Transportation and Air Quality. Perspectives and Projections in a Mediterranean Country. The Case of Greece

This study provides a thorough review and analysis of the evolution of the Greek vehicle fleet over the last ~30 years, which is next used for the generation of high granularity fleet projections and for the estimation of relevant environmental benefits by 2030. The integrated methodology developed takes also into account vehicle clustering and the Brown’s Double Simple Exponential Smoothing technique that together with the adoption of COPERT based emission factors allow for the estimation of the anticipated emissions in 2030. Expected 2030 emissions levels suggest a reduction across all pollutants in comparison to 2018, ranging from 3.7% for PM10 to 54.5% for NMVOC (and 46% for CO, 14% for SO2, 28% for NOX and 21% for CO2). We find that Greece is on track with national goals concerning the reduction of air pollution from the transportation sector, stressing the positive contribution of EVs and new, "greener" vehicles, and setting new challenges for the further improvement of the sector beyond the 2030 outlook.

Nutritional status of sub-Saharans residing in the city of El Jadida - Morocco: weight in relation to socio-economic status

Background. Onset of overweight and obesity has been previously reported as a result of population migration to western countries. Objective. To determine the nutritional status, weight status and their association with socioeconomic status in sub-Saharan settled in El Jadida city in a Mediterranean country Morocco. Materials and methods. A descriptive study was carried out in 2018 on 256 sub-Saharans migrants living in the city of El Jadida in Morocco. Information on socio-economic and socio-demographic characteristics as well as anthropometric measurements was collected. The body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity by measuring waist circumference (WC) and waist circumference to hip ratio (WHR) and the distribution of body fat by calculating the sum of skin folds are determined. Results. Analysis results indicate that height, waist circumference, hip circumference, sum of trunk skinfolds, total sum of skinfolds, and BMI increase with age. The prevalence of underweight decreases with age, overweight was 38.7% in the youngest age group (18-25 years) and reached higher values after 35 years (44.10%). In addition, the prevalence of general obesity (based on BMI) increased with age and abdominal obesity (based on WHR and WC) was more marked in sub-Saharan people aged 26 to 35 years. These results also reveal the coexistence of underweight, overweight and obesity in all age groups. The analysis revealed a significant association between several variables and obesity. Significant associations were found between age and BMI (P=0.04), between level of education (university) and WHR (p=0.02), between sex and WHR, and between sex and WC (p=0.049). The study revealed also that the majority of the study sample gained weight after their settling in the host country. Conclusions. The study data show that obesity including overweight and abdominal obesity were prevalent among sub-Saharan migrants residing in the city of El Jadida. This prevalence is associated with socio-demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in an Eastern Mediterranean country: findings based on a 15-year cohort study

Background Evidence concerning the impact of long-term exposure to fine Particulate Matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) on Cardio-Vascular Diseases (CVDs) for those people subject to ambient air pollution in developing countries remains relatively scant. This study assessed the relationship of 15-year PM2.5 exposure with cardiovascular incidence and mortality rate in Isfahan province, Iran. Methods The cohort comprised 3081 participants over 35 years old who were free of CVDs. They were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling in Isfahan, Iran. PM2.5 exposure was determined separately for each individual via satellite-based spatiotemporal estimates according to their residential addresses. In this context, CVD is defined as either fatal and non-fatal Acute Myocardial Infarctions (AMI) or stroke and sudden cardiac death. The incidence risk for CVD and the ensuing mortality was calculated based on the average PM2.5 exposure within a study period of 15 years using the Cox proportional hazards frailty model upon adjusting individual risk factors. The mean annual rate of PM2.5 and the follow-up data of each residential area were combined. Results Mean three-year PM2·5 exposure for the cohort was measured at 45.28 μg/m3, ranging from 20.01 to 69.80 μg/m3. The median time period for conducting necessary follow-ups was 12.3 years for the whole population. Notably, 105 cardiovascular and 241 all-cause deaths occurred among 393,786 person-months (27 and 61 per 100,000 person-months, respectively). In well-adjusted models, 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 corresponded to a 3% increase in the incidence rate of CVDs [0.95 CI = 1.016, 1.036] (in case of p = 0.000001 per 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5, the Hazard Ratio (HR) for AMI and Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) was 1.031 [0.95 CI = 1.005, 1.057] and 1.028 [0.95 CI = 1.017, 1.039]), respectively. No consistent association was observed between PM2.5 concentration and fatal CVD (fatal AMI, fatal stroke, SCD (Sudden Cardiac Death)) and all-cause mortality. Conclusions Results from analyses suggest that the effect of PM2.5 on cardiovascular disease occurrence was stronger in the case of older people, smokers, and those with high blood pressure and diabetes. The final results revealed that long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 with high concentrations positively correlated with IHD incidence and its major subtypes, except for mortality. The outcome accentuates the need for better air quality in many countries.

