The lowly fire hydrant would seem an unlikely candidate to receive the Israeli high-tech treatment But hydrant tampering is a growing problem for municipalities loses 5 million gallons of water a day to open hydrants or illegal use including water thieves That costs the city some $9 million a year And then there’s the problem of terrorists seeking to poison the water supply by adding lethal chemicals via a hydrant It was the latter concern that prompted Dovik Barkay to launch Hydrantech has developed a smart “electronic bracelet” that attaches to the nozzle of a fire hydrant to monitor what comes out and what goes in “If the direction of the water is the opposite Barkay recalls a situation in the Israeli city of Safed several years ago where “someone stole some gasoline He couldn’t just throw the gasoline away on the street – it would smell – so he found a hydrant and poured the gasoline inside people in Safed couldn’t drink the water.” Each Hydrantech electronic bracelet has a cellular transmitter that communicates its status to a central control hub That allows a city to spot a problem — whether it’s a leak or a biopotential terror attack — in real time and send a technician or security detail immediately The Hydrantech interface runs in a regular web browser which can be opened in a window in a city’s existing infrastructure-monitoring system a pop-up alarm will appear in the browser and on the mobile devices of those who need to know – such as guards or the utility manager Hydrantech’s technology doesn’t sense water flow the bracelet incorporates sensors including an accelerometer The sensors can “see” and “hear” the movement of water That data is sent to the Hydrantech cloud where software algorithms interpret whether water is moving out or in Hydrantech’s bracelets are being piloted in several Israeli municipalities The fee of about $3 per hydrant covers the bracelet We asked Barkay how he got interested in fire hydrants industrial engineering and medical device development has several water-tech exits under his belt he founded a company that detects leaks in home water systems His next company developed a smart pump that delivers hot water immediately from your solar heater to your faucet “rather than needing to wait three to four minutes until the water heats up.” While working on Hydrantech, Barkay is also CEO of FeedWell, which has developed a “massage bra” that increases milk flow for nursing mothers. FeedWell’s main product, “CupIt,” is sold through Israel’s four main HMOs Hydrantech has raised about $1 million in private angel money and is raising more There is little competition in the field Hydrantech has addressed has a product that closes a valve if it detects a problem but it’s not a “smart” device that communicates with a central hub Sieglock Spartan has developed a high-tech hydrant that swaps the typical steel iron and rubber parts for “virtually indestructible” stainless steel that can survive storms and salty water But it’s a replacement for existing hydrants That’s proven to be a snag because municipalities have stockpiled replacement parts It’s not all that surprising that a company like Hydrantech is a blue-and-white Israeli invention Located in the dry Middle East, where over 60% of the country is desert, Israel reclaims 90% of its wastewater, compared with just 6% in the US, and is a well-known leader in water desalination technology The country’s annual Watec conference attracts thousands of visitors from around the world Hydrantech was among the hundreds of companies that displayed water-related technologies at the most recent Watec in November 2019. Other companies included NUFiltration and Lishtot The Israel Export Institute reports that Israel exports $2.4 billion annually in water technology and equipment Hydrantech has plans to detect more than just water flow in the future The same technology will be able to spot underground water leakage measure temperature and humidity and even provide data about earthquakes The World Health Organization estimates that by 2025, “half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas” That makes technologies like Hydrantech’s all the more important in solving current and future environmental challenges an Israeli soldier who was killed following a deadly infiltration by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip at his funeral at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem Community officer for the Bedouin community at the Aroer station 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade fighter Officer in the Coordination of Enforcement Operations unit 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade fighter Snapir sailor in the 914th Patrol Squadron Commander in the Computer Service Directorate Commander in the coordination of enforcement operations unit Killed in battle at the Sderot Police station Commander of the 300th Brigade of the 