The Suez Canal is a unique sea-level waterway between northern Africa and southern Asia that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the Isthmus of Suez. The canal’s artificial navigation route substantiall...The Suez Canal is a unique sea-level waterway between northern Africa and southern Asia that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the Isthmus of Suez. The canal’s artificial navigation route substantially reduced the sailing distance between countries in Europe and East Asia and offered a more direct route between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The primary objective of this study is to document the historical, economical, and environmental impacts of connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea via a canal. After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 the canal became an economically lifeline for Egypt. However, the economic gains were partially offset by negative environmental impacts. The impact of port activities on the environment depends on their cargo volume and location, seaports can have an impact on the air quality and therefore on the health of the communities along the Suez Canal. The salinity barrier to migration was removed and animals and plants from the Red Sea began colonizing the eastern Mediterranean. Since the 1880s, species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean have been introduced, via the canal, into the Mediterranean ecosystem. They are endangering some local and endemic species and impacting the ecology. The results showed significant changes in the shoreline and land cover due to climate change and anthropogenic activities that necessitate the implementation of adequate protective measures. The findings of this study may assist policymakers in formulating adaptation plans to protect this crucial area, the communities along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea and Mediterranean ports, from climate change and human activities.展开更多
Homogeneous methods for ecological applications to the nutrient cycle are analyzed,and the results are presented according to the marine ecology work discussed.To do justice to the explanations,the materials are summa...Homogeneous methods for ecological applications to the nutrient cycle are analyzed,and the results are presented according to the marine ecology work discussed.To do justice to the explanations,the materials are summarized,and the methods are discussed and improved for both interested readers and experts in the field.Both the materials and the methods serve informative and popularizing as well as applicable and interpretive purposes and,in order to achieve the widest possible dissemination,are shared under the strict supervision of the earlier individual publications discussed here.The aeolian syntheses quantify the impact of atmospheric deposition of nutrients in the Western Mediterranean as one-twentieth of the baseline vertical fluxes of organic matter,while estimates for the Eastern Mediterranean reach one-eighth.Possible changes and additions in the global ocean are discussed as well as ecosystem updates and their relevance to the specific orography,hydrology and geochemistry associated with the lower trophodynamic degrees of freedom.Finally,the dynamics of the basins are analyzed,with increasing nutrient inputs leading to a top-down control of net plankton growth in the western basin and to an extremely nutrient-poor state in the eastern basin.展开更多
Oceanic dissolved oxygen(DO)concentration is crucial for assessing the status of marine ecosystems.Against the backdrop of global warming,DO shows a general decrease,posing a threat to the health of marine ecosystems....Oceanic dissolved oxygen(DO)concentration is crucial for assessing the status of marine ecosystems.Against the backdrop of global warming,DO shows a general decrease,posing a threat to the health of marine ecosystems.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop advanced tools to characterize the spatio-temporal variations of three-dimensional(3D)DO.To address this challenge,this study introduces the Light Gradient Boosting Machine(Light-GBM),combining satellite remote sensing and reanalysis data with Biogeochemical Argo data to accurately reconstruct the 3D DO structure in the Mediterranean Sea from 2010 to 2022.Various environmental parameters are incorporated as inputs,including spatiotemporal features,meteorological characteristics,and ocean color properties.The LightGBM model demonstrates excellent performance on the testing dataset with R^(2) of 0.958.The modeled DO agrees better with in-situ measurements than products from numerical models.Using the Shapley Additive exPlanations method,the contributions of input features are assessed.Sea surface temperatures provide a correlation with DO at the sea surface,while spatial coordinates supplement the view of the ocean interior.Based on the reconstructed 3D DO structure,we identify an oxygen minimum zone in the western Mediterranean that expands continuously,reaching depths of approximately 300–800 m.The western Mediterranean exhibits a significant declining trend.This study enhances marine environmental evidence by proposing a precise and cost-effective approach for reconstructing 3D DO,thereby offering insights into the dynamics of DO variations under changing climatic conditions.展开更多
Salt stress might be an important factor that decreases the emergence of seedlings and reduces plants'growth,causing their endangered status.However,the effects of salt stress on the germination of the Mediterrane...Salt stress might be an important factor that decreases the emergence of seedlings and reduces plants'growth,causing their endangered status.However,the effects of salt stress on the germination of the Mediterranean species are less concern.Limonium strictissimum(Salzm.)Arrigoni,part of the group related to Limonium articulatum(Loisel.)Kuntze,is a Cyrno-Sardinian endemism,which is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)Red Lists as Endangered(EN).Fresh seeds of L.strictissimum harvested from the only known population in Sardinia and a population in southeastern Corsica were used with the aims to study the effects of temperature and salinity on the seed germination and to evaluate the ability to recover their germination after exposure to salt stress.In both populations,empty fruits with a lower percentage were observed in Sardinia than in Corsica.The seeds showed a high germination capacity,which was not influenced by temperature and did not even differ between the two populations.Compared with non-saline condition,the presence of salt in the substrate,independently of the concentration tested,inhibited seed germination in both populations,with germination percentages never exceeding 40%.The Sardinian population showed a recovery capacity after exposure to high salt stress,always above 50%regardless of the salt concentration and incubation temperature considered.The seeds previously exposed to 125 mM NaCl at 30℃ had the lowest recovery percentage(56%),while the highest recovery percentage(84%)was recorded at 25℃ with a concentration of 250 mM NaCl.Differently,the Corsican population recorded a higher recovery percentage(54%)in seeds previously exposed to 500 mM NaCl at 20℃,while for the concentration of 125 mM NaCl,the best recovery percentage(11%)was recorded at 30℃.The ability of L.strictissimum to recover germination after salt exposure can be interpreted as an adaptation to the coastal habitats in which it grows.This study provides new insights into the ecophysiology of L.strictissimum seed germination,which could help preserve and implement effective conservation measures for this endangered species with restricted populations.展开更多
The abandonment of rural activities in the Mediterranean mid-mountains has led to the activation of revegetation processes,as well as the subsequent implementation of various management measures to mitigate the associ...The abandonment of rural activities in the Mediterranean mid-mountains has led to the activation of revegetation processes,as well as the subsequent implementation of various management measures to mitigate the associated ecosystem disservices.Focusing on soil environment and its growing importance in a climate change scenario,it is of great interest to study how land management and landscape changes can affect,not only the soil carbon storage process,but also its dynamics.A study was conducted in La Rioja(Iberian System,Spain),comparing three post-abandonment management strategies:secondary succession,forest management,and shrub clearing and extensive grazing.These strategies were analysed in two types of soil environments(acid and alkaline)and for two depth ranges(0–20 cm and 20–40 cm).Laboratory analyses were performed on aggregate stability and soil organic carbon fractionation with regard to three aggregate sizes(<2 mm,2–5 mm,>5 mm)and three density fractions(free labile,occluded,and heavy fraction).The results showed that:1)SOC content in aggregates<2 mm(relative to total SOC)increases with shrub clearing and grazing strategy in acid environments;2)aggregate stability benefits from the implementation of afforestation in acid environments and from all three study strategies in alkaline ones;3)in acid environments,the percentage of labile fractions(free and occluded)in afforested sites is significantly higher compared with shrubland,while in alkaline environments,recalcitrant SOC is significantly higher in shrub clearing sites.Thus,land management should be focused on SOC storage after land abandonment in Mediterranean mountainous environments.展开更多
