Search

A new, updated checklist of the bryophytes of Algeria was compiled from the literature. Reports were made mainly by French botanists in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries and include a total of 498 taxa, of which 477 are at species level and the rest are at infraspecific rank. It comprises three hornwort species, 118 liverwort taxa (113 species), and 377 moss taxa (361 species). For each taxon, literature records and localities explored in the country are provided. The analysis of the current data reveals that Algeria is the Maghreb country with the second-largest number of bryophyte taxa, behind Morocco. As in other Mediterranean countries, hornworts and liverworts are scarce (24.3%), and mosses are dominant (75.7%). Concerning liverworts and hornworts, the family Ricciaceae and genus Riccia (31 taxa) are the best-represented; the aquatic and ephemeral genus Riella (8 taxa) shows the higher number of species in the Mediterranean countries. Regarding mosses, the family Pottiaceae is the largest one, with 107 taxa (28.4% of the moss taxa), and Tortula (22 taxa) is the most species-rich genus. Algeria has, by now, the lowest species/km2 ratio (0.20 × 10-3) compared to the rest of the Maghreb and some European Mediterranean countries (Greece, Italy, and Spain), due not only to the low degree of knowledge of the bryophyte flora but also to the larger surface area of the country and the great extension of the Saharan region. The high percentages of rare or very rare taxa (72.5%) versus the low percentages of frequent, common, and very common (27.5%) can be an indicator that many areas are still underexplored, and that the bryophyte flora of the country cannot be considered well-known. The revision or collection of new samples of some rare or doubtful taxa would be necessary to assess the reliability of some reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oases are vulnerable ecosystems that are affected by climate change. Using high-resolution climate models focusing on northern Africa, we investigate the changes in the agrosystems of oases. Projected air temperature changes under an extreme global warming scenario are statistically significant for all oases studied, with an increase of up to 4–4.5 °C by the end of the century. The impact of the projected warming is likely to lead to an increased groundwater demand, with a parallel trend in reduced precipitation. Combined, these processes endanger the long-term socio-economic prospect of oases.

This study aimed to examine energy poverty’s determinants in Africa across 36 countries spanning 2000 to 2020. Using fractional regression models, it analyzed how factors such as economic growth, unemployment rates, foreign direct investment, and demographic profiles influence urban and rural access to electricity. The findings highlight the positive impact of economic growth and a larger elderly population on electricity access. Conversely, higher unemployment rates consistently hinder access. Surprisingly, while foreign direct investment improves urban electricity access, it does not show the same effect in rural areas. These insights are vital for governments and stakeholders, guiding the development of energy policies. To alleviate energy poverty, especially in remote regions, policy interventions should focus on income subsidies and boosting employment opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Material belonging to a small collection of Moroccan arachnids housed in the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences was examined and the results are presented here. A total of 28 species belonging to 16 families from three orders of arachnids were provided, as follows: Araneae (16 species, 12 families), Scorpiones (nine species, two families) and Solifugae (three species, two families). Five spider species, Adonea cf. fimbriata (Eresidae), Plexippus cf. clemens (Salticidae), Thanatus oblongiusculus (Philodromidae), Aelurillus aeruginosus (Salticidae) and Steatoda incomposita (Theridiidae), represent new or potential new records for the fauna of Morocco. Furthermore, the latter two are new for the African continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turkey, as most countries in the world, is increasingly employing public diplomacy methods to promote its interests and to reach foreign audience in order to create soft power. In order to understand the neo-Ottoman ideology and the practices used by Turkish public diplomacy institutions in the attempt to influence foreign audiences and create soft power, we will analyse, in the present paper, the way in which neo-Ottoman ideas and theses have been inserted into various activities and actions subsumed under public diplomacy, and we will identify the regions in different areas of the world where public opinion has become a target group. