National Council for Scientific Research

The round sardinella (Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847) is a widely distributed migratory pelagic fish inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic coasts. The species is heavily exploited and represents a valuable resource for global fisheries. In the Mediterranean area, uptakes of round sardinella are particularly high in the Ionian and Levant regions, where landings have shown fluctuating yet significant peaks in recent decades. Given its migratory nature, understanding the connectivity among populations is crucial for delineating appropriate fishery management units. Previous studies employing morphometric, meristic, and molecular analyses have yielded mixed results regarding population structuring. Here, the genetic differentiation among Eastern Mediterranean S. aurita populations was investigated using a multi-marker approach: the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), cytochrome b (CytB), control region (CR), and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA), and seven species-specific nuclear simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Overall, the results indicate high genetic diversity coupled with weak population structuring across the Eastern Mediterranean. These analyses aim at clarifying stock boundaries towards supporting sustainable management strategies at a regional scale for this ecologically and economically important species.

This report details the development of foveolitis in a patient undergoing antiparasitic treatment and corticosteroid taper for reactivated toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis.OCT findings included ellipsoid zone disruption and scattered hyper-reflective dots within the inner layers of the retina.Foveolitis is a frequent form of presentation of dengue maculopathy.Although the patient resided in Misiones Province, Argentina, amidst a Dengue epidemic, serological tests for IgM and IgG anti-Dengue antibodies were negative.In this manuscript we provide possible explanations on the association of active Ocular Toxoplasmosis and the sudden development of Foveolitis amidst a Dengue epidemic despite negative Dengue serology.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> The Levantine Basin is an ultra-oligotrophic region and the formation site of the Levantine Intermediate Waters. For the first time, a high-resolution 3D coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model, SYMPHONIE-Eco3MS, was used to investigate the seasonal and interannual variability of dissolved oxygen (O₂) in the Levantine Basin and estimate its basin-wide budget for the period 2013&ndash;2020. Our results show that the simulated O₂ concentrations align well with in situ data from research cruises and Argo floats. During winter, the surface layer is undersaturated in oxygen by up to 2 % across the entire basin, leading to atmospheric oxygen absorption. The model shows that on an annual scale, the basin acts as a net sink for atmospheric oxygen, with the Rhodes Gyre exhibiting uptake rates twice as high as the rest of the Levantine Basin. The surface layer also serves as a source of dissolved oxygen for intermediate depths, with 4.2 &plusmn; 1.1 mol m^-2 year^-1 of dissolved oxygen vertically transported. Oxygen is transported laterally into the basin from the Ionian Sea and exported towards the Aegean Sea, with winter heat loss intensity enhancing this lateral export at both surface and intermediate layers. The Levantine Basin alternates between autotrophic and heterotrophic states, depending on the intensity of winter surface heat loss. Spatially, the Rhodes Gyre emerges as a significant oxygen pump, contributing 41 % of the total oxygen production in the surface layer in the Levantine basin. This study highlights the need for further modeling studies on pluri-annual and multi-decadal scales to explore the interannual variability and evolution of the annual oxygen budget across the entire Eastern Basin, particularly in the context of climate change.

<strong class="journal-contentHeaderColor">Abstract.</strong> The Mediterranean Sea (MedSea) is highly sensitive to climate-driven changes in temperature, oxygen, and pH, among other variables. To better assess these long-term trends, we developed CARIMED (CARbon, tracers, and ancillary data In the MEDiterranean Sea), the first comprehensive, harmonised data synthesis product for the MedSea. CARIMED integrates hydrographic, inorganic carbon, transient tracer, and ancillary measurements from 46 research cruises spanning the period from 1976 to 2018, containing observations for the entire water column across all MedSea sub-basins. A substantial component of the data was retrieved from fragmented or locally archived historical records, thus consolidating previously inaccessible measurements. Following global synthesis approaches, CARIMED applies a quality-controlled, and bias-adjusted framework. A key adaptation was the secondary quality control (2QC) procedure, specifically tailored to the MedSea's unique hydrography, utilising sub-basin divisions and supplementary checks (including statistical consistency assessments) to resolve complex, often contradictory, inter-cruise offsets. This rigorous process minimised systematic biases, yielding a dataset with improved consistency, and highlights the urgent need for adapted standard operating procedures and reference materials to address the MedSea biogeochemical particularities. CARIMED delivers two complementary, freely available products: the aggregated original cruise data product (<a href="https://doi.org/10.20350/digitalCSIC/17785" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.20350/digitalCSIC/17785</a>; Garc&iacute;a-Ib&aacute;&ntilde;ez et al., 2025) and the final bias-adjusted data synthesis product (<a href="https://doi.org/10.25921/cp5b-zq67" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.25921/cp5b-zq67</a>; &Aacute;lvarez et al., 2025). This essential resource establishes a new benchmark for assessing long-term biogeochemical trends, validating regional ocean models, and supporting climate-change mitigation and adaptation strategies in this rapidly changing semi-enclosed basin.

