No abstract

[1] Salinization in coastal aquifers is a global phenomenon resulting from the overexploitation of scarce water resources. The Gaza Strip is one of the most severe cases of salinization, as accelerated degradation of the water quality endangers the present and future water supply for over 1 million people. We investigate the chemical and isotopic ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, d 11 B, d 18 O, d 2 H, and d 34 S SO4 ) compositions of groundwater from the southern Mediterranean coastal aquifer (Israel) and the Gaza Strip in order to elucidate the origin of salinity and boron contamination. The original salinity in the eastern part of the aquifer is derived from discharge of saline groundwater from the adjacent Avedat aquitard (Na/Cl < 1, 87 Sr/ 86 Sr $ 0.7079, and d 11 B $ 40%). As the groundwater flows to the central part of the aquifer, a dramatic change in its composition occurs (Na/Cl > 1, high B/Cl, SO 4 /Cl, and HCO 3 , 87 Sr/ 86 Sr $ 0.7083; d 11 B $ 48%), although the d 18 O-d 2 H slope is identical to that of the Avedat aquitard. The geochemical data suggest that dissolution of pedogenic carbonate and gypsum minerals in the overlying loessial sequence generated the Ca-rich solution that triggered base exchange reactions and produced Na-and B-rich groundwater. The geochemical data show that most of the salinization process in the Gaza Strip is derived from the lateral flow of the Na-rich saline groundwater, superimposed with seawater intrusion and anthropogenic nitrate pollution. The methodology of identification of multiple salinity sources can be used to establish a long-term management plan for the Gaza Strip and can also be implemented to understand complex salinization processes in other similarly stressed coastal aquifers.

High levels of naturally occurring and carcinogenic radium isotopes have been measured in low-saline and oxic groundwater from the Rum Group of the Disi sandstone aquifer in Jordan. The combined 228Ra and 226Ra activities are up to 2000% higher than international drinking water standards. Analyses of the host sandstone aquifer rocks show 228Ra and 226Ra activities and ratios that are consistent with previous reports of sandstone rocks from different parts of the world. A compilation of previous data in groundwater from worldwide sandstone aquifers shows large variations in Ra activities regardless of the groundwater salinity. On the basis of the distribution of the four Ra isotopes and the ratios of the short- to long-lived Ra isotopes, we postulate that Ra activity in groundwater is controlled by the balance of radioactive decay of parent Th isotopes on aquifer solids, decay of the dissolved radium isotopes, and adsorption of dissolved Ra on solid surfaces. The availability of surface adsorption sites, which depends on the clay content in the aquifer rocks, is therefore an important constraint for Ra activity in sandstone aquifers. These findings raise concerns about the safety of this and similar nonrenewable groundwater reservoirs, exacerbating the already severe water crisis in the Middle East.

Objective: This study had two goals. The first was to validate and examine the potential of the Hebrew version of the Cambridge Mindreading face task (CAM Heb )-an ecological measure of emotional theory of mind (eToM)-to assess eToM in individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN). The second goal was to examine whether interpersonal mistrust would mediate the relation between mentalizing and eToM and the severity of AN. Method:The validity of the CAM Heb was examined using well-established measures of mentalizing ability and eToM in 45 young female patients with AN and 53 control participants. Next, the mediation model was assessed using a subsample of 33 AN patients and 34 controls, in which interpersonal mistrust was additionally assessed. Results:The CAM Heb correlated with the measures of mentalizing ability and eToM.The CAM Heb , along with the measure of general mentalizing, significantly differentiated between the AN and control groups. The associations of general mentalizing and CAM Heb with eating disorder (ED) symptoms were mediated by interpersonal mistrust. Conclusion:The CAM Heb is a valid measure of deficient eToM in AN. In therapy, an increase in mentalizing ability and accurate eToM may enhance interpersonal trust, which may further contribute to attenuation of AN symptoms.

We investigated the Ra isotope quartet in order to quantify the discharge of saline groundwater into a freshwater lake. The activities of 226 Ra, 228 Ra, 223 Ra, and 224 Ra were measured in the Sea of Galilee, Israel, surrounding saline springs, and the Jordan River, coupled with U, Th, and 226 Ra measurements in sediment cores and laboratory Ra adsorption experiments under different salinity conditions. The 226 Ra activity (0.007-0.008 Bq L 21 ) and 226 Ra : Cl ratio in the lake were significantly lower than those of the inflowing saline springs, indicating that 75-86% of the incoming 226 Ra is removed from the lake water. This ''missing'' Ra is likely adsorbed onto suspended particles. Given the observed differential depletion of Ra isotopes, we present a model consisting of adsorption-desorption, recoil, and decay of the short-lived 224 Ra and 223 Ra isotopes. We predict a removal time of ,2 weeks for Ra, inferring the apparent residence time of suspended matter in the lake. A mass-balance calculation of the different 226 Ra inventories reveals a saline groundwater flux of 44-61 3 10 9 L yr 21 for ''Fuliyatype'' water. The residence time of dissolved 226 Ra in the lake is estimated as 3-4 yr. The 228 Ra : 226 Ra ratio of the lake water and a mass-balance calculation show that 228 Ra arrives from regeneration though bottom sediments, in addition to groundwater flux. Mass-balance calculations of the expected saline fluxes before the diversion of saline inflows to the lake (early 1960s) provide 226 Ra activity estimates in the lake (0.018-0.020 Bq L 21 ) that are similar to the value (0.018 6 0.0001 Bq L 21 ) measured in the lake in 1962.