Search Results (124)

Knowledge about the composition (volatile and non-volatile) and functionality of natural extracts from Mediterranean plants serves as a basis for their further application. In this study, five selected plants were used for the extraction of plant metabolites. Leaves and flowers of Critmum maritimum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Olea europea, Phylliera latifolia and Mellisa officinalis were collected, and a total of 12 extracts were prepared. Extractions were performed under microwave-assisted conditions, with two solvent types: water (W) and a hydroalcoholic (ethanolic) solution (HA). Detailed extract analysis was conducted. Phenolics were analyzed by detecting individual bioactive compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography and by calculating total phenolic and total flavonoid content through spectrophotometric analysis. Higher concentrations of total phenolics and total flavonoids were obtained in the hydroalcoholic extracts, with the significantly highest total phenolic and flavonoid values in the rosemary hydroalcoholic extract (3321.21 mg_GAE/L) and sea fennel flower extract (1794.63 mg_QE/L), respectively; and the lowest phenolics in the water extract of olive leaves (204.55 mg_GAE/L) and flavonoids in the water extracts of sea fennel leaves, rosemary, olive and mock privet (around 100 mg_QE/L). Volatile organic compounds (VOC) were detected using HS-SPME/GC–MS (Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction coupled with Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry), and antioxidant capacity was estimated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay) and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) methods. HS-SPME/GC–MS analysis of samples revealed that sea fennel had more versatile profile, with the presence of 66 and 36 VOCs in W and HA sea fennel leaf extracts, 52 and 25 in W and HA sea fennel flower extracts, 57 in rosemary W and 40 in HA, 20 in olive leaf W and 9 in HA, 27 in W mock privet and 11 in HA, and 35 in lemon balm W and 10 in HA extract. The lowest values of chlorophyll a were observed in sea fennel leaves (2.52 mg/L) and rosemary (2.21 mg/L), and chlorophyll b was lowest in sea fennel leaf and flower (2.47 and 2.25 mg/L, respectively), while the highest was determined in olive (6.62 mg/L). Highest values for antioxidant activity, determined via the FRAP method, were obtained in the HA plant extracts (up to 11,216 mg_AAE/L for lemon balm), excluding the sea fennel leaf (2758 mg_AAE/L) and rosemary (2616 mg_AAE/L). Considering the application of these plants for fresh fish preservation, antimicrobial activity of water extracts was assessed against Vibrio fischeri JCM 18803, Vibrio alginolyticus 3050, Aeromonas hydrophila JCM 1027, Moraxella lacunata JCM 20914 and Yersinia ruckeri JCM 15110. No activity was observed against Y. ruckeri and P. aeruginosa, while the sea fennel leaf showed inhibition against V. fisheri (inhibition zone of 24 mm); sea fennel flower was active against M. lacunata (inhibition zone of 14.5 mm) and A. hydrophila (inhibition zone of 20 mm); and rosemary and lemon balm showed inhibition only against V. fisheri (inhibition zone from 18 to 30 mm). This study supports the preparation of natural extracts from Mediterranean plants using green technology, resulting in extracts rich in polyphenolics with strong antioxidant potential, but with no clear significant antimicrobial efficiency at the tested concentrations. Full article

Palytoxins (PLTXs) and ovatoxins (OVTXs) are a group of highly potent marine toxins that pose significant health risks through seafood contamination and environmental exposure. OVTX-producing algae have been linked to dermatitis and respiratory distress in Mediterranean beachgoers, while serious public health concerns are related to PLTX accumulation in seafood. In 2009, the European Food Safety Authority highlighted the need for analytical detection methods of the PLTX group of toxins and for the preparation of reference materials. This study investigates the stability of the palytoxin signal using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MRM-MS) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry under different experimental conditions: three concentrations (10, 1, and 0.5 µg/mL), three methanol–water mixtures (10%, 50%, and 90%), and two temperatures (6 °C and 25 °C). The results showed that the PLTX signal response is significantly influenced by the experimental conditions used. LC-MRM-MS analysis revealed the optimal response of PLTX in 50% and 90% MeOH at 25 °C, with minimal signal loss occurring over 16 h (9% and 6%). UV-Vis data indicated reduced absorbance in 10% MeOH, but a stable spectral intensity over 21 h in all the tested solvent mixtures. These results underscore the necessity of carefully controlled experimental conditions to ensure accurate and reproducible PLTX detection in environmental and food safety monitoring. Full article