91st Division Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel Officer in the coordination of enforcement operations unit 77th Battalion 7th Brigade intelligence officer 947 Battalion in the Israeli Air Defense Command Logistics NCO in the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade Fighter Team leader in Ashkelon Fire and Rescue Services Detective from the Segev Shalom Police Station Killed fighting against terrorists in Kibbutz Re'im Killed in Kibbutz Be'eri medical clinic while she was treating the wounded Platoon Commander in the 414 Battalion of the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps Platoon Commander in the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade The General Staff's elite special-operations force fighter Doctor at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba Immigrated from Brazil with her mother and sister who served as a lone soldier and was adopted by a family in the Yavneh Group head of the centre for Nano-Satellites and New Space at the university of Tel-Aviv Officer in the Air Force's air traffic control unit Fighter in the YAMAM counterterrorism unit Police officer in the Directorate of Coordination of Enforcement Operations (MTPA) Operations sergeant in the Home Front Command's Southern District Commander in the Artillery Corps' drone unit Company Commander in the Nahal Special Forces unit (the General Staff's elite special-operations force Coordinator of government activities in the territories unit Deputy head of the patrol unit at the Ofakim station Bodyguard of Communications Minister Shlomo Karai Sayeret Matkal The General Staff's elite special-operations force fighter 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade soldier Squad commander in the Paratroopers Brigade Unit commander in the Lotar Counter Terror Watch School IDFs counter-terrorism special forces unit Logistic officer in the 460th Brigade of the Armored Corps 12th Battalion of the Golani Brigade fighter Officer in the Naval Commando Unit Shayetet 13 Company Commander in the General Staff's elite special-operations force General Staff's elite special-operations force fighter Observer in the 141st Battalion Combat Intelligence Collection Corps the General Staff's elite special-operations force fighter 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade Fighter Officer in the Police Special Anti-Terror Unit Commander in the Coordination of Enforcement Operations Unit 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade Company Commander Platoon Commander in the Nahal Special Forces Unit Company Commander in the Israeli Air Force Special Forces School Platoon Commander in the Shaldag Patrol Unit Squad Commander in the Paratroopers Command Brigade Training Base Company Commander in 931 Battalion of the Nahal Brigade Commander of the Nahal Brigade Special Forces Sapper in special unit for combating terrorism Fighter in special unit for combating terrorism Forensics department crime scene investigator Fighter in the special unit for combating terrorism Head of logistics headquarters at Sderot station Sniper in the special unit for combating terrorism Officer in the special unit for combating terrorism Officer in special division in fighting terror 'M' division in coordination of enforcement operations Commander of the Segev Shalom Police Station Squad commander at the Kiryat Gat fire station Killed at the outdoor rave near Kibbutz Re'im Platoon commander in the Home Front Command Military policeman in the Home Front Command Shot dead in Ofakim while driving an ambulance on his way to treat the wounded Killed by a rocket while trying to open a public shelter for residents who didn't have access to shelters in their homes Israel Fire and Rescue Services Kiryat Gat Head of the Sha'ar Hanegev regional council Killed on Saturday in fire exchanges with militants near Kerem Shalom each frontline operative now receives about $61 monthly The Wall Street Journal reports the terror organization was mainly dependent on humanitarian aid sold for cash The Lebanese President announced that in 2025 weapons would be concentrated exclusively in state hands maintaining that Hezbollah's disarmament "will.. Analysis  Archaeology Blogpost Business & Finance Culture Exclusive Explainer Environment Features Health In Brief Jewish World Judea and Samaria Lifestyle Cyber & Internet Sports Diplomacy  Iran & The Gulf Gaza Strip Politics Shopping Terms of use Privacy Policy Submissions Contact Us The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30 Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better more balanced and more accurate journalism [contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”] Massacres and the Israel-Hamas WarApproximately 1,200 Israelis civilians and soldiers were killed in their homes communities and in confronting Hamas terrorists Here are the officially confirmed names of Israel's