Prospects and limitations of soil amendment and irrigation techniques for the water-saving public urban greenery and ephemeral weed management in the sandy soils of the United Arab Emirates

Public urban greenery greatly contributes to the residential and tourist value of cities in the Gulf Region,but due to the hyper-arid climatic conditions,the cost of irrigation and plant maintenance is very high.Existing strategies to reduce the monetary and ecological costs involve the cultivation of native xerophytic plantations,and/or the use of soil improvers to increase water-and nutrient-holding capacity of the sandy soils.Various soil improvers based on mineral,organic,or synthetic materials have entered the United Arab Emirates(UAE)market in recent years,but there is considerable uncertainty about how they should best be used in combination with ornamental plant stands involving xerophytic native plants.The present study investigated the effect of soil amendment and deep pipe irrigation on perennial ornamental plant stands involving native plants(Tephrosia appolinea(Gel.)Link in combination with Aerva javanica(Burm.f.)Juss.ex Schult.)and native-exotic plants(T.appolinea in combination with Ruelia simplex C.Wright)either or not topsoil and subsoil amendment with bentonite and hydrophobic sand under the irrigation water supply of less than 50%of reference evapotranspiration(ET0).After one year of cultivation,T.appolinea and A.javanica(native vs.native)produced high biomass and exhibited high water use efficiency(WUE)as compared with T.appolinea and R.simplex(native vs.exotic)combination given that no significant differences were found under the soil amendment treatments.All stands thrived under irrigation water supply far below what is usually supplied to exotic ornamental stands in public parks of the Al Ain City,the UAE.However,subsoil amendment in combination with deep pipe irrigation reduced the occurrence of weeds and increased the overall plant rooting depth.Our results suggest that subsoil amendment and irrigation up to 60-80 cm depth can potentially control ephemeral weed infestation,which is a great challenge in various plant production systems of the Gulf Region.The results of the present study suggest that the impact of soil amendment on the WUE of exotic plants is marginal and might not be economically justified.Replacing exotic with native ornamental plant species seems to have a far greater water-saving potential than the amendment of the soil,while weeds can be suppressed in the absence of topsoil moisture.

Low-Density Microplastics in Recreational Parks of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates: Abundance, Composition, and Potential Effects on Soil Health

Microplastics (MPs) have been an emerging concern due to their harmful effects on the ecosystem and are ubiquitous in various habitats, from marine to terrestrial environments. However, studies on the presence of MPs in recreational areas are limited. One of the previous works has reported that urban recreational parks are considered “sinks” for plastic debris, including MPs. In this study, low-density MPs (LD-MPs) in soil samples collected from recreational parks of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) were isolated by density flotation method. Results showed that these parks have varying levels of LD-MPs caused by various anthropogenic activities, such as sludge use and application of reclaimed water from wastewater treatment facilities in those areas. These plastic particles were isolated in 87% of the soil samples, with an average concentration of 1550 ± 340 MPs/kg. Predominantly, these comprised large LD-MPs (300 - 5000 μm), with red and blue being the most common colors. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy identified possible synthetic polymers, including polyethylene and polypropylene. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between LD-MP concentration and soil pH and moisture content, indicating potential adverse effects on soil health. These findings highlight the need for monitoring and managing microplastic pollution in urban recreational areas to mitigate its ecological impacts.

Modeling and Mapping Sand Encroachment Risk as an Aid for Urban Planning in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Sand encroachment into urban areas represents a high risk factor for transportation infrastructural and urban development in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE is located in one of the world’s largest arid regions with a strong prevalence of sand movement and encroachment into urban areas, particularly in the last few years. The objective of this research is to develop a land surface process platform that models sand movements and further generates an encroachment risk index map of potential encroachment risk areas season-wise in the UAE. To achieve this objective, this research used elevation and land cover maps generated from Lands at 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data which represent the topography of the study area coupled with meteorological information on wind speed, temperature and precipitation. Furthermore, the study considered the vegetation cover as a major contribution factor to reduce sand encroachment. Using developed sand movement model for this research, sand encroachment risk maps were generated to help urban planners in cities making informed decisions of future urban protection structures and transportation networks that mitigate the effects of sand dunes encroachments in the UAE. A major finding of this research results conclude that during the summer season encroachment risk reaches 30% higher compared to the winter season due to the extremely high temperature which leads to reduced vegetation in the country. Urban planning decision maker may consider the finding of this research for future infrastructural adjustments.

