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River terraces, together with their deposits, can provide a great deal of information about the history of a drainage system, from a hydrological and sedimentological perspective. As such, they are functional to understand the influence of tectonics, varying climate and base level change on landscapes, and their relevance as geomorphic markers is widely recognized. Through the complete and accurate analysis by remote sensing and field work of the Marche drainage network, it has been possible to identify and reinterpret the main river terrace staircase and to map its remnants in detail, with the perspective of attempting the detection and interpretation of the tectonic and climatic signals preserved in it.The selected area is challenging from a geomorphological and geomorphometric standpoint because it is characterized by low-rate tectonic activity and a well-preserved fill terrace staircase, middle-to-upper Pleistocene in age, allowing to analyse this classic climatic signal-bearing feature in a tectonically active setting. This work was based on a relatively innovative approach, that analyses Relative Elevation Models (REMs), converted from 1 m/pixel DEMs collected from a 1x1 LiDAR dataset, to better pinpoint river terraces through the identification of their surfaces with the Surface Classification Model (SCM). Once detected through remote techniques, the fill terraces will also be interpreted basing the analysis on field data and geochronological constraints, with the aim of isolating the climatic and tectonic signal they have recorded.

Along the Adriatic piedmont zone of central-northern Apennines of Italy, the combination of tectonic uplift with Quaternary climate changes caused the alternating phases of fluvial incision and deposition that eventually produced at least four levels of fluvial terraces. Although the fluvial terraces of this sector of the Apennines have been object of many studies since the first half of the twentieth century, their chronology is still object of debate. Consequently, their use as geomorphic markers of landscape evolution can be challenging. The scarcity of geochronological constraints, especially for the older terraced deposits, in addition to the extreme spatial variability of the terrace geomorphological characteristics along adjacent valleys and within different sectors of the same valley, are the main limitations to the utility of fluvial terraces as geomorphic markers of landscape evolution in this sector of the Apennines. This research presents new geomorphological data for the different terrace generations exposed along the southern Marche Apennines between the middle Pleistocene to the late Pleistocene-Holocene, using remote sensing techniques and field investigation, as well as geochronological data from Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) analysis. The fluvial terrace staircase along the Tesino River valley has been selected for the excellent exposure of the different terrace generations along the valley sides, the good accessibility for sampling, and the geomorphological characteristics of the river valley that can be representative of the ones draining the central-northern Adriatic piedmont zone. Findings from this research are useful for enhancing the knowledge on the evolution of the central-northern portion of the Apennines, providing new constraints for unravelling the contributions of tectonics and climate on the late Quaternary evolution of river valleys in the mid-latitudes zone of the Northern hemisphere.

Hundreds of landslides were triggered by the mainshocks (up to Mw 6.5) that occurred in 2016 in Central Italy during the seismic sequence that originated in the Apennine and ended in January 2017. These landslides were studied via field-based investigation and remote sensing techniques during the weeks immediately after the mainshocks occurred. EarthQuake-triggered Landslides (EQtLs) mostly consisted of rockfalls and rockslides. The spatial distribution of the examined EQtLs with respect to the epicentres of the main shocks resulted in very good agreement with the available empirical curves of maximum distance vs. magnitude. Based on the collected dataset, approximately 70% of the landslides impacted transportation routes (national, provincial and secondary roads linking towns and mountain villages) since they principally detached from road cuts. The landslides caused traffic interruption, and some delayed rescue vehicles from reaching the zones most damaged by earthquakes; moreover, some landslides caused the temporary isolation of several localities in the epicentre area. Even if it seems obvious that road cuts favour slope failure under shaking conditions, the dataset reported here is the first one for Italy where such an effect is quantified. Moreover, a statistical analysis was conducted to explore the relationships between the spatial distribution of EQtLs and some selected causative factors, including both natural (i.e., earthquake and terrain) and anthropogenic factors (i.e., presence of roads and trackways). Among the considered combinations of causative factors (both natural and anthropogenic), this study demonstrates that the occurrence of the uphill road cuts at the bottom of deep incised V-shaped valleys strongly influenced the spatial clustering of the EQtL triggered in 2016 in Central Italy.

The study of the riverscape dynamic in lowland areas is crucial for reconstructing the morphoevolution of the drainage network, especially where human activities have always been strongly connected to the river system. Not surprisingly, the Lower Mesopotamian Plain (LMP) represents the ideal study area, being a large floodplain where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers with their distributaries deposited a large volume of sediments during the Holocene. Here, a complex drainage pattern, characterized by paleochannels, levees and crevasse splays developed, representing the expression of several fluvial avulsion processes during the time. Indeed, the presence of recent and ancient crevasse splays in a given area suggests frequent seasonal floods, but at the same time, their formation and growth represent, in the LMP, an important process that conditioned the location of several human settlements since the 6th millennium BC. In this area, about 200 examples of active and abandoned crevasse splays, with various sizes, have been recognized exclusively through a remote sensing approach. The scarce elevation ranges of the LMP represent the main challenge in the detection and mapping of the crevasse splays features (i.e., channels, levees and deposits), in addition to the definition of the floodplain extension and the anthropic impact on channel networks.Therefore, the research aims to integrate multi-sensor remote sensing data such as optical multispectral imagery and digital elevation datasets for improving the detection and mapping of crevasse splays. Landsat 8 imagery is adopted for computing two spectral indices (NDVI and Clay Ratio) and carrying on different supervised classification methods (i.e., Mahalanobis, Maximum Likelihood, Minimum Distance and SAM). Each method has been evaluated through the computation of the confusion matrix, assessing the Overall Accuracy, K coefficient, Producer Accuracy and User Accuracy. Elevation data used in the topographic analysis to determine the local micro-relief geometry are derived from two different global DEMs available at the ground resolution of 1 arcsec (AW3D30 and GDEM2). Topographic analysis has been performed to complete and validate the supervised classification results.The outputs successfully demonstrate the potential of the integration of multispectral imagery analysis and topographic analysis from DEM for detecting and mapping with a satisfactory detail the avulsion processes and for distinguishing their state of activity. The methodological approach is a promising technique for flood hazard and risk mapping, as well as for monitoring flood dynamics, especially within arid and semi-arid zones where flawless water management is essential for guaranteeing sustainable crops, livestock and avoiding wasting water.

