Sinai Peninsula Research Articles

Further evidence for Cretaceous wildfires: macro-charcoal from the Malha Formation at Wadi Budra, west-central Sinai, Egypt

Abstract Fossil evidence for wildfires, in form of fossil charcoal, is known from a large number of Cretaceous localities worldwide and it has repeatedly been argued that wildfires were connected to the evolution and radiation of angiosperms during this period. The present study provides new evidence (in form of macro-charcoal) for the occurrence of wildfires during deposition of the Lower Cretaceous (pre-Aptian) Malha Formation at Wadi Budra of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Despite growing evidence for the worldwide occurrence of wildfires during the Cretaceous, the available database for pre-Aptian wildfires is still rather scarce for large regions when seen on a global scale, hampering causal interpretations concerning the interactions between fire ecology and the evolution of ecosystems during these stages.

Comparative study of estimating the Curie point depth and heat flow using potential magnetic data

Abstract The estimation of the Curie point depth (CPD) and heat flow (HF) from magnetic data is useful for geothermal and tectonic studies. However, the methodology of estimating these values is still controversial as numerous studies have used different types of transformed magnetic data. Most studies utilize the total magnetic intensity (TMI) or the reduced to the pole (RTP) data, and since shallow magnetic bodies may affect the final CPD values, low-pass (LP) wavelength filtering has also been used to estimate the CPD. In this study, the two-dimensional radially averaged spectral analysis was applied to the land-based magnetic data from the Sinai Peninsula. TMI and RTP data were both analyzed, using different LP filtered wavelengths, and the final CPD and HF values were compared. The cut-off wavelength parameter was selected in terms of the geologic complexity. The results show that the estimated CPD values are well correlated regardless of whether the magnetic data were either TMI or RTP. The RTP data produced a spatial shift in the CPD smaller than the window size being used. Additionally, the centroid method is primarily dependent on the wavenumber, which varied slightly on applying the RTP. There were slight differences in the estimated CPDs when a short LP filter (e.g., 20 km) was applied, whereas increasing the wavelength (e.g., 40 km) caused the CPD values to increase exceeding the plausible depth limits, and the associated spatial trends varied when compared to the other methods. In areas where the basement rocks were shallow or exposed, a LP filter can be applied with short cut-off wavelength. The estimated CPDs were discussed in the context of seismicity data, gravity-based Moho depths, and HF measurements.

Combined U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf systematics of detrital zircons from Early Cambrian Gondwanan siliciclastic rocks in S Turkey: Provenance and correlations with coeval successions in peri-Gondwanan terranes

Detrital U-Pb age peaks and εHf(t) and TDM(Hf) of peri-Gondwanan units of S Turkey indicate that they may have been derived from Neoproterozoic igneous suites in the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt), Israel (Elat) and Eastern Desert (Egypt) part of the Nubian Shield. Early Cambrian siliciclastics in the peri-Gondwanan units of S Turkey consist of quartzites in the Menderes Massif of the Tauride-Anatolide Platform (TAP), meta-quartz arenites in the different Alpine tectonic slivers of the TAP-margin and quartz-arenites in the Southeast Anatolian Autochthon Belt (SAAB). Geochemical data indicate that these sediments are likely to be derived from sedimentary recycling processes in oxic depositional basins within a continental back-arc tectonic setting. They were opened after the formation of the Avalonian-Cadomian magmatic arc. In the TAP, the youngest detrital zircon 238U/206Pb ages are range from 530.6 + 6.3/-12.0 Ma to 549.4 ± 10 Ma and from 551.9 + 7.9/-8.4 Ma to 545.8 ± 11 Ma in the SAAB verifying the Early Cambrian maximum depositional ages for the sampled siliciclastic successions. In the TAP, meta-quartz arenites, Neoproterozoic detrital zircons make up about 75% of the total grains, whereas they constitute about 88 % in the SAAB sedimentary rocks. Tonian zircons in the TAP (>40 %) and SAAB (<32 %) reveal key populations to determine their provenance and the paleotectonic positions of the respective terranes. The combination of U-Pb age and Lu-Hf systematics in the detrital zircons of the TAP and SAAB show that age groups at 535 to 562 Ma and 888 to 3370 Ma are mainly represented by the zircons derived from evolved sources with a limited juvenile component. The predominant zircon age groups between 577 and 854 Ma in the TAP and SAAB, on the other hand, were derived from juvenile to evolved sources. Non-parametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests suggest that Early Cambrian successions in the TAP (except Kocaosman-Isparta) may have been located in similar paleogeographic locations with coeval successions in the SAAB during the Early Cambrian. U-Pb geochronology and Lu-Hf systematics of the Early Cambrian successions in the TAP and SAAB indicate that the dominant detrital zircon age groups were mainly sourced and transported to continental back-arc fluvial to shallow marine sedimentary environments from igneous rocks of the Nubian Shield and the Saharan Metacraton by a combination of the glaciers, eolian events and multiple-stage erosional and sedimentary recycling processes during the Early Cambrian (ca 520 Ma). The provenance of the Early Cambrian successions in the TAP and SAAB correlate with the provenance areas of the coeval siliciclastic sequences in Israel and Jordan (Arabian Shield), Iraq and Iran and the peri-Gondwanan Carpathians, rather than the Early Cambrian successions in the central and southern European peri-Gondwanan terranes.

