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International audience; Background: Virgin olive oil is appreciated for its particular aroma and taste and is recognized worldwide for its nutritional value and health benefits. The olive oil contains a vast range of healthy compounds such as monounsaturated free fatty acids, especially, oleic acid. The SAD. 1 polymorphism localized in the Stearoyl-acyl carrier protein desaturase gene (SAD) was genotyped and showed that it is associated with the oleic acid composition of olive oil samples. However, the effect of polymorphisms in fatty acid-related genes on olive oil monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids distribution in the Tunisian olive oil varieties is not understood. Methods: Seventeen Tunisian olive-tree varieties were selected for fatty acid content analysis by gas chromatography. The association of SAD. 1 genotypes with the fatty acids composition was studied by statistical and Bayesian modeling analyses. Results: Fatty acid content analysis showed interestingly that some Tunisian virgin olive oil varieties could be classified as a functional food and nutraceuticals due to their particular richness in oleic acid. In fact, the TT-SAD. 1 genotype was found to be associated with a higher proportion of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), mainly oleic acid (C18:1) (r = -0.79, p < 0.000) as well as lower proportion of palmitic acid (C16:0) (r = 0.51, p = 0.037), making varieties with this genotype (i.e. Zarrazi and Tounsi) producing more monounsaturated oleic acid (C18:1) than saturated acid. These varieties could be thus used as nutraceuticals and functional food. Conclusion: The SAD. 1 association with the oleic acid composition of olive oil was identified among the studied varieties. This correlation fluctuated between studied varieties, which might elucidate variability in lipidic composition among them and therefore reflecting genetic diversity through differences in gene expression and biochemical pathways. SAD locus would represent an excellent marker for identifying interesting amongst virgin olive oil lipidic composition.

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is a zoonotic disease which has emerged or re-emerged recently in Eastern Europe and Turkey. The causative agent is a virus, mainly transmitted by ticks of the species Hyalomma marginatum (Koch, 1844, Ixodida, Amblyommidae). To test potential scenarios for the control of pathogen spread, a dynamic mechanistic model has been developed that takes into account the major processes involved in tick population dynamics and pathogen spread. The tick population dynamics model represents both abiotic (meteorological variables) and biotic (hare and cattle densities) factors in the determination of processes (development, host finding, and mortality). The infection model consists of an SIRS model for the host part whereas a lifelong infectiousness was considered for ticks. The model was first applied to a zone in Central Anatolia (Turkey). Simulated dynamics represent the average reported level of infection in vectors and hosts. A sensitivity analysis to parameter value has been carried out and highlighted the role of transstadial transmission as well as acquisition of the pathogen by immature stages. Applying the model to different sites of Turkey shows different patterns in the dynamics of acarological risk (number of infectious questing adults ). This model was thereafter used to test control strategies. Simulation results indicate that acaricide treatments and decrease in hare density could have valuable effects when combined, either on the acarological risk or on the prevalence in cattle. The kind of model we have developed provides insight into the ability of different strategies to prevent and control disease spread.

Identifying main drivers and testing control strategies for CCHFV spread (vol 68, pg 347, 2016)

This chapter provides an overview of the latest trends of urban allotment gardens from a typological and spatial standpoint. Previous chapters in this book show that recently there has been a resurgence of urban gardening practices (see Chapters 2 and 3). Thus, an investigation into whether this resurgence is supported by new spatial arrangements that can circumvent the ever-rising pressure for urban development and from land values is necessary. Likewise, it is necessary to question whether planning systems are capable of accommodating higher demand for allotment gardens as a result of such resurgence. The chapter shows that, in response to rapidly changing urban conditions and planning systems that cannot reconcile speculative development with social needs, other types of urban allotments are emerging which differ from the conventional forms of the past. A number of case studies from 11 European countries collected by many researchers involved in the COST Action form the evidence base for the identification of new approaches to the design and implementation of allotment gardens which substantially differ from the conventional type on green land. Following the introduction, the chapter is organized in four sections: the first identifies urban dynamics behind the emergence of new ways to approach urban gardening, both as an activity and its spatial manifestations; the second presents a description of such emergent approaches, and the third discusses their cross-cutting and common characteristics, identifying the spatial implications for the urban context. Finally, in the conclusions we establish the need for a reframing not only of spaces suitable for urban gardening or motivations for this particular activity, but more importantly of planning and design processes, and the role of the designer as a facilitator of bottom-up initiatives

Purpose: Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an emerging zoonotic disease. The causative agent is a virus (CCHFV), mainly transmitted by ticks of the species Hyalomma marginatum in Eastern Europe and Turkey. The Turkish outbreak in 2002 is associated with a previous decline in agricultural activities that led to an increase in suitable habitats for ticks, which resulted in great exposure of humans and domestic animals to ticks. In order to test scenarios for the control of pathogen spread, we have developed a mechanistic dynamic model. Methods: Design of a model to apply to a vector-borne disease is based on coupling a population dynamics model, here applied to the tick H. marginatum, with a model of CCHFV transmission. Our model takes into account the major processes involved in tick population and pathogen dynamics. It also considers the influence of abiotic (temperature and vapour saturation deficit) and biotic factors (host, i.e. hare and cattle, densities) on disease spread. The basic reproduction number (R0) for CCHFV infection was calculated thanks to the estimation of the next-generation matrix. Using R0 as output variable, the model was thereafter used to test control strategies and especially the effect of various acaricide treatments, differing by their starting date, their duration and the number of applications. Results: Comparison with data showed that the model is able to reproduce realistically the observed dynamics for tick population and pathogen spread. Simulation results indicate that acaricide treatments could have valuable effects provided that the acaricide is applied early (day 100 in the year), regularly (at least 3 times a year) and over several years. A global sensitivity analysis for abiotic and biotic factors showed that, even though temperature has a strong impact on model outputs, host densities also play a role. Conclusions: In addition to acaricide treatment, one way to decrease pathogen spread could be to act on wildlife hosts, especially hares, for instance by isolating wildlife populations from domestic animals. Relevance: The kind of model we have developed provides insight into the ability of different strategies to control pathogen spread

An erratum to this article can be found at http://​dx.​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10493-015-9995-z. Experimental and Applied Acarology Experimental and Applied Acarology; Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is an emerging zoonotic disease. The causative agent is a virus (CCHFV), mainly transmitted by ticks of the species Hyalomma marginatum in Eastern Europe and Turkey. In order to test potential scenarios for the control of pathogen spread, the basic reproduction number (R 0) for CCHF was calculated. This calculation was based on a population dynamics model and parameter values from the literature for pathogen transmission. The tick population dynamics model takes into account the major processes involved and gives estimates for tick survival from one stage to the other and number of feeding ticks. It also considers the influence of abiotic (meteorological variables) and biotic factors (host densities) on model outputs, which were compared with data collected in Central Anatolia (Turkey). R 0 computation was thereafter used to test control strategies and especially the effect of acaricide treatment. Simulation results indicate that such treatments could have valuable effects provided that the acaricide is applied regularly throughout the spring and summer, and over several years. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis to abiotic and biotic factors showed that, even though temperature has a strong impact on model outputs, host (mainly hare) densities also play a role. The kind of model we have developed provides insight into the ability of different strategies to prevent and control disease spread and has proved its relevance when associated with field trials