Understanding drought as a physical phenomenon experienced by farmers: a necessity for adaptation management and sustainable rural development. The case of the Central Beqaa in Lebanon

The relationship between agriculture and its natural environment is an important starting point for defining drought from an agricultural perspective. Indeed, farmers may perceive drought, as a climatic risk, differently. This could depend on the physical environment of the farmer, the type and degree of involvement in his agricultural activities as well as the level of impact on his financial well-being (Ashraf and Routray, 2013). In Lebanon and particularly in the Beqaa plain, the majority of agricultural areas are strongly related to groundwater resources during the summer period. Due to the lack of sustainable local development, these resources would be threatened in the case of a probable climate change or a human factor allowing a possible evolution of water stress in the region. Questioning the origin of this phenomenon and its definition from the farmer's point of view can help us to better understand this problem. The objective of this study is therefore to identify the drought by crossing the human and physical elements in the perimeter of the study area.La relation entre l'agriculture et son environnement naturel est un point de départ important pour définir la sécheresse d'un point de vue agricole. En effet, la sécheresse, en tant que risque climatique, peut être perçue différemment par les agriculteurs. Cela pourrait dépendre de l'environnement physique de l'agriculteur, du type et du degré d'implication dans ses activités agricoles ainsi que du niveau d'impact sur son bien-être financier (Ashraf et Routray, 2013). Au Liban et particulièrement dans la plaine de la Beqaa, la majorité des zones agricoles sont fortement liées aux ressources en eau souterraine pendant la période estivale. En raison de l'absence de développement local durable, ces ressources seraient menacées dans le cas d'un probable changement climatique ou d'un facteur humain permettant une possible évolution du stress hydrique dans la région. S'interroger sur l'origine de ce phénomène et sa définition du point de vue de l'agriculteur peut nous aider à mieux comprendre ce problème. L’objectif de cette étude est donc d'identifier la sécheresse en croisant les éléments humains et physiques dans le périmètre de la zone d'étude

BLOOD LIPID DISORDER IN MEN WITH INCREASED WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE COMPARED TO MEN HAVING NORMAL WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE WITHIN THE SAME CATEGORY OF BMI

Background: No local studies have been performed yet to investigate the influence of central or abdominal obesity on serum lipids in men having increased Waist Circumference (WC) compared to men with normal Waist Circumference values within the same BMI (Body Mass Index) category. Objective:To examine whether the prevalence of dyslipidemia, (defined as Hypercholesterolemia (Total Cholesterol level ≥240 mg/dl), high LDL-C level (≥160 mg/dl), low HDL-C level (<35 mg/dl), or Hypertriglyceridemia (TG level ≥200 mg/dl)), is higher in men having high Waist Circumference compared to others with normal WC values within the same BMI category. Methods: The study was conducted between September 2013 and July 2014. Eighty-eight overweight men (BMI = 25-29.9) were grouped by WC as follows: 28 with high values (>102 cm) and 60 with normal values (≤ 102cm). Blood samples were drawn and assayed for total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C,at the department of Laboratory in the Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University. All assays were performed by enzymatic colorimetric methods using Hitachi-704. Results: Overweight men with high WC values (according to cutoff points internationally adopted) were the most likely to have dyslipidemia with its subsequent increased health risk compared with those having normal WC values. Conclusion: we showed in this study that the prevalence of dyslipidemia in men with high WC values is greater compared to those with normal WC values within the same BMI category. This finding leads us to the importance of the incorporated evaluation of WC in addition to the BMI in clinical practice

BLOOD LIPID DISORDER IN MEN WITH INCREASED WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE COMPARED TO MEN HAVING NORMAL WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE WITHIN THE SAME CATEGORY OF BMI

Background: No local studies have been performed yet to investigate the influence of central or abdominal obesity on serum lipids in men having increased Waist Circumference (WC) compared to men with normal Waist Circumference values within the same BMI (Body Mass Index) category. Objective:To examine whether the prevalence of dyslipidemia, (defined as Hypercholesterolemia (Total Cholesterol level ≥240 mg/dl), high LDL-C level (≥160 mg/dl), low HDL-C level (<35 mg/dl), or Hypertriglyceridemia (TG level ≥200 mg/dl)), is higher in men having high Waist Circumference compared to others with normal WC values within the same BMI category. Methods: The study was conducted between September 2013 and July 2014. Eighty-eight overweight men (BMI = 25-29.9) were grouped by WC as follows: 28 with high values (>102 cm) and 60 with normal values (≤ 102cm). Blood samples were drawn and assayed for total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C, and LDL-C,at the department of Laboratory in the Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University. All assays were performed by enzymatic colorimetric methods using Hitachi-704. Results: Overweight men with high WC values (according to cutoff points internationally adopted) were the most likely to have dyslipidemia with its subsequent increased health risk compared with those having normal WC values. Conclusion: we showed in this study that the prevalence of dyslipidemia in men with high WC values is greater compared to those with normal WC values within the same BMI category. This finding leads us to the importance of the incorporated evaluation of WC in addition to the BMI in clinical practice

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE METABOLIC DISORDERS IN OBESE MEN AND THE BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)

