Western Mediterranean Countries Research Articles

Rapid Fatality Estimates after Earthquakes in Western Mediterranean Countries for First Response

ABSTRACT The quality and speed of the current earthquake fatality estimates in Italy, Greece, Spain, Morocco, and Algeria by Quake Loss Assessment for Response and Mitigation (QLARM) is analyzed. The positive conclusion is that all investigated major earthquake disasters have been recognized as red alerts. In all but one of the tests, the range of estimated fatalities bracketed the number of finally reported fatalities. In five out of nine test earthquakes, the range of likely fatalities was calculated in real time, that is, within minutes after the respective earthquakes. These earthquakes occurred during the last 20 yr and only the minimal information of point sources was available. Additional four tests were performed for fatal earthquakes that occurred in the twentieth century and for which magnitudes and extents of the ruptures are known. The negative conclusions are: (1) locations and properties of critical facilities, such as hospitals and schools are still not made available by some governments, although in the case of earthquake disasters, first responders should be informed about their conditions. (2) News media and governments still do not pay attention to the quantitative estimates of fatalities 26 min (median) after earthquakes by QLARM and instead disseminate underestimates by up to two orders of magnitude for days and weeks. (3) The directions and extents of ruptures remain unknown for days and weeks, leading to poor information on the spatial distribution of victims at first. (4) Source locations by different worldwide and local agencies differ by several to 20 km, which can lead to misestimates of fatalities up to 20,000. If rapid earthquake locations of quality were available in earthquake prone areas, such errors could be avoided, and the time to estimate numbers of fatalities could be reduced by an order of magnitude.

Activated Carbon from Stipa tenacissima for the Adsorption of Atenolol

The Stipa tenacissima S. is an endemic species of the Western Mediterranean countries, which grows on the semi-arid grounds of North Africa and South Spain. This biomass offers an abundant, renewable, and low-cost precursor for the production of activated carbon (AC). In that context, ACs were prepared by chemical activation of Stipa tenacissima leaves (STL) using phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The effects of activation temperature and impregnation ratio on the textural and chemical surface properties of the prepared activated carbons were investigated. Activation temperatures of 450 and 500 °C turned out to be the most suitable to produce activated carbons with well-developed porous textures. The best results in terms of developed surface area (1503 m2/g) and micropore volume (0.59 cm3/g) were observed for an STLs to phosphoric acid ratio of 1:2 and a carbonization temperature of 450 °C. The adsorption capacity of the optimal activated carbon was found to be 110 mg/g for the atenolol drug. The adsorption equilibrium was well explained by the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm. This study showed that the chemical activation method using H3PO4 as an activating agent was suitable for developing STL-based activated carbon prepared for the removal of atenolol drug in an aqueous solution and compared with commercial activated carbon supplied by Darco.

Microplastics in the coastal environment of Mediterranean and the impact on sustainability level

The effects emanated from Microplastic Pollution (MPs) on human health, the environment, economy, society have been explored in the past with little to no collective knowledge assembled regarding areas in dire need of combating marine pollution. Mediterranean coastal environments, constitute a main area of interest regarding MPs accumulation, especially due to the economic dependency of the area on touristic activities and the depreciation of high touristic attractions due to coastal and marine waste. This review paper analyzes the abundance, the marine contamination, and accumulation of MPs in Eastern Mediterranean (Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco) and Western Mediterranean (France, Italy, Spain, Malta, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania) countries. The estimated inputs of MPs into the Mediterranean Coastal belt and impacts on the economic and environmental sector are presented by country as well as the general health and marine life implications of marine pollution. The viability of existing monitoring tools (KPIs) is introduced, to provide knowledge regarding the necessity of strategy development to combat marine plastic pollution.