BACKGROUND The treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MA-SLD)has focused on the control of comorbidities.Silybum marianum(SM)and alpha-lipoic acid(ALA)have shown antioxidant and adjuvant...BACKGROUND The treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MA-SLD)has focused on the control of comorbidities.Silybum marianum(SM)and alpha-lipoic acid(ALA)have shown antioxidant and adjuvant effects on the control of metabolic disorders.AIM To evaluate whether the SM-ALA formulation(LUDLEV®),in combination with the Mediterranean diet(MD),could improve MASLD-related liver injury.METHODS A randomized,double-blind clinical trial was conducted on patients with MA-SLD.Administration of SM-ALA plus MD(group A)vs placebo plus MD(group B)was compared for 24 weeks.At baseline and weeks 12 and 24,anthropometric measurements,metabolic parameters,and liver function were analyzed.Clinical effectiveness was evaluated through transient elastography.RESULTS Fifty patients aged 54±10 years were included,and the majority(74%)were female.Reduced visceral fat and umbilical circumference were reported in both groups,with significance in group A(P=0.045 and 0.003,respectively).The de-crease in controlled attenuation parameter was gradual and maintained at 12 and 24 weeks in group A(P=0.026),whereas in group B the decrease was greater at week 12 and remained unchanged at week 24(∆controlled attenuation parameter:-27 dB/m).Mild adverse effects were reported in 4 patients in group A(16%)and 4 patients in group B(16%),with no significant differences between groups(P=0.641).CONCLUSION SM-ALA(LUDLEV®)combined with the MD can promote the improvement of metabolic parameters,reducing visceral fat and hepatic steatosis in Mexican patients with MASLD.展开更多
This study analyzes the energy impact of applying green roofs on flat roofs of existing buildings,assessing their potential to reduce the demand for non-renewable primary energy for heating and cooling.Through dynamic...This study analyzes the energy impact of applying green roofs on flat roofs of existing buildings,assessing their potential to reduce the demand for non-renewable primary energy for heating and cooling.Through dynamic numerical simulations conducted on two real buildings located near Florence,Italy,and modeled in 130 different European locations,with a particular focus on the Mediterranean climate,it was possible to quantify the energy benefits derived from the application of green roofs on existing structures.The results show that,while the effect on heating is limited,with an average reduction in energy demand of only a few percentage points,the impact on cooling is significantly more pronounced,with average savings of 20%in non-renewable primary energy,particularly in Mediterranean climates with high CDD(cooling degree days)values.The study confirms that green roofs can be an effective solution to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings with flat roofs in the Mediterranean climate,in line with European goals for reducing CO_(2) emissions and promoting renewable energy.展开更多
The present investigation aims at unveiling the main causes of the recorded disparate phylogeographic patterning among the two highly dispersive coastal crab species Carcinus aestuarii and Pachygrapsus marmoratus in t...The present investigation aims at unveiling the main causes of the recorded disparate phylogeographic patterning among the two highly dispersive coastal crab species Carcinus aestuarii and Pachygrapsus marmoratus in the Mediterranean Sea.For this purpose,available mitochondrial and nuclear data for both species were re-analyzed and investigated for genetic polymorphism and differentiation patterns across three defined geographic scales in their distribution ranges,but also across the same locations in the Mediterranean Sea.The temporal frame of genetic diversification was also determined for both species in order to check whether observed differences in phylogeographic patterns among these coastal decapods could be attributed to different evolutionary histories.The obtained results revealed a more variable and diversified gene pool in the green crab C.aestuarii than the one recorded in the marbled crab P.marmoratus.Lack of significant correlation between pairwise genetic dissimilarities observed among C.aestuarii populations and those detected for P.marmoratus was notably discerned across the same defined Mediterranean locations.This finding indicates that the pattern of pairwise genetic differentiation does not vary in the same way in both examined crab species.Significant outputs of population genetic differentiation,retrieved within both species,were shown to be differently associated with the potential effects of various kinds of isolation processes(related to geography,environment and biogeographic boundary).Evolutionary history reconstruction showed older genetic diversification event in C.aestuarii than the one recorded in P.marmoratus.These recorded temporal frames suggest different modes of genetic diversification in both crab species(glacial vicariance for C.aestuarii and interglacial dispersal for P.marmoratus).They may also provide an explanation for the recorded differences in variation of patterns of population genetic diversity and structure,when integrated with species ecological requirements and life-history traits.展开更多
BACKGROUND Familial Mediterranean fever(FMF)is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder marked by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis.Resistin,a proinflammatory cytokine,may play a role in FMF pathogenes...BACKGROUND Familial Mediterranean fever(FMF)is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder marked by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis.Resistin,a proinflammatory cytokine,may play a role in FMF pathogenesis by promoting the release of interleukin-1beta,tumour necrosis factor alpha,and interleukin-6.AIM To evaluate serum resistin levels in children with FMF during acute attacks and remission,and to assess its potential as a biomarker for disease activity and progression.METHODS A case-control study was conducted involving 40 pediatric patients with FMF and 40 age-and sex-matched healthy controls.Serum resistin and inflammatory markers—including total leukocyte count(TLC),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),and fibrinogen—were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and standard assays.RESULTS No significant differences were found in age or sex between FMF patients and controls.Among FMF patients,fever was the most prevalent symptom(95%),followed by abdominal pain(75%).The most frequently detected genetic mutation was M694I,followed by M694V,E148Q,M680I,and V726A.Compound heterozygous mutations,including M694I/V726A and M694I/M694V,were equally represented.During acute attacks,FMF patients exhibited significantly elevated levels of TLC,ESR,CRP,SAA,and fibrinogen compared to attack-free periods and controls.Serum resistin levels were markedly higher during acute attacks and showed a strong positive correlation with other acute inflammatory markers.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity of resistin as a potential biomarker for FMF.CONCLUSION Resistin is significantly elevated in children with FMF during acute episodes and correlates with established inflammatory markers.These findings support its potential role as a non-invasive biomarker for disease activity and severity in pediatric FMF.展开更多
Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.Local smallholder farmers’adaptation strategies to climate chan...Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.Local smallholder farmers’adaptation strategies to climate change are crucial for mitigating these impacts.Therefore,this study investigated the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change in four countries(Morocco,Egypt,Italy,and Senegal)of Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions using a binary logistic regression(BLR)model.The results indicated that educational level,farming experience,agricultural income,farm size,participation in agricultural workshops,and training in Good Agricultural Practices(GAPs)significantly impacted smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change(such as smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops).Higher educational level was linked to the greater possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Italy and Egypt,while gaps in rural education limited the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Senegal.Farming experience and agricultural income also enhanced the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,with notable variations across countries due to systemic barriers such as limited infrastructure in Senegal.Larger farm size and participation in agricultural workshops further improved the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,particularly in Morocco and Egypt.The findings highlighted the importance of tailored interventions and policy measures to support smallholder farmers in effectively responding to the challenges of climate change under diverse agricultural contexts.By understanding the specific needs and circumstances of smallholder farmers in these countries,policymakers can develop more effective adaptation strategies to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability under the context of climate change.展开更多
Characterized by special morphologic,geographic,hydrologic,and societal behaviors,the water resources management of the Mediterranean catchment often shows a higher level of complexity including security issues of wat...Characterized by special morphologic,geographic,hydrologic,and societal behaviors,the water resources management of the Mediterranean catchment often shows a higher level of complexity including security issues of water supply,inundation risks,and environment management under the perspective of climate change.To have a comprehensive understanding of the Mediterranean water-cycle system,a deterministic distributed hydrologic modeling approach has been developed and presented in this study based on an application in the Var catchment(2800 km^(2))located at the French Mediterranean region.A 1D and 2D coupled model of MIKE SHE and MIKE 11 has been set up under a series of hypotheses to represent the whole hydrologic and hydrodynamic processes including rainfall-runoff,snow-melting,channel flow,overland flow,and the water exchange between land surface and unsaturated/saturated zones.The developed model was first calibrated with 4 years daily records from 2008 to 2011,then to be validated and further run within hourly time interval to produce detailed representation of the catchment water-cycle from 2012 to 2014.The deterministic distributed modeling approach presented in this study is able to represent its complicated water-cycle and used for supporting the decision‐making process of the water resources management of the catchment.展开更多
Background： Considerable interest exists in the therapeutic potential of dietary omega 3 fatty acids in asthma, due to anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial is t...Background： Considerable interest exists in the therapeutic potential of dietary omega 3 fatty acids in asthma, due to anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial is to investigate the efficacy of fatty fish consumption in the context of the Mediterranean diet in ameliorating symptoms in pediatric asthma. Methods： Children aged 5-12 years with physician-diagnosed ＂mild asthma＂ will be recruited from a pediatric asthma clinic in Athens and randomized to two groups. The intervention group will consume two meals of fatty fish （≥ 150g cooked fish） per week over a period of 6 months as part of the Greek Mediterranean diet. The control group consumes their usual diet. Questionnaires will be used to collect data on socio-demographics, medical history, dietary habits, adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, asthma control and quality of life. Pulmonary function will be assessed using spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide analysis. In addition, blood tests will be undertaken to assess metabolic profile, biomarkers of nutritional status and dietary intake. Discussion： This clinical dietary intervention will evaluate the therapeutic potential of a Mediterranean diet enriched with fatty fish on pediatric asthma and assist in devising dietary guidelines for the management of pediatric asthma.展开更多
This paper provides an exploration of cooperative learning(CL) in a Mediterranean European cultural setting, taking classroom teaching in the University of Málaga(UMA) as an example. An important part of the pape...This paper provides an exploration of cooperative learning(CL) in a Mediterranean European cultural setting, taking classroom teaching in the University of Málaga(UMA) as an example. An important part of the paper is on the definitions of CL, second language acquisition(SLA) and relative literature by scholars or educators home and abroad, such as historical and contemporary views of CL, its development and application in a variety of classrooms, esp. in multi-lingual settings, in UMA. It also puts much emphasis on sociocultural aspects of CL. Besides, this paper compares the application of CL with that in SWUST,one public university in Southwest China. In views of current problems and awkward situations in the application of CL, the paper argues that the qualified teachers and quality monitoring systems are the two major decisive factors that affect the achievement of CL in Spanish institutions. This paper also analyzes the main characteristics of the classroom teaching in Mediterranean European Cultural Settings. Thus, the paper suggests that CL may be one of the most efficient approaches to improving the quality of education in UMA. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations and suggestions that Spanish institutions train more wellqualified teachers to meet the increasing demand of CL approach in multi-contextual or multi-lingual settings.展开更多
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver disease, and is characterized by a wide spectrum of fat-liver disorders that can result in severe liver disease and cirrhosis. Infla...Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver disease, and is characterized by a wide spectrum of fat-liver disorders that can result in severe liver disease and cirrhosis. Inflammation and oxidative stress are the major risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Currently, there is no consensus concerning the pharmacological treatment of NAFLD. However, lifestyle interventions based on exercise and a balanced diet for quality and quantity, are considered the cornerstone of NAFLD management. Mediterranean diet(MD), rich in polyunsaturated fats, polyphenols, vitamins and carotenoids, with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, has been suggested to be effective in preventing cardiovascular risk factors. In adults, MD has also been demonstrated to be efficacious in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome. However, few studies are available on the effects of the MD in both adult and pediatric subjects with NAFLD. Thus, the aims of the present narrative review are to analyze the current clinical evidence on the impact of MD in patients with NAFLD, and to summarize the main mechanisms of action of MD components on this condition.展开更多
The contemporary stress field in the earth＇s crust is important and provides insights into mechanisms that drive plate motions. In this study, elastic plane stress finite element modeling incorporating realistic rock...The contemporary stress field in the earth＇s crust is important and provides insights into mechanisms that drive plate motions. In this study, elastic plane stress finite element modeling incorporating realistic rock parameters was used to calculate the stress field, displacement field, and defor- mation of the plate interactions in the eastern Mediterranean. Modeled stress data for the African- Arabian-Anatolian plate interactions with fixed European platform correlate well with observed contemporary stress indicator from the world stress map （WSM） and focal mechanism of earthquakes; while displacement field agrees qualitatively well with GPS vectors and sense of motion indicated by focal mechanisms for large crustal earthquakes （Ms〉6） and plate motion models. Modeling result shows the direction of maximum horizontal compressive stress （σHmax） toward the direction of absolute motion of these plates. Large perturbations in σHmax orientations are shown to occur in and around tectonic boundaries between those plates. It is observed that, although the African plate acts mostly as indenter, which transmits the collisional motion from the Arabian plate to the Anatolian plate, in the current situation, the far-field stress, probably from the subduction in Aegean Arc, is needed to satisfy the contemporary stress field in Anatolia.展开更多
