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Warm convective clouds play a significant role in the earth’s energy and water budgets. However, they still pose a challenge in climate research as their feedback to predicted thermodynamic changes is highly uncertain and considered critical to the overall climate system’s response. The focus of this study is continental, organized shallow convective clouds that, although they are spread globally and form in a variety of environments, seem to have common properties. One of these properties seems to be their preferred formation over vegetated areas, thus referred hereafter as green Cu. In this article, we present new observations of emerging universality and explore them using a method that combines fine- and coarse-resolution remote-sensing data sets. First, we use Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) true-color images to visually classify cloud fields into different classes and identify green Cu fields. We show that the level and type of organization and the properties of these fields (e.g., cloud size distribution and cloud fraction) are similar throughout the world, regardless of their location. Second, we match the corresponding MODIS level-3 cloud properties to the identified cloud classes, and based on this data sets statistics, we develop a detection method for green Cu along ten years of measurements (2003–2012). We examine the geographical distribution and seasonality of this class and show that these fields are highly abundant over many continental areas and indeed mostly in the vicinity of vegetated regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Providing nest-sites is an effective tool but may attract non-target species. • We wanted to prevent Jackdaws from dominating a Lesser Kestrel nest-box colony. • We blocked and opened the entrances to the nest-boxes in the colony. • This approach resulted in higher occupancy and breeding success in Lesser Kestrels. • We suggest that this is an effective, non-lethal tool for mitigating competition. Anthropogenic changes in the natural environment have led to the need to find alternative resources to ensure the persistence of biodiversity. In birds, nest sites can be a limiting resource in stenotopic populations. A method of active protection is the building of nest boxes. However, attractive nest sites attract target species and their competitors. From the species conservation point of view, our target species was the Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni), whose populations have recovered owing to the establishment of nest box colonies across Europe. However, they have been out-competed by Jackdaws (Corvus monedula) in recent years. Because corvids are intelligent and aggressive, we had to artificially control the competition from Jackdaws to allow Lesser Kestrels to nest. We aimed to discourage Jackdaws from taking over the studied colony and to ensure the continued breeding of Lesser Kestrels by manipulating access to the nest boxes. Data were collected during three breeding seasons in a Lesser Kestrel nest box colony using two manipulations in which we prevented Jackdaw occupation by closing some of the nest boxes and then gradually opening them. We found a significantly lower probability of Lesser Kestrels nesting and lower breeding performance in the control year than in the years in which access to the boxes was manipulated. The field experiment shows the high efficiency of manipulating the accessibility of nest boxes by closing and opening them at the right time in the context of their occupation by the target species and thus influencing their breeding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyses the effect of electoral systems, candidate selection methods and the interplay between them on individual legislative attitudes and behavioural norms, specifically on two facets of party unity: party agreement and party loyalty. Our main argument is that one must take into account the effect of inter- as well as intra-party competition, and the interaction between the two, in order to explain individual legislative attitudes and norms. Using data from 34 European parties across 10 countries, we show that under exclusive candidate selection methods, there are large differences between proportional representation and single-member district electoral systems in their effect on party agreement and party loyalty. Under inclusive candidate selection methods, however, such differences are much less apparent. In other words, the candidate selection method conditions the influence of the electoral system on legislative attitudes and behavioural norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the participation of Egyptian Jews in Arabic press and journalism during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It discusses the link between development of Arabic press among Arab Jews and the emergence of Jewish and public opinion in Europe following the Damascus affair of 1840 in Syria and the emergence of Jewish journalism in Hebrew and other languages. In also mentions the goals of Arabic-Jewish press such as strengthening religious identity.

