Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences
Volume:20 Issue: 5, Autumn 2022

In this study, we assessed the seasonal habitat suitability of Wild goat, Capra aegagrus in Roodbarak prohibited hunting region, located in Kelardasht, Northern Iran. We applied environmental variables including topographic factors (altitude, slope, and aspect), climatic factors (average rainfall and average monthly temperature), anthropogenic factors (distance from villages and roads), vegetation type, and water resources to analyse the connection of the species presence with its habitat. To model the species distribution, we benefitted from the three following modelling algorithms using biomod package implemented in R programming language: Generalized Linear Model (GLM), Generalized Boosted Models (GBM), and Random Forest (RF). The results of all models indicated altitude as a determining factor in wild goat’s habitat for all seasons in the studied area. In addition, climatic variables were critical in forming the species habitat in spring, summer and autumn. Moreover, in winter, distance to springs exhibited a significant impact. Applying the results of such ecological studies of habitat evaluation along with population surveys can be crucial in the species and consequently ecosystem conservation.

Phytoplankton plays a key role in solving some environmental problems, studying photosynthesis, understanding aquatic ecosystems and the production of useful substances. In the present study, monthly analysis of diatomic phytoplankton communities as well as diatomic algae distribution, total count, annual density, density percentage, diversity and dominance of different species were carried out to assess the phytoplankton structure of Tigris River,a major source of fresh water in Iraq. Water samples were collected on a monthly basis from four sites of the river in the Iraqi Capital, Baghdad. The study period was one year from January to the end of December 2021.  In this study, 125, 130, 123, and 141 fresh water algal species belonging to class Bacillariophyceae were identified reporting from stations 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. In this study, Cyclotella ocellata was the most dominant in all sampling stations. The highest total annual density of phytoplankton during the study period was at  St. 3 (34416 ind ×103 L-1), followed by (34306.85 ind × 103 L-1) at  St. 1, and (33335.8 ind × 103 L-1) at  St. 4, finally, the lowest at  St. 2 (29121.5 ind × 103 L-1). Seasonal phytoplankton diversity was investigated based on Shannon Diversity Index (H) exhibiting the highest diversity index in summer (3.041), followed by winter (2.606), spring (2.22) and the lowest in autumn (1.355). Eventually, the study area within Tigris River is classified as moderate mostly based on Shannon Diversity Index for Water quality classification. Finally, seasonal diatomic phytoplankton dominance was investigated based on Simpson's Index (D) exhibiting the highest dominance index in autumn (0.549), followed by spring (0.35), winter (0.23) while the lowest in summer (0.12). These last results confirmed the inverse relationship between Simpson's Index for the dominance and Shannon diversity index for the biodiversity.

Determination of regional superior sectors and commodities is essential to accelerate regional economic development. Therefore, this study aims to: 1) determine the leading sector in Jember Regency; 2) determine the leading food commodity in this regency; 3) determine the profile of the leading commodity in it; 4) determine the leading food commodity center in the regency (5) determine the best way to develop superior commodities in it. This study uses secondary data on the Regional Gross Domestic Product (GRDP) of East Java Province and Jember Regency for the period 2017-2021 and data on the production of food commodities (rice, corn, soybeans, peanuts, cassava, and sweet potatoes) in the province and Kabupaten Jember for the period 2011–2021 from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in the province and BPS Jember. The analytical tools used are Location Quotient (LQ) and descriptive analysis. The results of the research show: 1) The leading sectors in Jember Regency are the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries sectors; Information and Communication; Government Administration, Defense, Social Security; Education Services; and Health Services and Social Activities; 2) the leading food commodity in Jember Regency is rice; 3) Jember Regency is one of the largest rice production centers in East Java with a production of 961,981 tons. Rice productivity in Jember Regency (61.04 kw) is already higher than rice productivity in East Java (56.47 kw); 4) Rice commodity centers in Jember Regency include 21 sub-districts out of 31 sub-districts, namely Mayang, Mumbulsari, Jenggawah, Ajung, Rambi Puji, Umbulsari, Semboro, Jombang, Sumberbaru, Embankment, Bangsalsari, Panti, Sukorambi, Pakusari, Kalisat, Ledokombo, Sumberjambe, Sukowono, Jelbuk, Kaliwates, and Sumbersari; 5) Rice commodity development in accordance with agribusiness principles.

Apricot seed is a nutrient-dense by-product of apricots that is frequently wasted. The aim of this study was to determine the best way to use apricot seed kernels (ASK). For the manufacture of supplemented cakes, apricot seed kernels were processed and powder (flour) was produced. One control sample and four experimental samples were constructed by mixing 2.5 - 10 % level of apricot seed kernel powder (ASKP) and organoleptic evaluation. The nutritional composition of control and acceptable experimental samples was determined. The addition of ASKP in cakes at a concentration of 7.5 % was shown to be organoleptically acceptable. When compared to control samples, developed cakes had significantly higher energy, crude fiber, crude fat, and total ash content (p < 0.01). Minerals (calcium, iron, and magnesium) were found to have increased significantly (p < 0.01) in developed cakes.  Antioxidant activity in ASKP supplemented cakes was found to be considerably greater (p < 0.01), with a 2.5 to 7.5 % increase in antioxidant activity. As a result, the use of apricot seed kernel powder can improve the nutritional value of meals.