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) has made public its foreign policy goals, including that of increasing its influence in Muslim societies in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Considering the mentioned aspects, the paper explores the way in which AKP uses the instruments and institutions specific to public diplomacy to promote a neo-Ottoman ideology and to organise a foreign policy that reflects Ottoman imperial times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gazella leptoceros (F. Cuvier, 1842) is a monotypic African gazelle, most commonly called the slender-horned gazelle. It is one of 21 species in the genus Gazella and is distinguished by its pale sandy coloration, fawn-colored markings, and namesake long, slender horns. Gazella leptoceros is a dune specialist that inhabits the hyperarid northern Sahara Desert between Algeria and Egypt. It feeds on shrubs and low desert plants and ranges over large distances in small groups of 1–5 animals. Because of its very small, isolated populations, G. leptoceros is classified as "Endangered" (EN) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proxy reconstructions from the mid‐Holocene (MH: 6,000 years ago) indicate an intensification of the West African Monsoon and a weakening of the South American Monsoon, primarily resulting from orbitally‐driven insolation changes. However, model studies that account for MH orbital configurations and greenhouse gas concentrations can only partially reproduce these changes. Most model studies do not account for the remarkable vegetation changes that occurred during the MH, in particular over the Sahara, precluding realistic simulations of the period. Here, we study precipitation changes over northern Africa and South America using four fully coupled global climate models by accounting for the Saharan greening. Incorporating the Green Sahara amplifies orbitally‐driven changes over both regions, and leads to an improvement in proxy‐model agreement. Our work highlights the local and remote impacts of vegetation and the importance of considering vegetation changes in the Sahara when studying and modeling global climate. Plain Language Summary: Paleoclimate modeling offers a way to test the ability of climate models to detect climate change outside the envelope of historical climatic variability. The mid‐Holocene (MH: 6,000 years ago) is a key interval for paleoclimate studies, as the Northern Hemisphere received greater summer‐time insolation and experienced stronger monsoons than today. Due to a stronger MH West African Monsoon, the Saharan region received enough rainfall to be able to host vegetation. The vegetation changes in the Sahara affected not only the local climate but also far‐afield locations through teleconnections in the global climate system. In this study, we simulate the MH climate using four climate models, each with two types of simulations—with and without the Green Sahara. We show that simulations with the Green Sahara capture greater drying over the South American continent than the simulations which only account for changes in orbital forcing and greenhouse gas concentrations. The simulations with the Green Sahara are more in line with proxy reconstructions, lending further support to incorporating vegetation changes as a necessary boundary condition to simulate the MH climate realistically. Key Points: We simulate the mid‐Holocene with and without the Green Sahara using four fully coupled global climate modelsThe mid‐Holocene simulation with the Green Sahara shows intensification of orbitally‐driven changes in precipitation over northern Africa and South AmericaIncorporation of the Green Sahara leads to greater proxy‐model agreement over both northern Africa and South America [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of the exotic Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) is reported for the first time from the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Working with local fishermen, we gathered 160 records of the Atlantic blue crab from several estuarine, coastal and marine areas, in the period between June and August 2021. These new records confirm its establishment in the Atlantic coasts of North Africa, suggesting a southern range expansion. These findings, likely exacerbated by growing populations along the Atlantic coast of Morocco and temperate coastal waters, provide new insights into the invasion dynamics of this species in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Proxy reconstructions from the mid‐Holocene (MH: 6,000 years ago) indicate an intensification of the West African Monsoon and a weakening of the South American Monsoon, primarily resulting from orbitally‐driven insolation changes. However, model studies that account for MH orbital configurations and greenhouse gas concentrations can only partially reproduce these changes. Most model studies do not account for the remarkable vegetation changes that occurred during the MH, in particular over the Sahara, precluding realistic simulations of the period. Here, we study precipitation changes over northern Africa and South America using four fully coupled global climate models by accounting for the Saharan greening. Incorporating the Green Sahara amplifies orbitally‐driven changes over both regions, and leads to an improvement in proxy‐model agreement. Our work highlights the local and remote impacts of vegetation and the importance of considering vegetation changes in the Sahara when studying and modeling global climate.

