Consanguineous marriages in Afghanistan

The present cross-sectional study was done in order to illustrate the prevalence and types of consanguineous marriages among Afghanistan populations. Data on types of marriages were collected using a simple questionnaire. The total number of couples in the study was 7140 from the following provinces: Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Kabul, Kunduz, Samangan and Takhar. Consanguineous marriages were classified by the degree of relationship between couples: double first cousins, first cousins, first cousins once removed, second cousins and beyond second cousins. The coefficient of inbreeding (F) was calculated for each couple and the mean coefficient of inbreeding (α) estimated for each population. The proportion of consanguineous marriages in the country was 46.2%, ranging from 38.2% in Kabul province to 51.2% in Bamyan province. The equivalent mean inbreeding coefficient (α) was 0.0277, and ranged from 0.0221 to 0.0293 in these two regions. There were significant differences between provinces for frequencies of different types of marriages (p<0.001). First cousin marriages (27.8%) were the most common type of consanguineous marriages, followed by double first cousin (6.9%), second cousin (5.8%), beyond second cousin (3.9%) and first cousin once removed (1.8%). There were significant differences between ethnic groups for the types of marriages (χ2=177.6, df=25, p<0.001). Tajiks (Soni) and Turkmens (also Pashtuns) showed the lowest (α=0.0250) and highest (α=0.0297) mean inbreeding coefficients, respectively, among the ethnic groups in Afghanistan. The study shows that Afghanistan's populations, like other Islamic populations, have a high level of consanguinity.     

Klima und pelanzenverbreitung in Afghanistan

Summary Author spent three years in Afghanistan. According to his views he gives in fig. 1 a sketch of the regionisation according to vegetation, climate, and agronomy (dry farming). Tables bring records on climate according to Stenz, supplemented in parts. Except province 5 all Afghanistan belongs to the irano-turanian region. The sclerophyllous woods of eastern Afghanistan do not belong to the mediterranean region, they are different floristically and climatically. Short characterizations of the vegetation of the different provinces are given.

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Manuskript eingegangen am 8.XI.1953.     

The Last Two Jews in Afghanistan

Cabal in Kabul. (French title: Cabale à Kaboul.) A film by Dan Alexe; photo and sound, Dan Alexe; editing, Frédéric Fichefet. Produced by Serge Kestemont, Frank Eskenazi, and Hortense Quitard. Co-producers Luna blue film (Bruxelles) and the factory (Paris), in association with Eris production (Thomas Scheurmans), and Les Films de la mémoire (Dan Alexe). Shot in Kabul 2002–2005; languages, Farsi and Hebrew, with subtitles in English or French; 86 mins.; available in 35 mm. and on DVD; 2005. French distribution: Pierre Grise/Dominique Welinski. Benelux distribution: Imagine Film Distribution/Christian Thomas. International sales agent: Wide Management/Loïc Magneron, 42 bis rue de Lourmel, 75015 Paris, tel.: + 33 1 53 95 04 64: wide@widemanagement.fr: Luna blue film, 109 rue du Fort, 1060 Bruxelles, tel.: + 32 2 537 40 70: lunabluefilm@skynet.be; the factory, 38 rue des Martyrs, 75009 Paris, tel.: + 33 1 55 31 27 23: thefactory@noos.fr.     

Fungi intercepted from Afghanistan

Fungi obtained and isolated from plant material coming in from Afghanistan and intercepted at Quarantine Station, Jamrud have been described. Out of eight species of fungi isolated from different seeds, at least one is not known to occur in Pakistan. Importance of studying seed borne fungi from Quarantine point of view is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Pilze, die von Pflanzenmaterial von Afghanistan erhalten, isoliert und bei der Auarantänestelle Jamrud erwischt worden sind, sind hier beschrieben. Von acht Pilzarten, die von verschiedenen Samen isoliert worden sind, ist eine in Pakistan noch nicht vorgefunden worden. Die Wichtigkeit der Untersuchung von den mit den Pilzen behafteten Samen vom Standpunkt der Quarantäne ist diskutiert.

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Department of Plant Protection     

Zwei neue Heliotropium-Arten aus Afghanistan

Summary Two new species ofHeliotropium sect.Catimas DC. from the desert Registan in south-eastern Afghanistan are described, one of which,H. arenicolumRech. f. et H.Riedl, is very closely related toH. Rechingeri H.Riedl (1967) and different from it only in the colour of the stems and the longer basal part of the style. The other one,H. leucocladum H.Riedl, belongs to a very natural group of xerophytic and halophytic species includingH. digynum (Forssk.)Aschers.,H. eremobiumBge.,H. Aucheri DC.,H. halameBoiss. etBuhse,H. Popovii H.Riedl andH. carmanicumBge. Adaptations to the extremely dry habitat are discussed.     

两株戴氏霉对水稻秸秆的降解及产酶研究

本文旨在构建能够高效降解水稻秸秆的戴氏霉组合菌。通过兼容性试验,选取木质素降解菌灰戴氏霉H57.1菌株与纤维素降解菌合川戴氏霉H08.1菌株组合发酵降解水稻秸秆,以失重法和范氏洗涤剂法检测其对秸秆的降解效果,用胞外酶活测定法探索其产酶规律。结果表明,菌株H57.1和H08.1具有良好的兼容性;组合菌H57.1+H08.1对水稻秸秆的降解能力明显高于单一菌株,秸秆失重率高达55.7%,木质素、半纤维素和纤维素降解率分别为48.9%、72.6%和57.0%;对发酵过程产酶情况的分析进一步表明,组合菌H57.1+H08.1降解水稻秸秆的能力与其产酶能力密切相关。