Seasonal and spatial trends in the sources of fine particle organic carbon in Israel,Jordan, and Palestine

A study of carbonaceous particulate matter (PM) was conducted in the Middle East at sites in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. The sources and seasonal variation of organic carbon, as well as the contribution to fine aerosol (PM_2.5) mass, were determined. Of the 11 sites studied, Nablus had the highest contribution of organic carbon (OC), 29%, and elemental carbon (EC), 19%, to total PM_2.5 mass. The lowest concentrations of PM_2.5 mass, OC, and EC were measured at southern desert sites, located in Aqaba, Eilat, and Rachma. The OC contribution to PM_2.5 mass at these sites ranged between 9.4% and 16%, with mean annual PM_2.5 mass concentrations ranging from 21 to 25 ug m^?3. These sites were also observed to have the highest OC to EC ratios (4.1–5.0), indicative of smaller contributions from primary combustion sources and/or a higher contribution of secondary organic aerosol. Biomass burning and vehicular emissions were found to be important sources of carbonaceous PM in this region at the non-southern desert sites, which together accounted for 30%–55% of the fine particle organic carbon at these sites. The fraction of measured OC unapportioned to primary sources (1.4 μgC m^?3 to 4.9 μgC m^?3; 30%–74%), which has been shown to be largely from secondary organic aerosol, is relatively constant at the sites examined in this study. This suggests that secondary organic aerosol is important in the Middle East during all seasons of the year.     

Mitochondrial DNA depletion presenting prenatally with skin edema and multisystem disease immediately after birth

We describe two newborn sisters who presented in the third trimester with diminished fetal movements and skin edema, but with no other signs of hydrops fetalis. Within hours of birth, both developed profound lactic acidemia, followed by multi-organ failure. In muscle mitochondria, the activity of all enzymatic complexes that contain mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded subunits was markedly decreased. Southern blot analysis revealed a profound reduction in the mtDNA/nuclear DNA ratio, implying mtDNA depletion. The prenatal identification of skin edema in two patients with mtDNA depletion, and its absence in a healthy sibling, suggest that skin edema should be regarded as a novel manifestation of mtDNA depletion. This finding shows that mtDNA depletion can present prenatally and, consequently, may aid the clinician in making a diagnosis, prenatally, of this genetic defect. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photosynthesis in air and in water of Acanthophora najadiformis growing within a narrow zone of the intertidal

In this work, we investigated photosynthetic gas exchange responses of the red alga Acanthophora najadiformis (collected in 1991 from a shore near Netanya, Israel) to heating, light, inorganic carbon and desiccation of the thalli. This was done to elucidate some of the contributing causes for its particular restricted vertical distribution within the lower intertidal zone of the Israeli Mediterranean rocky shore. In contrast to other common intertidal species, the photosynthetic performance of A. najadiformis was very sensitive to desiccation and to high temperature, and these factors may thus prevent the alga from growing above the surge zone. On the other hand, this species photosynthesized five times faster in air than in water (provided it was kept highly hydrated), and this may be the reason why it does not succeed in competing with other algae in the subtidal which use HCO ₃ ^- more efficiently.This paper is in partial fulfillment of a Ph.D. study by R. Einav in cooperation with the Department of Ecology, University of Bielefeld (under supervision of Prof. Dr. S. W. Breckle), under a cooperative arrangement between Tel Aviv and Bielefeld Universities     

Preparedness for anthrax attack: the effect of knowledge on the willingness to treat patients

Little is known about the factors that may impact on the willingness of physicians and nurses to treat patients during a bioterrorism attack. This survey was conducted among 76 randomly selected nurses and physicians in the emergency rooms of three public hospitals in order to analyse the relationship between knowledge, profession and the willingness to treat anthrax. The study finds that the willingness of physicians and nurses to come to work is 50% greater among the group with the highest knowledge about anthrax (P < 0.0001). Within that group, the willingness to treat patients suspected of being infected with anthrax was 37% greater (P < 0.0001) and the willingness to treat patients diagnosed with anthrax was 28% greater (P = 0.004) than in the other groups. These results imply that enhancement of knowledge among health care workers may improve their willingness to come to work and treat patients infected with anthrax during a bioterrorism attack.     

Exposure of motorcycle,car and bus commuters to carbon monoxide on a main road in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area,Israel

Short-term personal exposure of passengers in different types of motor vehicles to carbon monoxide was investigated in an intensively used main road in Israel’s Tel Aviv metropolitan area. According to monitoring stations of the Ministry for Environmental Protection (MEP), concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) along the road, at a height of 3 m above pedestrian level, in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, are currently very low. However, these measurements do not reflect the actual exposure of commuters, which were the main objective of this study. Four vehicle types/travel modes were investigated: private cars with closed windows, private cars with open windows, motorcycles, and buses. The commuter CO average exposure was the accumulative exposure divided by the duration of the sampling taken along the route, for each type of vehicles. The results showed that commuters in cars with closed windows were exposed to the highest mean CO level, 27.2 ppm, for a period of 38 min; those in a car with open windows, to 19.7 ppm for 38 min; motorcycle riders, to 12.8 ppm, for 17 min; and bus users were exposed to the lowest mean pollution level, of only 3.6 ppm, for 25 min. Thus, CO values of 1 to 3 ppm, as measured at an MEP adjacent monitoring station, may indicate the exposure to CO pollution of area residents, but do not represent the actual exposure of commuters on the congested main road.     

Prenatal diagnosis of familial congenital pyloric atresia

Familial congenital pyloric atresia is a rare malformation of the fetal gastrointestinal tract. It usually manifests as maternal polyhydramnios and enlarged fetal stomach on ultrasound scan. Sonographic prenatal diagnosis and management of a pregnancy complicated by familial congenital pyloric atresia are presented.