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The Russia-Ukraine War: Causes, Consequences and Solutions
Get PDFThe Russia-Ukraine War stands out as a significant conflict in modern times, profoundly affecting both regional and global stability. An ongoing war has been taking place between Russia and Ukraine since 2014 because of the Ukrainian revolution with the annexation of Crimea by Russia. On February 24th, 2022, when President Putin declared the special military operation marked the beginning of a full-fledged war in Ukraine. Geopolitically speaking this war has resulted in a significant shift as Russia faces greater isolation and scrutiny from the global community while Ukraine seeks stronger ties with Western powers. Besides that, the conflict has resulted in countless deaths along with millions having been displaced which in turn led to an ongoing humanitarian crisis. The world before and after the military operation will not be the same; several actors are involved in flaming and escalating the situation, which led to one of the worst disasters of the twenty-first century. In this study, the author adopted a qualitative research approach, delving into the intricate causes of the conflict through thematic analysis of a wide range of secondary sources. The research closely examines historical, geopolitical, and ethnic tensions that have played a significant role in escalating hostilities. The central focus of this research is to untangle the intricate web of interests and power dynamics that are influencing the conflict. Hence, the conflict impacts both regional and global geopolitics, affecting the stability of the international system. It highlights the absence and failure of diplomacy in preventing the conflict from escalating
Corporate Governance Reform and Real Earnings Management in Nigeria: An Analysis of pre and post mandatory Code of 2018
Get PDFThe paper addressed the question of whether corporate board attributes constrain the effect of REM before and after the mandatory code of 2018 in Nigeria. The data was analysed using panel corrected standard Error (PCSE). The analysis was divided in to pre -period (2016-2017) and post mandatory period (2019-2020). The study established that EM has drastically reduced during the post mandatory period due to strong monitoring by the board. Specifically, I found that independent directors and financial expertise directors significantly reduced the magnitude of real earnings management. Contrary to the research hypothesis, the research established that existence of foreign board member does not constrain the trend of earnings management even after the mandating. Finally, the result also recorded that director’s ownership helps in the implementation of mandatory measures which mitigate the likelihood of REM, both before and after the mandatory period
Exploring Variations in Parental Concerns about Children’s Education in Iraq: The Role of Education Level and Income
Get PDFEducation serves as a cornerstone for the progress of a nation and is a fundamental entitlement for every child. The objective of this study is to explore the intersection of education, income and the worries related to children’s education is of paramount importance. This study aims to explore the differences in worries across diverse education levels and income levels and secondly to contribute insights to academic literature. Utilizing the data of the country Iraq (N=1200) among which (50.3% are Males and 49.7% are Females) from the Seventh Wave of the World Values Survey. The findings reveal that there is statistically significant variance based on the Education level of the respondents, but no variance based on the income level. The study, recommends an urgent need to address educational disparities in Iraq and suggests that the policymakers make policies to cater to the needs of the specific groups and increase the investment on Education and promote income and education equity initiatives
Evaluating the potential of geopolymer concrete as a sustainable alternative for thin white-topping pavement
Get PDFIntroduction: The construction industry uses a large quantity of natural materials in the production of concrete. Although attempts to incorporate green materials in concrete began years ago, not every building uses such materials today, and roadways, particularly, still rely on unsustainable materials.
Methods: Therefore, this study used alternative materials, including fly ash, manufactured sand aggregates, and different molarities of alkaline activators, to incorporate waste byproducts in a geopolymer concrete white-topping pavement layer. Recent developments have led to the emergence of geopolymers as distinct classes of materials. In the 1990s, fly ash-based geopolymers became more popular than other kinds, as they are more efficient compared to Portland cement concrete.
Results: Aluminosilicate gel can be obtained by combining fly ash and alkaline solution. A comprehensive literature review of geopolymer concrete was performed in this study. It examines its critical design parameters, including alkaline solutions, curing temperatures, curing methods, workability, and compressive strength under various environmental conditions. This review provides a unique opportunity for researchers to understand how geopolymer concrete performs.
