The unique NIR luminescence of the ancient pigments Egyptian Blue, Han Blue and Han Purple [1] has recently attracted significant interest because its existence allows fast identification these pigments even when present in minimal amounts and using non-destructive tools [2]. A more comprehensive study of this feature associated also to micro-imaging and compositional evaluations can be used as a mean to improve archaeometric studies about production technologies [3], giving also useful data to hint the provenance of the pigments and their trade routes. The three pigments, and especially Egyptian Blue (EB) were widely used in a large span of years and places. Indeed, EB was invented during the 4th millennium BCE [4] and until Middle Ages has been by far the most used blue pigment in all the Mediterranean Basin and the Near East. It was first produced probably in Egypt from where it has been heavily traded to many Mediterranean countries. However the technology of production evolved in time and spread in different places such as Mesopotamia and Italy [5]. EB invention is related to the development of close related materials such as pottery, bronze and especially glass and Egyptian faience. A large part of Egyptian faience is light blue (LBEF) and its color is to copper LBEF glaze and other glassy materials are intimately linked EB that they can show almost the same color and share a very similar elemental composition. The differences between EB and the outer layer of LBEF may relay mainly on the production technology used. However, from a chemical stand point the main difference is that EB has a structure made of CaCuSi4O10 (cuprorivaite) crystals embedded in an amorphous matrix rich in Na or K, while LBEF glaze and Cu-rich glasses are a glassy phase made of Si, Ca and O, rich in Na and/or K from the

The COST action “Standardising output-based surveillance to control non-regulated diseases of cattle in the European Union (SOUND control),” aims to harmonise the results of surveillance and control programmes (CPs) for non-EU regulated cattle diseases to facilitate safe trade and improve overall control of cattle infectious diseases. In this paper we aimed to provide an overview on the diversity of control for these diseases in Europe. A non-EU regulated cattle disease was defined as an infectious disease of cattle with no or limited control at EU level, which is not included in the European Union Animal health law Categories A or B under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002. A CP was defined as surveillance and/or intervention strategies designed to lower the incidence, prevalence, mortality or prove freedom from a specific disease in a region or country. Passive surveillance, and active surveillance of breeding bulls under Council Directive 88/407/EEC were not considered as CPs. A questionnaire was designed to obtain country-specific information about CPs for each disease. Animal health experts from 33 European countries completed the questionnaire. Overall, there are 23 diseases for which a CP exists in one or more of the countries studied. The diseases for which CPs exist in the highest number of countries are enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, bovine viral diarrhoea and anthrax (CPs reported by between 16 and 31 countries). Every participating country has on average, 6 CPs (min–max: 1–13) in place. Most programmes are implemented at a national level (86%) and are applied to both dairy and non-dairy cattle (75%). Approximately one-third of the CPs are voluntary, and the funding structure is divided between government and private resources. Countries that have eradicated diseases like enzootic bovine leukosis, bluetongue, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and bovine viral diarrhoea have implemented CPs for other diseases to further improve the health status of cattle in their country. The control of non-EU regulated cattle diseases is very heterogenous in Europe. Therefore, the standardising of the outputs of these programmes to enable comparison represents a challenge.

The world increasingly needs an alternative approach to economic development. This paper endorses the Integration of Knowledge (IoK) approach as the wisdom of humanity through Islamic Economics (IE). A review of relevant literature through qualitative methodologies of library research, discourse and critical content analysis highlights the civilisational practices of integration, how development of economics diverged from such practices and how heterodox approaches reacted to such divergence. A section on learning the wisdom of humanity from each other emphasizes the inevitable historical civilizational integration (IoK) and exchange of knowledge. It follows with a literature review of the development of mainstream economics, how it abandoned such historical civilizational practice and its sound foundations, namely ontology, epistemology, axiology and methodology. A highlight of heterodox economics (HE) responses reveals the alternatives to the mainstream-focused positivistic approach to economics. The inadequacy of those alternatives led us to demonstrate Muslim responses and the centrality of IE as a comprehensive alternative heterodox economic approach. The analysis shows how IE grew along Islamisation of Knowledge (IOK) as two parallel and major intellectual iṣlaḥ (reform) and tajdīd (renewal) movements. A brief review of the development of each shows the potential of IE’s IoK methodological reasoning to revive the IoK approach in economics as the wisdom of humanity. The sound IE philosophical foundations, namely ontology, epistemology, axiology and methodology, have a major impact in that process. Thus, utilising the core IoK objective within IOK together with IE contributions shape the process of overcoming problems and issues of mainstream economics. Actionable recommendations to practitioners and academics depict how the IE approach to economics could be implemented and sustained along SDGs agenda.