Pyrethroid Insecticide Resistance <i>kdr</i>Gene in the House Fly, <i>Musca domestica</i>(Diptera: Muscidae), in the United Arab Emirates

The house fly, Musca domestica L., is a very important insect because of its role as a vector of several human, livestock, and poultry diseases. Different groups of insecticides, including the pyrethroids, are used to control house flies. The objective of the current study was to conduct a survey of the kdr insecticide resistance gene in the house fly population in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Flies were collected from five locations (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Ajman, and Ras Al- Khaymah). Genomic DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of specific allele (PASA) was performed. The maximum percentage (70%) of homozygous genotype (kdr/kdr) occurred at Ajman, followed by Dubai (59.5%), and the minimum percentage occurred at Ras Al-Khaymah (14.3%). Resistant insects of the genotype kdr/kdr were detected in all of the tested house fly populations. Ajman and Fujairah house fly populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The resistance kdr allele was found at a high frequency (0.54 - 0.8) at all locations except at Ras Al-Khaymah (0.21). Together, this study demonstrated that the pyrethroid insecticide resistance kdr allele was found in UAE house fly populations, strongly suggesting that a countrywide pyrethroid insecticide resistance management program needs to be implemented.

Analysis of the Solid Contents of Toothpastes Available in UAE (United Arab Emirates) Markets

In order to find out whether any toothpastes commercially available in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) carry microplastic content in form of plastic microbeads, the filterable solid contents of 31 toothpastes from UAE markets and 2 toothpastes imported from Syria were analyzed. FT-IR studies of the solids revealed that the major solid components were hydrated silica and calcium carbonate, where the individual toothpaste product exhibited either one or the other as the dominant constituent. Titrimetric analysis of the alkalinity of the ash of the toothpastes was carried out. The solids, ashed at 600°C were subjected to FT-IR and EDS (energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic) analysis. The ash of some of the products was shown to have TiO2 and Ca3 (PO4)2 as minor components. Mostly organic dyes were used as colorants;however, iron oxide (Fe2O3) was also found. Importantly, none of the toothpastes carried any solid microplastic particles. Only 3 toothpastes carried microbeads at all, which were made of either silica or microcrystalline cellulose. This finding indicates that toothpastes, at least in the UAE, are no longer a significant source of microplastic in the environment. The results were compared to a toothpaste bought through the internet with a formulation from 2014, which exhibited polythene microplastic at 1.31 ± 0.39 w% of the filterable solid content.

Semial ophiolite veins of United Arab Emirates―A fluid inclusions study

Calcite and quartz veins in the gabbroic and dunite rocks of the Semial ophiolite (UAE) were selected for fluid inclusion analysis. The inclusions contain both aqueous low-salinity and hydrocarbon-dominated fluids. Mi-crothermometry data indicate that the aqueous fluids contain 0.22 to 1.45 equivalent wt% NaCl and occasionally contain traces of hydrocarbons. Homogenization to liquid occurred between 91 and 152℃. Modeling based on these fluid inclusion observations indicates that the trapping conditions of the studied rocks were subjected to temperatures of 162 and 172℃, occasional pressures of 610-710 Pa and the sequence percolation of aqueous and hydrocarbon fluids.

Experimental investigation of limestone of the Faiyah Range area,United Arab Emirates

The paper presents results of a laboratory experimental program performed on limestone rock samples, using both physical and mechanical methods. The studied rocks (Simsima Formation, Upper Cretaceous) can be classified as highly ferruginous and highly fossilliferous limestone. The lower part of the Simsima Formation contains common fauna such as Orbittoids, rhodolithic and rudists, whereas the upper part of the limestone is interbedded with conglomerates. Detailed geological, petrographic in addition to physical and mechanical tests were carried out on some representative samples from the Faiyah area, aiming at getting a better understanding of the important properties of these rocks. It is shown that the uniaxial unconfined compressive stress is the controlling factor of classification of the Faiyah limestone.

