This study was undertaken to detect pregnancy in Iraqi riverine buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) using three different methods (rectal palpation, plasma progesterone concentration and detection of the presence of pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) with the BioPRYN(®) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The aim of the study was to identify the most sensitive, early and accurate method for detecting pregnancy. Twenty-two female riverine buffalo that were 6.0 ± 0.93 years old were used. Four blood samples per buffalo were taken via jugular venipuncture at days 22-24, 32-34, 42-44 and 58-61 post-mating (PM) to measure the progesterone concentration (ng/ml) and to detect the presence of plasma PSPB. The rectal palpation method was employed to evaluate all buffalo on days 42-44 and 58-61 PM. The BioPRYN(®) test differed (p<0.01) from the other tests with earlier accuracy for detecting pregnant and non-pregnant buffalo. Eighty-eight percent of pregnant and 76.9% of non-pregnant buffalo were distinguished early (days 22-24 PM) using BioPRYN(®) and plasma PSPB-ELISA level (2.09 ± 0.12 ng/ml) in relation to 66.7% and 53.9% detected using the progesterone assay at similar days (4.30 ± 0.40 ng/ml). In conclusion, these results described, for the first time, the early and accurate pregnancy detection of water riverine buffalo using BioPRYN(®) technology and provided the plasma levels of PSPB using an ELISA test. These findings will improve the reproductive and productive efficiency of Iraqi riverine buffalo by adapting the recent management and reproductive strategies in Iraq and in the world.

An ectopic pregnancy (EP) falls within the area of the gynecological emergency and/or reproductive management of women, which is the implantation of fertilized ovum outside the endometrial cavity. The etiology of EP concentrated mainly on factor causes delayed transport of the fertilized ovum through the fallopian tube (favors implantation in tubal mucosa), thus giving rise to EP. This chapter describes the causes, diagnosis, prevention and the guidelines to improve the management of women who may have an EP, a major gynecological emergency that is a cause of morbidity or even mortality of women in first trimester. Three types of EP are diagnosed: tubal, cervical and ovarian; tubal is the main type. Identification of the signs and symptoms of acute and chronic EP in women, involving classical clinical trials or other symptoms common to early pregnancy, as well as evaluating the most important congenital and acquired factors related with EP, were discussed. Explanation of the most accurate methods used to diagnose the pregnancy including serum beta hCG and progesterone levels, medical history, ultrasonography, pregnancy tests and laparoscopy was also clarified. The evaluation of the most effective management tools of EP, including methotrexate administration and surgery (laparotomy and laparoscopy), was obviously explained.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic many education organizations closed their doors to contain the spread of infection, providing learning continuity by distance and online delivery. OBJECTIVE: To explore the challenges educators faced during emergency remote learning so that others may learn from their experience. METHOD: A case study based on the experience of educators compares how education continuity was provided in Bahrain, Iraq, and Russia. Personal insights gathered using Zoom, complemented by documentary evidence, explore the ‘lived experience’ of the emergency changes made to teaching and learning provision. RESULTS: Whilst teachers and students were ill-prepared, and there were issues with electricity supply, stable Wi-Fi, and access to equipment, most countries were able to offer students access to learning using a combination of distance education and online learning. Benefits accrued were greater familiarity with the use of technology and a revaluing of the importance of social relations in teaching and learning. Early indications are that educational inequities may have been widened as a consequence. CONCLUSION: The challenges facing the education sector fall into three main categories: crisis management and decision making, infrastructure readiness, and student receptiveness. A hybrid approach, which blends face-to-face with online learning, is the way forward in the ‘new normal’ post-pandemic.

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This study was conducted to explore the effect of adding aqueous extract of Melissa officinalis leaves (AEMOL), some antioxidants and their combinations to the milk-based extenderfor increase on sperm's cells individual motility percentage on and live sperms percentage semen for Holstein bulls following different preservation periods. The study was executed at the Department of Artificial Insemination, Abu-Ghraib belong to the Directorate of Animal Resource, Ministry of Agriculture, during the period from October 2015 to February 2016 using ten Holstein bulls of 2.5-3 years old. Semen was collected via artificial vagina in one ejaculate per bull per week for the 7-week experimental period. Pooled semen was equally divided into ten groups within one experiment. In this experiment, AEMOL (0.062mg/100 ml; A2), WEMOL (0.031 mM) + 5 mM of vitamin C (A3), AEMOL (0.062mg/100 ml + 0.08 mM of Trolox (A4),AEMOL (0.062mg/100 ml + 100 IU of catalase (A5),100 IU of catalase (A6), 5 mM of vitamin C (A7), 0.08 mM of Trolox (A8), 0.2 mM of vitamin E (A9) and AEMOL (0.062mg/100 ml +0.2 mM of vitamin E (A10). The effect of these additives on semen characteristics of Holstein bulls for different preservation periods (cooling at 5◦C, 48 hrs., 1, 2 and 3 months post cryopreservation, PC) were studied. The A2 group exhibited greater (P≤ 0.01) sperm's cell individual motility, live sperm percentage, as compared with A1 group at all preservation periods. Greater sperm's cells individual motility, live sperm percentage noticed in A4 group in comparison with the A1 group at all preservation time periods. On the other hand, A5 group exhibited greater (P≤ 0.01) sperm's cell individual motility, live sperm percentage, as well as, adding of vitamin E alone (A9) or combined with AEMOL (A10) to milk-based extender had a positive (P≤ 0.01) effect in improving sperm's cell individual motility and live sperm percentage at all preservation time periods. In conclusion, adding of AEMOL as alone or combined with the other synthetic antioxidants to milk-based extenders had a crucial role in improving PC sperm's cell individual motility and live sperm percentage of Holstein bulls. This was reflected positively on increasing pregnancy rates of the inseminated cows.