Potentialities of aqueous extract from cultivated Onopordum tauricum (Willd.) as milk clotting agent for cheesemaking

In Western and Central Mediterranean countries proteases from wild herbaceous perennial plants commonly known as “thistles” have been used as milk coagulants in cheese-making for centuries. For the first time, the technological and biochemical traits of proteases from cultivated Onopordum tauricum Willd. (Taurian thistle, bull cottonthistle) were assessed. The optimal conditions for minimizing the clotting time and the non-specific proteolytic activity were estimated at the highest (T = 43–45 °C; [Ca2+] = 11–13 mM) and the lowest (T = 35–39 °C; [Ca2+] = 5 mM) temperature and calcium ion levels in the explored range respectively, thus highlighting the difficulty to set the best operative compromise in the first step of cheesemaking. In the conditions adopted in common cheesemaking practice (T = 37 °C; pH = 6.5) 1 mL of reconstituted extract from cultivated thistles coagulated 10 mL of ewe’s and goat’s milk in 114–146 and 129–167 s, respectively, and 1 mL of reconstituted extract from spontaneous thistles coagulated 10 mL of ewe’s and goat’s milk in 232–294 and 428–621 s, respectively, while no significant differences in the non-specific proteolytic activity between cultivated and spontaneous O. tauricum extracts were observed. The purified enzyme (tauricosin) was identified as an aspartic protease made up of two sub-units with molecular weights of 32 and 9.6 kDa, respectively. Experimental data encouraged the exploitation of O. tauricum as a new and sustainable non-food crop in marginal and rainfed lands of Mediterranean countries, thus reducing the potential biodiversity losses due to wild collection.

Supreme audit institutions in Europe: synergies, institutional transparency, gender equality and sustainability engagement

PurposeSupreme audit institutions (SAIs) examine and supervise the activity of public institutions. The study aims at contributing to the existing literature on public sector audit by providing a classification of 29 European SAIs – 28 national SAIs and the European Court of Auditors (ECA) – based on a broad range of attributes varying from the SAIs' environment to its structure, activity, resources or transparency.Design/methodology/approachThe authors apply quantitative methodology for clustering by means of multidimensional scaling and regressive ordinary least square (OLS) and logistic models.FindingsThe authors' results show that SAIs from veteran EU member states (MSs) are more similar amongst them and the same applies to SAIs from Nordic countries, Baltic countries, Western Mediterranean countries and Eastern countries. The authors also perform additional analysis focussing on currently relevant issues such as gender equality, age, environment or the sustainable development goals (SDGs), concluding that the younger the institutions' staff, the more transparent the institutions are. The authors also find that more transparent SAIs report on environmental audits, more prone to cover the SDGs in their audits.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited in purpose and scope because data cover only Europe. Given the limited number of observations (29), it does not have prospective purposes but only explanatory ones. The authors' findings are interesting for researchers because they offer original insights on public audit in Europe and cover matters of current interest such as environment, transparency or gender equality.Practical implicationsThe research is also of interest for public auditors because it offers them information that may help them improve their activity and find institutional synergies, as the dataset is available to public auditors.Social implicationsFrom a social view point, the paper shows that public auditors perform work on topics of interest for the citizens.Originality/valueThe dataset compiled for the research offers extensive data and a wide variety of attributes defining European SAIs and may offer future opportunities for research from different perspectives.

Comparison of emotional approaches of medical doctors against COVID-19 pandemic: Eastern and Western Mediterranean countries.

BackgroundPandemics are states of disease that occur worldwide and sharply increase in populations. It causes life events which trigger anxiety, depression, anger, sleep deprivation, emotional distress and stress. World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) a pandemic on March 11, pointing to the over 118,000 cases in over 110 countries. Many healthcare workers became ill during the pandemic and some among them died. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare level of stress against COVID‐19 pandemic among doctors from Turkey and Italy.MethodsThis research is a cross‐sectional study in which Perceived Stress Scale (PSS‐10) and Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) are administered online via social networks. All data collection tools were delivered to individuals between 1 and 15 June 2020 and filled in online with Google Forms application. In total, 618 individuals were included in this study and all of them were medical doctors.ResultsHigher PS and STS levels were found related to female gender, being married, working in pandemic hospital and older ages. Stress levels were found statistically higher in Turkish doctors when compared to Italian doctors for both stress scales (Turkish/Italian PSS:20.18 ± 7.90/ 19.35 ± 6.71, STSS: 44.19 ± 13.29/ 38.83 ± 13.74).ConclusionThe number of doctors per 1000 of population is lower and per capita visits to a physician are higher in Turkey when compared to Italy. Besides pandemic, these heavier working conditions, increased weekly working hours can cause stress for Turkish doctors. Reporting information such this study is important and international collaborations are essential to plan future prevention strategies. We need to strengthen international ties and build more international collaborations rather than staying within our national silos. Additionally, interventions to promote mental well‐being in health care professionals exposed to COVID‐19 need to be immediately implemented.