Seroprevalence of celiac disease among United Arab Emirates healthy adult nationals: A gender disparity

AIM: To determine celiac disease (CD) prevalence and associated manifestations or risk factors in healthy adult Emiratis.

Phenology of desert plants from an arid gravel plain in eastern United Arab Emirates

Phenological events for desert plants were recorded and rainfall and temperature data were gathered over a three-year time scale at a gravel plain in the eastern region of the United Arab Emirates. Variations of phenological periods were analyzed and correlations between phenological periods and climate factors were discussed. The study showed that the growth and flowering of therophytes were significantly correlated with air tem- perature. The timing and abundance of rainfall came to be another factor significantly correlated with the onset and duration of chamaephyte flowering as well as the duration of therophyte growth and flowering. The variation in rainfall did not affect the onset of flowering in phanerophytes. Peak growing seasons were from November to March and flowering from November to December （also February to March depending on the availability of rainfall）. Flowering in phanerophytes and chamaephytes occurs 4-6 weeks and in therophytes 4-8 weeks after rain, The results showed that variations in growth and phenology between species were correlated with environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall or, maybe, differences in life form and photosynthetic pathways, each being adapted for utilizing a particular phase of the seasonally and yearly variable rainfall. The sequence of flowering for the species under study was more or less constant despite the difference in the amount of rainfall. The fruiting patterns of most of the species were also found parallel to their flowering patterns. Our results emphasized the need to study multiple species at many sites for the understanding and forecast of regional changes in phenology.

Microplastic in an Arid Region: Identification, Quantification and Characterization on and Alongside Roads in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Microplastic content was analyzed in road dust, soils alongside roads and stormwater run-offs in Al Ain City, Abu Dhabi. Apart from tire wear material, fibers and degradation products of meso- and macroplastics such as plastic bags and plastic bottle tops were found to be the most dominant plastic microparticles. Speed bumps and artificial turf/lawns were also evaluated as potential sources of microplastics on and alongside roads. It was found that in arid regions Aeolian transport of microplastics may be more important than transport by water.

Indoor Air Quality in the United Arab Emirates

Air quality was measured inside 628 United Arab Emirates (UAE) personal residences. Weekly average concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and three size fractions of particulate matter (PM2.5, PMc, and PM10) were determined in each home. In a subset of the homes, measurements of outdoor air quality, ultrafine PM concentrations, and elemental PM concentrations were also made. Questionnaires were administered to obtain information on housing demographics and lifestyle habits. Air measurements were performed using simple and cost effective passive samplers. The 90th percentiles of indoor CO, HCHO, H2S, NO2, and SO2 were 1.55 ppm, 0.05 ppm, 0.12 ppm, 0.01 ppm, and 0.05 ppm, respectively. Median indoor PM2.5, PMc, and PM10, concentrations were 5.73 μg/m3, 29.4 μg/m3, and 35.2 μg/m3, respectively. The median indoor concentration of ultrafine PM was 3.62 × 1010 particles/m3. Indoor/outdoor ratios for PM were 0.44, 0.41, and 0.38 for ultrafine PM, PM2.5, and PM10, respectively. These values fall within the range of other indoor air studies findings conducted in developing countries. Air conditioning, smoking, and attached kitchens were significantly correlated with indoor levels of carbon monoxide. In addition, indoor concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were significantly correlated with vehicles parked within five meters of the home, central air conditioning, and having attached kitchens. This is the first robust indoor air quality data set developed for the UAE. This study demonstrates that screening level tools are a good initial step for assessing air quality when logistical issues (distance, language, cultural, training) and intrusion into personal lives need to be minimized.

