Visual symptoms and control of the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Abd Rabou AN, Radwan ES. 2017. Visual symptoms and control of the Red Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Nusantara Bioscience 9: 322-329. The Red Palm Weevil –RPW (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier)(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has recently become one of the most destructive pests of Date Palms in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East. It is a serious pest threatening the Date Palm health and production, with the larva is the most destructive stage. The current study aims at introducing the visual symptoms and control techniques of the RPW in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. Field surveys and institutional visits were applied to fulfill the purpose of the study. The current study documented that first local infestation of Date Palm trees with the RPW was discovered in late 2011. The introduction of infected offshoots from Egypt through earth tunnel trade and the ability of the adult RPW to fly long distance and cross borders seem to be main causes of the local infestations with the pest. Different control techniques have been adopted by the responsible parties to combat the RPW; with the integrated pest management (IPM) program was tracked and respected. Finally, the study recommends the cooperation of different parties and authorities to adopt appropriate policies to eliminate the RPW and to support farmers with the necessary pesticides and equipment to control this painful pest

Dual mode nanoparticles: CdS coated iron nanoparticles

Reverse micelles can be used in a sequential fashion to make core-shell nanoparticles. Using this technique it is possible to make a magnetic quantum dot, by coating an iron core with a cadmium sulfide shell. Transmission electron microscopy indicated core-shell morphology and narrow size distribution of the obtained particles. Collectively, x-ray powder diffraction and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verified the presence of cadmium sulfide on the surface of the nanoparticles. Optical properties of the coated particles were demonstrated using fluorescence spectroscopy. A vibrating sample magnetometer was used to determine magnetic properties. Dual mode cadmium sulfide coatediron core-shell nanoparticles make unique candidates for the use in biomedical applications

Synthesis And Characterization Of PVP Based Catalysts For Selected Application In Catalysis

This research aims to study the catalyst activity in specific reactions and the characteristics of the catalyst in order to optimize its performance. This research investigates PVP based catalysts and their properties and applications. PVP was prepared in combination with different metal oxides in order to be tested for different catalytic applications including dye removal. Methyl orange was used as a dye and different concentrations were tested against different metallic ions in order to optimize the catalyst for being used in dye removal applications. Spectrophotometer was used to calculate the concentration of the dye before and after catalyst exposure and investigate the relation between contact time and concentrations. Applying different contact time to the same weight percent of PVP based catalyst with metallic ions revealed that increasing the contact time with a good shaking lead to decrease in the concentration of the dye mixed with the sample. The tests showed that the mixture between PVP and Nickel has the best dye removal within the other metal ions (copper and ferric) as well it showed that ferric has the least effect on dye removal. Wide angle x-ray diffraction (WA-XRD) was applied to different sample copper with PVP and ferric with PVP

Wastewater Reclamation in Major Jordanian Industries: A Viable Component of a Circular Economy

Water scarcity remains the major looming challenge that is facing Jordan. Wastewater reclamation is considered as an alternative source of fresh water in semi-arid areas with water shortage or increased consumption. In the present study, the current status of wastewater reclamation and reuse in Jordan was analyzed considering 30 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The assessment was based on the WWWTPs’ treatment processes in Jordan, the flowrates scale, and the effluents’ average total dissolved solid (TDS) contents. Accordingly, 60% of the WWTPs in Jordan used activated sludge as a treatment technology; 30 WWTPs were small scale (<1 × 104 m3/day); and a total of 17.932 million m3 treated wastewater had low TDS (<1000 ppm) that generally can be used in industries with relatively minimal cost of treatment. Moreover, the analysis classified the 26 million m3 groundwater abstraction by major industries in Jordanian governorates. The results showed that the reclaimed wastewater can fully offset the industrial demand of fresh water in Amman, Zarqa, and Aqaba governorates. Hence, the environmental assessment showed positive impacts of reclaimed wastewater reuse scenario in terms of water depletion (saving of 72.55 million m3 groundwater per year) and climate change (17.683 million kg CO2Eq reduction). The energy recovery assessment in the small- and medium-scale WWTPs (<10 × 104 m3/day) revealed that generation of electricity by anaerobic sludge digestion equates potentially to an offset of 0.11–0.53 kWh/m3. Finally, several barriers and prospects were put forth to help the stakeholders when considering entering into an agreement to supply and/or reuse reclaimed water