Fluvial avulsion is an important process in the dynamics of the riverscapes and plays a key role in the drainage network evolution in lowland areas, also influencing past and present social processes and economic activities. Crevasse splays represent significant geomorphological features for understanding the fluvial morphodynamics in lowland areas dominated by avulsion processes. Within wide floodplains characterized by very low elevation ranges, the detection and accurate mapping of crevasse splay morphology and features, such as crevasse channels, levees, and deposit, can be very challenging considering floodplain extension, anthropic impact on the natural channels network, logistic difficulties, and in some cases, climate conditions that prevent field work. This research aims at improving the detection and mapping of crevasse splays in lowland areas through the combination of different remote sensing techniques based on optical multispectral imagery and topographic data derived from satellite earth observation missions. The Lower Mesopotamia Plain (LMP) offers a unique opportunity to study the avulsion processes because it presents numerous examples of crevasse splays, characterized by different sizes and states of activity. Furthermore, in this area, a strong correlation exists between the formation and development of crevasse splays and the expansion of agriculture and early societies since the Early Holocene. Different supervised classification (SC) methods of Landsat 8 satellite images have been tested together with topographic analysis of the microrelief, carried out based on two different 1-arcsec DEMs (AW3D30 and GDEM2). The results of this study demonstrate that the combination of multispectral imagery analysis and topographic analysis of the microrelief is useful for discerning different crevasse elements, distinguishing between active and relict landforms. The methodological approach proved helpful for improving the mapping of erosional and depositional landforms generated by the avulsion process and, in the study area, provided the best results for the active landforms.

Rock slopes involved in extensive landslide processes are often characterized by complex morphodynamics acting at different scales of space and time, responsible for different evolutionary scenarios. Mass Rock Creep (MRC) is a critical process for long-term geomorphological evolution of slopes and can likewise characterize actively retreating coastal cliffs where, in addition, landslides of different typologies and size superimpose in space and time to marine processes. The rocky coast at the Conero promontory (central Adriatic Sea, Italy) offers a rare opportunity for better understanding the predisposing role of the morphostructural setting on coastal slope instability on a long-time scale. In fact, the area presents several landslides of different typologies and size and state of activity, together with a wide set of landforms and structural features effective for better comprehending the evolution mechanisms of slope instability processes. Different investigation methods were implemented, in particular, traditional geomorphological and structural field surveys were combined with land surface quantitative analysis based on a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with ground-resolution of 2 m. The results obtained demonstrate that MRC involves the entire coastal slope, which can be zoned in two distinct sectors as a function of a different morphostructural setting responsible for highly differentiated landslide processes. Therefore, at the long-time scale, two different morphodynamic styles can be depicted along the coastal slopes that correspond to specific evolutionary scenarios. The first scenario is characterized by MRC-driven, time-dependent slope processes involving the entire slope, whereas the second one includes force-driven slope processes acting at smaller space&ndash, time scales. The Conero promontory case study highlights that the relationships between slope shape and structural setting of the deforming areas are crucial for reaching critical volumes to induce generalized slope collapse as the final stage of the MRC process. The results from this study stress the importance of understanding the role of morphostructures as predisposing conditions for generalized slope failures along rocky coasts involved in MRC. The findings discussed here suggest the importance of the assessment of the slope instability at the long time scale for a better comprehension of the present-day slope dynamics and its major implications for landslide monitoring strategies and the hazard mitigation strategies.

Background Identifying the most appropriate antiretroviral regimen for pregnant women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1) infection can be challenging, mainly due to pregnancy-related physiological alterations which can significantly reduce maternal drug plasma concentration. We would like to report our experience as it consists of an unusual case of low plasmatic concentration of antiretroviral drugs despite regimen intensification in a HIV-positive pregnant woman. It also underlines the need for accurate monitoring and treatment adjustment in pregnant women with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Case presentation A 26-year-old Brazilian woman with HIV-1 infection attending our out-patient clinic presented with low plasmatic concentration of antiretroviral drugs and persistent detectable viral load despite regimen intensification during pregnancy. Trough plasma concentrations of dolutegravir and darunavir were measured by validated liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. At 23 weeks of gestation it showed a lower value than expected in non-pregnant adults, compared to a normal level of plasma concentration measured at 10 weeks after delivery. Our patient and the baby had no regimen-related adverse effects. Conclusions Physiological changes during pregnancy can affect pharmacokinetics and reduce a mother’s bioavailability of antiretroviral drugs, potentially altering their pharmacological activity. A personalized treatment and a careful follow-up are hence mandatory for this key population.

The increasing availability of high-quality digital elevation models (DEMs) has been associated with a growing interest in developing quantitative analyses aimed at taking advantage of these detailed, updated, and promising digital datasets. Land-surface quantitative (LSQ) analysis is valuable for describing the land-surface topography and performing measures of the signature of specific geomorphic processes, taking into account site-specific geological contexts and morphoclimatic settings, proving to be particularly effective in transitional environments, such as rocky coasts. This paper presents the results of research aimed at investigating the spatial distribution of gravitational landforms along rocky coasts, by means of LSQ analysis based on a DEM with a ground resolution of 2 m, derived from airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) surveys. The study area is at Mt. San Bartolo (Northern Marche, Italy) and characterized by a sea cliff diffusely affected by gravitational phenomena of different sizes and types. Geomorphological and geological field data, interpretations of remotely sensed datasets derived from ad hoc unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flights, and DEM-derived hillshades were also adapted to support LSQ analysis. In detail, four morphometric variables (slope, roughness, terrain ruggedness index, and elevation standard deviation) were computed and the outputs evaluated based on visual–spatial inspections of derived raster datasets, descriptive statistics, and joint comparison. Results reveal the best performing variables and how combined interpretations can support the identification and mapping of zones characterized by varying spatial distribution of gravitational landforms of different types. The findings achieved along the Mt. San Bartolo rocky coast confirm that an approach based on land-surface quantitative analysis can act as a proxy to efficiently investigate gravitational slope processes in coastal areas, especially those that are difficult to reach with traditional field surveys.

This work presents a new approach for fine-tuning the analysis of stream longitudinal profiles. We show that applying Hotspot and Cluster Analysis (HCA), based on the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic, to the stream length-gradient (SL) index improves the visualization of anomalous values, assisting in the identification of tectonic structures and large landslides. High positive Gi* values indicate the clustering of SL anomalies (hotspots), and mirror the occurrence of knickzones on the stream long-profiles. We applied this methodology to a mountainous sector of the eastern Emilia-Romagna region, in northern Italy. Remote sensing and field surveys conducted on hotspot sites indicate that large landslides are the main process associated to over-steepened long-profile segments along streams connected to the valley slopes. Along-stream changes in bedrock resistance accounts for the main anomalies within sectors where hillslopes and valley floors are disconnected. We demonstrate that specific relationships between geometry and intensity of SL hotspots are indicative of the process responsible for the knickzone formation and, in particular that tectonic structures generally provide the longest and highest anomalies. The results of this work suggest that SL-HCA maps are more advantageous for detecting and interpreting knickzones compared with traditional SL maps, since: i) they need less input data to be computed, thus making them useful to investigate regions poorly covered by detailed geological data and/or where field surveys are difficult to be carried out and ii) the hotspot geometry can help discriminate the knickzones attributable to gravitational mass movements from litho-structural ones.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are a class of antiretroviral drugs with high virologic efficacy and excellent tolerability. Recent evidence showed a possible link of dolutegravir-based regimens with weight gain, and a relationship between raltegravir use and changes in adipose tissue density and metabolic abnormalities, with an increased cardiovascular risk, has been suggested. We describe a case where dolutegravir monotherapy led to a decrease in adipose tissue density.

