RESPONSE OF SOYBEAN GROWTH TO NANO-MINERAL FERTILIZERS UNDER TWO IRRIGATION INTERVALS

During summer seasons of 2015 and 2017, a field experiment was conducted at the Research and Experimental Station (30°19′ N, 31°16′ E), Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University at Shalakan, Kalubia Governorate, Egypt, to investi-gate the effects of combinations between hydroxyl apatite nanoparticles (0, 3, and 6 kg/fad) and cal-cium carbonate nanoparticles (0, 500g/fad) as nano-fertilizers under irrigaton intervals, (irrigation every 2 or 3 weeks whereas irrigation every 2 weeks as a recommended practice) on growth of soybean plants. Irrigation intervals had statistically significant effect on plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of pods per plant, number of root nodules per plant, root dry weight per plant, stem dry weight per plant, leaves dry weight per plant and pods dry weight per plant. These results were fairly true in the two studied seasons 2015, 2017 and combined result. plant height, numbers of branches per plant, numbers of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of nodules per plant and number of pods per plant of soybean plants which treated with 500 g/fed surpassed untreated plants in the two studied seasons 2015, 2017 and com-bined. Soybean plants treated with 6 kg hydroxyl apatite nanoparticles per feddan out-numbered other plants in its numbers of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of root nodules per plant and number of pods per plant in the two growing sea-sons 2015, 2017 and combined data. Results showed that normal irrigation x 500g/fed calcium carbonate nanoparticles x 6kg/fed hydroxyl apatite nanoparticles was the effective combination for producing the highest values of plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area index, number of pods per plant, number of root nodules per plant, root dry weight per plant (g), stem dry weight per plant (g), leaves dry weight per plant (g) and pods dry weight per plant (g). There weren’t significant results be-tween plants treated with nano-mineral fertilizers under irrigation every 3 week and plants untreated but irrigated every 2 week in all growth traits, which reflect appositive result of this chemical substance in mitigation harmful effect of water shortage in season 2015, 2017 and combined data

Mitigation Measures for Gaza Coastal Erosion

Coastal erosion is an ongoing hazard affecting Gaza beach, but is worsening due to a wide range of human activities such as the construction of Gaza fishing harbor in 1994-1998. The net annual alongshore sediment transport is about 190×103 m3, but can vary significantly depending on the severity of winter storms. According to the observed wave heights and directions, the net waves are cross-shore, therefore vast quantities of sediments may transfer to deep sea. The main objective of this study is to mitigate the erosion problem of Gaza coast. Change detection analysis was used to compute the spatial and temporal change of Gaza shoreline between 1972 and 2010. The results show negative rates in general, which means that the erosion was the predominant process. Gaza fishing harbor caused a serious damage to the Beach Camp shoreline. Consequently, several mitigation measures were considered in this study, which are: relocation of Gaza fishing harbor to offshore, groins, detached breakwaters, wide-crested submerged breakwaters and beach nourishment. Several numerical model tests associated with coastal structures are conducted to investigate the influence on morphodynamics. The results show that the relocation of the harbor is the best alternative to stop trapping of the sediments. If for any reason the relocation was not carried out, the wide-crested submerged breakwater alternative is an effective structure for preventing sandy beach erosion. The artificial reef type of submerged breakwaters with beach nourishment is recommended for Gaza beach, because it is an environmentally friendly and improving the ecosystem of marine life

Wild mammals in the Gaza Strip, with particular reference to Wadi Gaza

Mammalian fauna are considered good indicators of the degree of anthropogenic disturbance to the various ecosystems. Many mammalian species disappeared in the Gaza Strip during the last 5-6 decades and no efforts have been made to stop such disappearance. The present work aims at surveying the remnant wild mammals in the Gaza Strip; particularly in Wadi Gaza as a natural area. A total number of 15 mammalian species belonging to 5 orders and 11 families were recorded. Most mammalian species were of small sizes and residents. Seven disappeared mammalian species were mentioned by locals. The causes of disappearance were mostly anthropogenic and included the limited area of the Gaza Strip, over-population, residential and agricultural encroachment on the expense of natural areas and the over-exploitation of natural resources of which hunting was and stills a common practice threatening wildlife. The Israeli Occupation is still adversely affecting wildlife ecology in the area. Finally, the authors recommend improving cooperation of different parties to enhance the public awareness and to implement environmental laws and legislations to conserve nature and to protect wildlife

Gene expression of IQGAPs and Ras families in an experimental mouse model for hepatocellular carcinoma: a mechanistic study of cancer progression

IQGAPs genes play critical role in either induction or suppression of cancer and its progression, however the relationship between Ras genes and these genes are still unclear. In this study, we tried to understand the mechanistic action of IQGAPs genes and its correlation with Ras genes in mouse hepatic cancer model. The genetic expressions of IQGAP1, IQGAP2, IQGAP3, Hras, Kras, Nras, Mras, Caspase3, and BAX were followed in both hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver cells of Balbc mice. Genotoxic agent diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatic cancer model was induced in male mice and recorded the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma by morphological and histological changes in the liver. It was observed that mRNA expressions of IQGAP1, Hras, Kras, Nras, Mras, Caspase3, and BAX genes were highly elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma cells when compared with normal liver cells, additionally their expressions increased by concentrating the dose of DEN. While, the expressions of IQGAP2 and IQGAP3 were significantly decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma cells when compared with normal liver cells, as well as their expressions decreased more with increasing the dose of DEN. It was concluded from this study that IQGAP1 has a strong signaling relationship with Ras genes in induction of cancer and it is considered as a key gene for induction or suppression of the hepatocellular carcinoma

