshore, this method was successfully applied to three beaches in Sicily, in the central Mediterranean, all exhibiting similar microtidal conditions. Its robust design allows for application across various satellite images, employing a straightforward radiometric interpolation method adaptable to different spatial resolutions. This method would be a valuable tool for coastal managers in detecting and mitigating coastal erosion and developing and maintaining anthropogenic coastal assets

Pen shell Pinna nobilis L. (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from different peculiar environments: adaptive mechanisms of osmoregulation and neurotransmission

The pen shell Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) is the largest endemic bivalve mollusc of the Mediterranean Sea, listed as an endangered species in the European Union. Because no information is available about the adaptation of pen shells to different habitats, herein the fundamental conditions of adaptation of P. nobilis to peculiar natural environments, such as the Strait of Messina (SM) and the meromictic Faro Lake (FL; Sicily, Italy), were explored by assessing the morphology, mucous production, osmoregulation and neurotransmission of their gills. Although gills of the pen shells from both sites exhibited a regular morphology, a higher presence of acid mucous cells was detected in P. nobilis from FL than SM, as well as higher levels of osmolytes but without interfering the osmoregulatory processes. About the functioning of gills, the cholinergic (i.e. acetylcholine and AChE) neuronal system was unaltered between individuals from the two sites, whereas the GABAergic neurotransmission (i.e. 4-aminobutyrate or GABA) was significantly augmented in gills of P. nobilis from FL than SM. This may be an adaptive response to hypoxic conditions in FL, as supported by the increased hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) in gills of pen shells from FL than SM. Noteworthy, this study reports for the first time the presence of the GABA neurotransmitter within the metabolite profile, obtained by application of a protonic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics approach, of a marine bivalve. Therefore, GABA may be suggested as a metabolite biomarker in pen shells. Overall, findings from this study provide new insights on the behavioural and adaptive responses of the pen shell Pinna nobilis settled in different peculiar environments

Holocene surface-rupturing paleo-earthquakes along the Kachchh Mainland Fault: shaping the seismic landscape of Kachchh, Western India

This study explores the seismotectonics of Kachchh in western India, a region with a low-to-moderate strain rate and a history of significant earthquakes, notably the 1819, Mw 7.8 Allah Bund, and the 2001, Mw 7.6 Bhuj. Despite its substantial seismic risk, comprehensive studies on Kachchh’s seismogenic sources are scarce. This is attributed to the concealed nature of active structures, hindering definitive age constraints in paleoseismological research. Our research comprises a detailed paleoseismic analysis of the north-verging, reverse Jhura Fault underlying the Jhura anticline, a segment of the Kachchh Mainland Fault. This fault segment shows evidence of surface-rupturing earthquakes in the area south of the Great Rann of Kachchh. The investigation reveals three paleoseismic events: Event I before 9.72 ka B.P., Event II between 8.63–8.20 ka B.P., and Event III between 6.20–6.09 ka B.P. The elapsed time since the last event on this fault is > 8000 years, suggesting that the area is exposed to a significant earthquake hazard. This highlights the need for more precise characterization of individual seismogenic sources for future earthquake preparedness

Extremely fast Holocene coastal landscape evolution in the Kachchh Upland (NW India): Clues from a multidisciplinary review

The coastal landscape of the Kachchh Upland (KU) region (NW-India) changed over the last few thousand years from a shallow marine gulf to a salty desert (1-4 meters asl). In this area, bordered to the south by the Northern Hill Range (NHR), the tectonic-climatic interaction triggered the sea level fall from +2/4 m circa (6000-2000 BP) to zero. An ancient river pattern deposited a tidally regulated delta area during the sea level fall that stopped 2000-3000 years ago due to tectonic activity and a dry climate. Deltaic-alluvial fans (DAF) in front of the NHR suggest that the KU's tectonic activity led to fast landscape evolution. We explored such drastic changes by integrating scientific information from a multidisciplinary literature review, identifying terraces and DAFs, and inferring faults through landform recognition, quantitative morphometry, and field surveys. Our interpretation, summarized in a map, provides new information on active processes along the NHR

Holocene surface-rupturing paleo-earthquakes along the Kachchh Mainland Fault: shaping the seismic landscape of Kachchh, Western India

This study explores the seismotectonics of Kachchh in western India, a region with a low-to-moderate strain rate and a history of significant earthquakes, notably the 1819, Mw 7.8 Allah Bund, and the 2001, Mw 7.6 Bhuj. Despite its substantial seismic risk, comprehensive studies on Kachchh’s seismogenic sources are scarce. This is attributed to the concealed nature of active structures, hindering definitive age constraints in paleoseismological research. Our research comprises a detailed paleoseismic analysis of the north-verging, reverse Jhura Fault underlying the Jhura anticline, a segment of the Kachchh Mainland Fault. This fault segment shows evidence of surface-rupturing earthquakes in the area south of the Great Rann of Kachchh. The investigation reveals three paleoseismic events: Event I before 9.72 ka B.P., Event II between 8.63–8.20 ka B.P., and Event III between 6.20–6.09 ka B.P. The elapsed time since the last event on this fault is > 8000 years, suggesting that the area is exposed to a significant earthquake hazard. This highlights the need for more precise characterization of individual seismogenic sources for future earthquake preparedness