In this paper, we present the results of field investigations on the suitability of three types of trunk traps (‘Commercial 1’, ‘Commercial 2’, and ‘Prototype’) for capturing spongy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae in two areas with different climates and forest ecosystems. In areas of NE Slovenia, which were characterized by Pannonian climate and regular rainfall during the research period (2022–2024), the ‘Commercial 2’ trap was the most suitable for the capture of old larvae. In a forest with 20–30 m tall trees with the dominant species Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus, and Pinus sylvestris, it proved easy to set ‘Commercial 2’ on trunks and change their parts upon inspection for captures. ‘Commercial 1’ traps proved to be less suitable, since their bags quickly were filled with water during downpours and consequently fell out of the traps. ‘Prototype’ traps proved to be the most suitable in an area with a Mediterranean climate (Greece), where the trees (Quercus spp.) were smaller (3–4 m) and both younger and older larvae could more easily come into contact with the sticky surface of the inner part of the trap, of which longer-lasting effectiveness was possible in a drier climate. For the mass trapping of larvae in urban areas with a more humid climate, we therefore suggest the use of ‘Commercial 2’ traps, and in areas with a drier climate, the use of ‘Prototype’ traps. Full article

The relationship between global warming and heatwaves contributes to environmental risks. We investigate lake heatwaves (LHWs) in the Eastern Mediterranean, where dust intrusions are frequently observed. The dust intrusions are characterized by the arrival of warm air masses containing dust pollution from the desert. In saline lakes, LHWs caused by dust intrusions have not been investigated in previous studies. In our study we focus on this point. It was found for the first time that, in the hypersaline Dead Sea, a severe dust intrusion (aerosol optical depth of over 3) caused the formation of LHWs, as appeared in September 2015. At the water surface, the LHWs were represented by abnormally high daily maximal and minimal surface water temperature (SWT) in comparison with their seasonally varied 90th percentile thresholds for 10 consecutive days (7–17 September). The surface LHWs’ intensity was up to 3 °C. Satellite (MODIS-Terra and METEOSAT) SWT did not detect the LHWs. Surface LHWs were accompanied by subsurface LHWs down to a depth of 20 m. The subsurface LHWs lasted longer (16 days) than the surface LHWs (10 days). There was a 4-day delay between the first date of the surface LHWs (7 September) and the start date of the subsurface LHWs (11 September). The maximal intensity of the subsurface LHWs decreased with depth from 1 m (0.6 °C) down to 5 m (0.3 °C), followed by an increase (up to 0.6 °C) at the deeper layers (from 10 m to 20 m). Taking into account that, over the Eastern Mediterranean, desert dust has increased during the past several decades, one can expect frequent occurrence of dust-related intense persistent heatwaves in the Dead Sea in the coming years. This will contribute to additional water heating and further drying up of the Dead Sea. Full article

Natural radioactivity was measured and analyzed at the Nice Slope for over a month using radon daughters in order to trace groundwater movement from a coastal aquifer to a nearshore continental shelf. Such groundwater movement may have resulted in submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) and potentially sediment weakening and slope failure. The relationship among major hydrological parameters (precipitation, Var discharge, groundwater level, salinity and water origin) in the area is demonstrated in this study. Time series analyses also helped to detect tidal fluctuations in freshwater input, highlighting the crucial role SGD plays in the slope stability of the still failure-prone Nice Slope, parts of which collapsed in a tsunamigenic submarine landslide in 1979. Earlier deployments of the underwater mass spectrometer KATERINA showed that SGD is limited to the region of the 1979 landslide scar, suggesting that the spatially heterogenous lithologies do not support widespread groundwater charging. The calculated volumetric activities from groundwater tracing isotopes revealed peaks up to ca. 150 counts ²¹⁴Bi, which is similar to those measured at other prominent SGD sites along the Mediterranean shoreline. Therefore, this rare long-term radioisotope dataset is a valuable contribution to the collaborative research at the Nice Slope and may not remain restricted to the unconfined landslide scar but may charge permeable sub-bottom areas nearby. Hence, it has to be taken into account for further slope stability studies. Full article