The stream length-gradient (SL) index is widely used in geomorphological studies aimed at detecting knickzones, which are extensive along-stream deviations from the typical concave-up shape assumed for stream longitudinal profiles at steady-state conditions. In particular, SL was practical for identifying anomalous gradients along bedrock stream channels in mountainous catchments. This work presents the GIS toolbox SLiX designed to extract values of the SL index, starting from Digital Elevation Models (DEMs). SLiX is also suitable for the spatial analysis of the SL values, allowing for the identification of landscape portions where anomalous high values of SL occur and, consequently, those catchment sectors where stream channels show peaks in the erosional dynamic. The SLiX main outputs are (i) point shapefiles containing, among stream channels attributes, the extracted values of SL along the stream network analyzed, and (ii) SL anomaly maps in GeoTIFF format, computed through the Hotspot and Cluster Analysis (HCA), that permit the detection of the catchment sectors where the major SL anomalies occur and consequently the principal knickzones. The application of the proposed tool within an experimental catchment located in the Northern Apennines of Italy demonstrated the proper functionality and the potential of its use for different geomorphological and environmental studies. The accurate and cost-effective detection of anomalous changes in stream gradient ensured by SLiX is of great interest and can be useful for studies aimed at unravelling the Earth processes responsible of their formation (e.g., active hillslope processes, such as landslides directly interacting with the streambed, presence of geological structures, and meander cut-off). The applications of SLiX have clear implications for preliminary analyses, at a regional scale in different morpho-climatic contexts, for the hydrological management of river basins and/or to prevent geological hazards related to the fluvial erosional dynamics.

Landslide risk assessments are usually permeated by a certain degree of subjectivity. In order to reduce it, we have developed an original methodology which enables risk assessments to be carried out in fully quantitative terms, integrating both physical and economic science techniques. This risk assessment combines geomorphological studies, probabilistic modelling and cost-benefit analyses (CBA). We applied the methodology to an area of north-west Italy that was affected in 2011 by a dramatic rainfall-induced landslide event, and where a risk management program is necessary for avoiding future losses. We analyzed the cost-effectiveness of several landslide mitigation measures applying the proposed procedure. The results demonstrate that measures previously considered as suitable for mitigating shallow landslides were inappropriate from the economic viewpoint. The applied techniques also served to optimize economically the most appropriate mitigation measure. Moreover, our methodology allowed to calculate the maximum affordable investment on a cost-effective mitigation measure; this result will be a reference for designing innovative solutions to mitigate landslides in the study area.

Background: The Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases performed a survey on the application of guidelines for the management of persons living with HIV (PLWH), to evaluate current practice and the yield of screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in newly-diagnosed PLWH; in addition, the offer of preventive therapy to LTBI individuals and the completion rate were analysed. Materials and methods: Newly-diagnosed PLWH in nine centres were evaluated retrospectively (2016/2017) using binary and multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with LTBI diagnostic screening and QuantiFERON (QFT) results. Results: Of 801 patients evaluated, 774 were studied after excluding active TB. LTBI tests were performed in 65.5%. Prescription of an LTBI test was associated with being foreign-born (odds ratio (OR) 3.19, p < 0.001), older (for 10-year increments, OR 1.22, p = 0.034), and having a CD4 count

SAR interferometry is a powerful tool to obtain millimeter accuracy measurements of surface displacements. The Sentinel-1 satellite mission nowadays provides extensive spatial coverage, regular acquisitions and open availability. In this paper, we present an MT-InSAR analysis showing the spatial and temporal evolution of ground displacements arising from the construction of a 3.71 km overflow tunnel in Genoa, Italy. Underground tunneling can often modify the hydrological regime around an excavated area and might induce generalized surface subsidence phenomena due to pore pressure variations, especially under buildings. The tunnel was excavated beneath a densely urbanized area lying on upper Cretaceous marly limestone and Pliocene clays. Significant cumulative displacements up to 30 mm in the Line of Sight (LOS) direction were detected during the tunnel excavation. No displacements were recorded before until the middle of 2016. The Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI) analysis reveals in high detail the areal subsidence, especially where the subsurface is characterized by clay and alluvial deposits as well as there is the presence of large building complexes. The time-series and the displacement rate cross-sections highlight a clear relation with the tunnel face advancement, responsible for the subsidence phenomena, which proceeded northward starting from the middle of 2016 to the end of 2017. The stabilization occurred in a range of five-six months from the beginning of each displacement phase. Due to the low subsidence ratio the ground settlements did not cause severe damages to the buildings.

Sir,The standard treatment of HIV infection is based on triple therapy that allows a potent, effective and durable response, minimizing the risk of virological failure. As appears from recent treat...

Background: Early nutrition affects the risk of atopy and infections through modifications of intestinal microbiota. The Prebiotics in the Prevention of Atopy (PIPA) study was a 24-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. It aimed to evaluate the effects of a galacto-oligosaccharide/polydextrose (GOS/PDX)-formula (PF) on atopic dermatitis (AD) and common infections in infants who were born to atopic parents and to investigate the relationship among early nutrition, gut microbiota and clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 201 and 199 infants were randomized to receive a PF and standard formula (SF), respectively; 140 infants remained on exclusive breastfeeding (BF). Results: The cumulative incidence of AD and its intensity and duration were not statistically different among the three groups. The number of infants with at least one episode of respiratory infection (RI) and the mean number of episodes until 48 weeks of age were significantly lower in the PF group than in the SF group. The number of patients with recurrent RIs and incidence of wheezing lower RIs until 96 weeks were lower in the PF group than the SF group, but similar to the BF group. Bifidobacteria and Clostridium cluster I colonization increased over time in the PF group but decreased in the SF and BF groups. Bifidobacteria had a protective role in RIs, whereas Clostridium cluster I was associated with atopy protection. Conclusion: The early administration of PF protects against RIs and mediates a species-specific modulation of the intestinal microbiota. Trial registration: clinicaltrial.gov Identifier: NCT02116452.