Discussion: A range of conditions were investigated to determine how to enhance and use this material in a variety of ways. The fresh characteristics of different mixes were studied using slump and Vee-Bee tests, and the characteristics of the cured concrete mixes were determined using flexural, compressive, and flexural fatigue tests. The results indicated that the use of manufactured sand and fly ash with high-molarity alkaline activators results in a geopolymer concrete with an excellent maximum resistance of 5.1 N/mm2 workability, strength, and fatigue properties, making it suitable for use in roadway pavement
Integrating Remote Sensing Techniques and Meteorological Data to Assess the Ideal Irrigation System Performance Scenarios for Improving Crop Productivity
Get PDFTo increase agricultural productivity and ensure food security, it is important to understand the reasons for variations in irrigation over time. However, researchers often avoid investigating water productivity due to data availability challenges. This study aimed to assess the performance of the irrigation system for winter wheat crops using a high-resolution satellite, Sentinel 2 A/B, combined with meteorological data and Google Earth Engine (GEE)-based remote sensing techniques. The study area is located north of Erbil city in the Kurdistan region of Iraq (KRI) and consists of 143 farmer-owned center pivots. This study also aimed to analyze the spatiotemporal variation of key variables (Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Precipitation (mm), Evapotranspiration (ETo), Crop evapotranspiration (ETc), and Irrigation (Hours), during the wheat-growing winter season in the drought year 2021 to understand the reasons for the variance in field performance. The finding revealed that water usage fluctuated significantly across the seasons, while yield gradually increased from the 2021 winter season. In addition, the study revealed a notable correlation between soil moisture based on the (NDMI) and vegetation cover based on the (NDVI), and the increase in yield productivity and reduction in the yield gap, specifically during the middle of the growing season (March and April). Integrating remote sensing with meteorological data in supplementary irrigation systems can improve agriculture and water resource management by boosting yields, improving crop quality, decreasing water consumption, and minimizing environmental impacts. This innovative technique can potentially enhance food security and promote environmental sustainability
Essential Oil Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Eucalyptus largiflorens F. Muell
Get PDFIn this study, we investigated the chemical composition, the antibacterial activity, and the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from the leaves, flowers, and fruits of Eucalyptus largiflorens F. Muell. The antioxidant effects of the methanolic extract of aerial parts of the plant, obtained by Soxhlet apparatus, were estimated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and β-carotene/linoleic acid methods. The essential oils were chemically characterized by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and flame ionization detector (FID). Thirty compounds were identified, with 1,8-cineol, α-pinene, aromadendrene, globulol and α-phellandrene being the major components. The antibacterial activities of the essential oils were tested against several bacterial isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia Coli, using the disc diffusion method. All the essential oils exhibited antibacterial activity. The maximum zone of inhibition was observed for Escherichia coli, with the fruit essential oil in the concentration (100 μL). There was no significant antioxidant activity in the essential oils, while the extracts exhibited considerable antioxidant effects in comparison to butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). In this regard, the flower extract showed the highest antioxidant activity in both DPPH (IC50 = 21.5±0.2 μg/mL) and β-carotene/linoleic acid tests (Inhibition (%) = 84.3±0.7). Finally, the fruit essential oil exerts a significant antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains and exhibits a significant antioxidant effect in the β-carotene/linoleic acid tests, thus it may represent an innovative nutraceutical tool able to act on bacteria and host oxidative stress related to infections
Role of Renewable Energy and Financial Innovation in Environmental Protection: Empirical Evidence from UAE and Saudi Arabia
