Search

Of the hundreds of thousands of people that formed the huge migratory flow of the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, many are currently living in refugee camps, at times without basic conditions. This research aims to describe the lived experience of these people and amplify their voices. In order to pursue this goal, we conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with asylum seekers accomodated in the Kara Tepe refugee camp but who had also had experience of life in Moria refugee camp (both camps are in Greece). We complemented these data with participant observations carried out in the Kara Tepe refugee camp and some visits at the surroundings of Moria camp. Our results highlight a much worse experience of asylum seekers in Moria refugee camp if compared to asylum seekers’ experience in Kara Tepe, with reports of overcrowding, hunger, lack of hygiene, poor healthcare, insecurity and violence. The psychological impact of the high number of adversities affecting people living under these circunstances also stood out, with evidence of distress experienced. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings in terms of policy change.

Since 2012, kiwifruit vine decline syndrome (KVDS) has severely compromised all major kiwifruit-growing areas in Italy. Thus far, etiological studies were mainly focused on waterlogging effects or on the isolation of microorganisms from diseased plants; therefore, an all-encompassing picture of KVDS microbiota is still missing. This work aims to describe oomycete and fungal communities associated with KVDS and to identify key taxa potentially involved in the disease through a metabarcoding approach on root endosphere and rhizosphere samples. Two nearby fields with similar pedoclimatic conditions were identified based on KVDS spreading during a 4-year survey (2016 to 2019). In total, four sampling areas were selected, one from the control field with no sign of KVDS (asymptomatic site) and three from the KVDS-affected field (diseased site): (i) asymptomatic until the sampling date in 2018, (ii) symptomatic since 2018, and (iii) symptomatic since 2017. Total genomic DNA samples were subjected to a nested PCR approach separately targeting the internal transcribes spacer 2 regions of fungal and oomycete communities. The communities were compared in terms of α- and β-diversities, and key taxa were identified using univariate differential abundance tests. Major differences in taxa distribution were observed between samples from the different sites (asymptomatic and diseased) and were mostly linked to the oomycete community. Phytophthora sojae was the main taxa characterizing the diseased site and supposed to be involved in the disease and Phytopythium spp. were found related to the different plant health status. Finally, Dactylonectria macrodidyma, Phytopythium citrinum, and Thielaviopsis basicola were also proposed as new KVDS-related pathogens.

In this article I explore interpretations of Moria, including my own with help of the Model of the Cooperative Reader developed by Umberto Eco (1932-2016). Moria is interpreted as a reference to the Biblical Moria in the Abraham cycle, it is interpreted in light of the Latin verb morior (to die), and the Greek word μωρία (folly). These interpretative moves are scrutinized in view of Eco's model of the cooperative reader. It shows how the reader's competence (encyclopaedia) influence interpretations.

BLOG zur Moria-Debatte

BLOG zum Thema: Das konkrete Leid der Kinder in Moria und die „Wohnzimmer Ethik“

Kiwifruit production has gained great importance in Italy, becoming a strategic crop in several areas. In recent years, the Italian kiwifruit industry has been threatened by the emergence of a new, idiopathic syndrome causing a severe and rapid decline, leading to vine collapse within two years from symptom development. The main symptoms associated to this syndrome are the disappearance of feeding roots, blocking of both stele and xylem vessels, root cortex breakdown, leaf necrosis, phylloptosis, twig wilting and plant death. Kiwifruit decline affects both Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis and A. chinensis var. deliciosa. Due to the similarity with other fruit trees idiopathic diseases, such as the rapid apple decline, we propose to name this disorder as kiwifruit vine decline syndrome (KVDS). The causes of KVDS are still unknown. However, KVDS is prevalent in soils affected by waterlogging or poor aeration, suggesting a physiological origin of this disorder. In addition, our experiments suggested a role of the rhizosphere microbial community, since healthy and KVDS-affected plants show distinct bacterial and fungal communities. Phytophthora spp. and Phytopythium spp. were more frequent in symptomatic plants (58.6%) than in asymptomatic ones (19%). Moreover, Desarmillaria tabescens were found only on symptomatic plants. Inoculation of potted kiwifruit vines with those pathogens resulted in KVDS symptom development. Finally, induced waterlogging conditions increased the incidence of pathogen isolation, but not the symptom development.