A review of the content, structure, accuracy, and completeness of the Catalogue of Landslide OCcurrences in the Emilia-Romagna Region (CLOCkER) is presented. CLOCkER is a historical database, designed and developed for all types of landslides in the hilly-mountain area of the Emilia-Romagna section of the Northern Italian Apennines. Historical data have been gathered through a collection of numerous sources, including technical reports, historical archives, scientific literature, and newspapers. The information obtained, which has been evaluated to assess its temporal precision and spatial accuracy, has been recorded in a catalogue consisting of a Database Management System (DBMS) linked to a geographical information system (GIS) interface. The catalogue presently includes 14,416 records of documented landslide occurrences, dating from Middle Ages up to the present. The catalogue is associated with a landslide inventory, continuously updated by the Geological Survey of the Emilia-Romagna Region, where information on the shape, typology, and state of activity of more than 80,000 landslides is included. Our assessment of catalogue quality reveals a satisfactory spatial accuracy and a level of completeness comparable with the theoretical target proposed in the literature for complete inventories. Outputs indicate that CLOCkER can be a reference example useful for other regional historical landslide catalogues. Such reference datasets are useful for a wide range of landslide assessment purposes and can provide practical assistance for stakeholders involved in both scientific and technical fields, forming the basis for landslide temporal trend reconstruction that is essential for landslide hazard evaluation at different spatial-temporal scales. CLOCkER is open access, freely available online.

The relation between rainfall trend and landslide occurrences in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy) is presented. This study is based on the availability of long-term (1931-2017) rainfall data and the Catalogue of Landslide OCcurrences in the Emilia-Romagna region (CLOCkER), which reports the date of more than14,000 landslides from the Middle Ages to the present. In particular, the analyses focus on the role of rainfall as main triggering factor of landslides that occurred in the Emilia-Romagna region during the period between October 1951 and September 2010.Early findings suggest a well-defined correlation, for different intervals of analyses (annual, seasonal, antecedent rainfall period of ninety days), between the landslide occurrences recorded and the rainfall trend. This demonstrates that rainfall can be considered the main triggering factor for landslides occurring in the Emilia-Romagna region.

Numerous mass movements of different typology characterize both mountainous and piedmont sectors of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Apennine chain, North Italy). Although a less spatially frequent landslide typology within the region, rock falls represent severe threats to buildings, roads and persons due to their high propagation velocity. This paper presents an extract of the Emilia-Romagna regional map of the rock fall runout areas at a scale of 1:25,000. The analysis of rock fall runout areas was based upon a three-dimensional morphological method (TDM). The zone presented in the Main Map encompasses the area surrounding Mount Cimone, in the Emilia-Romagna Region. The proposed regional map of rockfall runout is noteworthy for planning actions and strategies aimed at the prevention and reduction of landslide risk at a regional scale.

Sir,As appears from recent treatment recommendations in the present journal, standard therapy in HIV infection relies on triple therapy enabling effective and durable response and minimizing the ri...

Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI) techniques are widely employed in geosciences to detect and monitor landslides with high accuracy over large areas, but they also suffer from physical and technological constraints that restrict their field of application. These limitations prevent us from collecting information from several critical areas within the investigated region. In this paper, we present a novel approach that exploits the results of PSI analysis for the implementation of a statistical model for landslide susceptibility. The attempt is to identify active mass movements by means of PSI and to avoid, as input data, time-/cost-consuming and seldom updated landslide inventories. The study has been performed along the northwestern coast of Malta (central Mediterranean Sea), where the peculiar geological and geomorphological settings favor the occurrence of a series of extensive slow-moving landslides. Most of these consist in rock spreads, evolving into block slides, with large limestone blocks characterized by scarce vegetation and proper inclination, which represent suitable natural radar reflectors for applying PSI. Based on geomorphometric analyses and geomorphological investigations, a series of landslide predisposing factors were selected and a susceptibility map created. The result was validated by means of cross-validation technique, field surveys and global navigation satellite system in situ monitoring activities. The final outcome shows a good reliability and could represent an adequate response to the increasing demand for effective and low-cost tools for landslide susceptibility assessment.

Objectives Cases of undiagnosed severe febrile rhabdomyolysis in refugees coming from West Africa, mainly from Nigeria, has been observed since May 2014. The aim of this study was to describe this phenomenon. Methods This was a multicentre retrospective observational study of cases of febrile rhabdomyolysis reported from May 2014 to December 2016 in 12 Italian centres. Results A total of 48 cases were observed, mainly in young males. The mean time interval between the day of departure from Libya and symptom onset was 26.2 days. An average 8.3 further days elapsed before medical care was sought. All patients were hospitalized with fever and very intense muscle aches. Creatine phosphokinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase values were abnormal in all cases. The rhabdomyolysis was ascribed to an infective agent in 16 (33.3%) cases. In the remaining cases, the aetiology was undefined. Four out of seven patients tested had sickle cell trait. No alcohol abuse or drug intake was reported, apart from a single reported case of khat ingestion. Conclusions The long incubation period does not support a mechanical cause of rhabdomyolysis. Furthermore, viral infections such as those caused by coxsackievirus are rarely associated with such a severe clinical presentation. It is hypothesized that other predisposing conditions like genetic factors, unknown infections, or unreported non-conventional remedies may be involved. Targeted surveillance of rhabdomyolysis cases is warranted.

The geomorphological analysis of historically urbanized areas is the best scientific way to understand how the extant geomorphological factors conditioned urbanization. It also provides a baseline to enable comparisons to be made with the modern environment. This paper considers four urbanized historical sites on the Adriatic coast (Italy) that owe their urban development to particular geomorphological and environmental conditions that were modified over the centuries from the Roman age to the present day. The focus here is on the evolution of the shoreline and associated geomorphic variables (streambeds and river mouths migration). These factors are fundamental for determining the development of a city, both as basic boundary elements – therefore including defence and protection – and also for the development of harbours.

