Changes in Summer Irrigated Crop Area and Water Use in Southeastern Turkey from 1993 to 2002: Implications for Current and Future Water Resources

Changes in summer irrigated cropland acreage and related water use are estimated from satellite remote sensing and ancillary data in semi-arid Southeastern Turkey where traditionally dry agricultural lands are being rapidly transformed into irrigated fields with the help of water from the Euphrates-Tigris Rivers. An image classification methodology based on thresholding of Landsat NDVI images from the peak summer period reveals that the total area of summer irrigated crops has increased three-fold (from 35,000 ha to over 100,000) in the Harran Plain between 1993 and 2002. Coupled analysis of annual irrigated crop area from remote sensing and potential evapotranspiration based estimates of irrigation water requirements for cotton indicate a corresponding increase in agricultural water use from about 370 million cubic meters to over one billion cubic meters, a volume in accordance with the state estimates. These estimates have important implications for understanding the rapid changes in current agricultural withdrawals in Southeastern Turkey and form a quantitative basis for exploring the changes in future water demands in the region. For example, expansion of irrigated lands have led to a steady decrease in potential evaporation due to increased roughness and decreased humidity deficit in the Harran Plain. Assuming that the changes in future evaporation conditions will be of similar nature, water use for irrigation is expected to decrease over 40 percent in future irrigation sites. Incorporating this decrease in overall planning of the irrigation projects currently under construction should lead to improved management, and by extension, sustainability of water resources in the region

Phenotype Expression Variability in Children with GABRB3 Heterozygous Mutations.

GABRB3 gene is a recently identified gene located in 15q12 chromosome and encodes for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit beta-3 protein, which is linked to the GABAA receptor. The gene is believed to share a role in inhibitory GABAergic synapses, GABA iron-gated channel function, and possible cellular response to histamine. The β3 subunit is expressed in cerebral grey matter, thalami, hippocampi, and cerebellum, among other structures. Faulty GABRB3 function is linked to several neurological disorders and clinical syndromes. However, the spectrum of such disorders is not yet well known. We present three case reports highlighting the potentially expanding clinical phenotype and variable expression in children with mutated GABRB3 gene

Heat tolerance in a wild Oryza species is attributed to maintenance of Rubisco activation by a thermally stable Rubisco activase ortholog

• The response of photosynthesis and plant growth to short periods of supra-optimal heat was tested in rice (Oryza sativa) and two wild Oryza species from the Australian savanna, O. meridionalis and O. australiensis. The mechanism of heat tolerance in the wild species was explored, particularly focusing on the heat-labile protein Rubisco activase (RCA). • We compared leaf elongation rates, net photosynthesis and Rubisco activation state at moderate (28°C) and high temperature (45°C). Sequence analysis followed by enzyme kinetics of RCA was used to identify structural differences and thermal stability. • Oryza australiensis was the most heat-tolerant species. Rubisco activation state was positively correlated with leaf elongation rates across all three species at four times following exposure to 45°C. Oryza australiensis had multiple polymorphisms in the RCA primary protein sequence, and the protein was thermally stable up to 42°C relative to RCA from O. sativa which became inhibited at 36°C. • We attribute the heat tolerance of growth and photosynthesis in these wild species to thermal stability of RCA, enabling Rubisco to remain active. Because thermal stability of RCA in O. australiensis co-occurs with reduced enzyme specific activity, an increased RCA to Rubisco ratio is required in vivo to maintain high Rubisco activation