Agricultural irrigation of vine crops from desalinated and brackish groundwater under an economic perspective. A case study in Siġġiewi, Malta.

Maltese agriculture faces great challenges due to the severe scarcity of water. Sufficient water resources, in quantity and quality, are necessary to cover the demand in the production of wine grape, one of the most important crops in Maltese agriculture. But also, economic efficiency is essential in the grape cultivation.

Heroin diffusion in the mid-Hudson region of New York State.

Aims: Prompted by the history of heroin diffusion in the United States, press reports and building on previous research into retail heroin distribution, ethnographic research was undertaken identifying and describing retail distribution and diffusion of heroin in and into medium- and small-sized towns in the mid-Hudson region of New York State.

Methods: In conjunction with fieldwork, in-depth tape-recorded interviews were conducted with recent admissions (30 days) at 28 different drug treatment facilities located in the region. Interviews were also conducted with drug counselors, narcotic officers, drug treatment administrators and the county commissioners of mental hygiene.