Of the hundreds of thousands of people that formed the huge migratory flow of the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, many are currently living in refugee camps, at times without basic conditions. This research aims to describe the lived experience of these people and amplify their voices. In order to pursue this goal, we conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with asylum seekers accomodated in the Kara Tepe refugee camp but who had also had experience of life in Moria refugee camp (both camps are in Greece). We complemented these data with participant observations carried out in the Kara Tepe refugee camp and some visits at the surroundings of Moria camp. Our results highlight a much worse experience of asylum seekers in Moria refugee camp if compared to asylum seekers’ experience in Kara Tepe, with reports of overcrowding, hunger, lack of hygiene, poor healthcare, insecurity and violence. The psychological impact of the high number of adversities affecting people living under these circunstances also stood out, with evidence of distress experienced. We conclude by discussing the implications of our findings in terms of policy change.

While waiting for situations of crises and disasters to pass, refugees stay at sites of transition that are assumed to exist temporarily. This assumption is often unfounded, as emergency situations may last for decades. Meanwhile, the refugee camps remain and develop social and economic functions comparable to urban space. This conflict that is developed between the permanent built landscape (the city) and the temporary political status of its population (refugeehood) is a global phenomenon. A recent example is the Moria refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos. Established in 2015 for a capacity of 3000 people, the settlement today houses over 20 000 refugees and has a population density over twice as high as that of Manila, one of the densest cities on the planet. Since the Moria camp was intended to be transitory and temporary, the refugees continue to stay at a site where they neither want to stay nor are wanted. As the camp population continues to grow, food provisions and health services can’t keep up, theft and violence become common, and fatal casualties are being reported regularly. This project intends to use urban design to establish an appropriate settlement suited for housing the refugee population of Lesvos. Through a discussion of the refugee space, a design proposal is developed to provide a life with dignity for everyone living in this 'Refugee City'. M-LA

In this article I explore interpretations of Moria, including my own with help of the Model of the Cooperative Reader developed by Umberto Eco (1932-2016). Moria is interpreted as a reference to the Biblical Moria in the Abraham cycle, it is interpreted in light of the Latin verb morior (to die), and the Greek word μωρία (folly). These interpretative moves are scrutinized in view of Eco's model of the cooperative reader. It shows how the reader's competence (encyclopaedia) influence interpretations.

Il faggio (Fagus sylvatica) è una tipica specie medio-Europea; in Sicilia si rinvengono i boschi di faggio più meridionali d’Europa. La marginalità ecologica di questi boschi è particolarmente evidente nei pattern frammentati e isolati di questi soprassuoli, in prossimità del limite della vegetazione arborea e/o localizzati nelle condizioni topografiche meno favorevoli. Nel presente lavoro si mettono a confronto i parametri dendrometricostrutturali e lo stato di salute delle piante in soprassuoli delle Madonie, confrontando cedui di faggio recentemente sottoposti a pratiche di taglio e aree di controllo non trattate da tempo. Inoltre, questi aspetti sono stati messi in relazione con il gradiente topografico locale ed alla frammentazione della copertura.Sulla base delle condizioni topografiche marginali (crinali, versanti) e della frammentazione della copertura (alberi al margine/radura), i risultati mostrano chiaramente una forte riduzione dello stato di salute delle piante (maggiori danni alla corteccia e alla chioma, una percentuale più alta di alberi morti, una minore densità di rinnovazione) correlate all’intervento di taglio del ceduo. Il chiaro deperimento delle piante può determinare in futuro una minaccia crescente per queste faggete multi-marginali (per latitudine, topografia e frammentazione della copertura). Inoltre, i risultati ottenuti fanno ipotizzare che, anche se l’effetto degli interventi selvicolturali è evidente nei due gruppi a confronto (aree tagliate e aree controllo), la riduzione dello stato di salute di queste piante sia ulteriormente accelerata dagli effetti che il cambiamento climatico generale sta determinando in queste condizioni stazionali di marginalità ecologica. Il ridotto stato di salute delle piante anche nelle aree di controllo avvalora questa ipotesi. Marginal fragmented beech stands and climate change in Sicily: effects of non-sustainable traditional silviculture practices in relation to micro-topographic gradient In Sicily where the southernmost beech forests of Europe are located, beech stands show peculiar ecological, characters. The ecological marginality of these forests is particularly evident in the fragmented and isolated beech stands, near the timberline and/or located on less favourable topographic conditions. In this study we analyzed stand-structural parameters and tree health comparing recently coppice felled beech stands and control plots. Additionally, these aspects have been related also to the local topographic gradient and the cover fragmentation. Results clearly show a pronounced tree health reduction (more crown and bark damages, higher percentage of dead trees, lower seedling density) related to cut coppice, as far as to marginal topographic condition (on ridges and slopes) and stand-cover fragmentation (in clearing/border trees). The clear decreased tree health may lays an increasing future threat for these multi-marginal (for latitude, topography and cover fragmentation) beech stands. In addition, our results could also support the hypothesis that, although the silviculture effects originated by the human actions is quite evident in the two compared groups (coppice-cut and control), hastening the tree health reduction, a general climate change effect is going on these marginal beech stands. The reduced tree health status also in control plots seems to show this way.

