Distribution and metabolism of exogenous ecdysteroids in the egyptian cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis (lepidoptera: noctuidae)

After ingestion of various amounts of either [³H]ecdysone or [³H]20-hydroxyecdysone (0.8 ng to 10 μg) by sixth instar larvae of the Egyptian cotton leafworm Spodoptera littoralis, apolar metabolites are rapidly detected in the gut and frass. Hydrolysis of the apolar products with Helix hydrolases releases solely [³H]ecdysone or [³H]20-hydroxyecdysone, respectively. This, coupled with the formation of chemical derivatives (acetonide and acetate) which cochromatograph with authentic reference compounds on hptlc and hplc demonstrates that these apolar metabolites consist of ecdysone or 20-hydroxyecdysone esterified at C-22 with common long-chain fatty acids. The major fatty acids have been identified by RP-hplc and their contribution to the mixture determined. In contrast, [³H]ecdysone injected into the haemolymph of S. littoralis is metabolized to yield 20-hydroxyecdysone, ecdysonoic acid, and 20-hydroxyecdysonoic acid. Thus, two different pathways exist for the metabolism of ecdysteroids in this species. In addition to an essentially polar pathway operating on injected and endogenous ecdysteroids, exogenous ecdysteroids entering the gut of S. littoralis are detoxified, yielding apolar ecdysteroid 22-fatty acyl esters which are rapidly excreted. The significance of these results in relation to the effects of ingested ecdysteroids on S. littoralis is discussed. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 34:329–346, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

The effects of agriculture on farmland bird assemblages on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape, South Africa

Coastal Fynbos on the Agulhas Plain of the Western Cape, South Africa, has been transformed extensively by crop and pastoral agriculture. Many bird species, e.g. sunbirds, nightjars and mousebirds have consequently been affected negatively by the reduction of suitable habitat for daily requirements. However, populations of certain bird species, especially granivores and omnivores, such as sparrows, larks and pipits, as well as Egyptian Geese and Helmeted Guineafowl have proliferated on the Agulhas Plain. This study investigates the effects of agricultural development on overall bird diversity on the Agulhas Plain. In 1998, twice monthly transect counts at 13 farmland sites recorded 106 bird species. Fifteen species occurred at 75% or more of the sites. Highest avian diversity was recorded at the sites with a mixture of crops and Coastal Fynbos (Mixed regime). A small number of species, e.g. sunbirds, are reliant on the natural Coastal Fynbos for their survival. With the exception of the Mixed regime that gained 50 species, all the other agricultural regimes reflected a loss of diversity when compared with Fynbos. To provide more suitable habitat for a greater diversity of birds, mixed landscapes should be maintained, and further destruction of natural Fynbos habitat should be prevented.     

Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres breeding status in southern Africa: monitoring results from 2010–2014

Monitoring of eight Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres breeding colonies in South Africa and Botswana took place between 2010 and 2014 using standardised counting methods. Counts of breeding pairs, nestlings and fledglings were used to calculate breeding success and general population trends. While our data suggests multiple colonies are stable or increasing, the extinction of peripheral colonies and contraction of the species’ range is alarming and gives evidence for unsustainable population declines. Monitoring efforts chronicled the extinction of the previously large core colony at Roberts’ Farm, which was abandoned as a breeding site in 2013. Standardised monitoring is urgently needed across the entire species range to better understand current population dynamics.     

印度灵鹫峰文化景观的历史沿革与影响研究

印度灵鹫峰历史悠久、佛教影响深远，是亚洲早期山地景观开发中受人文因素影响的重要案例，然现今园林景观等相关研究领域对其关注不足。从风景园林历史研究的角度，梳理了灵鹫峰文化景观的历史沿革与重要影响，包括佛教文化在王舍城地区的形成过程、灵鹫峰景观建置、灵鹫峰图像史料遗存以及文化景观用典，阐释了其对杭州飞来峰文化景观的深刻影响，并分析了近现代考古研究对印度灵鹫峰再开发与旅游的影响，探讨了灵鹫峰对研究当代山地开发保护与可持续发展的意义。     

5. A NOTE ON THE PARADISE WHYDAHS

Vernon, C. J. 1975. Seventeenth ringing report for southern African. Ostrich 46:125-128.