Determining the suitability of rainwater harvesting for the achievement of sustainable development goals in Wadi Watir, Egypt using GIS techniques

Scarcity of water has emerged as a major problem globally due to climate change and population growth, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. Egypt is currently experiencing serious water challenges due to its limited water resources. The water challenges require optimal and sustainable water management, which should be linked to sustainable development goals. In this context, rainwater harvesting (RWH) is an efficient technique for sustainable management of water resources. This research aims to determine the optimal implementation of RWH systems considering the biophysical and socioeconomic characteristics of the study area. This research combines geographic information systems, remote sensing, multi-criteria analysis, and hydrological modeling in a case study in Wadi Watir in the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. It then determines optimal sites for RWH structures using a combination of Boolean analysis, weighted linear combination, and depression depth technique. The study's findings are linked to the sustainable development goals to develop a sustainable RWH plan for the first time. The results indicated that 19% (666 km2) of the study area is highly suitable for RWH. The possibility of RWH is restricted to 16% (573 km2) of the watershed. The study results identified 12 optimal sites for checking dams and 14 locations for percolation tanks along the streams. This research puts forward a novel technique to address the challenges of water scarcity along with socioeconomic and environmental pressures while achieving sustainable development goals.

Revealing the paleolandscape features around the archaeological sites in the northern Nile Delta of Egypt using radar satellite imagery and GEE platform

AbstractEgyptian civilization has long flourished along the banks of the Nile, in the south (e.g. Luxor and Aswan), the Middle (e.g. Giza ‘Great Pyramids’) and North (e.g. San El‐Hagar and Buto), as well as the less populated areas of the Sinai Peninsula, the Western Desert and the Red Sea coast. There are archaeological sites date back to the Palaeolithic period and cover the Pre‐dynastic, Pharaonic, Hellenistic‐Roman, Coptic and Muslim periods. Across the Nile Delta, many of these archaeological sites have disappeared beneath Nile alluvium from the annual inundation or through intensive agricultural use, climate changes and other anthropogenic activities. This study aims to detect the long‐term changes in the landscape of the archaeological area of Burullus on the Mediterranean shoreline in the North Delta of Egypt. By combining data from historic topographic maps with Radar Sentinel‐1 (High‐resolution Level‐1 GRD) and SRTM data, topographic signatures in satellite imagery can be compared with the historic record of archaeological sites, many of which are now lost. Image layering, enhancement and analysis using ENVI 5.1, ArcMap 10.4.1 and Snap 8.0 software as well as Google Earth Pro facilitated the imagery identification and acquisition. The results of this study provide a means of quantifying the significant loss of cultural heritage sites due to anthropogenic and natural changes in the landscape. This analysis has also identified two—previously unknown—potential archaeological sites. Finally, the reconstruction of the paleolandscape of the study area shows the changing relationships of ancient and historic settlements with natural and man‐made waterways over time. Integrating remote sensing data and historic maps offers a method for evaluating paleolandscapes and locating disappeared archaeological sites that can be applied in other areas of Egypt and the world.

Spectral characteristics and petrology of Sinai Mesozoic basaltic rocks: Gebel Farsh El Azraq-Gebel Himayir area, Um Bogma, southwestern Sinai, Egypt

Sinai Mesozoic basalts are restricted in its southwestern portion at Um Bogma area, where they occur as intra-continental fissure-fed sills, dykes, plugs and lava flows, following mainly the older structural and crustal weaknesses planes. During Late Paleozoic - Middle to Late Triassic, Egypt had witnessed sporadic tectonic disturbances and faulting activities accompanied by volcanisms. Faulting activity continued during Early to Middle Jurassic and was associated with crustal stretching and basaltic volcanism. At Um Bogma area, southwestern Sinai Peninsula, Middle Triassic, and Early Jurassic basaltic exposures intruded/extruded the Carboniferous sandstones. The main Mesozoic basalts outcrop at Gebel Farsh El Azraq - Gebel Himayir area, where they were successfully discriminated from their surrounding country rocks using Landsat-8 dataset. The Mesozoic basaltic rocks are the least reflective rocks and exhibit a characteristic spectral curve, compared to their country rocks. Landsat-8 bands 7, 5, 3 in RGB and Principal Component Analyses (PCA) technique were used in lithological discrimination of the Mesozoic basalts and their surrounding Late Neoproterozoic basement rocks and Phanerozoic sedimentary succession. Accordingly, a new geological map was produced for the study area. Petrography and geochemistry of these basalts were addressed. Characteristically they contain substantial MgO contents (22.24 to 7.09 wt%) and exhibit low TiO2 (1.56–0.77 wt%) and P2O5 (0.30–0.15 wt%) contents. Geochemically, they pertain to the low P2O5 –TiO2 continental tholeiitic to transitional basalts and point out to enriched MORB magma sources. They suggest derivation from spinel-garnet lherzolite source by moderate non-modal partial melting (ca 20–30%). Their petrogenesis was discussed and fractional crystallization modeling was performed as a plausible mechanism to be accounted for their evolutions.

