Land use planning in the Lower Mesopotamian Plain - a problem analysis.

The Lower Mesopotamian Plain in Iraq comprises a total area of 5.5 million ha. of which 4.4 million ha. is cultivable. The present area under cultivation in any one season is estimated at 2.6 million ha. The history of land use is described. Agricultural production has declined and land use practice has changed from annual (mainly winter) cultivation to a system of fallow land rotation. This extensive system of land use is the result of water-logging, and salinity resulting from unreliable irrigation combined with inadequate drainage. Future policy for land use is outlined. It is stressed that social and organizational aspects play an important role in the process of land use planning. ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: [175.567]Throughout the centuries a general decline in agricultural prosperity and an overall shift in land use practice from annual, mainly winter, cultivation to a system of fallow land rotation is noted. This extensive system of land use is mainly the result of waterlogging and salinization due to unreliable irrigation coupled with inadequate drainage. Future policy is discussed in terms of soil and water resources, farming system, cropping intensity, cropping pattern, size of the farm area, social and organizational aspects. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

Мінливість дуже сильних дощів і сильних злив в Україні

Розглянуто міжрічну мінливість кількості випадків стихійних гідрометеорологічних явищ (СГЯ), а саме: дуже сильних дощів і сильних злив – в Україні та її регіонах у другій половині ХХ – на початку ХХІ ст. Використавши методи сезонної декомпозиції, встановлено тенденцію динаміки цих рядів протягом досліджуваного періоду. Шляхом автокореляційного та спектрального аналізів визначено циклічні компоненти у структурі рядів річної кількості випадків СГЯ та їх особливості в періоди, коли спостерігали тенденцію до зменшення і збільшення інтенсивності цих явищ.Рассмотрена межгодовая изменчивость количества случаев очень сильных дождей и сильных ливней в Украине и ее регионах во второй половине ХХ - в начале ХХІ в. Установлена тенденция динамики этих рядов на протяжении исследуемого периода. Определены циклические компоненты в структуре рядов годового количества случаев стихийных осадков (СГЯ) и их особенности в периоды, когда наблюдали тенденцию к уменьшению и увеличению интенсивности этих явлений

Distemper Outbreak and Its Effect on African Wild Dog Conservation

In December 2000, an infectious disease spread through a captive breeding group of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Tanzania, killing 49 of 52 animals within 2 months. The causative agent was identified as Canine distemper virus (CDV) by means of histologic examination, virus isolation, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis, and nucleotide sequencing. This report emphasizes the importance of adequate protection against infectious diseases for the successful outcome of captive breeding programs of endangered species

Characterization of Tryptophanase from Vibrio cholerae O1

AbstractTryptophanase (Trpase) encoded by the tnaA gene catalyzes the conversion of tryptophan to indole, which is an extracellular signaling molecule detected in various bacteria including Vibrio cholerae. Indole has been demonstrated to regulate biofilm formation, drug resistance, plasmid maintenance and spore formation of bacteria. In the present study, the tnaA gene from V. cholerae O1 (VcTrpase) was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) tn5:tnaA (a Trpase-deficient competent). VcTrpase was purified by Ni2+-NTA chromatography. The obtained VcTrpase had a molecular mass of approximately 49 kDa, a specific activity of 3 U/mg protein, and absorption peaks at 330 and 435nm. Using a site-directed mutagenesis technique, replacement of Arg419 by Val resulted in a VcTrpase completely devoid of activity. Thus, this site can be a target for drug design for controlling V. cholerae

Species-Specific and Distance-Dependent Dispersive Behaviour of Forisomes in Different Legume Species