PurposeTo determine the incidence and types of intraoperative flap complications in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) encountered with the Hansatome microkeratome and the Moria microkeratome.MethodsIn this retrospective case series, all patients with intraoperative flap complications who were treated between June 1999 and July 2008 at the Eye Consultants Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were identified and reviewed.ResultsOf the 4352 subjects who underwent bilateral primary LASIK procedure, intraoperative microkeratome complications were detected in 89 eyes of 83 patients. The overall incidence of flap complications was 89/8704 (1.00%): incomplete flaps occurred in 53 eyes (0.60%), followed by buttonhole flaps in 17 eyes (0.19%), free complete flaps in 10 eyes (0.11%), free partial flaps in 6 eyes (0.07%), sluffed epithelium in 2 eyes (0.023%), and a splitted flap (vertical flap cut) in 1 eye (0.01%). The incidence rates of intraoperative flap complications with the Hansatome microkeratome and the Moria microkeratome were 1.21% (41/3378) and 0.90% (48/5326), respectively (P=0.19). There was a statistically significant difference between the two microkeratomes with regard to the incidence of buttonhole flaps: 0.33% (11/3378) for the Hansatome microkeratome versus 0.11% (6/5326) for the Moria microkeratome (P=0.04).ConclusionGenerally, the incidence rates of intraoperative flap complications with the Hansatome microkeratome and the Moria microkeratome were similar. However, buttonhole flaps occurred more often with the Hansatome microkeratome (a type of microkeratome that produces larger flaps). The commonest complication encountered was the incomplete flap, followed by the buttonhole flap and free flap.

Carlton R Fenzl,1 Adam J Gess,2 Majid Moshirfar31John A Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 2Eye Doctors of Washington, Washington, DC, 3Cornea and Refractive Surgery Division, Department of Ophthalmology, Francis I Proctor Foundation, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USABackground: The Moria single-use adjustable depth trephine is a device that allows a goal trephination depth to be set prior to the surgical procedure.Methods: Eleven fresh human cadaveric eyes were trephined using 8.0 mm Moria single-use adjustable vacuum trephines. Prior to trephination, the average corneal pachymetry in the peripheral 7–10 mm range was obtained using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The trephination depth was set to 80% of that value. Light microscopy was used to image anteroposterior cross-sections of each corneal specimen. Digital protractor software was used to evaluate the trephination angle, depth, and length. All adequately processed specimens were included in the analysis. In addition, trephination angle data from a previous publication by Moshirfar et al were used as a comparison with those of this study.Results: Trephination analysis of depth compared with pachymetry revealed a mean of 83.7%±6.53% (95% confidence interval 79.8–87.6). Maximum and minimum trephined depths were 95.35% and 71.3%, respectively. Trephination depth compared with angular corneal thickness yielded a mean of 66.2%±4.79% (95% confidence interval 63.0–69.4). Maximum and minimum depths were 73.7% and 59.7%, respectively. Analysis of trephination angle yielded a mean of 130.2±3.57 degrees (95% confidence interval 127.8–132.61). Maximum and minimum angles were 135.5 degrees and 126 degrees, respectively. The standard deviation of the trephination angle of the Moria trephine was found to be significantly less than that of Hessburg-Barron and Hanna trephines calculated in the previous study.Conclusion: The Moria adjustable vacuum trephine is an accurate method of trephination when a specific depth is desired. Further investigation is needed to determine the relevance of this in relation to deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty.Keywords: trephine, Moria, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, adjustable depth, vacuum