This conceptual paper aims to expand the notion of “farming newcomers” in Europe by also including those that we label “involuntary newcomers”, who correspond to the workforce coming unwillingly to farming for reasons associated with spatial (im)mobilities. We fully develop our aim in four steps. Firstly, we present an integrative literature review which describes how the interplay between the key concepts of the sustainable farming framework (i.e., sustained development, networked rural development, and spatial (im)mobilities) tailor the newcomers’ arrival to the farming sector. Secondly, we define involuntary newcomers, describe their profiles and list the barriers to their engagement with sustainable farming. Thirdly, we advance some implications and limitations of our work for mobility research agendas. Fourthly, we conclude with an overview of the main inputs provided by our paper. We contribute to the literature by showing that: (a) newcomers must be defined beyond land ownership; (b) involuntary newcomers are very diverse, due to trends in spatial (im)mobilities; and (c) there is a high risk of the sustainable farming framework failing to meet its ambitions if it continues to ignore involuntary newcomers (and the barriers they encounter) in sustainable forms of agriculture.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) have been reported to be present in different types of human cancers, including CRCs, where they can play a key role in the onset and/or progression of these cancers. Thus, we herein explored the prevalence of high-risk HPVs and EBV in a cohort of 94 CRC tissue samples and 13 colorectal normal tissues from the Lebanese population using polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, and tissue microarray methodologies. We found that high-risk HPVs are present in 64%, while EBV is present in 29% of our CRC samples. Additionally, our data showed that high-risk HPV types (16, 18, 35, 58, 51, 45, 52, 31, and 33) are the most frequent in CRC in the Lebanese cohort, respectively. Our data point out that HPVs and EBV are copresent in 28% of the samples. Thus, this study clearly suggests that high-risk HPVs and EBV are present/copresent in CRCs, where they could play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, further investigations using a larger cohort are needed to elucidate the possible cooperation between these oncoviruses in the development of CRC.

Aim: The objective was to formulate and characterize the nanoemulsion based on Cymbopogon citratus oil, intended for use in teeth infected root canal therapy. The investigation of the antioxidant and antibiofilm potential toward Enterococcus faecalis was aimed as well. Materials & methods: Characterization of oil (by GC/MS analysis) and nanoemulsion (by dynamic light scattering instrument), and determination of antibacterial (by microdilution assay), antibiofilm (by crystal violet assay) and antioxidant properties (by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate and thiobarbituric acid assay methods) were provided. Antibiofilm efficacy of irrigation procedure including nanoemulsion was screened on extracted teeth (by CFU counting assay). Results: Notable antibacterial and antibiofilm activity, both against forming and preformed biofilms of oil, was observed. Irrigation involved nanoemulsion showed remarkable antibiofilm potential. Both substances induced some antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Results encourage further research with the aim of application of the nanoemulsion in dental practice.

Rural youth are influenced by a wide range of uncertainties regarding their personal and professional development. Rural youth and in particular rural NEETs (Not in Employment, Education or Training) are especially vulnerable and face higher risks of labour market, social and economic exclusion. This paper aims to analyse the determinants of the dynamics of rural NEETs in three post-transitional countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia and Serbia) compared to the EU-28 average and to Ireland as an example of an established EU member state with over 50% of its population living in rural areas that can act as a benchmark for effective policy implementation to address challenges of marginalized youth, during the 2009–2019 period. The dynamics of rural NEET status and the efficiency/adaptability of regional development policies are revealed through analysis of macro and socioeconomic factors as well as specific employment-related indicators disaggregated by gender and degree of urbanisation. The comparative analysis indicates deficiencies in regional development policies among post-transitional countries and the potential to adapt modern European practices and policies for improving the rural NEETs’ position.