Forisomes are giant fusiform protein complexes composed of sieve element occlusion (SEO) protein monomers, exclusively found in sieve elements (SEs) of legumes. Forisomes block the phloem mass flow by a Ca2+-induced conformational change (swelling and rounding). We studied the forisome reactivity in four different legume species—Medicago sativa, Pisum sativum, Trifolium pratense and Vicia faba. Depending on the species, we found direct relationships between SE diameter, forisome surface area and distance from the leaf tip, all indicative of a developmentally tuned regulation of SE diameter and forisome size. Heat-induced forisome dispersion occurred later with increasing distance from the stimulus site. T. pratense and V. faba dispersion occurred faster for forisomes with a smaller surface area. Near the stimulus site, electro potential waves (EPWs)—overlapping action (APs), and variation potentials (VPs)—were linked with high full-dispersion rates of forisomes. Distance-associated reduction of forisome reactivity was assigned to the disintegration of EPWs into APs, VPs and system potentials (SPs). Overall, APs and SPs alone were unable to induce forisome dispersion and only VPs above a critical threshold were capable of inducing forisome reactions

Structural and functional characterization of the alanine racemase from Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The conversion of l-alanine (L-Ala) into d-alanine (D-Ala) in bacteria is performed by pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzymes called alanine racemases. D-Ala is an essential component of the bacterial peptidoglycan and hence required for survival. The Gram-positive bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor has at least one alanine racemase encoded by alr. Here, we describe an alr deletion mutant of S. coelicolor which depends on D-Ala for growth and shows increased sensitivity to the antibiotic d-cycloserine (DCS). The crystal structure of the alanine racemase (Alr) was solved with and without the inhibitors DCS or propionate, at 1.64 Å and 1.51 Å resolution, respectively. The crystal structures revealed that Alr is a homodimer with residues from both monomers contributing to the active site. The dimeric state of the enzyme in solution was confirmed by gel filtration chromatography, with and without L-Ala or d-cycloserine. The activity of the enzyme was 66 ± 3 U mg−1 for the racemization of L- to D-Ala, and 104 ± 7 U mg−1 for the opposite direction. Comparison of Alr from S. coelicolor with orthologous enzymes from other bacteria, including the closely related d-cycloserine-resistant Alr from S. lavendulae, strongly suggests that structural features such as the hinge angle or the surface area between the monomers do not contribute to d-cycloserine resistance, and the molecular basis for resistance therefore remains elusive.Macromolecular Biochemistr

The clinical relevance of an inflamed appendix in Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS An appendectomy for appendiceal inflammation has been suggested to ameliorate the clinical course of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC). In contrast, for Crohn's disease (CD) an inverse association has been suggested with a higher incidence of CD and worse prognosis after appendectomy. The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical relevance of an inflamed appendix in CD patients undergoing ileocoecal resection (ICR). METHODS All consecutive patients undergoing primary ICR between 2007 and 2018 were considered for inclusion. Microscopic data of available appendiceal resection specimens (n=99) were revised by a dedicated IBD-pathologist and scored as inflamed or not inflamed. Eighteen patients had a previous appendectomy. Pathological findings were correlated with disease characteristics and recurrence rates (clinical, endoscopic and intervention-related). RESULTS In total, 117 patients were included: 77 (65.8%) females with a median age of 30 years [IQR 24 - 43] with a median follow up of 102 months [IQR 76-114]. Of patients without previous appendectomy (n=99), 39% had an inflamed appendix. No significant differences in disease characteristics (e.g. disease location, behaviour, time to surgery) or prognosis could be demonstrated between the two groups. In contrast, previous appendectomy (n=18) was associated with penetrating disease and numerically shorter disease duration at the time of resection. Furthermore, a trend was seen towards a stronger association with postoperative recurrence. CONCLUSION The current study could not confirm a different prognosis for CD patients with and without an inflamed appendix. In contrast, in patients with a previous appendectomy a trend was seen towards increased postoperative recurrence, which might be related to the higher incidence of penetrating disease

Obesity is underestimated using body mass index and waist-hip ratio in long-term adult survivors of childhood cancer

Objective: Obesity, represented by high body mass index (BMI), is a major complication after treatment for childhood cancer. However, it has been shown that high total fat percentage and low lean body mass are more reliable predictors of cardio