Background: Forest productivity has a pivotal role in human well-being. Vegetation quantity, niche complementarity, mass-ratio, and soil resources are alternative/complementary ecological mechanisms driving productivi...Background: Forest productivity has a pivotal role in human well-being. Vegetation quantity, niche complementarity, mass-ratio, and soil resources are alternative/complementary ecological mechanisms driving productivity. One challenge in current forest management depends on identifying and manipulating these mechanisms to enhance productivity. This study assessed the extent to which these mechanisms control aboveground biomass productivity(AGBP) of a Chilean mediterranean-type matorral. AGBP measured as tree aboveground biomass changes over a 7-years period, was estimated for twelve 25 m × 25 m plots across a wide range of matorral compositions and structures. Variables related to canopy structure, species and functional diversity, species and functional dominance, soil texture, soil water and soil nitrogen content were measured as surrogates of the four mechanisms proposed. Linear regression models were used to test the hypotheses. A multimodel inference based on the Akaike’s information criterion was used to select the best models explaining AGBP and for identifying the relative importance of each mechanism.Results: Vegetation quantity(tree density) and mass-ratio(relative biomass of Cryptocarya alba, a conservative species) were the strongest drivers increasing AGBP, while niche complementarity(richness species) and soil resources(sand, %) had a smaller effect either decreasing or increasing AGBP, respectively. This study provides the first assessment of alternative mechanisms driving AGBP in mediterranean forests of Chile. There is strong evidence suggesting that the vegetation quantity and mass-ratio mechanisms are key drivers of AGBP, such as in other tropical and temperate forests. However, in contrast with other studies from mediterranean-type forests, our results show a negative effect of species diversity and a small effect of soil resources on AGBP.Conclusion: AGBP in the Chilean matorral depends mainly on the vegetation quantity and mass-ratio mechanisms.The findings of this study have implications for matorral restoration and management for the production of timber and non-timber products and carbon sequestration.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among the healthy asymptomatic population in Iran and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
AIM To determine the clinical effectiveness of nutritional counseling on reduction of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) severity, weight loss, metabolic and anthropometric indexes and liver enzymes.METHODS Fort...AIM To determine the clinical effectiveness of nutritional counseling on reduction of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) severity, weight loss, metabolic and anthropometric indexes and liver enzymes.METHODS Forty-six adults with NAFLD received a 6-mo clinical and a dietary intervention(based on Mediterranean diet) carried out respectively by a gastroenterologist and a nutritionist with counseling license. The counseling process consisted of monthly meeting(about 45 min each). The effect of the treatment was evaluated monitoring liver enzymes, metabolic parameters, cardiovascular risk indexes, NAFLD severity [assessed by ultrasound(US)] and related indexes. All parameters were assessed at baseline. Biochemistry was also assessed at mid-and end-interventions and US was repeated at end-intervention.RESULTS The percentage of patients with steatosis grade equal or higher than 2 was reduced from 93% to 48% and steatosis regressed in 9 patients(20%). At the end of the treatment the end-point concerning the weight(i.e., a 7% weight reduction or achievement/maintenance of normal weight) was accomplished by 25 out of 46 patients(i.e., 54.3%). As far as the liver enzymes is concerned, all three liver enzymes significantly decrease during the treatment the normalization was particularly evident for the ALT enzyme(altered values reduced from 67% down to 11%). Several parameters, i.e., BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, AST, ALT, GGT, HDL, serum glucose, Tot-Chol/HDL, LDL/HDL, TG/HDL, AIP, HOMA, FLI, Kotronen index, VAI, NAFLD liver fat score and LAP, showed a significant improvement(P < 0.01) between baseline and end-treatment.CONCLUSION Outcomes of this study further strengthen the hypothesis that Med Diet and more active lifestyle can be considered a safe therapeutic approach for reducing risk and severity of NAFLD and related disease states. The proposed approach may be proposed as a valid and recommended approach for improving the clinical profile of NAFLD patients.展开更多
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide.The mechanisms of the underlying disease development and progression are awaiting clarification.Insulin resistance and obesity-related...Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide.The mechanisms of the underlying disease development and progression are awaiting clarification.Insulin resistance and obesity-related inflammation status,among other possible genetic,dietary,and lifestyle factors,are thought to play the key role.There is no consensus concerning the pharmacological treatment.However,the dietary nutritional management to achieve weight loss is an essential component of any treatment strategy.On the basis of its components,the literature reports on the effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in reducing cardiovascular risk and in preventing major chronic diseases,including obesity and diabetes.New evidence supports the idea that the Mediterranean diet,associated with physical activity and cognitive behaviour therapy,may have an important role in the prevention and the treatment of NAFLD.展开更多
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers（PBDEs） are commercial flame retardants that have been commonly used in vehicle interior to reduce fire-related hazards. Due to high temperatures and intense insolation that can be atta...Polybrominated diphenyl ethers（PBDEs） are commercial flame retardants that have been commonly used in vehicle interior to reduce fire-related hazards. Due to high temperatures and intense insolation that can be attained inside cars parked in the sun, additive PBDEs are prone to leach out and attach to in-vehicle dust, as well as to photo-debrominate. This study examines seasonal variations of concentrations of three common PBDE congeners（BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-209） in car dust in Israel. The overall concentrations of these BDEs ranged from 1 to 29 μg/g, and were higher in the summer than in the winter（average of 10.2 and5.3 μg/g, respectively）. Congener-specific concentrations showed distinct seasonal pattern,representing the interplay between leaching, evaporation and photodebromination. Photolysis of the three congeners, while adsorbed on glass filters and exposed to solar radiation, revealed first order kinetics with debromination rates on the order of 10-2/min. Hence, seasonal variations of the meteorological conditions were found to affect the in-vehicle PBDE concentrations, and are therefore expected also to affect the exposure of passengers to PBDEs.展开更多
文摘The Suez Canal is a unique sea-level waterway between northern Africa and southern Asia that connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea via the Isthmus of Suez. The canal’s artificial navigation route substantially reduced the sailing distance between countries in Europe and East Asia and offered a more direct route between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean through the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. The primary objective of this study is to document the historical, economical, and environmental impacts of connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea via a canal. After the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869 the canal became an economically lifeline for Egypt. However, the economic gains were partially offset by negative environmental impacts. The impact of port activities on the environment depends on their cargo volume and location, seaports can have an impact on the air quality and therefore on the health of the communities along the Suez Canal. The salinity barrier to migration was removed and animals and plants from the Red Sea began colonizing the eastern Mediterranean. Since the 1880s, species from the Indo-Pacific Ocean have been introduced, via the canal, into the Mediterranean ecosystem. They are endangering some local and endemic species and impacting the ecology. The results showed significant changes in the shoreline and land cover due to climate change and anthropogenic activities that necessitate the implementation of adequate protective measures. The findings of this study may assist policymakers in formulating adaptation plans to protect this crucial area, the communities along the Suez Canal and the Red Sea and Mediterranean ports, from climate change and human activities.