The Palestinian Terrestrial Vertebrate Fauna Preserved at the Biology Exhibitions of the Universities of the Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip (365 km2 ) of Palestine (27,000 km2 ) is home to a wealth of terrestrial vertebrate fauna. Some of these faunistic species find their ways to preservation at the local universities. Hence, the current study comes to document the Palestinian terrestrial vertebrate fauna acquired by the biology exhibitions (BEs) of Al-Azhar University, Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Aqsa University that are located at the Gaza City of the Gaza Strip. The amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals preserved at BEs of the universities in question were surveyed and scientifically classified during a three-month period extending from January to March, 2012. The study showed that all BEs of local universities are underdeveloped, lacking attention and suffer from specimen scarcity and good preservation. The BE at Al-Azhar University is the best in the arrangement and preservation of bird specimens. A total number of 200 specimens belonging to 54 terrestrial vertebrate fauna species, 39 families and 17 orders was recorded at BEs. Reptiles constituted 40.7% of the total species recorded, followed by birds (38.9%), mammals (14.8%) and amphibians (5.6%). The Islamic University of Gaza was considered the best in terms of the number of preserved species (39.8%), followed by Al-Azhar University (36.3%) and Al-Aqsa University (23.9%). The Common Toad (Bufo viridis) was the most preserved among the amphibian species recorded. Squamata was the biggest reptilian order, comprising 20 species (8 lizards and 12 snakes), with the Syrian Black Snake (Coluber jugularis asianus) was the commonest. The Palestine Viper (Vipera palaestinae) is endemic to Palestine and most venomous and dangerous to human health. The Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) was the largest Palestinian bird preserved at BE of Al-Azhar University. The Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) and the Common Badger (Meles meles) were the biggest mammalian specimens preserved, while the Palestine Mole-rat (Spalax leucodon ehrenbergi) was the only Palestine endemic species encountered among the preserved mammals. Finally, the improvement of BEs of local universities and the construction of a Central Museum of Natural History is highly recommended in order to change the Palestinians’ attitudes toward a sustainable ecological conservation in the Gaza Strip

Novel molecular approach to define pest species status and tritrophic interactions from historical Bemisia specimens

Museum specimens represent valuable genomic resources for understanding host-endosymbiont/parasitoid evolutionary relationships, resolving species complexes and nomenclatural problems. However, museum collections suffer DNA degradation, making them challenging for molecular-based studies. Here, the mitogenomes of a single 1912 Sri Lankan Bemisia emiliae cotype puparium, and of a 1942 Japanese Bemisia puparium are characterised using a Next-Generation Sequencing approach. Whiteflies are small sap-sucking insects including B. tabaci pest species complex. Bemisia emiliae’s draft mitogenome showed a high degree of homology with published B. tabaci mitogenomes, and exhibited 98–100% partial mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidase I (mtCOI) gene identity with the B. tabaci species known as Asia II-7. The partial mtCOI gene of the Japanese specimen shared 99% sequence identity with the Bemisia ‘JpL’ genetic group. Metagenomic analysis identified bacterial sequences in both Bemisia specimens, while hymenopteran sequences were also identified in the Japanese Bemisia puparium, including complete mtCOI and rRNA genes, and various partial mtDNA genes. At 88–90% mtCOI sequence identity to Aphelinidae wasps, we concluded that the 1942 Bemisia nymph was parasitized by an Eretmocerus parasitoid wasp. Our approach enables the characterisation of genomes and associated metagenomic communities of museum specimens using 1.5 ng gDNA, and to infer historical tritrophic relationships in Bemisia whiteflies.© The Author(s) 2017. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in the credit line; if the material is not included under the Creative Commons license, users will need to obtain permission from the license holder to reproduce the material. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. The attached file is the published pdf

A Synopsis and Key to the Egyptian Species of Aphytis Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Parasitoids of Diaspidid Scale Insects (Homoptera: Diaspididae)

A synopsis of the species of Aphytis occurring in Egypt and comprising nine newly recorded species being A. chilensis Howard, A. hispanicus (Mercet), A. paramaculicornis DeBach and Rosen, A. vandenboschi DeBach and Rosen, A. philippinensis DeBach and Rosen, A. africanus Quednau, A. lingnanensis Compere,  A. phoenicis DeBach and Rosen, A. aonidiae (Mercet) and A. libanicus Traboulsi. A key is given to these species

Parasitism of Siphoninus phillyreae (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) by aphelinid parasitoids at different locations in Egypt

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A New Change-Point Rank Tests

Abstract: A new rank-based test statistics are proposed for the problem of a possible change in the distribution of independent observations. We extend the two-sample test statistic o