dead in the atrocities of October 7 and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war 2025Get email notification for articles from Haaretz FollowOct 19 © Irad Shomroni and Josef ShushanThe project houses informal daily activities for individuals and small groups and also large ceremonial gatherings few times a year. Both indoor and outdoor spaces of the center contain these dualities. From the vegetation and natural topography of the open garden rise seating benches and a stage designated for large ceremonial gatherings. community library / © Irad Shomroni and Josef ShushanThus, a circle is created beginning with Ramat Yishay’s daily informal activity and ending with the commemoration of the town’s history. garden and outdoor seats / © Irad Shomroni and Josef ShushanArchitects: Irad Shomroni and Josef Shushan Location: Ramat Yishay You'll now receive updates based on what you follow Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors If you have done all of this and still can't find the email Courtesy of Talmon Biran Architecture StudioThe design offers a re-interpretation to the typical double-slope houses of the historic Ramat Yishay. The typical section which was extruded and twisted defines two courtyards from both sides of the building while the entrance lobby at the center of the building connects between them and between the interior spaces. Courtesy of Talmon Biran Architecture StudioThe building’s roof was designed as a significant part of the monolithic concrete envelope and not merely as a technical façade. Windows for light and air ventilation located in the roof have a significant role in reducing the energetic costs of the building. In addition, the drainage channels that are immersed in the concrete not only offer a technical solution but also delicately mark the structure’s geometry. Courtesy of Talmon Biran Architecture StudioArchitects: Talmon Biran Architecture Studio Location: Ramat Yishay Natalia Dudareva Download Photo - Purdue University researchers have discovered a microbial-like pathway in plants that produces phenylalanine an amino acid that is a vital component of proteins in all living organisms Plants mainly synthesize phenylalanine through a chain of chemical reactions that converts the organic acid arogenate to phenylalanine But Purdue researchers demonstrated that plants also use an alternative pathway found in most microorganisms to make phenylalanine from phenylpyruvate "Now that we have genetic evidence that this pathway exists in plants, this opens up many exciting possibilities for metabolic engineering," said Natalia Dudareva, distinguished professor of biochemistry "This alternative pathway provides a whole new avenue to synthesize phenylalanine." Phenylalanine is an aromatic amino acid that serves as a building block for many compounds essential to plant structure Manipulating the alternative pathway to increase production of phenylalanine could help improve plants' response to pests Phenylalanine is also used to synthesize other compounds such as benzoic acid Humans and animals cannot make phenylalanine, relying on plants to supply the phenylalanine necessary to build proteins. Increasing the phenylalanine levels in plants could yield more nutritional foods, said Heejin Yoo, a biochemistry graduate student and study co-author The researchers found that plants use both the arogenate pathway and the alternative pathway to make phenylalanine. But flux through the alternative pathway increases when stress factors limit a plant's ability to use the main pathway. Joshua Widhalm, a postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry and study co-author likened the pathways to a system of water pipes "Imagine two diverging pipes that share an opening," he said "The main pathway is a pipe with a greater diameter than the alternative pathway You're always going to have a little bit flowing through the smaller pipe you're going to see more redirected through the alternative pathway." When the researchers separately blocked each of the two steps in the arogenate pathway in petunia flowers But when they blocked both steps simultaneously "That's when we knew there had to be some other way of synthesizing phenylalanine," Dudareva said The researchers were surprised to find that in the alternative pathway phenylpyruvate is converted into phenylalanine by taking a nitrogen group from tyrosine "It's very unusual that the cell would sacrifice tyrosine to make phenylalanine," Dudareva said "That may be one reason why this pathway was not discovered earlier." Enzymes involved in the arogenate pathway are tightly controlled to balance phenylalanine levels halting the production of phenylalanine if levels are too high Regulation is less strict in the alternative pathway which is only limited by the availability of tyrosine The more relaxed regulation of the alternative pathway makes it a more promising target for