Predicting potential habitat suitability of Quercus suber L. in Algeria under climate change scenarios

AbstractCork oak is one of the forestry species of major socio‐economic importance in western Mediterranean countries and in particular in Algeria. However, its conservation depends on the accurate estimates of its spatial distribution and a detailed knowledge of its ability to adapt to climate change. The purpose of this study is to model the potential habitat suitability for cork oak in Algeria with a view to determining the most vulnerable areas to climate change. Species distribution modelling (MaxEnt) was used to predict the potential current and future distribution of Q. suber under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios. The study results showed that the highly suitable areas for the current distribution of cork oak cover 20,640 km2. Future scenarios depict a slight reduction of those areas (−1.1 to 4.2%), with a general shifting in altitude. The environmental variable with highest gain when used in isolation was annual precipitation (Bio12), which therefore appears to have the most useful information by itself. Overall, the maps derived from this study are an important tool to help foresters geolocate sites where the climatic conditions expected for the region in the coming decades will be inadequate to the cork oak and select appropriate areas of cork oak forests to be preserved in Algeria.

Summary Editorial: Impacts of global change on groundwater in Western Mediterranean countries

The western Mediterranean is especially sensitive to global change impacts. Climate change, population growth, urbanization and expansion of infrastructures, and land use and land cover changes are affecting the quality and quantity of groundwater resources primarily in this region characterized by frequent and severe meteorological and hydrological droughts, and a high population density. Climatic forecasts anticipate long-term regional precipitation decreases and temperature raises. The direct consequence of this over groundwater is the diminishing in springs discharge and the progressive fall of the piezometric levels. However, the anthropogenic action has also strong impacts over water systems as land use modifications and the change in recharge conditions or the increase of water demand and the variation on water abstracted from aquifers and the consequent water quality changes associated. A variety of tools and monitoring systems emerge as essential needs for society to confront the frequent current problems in the western Mediterranean and the future water challenges that are just starting to be foreseen.

Recent wildfires in Central Chile: Detecting links between burned areas and population exposure in the wildland urban interface

Wildfires are gaining importance in the Mediterranean regions owing to climate change and landscape changes due to the increasing closeness between urban areas and forests prone to wildfires. We analysed the dry season wildfire occurrences in the Mediterranean region of Central Chile (32°S–39°30′ S) between 2000 and 2017, using satellite images to detect burned areas, their landscape metrics and the land use and covers (vegetal) pre-wildfire, in order to determine the population living in areas that may be affected by wildfires. The existing regulations in western Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy) were used to identify and define the wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas, quantifying the people inhabiting them and estimating the population affected by burned areas from 2001 to 2017. We used the Google Earth Engine to process MODIS products and extract both burned areas and land covers. We detected that 25% of the urban population inhabits WUI areas (i.e. Biobío, Araucanía and Valparaíso regions) where the urban population exposed to burned areas exceeds 40%. Most of the land use and land covers affected by wildfires are anthropogenic land covers, classified as savannas, croplands, evergreen broadleaf forests and woody savannas, representing >70% of the burned areas. Urban areas show only 0.6% of the burned surface from 2001 to 2017. We estimate that 55,680 people are potentially affected by wildfires, and 50% of them are in just one administrative region. These results show the imperative need for public policies as a regulating force for establishing WUI areas with the purpose of identifying wildfire risk in urban areas, such as establishing prevention methods as firewalls and prescribed fires.