Developing a social prescribing local system in a European Mediterranean country: a feasibility study to promote active and healthy aging

Background Social Prescribing (SP) is an innovative strategy to respond to the non-clinical health needs of the population. A Social Prescribing Local System (SPLS) can be defined as a set of joined community, health, and social organizations to foster SP-oriented activities. This study aimed to develop and assess the feasibility of an SPLS implemented in a Mediterranean country, to promote health and wellbeing and contribute to active and healthy aging. Methods A mixed-methods approach was followed, including three sequential components: 1) Cross-sectional online survey targeting health professionals (HP) working in a primary health care cluster, Portugal’s southern region; 2) Pilot study implementing an on-the-job training program for HP, designed to meet identified training needs in the survey; 3) Focus group (FG) with the HP who participated in the pilot study, two individual interviews, with an elderly patient and a community provider for assessing the satisfaction with the pilot test. Results Sixty-five HP completed the survey; of these, 13 completed the theoretical part of the on-the-job training program; and six (out of these 13) completed the full program. Five HP participated in the FG, one patient and one community provider were interviewed. The surveyed HP perceived as facilitators to implement SP: an automatic system of notifications to prompt the use of SP, contribute to patient satisfaction, human and community resources’ stability. The survey also highlighted barriers to SP implementation: length of appointments, shortage of human resources, data records confidentiality, low patient adherence rates, bureaucratic issues, time constraints, and financial costs. Participants were satisfied with the training. Identified SPLS implementation benefits were grouped into four dimensions (from the qualitative approach): gains for patients’ health and wellbeing, support for the health services, sustainability of the community resources, and HP’ professional satisfaction. Conclusions Our study took the first steps towards the implementation of an SPLS. Findings reinforce that training HP in SP and on-the-job training seems feasible. This approach was well received and appears to represent a suitable and sustainable strategy. It can promote professional satisfaction, support health services, contribute to the stability of community resources, improve health and promote active and healthy aging.

Tree Cover Loss in the Mediterranean Region—An Increasingly Serious Environmental Issue

The Mediterranean Region currently faces major environmental issues that require constant analysis and monitoring. This study presents a thorough approach based on the application of Landsat imagery from Global Forest Change during 2001–2019. Spatial distribution mapping was one of the objectives of the study. We approached the analysis of tree cover loss areas by analyzing the cumulative tree cover loss and Tree Cover Loss Rate. This indicator offers information about the trend of tree cover loss in each Mediterranean country. A total of 581 Mha of deforested area was mapped during the analyzed period. Analysis was further supplemented by some statistical operations (distributions shown via histograms, validation via Shapiro–Wilk normality test, and testing via one-sample t-test). Agricultural expansion, intense forest fires, illegal logging, overgrazing (especially in the northern part of Africa), and extensive livestock farming have influenced the Mediterranean forest ecosystem’s stability. The continuation of these activities could cause extreme climatic events, severe degradation, and desertification.

Positive Health Effects of Olive Oil

Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet. Although the use of olive oil has a long history, in recent decades it has experienced a full bloom all over the world. The consumption of olive oil in Croatia, as a Mediterranean country, is modest (2L per capita). This paper discusses basic characteristics of olive oil, with special emphasis on its health effects. Olive oil is rich in chlorophyll, carotenoids, and vitamin E, all of which serve as natural antioxidants, whereas its phenolic components, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, impact health positively in several ways. In addition to being powerful antioxidants, phenols in olive oil have anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and anticancer properties. They modulate the immune system by affecting white blood cell proliferation and producing cytokine. The oil’s anticancer properties are of particular importance. Mono-unsaturated fatty acids raise the level of “good cholesterol,” thus preventing the atherosclerosis process. Oleic acid in olive oil is less sensitive to oxidation, which is why it reduces the risk of harmful oxidation products. It has a high biological value and is easily digestible. Its antioxidant components slow down the ageing process and prevent the formation of cancer cells by neutralizing free radicals. It is important to preserve as many biologically active substances of olive oil as possible by properly storing and preparing the oil in order to maximize its effectiveness.

