To investigate the effect of vermicompost, N fertilizer and their integration on growth, biological and essential yields oil and its components in two populations (Varamin and Isfahan), an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the field of Isfahan Medicinal Plants Research Center in 2016. Fertilizer treatments including 100% urea, vermicompost 33.3 and urea 66.6%, vermicompost 66.6 and urea 33.3%, 100% vermicompost and control treatment (without fertilizer) as the first factor and Varamin and Isfahan populations as the second factor were selected. The results showed that the interaction effects of nitrogen fertilizer and populations on all studied traits were significant. In both populations, nitrogen fertilizer improved height, biological and essential oil yields, content of essential oil compounds (d-Carvone and its yield, α-phellandrene and linalool; except p-Cymene and Limonene in Isfahan population). Since in medicinal plants, the quantity (biological yield) and quality (essential oil and d-Carvone; the most important ingredient and the highest amount of essential oil in this experiment), 66.6% vermicompost + 33.3% urea in Varamin population, was the best treatment in the experiment. In addition an in the direction of human health and sustainable agriculture, it is possible to reduce 33% of chemical fertilizers application and pollution; however, in terms of other essential oil contents (α-phellandrene, Linalool and p-Cymene), 100% vermicompost fertilizer treatment was superior in Isfahan population.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare higher-order aberrations between personalized treatment (PT) versus personalized treatment advanced (PTA) photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia and myopic astigmatism.Methods: In this clinical trial, 80 eyes of 40 patients who met inclusion criteria were enrolled. They underwent PRK using PT or PTA algorithm randomly. Higher-order aberrations were measured and compared between the study groups pre-operatively and at months 3 and 6 postoperatively.Results: The two study groups were comparable in terms of preoperative higher-order aberrations.Compared to the preoperative values, higher-order aberrations were significantly increased in the PT group (p<0.001), but decreased in the PTA group (p<0.001). Spherical aberration exhibited a significant increase postoperatively in the PT group (p<0.001) but remained unchanged in the PTA group (P=0.57).Conclusion: PRK using PT algorithm resulted in an increase higher-order aberrations. PTA algorithm provided better results in terms of postoperative higher-order aberrations and could treat pre-existing higher-order aberrations.

Desert growth in Iran is a major problem. A large part of the country is surrounded by vulnerable areas at risk of desertification, so that about 75% of the ecosystems of arid and semi-arid regions of the country, face the effects and consequences of desertification. Effects such as the drying up of inland lakes, sandstorms, dust and intensification of wind erosion are a clear manifestation of the growing rate of desertification in recent years in the country. In arid and semi-arid ecosystems, there is little vegetation due to lack of moisture and other adverse climatic conditions. As a result, soils are more prone to degradation, but in some of these areas, despite the lack of soil moisture, high temperatures and other unfavorable ecological conditions, the distances between plants are often covered by a community of microscopic plants, and this Communities are known as biological soil crusts. Biological soil crusts are the association of soil mineral particles with cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, or bryophytes and are common coverings in open spaces around vascular plants in arid and semi-arid regions. Biological crusts significantly affect early ecosystem processes and have been described as ecological engineers in arid regions.

