Evaluation of Raw Milk Quality Using the Methylene Blue Reduction Test

The microbiological quality of raw milk remains a significant public health concern, especially in regions where unpasteurized milk is commonly consumed. Although raw milk hygiene has been studied previously, detailed assessments of bacterial load using the Methylene Blue Reduction Test (MBRT) under the specific environmental and hygienic conditions of Kabul, Afghanistan, are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate bacterial contamination in raw milk from the 13th district of Kabul city. A total of 52 milk samples were randomly collected from four locations—Qala-e-Naw, Pul-e-Khesk, Tank-e-Tel, and Qala-e-Qazi—and transported under strict hygienic conditions to the Food Technology and Hygiene Laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Science. Bacterial load was determined by the time required for methylene blue decolourization, which reflects microbial metabolic activity. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate contamination percentages and compare mean decolourization times to classify milk quality. Results revealed contamination rates of 42.33%, 30.76%, 15.30%, and 11.53% in Qala-e-Naw, Pul-e-Kheshk, Tank-e-Tel, and Qala-e-Qazi, respectively, with Qala-e-Naw exhibiting the highest contamination. These findings indicate substantial microbial risks in raw milk and underscore the need for improved milking hygiene, proper handling practices, and public education to ensure food safety and protect consumer health in the region

Moringa Oleifera as a Nutraceutical Resource: Nutritional Profile and Its Impact on Broiler Growth Performance

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae), a highly valued plant native to tropical and subtropical regions, is renowned for its nutritional and medicinal properties, making it a promising resource for both human and animal nutrition. This review aims to comprehensively evaluate the phytochemistry, climatic adaptability, nutritional profile, and effects of M. oleifera as a feed additive in broiler nutrition, with a focus on its potential as a sustainable alternative to antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) in poultry production. Rich in essential amino acids, vitamins (A, B, C, E), minerals (calcium, potassium, iron), and bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and antioxidants, M. oleifera exhibits significant medicinal and growth-promoting properties. Numerous studies have explored its incorporation into broiler diets in forms such as M. oleifera leaf meal (MOLM), leaf powder (MOLP), and fermented leaf (FMOL) at inclusion levels ranging from 1–5%. While findings vary, moderate inclusion levels (1–5%) often improve key growth performance parameters, including body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio, though higher levels may reduce efficacy due to anti-nutritional factors. This review synthesizes peer-reviewed evidence from 2010–2024 to elucidate M. oleifera’s nutritional composition, optimal dietary inclusion, and impact on broiler health and productivity. By highlighting its role as a functional feed additive, this work underscores M. oleifera’s potential to support sustainable, health-promoting strategies in broiler production in the post-AGP era

Physicochemical and Microbiological Assessment of Drinking Water in Selected Poultry Farms in Kabul Province, Afghanistan

Poultry is a vital sector and an important source of income for many families in Afghanistan. Water quality is a key factor affecting poultry health and productivity. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the physicochemical and microbiological quality of water sources used in poultry farms in Kabul Province. Water samples were collected from 20 poultry farms and analyzed for total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC) (Escherichia coli), pH, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, chlorine concentration, and turbidity. The results showed that TC and FC levels exceeded acceptable limits (>50 CFU/100 mL) in 65% and 10% of primary water sources, respectively. The median TC and FC values in primary water sources were 63 CFU/100 mL (range: 0–317) and 4.5 CFU/100 mL (range: 0–14), respectively. In secondary water sources, TC and FC exceeded permissible limits in 75% and 55% of samples, with median values of 266 and 84 CFU/100 mL, respectively. Significant differences in TC and E. coli levels were observed between primary and secondary water sources (p < 0.05), and among physicochemical parameters; turbidity and electrical conductivity exceeded recommended standards. A significant positive correlation was found between TC and FC (r = 0.603; p < 0.05), while both showed a significant negative correlation with chlorine levels (p < 0.05). These findings highlight substantial health risks associated with poultry farm water sources and underscore the need for improved water management practices to ensure safe, sustainable poultry production in Kabul Province

Principles and Requirements of Battery Electrolytes: Ensuring Efficiency and Safety in Energy Storage