Landslides are widespread along the north-western coast of the Island of Malta and are strictly linked to the structural setting. Exemplary cases of rock spreading and block sliding phenomena characterise this stretch of coast. They are favoured by the overposition of two different geological units widely outcropping there, the Blue Clay Formation and the Upper Coralline Limestone Formation. The latter forms a wide plateau, bordered by vertical cliffs. At the foot of the cliffs, clayey terrains crop out and develop gentle slopes covered by large blocks detached and moved by rock spreading and block sliding phenomena. These mass movements are favoured by the fragile behaviour of limestones, which cap clays, otherwise characterised by visco-plastic properties. In order to investigate the kinematics and the evolution of these types of coastal landslides, a multidisciplinary and multitechnical approach was applied on a study site, named Il-Prajjet, which provides a spectacular case of rock spreading evolving into block sliding. This paper illustrates the results achieved by means of different engineering geological and geophysical techniques allied with traditional detailed geomorphological survey and mapping. In particular, the surface displacements of the landslides were determined using long-term GPS observations, acquired approximately every 6 months, over a 4.5-year period. A network of GPS benchmarks were distributed on the edge of a limestone plateau affected by rock spreading and on a series of displaced blocks making up a large block slide, finally enabling the definition of the state of activity and the rates of movement to be performed. In addition, the results deriving from two continuous fissurimeters more recently installed at the edge of two persistent joints over the block sliding area are outlined, with reference to the correlation between variations of crack apertures and precipitation input. In order to identify main structural discontinuities and to reconstruct variability of underground surface contact between clays and overlying limestones, Resistivity Tomography profiles and GPR investigations were carried out. Finally, the results obtained by combining the outputs of geophysical surveys and different field monitoring activities can be considered a first step on which numerical models can be developed and validated, in order to assess landslide hazard and risk of this stretch of Maltese coastline.

A sackung scarp has been investigated by trenching in the central Spanish Pyrenees. This feature is located 18 km to the SW of the North Maladeta Fault, which is the most probable source of the Mw 5.3 Vielha earthquake of 1923. Three displacement events have been inferred for the trenched sackung based on colluvial wedge stratigraphy and fault truncation. The increasing amount of deformation in each successive faulting event may be related to the progressive weakening of the slope through time. A minimum vertical slip rate of 0.19 mm/yr has been calculated for the sackung scarp. Several arguments suggest that the episodic displacement of the analysed sackung is controlled by strong seismic shaking: (a) Spatial association of the sackung features with the North Maladeta Fault; (b) Episodic displacement with a millennial recurrence (5.6 kyr) consistent with the expectable earthquake recurrence interval for a low slip rate fault, like the neighbouring North Maladeta Fault. Demonstrating in future investigati...

An advanced SAR interferometric analysis has been combined with a methodology for the automatic classification of radar reflectors phase histories to interpret slope-failure kinematics and trend of displacements of slow-moving landslides. To accomplish this goal, the large dataset of radar images, acquired in more than 20 years by the two European Space Agency (ESA) missions ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT, was exploited. The analysis was performed over the northern sector of Island of Malta (central Mediterranean Sea), where extensive landslides occur. The study was assisted by field surveys and with the analysis of existing thematic maps and landslide inventories. The outcomes allowed definition of a model capable of describing the geomorphological evolution of slow-moving landslides, providing a key for interpreting such phenomena that, due to their slowness, are usually scarcely investigated.

Direct field survey to assess slope stability in steep and remote rocky cliffs is time demanding and highly consuming in term of human and economic resources. However, evolving technologies allow remotely sensed data integrated with GIS to theoretically provide equivalent information. Here we present a case study comparison of these methods applied to the Eastern valley-side of the Chinipas River, Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. Results show that remote sensing procedures provides the same discontinuity sets and equivalent attitude information with respect to the data acquired during field survey.