Traditional oases represent unique forms of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions, developed through the centuries by local farmers to support their livelihood, combining different crops (date palms, fruit trees, vegetables and fodder) with livestock breeding. Despite their social, economic and cultural importance, these agroforestry systems are currently facing multiple socio-environmental threats. The aim of the paper is to investigate the variety of Ecosystem Services (ES) and the main threats related to traditional oases in Northern Africa through a systematic literature review. The search returned 257 relevant papers published from 2005 to March 2022, mostly focusing on Tunisian oases (37%), followed by Algerian (23%), Moroccan (19%), Egyptian (17%), and Libyan (4%). Provisioning Services, in particular Genetic diversity, agrobiodiversity and biodiversity, are the most cited ES (36% of the papers) followed by Cultural Services, mainly represented by Traditional knowledge systems, cultural heritage and sense of place (17%), while Regulating Services are less considered. Results highlighted that water related issues (desertification, drought, salinization or overexploitation) represent the main threat, followed by decrease of agrobiodiversity, primarily due to the spread of monocultures of commercial date varieties, and by social transformations (depopulation, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage loss). The literature review proved that traditional oases are still crucial for the livelihood of local communities since they still provide many ES. Local experiences related to sustainable development and tourism, or innovative solutions to valorize local products and byproducts, could be important for replication in other traditional oases to contribute to the wellbeing of local communities and to the preservation of these agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycetoma is a chronic infectious disease endemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), India and parts of South and North America. The epidemiologic profile of the disease in Egypt, which neighbours SSA, has not been explored previously. Therefore we conducted a scoping review of the literature on mycetoma in Egypt. We searched the literature comprehensively on MEDLINE and Google Scholar using free-text words and Medical Subject Headings and terms. Both published and non-peer-reviewed (grey literature) articles were included. The initial search identified 133 reports. Of these, only eight were found to be relevant and were included in the study. The total number of mycetoma patients was 59, reported between 1949 and 2015. There was a predilection for eumycetoma (44 of 59) patients (75%), while actinomycetoma constituted 15 patients (25%). Six patients were female, 28 were male and 25 were unreported. Children and adolescents constituted 3 of 59 (5%), 52 (88%) were adults and age was not provided for 4 patients. Only four patients (7%) were non-autochthonous. The incidence of mycetoma in Egypt is higher than previously reported. Egypt is probably a low-endemic country. An accurate estimate of the prevalence and epidemiology of mycetoma necessitates further research collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Tikrit University for Humanities is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Camelina is a multi-purpose oilseed crop for industrial bio-based applications. Recently, it has gained increasing attention mostly due to the possibility to grow with limited resources and in marginal environments, as well as to increase soil coverage and water retention, while reducing nitrogen leaching. The present study aimed to assess the viability of using camelina as an emerging oilseed crop for EU and African Mediterranean farmers. Several camelina spring genotypes were evaluated in a multi-location trial (Italy, Spain, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia) in two growing seasons (2020–22). Although thermal time was very similar at all sites (∼1300 GDD from sowing to harvest), the growing cycle length was about 60 days longer in Europe than in Africa, leading to a higher seed yield (∼ 1.5-fold higher). Mean seed production in the African countries was 0.71 Mg ha−1 proving camelina to be adaptable even to very arid conditions. Under more favorable conditions (European countries) seed yields was up to 2 Mg ha−1. Among genotypes, Alba generally exhibited the highest seed yield and seed weight, while CCE42 and CCE29 showed more stable productions over years and locations. Based on the results of the present study it is possible to conclude that the introduction of camelina into conventional Mediterranean cropping systems appeared as feasible option to improve crop diversification; however, the selection of best camelina varieties is essential to achieve sustainable productions, particularly for African countries. • Camelina showed good adaptability to both European and African Mediterranean countries. • Seed yield was on average 1.80 and 0.71 Mg DM ha−1, in Europe and Africa respectively. • A shorter growing season reduced camelina seed yield potential. • Seed yield was mainly driven by the environmental conditions. • Seed weight was mainly under genetic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Oases are vulnerable ecosystems affected by climate change. • Projected air temperature changes under an extreme global warming scenario are statistically significant for all oases studied. • The impact of the projected changes is likely to lead to a greater groundwater demand. • Water shortage is a trend paralleled by a reduction in precipitation. Oases are vulnerable ecosystems that are affected by climate change. Using high-resolution climate models focusing on northern Africa, we investigate the changes in the agrosystems of oases. Projected air temperature changes under an extreme global warming scenario are statistically significant for all oases studied, with an increase of up to 4–4.5 °C by the end of the century. The impact of the projected warming is likely to lead to an increased groundwater demand, with a parallel trend in reduced precipitation. Combined, these processes endanger the long-term socio-economic prospect of oases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the beginning of the 21st century, there has been a noticeable increase in German efforts to ensure security in the Mediterranean Sea. This is part of the growing activities to ensure a strong strategic position in North and West Africa, including the settlement of existing armed conflicts here as sources of threats to instability for Germany and its EU partners. Consequently, Germany found itself increasingly interested in finding reliable strategic partners, one of which is Algeria, which makes the topic of this article relevant. The purpose of the study is to examine bilateral security and defense relations with a special focus on the second half of the 2010s and early 2020s with the help of comparative and event-analysis. Having an applied character, this topic has not yet found detailed coverage in the works of both domestic and foreign, especially German, researchers. The historic background of the German-Algerian dialogue is presented. The growth of high-level contacts in the second half of the 2010s is shown, with Germany having to focus on negotiations with the frequently changing figure of the Algerian prime minister. The article also explores the constraints for the cooperation of German and Algerian armed forces on land and sea, as well as the dynamics of military-technical cooperation. The bilateral cooperation in the resolution of the armed conflict in Mali, first of all, in its northern region (Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu) is considered. The political and diplomatic cooperation on the Libyan track in the middle and second half of the 2010s, as well as shortly after the Berlin Conference on Libya in January 2020, is revealed. In the early 2020s, there was a sharp decline in the intensity and volume of bilateral cooperation in almost all areas. In addition to COVID-19, the importance of domestic political factors and the temporary decline in the practical value of the partnership in Libya and Mali for Germany are stressed. A forecast of the dynamics of bilateral relations is finally given.