Electrolytes lie at the heart of every battery, serving as the medium that allows ions to move between electrodes and enabling energy to be stored and released efficiently. Their properties, such as ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and thermal resilience, directly shape the performance, safety, and lifespan of energy storage systems. As demand for reliable batteries grows in electric vehicles, renewable energy integration, and portable devices, the design of better electrolytes has become a critical research priority. This review brings together insights from a wide range of studies to examine the principles, requirements, and limitations of five major electrolyte systems: aqueous, organic, ionic liquid, solid-state, and redox-active types. Each category demonstrates clear strengths but also important trade-offs. Aqueous electrolytes remain affordable and eco-friendly yet struggle with narrow voltage windows. Organic systems deliver high energy density but introduce flammability concerns. Ionic liquids promise exceptional stability but remain expensive and viscous. Solid-state electrolytes enhance safety and energy density, though they face manufacturing and conductivity challenges. Redox-active systems stand out for durability and scalability, particularly in grid-level applications, but lack compactness. Taken together, the findings emphasize that no single solution is universal. Instead, electrolyte design must be tailored to the context, balancing performance, safety, cost, and sustainability

Study of The Magneto-Optical Kerr Effect in Thick and Ultrathin Composite Layers

When a transparent isotropic material is subjected to an electric field, birefringence occurs, and the material acquires the properties of a uniaxial crystal. The difference in refractive indices parallel and perpendicular to the field is proportional to the square of the field intensity and the Kerr constant. The importance of this topic lies in investigating how magnetic fields affect the optical properties of thick and ultrathin composite layers, which are crucial for enhancing the performance and design of magneto-optical memories  and advanced sensors. The goal of this research is to determine the exact relationships between the thickness of composite layers and their magneto-optical sensitivity to optimize composite materials. Also, the angle of polarization rotation of light due to the Kerr effect is quantitatively measured and optimized to achieve maximum magneto-optical response. In this research, simplified analytical expressions for the magneto-optical Kerr effect  in composite layers are presented, and the MOKE formulas for  and  layers are investigated, accounting for the second-order nonlinear refractive index. , the time rotation constant , and the phase difference of the incoming light. The results show that the longitudinal and polar Kerr rotation angles in thick and ultra-thin layers exhibit a systematic dependence on the angle of incidence and agree well with theoretical calculations at specific angles. This research shows that by combining materials and controlling the thickness of the composite layers, the polarization rotation angle due to the Kerr effect can be significantly improved

Effect of Storage Temperature on the Microbiological, Physicochemical, and Sensory Properties of Semi-Hard Cheese

This study investigated the impact of different storage temperatures (room temperature: 20°C and refrigeration: 4°C) on semi-hard cheese's microbiological, physicochemical, and sensory properties over 16 days. Cheese samples were made from fresh cow's milk and subjected to two different storage conditions. Various factors, including bacterial count (Standard Plate Count: SPC), pH, acidity, and sensory characteristics (color, texture, odor, taste, and overall acceptability), were determined at different time intervals (Days 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, and 16). Microbial analysis revealed no significant differences in SPC between the two storage conditions. Similarly, physicochemical parameters, including pH and acidity, showed minor fluctuations, with p-values greater than 0.05 in all cases. Sensory analysis indicated that the cheese's texture, color, and taste at room temperature were less acceptable than those stored in refrigeration. A comparison of the tested parameters (SPC, pH, acidity, and sensory attribute rating) and two storage temperatures (environment and fridge) measured under the two storage conditions using the Mann-Whitney U test showed that there were no significant differences between the two (p > 0.05). However, Spearman's correlation test demonstrated a significant correlation between storage time, microbial load (rs = 0.943), and acidity (rs = 0.831), particularly in refrigerated samples. The results suggest that storage temperature affects the spoilage rate in semi-hard cheese. These findings provide valuable insights into preserving semi-hard cheese and highlight the crucial role of refrigeration in slowing the spoilage process

