Response of cotton to treated domestic wastewater applied through trickle irrigation

Summary Field experiments were conducted under arid zone conditions to examine cotton response to treated domestic wastewater applied at different frequencies and emitter spacings by trickle irrigation.Row spacing was either conventional, i.e. single rows apart, or in twin rows, 0.96 m and 1.92 m apart (a twin row consists of a pair 0.35 m apart). Some treatments received the commercial rates of effluent application (around 5,500 m³/ha) as commonly practiced in the area, others received a reduced amount, 80% of the commercial rate.Maximum yield (over 7,000 kg/ha) was obtained under twin row planting, irrigated twice a week with a commercial amount of effluent. A yield of 6,040 kg/ha was obtained under twin row planting irrigated once a week or each day. Under conventional row and emitter spacing, irrigated twice a week, the yield was 6.016 kg/ha.     

马铃薯的耐盐性及干旱沙地盐水滴灌试验

马铃薯的耐盐性和盐水滴灌试验于１９９３年２月至７日在以色列内格夫盐水灌溉试验站进行。该试验灌溉水源为国家输水系统（１．２ｄＳ／ｍ）和当地深层地下水（６．２ｄＳ／ｍ），灌溉频率为每天１次、３次和６次，在试验中进行了有关生理、生长、产量以及土壤积盐的测试。根据试验结果，每天灌水１次，盐水灌溉与淡水灌溉相比产量降低１２％，而每天灌水３次和６次，盐水对产量没有明显影响。然而，盐水灌溉使块茎单重和干重率有不     

Evidence of hominin control of fire at Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel

The presence of burned seeds, wood, and flint at the Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya'aqov in Israel is suggestive of the control of fire by humans nearly 790,000 years ago. The distribution of the site's small burned flint fragments suggests that burning occurred in specific spots, possibly indicating hearth locations. Wood of six taxa was burned at the site, at least three of which are edible--live, wild barley, and wild grape.     

Seasonal changes in plasma concentrations of cecum-derived amines in clinically normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis

OBJECTIVE: To measure concentrations of amines formed in the cecum of clinically normal ponies, determine amine concentrations in plasma samples collected in spring and winter, and compare concentrations of amines and serotonin in plasma samples obtained from clinically normal ponies and ponies predisposed to laminitis. SAMPLE POPULATION: Cecal contents obtained from 10 ponies euthanatized at an abattoir and blood samples obtained from 42 adult ponies. PROCEDURE: Cecal contents were assayed for amines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Blood samples were collected at various times of the year from 20 ponies predisposed to acute laminitis and 22 clinically normal ponies. Plasma serotonin concentration was measured by HPLC, and tryptamine (TRP), tyramine (TYR), phenylethylamine (PEA), and isoamylamine (IAA) were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: 15 amines were identified in cecal contents. Plasma TRP, TYR, PEA, and IAA concentrations ranged from 10pM to 100nM in both groups of ponies. Plasma concentrations of serotonin or other amines did not differ between clinically normal ponies and those predisposed to laminitis; however, significantly higher concentrations of TRP, PEA, and IAA were found in samples obtained in the spring, compared with winter samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Various amines are found in the cecum of ponies, several of which can be detected in the plasma. Concentrations increase significantly in the spring and may reach concentrations close to the threshold for causing vasoconstriction. Release of amines from the cecum into the systemic circulation may contribute to hemodynamic disturbances in horses and ponies with acute laminitis.     

Sterols from the Madagascar sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp

The sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp. (order Dictyoceratida, Family Thorectidae) from the west coast of Madagascar (Indian Ocean) is a particularly rich source of bioactive nitrogenous macrolides. The previous studies on this organism led to the suggestion that the latter should originate from associated microsymbionts. In order to evaluate the influence of microsymbionts on lipid content, 10 samples of Fascaplysinopsis sp. were investigated for their sterol composition. Contrary to the secondary metabolites, the sterol patterns established were qualitatively and quantitatively stable: 14 sterols with different unsaturated nuclei, Δ(5), Δ(7) and Δ(5,7), were identified; the last ones being the main sterols of the investigated sponges. The chemotaxonomic significance of these results for the order Dictyoceratida is also discussed in the context of the literature. The conjugated diene system in Δ(5,7) sterols is known to be unstable and easily photo-oxidized during storage and/or experiments to produce 5α,8α-epidioxy sterols. However, in this study, no 5α,8α-epidioxysterols (or only trace amounts) were observed. Thus, it was supposed that photo-oxidation was avoided thanks to the natural antioxidants detected in Fascaplysinopsis sp. by both the DPPH and β-caroten bleaching assays.     

Parasitization ofVespa orientalis nests bySphecophaga vesparum curtis in Southern Israel (Hymenoptera: Vespidae,Ichneumonidae)

Vespa orientalis F. (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), a major pest of apiculture, indirectly disrupts pollination of fruit and vegetable crops, and constitutes a public health menace. Control methods are imperfect, labor-intensive, and entail the use of medically and environmentally dangerous chemicals. A parasitic wasp,Sphecophaga vesparum Curtis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), has been found to attack a large proportion (up to 100%) of observedV. orientalis nests in southern Israel. Within these nests, 2.5–95.1% of host cells were parasitized by three to seven individuals. Heavily parasitized nests showed considerable reductions in the proportion of queen cells.     

Derivatives of Salarin A,Salarin C and Tulearin A—Fascaplysinopsis sp. Metabolites

Derivatives of salarin A, salarin C and tulearin A, three new cytotoxic sponge derived nitrogenous macrolides, were prepared and bio-evaluated as inhibitors of K562 leukemia cells. Interesting preliminary SAR (structure activity relationship) information was obtained from the products. The most sensitive functionalities were the 16,17-vinyl epoxide in both salarins, the triacylamino group in salarin A and the oxazole in salarin C (less sensitive). Regioselectivity of reactions was also found for tulearin A.     

All-male broods of Tilapia nilotica × T. aurea hybrids

The proportion of males in single pair crosses between Tilapia nilotica females and T. aurea males was found to vary between 50 and 100%. There was no apparent influence of the T. aurea males on these proportions. In a similar test nine T. vulcani females were paired with T. aurea males, and the proportion of males in their hybrid offspring ranged between 93 and 98%. Two T. nilotica mothers of all-male hybrid broods mated with unselected T. nilotica males, and all their daughters also reproduced all-male hybrid broods when crossed with T. aurea males. The reciprocal cross of T. aurea females with T. nilotica males reproduced three males to each female offspring. Growth rate tests of the all-male T. nilotica × T. aurea hybrids, and the T. vulcani × T. aurea hybrids did not reveal heterosis.     

Recent N-atom containing compounds from indo-pacific invertebrates

A large variety of unique N-atom containing compounds (alkaloids) without terrestrial counterparts, have been isolated from marine invertebrates, mainly sponges and ascidians. Many of these compounds display interesting biological activities. In this report we present studies on nitrogenous compounds, isolated by our group during the last few years, from Indo-Pacific sponges, one ascidian and one gorgonian. The major part of the review deals with metabolites from the Madagascar sponge Fascaplysinopsis sp., namely, four groups of secondary metabolites, the salarins, tulearins, taumycins and tausalarins.