Molecular breakthroughs in modern plant breeding techniques

Advancements in molecular approaches have been utilized to breed crops with a wide range of economically valuable traits to develop superior cultivars.This review provides a concise overview of modern breakthroughs in molecular plant production.Genotyping and high-throughput phenotyping methods for predictive plant breeding are briefly discussed.In this study,we explore contemporary molecular breeding techniques for producing desirable crop varieties.These techniques include cisgenesis,clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat(CRISPR/Cas9)gene editing,haploid induction,and de novo domestication.We examine the speed breeding approach-a strategy for cultivating plants under controlled conditions.We further highlight the significance of modern breeding technologies in efficiently utilizing agricultural resources for crop production in urban areas.The deciphering of crop genomes has led to the development of extensive DNA markers,quantitative trait loci(QTLs),and pangenomes associated with various desirable crop traits.This shift to the genotypic selection of crops considerably expedites the plant breeding process.Based on the plant population used,the connection between genotypic and phenotypic data provides several genetic elements,including genes,markers,and alleles that can be used in genomic breeding and gene editing.The integration of speed breeding with genomic-assisted breeding and cutting-edge genome editing tools has made it feasible to rapidly manipulate and generate multiple crop cycles and accelerate the plant breeding process.Breakthroughs in molecular techniques have led to substantial improvements in modern breeding methods.

Isolation and identification of desert habituated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi newly reported from the Arabian Peninsula

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi（AMF） are known to facilitate the growth and vigour of many plants, particularly in arid ecosystems. In a survey of AMF in a date palm plantation and two natural sites of a desert in Oman, we generated many single spore-derived cultures of AMF. We identified a number of these isolates based on spore morphotyping and molecular phylogenetic analysis using the sequence of the LSU-rDNA. Here, we presented the characteristics of four species of AMF recovered, namely Claroideoglomus drummondii, Diversispora aurantia, Diversispora spurca and Funneliformis africanum. The four species have been described previously, but for the Arabian Peninsula they are reported here for the first time. Our endeavor of isolation and characterization of some AMF habituated to arid sites of Arabia represents a first step towards application for environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture in this region.

Microplastic in Commercial Fish in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Part 1: The Mediterranean Sea

Microplastic has become a ubiquitous environmental pollutant. Microplastic in the oceans has detrimental effects on aquatic organisms. The presence of microplastic in marine fish heightens the chance of finding microplastic in seafood targeted for human consumption. The Mediterranean Sea is known to suffer from significant plastic pollution. It is also one of the most thoroughly studied water bodies in regard to microplastic contamination. The manuscript reviews the available literature of 2015-2021 on the presence of microplastic in commercially important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. The literature data on microplastic content on beaches, in subtidal sediment, in the sediment from the ocean floor and in surface water of different regions of the Mediterranean Sea is reviewed, also.

Microplastic in Commercial Fish in the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea and the Arabian/Persian Gulf. Part 3. The Arabian/Persian Gulf

The manuscript reviews the available literature of 2015-2022 on the microplastic content in commercially important fish species, molluscs and crustaceans in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. The literature on microplastic concentrations on beaches, in subtidal sediment, and in surface water of different regions of the Arabian/Persian Gulf is evaluated, also. Overall, the reported concentration of microplastic in marine organisms in the Gulf has been found to be less than for comparable waters such as the Mediterranean Sea. The highest microplastic concentration within the region of the Gulf has been found on its Northern shore, in Iran, where also most of the microplastic studies within the region stem from.

Network traffic classification:Techniques,datasets,and challenges

In network traffic classification,it is important to understand the correlation between network traffic and its causal application,protocol,or service group,for example,in facilitating lawful interception,ensuring the quality of service,preventing application choke points,and facilitating malicious behavior identification.In this paper,we review existing network classification techniques,such as port-based identification and those based on deep packet inspection,statistical features in conjunction with machine learning,and deep learning algorithms.We also explain the implementations,advantages,and limitations associated with these techniques.Our review also extends to publicly available datasets used in the literature.Finally,we discuss existing and emerging challenges,as well as future research directions.

Emergence of taurine as a therapeutic agent for neurological disorders

Taurine is a sulfur-containing,semi-essential amino acid that occurs naturally in the body.It alternates between inflammation and oxidative stress-mediated injury in various disease models.As part of its limiting functions,taurine also modulates endoplasmic reticulum stress,Ca^(2+)homeostasis,and neuronal activity at the molecular level.Taurine effectively protects against a number of neurological disorders,including stro ke,epilepsy,cerebral ischemia,memory dysfunction,and spinal cord injury.Although various therapies are available,effective management of these disorders remains a global challenge.Approximately 30 million people are affected worldwide.The design of taurine fo rmation co uld lead to potential drugs/supplements for the health maintenance and treatment of central nervous system disorders.The general neuroprotective effects of taurine and the various possible underlying mechanisms are discussed in this review.This article is a good resource for understanding the general effects of taurine on various diseases.Given the strong evidence for the neuropharmacological efficacy of taurine in various experimental paradigms,it is concluded that this molecule should be considered and further investigated as a potential candidate for neurotherapeutics,with emphasis on mechanism and clinical studies to determine efficacy.