THE EFFECT OF IRRIGATION DOSES ON THE PRODUCTIVITY OF Citrus clementina variety “Fina Berkane”, A VARIETY OF CLEMENTINE PRODUCED IN TRIFFA PLAIN, NORTH EASTERN MOROCCO

Morocco is a Mediterranean country with an economy based on exporting agricultural products mainly to Europe. However, the ongoing climate change characterized by the frequency and the intensity of drought, along with the regularity of the rainfall is undeniably affecting the productivity of major agricultural products in Morocco. Citriculture is one of the key pillars of agricultural products in Moroccan conditions and the productivity of citriculture is tightly related to water management. To reduce this dependency under climatic change, a pilot study, over three years, has been launched to assess the effect of water stress on the production of clementine (Citrus clementina 'Berkane Clementine'). This study was carried out on the clementine, variety "Fina Berkane" at the Triffa plain, Northeastern Morocco. This variety was grafted on Volkameria rootstock with a density of 3m x 6m. Experimental variety was planted during October 2012, in loam-clay soil equipped with a drip irrigation system. Four doses of water irrigation (60%, 80%, 100%, and the conventional irrigation dose⩾120%) were tested based on the real water demand of the studied plant. Throughout the three-year monitoring, the effect of used water amount on the various parameters including yield, fruit size, and fruit quality have been studied. Results of the study revealed that the treatment 100% ETc provided a high number of fruits, yield, and a good quality ratio. It was also well reported that adopting a dose of 80% ETc could save a significant amount of irrigation water (more than 40% ETc) compared to the conventional irrigation dose (⩾120% ETc) without significantly affecting either the yield or the desired caliber profile (marketable standard).

How can integrated morphotaxonomy- and metabarcoding-based diatom assemblage analyses best contribute to the ecological assessment of streams?

Environmental conditions, such as nutrient concentrations, salinity, elevation etc., shape diatom assemblages of periphytic biofilms. These assemblages respond rapidly to environmental changes, a fact which makes diatoms valuable bioindicators. Hence, freshwater biomonitoring programmes currently use diatom indices (e.g. EU Water Framework Directive - WFD). To date, microscopy-based assessments require high taxonomic expertise for diatom identification at the species level. High-throughput technologies now provide cost-effective identification approaches that are promising, complementary or alternative tools for bioassessment. The suitability of the metabarcoding method is evaluated for the first time in the Cyprus streams WFD monitoring network, an eastern Mediterranean country with many endemic species and results are compared to the results acquired from the morphotaxonomic analysis. Morphotaxonomic identification was conducted microscopically, using the most updated taxonomic concepts, literature and online resources. At the same time, DNA metabarcoding involved the use of the rbcL 312 bp barcode, high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. The ecological status was calculated using the IPS Index. Results show a positive correlation between morpho-taxonomic and molecular IPS scores. Discrepancies between the two methodologies are related to the limitations of both techniques. This study confirmed that Fistulifera saprophila can have a crucial role in key differences observed, as it negatively influences IPS scores and microscopy methods frequently overlook it. Importantly, gaps in the DNA barcoding reference databases lead to a positive overestimation in IPS scores. Overall, we conclude that DNA metabarcoding offsets the morphotaxonomic methodology for the ecological quality assessment of freshwaters.

Wave Energy in the Mediterranean Sea: Resource Assessment, Deployed WECs and Prospects

A detailed review of wave energy resource assessment and the state-of-the-art of deployed wave energy converters (WECs) in real environmental conditions in the Mediterranean Sea have been analysed in this study. The installed power of the several deployed WECs in the Mediterranean Sea varies between 3–2500 kW. Ten project cases of deployed WECs in the basin are presented, with their analysis of the essential features. Five different types of WEC have already been tested under real environmental conditions in Italy, Greece, Israel and Gibraltar, with Italy being the Mediterranean country with the most deployed WECs. The main questions of the relevant studies were the ongoing trends, the examination of WECs in combination with other renewable sources, the utilising of WECs for desalination, and the prospects of wave energy in the Mediterranean islands and ports. This paper is the first comprehensive study that overviews the recent significant developments in the wave energy sector in the Mediterranean countries. The research concludes that the advances of the wave energy sector in the Mediterranean Sea are significant. However, in order to commercialise WECs and wave energy exploitation to become profitable, more development is necessary.

Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture: The Case of Small Southern Mediterranean Country

In this study, we examined the effect of climate change on the incomes of farmers in a southern Mediterranean country. We proposed that crop insurance could be potentially used as a means to adapt to climate change. Using panel data for Tunisian regions, we were able to highlight the important effects of climate change on crops yields by considering two scenarios of the Representative Concentration Pathways, namely RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. In the long term (i.e., in 2050 and 2100), we expect increasingly frequent heat waves to occur, leading to a rise in droughts for all regions of Tunisia. We therefore recommend that farmers seek to insure themselves against the risks of drought and flood to their crops, because we feel this may be an attractive device for compensating them for any potential losses of income.