Mediterranean officinal plants and spices are rich sources of bioactive compounds that can be used to improve the safety and quality of fresh food products. Among them, essential oils (EOs), known for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, can be a feasible solution for natural and healthy foods with low environmental impact. This study evaluates the bioactive potential of ten EOs derived from Mediterranean officinal plants and spices. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified compounds with known antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In vitro antioxidant potential using different methods highlighted the promising effect of cloves and cinnamon EOs. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) assays revealed strong antimicrobial activity of oregano and cinnamon EOs against foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, with MIC values ranging from 0.25 to 0.50 mg/mL. This activity can be attributed to the predominance of carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde, whose antimicrobial activity is well-documented. The impact of medium pH and water activity on the antimicrobial efficacy of the EOs was also assessed. Overall, this research contributes to increasing the knowledge of the potential applications of plant-derived EOs in food preservation, offering a natural, sustainable, and consumer-friendly approach to enhancing food quality, safety, and nutritional value. Full article

Investigating the impact of oxygen-enriched water combined with LED light on lettuce growth for two consecutive cycles is essential for advancing greenhouse cultivation in Mediterranean climates, where summer heat poses significant challenges. This study investigates the combined impact of oxygen-enriched water (O₂EW) and LED lighting on physiological, biochemical, and growth responses of two lettuce cultivars across two cultivation cycles in a controlled environment. The two lettuce types, Lactuca sativa var. ‘Lollo Bionda’ (Lugano) and Lactuca sativa var. ‘Lollo Rosso’ (Carmesi), were cultivated employing the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) method within a regulated greenhouse setting. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) evaluated lettuce growth in an NFT system under three treatments: natural water (NW), oxygen-enriched water (O₂EW), and O₂EW with LED light (380–840 nm) (LED + O₂EW). The plants were exposed to natural oxygen levels (NW) of 6.2–7.4 mg L⁻¹ in the first and 7.4–8.1 mg L⁻¹ in the second period. Under O₂EW, levels reached 8.0–8.6 mg L⁻¹ and 8.7–9.2 mg L⁻¹, respectively, while LED + O₂EW concentrations were 8.4–8.5 mg L⁻¹ in the first and 8.8–8.4 mg L⁻¹ in the second period. The PPFD for ‘Lugano’ ranged from 426 to 486 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the first cycle and 437–511 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the second, averaging 448.66 and 460.65 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, respectively. For ‘Carmesi’, it ranged from 421 to 468 and 441 to 492.3 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹, with averages of 438.66 and 457.1 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹. Statistical analysis was performed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD test (p < 0.05) in IBM SPSS Statistics (version 29.0.2.0). The applied treatments significantly influenced the plants’ physiological parameters, including the photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and antioxidant activity. These treatments also significantly (p < 0.05) affected plant growth metrics such as the height, diameter, mass, number of leaves, root length, root mass, as well as biochemical components like chlorophyll, nitrate, and glucose content. The applied treatments significantly enhanced plant growth, biochemical components, and physiological parameters. Via comparative analysis, we concluded that the overall physiological performance of the plants in the second cycle was approximately 21.18% higher compared to the first cycle when combining all attributes. ‘Lugano’ showed stronger growth in height, mass, and root traits, while ‘Carmesi’ excelled in antioxidant activity, especially under LED + O₂EW treatment. Oxygen treatments boosted photosynthesis and transpiration in both varieties, with ‘Carmesi’ showing higher rates and ‘Lugano’ demonstrating greater growth, especially in the second cycle. In conclusion, O₂EW and LED treatments significantly enhance lettuce growth and resilience, particularly under warmer conditions, highlighting their potential to support sustainable year-round greenhouse cultivation. Full article