Get PDFIn modern times, many countries are committed to achieving climate neutrality and environmental sustainability. Without financial innovation and green financing, switching to clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and mitigating climate change will be impossible. The main objective of this study is to obtain zero carbon to protect the environment. To analyze sustainable development pathways, this research examines the impact of renewable energy and financial innovation on the environmental protection of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia from 2010 to 2021. The use of renewable energy sources, pollution, and climate change are all significant elements. Innovation can help slow the rate of global warming by lowering carbon emissions and expanding the usage of renewable energy sources. Green financing and innovation are powerful tools for environmental safety and deterioration. The acceleration of renewable energy growth is the primary driver of sustainable development. Moreover, green financing balances the innovation–energy–environment–climate nexus. Similarly, green finance amplifies the positive effects of innovation on using renewable energy. This study provides valuable insights into achieving zero carbon by producing renewable energy sources and modern green technology. Further research is possible by adding more dimensions of renewable energy sources
Effect of Cholesterol and Different Solvents on Particle Size, Zeta Potential and Drug Release of Eucalyptus Oil Phytosome
Get PDFBackground: Herbal extracts show poor absorption and bioavailability but their complex with phospholipids i.e., phytosome improves this major problem. Aim: The aim of research was to examine the effect of cholesterol and different organic solvents on particle size and zeta potential of eucalyptus oil phytosome. Materials and Methods: Totally six batches of phytosomes were prepared using three solvents chloroform, dichloromethane, acetone, with and without addition of cholesterol. Phytosome were evaluated for yield, FTIR, partial size and zeta potential, drug entrapment and drug release, drug release kinetics and stability studies. Results: The yield, density refractive index and maximum absorbance (λmax) of eucalyptus oil was found to be 1.65±0.74%, 0.9928 g/cm³ (24.2°C), 1.3613(24.6°C), and 297.733 nm respectively. There was no drug excipient interaction. The yield varied from 85.14±0.74 to 87.14±0.74%, particle size varied from 71.76±0.63 to 197.36±0.53 nm, zeta potential varied from 15.3±0.27 to-28.2±0.26 mV and entrapment efficiency varied from 57.45±0.35 to 67.34±0.52 respectively. The in vitro drug release varied from 87.26±0.63 to 71.35±0.63% up to 300 min (5 hr) and batch-A was selected as best formulation that showed Peppas Korsmeyer as the best fit model with R2 value 0.9422 and mechanism of drug release was Fickian Diffusion (Higuchi Matrix). The stability studies showed 99.14±0.25 to 99.55±0.52% drug content on 28th day. Conclusion: The particle size of phytosomes was increased on addition of cholesterol. The acetone showed the smallest particle size and chloroform showed the biggest particle size that indicated that molecule diameter and molecular weight affects the solubility and assembly of phospholipid/ cholesterol in solvent in order to prepare particulate drug delivery syste
Arduino based 74-series integrated circuits testing system at gate level
Get PDFThe goal of this research article is to build and implement a low-cost, user-friendly 74-series logic integrated circuits (ICs) tester that is independent of a computer. Depending on the truth table of the gates and the IC configuration, the logic IC tester will be able to test the operation of the 74 series logic gates (AND, OR, NOR, NAND, XOR) of those ICs. It is feasible to test a range of logic ICs with higher pin widths thanks to the proposed system’s usage of an Arduino Mega platform module as a microcontroller, which provides the ability to connect 54 programmed logic inputs or outputs. The versatility offered by this design and the use of a personal computer allow for the reprograming and updating of the logic IC functional tester. Any 74-series ICs testing outcome will be shown on liquid crystal display (LCD) at the gate level. The logic IC functional tester was successfully constructed and operates flawlessly
Constituents and Selective BuChE Inhibitory Activity of the Essential Oil from Hypericum aciculare Kunth
Get PDFA potential source of new inhibitors of cholinesterase enzymes are certain compounds of natural plant origin; therefore, in the study described herein we have determined the chemical composition and the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activities of the essential oil (EO) steam distilled from aerial parts of Hypericum aciculare, which was collected in southern Ecuador. The oil qualitative and quantitative composition was determined by GC-FID and GC-MS using a non-polar and a polar chromatographic column. A total of fifty-three constituents were identified, that accounted for about 98% of the EO content. The hydrocarbon n-nonane (16.4–28.7%) and the aldehyde n-decanal (20.7–23.1%) were the predominant oil constituents. In addition, the EO showed significant inhibition of BuChE (IC50 = 28.3 ± 2.7 μg/mL) and moderate activity towards AChE (IC50 = 82.1 ± 12.1 µg/mL). Thus, the EO from H. aciculare aerial parts is an interesting candidate to investigate the mechanism of selective ChE inhibition by the two ChE enzymes with the aim to discover potential targets to control the progression of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD)