This thesis contributes increased knowledge about climate variability during the late Quaternary in the eastern Mediterranean. Results from a paleoclimate review reveal that regional wetter conditions from 6000 to 5400 years BP were replaced by a less wet period from 5400 to 4600 years BP and to fully arid conditions around 4600 years BP. The data available, however, show that there is not enough evidence to support the notion of a widespread climate event with rapidly drying conditions in the region around 4200 years ago. The review further highlights the lack of paleoclimate data from the archaeologically rich Peloponnese Peninsula. This gap is addressed in this thesis by the provision of new paleoclimate records from the Peloponnese. One stalagmite from Kapsia Cave and two stalagmites from Glyfada Cave were dated and analyzed for stable oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotopes. The Glyfada record covers a period from ~78 ka to ~37 ka and shows that the climate in this region responded rapidly to changes in temperatures over Greenland. During Greenland stadial (interstadial) conditions colder (warmer) and drier (wetter) conditions are reflected by depleted (enriched) δ13C-values in the speleothems. The Kapsia record covers a period from ~2900 to ~1100 years BP. A comparison between the modern stalagmite top isotopes and meteorological data shows that a main control on stalagmite δ18O is wet season precipitation amount. The δ18O record from Kapsia indicates cyclical humidity changes of close to 500 years, with rapid shifts toward wetter conditions followed by slowly developing aridity. Superimposed on this signal is a centennial signal of precipitation variability. A second speleothem from Kapsia with multiple horizons of fine sediments from past flood events intercalated with the calcite is used to develop a new, quick and non-destructive method for tracing flood events in speleothems by analyzing a thick section with an XRF core scanner. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 3: Submitted. Paper 4: Accepted.</p>

Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infection. Though effective anti-TB drugs have been available for more than 50 years, over one-third of the world’s population is exposed to TB bacterium; deaths due to TB infection occur at high frequency every day worldwide. Today, drug-resistant TB, TB/HIV co-morbidity and poor health infrastructure are major challenges worldwide, particularly in less developed countries. The primary objective of the study was to assess the progress of TB control programs in twenty-two Eastern Mediterranean Region countries toward Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) including implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course (DOTS). Also, the study was designed to explore TB/HIV co-morbidity and to assess some factors potentially associated with TB progress in the region. Secondary data, obtained from the World Health Organization, World Bank, and World Resource Institute on line databases were used. Paired samples t-test and bivariate correlation were conducted. Between 1990 and 2005, TB incidence had decreased 9%, TB prevalence had decreased 37% (statistically significant) and TB mortality had decreased 28%; nevertheless, MDG targets were not met. TB/HIV co-morbidity increased in the region especially in HIV-high burden countries. Though DOTS population coverage was increased to 94% in 2005, DOTS new smear-positive case detection rate was 61% (target 70%) and DOTS treatment success was 80% (target 85%). Thus, the 1991 Stop TB Partnership targets were not met. In spite of the progress of TB control programs in the EMR, MDGs and DOTs targets of 2005 were not obtained. Further efforts such as allocation of more resources, strengthening of TB surveillance systems, extension of drug-resistant TB and TB/HIV collaborative programs, and TB research are required to achieve MDGs by 2015 and to fully implement the new Stop TB Strategy in the region.