Background and Objective: Biological soil crusts are a collection of lichens, mosses, fungi, cyanobacteria, etc. that are part of the soil ecosystem. Estimation of density and distribution of biological soil crusts in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, which is the subject of soil erosion and wastage is very important. Methods based on remote sensing techniques are important in terms of cost and time less efficient methods to achieve this goal. Segzi plain is one of the critical points of wind erosion in Iran and identifying and determining the distribution of biological soil crusts as a soil modifier is an effective step in reducing wind erosion in the region. In this research, BSCI (Biological Soil Crust) index has been used to prepare the distribution map of lichen-dominated biological soil crusts. Materials and Methods: The study area is part of the Sajzi Desert (Central Deserts of Iran) which is located in Isfahan province of Iran. The study area with an area of 199. 5 hectares is spread between the eastern lengths of 51o52'32" to 52o27'41" and the northern widths of 32o33'31" to 32o55'01". The average slope of Segzi plain is 1. 08 percent and its average height is 1680 meters. According to the statistics of East Isfahan Meteorological Station (Shahid Beheshti Station), the average annual rainfall in the region is 106 mm. According to the Dumarten climatic classification, the climate of the region is dry and according to the Amberge classification it is cold. The BSCI index is a combination of the relationships used to estimate vegetation and bare soil surface, and its mathematical relationship is the slope of the soil line. To calculate the soil line in an area, one must first separate the pixels that have bare soil and no vegetation. In order to calculate the soil line equation, in four seasons of a year, images of Landsat OLI 8 satellite related to 2018 were downloaded from the site of the US Geological Survey and 20 to 30 pixels of pure bare soil were extracted by drawing the reflection values of these pixels in the red and infrared band. Red near soil line coefficients were calculated for each season in the Segzi Plain. Based on BSCI index, lichen-dominated biological soil crust are identified using at least VIS-NIR spectral reflection and the slope between the red and green bands compared to bare soil and dry vegetation. Using ENVI software, the distribution shells of biological shells with lichen dominance were prepared in four seasons since 2018 in Segzi plain. Then, the prepared maps were validated based on land points and the total accuracy and kappa index were calculated in all four seasons. The collected lichen samples were identified based on their morphological characteristics and using a stereomicroscope, conventional microscope and common color reagents such as potassium hydroxide (KOH). After applying the BSCI index on the Landsat OLI 8 satellite image, using ENVI software, spectral profiles related to 4 points of Segzi plain in four seasons of the year were prepared and the spectral reflection in four seasons of the year in different points were examined. Results and Discussion: The slope of the soil line is lower in the rainy season, which coincides with the growth of herbaceous and annual plants, compared to the summer season, which has the least amount of rainfall, and the annual plants have dried up and become extinct. In May, the slope of the soil line was minimal (0. 39) and in late summer it has its maximum value (0. 78). In fact, the slope of the soil line has decreased from mid-August to May, and then has increased with the loss of annual vegetation and the increase of bare soil surface. The distribution maps of bio-shells in all four seasons of the year were validated during field visits and the year it was found that the highest accuracy of the map related to the map produced from Landsat 8 image is related to summer with 94% total accuracy and Kappa index equal to 0. 7412. Interpretation of the spectral profiles of the BSCI index shows that the reflections of the spectra related to the zephyr and strain prepared on the lichen dispersion points are very close to each other and also the spectral profiles of the mid-autumn and early spring are quite consistent. Whereas in the faults, which did not cover the biological crust, the amount of reflection was higher and there was a slight difference between the reflection diagrams of autumn and spring. Although the reflectance values of a range of agricultural lands and the distribution points of biological crusts are very close to each other, the spectral diagrams of all four seasons are very different from each other. But in all seasons of the year and in all places, the least reflection has occurred in the beginning of winter and the most reflection has occurred in summer. The climate of Segzi plain is Mediterranean and precipitation occurs in the cold season of the year. Simultaneously with the increase of precipitation from the middle of autumn, annual plants and mosses at the base of shrubs begin to grow and reach their peak in early winter and again at the beginning of spring. Decreases in rainfall have reduced their density. If the winter spectrum has the least reflection in all places. While in late summer, when the annuals and mosses have dried up, it has had the greatest spectral reflection. In Fasaran, which is a barren area and a landfill, it has shown its maximum reflection. Therefore, the BSCI index relative to the percentage of organic matter has a significant error in the detection of biological soil crust and where the organic matter is high may not provide accurate diagnosis of soil bioshells. Of course, since the BSCI index is defined for the detection of throat compounds in lichen tissues. The error rate for organic matter is reduced to a minimum. As it has been observed in the final map, there is no cover of biological soil crusts in Fasaran and only soil biological crusts are observed in the areas around Fasaran in the agricultural areas. In agricultural areas, due to human intervention and cultivation, the amount of annual plants is different from the field of natural resources in different seasons of a year have become. Conclusion: Spectral similarity of the most important soil surface, including vegetation, the involvement of human factors in increasing or decreasing soil organic matter, bare soil, etc. limits the efficiency of the BSCI index and therefore in the time period of satellite images and regional conditions have a great impact on It has the accuracy of BSCI index.

This study investigated the occurrence and removal of 12 antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, levofloxacin, norfloxacin, nalidixic acid, azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, lincomycin, novobiocin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim) at four sewage treatment plants (STPs): two STPs in Kyoto, Japan and two STPs in Beijing, China. The STPs differed in design and operation conditions, utilized a variety of secondary treatment processes. The antibiotics were frequently detected in influents and effluents, and ranged from ng/L up to lower mg/L. In influent, clarithromycin (1.1–1.6 mg/L) and levofloxacin (3.6–6.8 mg/L) were detected in the highest concentration in Japanese and Chinese STPs, respectively. The overall elimination of the antibiotics were differed between STPs and ranged from negative to>90%. These data demonstrate that there are detectable levels of antibiotics are discharging from STPs, and only some of these antibiotics are being removed in a significant proportion by STPs. It was also observed that biological nutrient removal based sewage treatment processes (anaerobic– anoxic–oxic: A2O; and anoxic–oxic: AO) have relatively higher antibiotics removal efficiencies than oxidation ditch (OD) processes.

Nutrients in wastewater enrich the environment and cause environmental problems in aquatic environments. Conventional wastewater treatment systems are not capable of removing phosphorus effectively.  The  entry  of  phosphorus  into  water  resources  leads  to  the  formation  of  an Eutrophication  phenomenon. Micro-algae have been more effective among the various methods used for the removing of nutrients from wastewater. Wastewater biological-treatment using algae to eliminate nitrogen and phosphor and produce oxygen for aerobic bacteria is a new trend that has drawn a great deal of attention. Using sunlight, microalgae consume nutrients in wastewater and convert them into useful biomasses. Wastewater biological-treatment using microalgae was studied. Treatment efficiency of micro-algae depends on the species, algae mass concentration, aeration level, and the optimal time to maximize algae activity on wastewater.