Fish assemblage was investigated in the southern part of the Main outfall drains, southern Iraq from January to December 2019. Monthly variations were recorded in water quality parameters including water temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, electric conductivity, turbidity, hydrogen ion, and total dissolved solids. A total of 10981fish specimens belonging to 27 fish species, 25 genera, 17 families, and eight orders were collected from the southern part of the Main outfall drains. Marine fish species were 19 and eight species from freshwater. Three species were presiding the numerical relative abundance of species formed 80.96% of the total number of species. In this region, Acetrogobius dayi represented 32.00%, Boleophthalmus dussumieri 28.92% and Aphanius dispar 20.04% of the total number of species. The status of ecological indices were poor for diversity index (H), richness index (D) was troubled, and semi-balanced for evenness index (J). The present study showed bad water quality after analyses of physicochemical variables, and also sensory indicators (colour and smell) of the water which play a major role in the blending composition of the fish community structure. The results revealed that salinity has a large contributor to determine the nature spread and distribution of the fish populations. The study exhibited that the river habitat is unstable, affected by three factors: 1) Quantity and quality of freshwater coming from Al-Siphone regulator in Thi-Qar Province; 2) The tidal process spread organic pollution that are dumped in Hamdan region, Southern Basrah City; and 3) The chemical and organic pollutions resulting from reclamation of agricultural lands.

This research was carried out in the Imam Al-Hussein Center, Karbala Governorate, Iraq for Researcher Care and Manuscript Restoration to assess the effects of active ingredient extracted from the Centaurea cineraria methanolic on inhibiting the growth of the cutaneous fungus Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporum canis and determining its appropriate concentration. The plant was chemically tested in the experiment to diagnose active chemicals utilizing qualitative analysis of compounds in the plant sample using the GC-MS technique. Different treatments (concentrations) of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60% of the methanolic extract were prepared, and the results were obtained as a function of colony diameter on SDA medium along with the colony weight on SD broth medium after 14 days of incubation, and also observing the shape of fungal colonies on the culture medium. The concentrations of the methanolic extract affected the studied fungi, where T60% on Trichophyton exhibited to be the most effective, with a diameter of 9.67 mm, while T10% on Microsporum displayed the lowest effect with a diameter of 77.67 mm. As for the dry weight of the fungal colony, T60% was more effective on Trichophyton, where the average dry weight was 0.106 g, while the T10% on Microsporum exhibited the lowest effect with a dry weight rate of 0.346 g.

Water pollution is one of the most significant environmental issues and problems. Surface water, running water, and rivers are always the most polluted, due to passing through numerous areas. The objective of this study is to investigate the water quality of Euphrates River in central Iraq in terms of aquaculture, as well as how to control the concentrations of pollutants. About 60-km length of Euphrates River was modeled using artificial neural networks (ANN) using qualitative data. The standard range of polluting substances for aquaculture was evaluated, and the effect of implementing the scenario of controlling point sources of pollution and preventing the flow from coming into contact with waste piles and animal excrement were studied. Statistical criteria, including NSE, RMSE, and MAE, were used to evaluate the model performance in the training and testing phases. According to the results, implementing the desired scenario has reduced the concentrations of all pollutants to an acceptable level for aquaculture. The most significant decrease occurred in the regions closest to the industries and factories (0-10 km), while the slightest change occurred in the farthest reaches of the study area (50-60 km). The findings of this study can be used to implement water quality controls at the optimal time and location to influence the Euphrates River general state.

Due to the enormous amount of wastewater produced due to urbanization and industrialization, as well as the health and environmental risks associated with wastewater, it is essential to estimate the number of pollutants it generates accurately. This study aims to determine the rate (%) of all types of pollutants in wastewater transferred from the soil. The experiment utilized 16 polyethylene columns with a height of 200 cm and an inner diameter of 15 cm. Six 7-day intermittent flooding experiments were conducted.Three times every 21 days, a continuous and intermittent flooding method was used to dispose wastewater. Magnesium exhibited the highest transfer rate (%) among cations (73.46%), while sodium the lowest (39.76). Chlorine displayed the highest transfer rate among anions (60.85%), while bicarbonate the lowest (32.12%). In the cases of other pollutants, nickel revealed the highest (72.19%), while phosphorus the lowest (2.82%), indicating that the soil can retain phosphorus. In conclusion, examining various methods and comparing the results, plays a significant role in achieving optimal methods and estimating more accurate results.

