On the relationship between the Mediterranean Oscillation and winter precipitation in the Southern Levant

This study investigates the influence of atmospheric circulation in the Mediterranean region on the precipitation in Montenegro. Nine precipitation parameters have been used in the analysis and the relationship has been investigated by the Mediterranean and West Mediterranean Oscillation change index (MO and WeMO). According to a 60 - year observed period (1951-2010), the research results show that nothing characteristic happens with seasonal and annual precipitation sums because the trend is mainly insignificant. However, precipitation extremes are getting more extreme, which corresponds with a general idea of global warming. Negative consequences of daily intensity increase and frequency of precipitation days above fixed and percentile thresholds have been recorded recently in the form of torrents, floods, intensive erosive processes, etc., but it should be pointed out that human factor is partly a cause of such events. The estimate of the influence of teleconnection patterns primarily related to the Mediterranean Basin has shown that their variability affects the observed precipitation parameters on the territory of Montenegro regarding both seasonal and annual sums and frequency and intensity of extreme events shown by climate indices.

Download Full-text

The construction of Xerxes' bridge over the Hellespont

The Journal of Hellenic Studies ◽

10.2307/631957 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 116 ◽

pp. 88-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

N.G.L. Hammond ◽

L.J. Roseman

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Engineer ◽

Black Sea ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

The Black Sea ◽

Classical Scholar ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Relationship

The bridging of the Hellespont by Xerxes was a unique achievement. How was it done? The Chorus of Elders in Aeschylus' Persians expressed their wonder at ‘the flax-bound raft’, and Herodotus described the construction of the two bridges, each with warships as pontoons, with cables well over a kilometre long, and with a roadway capable of carrying a huge army. Classical scholars have generally found these accounts inadequate and even inexplicable, especially in regard to the relationship between the pontoons and the cables. The Hellespont has strong currents which vary in their direction, turbulent and often stormy waters, and exposure to violent winds, blowing sometimes from the Black Sea and sometimes from the Mediterranean. How were the warships moored in order to face the currents and withstand the gales? Did the warships form a continuous platform, or was each ship free to move in response to weather conditions? What was the function of the enormous cables? How and where were they made? Did they bind the pontoons together? Did they carry the roadway? How were they fixed at the landward ends? This article attempts an answer to these questions through the collaboration of a classical scholar and a mechanical engineer.

Download Full-text

P–716 The relationship of men’s adherence to the Mediterranean diet with sperm parameters and outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies

Human Reproduction ◽

10.1093/humrep/deab130.715 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

A Salas-Huetos ◽

M Mitsunami ◽

L Mínguez-Alarcón ◽

M Arvizu ◽

J Ford ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Live Birth ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Clinical Pregnancy ◽

Sperm Parameters ◽

Sensitivity Analyses ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Study question Is men’s adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) associated with sperm parameters and couples’ outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART)? Summary answer Higher men’s adherence to the MD was associated with an increased probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth among couples undergoing ART. What is known already There is growing literature supporting the hypothesis that some nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns may be related to sperm quality and fertility. However, no previous studies analyzed the relationship of men’s adherence to the Mediterranean diet with sperm parameters and ART outcomes in the same cohort. Study design, size, duration The Environmental and Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study is a prospective preconception cohort of couples seeking fertility treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility Center (Boston, USA). This analysis includes 314 men and their female partner, who underwent 791 ART cycles (2007–2020). Diet intake was measured by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire completed prior to ART. Men’s adherence to the MD was estimated using the Trichopoulou score. Participants/materials, setting, methods Primary outcomes included: conventional sperm parameters (volume, sperm count, concentration, motility, and morphology), and ART outcomes (implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth). We estimated the marginal means and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for semen parameters and the probability of ART (95%CI) by employing generalized linear mixed models while adjusting for several potential confounders. Sensitivity analyses by changing the cut-off points of adherence to the MD were tested. Main results and the role of chance At baseline, men had a median (IQR) age of 35.6 (32.6, 38.8) years and a BMI of 26.7 (24.0, 29.4) kg/m2. Female partner age median (IQR) was 35.0 years (32.0, 38.0) and BMI 23.3 (21.3, 26.6) kg/m2. Couples were mostly white and had never smoked. Men’s adherence to the MD was not associated with seminal parameters in the multivariable-adjusted models but it was related to a higher probability of clinical pregnancy and live birth. The predicted marginal proportions and confidence intervals among men in the lowest compared with the highest quartile of adherence to the MD were 0.25 (0.14, 0.40), 0.55 (0.41, 0.68) for clinical pregnancy (P-trend=0.005), and 0.19 (0.10, 0.32), 0.42 (0.30, 0.55) for live birth (P-trend=0.014). Male partner MD dietary pattern scores were unrelated to the probability of implantation. Sensitivity analyses using tertiles and quintiles of men’s adherence to the MD showed similar associations. Limitations, reasons for caution Although we have adjusted our models by several potential confounding factors, residual confounding cannot be ruled out, and therefore our results should be interpreted with caution. The findings may not be generalizable to other populations or couples attempting conception without ART. Wider implications of the findings: According to our knowledge, this is the first study suggesting that adherence to MD could be suitable dietary guidance for men whose partners are undergoing infertility treatment. Trial registration number Not applicable