Legal regulation of the Baltic States national security policy within the NATO’S Strategic concepts evolution framework

The formation and development of the policy of national security of the Baltic States from the moment of independence has been considered. The impossibility of using the Soviet model of security in the Baltic States was discovered primarily because of the radically different size of states, the nature of threats and resource potential, as well as its non-compliance with the security models in force in the EU and NATO. Accession of the Baltic States to the EU and NATO changed the situation with ensuring national security in the Baltic States. Membership in NATO provided the countries of the region with access to collective defense, which they became part of. At the same time, the Baltic countries were forced to consider the problem of security in the context of providing international security, which at the beginning of the XXI century. is characterized by the expansion of asymmetric threats. This led to a radical change in the defensive concepts and concepts of national security in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in accordance with the principles of the UN, NATO and the EU. It is established that in the EU there is a difference in the vision of the nature and origin of security threats between Western European, Eastern European and Mediterranean countries. And even in the Baltic countries, the same threats can be in one country in the list of external threats, while in others - internal ones. The orientation of the Baltic States in the field of security in NATO, and not in the EU, is due in particular to the fact that the security problem in the Eastern Partnership region has not been adequately reflected in EU policy as a tool for its solution. It has been established that a key political document reflecting the common vision of NATO's objectives is strategic concepts that directly affect the content and direction of national security policies of NATO member states. Each of the following Strategies aims to ensure a qualitative modernization of the Alliance, turning it into a multifunctional mechanism for responding to crises. The paper analyzes the evolution of the strategic concepts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization from the end of the 1990s to the present time, as well as their influence on the development of the policy of national security and defense of the Baltic States. The emphasis is placed on the absence of the problem of maintaining state sovereignty in the conditions of the state's membership in NATO. In order to maintain stability in the Baltic Sea region, the Baltic States seek to strengthen military-political cooperation in all critical sectors with the countries of the Northern region of Europe and Poland. Relations with Russia are mainly based on international treaties signed with Russia by the EU and NATO. Bilateral cooperation with the United States, as well as the activities of the Baltic States in NATO and the EU, remain of strategic importance to ensure their safety.

Vessel Port Dues: An Influence from Path Dependency rather than Geography of Ports

Port dues have a limited impact on the door-to-door international decision making process. They are, however, a major source of revenue for port authorities. Their objective is to balance budgets (recovery pricing, marginal cost pricing, external cost pricing, etc.) and enable financing of infrastructure. As such, while they may not have a direct impact on the attractiveness and competition of ports, their indirect impact is unquestionable. This study investigates vessel port dues, which follow diverse formulas of calculation that complicate comparisons. Therefore, we classify vessel port dues into two categories: Gross Tonnage based, and Cubic Meter based. These categories are essential insofar as they correspond to two geographical realities of ports: bay ports for the former, and channel ports for the latter. An empirical study on ports located in Western Mediterranean Sea countries illustrates the relevance of these two models. It also exposes deviation in the application of these models implied by path dependency. Such deviation has an influence on the pricing system and fairness of invoicing. This work demonstrates the necessity for improving port pricing in several ports on both banks of the Western Mediterranean Sea, as well as the necessity for fairer application of port dues.

Absolute Quantification of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus Spain strain, ToLCNDV-ES: Virus Accumulation in a Host-Specific Manner.

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) (family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) has recently been introduced in western Mediterranean countries. Isolates in Spain constitute a new strain, denominated ToLCNDV-ES, that is causing losses in commercial zucchini and melon crops; however, it is also, although less often, detected in commercial tomato crops. We developed a tissue-print hybridization test to detect the two genomic components of the virus and a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test to estimate the number of genome copies in plants. qPCR was approximately 104 to 106 times more sensitive than tissue-print hybridization to detect viral genomic DNA-A and DNA-B, respectively. It also detected the virus in more experimentally and naturally ToLCNDV-ES-infected zucchini squash and tomato plants. ToLCNDV-ES DNA-A titers were significantly lower in tomato than in zucchini plants, often falling below the detection limits in the hybridization test. In addition, the DNA-B accumulation was impaired in tomato when compared with zucchini. According to the data obtained in this study, the differences in viral titers of both plant species contribute to explain the dissimilarities in symptom expression, capability of detection, and transmission of the virus.

Ecology and morphological variations in wings of Phlebotomus ariasi (Diptera: Psychodidae) in the region of Roquedur (Gard, France): a geometric morphometrics approach.