Copyright of Journal of Tikrit University for Humanities is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Relations were established with the state of Morocco as well as the other Islamic countries in line with Pan-Islamic policy applied when Sultan Abdulhamid II succeeded to the throne. Although various methods were used repeatedly to establish embassies between the Ottoman state and Morocco in order to hinder the colonial activities of European countries especially of France in Africa, this could not be achieved. The fact that France contemplated that Turkey was a threat against her in Northern Africa and that she prevented the Ottoman State set relations with Morocco through a close inspection were the most significant reasons that both states were not able to set up ambassy mutually. Within this context, the Ottoman State tried to develop Morocco policy by intervening in the events regardless of France by providing the support of England, Spain and finally Germany. On the other hand, during the II Constitutional Monarchy, the relations between Morocco and Ottoman State developed in the form of military mission; and the Ottoman State carried out her affairs in Morocco together with Germany. The Ottoman military officers appointed to Moroccan army undertook very crucial missions in organizing resistance activities and maintaining the struggle against French invasion. The Ottoman military officers who were removed from Moroccan army with the efforts of France did not leave Morocco, hence they not only supported the resistance of the tribes but also created public opinion in Morocco against both France and her associations, through which they maintained their struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Dental caries risk factors have been expanded to not only emphasize biology, dietary and oral habits but also broader social determinants such as socioeconomic factors and the utilization of health services. The aim was to review sociobehavioural/cultural and socioeconomic determinants of dental caries in children residing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Methods A search was conducted in the PubMed/Medline database and Google Scholar to identify studies published from 2000 to 2019 covering children using key search terms. In the initial stages, titles, abstracts and, if needed, full articles were screened for eligibility. In the final stage, all included articles were reassessed and read, and relevant data were extracted. Results Out of 600 initial articles, a total of 77 were included in this review, of which 74 were cross-sectional, 2 were longitudinal and one was a case–control study. The studies included a total of 94,491 participants in 14 countries across the MENA region. A majority used the World Health Organization scoring system to assess dental caries. The caries prevalence ranged between 17.2% and 88.8%, early childhood caries between 3% and 57% and decayed missing filled teeth (dmft) varied between 0.6 and 8.5 across the various age groups. Increased age, low maternal education, low overall socioeconomic status, decreased frequency of tooth brushing, low parental involvement, poor oral habits, infant feeding practices and sugar consumption were among the most prevalent determinants for increased risk of caries in the reviewed studies. Conclusions Dental caries was found to be high among children in many of the studies published from MENA. The key determinants of dental caries were found to include factors related to child characteristics, family background, oral hygiene and infant feeding and eating habits. The high dental caries prevalence emphasises the need to address the prevailing modifiable sociobehavioural and socioeconomic determinants by translating them into effective oral health prevention policies and programmes.

Multiple threats, including emerging infectious diseases, are contributing to the extinction of amphibians worldwide. One of the most devastating diseases is the fatal amphibian skin disease chytridiomycosis caused by the fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The presence of Bd in North Africa was described in 2011 and this included the distribution range of the endemic Moroccan midwife toad (Alytes maurus). Here we report new Bd positive occurrences across several distant regions of Morocco, augment the known number of infected species, and describe the first evidence of lethal chytridiomycosis in A. maurus. Although population declines in this species were not recorded, the family Alytidae has been identified as the most susceptible taxonomic group to chytridiomycosis of the Palearctic. An environmental niche model, taking into account new records of Bd in the country, confirms the Mediterranean coast and the Rif and Middle Atlas Mountains as very favourable areas for Bd. Our results suggest that the real impact of chytridiomycosis in North Africa is poorly understood, and that this continent cannot be identified as a region less impacted by chytridiomycosis, as was previously proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of the exotic Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Portunidae) is reported for the first time from the Moroccan Atlantic coast. Working with local fishermen, we gathered 160 records of the Atlantic blue crab from several estuarine, coastal and marine areas, in the period between June and August 2021. These new records confirm its establishment in the Atlantic coasts of North Africa, suggesting a southern range expansion. These findings, likely exacerbated by growing populations along the Atlantic coast of Morocco and temperate coastal waters, provide new insights into the invasion dynamics of this species in the northeast Atlantic Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de fontes is the property of Revista de fontes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article examines human interaction with the natural environment in antiquity with a specific focus on Cyrene during the period from the sixth century B.C. to the first century A.D. The object of this examinationis silphium, a largely forgotten plant for which ancient Cyrenaica was famous. Relyingon an interdisciplinary approach, the author analyzes written and material (mainly numismatic) evidence to demonstrate how and why the discovery of silphium led to the flourishing of Cyrene, and the ways in which the undermining of environmental balance affected Cyrenaica.