Download Full-text

Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio, Mediterranean Diet, and Bone Health in Coeliac Disease Patients: A Pilot Study

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2019/7384193 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Francesca Palmacci ◽

Elisabetta Toti ◽

Anna Raguzzini ◽

Giovina Catasta ◽

Paola Aiello ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Coeliac Disease ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

Dietary Habit ◽

Food Groups ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Lymphocyte Ratio ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Relationship

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been proposed as a bone loss index in postmenopausal women and as a marker of inflammation in coeliac patients. The aims of this work were to evaluate the effect of gluten-free diet (GFD) on NLR retrospectively and study the relationship between NLR and Mediterranean diet adherence and selected food groups (fruits, vegetables, red meat, potatoes, and unrefined and refined cereals). Adult individuals (n=50), who had been on a strict GFD by at least 6 months, were recruited. The degree of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was calculated with two different scores: the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS-14), assessed through the validated 14-item questionnaire of the PREDIMED study, and the MEDScore (Score-55) proposed by Panagiotakos. The latter includes the consumption of unrefined cereals (UC). High percentages of osteopenia and osteoporosis were found within the recruited subjects, who furnished the reports of bone mineral density (BMD), in particular in postmenopausal (Post-M) women. Recent NLR was higher in subjects with osteoporosis compared to osteopenia and normal BMD. However, retrospective analysis showed both increase and decrease in NLR after GFD, with no significant differences between Marsh grade, anemia, and BMD status. Moreover, premenopausal previous pregnancy (Pre-MPP) and Post-M had higher NLR at diagnosis compared to Men and premenopausal (Pre-M), but higher differences were observed in recent NLR between Pre-MPP and Men only. Chocolate consumption was associated with lower recent NLR, whereas the latter was correlated with Score-55, but not with MDS-14. Moreover, refined cereal consumption was correlated with recent NLR. Although large prospective studies are needed in order to clarify the relationship between UC and NLR in coeliac patients, in this pilot study, we have investigated for the first time the relationship between NLR, dietary habit, and osteoporosis in coeliac disease.

Download Full-text

The Relationship Between Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Body Composition in Nutrition and Dietetic Students

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665120002876 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽

Author(s):

Servet Madencioğlu ◽

Sevinç Yücecan

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Body Composition ◽

Waist Circumference ◽

Mediterranean Diet ◽

Near East ◽

Female Students ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Nutrition And Dietetics ◽