Background Phlebotomus ariasi Tonnoir, 1921, is the predominant sand fly species in the Cevennes region and a proven vector of Leishmania infantum, which is the main pathogen of visceral and canine leishmaniasis in the south of France. Even if this species is widely present in Western Mediterranean countries, its biology and ecology remain poorly known. The main goals of this work are to investigate the phenotypic variation of P. ariasi at a local scale in a region characterized by climatic and environmental fluctuations, and to determine if slope and altitude could affect the sand fly phenotypes.ResultsSand flies were captured along a 14 km-long transect in 2011 from May to October. At the same time, environmental data such as altitude and slope were also collected. Morphological analysis of P. ariasi wings was performed by a geometric morphometrics approach. We found morphological variation among local populations of P. ariasi. Strong shape and size variations were observed in the course of the season (particularly in June and July) for both genders. During June, we highlighted differences in wing phenotypes according to altitude for both sexes and to slope and station for females.ConclusionsThe phenotypic variations observed in P. ariasi along the studied transect indicated these populations are subjected to environmental pressures. Nevertheless, it seems that sand flies are more sensitive to extrinsic factors in June and July, suggesting a phenotypic plasticity.

El diálogo 5+5 y la iniciativa 5+5 de defensa

The is the oldest active forum for dialogue and cooperation between Western Mediterranean European countries and the Maghreb countries. Created as an informal mechanism with modest goals, the 5+5 Dialogue in recent years has increased its activity in a significant number of fields related to the security of the Western Mediterranean region, in particular on defense issues, through the development of the so-called Defense Initiative. The article analyzes the special characteristics of these initiatives for dialogue and cooperation, their strengths and weaknesses. The possible development of these mechanisms, their limitations, and their future prospects are also studied.

Ecology and spatiotemporal dynamics of sandflies in the Mediterranean Languedoc region (Roquedur area, Gard, France).

BackgroundPhlebotomine sandflies are hematophagous insects widely present in Western Mediterranean countries and known for their role as Leishmania vectors. During the last ten years, the risk of leishmaniasis re-emergence has increased in France. However, sandfly biology and ecology in the South of France remain poorly known because the last detailed study on their spatiotemporal dynamics was performed over 30 years ago. The aim of the present study was to update our knowledge on sandfly ecology by determining their spatiotemporal dynamics and by investigating the relationship between environmental/climatic factors and the presence and abundance of sandflies in the South of France.MethodsAn entomological survey was carried out during three years (2011–2013) along a 14 kilometer-long transect. The findings were compared with the data collected along the same transect in 1977. Data loggers were placed in each station and programmed to record temperature and relative humidity every six hours between April 2011 and November 2014. Several environmental factors (such as altitude, slope and wall orientation (North, East, West and South)) were characterized at each station.ResultsFour sandfly species were collected: Phlebotomus ariasi and Sergentomyia minuta, which were predominant, Ph. perniciosus and Ph. mascittii. Sandfly activity within the studied area started in May and ended in October with peaks in July-August at the optimum average temperature. We found a positive effect of altitude and temperature and a negative effect of relative humidity on Ph. ariasi and Se. minuta presence. We detected interspecific differences and non-linear effects of these climatic variables on sandfly abundance. Although the environment has considerably changed in 30 years, no significant difference in sandfly dynamics and species diversity was found by comparing the 1977 and 2011–2013 data.ConclusionOur study shows that this area maintains a rich sandfly fauna with high Ph. ariasi population density during the active season. This represents a risk for Leishmania transmission. The analysis revealed that the presence and abundance of Ph. ariasi and Se. minuta were differently correlated with the environmental and climatic factors. Comparison with the data collected in 1977 highlighted the sandfly population stability, suggesting that they can adapt, in the short and long term, to changing ecosystems.