Background: The influence of body weight on serum lipids and uric acid is often overlooked in clinical practice. Objective: To study the magnitude of metabolic disorders (dyslipidemia and hyper-urecaemia) in asymptomatic obese men and its relation to body mass index (BMI). Methods: The study was conducted between September 2013 and July of 2014 at the medical analyses center in the Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University. The weight, height, BMI, waist circumference (WC) uric acid, and lipid profile of 148 obese males, apparently healthy, compared with 80 males in a control group (BMI < 25 kg / m²), were investigated. Subjects were grouped by BMI and WC in accordance with the National Institutes of Health cutoff points. Within the normal-weight (18.5-24.9), overweight (25.0-29.9), and obese (≥ 30.0) BMI categories, we distributed the results of all the blood tests and we computed the prevalence of dyslipidemia and hyperurecaemia. Results: The present work revealed that with increasing body weight, the mean total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides(TG), and uric acid increased; while the mean HDL-C decreased. These changes were as follows: the means difference between the first and second group and between the second and the third group were 29 and 31 mg/dl respectively regarding total cholesterol; for TG, these were 47.5 and 53.4 mg/dl; for LDL-C, these were 12 and 29 mg/dl; for HDL-C, these were 3.6 and 3.5 mg/dl; for uric acid, these were 0.3 mg/dl as a common difference, P=0.0245). Conclusion: Excess body weight is associated with deleterious changes in the lipoprotein profile and uric acid

Suivi de la sécheresse dans un territoire agricole du Liban : la plaine de la Beqaa

International audienc

Effect of availability and COVID-19 vaccination on food shopping and consumption behaviors among Jordan universities students

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the lives of university students all across the globe. Indeed, the pandemic has impacted many aspects of their daily routine, changing their social and health habits and food-related behaviors. There is now no approved therapy, and vaccination is the only clinical preventative measure that provides the highest protection against the virus. While these vaccines have been beneficial in curbing the pandemic's effect, they may also influence food-related behaviors. Accordingly, this paper aims to investigate the impact of vaccination availability on university students' food shopping and consumption habits, vaccine-related opinions, and back on-campus behaviors in Jordan. The research is based on an online survey conducted in Jordan using a structured questionnaire and distributed through Google Forms between January 1 and March 20, 2022. A total of 624 valid answers were collected. The findings revealed no significant changes in the way students consumed, shopped, and handled food compared to the pre-vaccine period. However, there is a slight post-vaccine trend toward shopping more groceries online and ordering more meals via delivery apps and takeout services. Regarding health-related food choices, there was an increase in the consumption of healthy food, water, and fruits and vegetables. Further, following the availability of the vaccination, students' adoption of COVID-19 food-related habits was maintained. Gender, engagement in food preparation activities, and living status (e.g., whether or not living with parents) substantially affected several food-related behaviors. The findings are expected to guide both current emergency preparations and long-term food-related policies in Jordan. This information may also be helpful to researchers interested in the effects of COVID-19 vaccination on student nutrition and related food behaviors.Jordan University of Science and Technolog

Liban

Le Liban est au carrefour de la Méditerranée et de l'Orient arabe. Il concrétise une longue histoire naturelle de la construction des paysages levantins jusqu'à leurs façonnements par l’Homme depuis l’Holocène jusqu'à 21e siècle. Ce numéro spécial propose au travers les six articles, des lectures historiques et contemporaine de la transformation des territoires dans sa capitale Beyrouth, dans son espace montagnard et sa plaine agricole. Dans un premier volet, les transformations de l’espace urbain à Beyrouth sont décrites au travers l’occidentalisation des espaces publics depuis la fin du 19e siècle, suivies d’une étude morpho-dynamique à une échelle fine du tissu du bâti de la ville depuis 1950. Dans un deuxième volet, le Mont-Liban a connu aussi une recomposition territoriale de son espace reflétant une mobilité des populations et leurs adaptations depuis le Néolithique jusqu’aux époques historiques. Une étude de cette recomposition politique du territoire montagnard depuis 1975 repositionne le Mont-Liban entre espace « refuges » et espace « mondialisé ». Le dernier volet se focalise sur la plaine agricole de la Beqaa, les transformations de son occupation du sol ainsi que les stratégies d’adaptations adoptées face aux défis accrus de sécheresse. Lebanon is at the crossroads of the Mediterranean basin and the Middle-East. The country’s landscape reflects a variety of ecosystems, topography and micro-climate. Located at the crossroads of human dispersal routes, the landscape is hampered by human activity since the Neolithic time. This issue proposes different case studies regarding territorial transformation divided into three thematic parts. First, the transformation of the urban spaces in Beirut are described through the westernization of public spaces since the end of the 19th century followed by a morpho-dynamic study of the urban fabric of the city since 1950. Second, the mountainous areas of Lebanon were also impacted by human activity and mobility since the Neolithic. A first case study on spatial pattern of human occupation in Mount Lebanon describe the population dynamics and the adaptation strategies adopted in an archeological site. A second case study describe the political transformation of the Mount-Lebanon since 1975 to examine the mountain territory role between a "refuge" and a "globalized" space. The last part focuses on the agricultural sector in the Beqaa plain with two cases studies, one on the drought monitoring since 2001 and the other on land and water uses strategies followed by farmers to cope with drought challenges