SUSTAINABLE CROP MANAGEMENT MODEL IN SYRIAN STRATEGIC CROPS THE EXPERIENCE OF THE COOPERATION PROJECT RATIONALIZATION OF RAS EL AIN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceThis paper reports the main results of an integrated initiative of international technical cooperation in agriculture financed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and jointly implemented by the CIHEAM MAI Bari and the Syrian Ministries of Irrigation and of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform. The project entitled: “Rationalization of Ras El Ain Irrigation Systems” started in January 2005 and ended in March 2008. The project was aimed at addressing the problem of water resources scarcity in the project area of Ras El Ain, around the springs of Al Khabour, located in the Hassakeh province (North Mesopotamia) of the Syrian Arab Republic. During the project implementation, a real field experience was carried out involving national and international researchers, local officers and technicians, and local farmers as direct beneficiaries. An appropriate sustainable model concerning the crop management practice was elaborated to save both water resources and production inputs for cotton and wheat. In this paper the main results of this innovative cooperation approach in a multiethnic context are presented

THE CONTRIBUTION OF CIHEAM TO THE URBAN FOOD POLICIES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

The Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (IAMB) is one of the four institutes of the CIHEAM, its research activities are oriented to organic and sustainable agriculture, land and water management, integrated pest management. In the course of its work, IAMB supported different examples of Proximity and Urban and Periurban Agriculture (UPA). Such experiences highlighted specific issues to address in site specific way, in order to include UPA in the cities contexts

Impact on bone mineral density of tenofovir-containing HAART in HIV-1 infected children and adolescents: a report from 5 years of clinical experience

Purpose of the study Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is not approved for use in HIV-infected children (<18 years). In clinical practice a TAMs-sparing regimen may be needed. Use of TDF in children seems to be associated with decrease in bone mineral density that sometimes can stabilize after 24 weeks. The primary purpose was to characterized the change in bone mineral density (BMD), as measured by osteosonography (QUS), during and after treatment with tenofovir-containing HAART

Fishing for Targets of Alien Metabolites: A Novel Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) Agonist from a Marine Pest

Although the chemical warfare between invasive and native species has become a central problem in invasion biology, the molecular mechanisms by which bioactive metabolites from invasive pests influence local communities remain poorly characterized. This study demonstrates that the alkaloid caulerpin (CAU)—a bioactive component of the green alga Caulerpa cylindracea that has invaded the entire Mediterranean basin—is an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Our interdisciplinary study started with the in silico prediction of the ligand-protein interaction, which was then validated by in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro assays. On the basis of these results, we candidate CAU as a causal factor of the metabolic and behavioural disorders observed in Diplodus sargus, a native edible fish of high ecological and commercial relevance, feeding on C. cylindracea. Moreover, given the considerable interest in PPAR activators for the treatment of relevant human diseases, our findings are also discussed in terms of a possible nutraceutical/pharmacological valorisation of the invasive algal biomasses, supporting an innovative strategy for conserving biodiversity as an alternative to unrealistic campaigns for the eradication of invasive pest

Can Clinical and Surgical Parameters Be Combined to Predict How Long It Will Take a Tibia Fracture to Heal? A Prospective Multicentre Observational Study: The FRACTING Study

Background. Healing of tibia fractures occurs over a wide time range of months, with a number of risk factors contributing to prolonged healing. In this prospective, multicentre, observational study, we investigated the capability of FRACTING (tibia FRACTure prediction healING days) score, calculated soon after tibia fracture treatment, to predict healing time. Methods. The study included 363 patients. Information on patient health, fracture morphology, and surgical treatment adopted were combined to calculate the FRACTING score. Fractures were considered healed when the patient was able to fully weight-bear without pain. Results. 319 fractures (88%) healed within 12 months from treatment. Forty-four fractures healed after 12 months or underwent a second surgery. FRACTING score positively correlated with days to healing: r = 0.63 (p &lt; 0.0001). Average score value was 7.3 \ub1 2.5; ROC analysis showed strong reliability of the score in separating patients healing before versus after 6 months: AUC = 0.823. Conclusions. This study shows that the FRACTING score can be employed both to predict months needed for fracture healing and to identify immediately after treatment patients at risk of prolonged healing. In patients with high score values, new pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments to enhance osteogenesis could be tested selectively, which may finally result in reduced disability time and health cost savings

L'Italia come modello per l'Europa e per il mondo nelle politiche sanitarie per il trattamento dell'epatite cronica da HCV

The World Health Organization foresees the elimination of HCV infection by 2030. In light of this and the curre nt, nearly worldwide, restriction in direct-acting agents (DAA) accessibility due to their high price, we aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two alternative DAA treatment policies: Policy 1 (universal): treat all patients, regardless of the fibrosis stage; Policy 2 (prioritized): treat only priori tized patients and delay treatment of the remaining patients until reaching stage F3. T he model was based on patient’s data from the PITER cohort. We demonstrated that extending HC V treatment of patients in any fibrosis stage improves health outcomes and is cost-effective