Reissued 13 Mar 2013 to rearrange reference list and change distribution code from F to A. / Energy and maritime-history affairs have played particularly important parts in the alignment of regional and international relations in the Eastern Mediterranean, and Turkey has played a pivotal regional role in all these matters. This study examines the role of Turkey as it explores the Middle East more generally, from World War II to the present day, asking how dynamic strategic alliances and regional relations in the Eastern Mediterranean have been regulated in terms of energy and maritime-security issues. The thesis has five chapters: Chapter II discusses the geographic, political, military, and especially economic importance of the region. Chapter III provides a historical review of energy and maritime-related crises and case studies that occurred in the Eastern Mediterranean and their effect on the alignments of strategic alliances. Chapter IV presents the current situation in the Eastern Mediterranean in terms of energy and maritime security and examines Turkey`s increasing strategic role in the region. This chapter provides information about the importance of Eastern Mediterranean hydrocarbon resources, the geopolitical importance of Turkey as an energy hub, probable energy problems in default of delimitation of the maritime area, strategic-alliance problems and the militarization of energy security. Chapter V summarizes the main analyses and presents the importance of the current geostrategic alignment of alliances in terms of energy and maritime security, and Turkey’s key role in the settlement of disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This study examines interest-formation and state-action in the Eastern Mediterranean countries of Egypt, Israel, Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus. In seeking answers to the questions on how interests of the respective countries can be explained, particularly within the area of natural gas, and possible consequences of different regional approaches, the study draws upon ideas in classical, structural, neoclassical realism and constructivism. The theoretical diversity enables the study to focus on international, state and domestic levels by way of qualitative content analysis as the selected methodology. The findings suggest that Egypt, Israel and Cyprus possess corresponding views in their regional outlook; including natural gas as a means for stability and economic growth, but also that these views contrast significantly with Turkey’s regional perspective. Additional findings show that interest-formation in all four states, despite coherence among Egypt, Israel and Cyprus, differentiates to a large degree. The chief reason is that interest-formation appears to occur within international, state and domestic levels. Regarding the second question, the study finds that the different and often conflicting regional approaches on natural gas of Cyprus and Turkey, which are based upon fundamentally different premises, pose risk for heightened tensions between both Cyprus, Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

Le projet de recherche a comme objectif de mieux saisir le commerce corinthien dans le monde grec et méditerranéen oriental en suivant le volume de ses exportations ainsi que les variations régionales et temporelles et en tentant d’en élucider les mécanismes, qu’ils soient d’origine économique, politique ou sociale. Cette étude s’appuie essentiellement sur les céramiques corinthiennes figurées diffusées pendant la plus grande partie de l’époque archaïque, du IXe siècle jusqu’au milieu du VIe siècle avant J.-C. Les céramiques géométriques, non figurées, à vernis noir et les amphores sont également mis à contribution, dans la mesure du possible, pour affiner l’étude, ainsi que les autres produits d’exportation, moins importants sur le plan quantitatif, comme les chevaux de bronze. L’ensemble des exportations est mis en parallèle avec les importations, beaucoup moins nombreuses, afin d’insérer le commerce corinthien dans le cadre plus large des échanges du monde grec et du monde méditerranéen, et de mieux comprendre la nature des relations économiques qui lient Corinthe à chacun de ses partenaires. Une comparaison avec d’autres corpus, plus amples, permet de mettre l’étude en perspective et de confirmer les grands traits de l’évolution du commerce corinthien en Méditerranée orientale. Chaque grande phase de ce commerce (géométrique, protocorinthien, corinthien) est subdivisée en treize périodes, permettant de suivre l’activité économique tout au long de treize générations d’hommes. L’étude par type de forme permet enfin de suivre l’évolution des goûts et des marchés durant toute la période archaïque / The aim of the research project is to better understand Corinthian trade in the Greek and the Eastern Mediterranean world through the analysis of its exports volume and the local and temporal variations while trying at the same time to clarify its economic, political or social mechanisms. This study is mainly based on the figured Corinthian pottery that spread during most of the Archaic Age from the 9th to the 6th century BC. The geometric pottery (non-figured) and the amphora are also used in the analysis as much as possible, to sharpen our study, as well as other exportation products less important in terms of quantities such as bronze horses. The whole of the exports is studied with the imports which were far fewer in order to put the Corinthian trade into the larger setting of the Greek and Mediterranean trade and to have a better understanding of the nature of the economic relations binding Corinth to its trading partners. A comparison with a wider corpus of documents enables us to put the study into perspective and to reinforce the broad features of the Corinthian trade in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Every big stage of this trade (Geometric, Protocorinthian, Corinthian) is subdivided into thirteen periods allowing us to follow the economic activities along thirteen generations of men. Finally, the study of each type of shapes enables us to follow the evolution of tastes and markets during the whole Archaic Age