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the leading herb crops, used fresh or dry. Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxyporum, is a severe problem in Israel, as well as in Europe and the USA. It were resistant to Fusarium wilt. In further studies we found that this resistance is a monogenic dominant trait. At present, fresh market varieties resistant to Fusarium, with good yields and performance, as well as acceptable leaf-size, shape and shelf life, are being developed and examined for their aroma. The variability in the essential oil composition of the culinary genetic lines are shown and discussed.causes stunting, browning of vascular tissues, severe wilting without chlorosis and defoliation of the plants. In the summer of 1992 we identified several isolates of Fusarium oxyporum f.sp. basilicum originating from the stems of diseased plants of greenhouse-grown sweet basil (O. basilicum L.). Plants of a commercial variety in an infected field, with no symptoms, were selected for self-breeding as a source of seeds with resistant germplasm. Further selection tests were conducted in the greenhouse on infested soil in order to improve resistance up to five generations. This work has resulted in a registered variety resistant to Fusarium wilt ('Nufar'). All 'Nufar' individuals and F1 individuals obtained from the cross of 'Nufar' 3 susceptible source plants [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this retrospective registry study was to investigate the outcome of autoSCT for primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) in the rituximab era, including the effects of eventual post-transplant radiotherapy (RT) consolidation. Patients with PMBCL aged between 18 and 70 years who were treated with a first autoSCT between 2000 and 2012 and registered with the EBMT were eligible. Eighty-six patients with confirmed PMBCL and the full data set required for this analysis were evaluable. Sixteen patients underwent autoSCT in remission after first-line therapy (CR/PR1), 44 patients were transplanted with chemosensitive relapsed or primary refractory disease (CR/PR >1), and 24 patients were chemorefractory at the time of autoSCT. With a median follow-up of 5 years, 3-year estimates of relapse incidence, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 6%, 94%, and 100% for CR/PR1; 31%, 64%, and 85% for CR/PR >1; and 52%, 39%, and 41% for REF, respectively. Whilst there was no significant benefit of post-transplant RT in the CR/PR >1 group, RT could completely prevent disease recurrence post d100 in the refractory group. In conclusion, autoSCT with or without consolidating RT is associated with excellent outcome in chemoimmunotherapy-sensitive PMBCL, whereas its benefits seem to be limited in chemoimmunotherapy-refractory disease.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment of severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), but data on outcome are scarce. We report on the outcome of 136 SCN patients who underwent HSCT between 1990 and 2012 in European and Middle East centers. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 82%, and transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 17%. In multivariate analysis, transplants performed under the age of 10 years, in recent years, and from HLA-matched related or unrelated donors were associated with a significantly better OS. Frequency of graft failure was 10%. Cumulative incidence (day +90) of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) grade 2-4 was 21%. In multivariate analysis, HLA-matched related donor and prophylaxis with cyclosporine A and methotrexate were associated with lower occurrence of acute GVHD. Cumulative incidence (1 year) of chronic GVHD was 20%. No secondary malignancies occurred after a median follow-up of 4.6 years. These data show that the outcome of HSCT for SCN from HLA-matched donors, performed in recent years, in patients younger than 10 years is acceptable. Nevertheless, given the TRM, a careful selection of HSCT candidates should be undertaken., (© 2015 by The American Society of Hematology.)

T cell-depleted haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haploHSCT) is an option to treat children with very high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) lacking an HLA-identical donor. We analyzed 127 children with ALL who underwent haploHSCT in first (n = 22), second (n = 48), or third (n = 32), complete remission or in relapse (n = 25). The 5-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 30%, 34%, 22%, and 0%, respectively. A risk-factor analysis was performed for patients who underwent transplantation in remission (n = 102). Five-year nonrelapse mortality (NRM), relapse incidence (RI), and LFS were 37%, 36%, and 27%, respectively. A trend of improved LFS rate and decreased RI was observed for children given a graft with higher number of CD34(+) cells (adjusted P = .09 and P = .07, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, haploHSCT performed in larger centers (performing > or = 231 allotransplantations in the studied period) was associated with improved LFS rate and decreased RI (adjusted P = .01 and P = .04, respectively), adjusting for different patient-, disease-, and transplant-related factors such as number of previous autotransplantations, cytomegalovirus serology status, type of T-cell depletion, and use of total body irradiation and antithymocyte globulin. In conclusion, higher CD34(+) cell dose and better patient selection may improve outcomes of children with ALL who undergo a haploHSCT. Transplant centers initiating programs on haploHSCT for children may collaborate with more experienced centers.