The eastern Maghreb is a key area for understanding environmental and cultural dynamics during the early and middle Holocene. Capsian populations from around 10000–7500 cal BP were among the last foragers in the region. Capsian sites are known as escargotières (land shell middens), and locally called rammadiyat (meaning ashy mound). As taphonomic conditions in Capsian open-air sites generally favour the preservation of resistant materials such as shells and bones rather than fragile plant remains, this study integrates macro-botanical and microfossil evidence from phytoliths, calcitic wood ash pseudomorphs and dung spherulites, since each is influenced by different formation and post-depositional processes. Archaeobotanical results from recent excavations in four Tunisian sites located across the lowland steppe, the Dorsale Mountains and the eastern coast display a wide range of wild plant resources, such as pine, oak, wild legumes, and grasses, in particular Alfa grass. These findings suggest that these plants could have played an important role in Capsian diet, whereas the presence of Alfa grass suggests the use of fibre sources for basketry, matting, building and fuel. Integrated macro-botanical and microfossil records contribute to a better understanding of changing subsistence practices on the threshold of early food-producing systems in north-west Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tunisian political transition has succeeded in building a working, yet fragile governance beyond ideological and political divides. Political debate across media platforms has become open and dynamic, but the media–politics nexus thrives within a complex system of clientelism forged on shifting alliances between politicians and business tycoons, including recapture by agents of the former regime. The media–politics interplay is taking competitive and antagonistic forms, effectively exacerbating polarized conflicts. This paper reflects on the notions of hybrid media systems, agonistic pluralism, and civic culture, based on data collected in a focus group conducted in Tunis in May 2019 that brought together representatives from media, politics, and civil society complemented by interviews with leading journalists and media stakeholders. This paper argues that the relationship between media and politics is interdependent and marked by confrontation and adaption; the uncertainty of the transition is leading to a complex and volatile power struggle in which neither media nor politics have the upper hand in defining the terms of the game. This ambivalent relationship, taking place within a new system of clientelism, has had a mixed outcome on the process of democratic consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A structured review using the PRISMA guidelines, MeSH keywords and eight health databases was conducted (1990 to March 2021). Telerehabilitation research evidence from the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA) was summarized. Twelve studies from Iran, Israel, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia met inclusion criteria; nearly all had been published within the past five years. Methodological quality was moderate to good in the four randomized controlled trials, five cohort-studies and three cross-section surveys. There were seven intervention studies in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neurology or burn rehabilitation and three patient perception and two practitioner perception studies. Narrative synthesis revealed content themes relating to rehabilitation availability and accessibility; patient/practitioner perceptions of telerehabilitation; telerehabilitation to augment traditional services; and barriers to telerehabilitation. Telerehabilitation practice in MENA has been demonstrated as feasible, acceptable to patients, and effective in practitioner-designed cohort specific programs. Practitioners are generally positive but lack experience and need training, enabling technological systems, and policy frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock dung is a suitable material for delineating the complexity of interactions between people, plants and animals as it contains critical information on environmental and ecological issues as well as socio-economic dynamics and cultural lifeways. However, animal faecal remains and other coprogenic materials are commonly overlooked in most archaeological research programs due, in part, to methodological challenges in its recovery and identification. This paper evaluates the contribution of integrated geoarchaeological approaches, together with comparative reference ethnoarchaeological records, to interdisciplinary microscopic analyses on the identification of animal dung and its archaeological significance within farming built environments. It brings together records from a selection of recent geo-ethnoarchaeological case studies across the Near East, one of the heartlands of plant and animal domestication, and from northern Africa, an understudied key area with critical implications for neighbouring regions such as the Sahara. This article examines the state-of-the-art of dung material identifications within agricultural and pastoral settlements and their potential for tracing ecological diversity, animal management strategies, penning, grazing and foddering, seasonality, and dung use. This review highlights the value of modern reference frameworks of livestock dung as a primary source of information for disentangling human–plant–animal dynamics through time and space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Strategic Universe Journal / Univers Strategic is the property of Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, Institute for Security Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Reduction of food waste is an important element of the sustainable transformation of food systems. This study focused on food waste quantification, its causes, and perception in 5 territories: North Hessia (Germany), Cilento Bio-District (Italy), Kenitra (Morocco), Warsaw (Poland), Copenhagen (Denmark) with the main objective of assessing whether different cultures affected the levels and the profiles of household food waste. A validated questionnaire was used to assess the quantities and typologies of food waste (completely unused, partially used, meal leftovers, leftovers after storing). In addition, the reasons for food waste and how food waste was perceived were investigated. In a sample of 2154 respondents, the level of still edible food that was wasted amounted to 399 g per family per week, equivalent to 153 g per capita. Kenitra showed the highest amount of FW per household (539 g), but the lowest amount of food waste per capita (125 g). Citizens of rural communities, e.g., Cilento Bio-District (136 g), North Hessia Federal State (132 g), and Kenitra (125 g), had more effective food waste prevention practices than citizens of urban areas, e.g., Copenhagen (201 g) and Warsaw (179 g). Family size was identified as a significant factor in FW generation, with households having 5 or more members showing lower FW per capita (85 g) than single-member families (309 g). The study underscores the need for tailored strategies to reduce FW considering the above-reported territorial differences. [Display omitted] • The food waste regional differences demonstrated the need for targeted actions. • Rural areas (Cilento Bio-District,136g; North Hessia,132g; Kenitra,125g) waste less than urban (Copenhagen,201g; Warsaw,179g). • Families with 5 or more members wasted less food per capita (85 g) than 1-member families (309 g). • Awareness of food waste consequences was a motivating factor for reducing waste. • Difficulties in reusing leftovers and managing food were barriers to waste reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata (Risso, 1826) is affected by the combined effects of environmental stress factors and diseases in the Mediterranean area. Samplings at different depths in two sites of Chafarinas Islands (South–Western Mediterranean Sea) were carried out to quantify the degree of injuries on red gorgonian colonies. The results showed that shallow colonies displayed a higher rate of injuries than deep colonies. Overall, the conservation status of the population was worse than previously considered in this area.

Air pollution is a high priority global health concern. The health damaging effects of ambient particulate matter (PM), a component of air pollution, are extensively documented, with 1.4% of deaths worldwide resulting from exposure to PM. A growing body of evidence suggests that mineral dust, found in PM, may contribute to some of these deleterious health impacts. Approximately half of atmospheric mineral dust originates from the Sahara Desert. This systematic but concise review summarizes the findings from recent literature exploring the adverse health effects of Saharan dust particles worldwide. The authors have shown that 1) PM contributes to all-cause and cause-specific mortality and morbidity; 2) the PM arising from Saharan dust contributes to excess all-cause and cause-specific mortality and morbidity; and 3) larger particle sizes may be more harmful than smaller particle sizes. However, there remain many questions regarding their effects on vulnerable patient populations, underlying mechanisms of action, and regional variations in both environmental and health effects. This review highlights the urgent need for continued and deeper analyses of this emerging public health issue. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(6):749–60

Background: Dental caries risk factors have been expanded to not only emphasize biology, dietary and oral habits but also broader social determinants such as socioeconomic factors and the utilization of health services. The aim was to review sociobehavioural/cultural and socioeconomic determinants of dental caries in children residing in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Methods: A search was conducted in the PubMed/Medline database and Google Scholar to identify studies published from 2000 to 2019 covering children using key search terms. In the initial stages, titles, abstracts and, if needed, full articles were screened for eligibility. In the final stage, all included articles were reassessed and read, and relevant data were extracted. Results: Out of 600 initial articles, a total of 77 were included in this review, of which 74 were cross-sectional, 2 were longitudinal and one was a case–control study. The studies included a total of 94,491 participants in 14 countries across the MENA region. A majority used the World Health Organization scoring system to assess dental caries. The caries prevalence ranged between 17.2% and 88.8%, early childhood caries between 3% and 57% and decayed missing filled teeth (dmft) varied between 0.6 and 8.5 across the various age groups. Increased age, low maternal education, low overall socioeconomic status, decreased frequency of tooth brushing, low parental involvement, poor oral habits, infant feeding practices and sugar consumption were among the most prevalent determinants for increased risk of caries in the reviewed studies. Conclusions: Dental caries was found to be high among children in many of the studies published from MENA. The key determinants of dental caries were found to include factors related to child characteristics, family background, oral hygiene and infant feeding and eating habits. The high dental caries prevalence emphasises the need to address the prevailing modifiable sociobehavioural and socioeconomic determinants by translating them into effective oral health prevention policies and programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Strategic Universe Journal / Univers Strategic is the property of Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University, Institute for Security Studies and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Archaeological research at the ancient city of Meninx in