Wolbachia infection can bias estimates of intralocus sexual conflict

This is the final version. Available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.Males and females share most of their genome and develop many of the same traits. However, each sex frequently has different optimal values for these shared traits, creating intralocus sexual conflict. This conflict has been observed in wild and laboratory populations of insects and affects important evolutionary processes such as sexual selection, the maintenance of genetic variation, and possibly even speciation. Given the broad impacts of intralocus conflict, accurately detecting and measuring it is important. A common way to detect intralocus sexual conflict is to calculate the intersexual genetic correlation for fitness, with negative values suggesting conflict. Here, we highlight a potential confounder of this measure—cytoplasmic incompatibility caused by the intracellular parasite Wolbachia. Infection with Wolbachia can generate negative intersexual genetic correlations for fitness in insects, suggestive of intralocus sexual conflict. This is because cytoplasmic incompatibility reduces the fitness of uninfected females mated to infected males, while uninfected males will not suffer reductions in fitness if they mate with infected females and may even be fitter than infected males. This can lead to strong negative intersexual genetic correlations for fitness, mimicking intralocus conflict. We illustrate this issue using simulations and then present Drosophila simulans data that show how reproductive incompatibilities caused by Wolbachia infection can generate signals of intralocus sexual conflict. Given that Wolbachia infection in insect populations is pervasive, but populations usually contain both infected and uninfected individuals providing scope for cytoplasmic incompatibility, this is an important consideration for sexual conflict research but one which, to date, has been largely underappreciated.Royal SocietyLeverhulme TrustNatural Environment Research CouncilNarodowe Centrum Nauk

Clinical and genetic spectrum in 33 Egyptian families with suspected primary ciliary dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder of motile cilia dysfunction generally inherited as an autosomal recessive disease. Genetic testing is increasingly considered an early step in the PCD diagnostic workflow. We used targeted panel next generation sequencing (NGS) for genetic screening of 33 Egyptian families with highly clinically suspected PCD. All variants prioritized were Sanger confirmed in the affected individuals and correctly segregated within the family. Targeted NGS yielded a high diagnostic output (70%) with bi‐allelic mutations identified in known PCD genes. Mutations were identified in 13 genes overall, with CCDC40 and CCDC39 the most frequently mutated genes among Egyptian patients. Most identified mutations were predicted null effect variants (79%) and not reported before (85%). This study reveals that the genetic landscape of PCD among Egyptians is highly heterogeneous, indicating that a targeted NGS approach covering multiple genes will provide a superior diagnostic yield than Sanger sequencing for genetic diagnosis. The high diagnostic output achieved here highlights the potential of placing genetic testing early within the diagnostic workflow for PCD, in particular in developing countries where other diagnostic tests can be less available

Estrategias metodológicas para desarrollar la compresión lectora en los estudiantes de cuarto grado, de la escuela Rafaela Herrera, del departamento de Granada, municipio de Diriomo durante los meses de Enero-Abril 2019