Following its acquisition in 1204, Crete became one of Venice’s prime colonial possessions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Venice’s maritime empire was known as the Stato da mar or the Oltremare. Candia, Crete’s capital, was the island’s largest urban centre, the heart of the colony’s administration, and a thriving port. Its inhabitants included patricians sent from Venice to govern the island, noble Cretans and noble Venetians, descendants of the early Venetian colonisers, cittadini, and a host of transient residents. The city’s Jewish community was confined to the Judaica, a section of the urban expanse inside the city’s Byzantine walls. By the sixteenth-century, three centuries of Creto-Venetian co-existence had given birth to an urban society which was polyglot and multi-denominational. Cretans travelled frequently to Venice, which hosted a large Greek community after the fall of Constantinople (1453). This thesis examines aspects of Cretan identity in the sixteenth century, such as class, religion and locality. The importance of appearances in the early modern colonial context is discussed and evidence is presented of Venice’s influence on Cretan attire and the language used to describe such artefacts. Stemming from this, sumptuary legislation is examined and instances when appearances deceived and threatened social order. Sources consulted and brought to bear on the discussion include extant material records, such as embroidery, and archival and published documents, such as state and private correspondence, notarial records, costume books, maps, atlases, contemporary literature, and historical accounts of Crete. The last chapter examines aspects pertaining to Crete’s insularity: the experience of sea travel, the cartographic genre of isolarii, island-books, where Crete featured prominently, the maps of Crete’s most famous cartographer and, finally, the unpublished wills of the Regno di Candia and the island of Scio.

Earth-boring dung beetles of the genus Lethrus Scopoli, 1777 belong to the family Geotrupidae, classified into three subfamilies (Geotrupinae, Lethrinae a Taurocerastinae). The description of about 120 species, divided into nine subgenera, is based on morphology and geographic distribution. Shape of mandibles, ventral mandible processes, pronotum and structure of external male genitalia are used as diagnostic morphological characters for taxa. The richest species diversity is known from Central Asia. The distribution area reaches, in the east, up to Mongolia and China, and in the west, up to Southeast Europe. All species are robust, relatively large flightless beetles with low dispersial ability. They feed on parts of fresh plants instead of feces like other dung beetles. Master thesis is focused on the species distributed in the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Europe. This area is inhabited only by nominotypical subgenus Lethrus. The main goal of thesis is to clear up phylogenetic relationships between species of subgenus and speciation events using molecular genetic methods. We have examined 91 samples of the genus Lethrus using two mitochondrial genes - cytochrome b (382 bp, 80 sequences), cytochrome oxidase I (815 bp, 87 sequences) and nuclear gene 28S rDNA (D2-D5) (1100 bp, 11 sequences)....

No description available.