This paper traces the various stages of geomorphological evolution of the plain area around Modena from the VIth millennium B.C.E. (Neolithic) to the Present, through a reconstruction of the ancient landscape and human settlements. By means of a GIS platform, geomorphological investigations led to the implementation of a Microrelief Map, a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), a Map of Surface Deposits and a Geomorphological Map. The most striking altimetric features in the study area are the morphological changes of the Rivers Secchia and Panaro: south of Modena they run deep in the alluvial plain whereas north of the town they flow elevated over the plain. The surface lithology consists mainly of silt, with bands of sand and clay; mainly gravel deposits crop out only near southern tracks of the main Apennine watercourses. The geomorphological landscape is mainly characterised by alluvial fans, fluvial ridges paleo-riverbeds fluvial scarps, natural springs and some depressed areas; worth of note are also forms connected with human activity. There have been several attempts to cross–date geological and geomorphological evidence with archaeological data, on both detailed and wide territorial scales. A further advancement can now be attempted by comparing data obtained from systematic research on fluvial forms with data contained in the archives. In the area studied, some 800 archaeological sites were identified and catalogued. Such a high number of archaeological sites can give a great deal more information than is found in any other place in northern Italy. The research took into account the overlapping of archaeological and geomorphological data, with the implementation into a GIS (ArcGis 8.3) of geoarchaeological maps divided in main periods and here represented from the Neolithic to the to Iron Age and from Roman period to the Early Middle Ages. The dating thus obtained for fluvial forms was mainly based on the relationship between these forms and archaeological evidence. The upper layers of stratigraphical deposits of the urban center of Modena are quite well-known. These layers can be divided macroscopically into two large stratigraphic sequences, one belonging to the ancient Roman town of Mutina and the other to the medieval and modern town, separated by a substantial alluvial layer up to 2 meters thick in places. The archaeological strata of Modena go down to about 7-8 meters below the present surface level, reaching a depth of 11 meters in places. In this work, a three-dimensional model indicates the thicknesses of the large stratigraphic levels of the Roman Age, the alluvial deposits and the Medieval/Modern Age. The comparison of geomorphological and archaeological data allowed many fluvial forms to be dated. In particular, the formation of some alluvial fans and ridges south and south-west of Modena took place before or during the period dating from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. The investigations have confirmed more in detail the shift to the east of the R. Secchia and to the west of the R. Panaro in the area downstream of Modena starting from the Bronze Age. It was also possible to reconstruct the ancient soil levels in the Modena city centre starting from the Roman Age. Similarly, it was possible to measure the thickness of both archaeological stratigraphies and the various alluvial levels. Therefore, starting from the end of the Roman Age, an aggradational-type model of fluvial evolution was hypothesised for the first time thanks to this reconstruction. According to this model, the watercourses, even the minor ones, passed from a runoff occurring in deep riverbeds to one hanging over, or at least at the same level as, the surrounding plain. The plain aggradation from the Roman Age could be ascribed to different causes, such as previously occurring processes (northbound shift of the R. Po) or coeval events (climatic changes, subsidence, deforestation, abandonment of the countryside, degradation of the water flow system set up by the Romans). After the hydrological degradation which reached its peak at the end of the VIth century C.E., the morphological evolution of the study area in the Middle Ages and Modern times shows more stability, even if the area of Modena is still characterised by the risk of floods. In the last centuries an important factor of geomorphological changes in the Modena plain has been human interventions. In conclusion, in the Modena plain, as in other parts of the Po, the dominant geomorphic drivers switched from natural processes to processes strongly influenced by anthropogenetic activities. Cet article, qui présente les résultats d'une recherche faite avec le soutien du Conseil municipal de la ville de Modène (Italie du Nord), illustre les diverses phases de l'évolution géomorphologique de la plaine de cette ville du VIème millénaire B.C.E. (Néolithique) à aujourd'hui, par une reconstitution des anciens paysages et établissements humains. (Fig. 1). La plaine de Modène se trouve au pied de la chaîne des Apennins, qui connaît toujours une évolution géologique active. La structure complexe des Apennins se prolonge, sous les sédiments continentaux d'âge quaternaire qui constituent la plaine. Cette structure ensevelie présente deux grandes bandes de plis : les plis de l'Émilie et les plis de la Romagne (Fig. 2). En utilisant un Système d'Information Géographique (SIG), les investigations géomorphologiques ont permis de réaliser une carte du micro-relief avec une équidistance de 1 m, un modèle numérique de terrain (DEM = Digital Elevation Model), une carte des formations superficielles et une carte géomorphologique qui prend en compte les formes de terrain naturelles et anthropiques. Les éléments les plus caractéristiques de la région étudiée sont les changements géomorphologiques des rivières Secchia et Panaro. Au sud de Modène, elles coulent à un niveau inférieur à celui de la ville, tandis qu'au nord, elles coulent au-dessus de leur plaine alluviale (Fig. 3). Au pied des Apennins, dans le secteur sud de la zone étudiée, de nombreux cônes de déjection sont bien conservés. D'anciens dépôts alluviaux rayonnent à partir de ces cônes vers le nord et au delà de la ville de Modène. Dans cette région, on retrouve de nombreuses zones en creux qui serpentent au-dessus du niveau actuel de la plaine. La lithologie de surface est essentiellement constituée par des limons avec quelques niveaux de sables et argiles ; elle est en corrélation avec le paléo-réseau de drainage (Fig. 4). Les dépôts alluviaux graveleux se trouvent seulement dans le secteur sud, le long des principaux cours d'eau qui descendent de l'Apennin. Leur épaisseur varie entre quelques centaines de mètres et un millier de mètres, en relation avec les structures plissées ensevelies de l'Émilie et de la Romagne. Le paysage géomorphologique est caractérisé par d'anciens cônes de déjection, d'anciens lits de cours d'eau aux chenaux anastomosés abandonnés, des rebords de terrasses et des zones déprimées où naissent des sources (Fig. 5). Les formes de terrain d'origine anthropique doivent aussi être notées. Dans la région de Modène, l'interaction entre la géologie, la géomorphologie et l'archéologie, montre l'importance des relations entre les communautés humaines et la nature ; elle montre aussi les effets que les installations humaines ont eus sur le territoire, au moins depuis l'an 2000 avant J.C. L'étude de l'évolution des formes fluviatiles est une bonne approche pour la compréhension de l'histoire de l'occupation humaine de la plaine de Modène et plus généralement de celle du Pô. Les travaux antérieurs ont eu pour objectif de recouper les données géologiques avec les données géomorphologiques à diverses échelles. Les travaux récents ont été conduits en comparant les données de terrain avec celles des archives. Dans la zone étudiée, 800 sites archéologiques ont été identifiés et inventoriés. Cette région est donc l'une des plus riches en information de toute l'Italie du Nord. Toutefois, du point de vue méthodologique, une définition des relations entre les formes fluviales et les sites archéologiques ne pourrait pas être exprimée par un simple rapport de présence/absence. On doit, avant tout, faire une distinction entre les sites de surface et les sites ensevelis. Il faut ensuite prendre en compte le fait que ces deux catégories ne reflètent pas la réalité chronologique, mais plutôt les différentes vicissitudes liées aux découvertes archéologiques et à l'utilisation du terrain. Cela n'empêche pas qu'une interprétation correcte doit être fondée sur une analyse détaillée des données archéologiques afin d'établir une chronologie, la plus précise possible, et d'identifier toutes les causes naturelles ou anthropiques qui pourraient avoir déterminé cette incertitude. Grâce au SIG (ArcGis 8.3), on a pu superposer les données archéologiques de plusieurs périodes (Néolithique, Âge du Fer, période romaine, haut Moyen Âge) aux données géomorphologiques (Fig. 6 et 7). On a ainsi réalisé des cartes géo-archéologiques qui permettent une datation des formes fluviatiles. La partie supérieure de la stratigraphie des dépôts alluviaux de la ville de Modène est bien connue grâce à la découverte de plus de 200 pièces archéologiques. Les dépôts peuvent être divisés en deux grandes séquences stratigraphiques : l'une appartient à l'ancienne ville romaine de Mutina et l'autre à la ville médiévale et moderne. Ces deux niveaux sont séparés par une couche alluviale de 2 mètres d'épaisseur. Les couches archéologiques de l'ancienne ville de Modène sont à 7-8 mètres de profondeur (Fig. 8). Dans cet article, on propose une modélisation en trois dimensions qui indique l'épaisseur des deux niveaux archéologiques des époques romaine et médiévale/moderne et du niveau alluvial les séparant (Fig. 9). La comparaison entre les données géomorphologiques et archéologiques a permis la datation de formes fluviatiles. Ainsi, la formation des cônes de déjection et des dépôts alluviaux les plus hauts situés au sud et au sud-ouest de Modène auraient été construits avant et pendant la période comprise entre le Néolithique et l'Âge du Fer. Ces recherches ont confirmé, avec plus de détails, que les déplacements des cours du Secchia vers l'est et du Panaro vers l'ouest, à l'aval de la ville de Modène, se sont produits, dans une région tectoniquement active et caractérisée par une intense subsidence, à l'Âge du Bronze. Il a aussi été possible de reconstituer les anciens niveaux du sol dans le centre de Modène depuis la période romaine. De même, il a été possible de mesurer l'épaisseur des couches archéologiques et des divers niveaux alluviaux. Grâce à cette reconstitution, on a élaboré pour la première fois un modèle de sédimentation fluviale depuis la fin de la période romaine. Selon ce modèle, même les plus petits cours d'eau ont modifié l'aspect de leur lit qui passe d'une forme d'incision profonde à une forme suspendue au-dessus de la plaine alluviale. Ils doivent maintenant être contenus entre des levées artificielles (Fig. 10). La sédimentation de la plaine à partir de l'époque romaine pourrait être attribuée à des causes différentes de celles qui ont prévalu précédemment (déplacement vers le nord du Pô) ou en même temps (changements climatiques, subsidence, déforestation, abandon des campagnes, dégradation du réseau de canaux construit par les Romains). Suite au déplacement du Pô vers le nord, ses affluents descendant des Apennins ont dû allonger leur cours, ce qui a eu pour effet de diminuer leur pente et leur vitesse. La sédimentation, dans les lits fluviaux s'est donc accentuée, probablement aidée par le jeu en subsidence de la région. Pendant la période romaine, au moins 60 % du sol a été déboisé et mis en culture. Cette déforestation a facilité les processus d'érosion sur les versants et les processus de sédimentation dans les lits fluviaux. L'abandon des campagnes consécutif à une crise politique et économique à partir du IVème siècle a eu pour conséquence une accélération de ces processus d'érosion et de sédimentation. Sur l'espace urbain de Modène (la Mutina romaine), une importante sédimentation a eu lieu ; elle peut être attribuée à la dégradation des réseaux hydrauliques (canaux d'alimentation en eau et égouts) qui a suivi le désordre politico-économique. Après la dégradation hydrologique qui atteignit son maximum à la fin du VIème siècle, l'évolution géomorphologique de la région étudiée devient plus lente au Moyen Âge et aux temps modernes, même si la zone de Modène est encore soumise au risque d'inondation. Pendant les derniers siècles, l'augmentation des activités humaines a eu pour conséquence un rétrécissement des lits fluviaux et leur approfondissement. En outre, les activités d'extraction d'alluvions le long des cours d'eau ont irrémédiablement modifié la géomorphologie locale. Dans la partie nord de la plaine, le tracé des cours d'eau a été volontairement modifié par le recoupement artificiel de méandres. Ainsi, aujourd'hui, le fonctionnement de la plaine de Modène, et plus généralement du Pô, n'est plus naturel mais fortement marqué par les activités humaines.