Patients and methods A total of 500 eyes of 250 patients underwent laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery using the One-Use Plus sub-Bowman’s keratomileusis head for the creation of an ultrathin LASIK flap. During the follow-up at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months, both uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity were recorded. A keratoconus screening corneal topography was carried out during the last follow-up visit. Results A total of 500 eyes of 250 myopic patients were included in this study. There were 115 male patients and 135 female patients. The mean age was 27.5 years (range: 18–44 years). The mean preoperative refractive error was −5.0 diopter sphere (DS) (range: −3 to −9 DS). The mean cylindrical error was −2.5 diopter cylinder (DC) (range: −0.75 to −4.5 DC). The mean UCVA was 0.07 (range: 0.01–0.3), and it improved to 1.0 (range: 0.8–1.25) on day 1 postoperatively. At the end of the follow-up, the mean UCVA was 1.0 and the mean best-corrected visual acuity was 1.0. The mean stromal residual bed thickness was 362 μm (range: 304–466 μm), and the mean central flap thickness was 102 μm (range: 82–120 μm). Complications were perilimbal bleeding in 15 eyes and fine irregular stromal edge cuts at the sides of the hinge in 10 eyes. There were no epithelial defects, no epithelial heaping or sliding, no irregular stromal bed surface cuts, no free caps or button holes, or incomplete flaps. Diffuse lamellar keratitis occurred in one eye of one patient, and no slipped flaps, macrostriae or microstriae, or epithelial downgrowth was seen during the follow-up period. At the end of the follow-up period none of our patients had topographic evidence of keratoconus. Conclusion The One-Use Plus sub-Bowman’s keratomileusis head is a safe and effective method for creating an ultrathin LASIK flap and allows the surgeon to treat higher errors of refraction while maintaining a higher safety margin by leaving more residual stromal tissue.

Over the past ten years, corneal transplantation surgical techniques have undergone revolutionary changes1,2. Since its inception, traditional full thickness corneal transplantation has been the treatment to restore sight in those limited by corneal disease. Some disadvantages to this approach include a high degree of post-operative astigmatism, lack of predictable refractive outcome, and disturbance to the ocular surface. The development of Descemet's stripping endothelial keratoplasty (DSEK), transplanting only the posterior corneal stroma, Descemet's membrane, and endothelium, has dramatically changed treatment of corneal endothelial disease. DSEK is performed through a smaller incision; this technique avoids 'open sky' surgery with its risk of hemorrhage or expulsion, decreases the incidence of postoperative wound dehiscence, reduces unpredictable refractive outcomes, and may decrease the rate of transplant rejection3-6. Initially, cornea donor posterior lamellar dissection for DSEK was performed manually1 resulting in variable graft thickness and damage to the delicate corneal endothelial tissue during tissue processing. Automated lamellar dissection (Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, DSAEK) was developed to address these issues. Automated dissection utilizes the same technology as LASIK corneal flap creation with a mechanical microkeratome blade that helps to create uniform and thin tissue grafts for DSAEK surgery with minimal corneal endothelial cell loss in tissue processing. Eye banks have been providing full thickness corneas for surgical transplantation for many years. In 2006, eye banks began to develop methodologies for supplying precut corneal tissue for endothelial keratoplasty. With the input of corneal surgeons, eye banks have developed thorough protocols to safely and effectively prepare posterior lamellar tissue for DSAEK surgery. This can be performed preoperatively at the eye bank. Research shows no significant difference in terms of the quality of the tissue7 or patient outcomes8,9 using eye bank precut tissue versus surgeon-prepared tissue for DSAEK surgery. For most corneal surgeons, the availability of precut DSAEK corneal tissue saves time and money10, and reduces the stress of performing the donor corneal dissection in the operating room. In part because of the ability of the eye banks to provide high quality posterior lamellar corneal in a timely manner, DSAEK has become the standard of care for surgical management of corneal endothelial disease. The procedure that we are describing is the preparation of the posterior lamellar cornea at the eye bank for transplantation in DSAEK surgery (Figure 1).