Aloe vera is an important medicinal and cosmetic plant. This study aimed to isolate and diagnose the pathogenic fungi associated with infected Aloe vera in nurseries, Nineveh Province, Northern Iraq in 2020. The results showed the emergence of different pathogenic fungi isolated from the roots, leaves, and stem base (crown area) of Aloe vera. The primary diagnosis based on the morphological characteristics of the fungal colony grown on PDA showed the presence of Rhizoctonia solani with the highest frequency of 82.5%.  R. solani showed different infection symptoms ranging from yellowing and leaf curling, roots in reddish brown colour, and the infection progresses resulted in appearance of reddish necrotic areas on the crown area. The fungal pathogenicity was confirmed using Koch's postulates. Alternaria alternata ranked second with a frequency rate of 55.45% followed by Fusarium solani with 43.75%. The root rot causing R. solani isolate was confirmed by molecular diagnosis using PCR technique. This is considered to be the first study in Iraq for diagnosing fungi on Aloe vera using PCR with pair of specialized primers Forward FITS 5′- TCCGTAGGTGAACCTGCGG-3′ and Reverse RITS 5′- TCCTCCGCTTATTGATATGC-3′. The results showed that the isolate under study belongs to R. solani with a band size of 550 pb, which is the expected size produced by these primers. The results of DNA sequencing of R. solani isolate under study was registered under accession number 1. MW737660. Based on the NCBI information, the isolate showed a similarity in the internal cloning region (ITS) with other isolates by 92-99%.

Whitefly Bemisia tabaci is one of the most dangerous and destructive pests for crops in fields and greenhouses. Entomopathogenic fungi have emerged as an effective management method compared to potential disorders created by chemical pesticides, including environmental pollution and development of resistance. Therefore, the bio- control agents (microbial pesticides) provide an alternative to chemical pesticides due to their cheapness and ease of handling with their safe use for farmers and more selective than chemical pesticides. The laboratory study objective was to evaluate the efficiency of the bio-control agent (Beauveria bassiana) in the control of the nymph and adult stages of B. tabaci on cucumber crop. Three concentrations of fungal filtrate of this fungus, 0.25, 0.50, 1.00% conidia mL-1 were used in this study. The results showed high virulent of two tested isolates against the nymph and adult stages of the B. tabaci that different significantly when compared to the control. The mortality rate was increased by elevating the concentration and by increasing in time period of the nymph and adult exposure to fungal filtrates. The 100% concentration for both two isolates (Bb100 and Bb90) was superior from the rest of the concentrations and exhibited the mortality rate in the nymph and adult stages of this pest as 55.55% and 55.55% respectively in nymphs stage, while 52.22% and 51.10% in adult stages. In addition, in the case of effects of time periods on mortality rate after treatment, the highest mortality rate of nymphs occurred after 9 days of treatment, amounting to 84.44% and 66.66% for Bb100 and Bb90 in nymph stage, while 68.88% and 65.55% in adult stage respectively. From the point view of interaction between concentrations and time periods, the highest mortality rate in nymphs was recorded at the concentration of 1.00% after 9 days of treatment amounting to 96.66%, 93.33% for Bb100 and Bb90 respectively and 83.33%, 86.66% in adults respectively. The lowest mortality rate in nymph was 6.66 after 3 days of treatment at the concentration of 0.25% for both isolates in nymph, while in adults were 13.33% and 10.0% for Bb100 and Bb90 respectively.

In recent decades, countries have gone through a process of economic development that has resulted in environmental challenges becoming one of the most important concerns of policy-makers. Finding the primary sources of pollution is the first step in dealing with this problem. The current study focuses on this topic, highlighting the government's responsibility (compared to the private sector), since, theoretically, both government and private economic enterprises may be regarded as sources of pollution. This predicament is seen in the majority of the less-developed and emerging nations, where the governments are heavily involved in the economy. From the perspective that governments are both the cause of pollution and, at the same time, are compelled by their sovereign obligations to safeguard the environment, this debate is worthy of consideration. The present study indicates that Egypt is not excluded from this category. Since the high share of the government in the country's economy, apart from the adverse economic consequences, has created significant environmental challenges. In this article, after stating the situation of pollutants in Egypt, considering the flow of production and release of pollution in recent years, the relative share of government enterprises in the production of pollution has been investigated. The results indicate that the government's contribution to the production of pollution is very significant.

The experiment was conducted in the fields of northern Nasiriya City, Iraq, in 2020 to study the effect of adding four concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 kg ha-1) of chelate micronutrients fertilizer manufactured according to nanotechnology containing iron, zinc, manganese and boron with three concentrations (0, 1 and 2 kg ha-1) of seaweed fertilizer containing 46% organic matter and 4% amino acids on nutrients uptake of NPK and chemical properties of quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd. Randomized complete block design with three replications was used in the experiment. The results showed the best significant response once using the F3 treatment (nano-chelated fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium absorbed in the grains) with an increase of 12.86, 127.27 and 98.64% respectively compared to other treatments. In addition, F3 treatment was recorded highest value (protein 17.01, ash 4.56 and fiber 2.23%), while F2 exhibited superior values (fat 5.54 % and moisture 8.63%). Moreover, the results showed that S2 treatment (seaweed) at 3 kg ha-1 was superior in most of the studied traits except for moisture and carbohydrates which was higher in the control treatment (9.06 and 68.14%) respectively.