Background and Objectives: Regular physical activity (PA) and Mediterranean diet (MeDi) adherence independently improve glycemic control and clinical outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined the associations between PA, body composition (BC), MeDi adherence, and glycemic control in Dalmatian T2DM patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital of Split (November–December 2023) during an open call for T2DM patients. Data collected included blood/urine samples, blood pressure, BC, and anthropometrics. MeDi adherence and PA were assessed via the Mediterranean Diet Service Score and the International PA Questionnaire-Short Form. Results: Among 252 participants (median age: 67 years, IQR: 60–73; 51.6% women; median T2DM duration: 10 years, IQR: 6–20), PA levels were low (31.4%, N = 79), moderate (45.2%, N = 114), and high (23.4%, N = 59), with uniformly low MeDi adherence across groups. Low PA was associated with higher body mass index (BMI) and lower phase angle (PhA). PA negatively correlated with fat mass (FM; %) and visceral adiposity. Positive BMI predictors included FM (kg), total body water, visceral fat level, and PhA, while fat-free mass, intracellular water, and FM (%) were negative predictors. The estimated glomerular filtration rate was the only positive predictor of the total metabolic equivalent of the task score. Conclusions: PA enhances BC and metabolic health, but inadequate MeDi adherence limits these benefits in the T2DM population. To optimize glucose control and health outcomes, public health initiatives must emphasize MeDi adherence and a combination of aerobic and resistance training. Full article

This study investigates the composition, abundance, and vertical export of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) across three deep basins of the northeastern Mediterranean Sea (NEMS) over one year. Sinking particles were collected using sediment traps, and PAH analysis was conducted via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PAH fluxes varied significantly, peaking in the north Aegean Sea due to mesotrophic conditions, nutrient-rich riverine and Black Sea water inflows, and maritime anthropogenic inputs. The fluxes were highest in winter and lowest in fall. In the Cretan Sea, petrogenic sources (~70%) dominated, driven by currents, with fluxes highest in spring and lowest in winter. The Ionian Sea exhibited lower fluxes, peaking in summer and decreasing in fall. Atmospheric deposition seems to be the main transport pathway of pyrolytic PAHs in this site, while its high-water column depth (4300 m) compared to the other sites presumably enables extended degradation of organic constituents during particle settling. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) and principal component analysis (PCA) results reveal complementary insights into PAH sources and transport mechanisms. PMF analysis identified combustion (61%) and petrogenic (22%) sources, while PCA highlighted biogenic fluxes (57.7%) and atmospheric deposition. Seasonal productivity, riverine inputs, and water circulation shaped PAH variability, linking combustion-related PAHs to atmospheric soot and petrogenic PAHs to organic-rich particles. Full article

Trends in the air–sea freshwater and heat fluxes and hydrographic properties of the Mediterranean Sea are investigated to assess changes in dense water formation over 1979–2023 and 2004–2023. Results show a strong annual evaporation increase that has accelerated over the last two decades following the higher warming rate. Positive trends in winter latent heat flux (LHF) were obtained over 1979–2023 in most of the East Mediterranean, driving an increase in both the ocean heat loss and the haline component of the surface density flux, but there were no significant long-term trends over the western basin and the dense water formation sites. Results show much larger trends over 2004–2023 when a broadscale decrease in sensible heat flux (SHF) is obtained over the western basin as the air temperature is increasing much faster than SST. Decreasing (increasing) LHF and SHF resulted in largely reduced (enhanced) ocean heat loss during winter in the Gulf of Lions (Aegean Sea) over 2004–2023. Robust positive trends are obtained for both the salinity and temperature fields throughout the basin, with accelerated warming and salinification rates after the 2000s. Deep waters have become warmer but also much saltier and denser over recent decades. A water mass transformation method is also used to investigate changes in volumetric distribution in temperature/salinity/density and T/S space. Results suggest that salinification over the last 45 years may have strongly enhanced salt preconditioning in all major dense water formation sites, sustaining or even increasing deep water formation despite the increasingly warming climate. Full article