Evaluation of the pathogenicity of West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 strains in a SPF chicken model of infection: NS3-249Pro mutation is neither sufficient nor necessary for conferring virulence

Lineage 2 West Nile virus (WNV) strains were reported for the first time in Europe in 2004. Despite an almost silent circulation around their entry point in Hungary, an upsurge of pathogenicity occurred in 2010 as 262 people suffered from neuroinvasive disease in Greece. This increase in virulence was imputed to the emergence of a His249Pro mutation in the viral NS3 helicase, as previously evidenced in American crows experimentally infected with the prototype lineage 1 North-American WNV strain. However, since 2003, WNV strains bearing the NS3Pro genotype are regularly isolated in Western-Mediterranean countries without being correlated to any virulent outbreak in vertebrates. We thus sought to evaluate the weight of the NS3249Pro genotype as a virulence marker of WNV in an in vivo avian model of WNV infection. We therefore characterized three genetically-related Eastern-Europe lineage 2 WNV strains in day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens: Hun2004 and Aus2008 which are both characterized by a NS3249His genotype, and Gr2011 which is characterized by a NS3249Pro genotype. Unlike Hun2004 and Aus2008, Gr2011 was weakly virulent in SPF chicks as Gr2011-induced viremia was lower and waned quicklier than in the Hun2004 and Aus2008 groups. Overall, this study showed that the presence of a proline residue at position 249 of the viral NS3 helicase is neither sufficient nor necessary to confer pathogenicity to any given lineage 2 WNV strain in birds.

Ethnobotany of medicinal plants used in Antakya: A multicultural district in Hatay Province of Turkey

Ethnopharmacological relevanceWe have compiled information about the medicinal plants used in folk medicine in the district of Antakya. Since its establishment by King Seleucus I in 300 B.C., Antakya (old Antioch) has hosted nearly 20 civilizations. Antakya, neighboring Northwestern Syria, is located on the western end of the “Silk Road” and was one of the great centers of Graeco–Roman world. Today, Antakya is a cosmopolitan city in which Arabic and Turkish are widely spoken, and where distinct ethnic and religious communities, such as Arab Alawite, Arab Christian, Arab Sunni, Turk Sunni, Armenian, and Jewish, have been living together in harmony for centuries. In addition, the rich flora in the vicinity of Antakya also renders the area interesting in terms of ethnobotanical fieldwork. Aim of the studyThis study aimed to compile the information about plants used for medicinal purposes by local people in the district of Antakya. This city is a significant region in terms of ethnobotanical fieldwork, owing to its cosmopolitan structure, long history, relatively preserved traditional community structure, and rich flora. Furthermore, we sought to compare the ethnomedicinal data geographically, cross-culturally, and historically. Materials and methodsThe ethnobotany of medicinal plants used in the district of Antakya has been investigated through two separate studies; one was conducted in 1975, interviewing 29 people, and the other was conducted in 2011–2013, interviewing 182 people. The use value (UV) and informant consensus factor (FIC) values of the plants were calculated. In order to interpret the authenticity and sources of the compiled ethnomedicinal information, previous publications that contain information about the similar medicinal uses of plants identified in our region were reviewed and evaluated meticulously. A comparison with the data obtained from other regions of Turkey and from other Mediterranean regions, as well as a cross-cultural analysis between the ethnic groups within the study area, was performed by implementation of the Jaccard index (JI) ResultsThroughout the study, information about 202 medicinal plant taxa was compiled. Among these plants, 39 have either not yet been mentioned in ethnobotanical or medicinal studies, or have been used for a medicinal purpose other than those encountered in the literature review. The ethnomedicinal information we gathered from the study area exhibits close similarities to the ethnomedicinal information of other Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries where Arabic is spoken, as well as to that of Northern and Western Mediterranean countries where Latin languages are spoken. In addition to these similarities, in most cases, this ethnomedicinal information shows hybrid features of ethnomedicinal knowledge from Eastern and Western Mediterranean countries. ConclusionBased on a literature survey, we found that the cited medicinal uses for 43 plants have also been corroborated by other various biological testings. This finding strongly suggests the importance of ethnobotanical studies in the development of new medicines. We believe that this study has compiled rich ethnomedicinal information that reflects the cosmopolitan structure of Antakya in a very good way.