W artykule skupiono się na problemie współczesnych interwencji architektonicznych w otoczeniu historycznych obiektów powstających w procesie przebudowy portów w wybranych miastach europejskich — w Lyonie i Marsylii. Przykłady ukazano na tle transformacji, a także procesów rozwojowych analizowanych miast europejskich. Omówiono szeroko wybrane współczesne realizacje zlokalizowane w dawnej tkance portowej przy historycznych obiektach. Odniesiono się do postaw kształtujących podejścia do interwencji w procesie wprowadzania nowoczesnych obiektów w zabytkową tkankę. Badania oparto przede wszystkim na studiach in situ, a także online — za pośrednictwem aplikacji Google Earth Pro oraz na badaniach literatury przedmiotu i przeglądzie dokumentów planistycznych oraz studium przypadku. Przeanalizowane obiekty stanowią kluczowy element interwencji urbanistycznych. Ich awangardowe formy i stylistyka charakterystyczna dla nurtu nowego dekoracjonizmu tworzą współczesne innowacyjne wizerunki miast.

Lebanon, Middle-East While recent drought assessments predominantly rely on international meteorological indices, agro-environmental impacts are more closely linked to the diverse facets of drought derived from daily soil moisture depletion. This study investigates how recent climate change (1960–2020) has differentially affected drought facets in Lebanon. The DFEAT tool (Drought FEature Assessment Tool) was employed, which utilizes a daily soil water content time series derived from the empirical KBDI (Keetch-Byram Drought Index), to extract and analyze yearly trends in these drought facets, including onset/offset timings, duration, peak drought timing and severity value, and soil drying/rewetting rates. A gradual shift toward drier conditions was revealed by the analysis, marked by a 5-day delay in drought offset and a significant earlier onset by 17 days. This trend emerges under annual precipitation stability but a seasonal redistribution, enhanced by rising temperatures. These changes have resulted in more prolonged drought episodes, extending by 15 days over the coastal areas and becoming more pronounced in the arid eastern regions of the country. Additionally, an increase in peak drought severity by 3 mm, a marginal rise in soil moisture drying rates by 0.096 mm.day −1 , and a total reduction in the intensity of autumnal rainfall pulses by 10 mm were observed. The escalating drier pattern underscores the need for adaptive management strategies in Lebanon’s drought-prone sectors. • Monitoring regional spatiotemporal drought trends benefits from considering its multiple facets. • Precipitation trends are non-significant over the period 1960–2020, while temperature shows a significant increase. • Rising temperatures play a dominant role in shaping regional drought trends in Lebanon. • Modest increases in drought duration are observed, driven by significantly earlier drought onset occurrences. • Despite a non-significant trend in offset timing, earlier drought occurrence intensifies significantly peak drought severity.

In oligotrophic regions like the Mediterranean Sea, vertical nutrient distribution plays a key role in controlling primary production via upward fluxes. In spring 2023, the BioSWOT-Med campaign explored how fine-scale ocean dynamics modulate nutrient availability in the North Balearic Front. Combining SWOT satellite observations with targeted Lagrangian sampling, the study focused on a 50 km domain encompassing contrasting water masses at and across the front, and a fine-scale anticyclonic eddy embedded within southern waters. High-resolution nutrient profiles revealed a clear two-level structure: at the regional scale, northern waters showed shallower nutriclines and steeper vertical nutrient gradients; at finer scale, the anticyclonic eddy exhibited even deeper clines and weaker gradients compared to its surroundings. A local relation between SWOT sea surface height and the nutricline highlighted the coupling between physical fine-scale structures and nutrient dynamics, with further implications for un- derstanding nutrient supply and biogeochemical functioning in oligotrophic marine sys- tems.

Clay has always been considered a traditional building material, offering various environmental, cultural, and economic benefits. This study explores the improvement of clay from the town of Salé, northwest Morocco, by introducing a mixture with Moroccan gypsum plaster. Three samples were created: two were composed of 100% pottery clay and gypsum plaster, while the third was a composite mixture of 50% each. Thermal analysis is essential for assessing manufacturing quality and provides insight into cooking processes. The hot plate method, known for its accuracy, yielded an average thermal conductivity (λm) value of 0.426 W/m·K for the composite mixture, indicating potential for construction applications. However, limitations include the small sample size and focus on a single location, suggesting the need for broader research under varied conditions. The energy and thermal simulations conducted on a typical residential structure using Design Builder software demonstrated that the composite material composed of pottery clay and gypsum plaster effectively contributed to a modest reduction in cooling and heating energy requirements. Specifically, the simulations indicated a 0.7% decrease in cooling needs during the summer and a 0.5% reduction in heating requirements during the winter.

Abstract In Burkina Faso, the mango industry faces numerous phytosanitary constraints. This situation is exacerbated by producers' lack of knowledge about diseases and their symptoms, and the low uptake of control technologies. This study aims to develop a tool using artificial intelligence-based approaches for better integrated management of the main diseases affecting mango trees.Surveys conducted in 40 mango orchards yielded 11,001 images of the characteristic symptoms of three major diseases, including 4,527 for anthracnose, 3,038 for bacterial disease and 3,436 for dieback. The data underwent several preprocessing steps. To ensure a balance between disease classes, 3,000 images per class were selected, for a total of 9,000 images. The images were then annotated and used for training with the pre-trained YOLOv11 model. Following training, three models were formed : V2-3M (MAP@50 = 50.3% ; precision = 55.1% ; recall = 49.1%), V3-3M (MAP@50 = 23% ; precision = 56.8% ; recall = 26.7%), and V4-3M (MAP@50 = 46.8% ; precision = 52% ; recall = 45.3%). The most effective model is the V2-3M, as it combines 55.1% accuracy, 50.3% MAP@50 and 49.1% recall.In order to improve diagnosis and phytosanitary management in orchards, it would be useful to integrate treatment recommendations into the model, then deploy it on a mobile application and promote it to producers.