Jerba, Tunisia, carried out by the Institut National du Patrimoine Tunisie and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) produced more than 10,000 faunal specimens and shed light on subsistence activities spanning from the fourth century BCE until the seventh century CE. Despite its highly diverse fauna totalling at least 69 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and molluscs, domestic livestock formed the mainstay of the economy at Meninx. Throughout site occupation and compared with contemporaneous sites in coastal Tunisia and Libya, sheep were of prime importance at Meninx. Diachronic demographic profiling illustrates an emphasis on the production of wool for making textiles. Together with the ubiquitous presence of crushed banded dye‐murex (Hexaplex trunculus) shells implying exploitation of purple dyes, we assume that both activities were integrated into a single chaîne opératoire for making purple‐dyed fabrics that were traded across the Mediterranean from Punic until Late Roman times. Zooarchaeological findings also suggest that during the Byzantine Period, this major economic activity came to a standstill, with people returning to more self‐sufficient subsistence strategies. An intersite comparison furthermore revealed that high proportions of ovicaprines are a typical feature of Punic–Roman sites in Jerba. But even at the height of Roman power in the region, autochthonous husbandry traditions continued to exist on the island, as illustrated by the fauna from Henchir Bourgou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drosophyllaceae is the only plant family endemic to the Mediterranean Floristic Region. It includes a single species, the carnivorous Drosophyllum lusitanicum, which is hypothesised to be a relict plant. Our aim here is to reconstruct the evolutionary history of Drosophyllum to evaluate whether the African-European disjunction across the Strait of Gibraltar is the result of vicariance or long-distance dispersal, and to assess the role of the Strait of Gibraltar area in the long-term persistence of this species. A time-calibrated phylogeny based on nuclear ITS sequences estimated a mid-Eocene to mid-Miocene age (19–44 Mya) for the common ancestor of Drosophyllaceae and its sister clade (Ancistrocladaceae-Dioncophyllaceae). In contrast, differentiation of ITS lineages of Drosophyllum occurred in the Pleistocene, after the opening of the Strait of Gibraltar (ca. 5 Mya). A haplotype network built using two plastid DNA regions revealed six haplotypes in Drosophyllum, five of which occur in the Strait of Gibraltar area. Four of the six haplotypes were present in both European and African populations. Therefore, although Drosophyllaceae diverged from the closest relatives in ancient times, the current distribution of Drosophyllum is relatively recent (Pleistocene). Given that the Strait of Gibraltar was already open in the Pliocene, the disjunct distribution of this species between Europe and Africa appears to be the result of multiple events of long-distance dispersal. Species distribution modelling (SDM) was used to reconstruct the potential distribution of Drosophyllum throughout the late Quaternary (last interglacial, Last Glacial Maximum, mid-Holocene and present), which revealed long-term persistence around the Strait of Gibraltar and in the south-western Iberian Peninsula. The Strait of Gibraltar area and the south-western Iberian Peninsula may have shared similar climatic conditions, and thus acted as refugia for Drosophyllum throughout the late Quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African seismicity is predominantly localized along the East African Rift System (EARS), which is the major active tectonic feature of Sub-Saharan Africa. Besides the EARS, however, significant seismicity also occurs along a wide belt bounding the Mediterranean coastline. This tectonically active region extends discontinuously from Morocco to Egypt and its activity is controlled by the complex interaction between the Nubian and Eurasian plates, varying from transpression in the Atlas orogen in the west to transtension in the east. A record of large earthquake events is documented for the whole region, some of them causing moderate to severe levels of damage, mostly because of the high vulnerability of local buildings and structures, a condition which is still largely persistent in many areas. Currently, a number of seismic hazard models exist at local and national scales for North Africa, developed within independent projects and created using inhomogeneous data sources and different processing techniques. Unfortunately, such diversity makes their direct comparison problematic, obscuring the differences in seismic hazard across neighbouring areas and preventing the development of comprehensive long-term risk mitigation strategies. In fact, the last effort to produce a homogenized model for the whole Africa continent dates back to the GSHAP project, which is almost 20 years old. The creation of a unique seismic hazard model for North Africa, uniform across countries, is therefore a main concern. Since its inception, the Global Earthquake Model Foundation (GEM) is committed to the creation of a worldwide mosaic of high-quality, reproducible and openly accessible seismic hazard models, uniformly represented using the format adopted by the OpenQuake engine (OQ), a state-of-the-art, free and open-source software package for seismic hazard and risk assessment. We describe the development of a new comprehensive PSHA model for North Africa using GEM tools. The source model combines active faults and distributed seismicity, the former constrained from published geological descriptions and geodetic data, while the latter from the harmonisation of published earthquake catalogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of asthma symptoms in Canary Islanders, a southwestern European population from Spain, is almost three times higher than the country average. Because the genetic risks identified