En Méditerranée orientale, la paleo-marge sud de la Téthys a subit des épisodes polyphasés d'extension pendant le Paléozoïque et le Mésozoïque. Cette marge a été postérieurement inversée pendant des épisodes compressifs et discontinus depuis le Crétacé supérieur liés à la convergence entre l'Afrique et l'Eurasie.La marge Cyrénaïque (nord-est Libye) a enregistré ces épisodes extensifs et compressifs. Elle permet donc l'analyse des inversions et de leurs relations avec les évènements ayant eu lieu le long de la frontière de la plaque Africaine (i.e. subduction Hellenique).Le bassin de Sirte, adjacent à la Cyrénaïque montre une direction oblique, ne présente pas la même déformation et est caractérisé par une subsidence continue depuis le Mésozoïque.Des données de sismique (réflexion) combinées à des rapports et des corrélations de puits, nous ont permis d'examiner et de discuter les interactions entre la Cyrénaïque, le bassin de Sirte et les domaines profonds (i.e. bassin Ionien).Ce travail permet de mieux préciser les différents épisodes d'extension, de contraindre les évènements compressifs enregistrés par la région Cyrénaïque, d'observer les structures du bassin de Sirte et de clarifier en partie son évolution.Finalement cette partie de la marge est intégrée dans le cadre géodynamique régional de la Téthys sud et permet de discuter l'âge ainsi que le mécanisme d'ouverture pour la branche orientale de la Méditerranée. / In the Eastern Mediterranean, the South-Tethys paleo-margin experienced poly-phased rifting episodes during Paleozoic and Mesozoic times. This margin has been subsequently inverted by discontinuous events occurring since the Late Cretaceous as a consequence of the Africa-Eurasia convergence.The Cyrenaica margin (northeast Libya) has recorded these extensional and compressional events. It thus gives the opportunity to analyse these inversion and their possible causal links with events occurring along the plate boundary (i.e. within the Hellenic subduction).The adjacent Sirt Basin, follows an oblique direction, did not suffer the same deformation as Cyrenaica and has recorded a continuous subsidence since the Mesozoic.Offshore seismic data combined with well correlations have permitted us to investigate and discuss the interactions between Cyrenaica, Sirt Basin and the deeper domains (i.e. Ionian Basin).We were able to document the different rift episodes, better constrain the compressional events on Cyrenaica, observe characteristics of the architecture of the Sirt Basin and clarify part of its evolution.Finally we integrate this part of the margin, in the regional geodynamic frame of the East Mediterranean branch of the Neo-Tethys by discussing the timing and mechanism which led to its opening.

Localisé à l’extrême sud-ouest de la péninsule anatolienne en Turquie, Patara était un des principaux sites portuaires de la province de Lycie antique qui maintint son importance durant la période protobyzantine. Parmi les édifices balnéaires de Patara, les bains de Hurmalik se distinguent par sa localisation à l'intersection septentrionale des routes reliant le centre-ville au port et à la porte érigée en l'honneur du gouverneur Modeste. Les bains de Hurmalik sont parmi les premiers édifices fouillés de Patara. Construit vers la fin du Ier ou début du Ile siècle, l'édifice a connu une intensive réutilisation durant la période protobyzantine. Dans le but de comprendre les différentes phases d'utilisations et de réaménagements des bains, des fouilles ont été reprises de 2005 à 2008. L'étude du mobilier céramique des saisons 2005-2008 a révélé plusieurs groupes de céramiques importées et de productions locales appartenant à la période protobyzantine. Les céramiques importées se composent des grands groupes de céramiques fines et d'amphores. En provenance d'Afrique du Nord, du Levant et de l'Egée, ces produits de consommation montrent l'effervescence du économique de la ville et dans un plus large sens, les relations commerciales et culturelles qu'entretenait la Lycie avec les régions proches ou lointaines de l'espace méditerranéen entre le IVe et la première moitié du VIIe siècle. / Located on the southwestern edge of the Anatolian peninsula in Turkey, Patara was one of the main port sites of the antique Province of Lycia which. maintained its importance during the early Byzantine period. Among the bath buildings of Patara, the "Hurmalik Hamam" is distinguished by his location at the northern intersection of the roads linking the city center with the port and the gate erected in honor of Governor Modestus. The bath was among the first excavated buildings of Patara. Constructed towards the end of the 1st to the beginning of the 2nd century, the building experienced an intensive re-use during the early byzantine period. In order to determine the different phases of use and redevelopment of the bath, excavations were carried out from 2005 to 2008. The study of the ceramic repertory of the 2005-2008 excavation seasons revealed several groups of imported ceramics and local productions belonging to the early byzantine period. Imported ceramics consist of large groups of red slip wares and amphorae. Coming from North Africa, the Levant and the Aegean, these consumer products show the economical effervescence of the city and, in a broader sense, the trade and cultural relations that Lycia bas with neighboring regions or Far from the Mediterranean area from the 4th to the first half of the 7th century.