This study was conducted to find out the effect of variation in the nature of climatic conditions and physiographic location on the weathering intensity of the mineral composition in some Iraqi soils. Six different locations were selected within rainfall with intensity ranged between 100-1200 mm year-1, located in the north, west, central and southern Iraq. These locations were represented by the governorates of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, Salah al-Din, Wasit and Dhi Qar in the locations of Joman, Halabja, Al-Sharqat, Tikrit, Al-Suwaira project, and Hor Al-Jbayish respectively. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to diagnose the most important morphological features of clay minerals. Moreover, the examination results of clays in northern Iraq showed the presence of mica minerals in their irregular lamellar shape with rough surfaces containing cracks. These features reflected the exposure of mica minerals to different stages of weathering intensity of the layers. It was also exposed to the edges weathering in some of its areas. Likewise, the surfaces of these minerals seemed to contain slab elongated particles of regular geometric shape and with curled edges belonging to other minerals that are considered as impurities within the composition of the original mineral during the formation process. Besides, a transformation of part of the mica minerals appeared towards the expanded minerals 1:2 most likely to be Smectite minerals. As for the clays of the western regions of Iraq, the mica mineral particles appeared with multiple morphological appearances within the weathering of layers and edges. The surfaces of those particles appeared rough with the presence of the layers splitting accompanied by peeling, which indicates the exposure of these minerals to layers weathering. Furthermore, the results of general examination of the particles showed the absence of sharp edges rather, and some of them had irregular edges as a result of breaking the metal flakes as they were subjected to physical weathering in conjunction with chemical weathering, in addition, the presence of a shift at the edges of the mica minerals towards the expanded Smectite minerals 1:2. The latter appeared in the form of a white cloud, in addition to the presence of mica minerals with the weathered edges, but it appeared in a limited way, which reflects the extent of the decrease in the effective weathering intensity in those areas. The particles of the Palygorskite mineral appeared in an elongated shape, which reflects the appropriateness of the environmental conditions in those areas to form it, as it is a gypsum soil in nature. In the case of the clays of the central regions of Iraq, mica minerals appeared in the form of unaffected surfaces and the edges of some of them weathered which may have been weathered by transport and sedimentation processes. On the other hand, at the source, the conditions of the sampling areas do not encourage the occurrence of weathering processes, since they are dry or semi-dry areas with little rain. Similarly, it may be caused by wind weathering. In addition, chlorite minerals appeared in a pseudo hexagonal form, while Smectite minerals in a white cloudy form. At the same time, the clays of the southern regions of Iraq - Hor Al-Jbayish showed that a large part of the surfaces of their minerals were irregular. However, the surfaces of the mica minerals contained holes of different sizes and that some of those mineral surfaces appeared in a spongy form. Moreover, the holes that had been observed on the surfaces of Mica minerals can be the result of the presence of impurities from fossilized plant. Otherwise, animal remains during the synthesis of the mineral, which left a hole after the process of its complete dissolution. Similarly, it may be the result of the mineral impurity in the presence of impurities of other minerals that may differ in their geological age and degree of resistance to weathering. In general, all these morphological features are a product of what these minerals are exposed to the weathering processes, whether they are water or wind in the source
areas or during transport and deposition.

Milk composition and milk yield, considered as a vital role in production, effected by many genes like BLG gene. The current study was aimed to estimate the impact of BLG gene genotyping on production of Iraqi Awassi sheep from 62 ewes via Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) then Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP) method. The high variance in fat (14.24%) but relatively less in lactose (7.66%), protein (7.20%) and SNF (7.91%) that is referred to the possibility of selection of flocks depending on fat percentage. BLG gene was successfully amplified using specific primer. The calculation of allele frequency was done for all samples under study. RFLP with RsaI restriction enzyme was revealed three patterns including AA, AB and BB genotypes. AA genotype was appeared at 350bp, AB within 350bp and 450 bp respectively, and BB at 450bp. The dominated genotype was AB (37%) followed by BB (34%) and then AA (29%) with dominant A allele (0.52) than B allele. The deviations probability using Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) of BLG gene was based on chi-square (χ2) test and confirms that all frequencies within Iraqi Awassi population were in HWE (p ˂ 0.05). Current study showed that the higher rate of fat yield was related to AA genotype (9.39%), while the lowest to BB (7.84%). The present findings suggested that the significant differences are related between AB genotype (6.71%) and lactose percentage in comparison to another genotypes; AA (5.84%) and BB (6.37%). The density (g cm-2) of milk can be used to determine the quality of milk for all animal breeds. In the present study, the high milk density was related to AB genotyping (1.049%), whereas the low milk density to AA genotype (1.021%). The BLG gene can be incorporated in Iraqi Awassi breeding programs to enhance the development and improve milk components.

