Drainage Design in the Gharb Plain in Morocco

The Gharb plain in Morocco faces both problems of excesswinter rainfall and salinity hazards due to a shallow,permanent and saline groundwater. A large area of 80.000 hahas been equipped with subsurface drains out of a totalplanned area of 200.000 ha. This system has been designedwithout any local references and has encountered severalmaintenance problems mainly caused by high drain depths.A pilot experiment has been installed to provide drainagedesign criteria appropriate to the local conditions. Mainexperimental results based on water and salinity balance andon groundwater flow are presented in the paper. They show thatin the Gharb plain, drainage systems should be designed fromwinter drainage design criterion. The paper also stresses onthe particular attention to paid to the surface drainage whichremove about 40% of the excess water.     

Do woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidea) produce endogenous cellulases?

In studies on digestive processes and microorganisms in the gut of the common woodlouse, Porcellio scaber (Isopoda: Oniscidea), we observed marked contradictions between the activity of cellulolytic enzymes and the number of microorganisms. The anterior hindgut exhibited the highest cellulolytic activity, but was characterized by low microbial counts. Due to the presence of endosymbiotic bacteria in the midgut lobes that appear to produce cellulases, we suggest that the cellulases that are active in the hindgut of woodlice are of endogenous origin. Received: 4 April 1997     

Does leaf litter quality influence population parameters of the common woodlouse, Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda)?

Population parameters (mortality of females, reproductive success, longevity of juveniles) of the common woodlouse, Porcellio scaber (Isopoda, Oniscidea), were examined with respect to the influence of varying leaf litter attributes: pH level, microbial cellulase activity, microbial dehydrogenase activity, protein content, nitrogen content, water content, tannin content, total phenol content and toughness of the leaves. These attributes were combined by using Principal Component Analysis. We obtained three Principal Components (PC) that were defined as “acidification,”“microorganisms” and “tree species.” The PCs explained 85% of the variance of leaf litter attributes. The PC “acidification” mainly influenced the mortality of females (P<0.001), while the longevity of juveniles showed significant correlation to the PC “microorganisms” (P<0.05). The PC “tree species” showed no influence on the observed population parameters, indicating that the leaf litter species itself had no direct influence on the population parameters of P. scaber. The reproductive success of females could not be explained by either of the PCs, but was influenced by cellulolytically active microorganisms (P<0.01). From these results, we conclude that acidification and reduced microbial activity in the field will cause a decrease in population density of P. scaber. Received: 30 July 1996     

Parameter sensitivity and field evaluation of SIDRA model

The simulation model SIDRA is based on a semi-analytical and semi-numerical solution to the Boussinesq equation. It has been developed on the ground of theoretical and field experimental results with the aim of a good prediction of both drainage peak and recession flow rates. Theoretical aspects and basic equations of the model are presented for the most general case where both soil physical properties and water table shapes are depth-dependent. The parameter sensitivity and field performances of the model are estimated in shallow loamy soils facing a seasonal waterlogging during winter season in France. Water table shape factors are the most sensitive parameters. Drainable porosity is slightly more sensitive than hydraulic conductivity for drainflow rate prediction whereas hydraulic conductivity is slightly more sensitive for water table elevation prediction. A comparison of experimental and simulated long term discharge and water table exceedance duration curves shows that the model could be a useful tool to assess the performances and control the relevance of a given subsurface drainage design.

---

Résumé Le modèle de simulation SIDRA est basé sur une résolution semi-analytique et semi-numérique de l'équation de Boussinesq. Il a été développé à partir d'une approche théorique et de l'analyse de résultats d'expérimentations de terrain avec pour principal objectif d'atteindre une bonne prédiction des débits de pointe et de tarissement. Les principales équations du modèles sont présentées dans leur forme la plus générale qui permet de prendre en compte des propriétés hydrodynamiques et des formes de nappe dépendantes de la profondeur. L'étude de sensibilité aux paramètres et l'évaluation des performances du modèle sont réalisées dans le cas de sols limoneux peu profonds, sur la période hivernale où se manifeste l'engorgement des sols en France. Le modèle est très sensible aux variations des facteurs de forme de nappe. Concernant les paramètres hydrodynamiques, les débits simulés sont plus sensibles aux variations de la porosité de drainage qu'à celles de la conductivité hydraulique. A l'inverse les hauteurs de nappe simulées sont plus sensibles aux variations de conductivité hydraulique. Une comparaison sur une longue période des fréquences de dépassement de débits et hauteurs de nappe, simulées et observées, montre que le modèle peut constituer un bon outil de contrôle de l'efficacité d'un réseau de drainage et de son dimensionnement.

     

Crystal structure of the potassium channel KirBac1.1 in the closed state

The KirBac1.1 channel belongs to the inward-rectifier family of potassium channels. Here we report the structure of the entire prokaryotic Kir channel assembly, in the closed state, refined to a resolution of 3.65 angstroms. We identify the main activation gate and structural elements involved in gating. On the basis of structural evidence presented here, we suggest that gating involves coupling between the intracellular and membrane domains. This further suggests that initiation of gating by membrane or intracellular signals represents different entry points to a common mechanistic pathway.     

GlyR alpha3: an essential target for spinal PGE2-mediated inflammatory pain sensitization

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a crucial mediator of inflammatory pain sensitization. Here, we demonstrate that inhibition of a specific glycine receptor subtype (GlyR alpha3) by PGE2-induced receptor phosphorylation underlies central inflammatory pain sensitization. We show that GlyR alpha3 is distinctly expressed in superficial layers of the spinal cord dorsal horn. Mice deficient in GlyR alpha3 not only lack the inhibition of glycinergic neurotransmission by PGE2 seen in wild-type mice but also show a reduction in pain sensitization induced by spinal PGE2 injection or peripheral inflammation. Thus, GlyR alpha3 may provide a previously unrecognized molecular target in pain therapy.     

Galileo magnetometer measurements: a stronger case for a subsurface ocean at Europa

On 3 January 2000, the Galileo spacecraft passed close to Europa when it was located far south of Jupiter's magnetic equator in a region where the radial component of the magnetospheric magnetic field points inward toward Jupiter. This pass with a previously unexamined orientation of the external forcing field distinguished between an induced and a permanent magnetic dipole moment model of Europa's internal field. The Galileo magnetometer measured changes in the magnetic field predicted if a current-carrying outer shell, such as a planet-scale liquid ocean, is present beneath the icy surface. The evidence that Europa's field varies temporally strengthens the argument that a liquid ocean exists beneath the present-day surface.