文摘Homogeneous methods for ecological applications to the nutrient cycle are analyzed,and the results are presented according to the marine ecology work discussed.To do justice to the explanations,the materials are summarized,and the methods are discussed and improved for both interested readers and experts in the field.Both the materials and the methods serve informative and popularizing as well as applicable and interpretive purposes and,in order to achieve the widest possible dissemination,are shared under the strict supervision of the earlier individual publications discussed here.The aeolian syntheses quantify the impact of atmospheric deposition of nutrients in the Western Mediterranean as one-twentieth of the baseline vertical fluxes of organic matter,while estimates for the Eastern Mediterranean reach one-eighth.Possible changes and additions in the global ocean are discussed as well as ecosystem updates and their relevance to the specific orography,hydrology and geochemistry associated with the lower trophodynamic degrees of freedom.Finally,the dynamics of the basins are analyzed,with increasing nutrient inputs leading to a top-down control of net plankton growth in the western basin and to an extremely nutrient-poor state in the eastern basin.
基金supported by the Central Guiding Local Science and Technology Development Fund of Shandong-Yellow River Basin(No.YDZX2023019)Shandong Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.ZR2020QF067 and ZR2023QD073)+6 种基金the Discipline Cluster Research Project of Qingdao University“Deep mining and intelligent prediction of multimodal big data for marine ecological disasters”(No.20240604)sourced from the International Argo Program and the national programs that contribute to it(https://argo.ucsd.edu)the CMEMS(http://marine.copernicus.eu/)the CDS(https://cds.climate.copernicus.eu/)the EMODnet(https://www.emodnet-chemistry.eu/)obtained from the ERA5(https://www.ecmwf.int)derived from the Glob Colour Project(http://globcolour.info).
文摘Oceanic dissolved oxygen(DO)concentration is crucial for assessing the status of marine ecosystems.Against the backdrop of global warming,DO shows a general decrease,posing a threat to the health of marine ecosystems.Therefore,there is an urgent need to develop advanced tools to characterize the spatio-temporal variations of three-dimensional(3D)DO.To address this challenge,this study introduces the Light Gradient Boosting Machine(Light-GBM),combining satellite remote sensing and reanalysis data with Biogeochemical Argo data to accurately reconstruct the 3D DO structure in the Mediterranean Sea from 2010 to 2022.Various environmental parameters are incorporated as inputs,including spatiotemporal features,meteorological characteristics,and ocean color properties.The LightGBM model demonstrates excellent performance on the testing dataset with R^(2) of 0.958.The modeled DO agrees better with in-situ measurements than products from numerical models.Using the Shapley Additive exPlanations method,the contributions of input features are assessed.Sea surface temperatures provide a correlation with DO at the sea surface,while spatial coordinates supplement the view of the ocean interior.Based on the reconstructed 3D DO structure,we identify an oxygen minimum zone in the western Mediterranean that expands continuously,reaching depths of approximately 300–800 m.The western Mediterranean exhibits a significant declining trend.This study enhances marine environmental evidence by proposing a precise and cost-effective approach for reconstructing 3D DO,thereby offering insights into the dynamics of DO variations under changing climatic conditions.
基金funded by the Life Seedforce(Life20 NAT/IT/001468)。
文摘Salt stress might be an important factor that decreases the emergence of seedlings and reduces plants'growth,causing their endangered status.However,the effects of salt stress on the germination of the Mediterranean species are less concern.Limonium strictissimum(Salzm.)Arrigoni,part of the group related to Limonium articulatum(Loisel.)Kuntze,is a Cyrno-Sardinian endemism,which is included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)Red Lists as Endangered(EN).Fresh seeds of L.strictissimum harvested from the only known population in Sardinia and a population in southeastern Corsica were used with the aims to study the effects of temperature and salinity on the seed germination and to evaluate the ability to recover their germination after exposure to salt stress.In both populations,empty fruits with a lower percentage were observed in Sardinia than in Corsica.The seeds showed a high germination capacity,which was not influenced by temperature and did not even differ between the two populations.Compared with non-saline condition,the presence of salt in the substrate,independently of the concentration tested,inhibited seed germination in both populations,with germination percentages never exceeding 40%.The Sardinian population showed a recovery capacity after exposure to high salt stress,always above 50%regardless of the salt concentration and incubation temperature considered.The seeds previously exposed to 125 mM NaCl at 30℃ had the lowest recovery percentage(56%),while the highest recovery percentage(84%)was recorded at 25℃ with a concentration of 250 mM NaCl.Differently,the Corsican population recorded a higher recovery percentage(54%)in seeds previously exposed to 500 mM NaCl at 20℃,while for the concentration of 125 mM NaCl,the best recovery percentage(11%)was recorded at 30℃.The ability of L.strictissimum to recover germination after salt exposure can be interpreted as an adaptation to the coastal habitats in which it grows.This study provides new insights into the ecophysiology of L.strictissimum seed germination,which could help preserve and implement effective conservation measures for this endangered species with restricted populations.
基金supported by the MANMOUNT project(PID2019-105983RB-100)funded by the MICINN-FEDER(MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033)the 570 PRX21/00375 project funded by the Ministry of Universities of Spain from the“Salvador de Madariaga”programme+1 种基金The‘Geoenvironmental Processes and Global Change’(E02_23R)research group is financed by the Aragon Government and the European Social Fund(ESF-FSE)The first author is working with an FPI contract(PRE2020-094509)from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness associated to the MANMOUNT project.