Enhancing small-scale fisheries value chains in the Mediterranean and Black Sea

In the Mediterranean Basin, coastal areas appear very different in terms of history, culture, natural conditions, population density, settlements, economic structure and human resources within which specific interventions and adaptations are required, united, however, by the creation of new foundations for economic and social life. We can identify areas where there are part-time small-scale fisheries and the possibility of integration of income, marginal areas with difficult production conditions but with an interesting and undervalued natural and cultural heritage, and finally depopulated areas in decline and incapable of regeneration of the social fabric and the reorganization of production. Nevertheless, many steps have been carried out in fishery policies to preserve fish stocks and fishery industries but, despite this, most predictions suggest that the number of fishermen and women who can make a living from fishing alone is likely to continue to fall, due to both biological constraints and competition from external markets. For these reasons, it is important that, for a sustainable development of fisheries areas, strategies for the diversification of the fishermen economies be included and the multifunctionality of fishing activity be recognized. Given the fragility of the socio-economic contest and the fragmentation of the upstream and the imbalance of bargaining power between large marketing firms and downstream fisheries operators, the integration of economic operators dealing with fishery assumes a great importance. The horizontal, vertical and intersectorial coordination could support individual producers in the process of adaptation and promotion of fishery products and create condition of sustainable development through the mechanisms of coordination of supply chain, implementation of the quality system and labelling. Establishing environment for coordination in the supply chain and market through the strengthening role of regional Organization to sustain the multilevel dialogue in the Country, among Countries and international between EU and South-East Countries. This strategy will draw model of professional organization for the ownership of role of fishermen and decision to be taken al local level. A lot of information on various aspects of small-scale fisheries often escape or are difficult to obtain, or are dispersed among different institutions and organizations at the regional, provincial or local level. A better understanding of what is currently happening in the basin is fundamental for an efficient and coherent development policy in a multilevel governance and interregional coordination. In order to orient the above mentioned needs, facilities tools and network could be envisaged to acquire information and best practice, share policies on multifunctionality, diversification and supply chain coordination to assist decision makers in the finalization of strategies at the country level. Technological information system could help and assist the creation of dialogue among communities, institutions/administration and private stakeholder. In the Mediterranean Basin we can identify areas where there are part-time small-scale fisheries and the possibility of integration of income, marginal areas with difficult production conditions but with an interesting and undervalued natural and cultural heritage, and finally depopulated areas in decline and incapable of regeneration of the social improvement condition and the reorganization of production. Identification of needs and the existing territorial potentialities for Mediterranean and Black Sea could orient policies for an implementation education and scientific programs. Lines and actions foresee in the frame of fisheries multifuncionality functions that could sustain the social and economic environment will empower fisheries coastal communities. Professional and academic training on socio-economic sustainable actions should be envisaged and targeted on the territorial potentialities. Thus, small-scale fisheries may represent a key node for the creation of added value in coastal areas and, as seen, the same fishermen can take advantage of a larger share of this value chain through diversification, transformation, direct sale, and cooperation between the Mediterranean coasts

Impact on bone mineral density of tenofovir-containing HAART in HIV-1 infected children and adolescents: a report from 5 years of clinical experience

Purpose of the study Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is not approved for use in HIV-infected children (<18 years). In clinical practice a TAMs-sparing regimen may be needed. Use of TDF in children seems to be associated with decrease in bone mineral density that sometimes can stabilize after 24 weeks. The primary purpose was to characterized the change in bone mineral density (BMD), as measured by osteosonography (QUS), during and after treatment with tenofovir-containing HAART

Detection of Olive-Infecting Viruses in the Mediterranean Basin

Olive (Olea europaea) is host of 13 different viruses but, it is possible that other viruses, which are either non mechanically transmissible or occur in low concentration in plant tissues, are present in nature. This likelihood is supported by the widespread occurrence of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) in plants negative to biological tests. As very little information is available on the geographical distribution of olive-infecting, investigations were conducted for gathering information on the prevalence and distribution of olive viruses in the Mediterranean basin based on the presence of double stranded RNA (dsRNA). A total of 527 samples were collected throughout the surveys covering 10 countries and 83 locations. Out of 286 tested samples collected from 6 Italian regions, 210 (73.4%) were dsRNA positive, whereas the average of viral infections in the Mediterranean basin was 64.5%. Molecular hybridisation tests, on 25 % of dsRNA-positive samples collected in Apulia, revealed the presence of the three nepoviruses (ArMV, CLRV and SLRSV), OLYaV and OLV-