The Relationship

AbstractIntroductionThe determination of level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) in young adults has been investigated in countries situated near the Mediterranean region generally. The main purpose of this study were to determine differences in body composition by gender and level of adherence to the MD and to determine the relationship between body composition and level of adherence to the MD in Nutrition and Dietetics students at Near East University in Cyprus.Materials and MethodsThe study was conducted on 126 Nutrition and Dietetics students, aged 18 to 32 years. MDS was calculated, and then classified into three groups: good (36–55 points), moderate (21–35 points), and poor (0–20 points). Body composition was assessed using bioelectrical impedance (BIA). Anthropometrical measurements; height (H), body weight (BW), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were assessed according to standardized procedures and physical activity (PA) was assessed by using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short form). The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee at Near East University.ResultsAccording to study results 31.0% of students were found out to low adherence, while 69.0% of students had moderate adherence to the MD. There is no student had high adherence to the MD. There was no significant difference (p = 0.877) between the male and female students in terms of adherence to Mediterranean diet. The findings indicate that the eating habits of the Nutrition and Dietetics students, even those studying nutrition, are in need of improvement. The results show that 78.6% of students were normal and 21.4% of students were overweight and obese. Male students’ BW (p = 0.000), WC (p = 0.000) and HC (p = 0.015) were higher than females’, while female students’ fat mass (FM) (p = 0.000) was higher than males’. However, there is no significant difference between BW (p = 0.724), FM (p = 0.896), BMI (p = 0.691), WC (p = 0.632) and HC (p = 0.982) neither low adherence nor moderate adherence to the MD. Most of students minimal active according to IPAQ scores (41.2%) and there is no significant difference IPAQ score and adherence to the MD (p = 0.923).DiscussionOne of the healthiest diets worldwide is the traditional MD. Several studies have shown, that higher adherence to the MD is inversely related with BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHR). Little is known of how adherence to the MD is related to body composition, especially in university students. Further large-scale studies are required to clarify the relationship between adherence to the MD and body composition

Download Full-text

The origin and spread of olive cultivation in the Mediterranean Basin: The fossil pollen evidence

The Holocene ◽

10.1177/0959683619826654 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 902-922 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Dafna Langgut ◽

Rachid Cheddadi ◽

Josѐ Sebastián Carrión ◽

Mark Cavanagh ◽

Daniele Colombaroli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Large Scale ◽

Fossil Pollen ◽

Southern Levant ◽

Secondary Products ◽

Early Management ◽

Olive Cultivation ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

The Mediterranean Basin ◽

Pollen Records

Olive ( Olea europaea L.) was one of the most important fruit trees in the ancient Mediterranean region and a founder species of horticulture in the Mediterranean Basin. Different views have been expressed regarding the geographical origins and timing of olive cultivation. Since genetic studies and macro-botanical remains point in different directions, we turn to another proxy – the palynological evidence. This study uses pollen records to shed new light on the history of olive cultivation and large-scale olive management. We employ a fossil pollen dataset composed of high-resolution pollen records obtained across the Mediterranean Basin covering most of the Holocene. Human activity is indicated when Olea pollen percentages rise fairly suddenly, are not accompanied by an increase of other Mediterranean sclerophyllous trees, and when the rise occurs in combination with consistent archaeological and archaeobotanical evidence. Based on these criteria, our results show that the southern Levant served as the locus of primary olive cultivation as early as ~6500 years BP (yBP), and that a later, early/mid 6th millennium BP cultivation process occurred in the Aegean (Crete) – whether as an independent large-scale management event or as a result of knowledge and/or seedling transfer from the southern Levant. Thus, the early management of olive trees corresponds to the establishment of the Mediterranean village economy and the completion of the ‘secondary products revolution’, rather than urbanization or state formation. From these two areas of origin, the southern Levant and the Aegean olive cultivation spread across the Mediterranean, with the beginning of olive horticulture in the northern Levant dated to ~4800 yBP. In Anatolia, large-scale olive horticulture was palynologically recorded by ~3200 yBP, in mainland Italy at ~3400 yBP, and in the Iberian Peninsula at mid/late 3rd millennium BP.