This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of the artificial radionuclides ¹²⁹I and ²³⁶U in the Western Mediterranean Sea, focusing on their connection to radionuclide sources and circulation dynamics. Taking advantage of unprecedented precision of accelerator mass spectrometry, both tracers were firstly investigated in 2013. Here, we examine tracer observations obtained along four stations (re-)visited during the TAlPro2022 expedition in May 2022. Distributions of both ¹²⁹I and ²³⁶U were related to water masses and clearly linked to local circulation patterns: a tracer-poor surface Atlantic inflow, a thining of the tracer minimum at intermediate depths, and a higher tracer signal in Western Mediterranean Deep Waters due to dense water formation in the Algero-Provençal basin. The comparison to 2013 tracer data indicated recent deep ventilation of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the mixing of deep waters and enhanced stratification in intermediate waters in the Algero-Provençal basin due to a temperature and salinity increase between 2013 and 2022. We estimate an overall ¹²⁹I increase of 20% at all depths between 0 and 500m with respect to 2013, which is not accompanied by ²³⁶U. This suggests either the lateral transport of ¹²⁹I from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, or an additional source of this tracer. The inventories of ¹²⁹I calculated for each water mass at the four stations point to the deposition of airborne releases from the nuclear reprocessing plants (La Hague and Sellafield) on the surface Mediterranean waters as the more likely explanation for the ¹²⁹I increase. This work demonstrates the great potential of including measurements of anthropogenic radionuclides as tracers of ocean circulation. However, a refinement of the anthropogenic inputs is necessary to improve their use in understanding ventilation changes in the Mediterranean Sea. Full article

The summer of 2024 witnessed record-high sea surface temperatures (SST) across the Aegean, Ionian, and Cretan Seas (AICS), following unprecedented air heatwaves over the sea under a long-term warming trend of 0.46 °C/decade for the mean atmospheric temperature (1982–2024). The respective mean SST trend for the same period is even steeper, increasing by 0.59 °C/decade. With mean summer surface waters surpassing 28 °C, particularly in the Ionian Sea, the southern Cretan, and northern Aegean basins, this summer marked the warmest ocean conditions over the past four decades. Despite a relatively lower number of marine heatwaves (MHWs) compared to previous warm years, the duration and cumulative intensity of these events in 2024 were the highest on record, reaching nearly twice the levels seen in 2018, which was the warmest until now. Intense MHWs were recorded, especially in the northern Aegean, with extensive biological consequences to ecosystems like the Thermaikos Gulf, a recognized MHW hotspot. The strong downward atmospheric heat fluxes in the summer of 2024, following an interannual increasing four-decade trend, contributed to the extreme warming of the water masses together with other met-ocean conditions such as lateral exchanges and vertical processes. The high temperatures were not limited to the surface but extended to depths of 50 m in some regions, indicating a deep and widespread warming of the upper ocean. Mechanisms typically mitigating SST rises, such as the Black Sea water (BSW) inflow and coastal upwelling over the eastern Aegean Sea, were weaker in 2024. Cooler water influx from the BSW decreased, as indicated by satellite-derived chlorophyll-a concentrations, while upwelled waters from depths of 40 to 80 m at certain areas showed elevated temperatures, likely limiting their cooling effects on the surface. Prolonged warming of ocean waters in a semi-enclosed basin such as the Mediterranean and its marginal sea sub-basins can have substantial physical, biological, and socioeconomic impacts on the AICS. This research highlights the urgent need for targeted monitoring and mitigation strategies to address the growing impact of MHWs in the region. Full article