The aim of this paper is to show the results of eight years of research activities carried on the north-western coast of the island of Malta, with particular reference to the outputs of monitoring and interferometric analysis as a support for the im-plementation of a landslide inventory. The study area is characterized by the presence of limestones overlapping clayey terrains, thus favoring the presence of large rock spreading phenomena, which often evolve into block slides. Field cam-paigns resulted approximately 86 landslides, distributed between the coastline and structural cliffs which flank limestone plateaus. In order to support geomorphological investigations, a GPS (Global Position Sys-tem) monitoring network was deployed over two coastal sites. Slow rates of sur-face deformations varying from few millimeters per year to some centimeter per year were recorded. Since the extension of the GPS network over the entire north-western coast and for such a high number of landslides is not feasible in terms of cost-benefit rela-tions, we applied PSI (Persistent Scatterers Interferometry) to validate the geo-morphological map. Data analysis confirmed the displacement rates measured by the GPS monitoring network and provided useful information about the style of activity of a large number of landslides affecting the north western coastline of Malta. The outcomes supported the satisfactory capabilities of an integrated approach, which coupled conventional geomorphological procedures with monitoring tech-niques to bring out an exhaustive landslide inventory, even for slow or very slow mass movements, essential for related hazard assessment.

Extensive landslide occurrences affected the Emilia-Romagna Region (north Apennines, Italy) during March–April 2013 due to a high-intensity precipitations and contemporaneous snow melting. During this period, incessant and intense precipitations characterized by a maximum height equal to 350 mm in the piedmont sector and 700 mm in the inner zones (up to fourfold the amount of predictable rainfalls) occurred. This event produced a relevant economic loss due to damages to several private properties and public infrastructures; in fact, local authorities advised about 1,500 damages. The landslide typologies occurred are generally earth slides and earth flows, even if some rock falls was also documented. Usually, landslides appeared as reactivation of preexisting movements and mainly involved the terrain belonging to the Ligurian Flysch Units, characterized by a stratigraphic succession of sandstones, marls and clays. Landslides advised by local authorities have been verified and successively included in the “Historical database of landslide events” of the Emilia-Romagna Region that presently records about 9,000 events, starting from 1,800 to present days. Major landslides was checked in the field and their geometry systematically updated in the already existing GIS-based “Landslide inventory map” of the Emilia-Romagna Region. The updated landslide data are relevant for immediate planning purposes and remediation strategies at both local and regional scale. They are also significant for subsequent susceptibility modeling and related hazard assessment.

A morphometric analysis of drainage networks and relief using geomorphic indices and geostatistical analyses of topographical data are useful tools for discussing the morphoevolution of a given area. Among the geomorphic indices, the stream length-gradient (SL) index represents a practical tool to highlight anomalous changes in river gradients. Perturbations of SL are usually indicative of (1) differences in the resistance of outcropping lithological units to erosion, (2) sub-surface processes, such as active faulting, and (3) slope failures that directly reach the stream channels, particularly in small catchments. In this work, the SL index was calculated for the upstream sector of the Gallego River basin in the central Spanish Pyrenees to test its accuracy and sensitivity for detecting the imprints of different surface processes. A geostatistical procedure is proposed to obtain SL index maps through the interpolation and filtering of the values estimated along the drainage network. This method allows computing of SL, validation and assessing of its spatial distribution with robust statistical accuracy, and objectively defining the anomalies in SL. The anomalies in the SL map of the study area, which coincide with knickpoints and knickzones, were analyzed in detail. The results indicate (1) perturbation in the drainage network caused by differences in the resistance to erosion of outcropping lithological units and (2) hillslopes affected by large landslides, earth flows, and rock falls directly reaching the stream bed. This study indicates that the SL index has strong potential to solve geomorphological problems in different geological settings, especially in detecting the role of active, large-scale features that influence landscape evolution.

Landslides are widespread along the north-western coast of the Island of Malta and are strictly linked to the structural setting. Exemplary cases of rock spreading and block sliding phenomena characterise this stretch of coast. They are favoured by the overposition of two different geological units widely outcropping there, the Blue Clay Formation and the Upper Coralline Limestone Formation. The latter forms a wide plateau, bordered by vertical cliffs. At the foot of the cliffs, clayey terrains crop out and develop gentle slopes covered by large blocks detached and moved by rock spreading and block sliding phenomena. These mass movements are favoured by the fragile behaviour of limestones, which cap clays, otherwise characterised by visco-plastic properties. In order to investigate the kinematics and the evolution of these types of coastal landslides, a multidisciplinary and multitechnical approach was applied on a study site, named Il-Prajjet, which provides a spectacular case of rock spreading evolving into block sliding. This paper illustrates the results achieved by means of different engineering geological and geophysical techniques allied with traditional detailed geomorphological survey and mapping. In particular, the surface displacements of the landslides were determined using long-term GPS observations, acquired approximately every 6 months, over a 4.5-year period. A network of GPS benchmarks were distributed on the edge of a limestone plateau affected by rock spreading and on a series of displaced blocks making up a large block slide, finally enabling the definition of the state of activity and the rates of movement to be performed. In addition, the results deriving from two continuous fissurimeters more recently installed at the edge of two persistent joints over the block sliding area are outlined, with reference to the correlation between variations of crack apertures and precipitation input. In order to identify main structural discontinuities and to reconstruct variability of underground surface contact between clays and overlying limestones, Resistivity Tomography profiles and GPR investigations were carried out. Finally, the results obtained by combining the outputs of geophysical surveys and different field monitoring activities can be considered a first step on which numerical models can be developed and validated, in order to assess landslide hazard and risk of this stretch of Maltese coastline.