文摘The abandonment of rural activities in the Mediterranean mid-mountains has led to the activation of revegetation processes,as well as the subsequent implementation of various management measures to mitigate the associated ecosystem disservices.Focusing on soil environment and its growing importance in a climate change scenario,it is of great interest to study how land management and landscape changes can affect,not only the soil carbon storage process,but also its dynamics.A study was conducted in La Rioja(Iberian System,Spain),comparing three post-abandonment management strategies:secondary succession,forest management,and shrub clearing and extensive grazing.These strategies were analysed in two types of soil environments(acid and alkaline)and for two depth ranges(0–20 cm and 20–40 cm).Laboratory analyses were performed on aggregate stability and soil organic carbon fractionation with regard to three aggregate sizes(<2 mm,2–5 mm,>5 mm)and three density fractions(free labile,occluded,and heavy fraction).The results showed that:1)SOC content in aggregates<2 mm(relative to total SOC)increases with shrub clearing and grazing strategy in acid environments;2)aggregate stability benefits from the implementation of afforestation in acid environments and from all three study strategies in alkaline ones;3)in acid environments,the percentage of labile fractions(free and occluded)in afforested sites is significantly higher compared with shrubland,while in alkaline environments,recalcitrant SOC is significantly higher in shrub clearing sites.Thus,land management should be focused on SOC storage after land abandonment in Mediterranean mountainous environments.
文摘BACKGROUND The treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease(MA-SLD)has focused on the control of comorbidities.Silybum marianum(SM)and alpha-lipoic acid(ALA)have shown antioxidant and adjuvant effects on the control of metabolic disorders.AIM To evaluate whether the SM-ALA formulation(LUDLEV®),in combination with the Mediterranean diet(MD),could improve MASLD-related liver injury.METHODS A randomized,double-blind clinical trial was conducted on patients with MA-SLD.Administration of SM-ALA plus MD(group A)vs placebo plus MD(group B)was compared for 24 weeks.At baseline and weeks 12 and 24,anthropometric measurements,metabolic parameters,and liver function were analyzed.Clinical effectiveness was evaluated through transient elastography.RESULTS Fifty patients aged 54±10 years were included,and the majority(74%)were female.Reduced visceral fat and umbilical circumference were reported in both groups,with significance in group A(P=0.045 and 0.003,respectively).The de-crease in controlled attenuation parameter was gradual and maintained at 12 and 24 weeks in group A(P=0.026),whereas in group B the decrease was greater at week 12 and remained unchanged at week 24(∆controlled attenuation parameter:-27 dB/m).Mild adverse effects were reported in 4 patients in group A(16%)and 4 patients in group B(16%),with no significant differences between groups(P=0.641).CONCLUSION SM-ALA(LUDLEV®)combined with the MD can promote the improvement of metabolic parameters,reducing visceral fat and hepatic steatosis in Mexican patients with MASLD.
文摘This study analyzes the energy impact of applying green roofs on flat roofs of existing buildings,assessing their potential to reduce the demand for non-renewable primary energy for heating and cooling.Through dynamic numerical simulations conducted on two real buildings located near Florence,Italy,and modeled in 130 different European locations,with a particular focus on the Mediterranean climate,it was possible to quantify the energy benefits derived from the application of green roofs on existing structures.The results show that,while the effect on heating is limited,with an average reduction in energy demand of only a few percentage points,the impact on cooling is significantly more pronounced,with average savings of 20%in non-renewable primary energy,particularly in Mediterranean climates with high CDD(cooling degree days)values.The study confirms that green roofs can be an effective solution to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings with flat roofs in the Mediterranean climate,in line with European goals for reducing CO_(2) emissions and promoting renewable energy.
文摘The present investigation aims at unveiling the main causes of the recorded disparate phylogeographic patterning among the two highly dispersive coastal crab species Carcinus aestuarii and Pachygrapsus marmoratus in the Mediterranean Sea.For this purpose,available mitochondrial and nuclear data for both species were re-analyzed and investigated for genetic polymorphism and differentiation patterns across three defined geographic scales in their distribution ranges,but also across the same locations in the Mediterranean Sea.The temporal frame of genetic diversification was also determined for both species in order to check whether observed differences in phylogeographic patterns among these coastal decapods could be attributed to different evolutionary histories.The obtained results revealed a more variable and diversified gene pool in the green crab C.aestuarii than the one recorded in the marbled crab P.marmoratus.Lack of significant correlation between pairwise genetic dissimilarities observed among C.aestuarii populations and those detected for P.marmoratus was notably discerned across the same defined Mediterranean locations.This finding indicates that the pattern of pairwise genetic differentiation does not vary in the same way in both examined crab species.Significant outputs of population genetic differentiation,retrieved within both species,were shown to be differently associated with the potential effects of various kinds of isolation processes(related to geography,environment and biogeographic boundary).Evolutionary history reconstruction showed older genetic diversification event in C.aestuarii than the one recorded in P.marmoratus.These recorded temporal frames suggest different modes of genetic diversification in both crab species(glacial vicariance for C.aestuarii and interglacial dispersal for P.marmoratus).They may also provide an explanation for the recorded differences in variation of patterns of population genetic diversity and structure,when integrated with species ecological requirements and life-history traits.
文摘BACKGROUND Familial Mediterranean fever(FMF)is an autosomal recessive autoinflammatory disorder marked by recurrent episodes of fever and serositis.Resistin,a proinflammatory cytokine,may play a role in FMF pathogenesis by promoting the release of interleukin-1beta,tumour necrosis factor alpha,and interleukin-6.AIM To evaluate serum resistin levels in children with FMF during acute attacks and remission,and to assess its potential as a biomarker for disease activity and progression.METHODS A case-control study was conducted involving 40 pediatric patients with FMF and 40 age-and sex-matched healthy controls.Serum resistin and inflammatory markers—including total leukocyte count(TLC),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),serum amyloid A(SAA),and fibrinogen—were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and standard assays.RESULTS No significant differences were found in age or sex between FMF patients and controls.Among FMF patients,fever was the most prevalent symptom(95%),followed by abdominal pain(75%).The most frequently detected genetic mutation was M694I,followed by M694V,E148Q,M680I,and V726A.Compound heterozygous mutations,including M694I/V726A and M694I/M694V,were equally represented.During acute attacks,FMF patients exhibited significantly elevated levels of TLC,ESR,CRP,SAA,and fibrinogen compared to attack-free periods and controls.Serum resistin levels were markedly higher during acute attacks and showed a strong positive correlation with other acute inflammatory markers.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity of resistin as a potential biomarker for FMF.CONCLUSION Resistin is significantly elevated in children with FMF during acute episodes and correlates with established inflammatory markers.These findings support its potential role as a non-invasive biomarker for disease activity and severity in pediatric FMF.