In this study, we worked in the various naturally-appearing compounds isolated from Juncus rijidus which exhibit phyto-constituents from leaves and stems against four dermatophytes: Microsporum canis, Microsporum gypseum, Trichophyton  rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The phytochemical of the stems and leaves were exposed to GC-MS analysis. The results showed highest activity against all reviewed fungal (dermatophytes). In the cases of T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum all three concentrations of the extract (2.5, 5 and 10 mg mL-1) exhibited a results of 0.00 mm in the diameter of colonies, while in the case of M. canis, once using 2.5, 5 and 10 mg mL-1, the diameter of colonies were 1.85, 1.25 and 1.00 mm respectively.  In the case of M. gypseum, the diameter of colonies were 1.5, 1.00 and 1.00 mm for concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10 mg mL-1 respectively. The GC-MS analysis of the J. rijidus parts showed the presence of 20 components, the list of them are presented in this report.

The resolution of environmental issues and problems is contingent on the actions and behaviors of citizens. In this regard, environmental citizenship is of particular significance due to the commitment and accountability of individuals toward problems. The current study examined the level of environmental citizenship and its role in addressing climate change-related problems in Amedi City, Iraq. The statistical population of this study consisted of 11,000 people from the city, and a simple random sampling technique was used to select 420 individuals as a statistical sample. A questionnaire was used to collect the necessary data, and its validity and dependability were also evaluated. SPSS 23 was utilized to verify the results. The findings indicated that citizens' commitment to the environment and addressing one of the environmental crises, i.e., climate change, is adequate (4.02). According to demographic variables, citizens' commitment to addressing the climate change adverse and harmful effects was investigated. The results of the ANOVA test indicated that neither gender (F = 1.26) nor age (F = 4.53) has a significant relationship with environmental citizenship (P > 0.01). In contrast, there was a significant relationship between the level of education (F = 43.49) along with socioeconomic status (F = 24.17), and environmental citizenship (P < 0.01). Also, according to the independent t-test, only spatial connection exhibited a significant relationship among the environmental citizenship parameters (P < 0.01), including spatial connection (T = 5.12) and local message framework (T = 0.86). In conclusion, it was determined that effective policymaking could increase people's commitment and sense of responsibility toward environmental consequences.

Due to the lack of fresh water, the purification of polluted water is of utmost importance and places a significant financial burden on countries. The effect of Myriophyllum spicatum and Lemna gibba on nitrate absorption in an area of the Tigris River has been investigated in the light of the low cost and ease of application of aquatic plants in purifying water pollution. Aquarium experiments were designed with three treatments, three replicates, and a closed flow. In the aquarium, the biological requirements for the growth of the studied plants were met. The residence time was determined to be 36 days, and nitrate changes were recorded every three days, 12 times. Except for periods 3 and 4, there were significant differences in the rate of nitrate absorption between the studied plants in all treatments (P < 0.05). At the end of the 12th period, M. spicatum and L. gibba had contaminant removal efficiency of 83.31% and 86.27%, respectively. L. gibba ability to utilize nitrate as a nutrient was demonstrated by its significantly increased dry weight at the end of the experiment (P < 0.05). In the current study, the significant difference between the average levels of nitrate in the samples and the control sample indicates the presence of a factor other than bacterial decomposition, namely the presence of plants. According to the findings, these macrophytes are viable for reducing nitrate and organic matter loads in polluted waters. Controlling these macrophytes, so that the nutrients in their tissues do not return to the environment during decomposition is necessary to improve water quality and maintain the achieved quality.

The expansion of aquaculture and the need for its development in tandem with environmental criteria demonstrate this importance. Among these effects is the introduction of untreated sewage from salmon breeding centers into river water, which can negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. The present study was conducted to assess the impact of salmon breeding facilities on the Iraqi Euphrates River's water quality. The physical and chemical parameters of river water were measured at ten stations during the environmental surveys to determine the scope and limits of pollution changes. Six samples were collected from each station over one year, from January 2020 to January 2021. SPSS 23 software was used to conduct statistical analyses using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's post hoc test. According to the ANOVA test's significant values, there was no statistically significant difference in the amount of TDS (p < 0.05). The remaining parameters sampled in different months exhibited significant differences (p > 0.05). Nitrate (F = 67.12), Phosphate (F = 96.53), DO (F = 22.08), BOD (F = 6.81), COD (F = 17.48) and TSS (F = 32.92) were determined to be the parameter values. The study's findings generally confirm the significant impact of fish breeding ponds on the quality of surface water resources. As a result, special attention should be prevent environmental complications through correct and principled aquaculture.