Farm-Level Economic Assessment of Watermelon Production in Nangarhar Province

Watermelon is a significant cash crop that provides a good source of income and contributes to employment generation in Nangarhar province. This research aims to analyze the socio-economic characteristics and cost and return of watermelon.  This study was carried out in Nangarhar province. The research is quantitative in nature, utilizing both primary and secondary data A purposive sampling design was used to select a sample of 130 respondents for the survey.  Primary data were collected through a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and cost and return analysis were used for data analysis. The results revealed that the average age of the selected farms was 39 years, and the percentage of respondents was educated, which fortunately included a percentage of bachelor's degree holders. The majority of the respondents, 59.76 percent, are living in households. At the same time, 42.62 percent of the farmers had between 5 and 10 years of watermelon production experience, with an average of 7 years. Furthermore, approximately 78 percent of respondents have annual incomes exceeding $100,000. The cost and return analysis showed that the average per jerib cost for large-scale farmers (17,274 AF) is lower than that for medium-scale farmers (18,057 AF) and small-scale farmers (19,307 AF). Moreover, fertilizer costs constitute the highest proportion of total production costs across all categories.  Based on per-jerib costs, the expenses associated with the Black Master variety amount to 22,505 AF, which is approximately 6,000 AF higher than the Extreme F1 variety. The average per-jerib yield in Nangarhar province is 855 man (7 Kg), generating a gross income of 40,117 AF and a net income of 21,904 AF. The study recommended the extreme F1 variety as it is more profitable in the study area

Analysis of Vegetation Change Trends Using Satellite Data and Remote Sensing Techniques (Case Study: BAGRAM-Afghanistan)

Garden and agricultural species are closely related phenomena mainly observed in different regions of the world. Wherever there is agriculture, there are bound to be both fruitful and non-fruitful trees. Bagram district is one of the districts of Parwan province, where most of the people of this district are engaged in agriculture for their livelihood. The main objective of this research is to use satellite data, and an effort was made to extract the areas under plant cover and separate garden and crop species. The normalized vegetation cover index was used to obtain the areas covered by vegetation. All the areas covered by vegetation were extracted, and then the supervised maximum likelihood classification method was used to separate garden and agricultural species from each other. This research applied the vegetation index to Sentinel-2 imagery from 2018 and 2023, followed by supervised classification on the same datasets. Finally, the result was that the area of ​​agricultural land in 2018 was equal to 92 square kilometres, but it reached 100 square kilometres in 2023. Also, the land area of gardens was 15.92 square kilometres in 2018. However, by 2023, it reached 27 square kilometres, and the area of ​​agricultural lands and gardens in the Bagram district has increased by almost 20 square kilometres from 2018 to 2023

Influence of Taxation Policy on the Employment of Production Factors in Agriculture Sector Using a CGE Modelling Approach

This study investigates the impact of indirect taxation on employment in Afghanistan's agriculture sector, addressing the lack of research on its short-term macroeconomic effects, particularly in agricultural sub-sectors. To fill this gap, a general equilibrium model integrated with a social accounting matrix was used to quantify employment responses across ten scenarios, testing 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% changes in the 2018 indirect tax volume. The findings reveal a direct correlation between indirect taxes and labor and capital employment, where tax reductions led to a decline in employment across all agricultural categories. In contrast, tax increases had the opposite effect. Forestry contributed the most to employment growth under rising tax scenarios, followed by opium, vegetables, cereals, fruits, and livestock. The study highlights the need for alternative job opportunities and effective tax revenue management to mitigate labor market disruptions and support sustainable agricultural development

Evaluation of Iodine Status Among 6–12-Year-Old Children and Iodized Salt Quality in Khogiani District, Afghanistan

Despite reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting iodine deficiency in various regions of Afghanistan, empirical data for the Khogiani district remain scarce, despite clinical signs suggesting its presence. "This study aimed to assess the prevalence of iodine deficiency among children aged 6–12 years and to evaluate the quality of iodized edible salt in the Khogiani District”  A cross-sectional community-based and experimental design was employed. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured using the Sandell-Kolthoff reaction (spectrophotometric method), while iodine levels in salt samples were determined via iodometric titration. The sample size was calculated using the Cochrane formula, and data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Participants were selected via convenience sampling. The overall prevalence of iodine deficiency (UIC: 50–99 µg/L) was 13%, with 1.8% of children exhibiting palpable goiter (grades 1–2). The highest deficiency rates were observed in Wazir and Pirakhel villages. Additionally, 75.1% of salt samples had inadequate iodine content (<15 ppm), with powdered salt being particularly unreliable. Mild iodine deficiency persists among children in Khogiani, and a significant proportion of iodized salt fails to meet the required standards. Public health interventions should prioritize stricter salt iodization monitoring and alternative strategies to ensure adequate iodine intake