基金an integral component of the TRUSTFARM Project,supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programThe TRUSTFARM Project was carried out under the European Research Area Network Cofund on Food Systems and Climate(ERA-NET FOSC,862555)+1 种基金built upon and supported by the experience from the Joint Programming Initiative on Agriculture,Food Security&Climate Change(FACCE-JPI)the European Research Area Network Cofund on Long-term Europe-Africa Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development(LEAP-Agri).
文摘Climate change poses substantial challenges to agricultural productivity and sustainability,particularly in Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions.Local smallholder farmers’adaptation strategies to climate change are crucial for mitigating these impacts.Therefore,this study investigated the socioeconomic factors influencing smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change in four countries(Morocco,Egypt,Italy,and Senegal)of Mediterranean and Sub-Saharan Africa regions using a binary logistic regression(BLR)model.The results indicated that educational level,farming experience,agricultural income,farm size,participation in agricultural workshops,and training in Good Agricultural Practices(GAPs)significantly impacted smallholder farmers’perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change(such as smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops).Higher educational level was linked to the greater possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Italy and Egypt,while gaps in rural education limited the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops in Morocco and Senegal.Farming experience and agricultural income also enhanced the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,with notable variations across countries due to systemic barriers such as limited infrastructure in Senegal.Larger farm size and participation in agricultural workshops further improved the possibility of smallholder farmers adopting drought-tolerant crops,particularly in Morocco and Egypt.The findings highlighted the importance of tailored interventions and policy measures to support smallholder farmers in effectively responding to the challenges of climate change under diverse agricultural contexts.By understanding the specific needs and circumstances of smallholder farmers in these countries,policymakers can develop more effective adaptation strategies to enhance agricultural resilience and sustainability under the context of climate change.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFC3006702)the Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality(IS23117).
文摘Characterized by special morphologic,geographic,hydrologic,and societal behaviors,the water resources management of the Mediterranean catchment often shows a higher level of complexity including security issues of water supply,inundation risks,and environment management under the perspective of climate change.To have a comprehensive understanding of the Mediterranean water-cycle system,a deterministic distributed hydrologic modeling approach has been developed and presented in this study based on an application in the Var catchment(2800 km^(2))located at the French Mediterranean region.A 1D and 2D coupled model of MIKE SHE and MIKE 11 has been set up under a series of hypotheses to represent the whole hydrologic and hydrodynamic processes including rainfall-runoff,snow-melting,channel flow,overland flow,and the water exchange between land surface and unsaturated/saturated zones.The developed model was first calibrated with 4 years daily records from 2008 to 2011,then to be validated and further run within hourly time interval to produce detailed representation of the catchment water-cycle from 2012 to 2014.The deterministic distributed modeling approach presented in this study is able to represent its complicated water-cycle and used for supporting the decision‐making process of the water resources management of the catchment.
文摘Background： Considerable interest exists in the therapeutic potential of dietary omega 3 fatty acids in asthma, due to anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. The aim of this Randomized Controlled Trial is to investigate the efficacy of fatty fish consumption in the context of the Mediterranean diet in ameliorating symptoms in pediatric asthma. Methods： Children aged 5-12 years with physician-diagnosed ＂mild asthma＂ will be recruited from a pediatric asthma clinic in Athens and randomized to two groups. The intervention group will consume two meals of fatty fish （≥ 150g cooked fish） per week over a period of 6 months as part of the Greek Mediterranean diet. The control group consumes their usual diet. Questionnaires will be used to collect data on socio-demographics, medical history, dietary habits, adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern, asthma control and quality of life. Pulmonary function will be assessed using spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide analysis. In addition, blood tests will be undertaken to assess metabolic profile, biomarkers of nutritional status and dietary intake. Discussion： This clinical dietary intervention will evaluate the therapeutic potential of a Mediterranean diet enriched with fatty fish on pediatric asthma and assist in devising dietary guidelines for the management of pediatric asthma.
文摘This paper provides an exploration of cooperative learning(CL) in a Mediterranean European cultural setting, taking classroom teaching in the University of Málaga(UMA) as an example. An important part of the paper is on the definitions of CL, second language acquisition(SLA) and relative literature by scholars or educators home and abroad, such as historical and contemporary views of CL, its development and application in a variety of classrooms, esp. in multi-lingual settings, in UMA. It also puts much emphasis on sociocultural aspects of CL. Besides, this paper compares the application of CL with that in SWUST,one public university in Southwest China. In views of current problems and awkward situations in the application of CL, the paper argues that the qualified teachers and quality monitoring systems are the two major decisive factors that affect the achievement of CL in Spanish institutions. This paper also analyzes the main characteristics of the classroom teaching in Mediterranean European Cultural Settings. Thus, the paper suggests that CL may be one of the most efficient approaches to improving the quality of education in UMA. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations and suggestions that Spanish institutions train more wellqualified teachers to meet the increasing demand of CL approach in multi-contextual or multi-lingual settings.
文摘Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is emerging as the most common chronic liver disease, and is characterized by a wide spectrum of fat-liver disorders that can result in severe liver disease and cirrhosis. Inflammation and oxidative stress are the major risk factors involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Currently, there is no consensus concerning the pharmacological treatment of NAFLD. However, lifestyle interventions based on exercise and a balanced diet for quality and quantity, are considered the cornerstone of NAFLD management. Mediterranean diet(MD), rich in polyunsaturated fats, polyphenols, vitamins and carotenoids, with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, has been suggested to be effective in preventing cardiovascular risk factors. In adults, MD has also been demonstrated to be efficacious in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome. However, few studies are available on the effects of the MD in both adult and pediatric subjects with NAFLD. Thus, the aims of the present narrative review are to analyze the current clinical evidence on the impact of MD in patients with NAFLD, and to summarize the main mechanisms of action of MD components on this condition.