The current study aimed to extract curcumin from the rhizomes of turmeric Curcuma longa after exposing it to sonication, to confirm its specificity to curcumin through colorimetric tests, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), which proved it possesses the functional groups of curcumin. The efficiency of curcumin in its inhibitory activity against some gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial species isolated from some types of ready-to-eat foods randomly from fast food restaurants spread in Baghdad City, Iraq and with three activated colonies for each of them using the Well diffusion method.

Escherichia coli is a pathogen which can result in gastrointestinal infection. It can be transferred in a many methods, like water and food. This study is aimed to evaluate the potable water quality in Al- Kut City, Iraq, in addition to diagnosis of E. coli O157:H7 by PCR protocol. The method includes examination for total dissolved solids (TDSs), pH and electrical conductivity (EC), as well as the bacterial DNA extraction by DNA extraction kit, then detection via PCR. Primer "Rfb" was used for detection of O157 gene. The bands of PCR product was 292 bp, which has been visualized using gel electrophoresis. The results gained revealed that the advanced procedure by molecular detection may be used as a routine examination for drinking water pollution. Moreover, it is a precise procedure providing results at a less time compared to the classical culture methods.

The presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment poses great concerns because of their impacts on water quality, aquatic organisms and human health. The current study aimed to detect the residues of antibiotics including amoxicillin (AMO), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and levofloxacin (LEV) seasonally in the muscles and liver of Planiliza abu fish and indicating their effects on some health aspects of fish during November 2020 through August 2021 in two selected stations from Shatt Al-Arab, Basra, Iraq. The samples were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The current study is the first in Iraq to indicate the presence of antibiotic residues in fish. The study recorded high levels of antibiotics in the muscles and liver of fish, and the concentrations were higher in the second station than in the first one. The antibiotic AMO occupied the highest concentration in the muscles and liver of fish in the second station during the spring exhibiting 8.7 and 6.2 mg kg-1, respectively. The lowest values ​​of CIP were recorded in fish muscles in the first station during the autumn, amounting to 2.8 mg kg-1. The lowest values ​​of LEV were recorded in fish livers in the first station during the autumn amounting to 1.3 mg kg-1. In this study, the accumulation of antibiotics in the liver and muscles of fish exhibited negative effects on the health standards. The presence of antibiotic residues in fish samples in these high concentrations is a source of great concern as it is a major source of human food. The study emphasized the need to conduct more studies to detect this type of pollution and know its negative effects on the health aspects of other types of fish.

The relevance of the article is due to the search for the possibility of a COVID-19 post-pandemic recovery of the Russian economy and a return to long-term sustainable growth in total factor productivity (TFP), taking into account the recognition of the priority of the environmental aspect of development. The purpose of the study is to develop an original scientific hypothesis, according to which, in the context of planetary manifestations of large-scale environmental challenges, on the one hand, and unprecedented external sanctions pressure on the Russian Federation, on the other hand. At first, environmental investment should become the main condition and a powerful factor in the long-term sustainable growth of TFP, as well as a radical transformation of the "pro-crisis" Russian economic model in accordance with the principles of the global ESG agenda. Environmental investments are positioned as responsible, in fact, and transformative in terms of their functional role in the economy. An econometric model has been constructed that reflects the dependence of per capita GDP growth rates on the volume of investments in fixed assets directed in the Russian Federation for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, which has the form of a system of dynamic economic regressions with a distributed lag of a polynomial structure. Such a model can be used to assess the long-term and short-term responses of economic growth indicators from green investment. The methodological basis for the development of the aforementioned model was the methods of correlation, linear and nonlinear regression, factorial and dispersion analysis, the generalized least squares method, the method of instrumental variables. The main restrictions on environmental investment in modern Russia are established and proposals are made to stimulate it.

This study aims to formulate a model for the development of rural areas in Bone Bolango Regency, Gorontalo Province. This study was conducted using a descriptive research model built on regional economic theories with regional economic analysis measuring instruments. The locus of study was focused on rural areas in 18 sub-districts in Bone Bolango Regency. Sampling for SWOT analysis is carried out by Purposive Sampling, where respondents are selected based on criteria that are considered relevant and have the knowledge and ability to provide information about problems and research objectives. The sample that was successfully collected was 179 respondents consisting of representatives of government officials, business actors, experts (lecturers/practitioners), village governments, farmer leaders, and fishermen. Data analysis for rural economic bases using Location Quotient (LQ) and Shift Share where all rural areas are sampled. Analysis of strengthening strategies on the basis of the rural economy uses SWOT analysis tools to dissect internal and external factors. The results showed that several sectors include the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries sectors; mining and quarrying sector; the manufacturing industry sector; electricity and gas procurement sector; and the transportation and warehousing sector has a coefficient value of LQ>1 which means that the sector is the leading base sector of the Bone Bolango Regency area and is very prospect to continue to be developed. The results of the SWOT analysis found that the strategy of strengthening the economic base in the Bone Bolango patent was in an aggressive position (Quadrant 1). Strategies to strengthen the rural economic base that need to be implemented based on the position of quadrant 1 are: 1) increasing the competitiveness & productivity of a sustainable village economic base and integrated with superior commodity-based industries through business investment instruments and utilizing village development budgets based on rural typology characteristics. 2) strengthening the connectivity of rural areas with district service centers, especially mountainous and coastal areas, and 3) provision of economic facilities at the district center as a rural service center through strengthening business investment and government budgets.

