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Purpose: Loess in Northern Italy has been usually considered deposited during the MIS 4-2 period, which corresponds to the last Pleistocene glacial cycle. In particular, no absolute dating evidenced loess depositions older than ca. 89 ka. We investigated two strongly rubified soil profiles in the southern margin of the Alpine range in Lombardy to prove their aeolian origin and age of formation. Methods: We analysed the granulometry of all genetic horizons of these strongly rubified soils, and a total of 8 samples were collected for luminescence dating purpose. Results: Most of the analysed soil horizons were dominated by silt and were characterized by the s-shaped granulometric curve, typical of loess materials. A particularly high clay content evidenced a strong weathering degree. A deep horizon was particularly clay rich, and it was interpreted as a typical Terra-Rossa horizon. Luminescence dates increased with depth, reaching 122 ka for the deepest loess layer and 453 ka (minimum age) for the Terra-Rossa horizon. Conclusions: The deepest observed loess layer represents the oldest quantitatively dated aeolian deposition in Northern Italy up to now.

Background: Supporting and retaining older workers has become a strategic management goal for companies, considering the ageing of the workforce and the prolongation of working lives. The relationship between health and work is especially crucial for older workers with manual tasks, considering the impact of long-standing health impairments in older age. Although different studies investigated the relationship between work ability and job performance, few studies have analysed the impact of workers’ capability to balance between health and work demands, including managerial and organisational support (work-health balance). Considering health as a dynamic balance between work and health demands influenced by both individual and environmental factors, we assess the mediator role of work-health balance in the relation between work ability and job performance, both self-reported and assessed by the supervisor. Methods: The study utilises data from a case study of 156 manual workers, who were 50 years old or older and employed in a steel company in Italy. Data were collected inside the company as an organiational initiative to support age diversity. Results: The findings show that work-health balance partially mediates the relationship between work ability and self-rated job performance, while it does not mediate the relationship with job performance as rated by the supervisor. Supervisor-rated job performance is positively associated with work ability, while it decreases with the increasing perceived incompatibility between work and health. Conclusion: A perceived balance between health and work is a strategic factor in increasing manual older workers’ job performance. For older workers, not only the perceived capability to work is important but also the organisational health climate and supervisor’s support. More studies are needed to verify if managers overlook the importance of health climate and support, as strategic elements that can foster performance for older em

The Reference Soil Group of the Arenosols consists of sandy soils. These are the soils developed from residual sands, in situ formed after weathering of old usually quartz-rich soil material or rock, and soils developed in recently deposited sands as they occur in deserts and beach lands.

Vengono illustrati i processi di formazione e la distribuzione geografica in Turchia dei Calcisols, spesso associati ai Leptosols.

Chromic and Rhodic Luvisols, otherwise known as the Red Mediterranean Soils or the Terra Rossa, show marked textural differences and genetic peculiarities within their profile.

Alpine ski resorts attract large temporary populations at relatively high altitudes, causing both urban and ski infrastructure development in ecologically vulnerable regions frequently subject to geo-hydrological risk. This study deals with the impacts of urbanization comprising housing, roads, parking and heliports, impacts of ski runs such as slope grooming and drainage and impacts of artificial snow production for example snow grooming, water storage reservoirs and water pipelines in the French and Italian Alps. Ski resort infrastructure is both at risk from natural hazards including landslides, rockfalls, avalanches and floods and from artificially induced hazards related to artificial snow infrastructure and ski slope manipulation for instance landslides, debris flows and erosion. Managing such risks is often only partially successful after 4-5 decades, however many impacts are irreversible. Climate change and intensification of ski resort development is likely to increase geo-hydrological risks in future.