so far explain <5% of asthma heritability, here we aimed to discover new asthma loci by completing the first admixture mapping study in Canary Islanders leveraging their distinctive genetic makeup, where significant northwest African influences coexist in the European genetic diversity landscape. A 2-stage study was conducted in 1,491 unrelated individuals self-declaring having a Canary Islands origin for the 4 grandparents. Local ancestry estimates were obtained for the shared positions with reference data from putative ancestral populations from Europe, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Case-control deviations in local ancestry were tested for each ancestry separately using logistic regressions adjusted for principal components, followed by fine-mapping analyses based on imputed genotypes and analyses of the likely deleterious exonic variants. The admixture mapping analysis of asthma detected that local North African ancestry in a locus spanning 365 kb of chromosome 16q23.3 was associated with asthma risk at study-wide significance [lowest P = 1.12 x 10-4; odds ratio (OR) = 2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41-3.00]. Fine-mapping studies identified a variant associated with asthma, and results were replicated in independent samples (rs3852738, OR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.13-1.59, P = 7.58 x 10-4). Whole exome sequencing data from a subset of individuals revealed an enrichment of likely deleterious variants among asthma cases in 16q23.3, particularly in the phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCG2) gene (P = 3.67 x 10-4). By completing the first mapping study of asthma in admixed populations from Europe, our results revealed a new plausible asthma locus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Biscutella L. ser. Biscutella (5Biscutella ser. Lyratae Malin.) comprises mostly annual or short-lived perennial plants occurring in the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East, which exhibit some diagnostic floral features. Taxa in the series have considerable morphological plasticity, which is not well correlated with clear geographic or ecologic patterns. Traditional taxonomic accounts have focused on a number of vegetative and floral characters that have proved to be highly variable, a fact that contributed to taxonomic inflation mostly in northern Africa. A detailed study and re-evaluation of morphological characters, together with recent phylogenetic data based on concatenation of two plastid and one nuclear region sequence data, yielded the basis for a taxonomic reappraisal of the series. In this respect, a new comprehensive integrative taxonomic arrangement for Biscutella ser. Biscutella is presented in which 10 taxa are accepted, namely seven species and three additional varieties. The name B. eriocarpa DC. is reinterpreted and suggested to include the highest morphological variation found in northern Morocco. Its treatment here accepts two varieties, one of which is described as new (B. eriocarpa var. riphaea A. Vicente,M. A'. Alonso&M. B. Crespo). In addition, the circumscriptions of several species, such as B. boetica Boiss. & Reut., B. didyma L., B. lyrata L., and B. maritima Ten., are revisited. Nomenclatural types, synonymy, brief descriptions, cytogenetic data, conservation status, distribution maps, and identification keys are included for the accepted taxa, with seven lectotypes and one epitype being designated here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique is the property of John Libbey Eurotext Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Livestock dung is a suitable material for delineating the complexity of interactions between people, plants and animals as it contains critical information on environmental and ecological issues as well as socio-economic dynamics and cultural lifeways. However, animal faecal remains and other coprogenic materials are commonly overlooked in most archaeological research programs due, in part, to methodological challenges in its recovery and identification. This paper evaluates the contribution of integrated geoarchaeological approaches, together with comparative reference ethnoarchaeological records, to interdisciplinary microscopic analyses on the identification of animal dung and its archaeological significance within farming built environments. It brings together records from a selection of recent geo-ethnoarchaeological case studies across the Near East, one of the heartlands of plant and animal domestication, and from northern Africa, an understudied key area with critical implications for neighbouring regions such as the Sahara. This article examines the state-of-the-art of dung material identifications within agricultural and pastoral settlements and their potential for tracing ecological diversity, animal management strategies, penning, grazing and foddering, seasonality, and dung use. This review highlights the value of modern reference frameworks of livestock dung as a primary source of information for disentangling human–plant–animal dynamics through time and space.

Helianthemum caput-felis is an Endangered plant species growing in the western Mediterranean basin. Its distribution is well known to the European and Moroccan regional populations, but no data from its distribution in Algeria have been reported since the middle 20th century. In this study, we provide an up-to-date report on the distribution of the species in Algeria. Fieldwork surveys in the classical locations were unsuccessful in finding the species, probably due to human habitat disturbances; however, a relict location was found in Ain-el-Kerma, near one of the historical known locations. As there is reduced distribution we point out the main causes that threaten the habitat of H. caput-felis according to IUCN threats classification scheme and we also propose to label it in the Algerian Red List as regionally Critically Endangered (CRreg B1ab(i,ii,iii, v)+2ab(i,ii,iii,v); C2a(i,ii); D).