Carboxylic bacterial cellulose fiber-based hydrogel electrolyte with imidazole-type ionic liquid for dendrite-free zinc metal batteries

Aqueous zinc metal batteries are regarded as the most promising energy storage system due to their advantages of high safety,low cost,and high theoretical capacity.However,the growth of dendrites and the occurrence of side reactions hinder the development of zinc metal batteries.Despite previous attempts to design advanced hydrogel electrolytes,achieving high mechanical performance and ionic conductivity of hydrogel electrolytes has remained challenging.In this work,a hydrogel electrolyte with an ionic crosslinked network is prepared by carboxylic bacterial cellulose fiber and imidazole-type ionic liquid,following by a covalent network of polyacrylamide.The hydrogel electrolyte possesses a superior ionic conductivity of 43.76 mS cm^(−1),leading to a Zn^(2+)migration number of 0.45,and high mechanical performance with an elastic modulus of 3.48 GPa and an elongation at breaking of 38.36%.More importantly,under the anion-coordination effect of the carboxyl group in bacterial cellulose and[BF4]−in imidazole-type ionic liquid,the solvation sheath of hydrated Zn^(2+)ions and the nucleation overpotential of Zn plating are regulated.The results of cycled testing show that the growth of zinc dendrites is effectively inhibited and the generation of irreversible by-products is reduced.With the carboxylic bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel electrolyte,the Zn||Zn symmetric batteries offer good cyclability as well as Zn||Ti batteries.

Efficient processed carbon Soot@MoS_(2) hybrid Bi-functional electrode for dye-sensitized solar cell and asymmetric supercapacitor devices

A feasible approach to rectify the world's energy demand using sustainable development of adequate energy generation and storage technologies in a single channel.In this respect,we made a holistic approach with a bifunctional electrode material to perform effectively in energy generation and storage applications.MoS_(2) nanosheets were produced by the eco-friendly method and reduced graphene oxide is used to prepared by carbon soot which is derived from castor oil.The prepared soot and rGO were combined with MoS_(2) nanosheets using a simple sonication method.The as-prepared sample was introduced in the supercapacitor and DSSC application.The combination MoS_(2)@rGO provides an enhanced conversion efficiency of 11.81%and the reproducibility of DSSC is also studied.Further,MoS_(2)@rGO is used to fabricate an asymmetric supercapacitor to investigate its real-time application.The device produced the maximum power density(1666.6 mW/kg)and energy density(25.69 mWh/Kg)at 1 A/g.The asymmetric supercapacitor device holds a cyclic stability of 81.4%for 5000 cycles and it powered up an LED device for 4 min.

Benchmarking YOLOv5 models for improved human detection in search and rescue missions

Drone or unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)technology has undergone significant changes.The technology allows UAV to carry out a wide range of tasks with an increasing level of sophistication,since drones can cover a large area with cameras.Meanwhile,the increasing number of computer vision applications utilizing deep learning provides a unique insight into such applications.The primary target in UAV-based detection applications is humans,yet aerial recordings are not included in the massive datasets used to train object detectors,which makes it necessary to gather the model data from such platforms.You only look once(YOLO)version 4,RetinaNet,faster region-based convolutional neural network(R-CNN),and cascade R-CNN are several well-known detectors that have been studied in the past using a variety of datasets to replicate rescue scenes.Here,we used the search and rescue(SAR)dataset to train the you only look once version 5(YOLOv5)algorithm to validate its speed,accuracy,and low false detection rate.In comparison to YOLOv4 and R-CNN,the highest mean average accuracy of 96.9%is obtained by YOLOv5.For comparison,experimental findings utilizing the SAR and the human rescue imaging database on land(HERIDAL)datasets are presented.The results show that the YOLOv5-based approach is the most successful human detection model for SAR missions.