The paper shows the results of geomorphological and engineering-geological investigations carried out along the north-western coast of the Island of Malta, with special emphasis on landslides. Field surveys and aerial-photo interpretation allowed the recognition, identification and mapping of a series of landslides of different type and size, some of which showing evidence of activity. Coastal instability in the studied area is deeply controlled by structural factors, such as tectonic and stratigraphic ones. The research envisaged a multidisciplinary approach, which also included landslide monitoring in specific sites which were selected for detailed investigations, owing to the peculiarity of the instability processes occurring and for the related hazard and risk conditions. The paper outlines the research phases and the results achieved which proved to be fruitful thanks to the application of different methodologies for the study of coastal landslides. Particular attention has been paid to rock spreading phenomena, which are widespread along the north-western coast of Malta due to the superimposition of limestones over clayey terrains.

This paper conducts a statistical analysis to determine shallow-landslide susceptibility in an approximately 7500-km2 region of the south-eastern Alps (South Tyrol, Italy). The study applies the weight of evidence (WofE) method, which is useful in determining landslide susceptibility in large areas with complex geological and geomorphological settings. The statistical analysis and landslide susceptibility mapping are based on 882 past landslides, three geometric/topographic factors and two anthropogenic factors, which are the most relevant landslide predisposing factors. The quality of the proposed model, particularly the fitting performance, was assessed; the landslide database was divided into a training set to obtain the model and a validation set to estimate the model quality. The results show that the developed susceptibility model predicts an acceptable percentage (75%) of landslides. Therefore, the model can be useful and reliable for land planners and decision makers also due to its cost-effectiveness ratio.

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 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 hazardous conditions. © 2012 Stefano Devoto, Sara Biolchi, Viola M. Bruschi, Stefano Furlani, Matteo Mantovani, Daniela Piacentini, Alessandro Pasuto and Mauro Soldati.

This paper presents a geomorphological map of the Rio della Rocca valley, a small catchment located in the lower Apennines of the Province of Reggio Emilia (northern Italy). The geomorphological map has been produced at a scale 1:7500 as a base document within multidisciplinary investigations aimed at the rehabilitation of the area, which is characterised by peculiar geological and geomorphological features and a high scenic value, despite clear evidence of human impact. Since the mid 1950s the valley has been affected by quarrying activities which in some places have deeply changed its environmental and, in particular, geomorphological features. As a part of the research, geomorphological survey and mapping were carried out in order to detect the main slope instability and erosional processes and landforms and, at the same time, to recognise sites of geological and geomorphological interest. Proposals for territorial development have been proposed which take into account geotourism and recreational issues.

International audience; In recent years the interest for coastal hazards has increased significantly due to extreme events, sometimes related to climate change, that frequently occur in different parts of the world, often inducing high risk situations. This paper outlines the objectives, perspectives and preliminary results of a research project entitled “Coastline at risk: Methods for multi-hazard assessment” which aims at providing useful knowledge for the mitigation of coastal instability. The project is managed by the European Centre on Geomorphological Hazards (Centre Européen sur les Risques Geomorphologiques, CERG) and funded by the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement. Investigations are focused on coastal landslides in three different morpho-climatic European environments: Malta (Mediterranean coastline), Lower Normandy (Channel coastline) and Central Portugal (Atlantic coastline). The research outputs are expected to provide a significant opportunity for scientific discussion based on the comparison of data regarding instability situations in the context of multi-hazards assessment. The latter has until now dealt slightly with the coasts of Malta, Normandy and Portugal on which the investigations will be focused, despite significant risk issues present there, as evidenced from a series of accidents and damages recorded after landslide events. The aims of the project will be pursued through multidisciplinary investigations which foresee geomorphological and engineering-geological approaches. Integrated avant-garde research techniques, both traditional and innovative, will be applied with special reference to mapping, monitoring and modelling of coastal instability phenomena. The final objective is to propose a method for coastal multi-hazard assessment that can be used to face and manage coastal hazards.; Au cours des dernières années, l'intérêt pour les risques côtiers a augmenté de manière significative en raison d'événements extrêmes, parfois liés au changement climatique, qui se produisent fréquemment dans différentes parties du monde, induisant souvent des situations à haut risque. Le présent document décrit les objectifs, les perspectives et les résultats préliminaires d'un projet de recherche intitulé "Littoral en danger: Méthodes d'évaluation multi-dangers" qui vise à fournir des connaissances utiles à l'atténuation de l'instabilité côtière. Le projet est géré par le Centre européen sur les risques géomorphologiques (Centre Européen sur les Risques Geomorphologiques, CERG) et financé par l'Accord sur les risques majeurs EUR-OPA. Les enquêtes sont axées sur les glissements de terrain côtiers en trois morpho-climatiques environnements européens différents: Malte (côte méditerranéenne), Basse-Normandie (côte de la Manche) et le Portugal (Central côte atlantique). Les résultats de la recherche sont censés fournir une occasion importante de discussion scientifique basée sur la comparaison des données concernant les situations d'instabilité dans le contexte de l'évaluation multi-risques. Ce dernier a jusqu'à présent traité légèrement avec les côtes de Malte, de la Normandie et au Portugal où les enquêtes seront axés, en dépit des problèmes importants de risque présents là-bas, comme en témoigne une série d'accidents et de dommages enregistrées après des glissements de terrain. Les objectifs du projet seront poursuivis à travers des enquêtes multidisciplinaires qui prévoient des approches géomorphologiques et géotechniques. Techniques de recherche d'avant-garde intégrés, à la fois traditionnels et innovants, seront appliquées avec une référence particulière à la cartographie, la surveillance et la modélisation des phénomènes d'instabilité côtières. L'objectif final est de proposer une méthode d'évaluation multi-risques côtiers qui peut être utilisé pour faire face et gérer les risques côtiers.