The Iraqi dhub-lizard enters the hibernation when the temperature decreases in the winter. During this period, light microscopic analysis showed that the hepatic tissue is surrounded by a thin capsule composed mainly of collagen fibres. Trabeculae extended from this capsule towards the parenchyma were restricted to the subcapsular region and the liver tissue had no clear lobulation.  Hepatocytes were arranged into one or two cell thick cords or acini contained three to five cells.  Hepatocytes were polyhedral, oval and pyramidal in shape, and some of these cells demonstrated degenerative changes. Sinusoids appeared either as narrow irregular shape channels separating the hepatic cords with two layers of cells or wide channels separating the cords with one layer of cells. At the beginning of hibernation, application of the PAS technique revealed that glycogen granules spread heterogeneously within the hepatocyte cytoplasm and appeared dark pink in colour while at the end of hibernation these granules decreased in quantity and appeared light pink in colour. Large quantities of various-sized melano-macrophage aggregations were present in the liver tissue. The liver contained a very dense vascular system represented by the vessels of portal areas, the central veins, and the presence of hematopoietic tissue.

Environmental factors including climate factors and soil parameters affect growth, physiological processes and production of primary and secondary metabolites in plants. In addition, the responses of plants are widely varied to environmental factors. In the current study the impacts of rainfall, temperature and several soil factors such as soil texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter, organic carbon, calcium carbonate and soil elements on nutrient elements, antioxidative compounds, activity, and isoenzymes patterns of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in Stachys byzantina were investigated. S. byzantina as a valuable medicinal species was collected from three regions in the north of Iran with different altitudes and ecological conditions. The results showed that the content of nutrient elements (phosphorus, sodium, potassium, calcium), anti-oxidative compounds (phenols, flavonol, flavonoids, and anthocyanin) as well as the activity of peroxidase and superoxide dismutase enzymes along with intensity of their isoenzymes bands were positively correlated with temperature and rainfall, however, almost not correlated with soil parameters. Furthermore, the higher density of S. byzantina in the region with lower temperature and rainfall indicated greater adaptability of the plant in higher altitude areas, which is consistent with a decrease in the antioxidant compounds and activity of oxidative enzymes.

The objective of this work is to investigate the insecticidal activity of Vitex agnus castus (VAC; Lamiales: Lamiaceae) essential oils and organic extracts against the species Ceratitis capitata L. adults (Diptera: Tephritidae). Extraction of the essential oils from the leaves and seeds of the plant was carried out using hydro-distillation while organic extracts were obtained using the Soxhlet apparatus. The principal compounds of essential oils were 1, 8-cineol, α-pinene, β-farnesene and β-caryophyllène for leaves and 1, 8-cineole, sabinene, α-pinene, and β-farnesene for seeds. The insecticidal activity was determined by evaluating the adulticidal effect using direct contact application methods. Our extracts from leaves and seeds of VAC presented toxicity in Ceratitis capitata adults. Responses varied based on the type of extract, plant part, and exposure time. The good insecticidal activity was achieved by essential oils from leaves and seeds. The lethal concentration values (LC50) were 0.660 mg mL-1 and 6.170 mg mL-1 after 24 h of incubation respectively. Thus, the essential oils from The VAC leaves and seeds exhibited insecticidal activity in Ceratitis capitata and can be used as an alternative to the control of these dipterans. Organic extracts from The VAC leaves and seeds showed moderate insecticidal activity against Ceratitis capitata after a long time of incubation. Prospective studies of these oils are needed on cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and genotoxicity in human cells, in addition to the in vitro safety of these essential oils in human cells for safe use.

In the field of electricity production, factors such as the restricted availability of investment resources and the state of the surrounding environment are among the most significant factors that influence this process. Minimizing the cost and the harmful effects of the environment has always been and will be the concern of experts. The method of generating electricity using geothermal power plants is being highlighted due to the gravity of the issue of environmental protection as well as the security of electricity. Obviously, the resources necessary for investment in our country are overshadowed by environmental issues. Now, the main question is whether it is possible to replace fossil power plants with geothermal ones, or at least in the future? Given the high cost of electricity production by geothermal power plants and the state of electricity production costs in the country, this study tried to do an economic study of the aforementioned issue, taking into account the social costs. In this study, the total cost of electricity generation per kilowatt hour (kWh) in each of the power plants has been calculated. Then, a necessary evaluation has been made taking into account the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel power plants along with the imposed external costs. At the end, it was found that the production of electricity by geothermal power plants is not economically justified, compared to fossil power plants in scenarios 1 and 2. However, this can be taken into consideration in scenario 3, and it is economic in scenarios 4 and 5. Finally, it seems  using energy from fossil power plants based on scenarios 1 and 2 will not be economically justified in the not-too-distant future given the rise in electricity demand, the scarcity of fossil resources, and the high level of pollution from these sources.