A report on ringing activities in southern Africa from July 1973 to June 1974 is presented. A total of 51 561 birds of 451 species were ringed and are analysed according to distribution of ringers, groups of species and recovery rates. A list of those birds living longer than ten years is given. Analyses are needed of the most frequently ringed species in order to give greater purpose to future ringing.     

Anti-obesity effects of Taif and Egyptian pomegranates: molecular study

The present study investigated the anti-obesity effects of pomegranate (Punica granatum) juices from the two Saudi Arabian, Taif red, Taif white, and Egyptian pomegranates in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Administrating any of the used juices decreased the body weight gain, food consumption, and serum levels of lipid, leptin, and glucose, while it increased serum insulin level. Histologically, all types of juices decreased the number and size of lipid droplets in hepatocytes compared to the obese, non-treated animals. All juices types upregulated the hepatic mRNA expression of hormone-sensitive lipase, pyruvate kinase, and adiponectin in obese rats; the genes were all suppressed by HFD feeding. Additionally, the expression of fatty acid synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, and acetyl-CoA carboxylase1 was also upregulated by all types of juices. Conversely, ghrelin mRNA expression was downregulated by all used juices’ types. These findings demonstrate that all types of tested juices protect against the HFD-induced obesity in rats.     

Role of Challenger pesticide and plant extracts on some physiological parameters of the cotton leafworm,Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.)

Fourth instar larvae of cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.), fed on castor bean leaves treated with sub-lethal concentrations of both alcohol and hexane extracts of Egyptian conyza and Challenger 36% SC insecticide as well to study their effects on mortality, food consumption and utilisation of food. The tested insecticides exhibited relatively high mortality in alcoholic extract of Egyptian conyza (5.0% concentration) followed by Challenger (1.0% concentration). Results showed a slight reduction in the consumption index for larvae treated with both alcoholic extract and Challenger at low concentrations, while hexane extract (5%) recorded significant increase. The approximate digestibility (AD) was reduced in all treatments of alcoholic extract and the relative growth rate insignificantly decreased at 5% concentration, whereas AD increased for larvae fed on Challenger 0.25% concentration. The lower concentration of alcoholic extract of conyza and all treatments of Challenger pesticides induced insignificant decrease in the efficiency of conversion of the ingested food, while hexane extract exhibited insignificant increase. Challenger at all tested concentrations achieved insignificant decrease in the efficiency of the conversion of digested food with respect to the control.     

Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus and African White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus nesting at the Olifants River Private Nature Reserve,Limpopo province,South Africa

Basic ecological information is still lacking for many species of African vultures. The Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus is known as a rare breeding resident in north-eastern South Africa. This study set out to monitor the nests of Hooded Vultures and, secondarily, White-backed Vultures Gyps africanus in the Olifants River Private Nature Reserve over two breeding seasons in 2013 and 2014. A total of 12 Hooded Vulture nests, placed mostly in the tree Diospyros mespiliformis, were found along the Olifants River, with an average inter- nest distance of 0.76 km. Nest success was estimated to be between 0.44–0.89 offspring pair?1 y?1 in 2013 and 0.50–0.67 offspring pair?1 y?1 in 2014, which are the first estimates for Hooded Vultures in South Africa. It is thought that nests of this species have been under-reported due to the fact that they are placed within or below the canopy of densely leafed trees and hence difficult to view from aerial surveys. African White-backed Vultures also bred along the Olifants River, with nests placed in clusters of up to six. Nesting density of this species ranged from about 1.0 to 1.2 nests km?1 and nests were predominantly placed in Ficus sycomorus trees.     

The ‘Coptic question’ in post-revolutionary Egypt: citizenship,democracy, religion

Relations between the Coptic minority and the Egyptian state have gone through different stages, with Copts experiencing greater or lesser degrees of integration into, or alienation from, the social and civil fabric of Egypt. This paper traces the long and ongoing path of the Coptic community from dhimmah to citizenship, a path that is not yet concluded, with a particular focus on the relations between the Copts and Al-Azhar, especially in the transition period opened by the 25 January Revolution. New discourses among both Islamic and Christian intellectuals are examined in order to search out the conceptions of citizenship emerging both in Al-Azhar and Islamist scholars’ thought and in Coptic circles.