El presente trabajo de investigación es un estudio descriptivo –interpretativo de las estrategias metodológicas para desarrollar la comprensión lectora en los niños y niñas de Cuarto Grado del Colegio Público Rafaela Herrera, ubicado en el municipio de Diriomo, del Departamento de Granada, durante el primer periodo evaluativo del año 2019. Para llevar a cabo este estudio, el equipo de investigación abordo las estrategias aplicadas por la docente y los niveles de comprensión lectora que poseen los estudiantes, se evaluaron los diferentes datos obtenidos mediante la aplicación de instrumentos y finalmente se identificó la causa del problema estudiado. Esta investigación se trabajó bajo un enfoque cualitativo, porque a través de este ha sido posible la captación descriptiva de datos vinculados con los procesos psíquicos, actividades explicitas protagonizadas por miembros activos inmersos en un ambiente social que indudablemente incide en la dimensión psicoactiva de cada persona perteneciente al escenario de investigación. Para tal captación se usaron instrumentos tales como: guía de entrevista a subdirectora, docente y estudiantes, prueba diagnóstica a estos últimos y guía de observación de clases. Entre los principales hallazgos podemos mencionar que la docente aplica pasos de comprensión lectora, como lo son: Lectura silenciosa por el alumno. Lectura oral. Lectura dirigida por los alumnos. Vocabulario desconocido por contexto y uso del diccionario En cuanto a los niveles de comprensión lectora que poseen los estudiantes de cuarto grado han alcanzado el nivel literal de comprensión lectora en su mayoría, y el nivel inferencial en su minoría. Actualmente no han logrado llegar al nivel crítico, según resultados de la prueba diagnóstica. Entre las dificultades que presentan los estudiantes en el desarrollo de la comprensión lectora se encuentran Decodificación poco satisfactoria Irrespeto a los signos de puntuación Limitación de vocabulario Hábito nulo de lectura Poca capacidad para resumir textos Lectura Silábica Comprensión nula o parcial del texto Timidez en la participación de la lectura Con base en los resultados, se elaboraron recomendaciones dirigidas al uso de estrategias metodológicas funcionales, tanto para el grupo estudiantil como para la docente implicada en el fenómeno estudiad

Sexual selection drives the evolution of male wing interference patterns.

This is the author accepted manuscriptThe seemingly transparent wings of many insects have recently been found to display unexpected structural coloration. These structural colours (wing interference patterns: WIPs) may be involved in species recognition and mate choice, yet little is known about the evolutionary processes that shape them. Furthermore, to date investigations of WIPs have not fully considered how they are actually perceived by the viewers' colour vision. Here, we use multispectral digital imaging and a model of Drosophila vision to compare WIPs of male and female Drosophila simulans from replicate populations forced to evolve with or without sexual selection for 68 generations. We show that WIPs modelled in Drosophila vision evolve in response to sexual selection and provide evidence that WIPs correlate with male sexual attractiveness. These findings add a new element to the otherwise well-described Drosophila courtship display and confirm that wing colours evolve through sexual selection.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)Leverhulme Trus

The State of the Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) in the Gaza Strip, Palestine: A Questionnaire-based Study

The current study aims at documenting the trends on various aspects of the knowledge of farmers, workers and owners of Date Palm orchards regarding the state of the Date Palm sector in Deir Al-Balah region, Gaza Strip, Palestine. One hundred and fifty people (N=150) were selected randomly to fill a questionnaire especially designed to conduct this study. The results of the questionnaire survey revealed that 71.4% of the interviewed population had 3 dunum or less cultivated by Date Palms. The groundwater was the main irrigation source as claimed by 61.3% of the interviewed population; the rest depends on either rain water or reclaimed wastewater. The Hayani cultivar was grown by all respondents, though the majority ensured that the cultivation of diverse cultivars can help lower the risk of pest infestation. About two-thirds (62.0%) confirmed that the average production per a Date Palm tree was from 70 to 200 kg per year. All respondents were aware on the popular uses and industries based on Date Palm trees, and 70.0% of them produce various household products. The military operations of the Israeli occupation and the outbreak of RPW are crucial threats facing the Date Palm sector in the Gaza Strip. Moreover, 84.0% believed on advantages drawn by the Date Palm cultivation projects in the Gaza Strip to include the provision of self-sufficiency and food security, the improvement of productivity and national income and the reduction of unemployment which is an escalating problem in the Gaza Strip. Finally, the study recommends the improvement of the processes of Date Palm cultivation, production and marketing, and the cooperation of responsible parties to ensure a good sustainable development of the Date Palm sector in the Gaza Strip