The article provides an overview of methods of preserving the gene pool of rare plants in Kazakhstan. The topic is topical and the acuteness of the problem is constantly increasing as more and more plants are becoming extinct every year. The main reason for this extinction is human activity which causes direct or indirect damage to plants. Although there are many options for conserving the gene pool of plants, it is not yet possible to stop their extinction. This paper describes the methods used in Kazakhstan to preserve the gene pool of plants. An assessment of innovative biotechnology methods used by Kazakhstan and foreign scientists to preserve the gene pool of plants is given. The effectiveness and sufficiency of measures (including biotechnology) carried out in Kazakhstan for the conservation of rare plants are assessed, and recommendations in these areas are given.  In general, a conclusion is made about the insufficiency of efforts to introduce advanced methods of protecting rare plant species in Kazakhstan.

Bee products, such as honey, are widely consumed as food and medicine. Because of its sticky nature, honey does absorb bacterial spores from dust or bee activity, and their contamination may carry serious health hazards. Databases searched to obtain articles included “Google Scholar”, “SID”, “Scopus”, “PubMed”, “Science Direct”, and “ISI”. Keywords used in this study included Clostridium botulinum, Honey, bees, fungi in their titles. This study focused on published articles from 2016 to 2022. Result showed that this product may contain a great variety of bacteria and particularly, fungi that eventually entered the food chain at an early stage (e.g., via pollen). The ranges of samples with C. botulinum, yeast and mould infections were 0.5% - 68%, 15.78% - 100% and 17.22 - 100%, respectively. Overall, the amount of honey contaminated with Cl. botulinum spores, yeast, and molds in some of the samples that were evaluated was nil, however certain samples from the Lithuanian Kazakh, Turkey, and Brazil regions exhibited varying levels of contamination.

Although almost three years have passed since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), this unprecedented situation is still not under control. Since COVID-19 has the potential to harm the human body, this systematic review aimed to evaluate the outbreak of post-traumatic stress disturbance (PTSD) during the COVID-19 epidemic. We used the search strategy of “novel coronavirus” OR “2019 novel coronavirus” OR “novel coronavirus pneumonia” OR “new coronavirus” OR “coronavirus disease 2019” OR “SARS2” OR “2019-n CoV” OR “SARS-CoV-2” OR “COVID-19” AND “PTSD” OR “PTS” OR “post-traumatic stress” OR “mental disorders”. The exclusion criteria included: a) articles that were not in English or Persian language; b) articles whose full text was not available, c) articles that did not report the prevalence of PTSD, d) articles that were not specific to COVID-19 or included other diseases, e) duplicate publications; f) reviews, abstracts, case reports, case series, and g) studies with target groups other than healthcare workers (HCWs), patients with COVID-19 and general population. After reviewing the articles and checking the exclusion criteria, the full text of 27 articles was reviewed. The studies showed the prevalence of PTSD in the HCW, general population and COVID-19 patients varied from the lowest to the highest as 3.8% to 56.6%, 4.6% to 67.09% and 5.61% to 96.2%, respectively. Given the prevalence of PTSD associated to COVID-19 in the investigated groups, it is recommended to design and implement educational and interventional programs to manage stress and deal with stressful situations such as epidemics.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the nesting success and nest building behavior of myna, Acridotheres tristis, using paper/plastic Myna in artificial nest. The boxes were placed at different sites, including University Town, Rahat Abad and Qadir Abad in Peshawar City, Pakistan. The artificial nests were designed 56 × 22 cm and 21 × 16 cm in dimension with respective opening of 8 cm and 7 cm. Total number of artificial nests were 55, therein, number of successful next recorded 42 and unsuccessful 13. Artificial nests were installed in breeding season of common myna. Total nesting success was 85.71 in March-April; 68.18 in May-June and 78.94 in July-August 2022. Nest losses were recorded during six months (March to August). Total success rate (%) was 76.36% and the mean (± SD) number of plastic collected as nesting material per day was 18.8 ± 3.12.

There are many factors and environmental conditions affecting the quality and capacity of eggs produced by quail birds. We assessed the effect of storage on the mass dynamics of quail eggs after they were produced by the birds. The study was performed  on quail eggs to ensure their quality using a formula to calculate the theoretical value of the quail egg volume (cm3): V = 0.485 × D × d × d/1000, where D is the longitudinal diameter (mm); d is the transverse diameter (mm). Statistical processing of practical results was performed  using the data analysis package (SPSS). It was found that when eggs are stored for 10 days after laying at a temperature of  10-15 °С, the egg weight decreased on average by 2.6%, and the density by 2.1%. Eggs are considered one of the most important products due to containing a rich source of protein. Storing eggs in quails negatively affects the quality of eggs.