Download Full-text

On the Role of NAO-Driven Interannual Variability in Rainfall Seasonality on Water Resources and Hydrologic Design in a Typical Mediterranean Basin

Journal of Hydrometeorology ◽

10.1175/jhm-d-17-0078.1 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 485-498 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Roberto Corona ◽

Nicola Montaldo ◽

John D. Albertson

Keyword(s):

Water Resources ◽

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Winter Precipitation ◽

Annual Precipitation ◽

Drought Severity ◽

Water Resources Planning ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Hydrologic Design ◽

Resources Planning

Abstract In the last several decades, extended dry periods have affected the Mediterranean area with dramatic impacts on water resources. Climate models are predicting further warming, with negative effects on water availability. The authors analyze the hydroclimatic tendencies of a typical Mediterranean basin, the Flumendosa basin located in Sardinia, an island in the center of the Mediterranean Sea, where in the last 30 years a sequence of dry periods has seriously impacted the water management system. Interestingly, in the historic record the annual runoff reductions have been more pronounced than the annual precipitation reductions. This paper performs an analysis that links this runoff decrease to changes in the total annual precipitation and its seasonal structure. The seasonality is a key determinant of the surface runoff process, as it reflects the degree to which rainfall is concentrated during the winter. The observed reductions in winter precipitation are shown here to be well correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient of −0.5) with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index. Considering the predictability of the winter NAO, there is by extension an opportunity to predict future winter precipitation and runoff tendencies. The recent hydroclimatic trends are shown to impact hydrologic design criteria for water resources planning. The authors demonstrate that there is a dangerous increase of the drought severity viewed from the perspective of water resources planning.

Download Full-text

Italy and the Mediterranean: Relations with the Maghreb countries

Modern Italy ◽

10.1080/13532940801962017 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 115-133 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Valter Coralluzzo

Keyword(s):

Safety Net ◽

Energy Resources ◽

North African ◽

National Interests ◽

Political Dialogue ◽

Bilateral Relations ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Important Position ◽

The Relationship ◽

Italian Territory

After outlining the trends of Italian Mediterranean politics, this article examines the relationship between Italy and the Maghreb region. As a result of its central geographic position, acting as a natural bridge between Europe and Africa, Italy is undoubtedly more exposed and vulnerable than other countries to any critical developments in the political and economic situation of this area, so it is understandable that it occupies an increasingly important position in Italian foreign policy. Italy has especially considered it in its national interest to make it a specific, high priority to contribute to stabilising this region through multilateral and bilateral initiatives aimed at reinforcing political dialogue and economic cooperation with the coastal countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. The aim has been to create a safety net around Italian maritime borders against the risks posed by an uncontrolled increase in migration (to which Italy is more exposed than other countries), the instability of North African energy resources and Islamist terrorists infiltrating Italian territory. Apart from examining the concerns regarding the Maghreb region that have become crucially important for Italian national interests (security, immigration, development, energy), the article analyses the salient elements of bilateral relations between Italy and the Maghreb countries, particularly Libya.

Download Full-text

Institutions and events of the eleventh century mirrored in Geniza letters (Part I)

Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies ◽

10.1017/s0041977x04000114 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 67 (2) ◽

pp. 151-167 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

MOSHE GIL

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Basin ◽

Eleventh Century ◽

The Third ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Restrictive Measures ◽

The Relationship ◽

The Mediterranean Basin

This article is based on letters from the Geniza. The writers were merchants who dealt in imports and exports between Egypt and other countries of the Mediterranean basin. These merchants were part of the Jewish elite and maintained close ties with the Muslim authorities. They enjoyed considerable status with these authorities, who co-operated with the merchants, especially in the transport of goods; some of the high officials were, in fact, ship-owners. The administration of the time took a great interest in imports and exports, and would at times confiscate goods required by the army. The article reviews a series of citations from letters thus examining the relationship between the merchants and the authorities. The second part deals with the evidence of the droughts found in the merchants' letters; it is interesting to compare the details on droughts with the information in the Arabic sources. The third part discusses the information contained in the Geniza documents on the conquest of Jerusalem (638). This is followed by a discussion of two figures who are also known from Arabic sources: Manasseh b. Abraham Ibn al-Qazza¯z, and Barjawa¯n. The letters also reflect the restrictive measures against Jews and Christians in the days of Caliph al-Ha¯kim.

Download Full-text