Convection monitoring and forecasting are crucial for air traffic management as they can lead to the development of intense thunderstorms and hazards such as severe turbulence and icing, lightning activity, microbursts and hail that affect aviation safety. The airport of Burgas is located in southeast Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast and occurrences of intense thunderstorms are mainly observed in the warm season between May and September. This work presents an analysis of severe convection over southeast Bulgaria on 17 September 2022. In the late afternoon, a gust front was formed that reached the Burgas airport with a wind speed exceeding 45 m/s, the record for the past 50 years, damaging the instrument landing system of the airport. To analyse the severe weather conditions, we combine state-of-the-art observations from satellite and radar with the upper-air sounding and surface. The studied period was dominated by the presence of a very unstable air mass over southeast Bulgaria ahead of the atmospheric front. As convection developed and moved east towards Burgas, it had four characteristics of severe deep convection, including gravitational waves at the overshooting cloud top, a cold U-shape, a flanking line and a cloud top temperature below −70 °C. The positive integrated water vapour (IWV) rate of change preceded the lightning activity peak by 30 min. Analysis of integrated vapour transport (IVT) gives higher values by a factor of two compared to climatology associated with the atmospheric river covering the eastern Mediterranean sea. Full article

This study investigates the isotopic composition of precipitation in Iran and its moisture sources, offering insights crucial for addressing water recharge and management in semi-arid regions. This study analyzes 150 precipitation events collected from 11 stations across Iran over multiple years. The HYSPLIT model was used to trace air mass trajectories contributing to these events. The isotopic composition of precipitation from each moisture source was examined to identify their distinct characteristics. Furthermore, the contribution of each air mass to groundwater and surface water recharge was quantified using the Simmr mixing model in R programming language, combining stable isotope data from precipitation and surface/groundwater samples. Precipitation in northern Iran is associated with low d-excess values, indicating moisture from high-latitude sources, particularly the Caspian Sea, while higher d-excess values in the west and south point to moisture mainly from the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. Air mass trajectory analysis via the HYSPLIT model identified the dominant pathways of Continental Tropical (CT), Continental Polar (CP), and Mediterranean (MedT) air masses across Iran. Quantitative analysis using the Simmr mixing model revealed that the CT air mass contributes up to 33.6% to groundwater recharge in southern Iran’s karstic regions, while the CP air mass dominates in the north, with up to 46.8% contribution. The MedT air mass, although significant in the west, decreases in influence towards the east. Isotope data from groundwater and surface water sites showed more depleted values than local precipitation, likely due to larger catchment areas. These findings contribute to water management strategies by identifying the variations in moisture sources that influence groundwater and surface water recharge in Iran. Understanding these variations enables the development of targeted strategies for managing water resources in semi-arid regions facing increasing water scarcity. The methodologies applied in this study can be adapted to other regions, providing a valuable framework for sustainable water management in areas where identifying moisture sources is critical. Full article

In recent decades, the rapid spread of various communication media has led to changes in traditional eating habits. In the Mediterranean region, the classic (Mediterranean) dietary pattern has been lost as a result. This has led to a shift in eating habits towards unhealthy eating patterns, which in turn has resulted in an inadequate distribution of body composition. It is known that, among other things, the number of non-communicable diseases increases with the inadequate distribution of body composition. The aim of our study was to examine the level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) of older adults in the Mediterranean region in relation to specific body composition parameters. This study included 521 older adults with a mean age of 69.6 ± 6.3 years. Body composition was measured using the BIA 101 Anniversary device (Akern s.r.l., Florence, Italy) and adherence to the MD was assessed using the MEDLIFE index questionnaire. This study found significant differences in body composition between males and females. The mean adherence to the MD was 17.0 ± 3.3 points among the participants and there was higher adherence in females (p = 0.002, η_p² = 0.019). A multiple linear regression was performed to assess the relationship between the body composition parameters and MD. Multiple linear regression models were significant for reactance, fat mass (%), fat-free mass (%), skeletal muscle index, and total body water (%), with specific individual MEDLIFE items such as the consumption of processed meat, meat, white meat, fruit, vegetables, olive oil and limiting snacks between meals. Moreover, promising correlations were found between certain MD characteristics and BIA parameters, but the overall health effects of the MD remain unclear. Full article