Fishing area and fish size as risk factors of Anisakis infection in sardines (Sardina pilchardus) from Iberian waters, southwestern Europe

The sardine (Sardina pilchardus) is a fish commonly consumed and appreciated in many countries, although they are more likely to be eaten fresh in western Mediterranean countries such as Spain, Portugal, France or Italy. A molecular epidemiological survey of sardines from 5 fishing areas of the Spanish Mediterranean (Málaga, southern Spain) and Atlantic coasts (southern: Cádiz and Isla Cristina; northern: A Coruña and Ondarroa) was carried out to determine the presence of Anisakis spp. larvae. The highest prevalence of these larvae was observed in fish from A Coruña (28.3%), followed by Ondarroa (5%) and Cádiz (2.5%). No Anisakis larvae were found in fish from Málaga and Isla Cristina. Three Anisakis genotypes were identified: Anisakis simplex sensu stricto, Anisakis pegreffii and a hybrid genotype between these two species. A. pegreffii was the most prevalent species in A Coruña (71% of larvae). Only three Anisakis larvae (9% collected larvae) were located in the musculature of sardines: two were identified as A. pegreffii while the other was a hybrid genotype. Sardine infection was associated with fishing area and fish length/weight (length and weight were strongly correlated; Pearson's correlation 0.82; p<0.001). Risk factor multivariate analysis showed that the risk of infection increases 1.6 times for every additional cm in the length of the sardines from the same fishing area. Comparison of fish of equal length showed that in sardines from A Coruña the risk of parasitization is 11.5 times higher than in those from other fishing areas. Although the risk of infection by Anisakis through consumption of sardines is generally low due to the low epidemiological parameter values (prevalence 10%, mean intensity 1.7 (range 1–5) and mean abundance 0.17), as larger fish are more heavily parasitized, there is an increased risk of infection by Anisakis through consumption of large sardines which are raw or have undergone insufficient treatment (undercooked, smoked, marinated, salted, pickled, freezing,…).

&lt;em&gt;Cusculium&lt;/em&gt; (Plin. XVI 32), &lt;em&gt;coscus&lt;/em&gt; (Chiron 237) y &lt;em&gt;coccolubis&lt;/em&gt; (Colum. III 2.19), sustrato mediterráneo y formas latinas

Cusculium, a hapax used by Pliny in its accusative form, has a Pre-Roman base ( cuscu- ) that is found throughout western Mediterranean countries; the same root appears in coscus, referring to certain types of worm. Given its Latin ending, the word could be used to designate both the tree ( cusculius «kermes oak») and its acorns ( cusculium ). Coccolubis is a compound adjective, the first element of which is the diminutive of coccum («grain of kermes»), which carries the same Mediterranean root as the previous word. Given its use as an epithet for a type of vine, its second element may be seen to contain the base of the noun uua. Its original form may have therefore been coccoluuis («of red grape»). The Navarran term cuzculubita («oak apple»), however, suggests that a Pre-Roman compound may have existed.

Variability in glutenin subunit composition of Mediterranean durum wheat germplasm and its relationship with gluten strength.

The allelic composition at five glutenin loci was assessed by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE) on a set of 155 landraces (from 21 Mediterranean countries) and 18 representative modern varieties. Gluten strength was determined by SDS-sedimentation on samples grown under rainfed conditions during 3 years in north-eastern Spain. One hundred and fourteen alleles/banding patterns were identified (25 at Glu-1 and 89 at Glu-2/Glu-3 loci); 0·85 of them were in landraces at very low frequency and 0·72 were unreported. Genetic diversity index was 0·71 for landraces and 0·38 for modern varieties. All modern varieties exhibited medium to strong gluten type with none of their 13 banding patterns having a significant effect on gluten-strength type. Ten banding patterns significantly affected gluten strength in landraces. Alleles Glu-B1e (band 20), Glu-A3a (band 6), Glu-A3d (bands 6+11), Glu-B3a (bands 2+4+15+19) and Glu-B2a (band 12) significantly increased the SDS-value, and their effects were associated with their frequency. Two alleles, Glu-A3b (band 5) and Glu-B2b (null), significantly reduced gluten strength, but only the effect of the latter locus could be associated with its frequency. Only three rare banding patterns affected gluten strength significantly: Glu-B1a (band 7), found in six landraces, had a negative effect, whereas banding patterns 2+4+14+15+18 and 2+4+15+18+19 at Glu-B3 had a positive effect. Landraces with outstanding gluten strength were more frequent in eastern than in western Mediterranean countries. The geographical pattern displayed from the frequencies of Glu-A1c is discussed.