metabolic engineering than the arogenate pathway "When you're working with the arogenate pathway you have to take its sensitivity to phenylalanine levels into account you only need to have a source of nitrogen groups to synthesize as much phenylalanine as you want." While the arogenate pathway occurs in the plastids - organelles that are also the site of photosynthesis - the alternative pathway is located in the cytosol the fluid that suspends organelles and other particles inside a cell This is the first indication that the synthesis of aromatic amino acids can occur outside of the plastids "It appears that plant aromatic amino acid metabolism is even more dynamic than we gave it credit for," he said The paper is available in Nature Communications at http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2013/131125/ncomms3833/full/ncomms3833.html Funding for the research was provided by the U.S and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.  Writer: Natalie van Hoose, 765-496-2050, nvanhoos@purdue.edu  Sources: Natalia Dudareva, 765-494-1325, dudareva@purdue.edu Joshua R. Widhalm, 765-494-3612, jwidhalm@purdue.edu Heejin Yoo, 765-494-3612, yoo8@purdue.edu A microbial-like pathway contributes to phenylalanine biosynthesis in plants via a cytosolic tyrosine: phenylpyrunvate aminotransferase Jannasch 3; Itay Gonda 5; Efraim Lewinsohn 5; David Rhodes 1; Natalia Dudareva 1 1 Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture E-mail: dudareva@purdue.edu  Phenylalanine is a vital component of proteins in all living organisms and in plants is a precursor for thousands of additional metabolites Animals are incapable of synthesizing phenylalanine and must primarily obtain it directly or indirectly from plants While plants can synthesize phenylalanine in plastids through arogenate the contribution of an alternative pathway via phenylpyruvate Here we establish that plants also utilize the microbial-like phenylpyruvate pathway to produce phenylalanine and flux through this route is increased when the entry point to the arogenate pathway is limiting we find the plant phenylpyruvate pathway utilizes a cytosolic aminotransferase that links the coordinated catabolism of tyrosine to serve as the amino donor thus interconnecting the extra-plastidial metabolism of these amino acids This discovery unlocks another level of complexity in the plant aromatic amino acid regulatory network unveiling new targets for metabolic engineering Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722; Keith Robinson, robins89@purdue.eduAgriculture News Page Trouble with this page? Disability-related accessibility issue? Please contact us at online@purdue.edu so we can help Designed by architect Eli Gotman, the proposal for the “Yad Labanim” (“A Memorial to the Sons”) is dedicated to commemorating the fallen soldiers in Israel’s wars and helping the bereaved families which begins with the wall buried in the ground carrying the names of the fallen perforated in it continues to emerge out of the ground as a building and ending as an illuminated library hovering over the square More images and Gotman’s description after the break Courtesy of Eli Gotman“Yad Labanim” exists on tension between past and future, life and death, and day to day life and bereavement . By bringing life to a place of grief, memory gets the respect it deserves, not just on the one day every year – memorial day. In one movement, one mass, the project expresses that same tension upon which “Yad Labanim” exists. Tectonic schemes site planThe activity rooms on both sides of the entrance lobby can be used as an extension of the open space for special events. The back room, which replaces the existing shelter (there’s an existing neighborhood bomb shelter, which could be used within the project or replaced by a new one in today’s standards) , can be used as a club for teenagers, music room or a gym. gives the opportunity to answer the needs of the community while creating a building that emblemizes local values More images and architects’ description after the break Courtesy of Moshe Fluhr, Lee Davidson Lehrer, Yinnon LehrerWithin this context, it seemed wasteful to construct an isolated monument. Rather, it was decided that the entire site shall be developed as a municipal park, not merely incorporating the Yad Lebanim home, but blending it into the park-scape, thus blurring distinctions between indoors and outdoors, building and landscape, sacred and profane Courtesy of Moshe Fluhr, Lee Davidson Lehrer, Yinnon LehrerThe first step in developing the site is reforming the topography in order to provide pedestrian accessibility from the entire perimeter. The 500 sq. m. program is arranged in an open configuration, around an open multi-use courtyard. the green roof promenade covering the complex, makes up for the parkland taken up by the buildings’ footprint, while endowing them with energy efficiency.