High-resolution quantitative and qualitative analyses of the planktonic foraminifer and calcareous nannofossil content have been carried out on three Middle Miocene sections, from the Mediterranean area. Such sections (Cretaccio section, Tremiti Islands, Southern Italy; Moria section, Marche Region, Central Italy; DSDP Site, 372 succession, Balearic Basin), all well known in the literature, have been chosen because of their high-quality biostratigraphic potential. Remarkable magnetostratigraphic data were provided by the Site 372 succession where all chrons and subchrons of the interval C5Br-C5AAn have been recognised. The investigated interval falls between the First Occurrence (FO) of Praeorbulina glomerosa sicana and the Last Occurrences (LO) of Sphenolithus heteromorphus and Globorotalia peripheroronda. The LO of S. heteromorphus was detected in the uppermost part of the investigated sequence of Site 372 at the same stratigraphic level as the G. peripheroronda LO. A drastic decrease in abundance of S. heteromorphus (Last Common Occurrence -LCO) was detected slightly below its last occurrence; this event is well correlatable with the same event astronomically calibrated at Ras-il Pellegrin section (Malta Island), which has been recently ratified as the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Serravallian by the International Union of Geological Sciences. The stratigraphic correlation of the studied sections is based on first and last occurrences, abundance fluctuations of selected taxa and additional biohorizons. In particular the peculiar distribution pattern of some taxa, e.g. Paragloborotalia siakensis and Helicosphaera waltrans, offered the opportunity to increase the biostratigraphic resolution of the Langhian interval. The resulting integrated calcareous plankton bio-magnetostratigraphic scheme represents the downward extension of that one previously established for the Serravallian - Tortonian interval. The biostratigraphic correlation of the studied sections with the Langhian historical Stratotype pointed out its low degree of reliability. On the other hand, none of the sections here studied is suitable to be proposed as candidate for defining the Langhian GSSP. Thus the problem of finding, in the Mediterranean area, a valid section which could yield a new GSSP for the Langhian Stage is still open.

High-resolution quantitative and qualitative analyses of the planktonic foraminifer and calcareous nannofossil content have been carried out on three Middle Miocene sections, from the Mediterranean area. Such sections (Cretaccio section, Tremiti Islands, Southern Italy; Moria section, Marche Region, Central Italy; DSDP Site 372 succession, Balearic Basin), all well known in the literature, have been chosen because of their high-quality biostratigraphic potential. Remarkable magnetostratigraphic data were provided by the Site 372 succession where all chrons and subchrons of the interval C5Br-C5AAn have been recognised. The investigated interval falls between the First Occurrence (FO) of Praeorbulina glomerosa sicana and the Last Occurrence (LO) of Sphenolithus heteromorphus and Globorotalia peripheroronda. The LO of S. heteromorphus was detected in the uppermost part of the investigated sequence of Site 372 at the same stratigraphic level of the G. peripheroronda LO. A drastic decrease in abundance of S. heteromorphus (Last Common Occurrence -LCO) was detected slightly below its last occurrence; this event is well correlatable with the same event astronomically calibrated at Ras-il Pellegrin section (Malta Island), which has been recently ratified as the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Serravallian by the International Union of Geological Sciences. The stratigraphic correlation of the studied sections is based on first and last occurrences, abundance fluctuations of selected taxa and additional biohorizons. In particular the peculiar distribution pattern of some taxa, e.g. Paragloborotalia siakensis and Helicosphaera waltrans, offered the opportunity to increase the biostratigraphic resolution of the Langhian interval. The resulting integrated calcareous plankton bio-magnetostratigraphic scheme represents the downward extension of that one previously established for the Serravallian-Tortonian interval. The biostratigraphic correlation of the studied sections with the Langhian historical Stratotype pointed out its low degree of reliability. On the other hand, none of the sections here studied is suitable to be proposed as candidate for defining the Langhian GSSP. Thus the problem of finding, in the Mediterranean area, a valid section which could yield a new GSSP for the Langhian Stage is still open., Rivista italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, Vol 114, No 1

L'attività ricerca è stata finalizzata allo studio delle diverse specie batteriche coinvolte nella moria del nocciolo e sull'efficacia di alcune applicazioni di lotta contro la malattia. In particolare sono stati analizzati, sotto diversi aspetti, ceppi di Pseudomonas avellanae e di diversi isolati appartenenti alla famiglia delle Enterobacteriaceae. Nonostante il lavoro sia focalizzato sulle specie a cui, in tempi differenti, è stata associata la malattia non sono stati trascurati ceppi batterici, con caratteristiche differenti, riscontrati frequentemente nel corso degli isolamenti. La prima fase è consistita nel reperimento di materiale sintomatico su cui è stata eseguita una serie di isolamenti. I ceppi batterici ottenuti sono stati prima sottoposti ad una serie di analisi preliminari di tipo morfologico, colturale, fisiologico e biochimico. Sono stati inoltre utilizzati nello studio isolati provenienti da isolamenti precedenti, caratterizzati in base alla determinazione del profilo degli acidi grassi. Al fine di ottenere una identificazione più rapida, è stato utilizzato il sistema BIOLOG®. In una seconda fase le informazioni a disposizione sul metabolismo delle specie oggetto dello studio sono state arricchite attraverso la determinazione di un profilo metabolico tipico delle diverse specie. L'indagine sul metabolismo è proseguita con la verifica dell'eventuale produzione di autoinduttori da parte di P. avellanae. Sono state inoltre eseguite costantemente inoculazioni sia di ceppi noti che di isolati locali su piantine di nocciolo. Nel corso del triennio sono stati inoltre eseguiti dei trattamenti in campo al fine di verificare l'eventuale efficacia di diversi formulati rameici a basso contenuto di rame nel contenimento della malattia. I ceppi batterici provenienti da materiale sintomatico confermano i risultati di isolamenti effettuati precedentemente al lavoro sperimentale, ovvero non solo microrganismi appartenenti alla specie P. avellanae, ma anche di diverse Enterobatteriaceae, Xanthomonadaceae e Pseudomonadaceae. I risultati ottenuti dal confronto dei profili nutrizionali indicano una notevole variabilità all’interno sia dei ceppi di P. avellanae che delle Enterobacteriacee saggiate. Sia i ceppi batterici, appartenenti a diverse specie, isolati localmente da materiale sintomatico che quelli noti utilizzati come controllo sembrano non essere in grado di produrre malattia al di fuori del loro areale di isolamento, o in ogni caso in mancanza di fonti di stress della pianta. Per quanto riguarda la verifica della produzione di autoinduttori è stata verificata la produzione, da parte di P. avellanae, di lattoni dell’omoserina con catena acilica coordinata, con una possibile lunghezza da sette a quattordici atomi di carbonio. Per quanto riguarda la parte inerente ai trattamenti in campo, l’efficacia dei trattamenti effettuati con i formulati rameici a basso contenuto di principio attivo, è stata analoga a quella dei prodotti a contenuto rameico maggiore. The aim of this research was to study some biological, pathogenetic and biochemical aspects of bacterial species involved in the “dieback” of hazelnut, and to verify the effectiveness of new and traditional copper compounds. First we focused our attention on the recruitment of symptomatic samples from hazelnut plants in order to isolate the causal agent by morphological, cultural, physiological and biochemical screenings. Similar tests were performed on bacterial strains previously isolated and they were characterized using fatty acids profile analysis. Moreover, Biolog™ Microlog system, that utilizes a “metabolic fingerprints”, was used for a rapid identification of bacterial isolates. Our data suggest that different species are probably involved in the disease evolution. To compare the “metabolic fingerprints” of many isolates of Pseudomonas avellanae and Enterobacteriaceae, dendrograms were generated using a modified UPGMA analysis developed by Biolog™ system. This analysis shows the wide variability of nutritional profiles inside the P. avellanae and Enterobacteriacee isolates. Afterwards we investigated the probable autoinducer molecules production by P. avellanae: as most Pseudomonadaceae also P. avellanae was able to produce N-Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) in particular AHLs with acyl side chain length from 7 to 14 carbons. During the three years, healthy, pot-cultivated hazelnut plants, were inoculated with known strains and local isolates. Both bacterial isolates of local origin and known strains seems to be not able to cause disease when inoculated far from the centre of infection or when plants were cultivated without stress conditions. At last, results of three years of field experiments, done at the municipal districts of Caprarola and Capranica, to test the efficacy of new and traditional copper compounds, usable in organic farming, and alternative copper products are reported. No differences were observed among the tested copper compounds. Dottorato di ricerca in Protezione delle piante

The Iles de Los, located near Conakry, Republic of Guinea, was a major bulking center in the slave trade from the Windward Coast of West Africa. Those prerequisites for such a center to operate included strategie location relative to sources of slaves, natural resources ofthe islands which made them self-sufficient, a well-defined system of commerce, and specified arrangements with African landlords who protected their strangers and profited from their presence. This article describes how traders on the islands engagea in commerce and those characteristics which influenced their success on the coast., Les îles de Los, situées près de Conakry en République de Guinée, étaient une plaque tournante du commerce des esclaves de la côte Windward à l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Les conditions requises pour qu'un tel endroit soit opérationnel sont un emplacement stratégique par rapport aux sources d'esclaves, des ressources naturelles sur les îles pour leur autosuffisance, un système de commerce bien défini et des arrangements spécifiques avec les propriétaires africains qui protégeaient leurs étrangers et profitaient de leur présence. Cet article décrit comment les négociants des îles se sont lancés dans ce commerce et les caractéristiques qui ont influencé leur succès sur la côte., Mouser Bruce J. Iles de Los as bulking center in the slave trade, 1750-1800. In: Revue française d'histoire d'outre-mer, tome 83, n°313, 4e trimestre 1996. pp. 77-91.