文摘The contemporary stress field in the earth＇s crust is important and provides insights into mechanisms that drive plate motions. In this study, elastic plane stress finite element modeling incorporating realistic rock parameters was used to calculate the stress field, displacement field, and defor- mation of the plate interactions in the eastern Mediterranean. Modeled stress data for the African- Arabian-Anatolian plate interactions with fixed European platform correlate well with observed contemporary stress indicator from the world stress map （WSM） and focal mechanism of earthquakes; while displacement field agrees qualitatively well with GPS vectors and sense of motion indicated by focal mechanisms for large crustal earthquakes （Ms〉6） and plate motion models. Modeling result shows the direction of maximum horizontal compressive stress （σHmax） toward the direction of absolute motion of these plates. Large perturbations in σHmax orientations are shown to occur in and around tectonic boundaries between those plates. It is observed that, although the African plate acts mostly as indenter, which transmits the collisional motion from the Arabian plate to the Anatolian plate, in the current situation, the far-field stress, probably from the subduction in Aegean Arc, is needed to satisfy the contemporary stress field in Anatolia.
基金Funding for this research was obtained from CONICy T(Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica)for the grant Fondecyt No1150877funding was derived from the CONICy T doctoral grant No 21150802
文摘Background: Forest productivity has a pivotal role in human well-being. Vegetation quantity, niche complementarity, mass-ratio, and soil resources are alternative/complementary ecological mechanisms driving productivity. One challenge in current forest management depends on identifying and manipulating these mechanisms to enhance productivity. This study assessed the extent to which these mechanisms control aboveground biomass productivity(AGBP) of a Chilean mediterranean-type matorral. AGBP measured as tree aboveground biomass changes over a 7-years period, was estimated for twelve 25 m × 25 m plots across a wide range of matorral compositions and structures. Variables related to canopy structure, species and functional diversity, species and functional dominance, soil texture, soil water and soil nitrogen content were measured as surrogates of the four mechanisms proposed. Linear regression models were used to test the hypotheses. A multimodel inference based on the Akaike’s information criterion was used to select the best models explaining AGBP and for identifying the relative importance of each mechanism.Results: Vegetation quantity(tree density) and mass-ratio(relative biomass of Cryptocarya alba, a conservative species) were the strongest drivers increasing AGBP, while niche complementarity(richness species) and soil resources(sand, %) had a smaller effect either decreasing or increasing AGBP, respectively. This study provides the first assessment of alternative mechanisms driving AGBP in mediterranean forests of Chile. There is strong evidence suggesting that the vegetation quantity and mass-ratio mechanisms are key drivers of AGBP, such as in other tropical and temperate forests. However, in contrast with other studies from mediterranean-type forests, our results show a negative effect of species diversity and a small effect of soil resources on AGBP.Conclusion: AGBP in the Chilean matorral depends mainly on the vegetation quantity and mass-ratio mechanisms.The findings of this study have implications for matorral restoration and management for the production of timber and non-timber products and carbon sequestration.
文摘AIM: To investigate the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection among the healthy asymptomatic population in Iran and countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
基金Supported by Fondo per gli Investimenti della Ricerca di Base,No.RBAP10MY35_002Ente Cassa di Risparmio di FirenzeFior Gen ONLUS to Galli A
文摘AIM To determine the clinical effectiveness of nutritional counseling on reduction of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) severity, weight loss, metabolic and anthropometric indexes and liver enzymes.METHODS Forty-six adults with NAFLD received a 6-mo clinical and a dietary intervention(based on Mediterranean diet) carried out respectively by a gastroenterologist and a nutritionist with counseling license. The counseling process consisted of monthly meeting(about 45 min each). The effect of the treatment was evaluated monitoring liver enzymes, metabolic parameters, cardiovascular risk indexes, NAFLD severity [assessed by ultrasound(US)] and related indexes. All parameters were assessed at baseline. Biochemistry was also assessed at mid-and end-interventions and US was repeated at end-intervention.RESULTS The percentage of patients with steatosis grade equal or higher than 2 was reduced from 93% to 48% and steatosis regressed in 9 patients(20%). At the end of the treatment the end-point concerning the weight(i.e., a 7% weight reduction or achievement/maintenance of normal weight) was accomplished by 25 out of 46 patients(i.e., 54.3%). As far as the liver enzymes is concerned, all three liver enzymes significantly decrease during the treatment the normalization was particularly evident for the ALT enzyme(altered values reduced from 67% down to 11%). Several parameters, i.e., BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, AST, ALT, GGT, HDL, serum glucose, Tot-Chol/HDL, LDL/HDL, TG/HDL, AIP, HOMA, FLI, Kotronen index, VAI, NAFLD liver fat score and LAP, showed a significant improvement(P < 0.01) between baseline and end-treatment.CONCLUSION Outcomes of this study further strengthen the hypothesis that Med Diet and more active lifestyle can be considered a safe therapeutic approach for reducing risk and severity of NAFLD and related disease states. The proposed approach may be proposed as a valid and recommended approach for improving the clinical profile of NAFLD patients.
文摘Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common liver disease worldwide.The mechanisms of the underlying disease development and progression are awaiting clarification.Insulin resistance and obesity-related inflammation status,among other possible genetic,dietary,and lifestyle factors,are thought to play the key role.There is no consensus concerning the pharmacological treatment.However,the dietary nutritional management to achieve weight loss is an essential component of any treatment strategy.On the basis of its components,the literature reports on the effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet in reducing cardiovascular risk and in preventing major chronic diseases,including obesity and diabetes.New evidence supports the idea that the Mediterranean diet,associated with physical activity and cognitive behaviour therapy,may have an important role in the prevention and the treatment of NAFLD.
基金supported by the Technion Center of Excellence in Exposure Science and Environmental Health (TCEEH), The Environmental Health Foundationthe Technion-Shantou University Collaboration in Environmental Health (No. 2015PG-ISL006)
文摘Polybrominated diphenyl ethers（PBDEs） are commercial flame retardants that have been commonly used in vehicle interior to reduce fire-related hazards. Due to high temperatures and intense insolation that can be attained inside cars parked in the sun, additive PBDEs are prone to leach out and attach to in-vehicle dust, as well as to photo-debrominate. This study examines seasonal variations of concentrations of three common PBDE congeners（BDE-47, BDE-99 and BDE-209） in car dust in Israel. The overall concentrations of these BDEs ranged from 1 to 29 μg/g, and were higher in the summer than in the winter（average of 10.2 and5.3 μg/g, respectively）. Congener-specific concentrations showed distinct seasonal pattern,representing the interplay between leaching, evaporation and photodebromination. Photolysis of the three congeners, while adsorbed on glass filters and exposed to solar radiation, revealed first order kinetics with debromination rates on the order of 10-2/min. Hence, seasonal variations of the meteorological conditions were found to affect the in-vehicle PBDE concentrations, and are therefore expected also to affect the exposure of passengers to PBDEs.