ReptIslands: Mediterranean islands and the distribution of their reptile fauna

Aim: Analyses of biogeographical patterns and macroecology of islands require large datasets reporting the occurrence of species. The Mediterranean region is a biodiversity hotspot, which hosts a large number of reptile species and has been the focus of many studies. Nevertheless, comprehensive inventories describing the features and biodiversity of these environments are lacking. We gathered a dataset summarizing data on reptile distribution on islands of the Mediterranean basin and Macaronesia, also including detailed information on the geographical features. Location: Islands from the Mediterranean Basin, the Atlantic Ocean within the Mediterranean biogeographical region, and Macaronesia (Canary and Savage Islands, Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde). Time period: Present. Taxon: Reptiles (squamates and turtles). Methods: Initially, we developed a geographical database describing islands of the study region, then gathered information on reptile occurrences from 757 bibliographical sources, including atlases, published papers and the grey literature. Through a critical review of these sources, we also obtained information on the status of populations (native, island endemic or non-native) and on the reliability of occurrence data. Results: We obtained basic geographical information from 1875 islands covering the whole study region and with a very broad range of geographical features. We gathered >4150 records of reptile occurrence on islands, referring to 198 taxonomic units (species or species complexes); information on population status was available for 84.9% of records. Data are provided as comma-delimited text files. Main conclusions: The database provides a key resource for biogeographical analyses and can also serve as a backbone for conservation studies. The availability of a large database on island features can also be useful for biogeographers working on other taxonomic groups. Nevertheless, more data are required for some geographical areas, in order to ascertain the status (e.g., native vs. non-native) of many populations and to understand the interplay between natural and human-driven processes

An Integrated Multiscale Method for the Characterisation of Active Faults in Offshore Areas. The Case of Sant\u2019Eufemia Gulf (Offshore Calabria, Italy)

Diagnostic morphological features (e.g., rectilinear seafloor scarps) and lateral offsets of the Upper Quaternary deposits are used to infer active faults in offshore areas. Although they deform a significant seafloor region, the active faults are not necessarily capable of producing large earthquakes as they correspond to shallow structures formed in response to local stresses. We present a multiscale approach to reconstruct the structural pattern in offshore areas and distinguish between shallow, non-seismogenic, active faults, and deep blind faults, potentially associated with large seismic moment release. The approach is based on the interpretation of marine seismic reflection data and quantitative morphometric analysis of multibeam bathymetry, and tested on the Sant\u2019Eufemia Gulf (southeastern Tyrrhenian Sea). Data highlights the occurrence of three major tectonic events since the Late Miocene. The first extensional or transtensional phase occurred during the Late Miocene. Since the Early Pliocene, a right-lateral transpressional tectonic event caused the positive inversion of deep (>3 km) tectonic features, and the formation of NE-SW faults in the central sector of the gulf. Also, NNE-SSW to NE-SW trending anticlines (e.g., Maida Ridge) developed in the eastern part of the area. Since the Early Pleistocene (Calabrian), shallow (<1.5 km) NNE-SSW oriented structures formed in a left-lateral transtensional regime. The new results integrated with previous literature indicates that the Late Miocene to Recent transpressional/transtensional structures developed in an 3cE-W oriented main displacement zone that extends from the Sant\u2019Eufemia Gulf to the Squillace Basin (Ionian offshore), and likely represents the upper plate response to a tear fault of the lower plate. The quantitative morphometric analysis of the study area and the bathymetric analysis of the Angitola Canyon indicate that NNE-SSW to NE-SW trending anticlines were negatively reactivated during the last tectonic phase. We also suggest that the deep structure below the Maida Ridge may correspond to the seismogenic source of the large magnitude earthquake that struck the western Calabrian region in 1905. The multiscale approach contributes to understanding the tectonic imprint of active faults from different hierarchical orders and the geometry of seismogenic faults developed in a lithospheric strike-slip zone orthogonal to the Calabrian Arc

3-(6-Phenylimidazo [2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazol-2-yl)-1HIndole derivatives as new anticancer agents in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

A new series of imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole derivatives was efficiently synthesized and screened for their in vitro antiproliferative activity on a panel of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells, including SUIT-2, Capan-1 and Panc-1. Compounds 9c and 9l, showed relevant in vitro antiproliferative activity on all three pre-clinical models with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 5.11 to 10.8 μM, while the compounds 9e and 9n were active in at least one cell line. In addition, compound 9c significantly inhibited the migration rate of SUIT-2 and Capan-1 cells in the scratch wound-healing assay. In conclusion, our results will support further studies to increase the library of imidazo [2,1-b][1,3,4] thiadiazole derivatives for deeper understanding of the relationship between biological activity of the compounds and their structures in the development of new antitumor compounds against pancreatic diseases

Impact of hypoxia on chemoresistance of mesothelioma mediated by the proton-coupled folate transporter, and preclinical activity of new anti-LDH-A compounds

Background: Expression of proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) is associated with survival of mesothelioma patients treated with pemetrexed, and is reduced by hypoxia, prompting studies to elucidate their correlation. Methods: Modulation of glycolytic gene expression was evaluated by PCR arrays in tumour cells and primary cultures growing under hypoxia, in spheroids and after PCFT silencing. Inhibitors of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-A) were tested in vitro and in vivo. LDH-A expression was determined in tissue microarrays of radically resected malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM, N = 33) and diffuse peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM, N = 56) patients. Results: Overexpression of hypoxia marker CAIX was associated with low PCFT expression and decreased MPM cell growth inhibition by pemetrexed. Through integration of PCR arrays in hypoxic cells and spheroids and following PCFT silencing, we identified the upregulation of LDH-A, which correlated with shorter survival of MPM and DMPM patients. Novel LDH-A inhibitors enhanced spheroid disintegration and displayed synergistic effects with pemetrexed in MPM and gemcitabine in DMPM cells. Studies with bioluminescent hypoxic orthotopic and subcutaneous DMPM athymic-mice models revealed the marked antitumour activity of the LDH-A inhibitor NHI-Glc-2, alone or combined with gemcitabine. Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into hypoxia/PCFT-dependent chemoresistance, unravelling the potential prognostic value of LDH-A, and demonstrating the preclinical activity of LDH-A inhibitors