Crustal thickness and structural pattern evaluation of Sinai Peninsula using three-dimensional density modeling with aeromagnetic and earthquake data

The Sinai Peninsula is a subplate located between the African and Arabian plates. It is an important subplate in the world; however, this region is poorly understood because of the shortage of geophysical data. Thus, this study focuses on built a three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution forward model of the crustal thickness with a new tectonic model and structural evaluation of the Sinai Peninsula to understand this area tectonically and determine its lithospheric and crustal thicknesses. Qualitative and quantitative interpretations of Bouguer gravity, reduced-to-the-pole (RTP) aeromagnetic, and earthquake data are explained to achieve the goals of this study. Two-dimensional (2D) interactive sequential modeling of gravity data is performed along with some well-selected profiles with existing crustal layer depth points from previous works in the studied region. Seventeen 2D models are constructed and used to determine the basement, Conrad (lower crust boundary), and Moho (upper mantle boundary) depths and to build a 3D model. Accuracy of the 3D built model is evaluated by extracting observed, calculated, and residual gravity anomaly maps. The results show that the basement rocks appear on the surface in the South of Sinai and deepen (down to 4.5 km) toward the North. The Conrad surface varies approximately from 16 km (in the northeast and southwest of Sinai) to 22.8 km (in the southeast). The Moho surface depth (i.e., crustal thickness) varies approximately from 28.8 to 34.2 km, and it deepens toward the northeastern and southwestern parts of Sinai. A tentative basement structure map is constructed from the horizontal gradient (H-gradient) filter and the 3D Euler deconvolution of the Bouguer gravity and RTP aeromagnetic data. Correlation between the geological background of the study area and the obtained results suggests that the Sinai Peninsula is tectonically active, mainly in its southern portion due to the tectonic movements along the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. The crustal thickness increases southward and thins northward.

Role of Ecohydrographical Barriers on the Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Chaetognath Community in the Gulf of Aqaba during Summer

The Gulf of Aqaba (GoA), positioned between the Sinai Peninsula and the Saudi Arabian coast is characterized by its uniquely high saline, oligotrophic waters, and seasonally stratified hydrography. Despite its geographical significance, information on its zooplankton ecology and biodiversity is still meager. Hence, the present study was aimed to investigate the detailed diversity and ecology of the dominant carnivorous zooplankton taxon chaetognath in the pelagic waters of the GoA during summer. Despite the known water flow exchange between the GoA and the Red Sea, only five chaetognath species were observed in GoA which is markedly less than the number earlier recorded in the Red Sea, indicating the role of high saline water mass as an ecophysiological boundary for the inhabitance of many epipelagic chaetognaths. Euryhaline, Serratosagitta pacifica formed the dominant species in both the surface water and the upper 200 m water column and was observed to be the most suitable representative of this high saline environment. Conspicuous diel variability in the distribution of the different growth stages of chaetognaths in the surface waters can be attributed to their varied susceptibility to visually oriented predators. The positive relation observed in the abundance of chaetognaths and their main prey, copepods, and their carbon and nitrogen contents indicated their significance in the pelagic trophic ecology of the GoA. The present study, providing the ecology of a major zooplankton taxon of this unique basin will be relevant for understanding the ecology and trophodynamics of the zooplankton community of the GoA.

Wind potential investigation with turbine siting control for improved energy yield at El-Tor Region, Egypt

The paper presents a detailed study of wind farm sizing/siting at Egypt, EL-Tor Sinai Peninsula. The study is driven by the ongoing Egyptian clean energy policy to utilize wind energy a viable source of renewable electricity within the national new planned energy-mix generation. The wind ample coastal/desert resources in Egypt stimulated the Government of Egypt to initiate the wind expansion program policy in October 2014 using wind and solar/PV renewable sources through the Feed-In Tariff incentive program to be one of the African and Middle Eastern pioneer countries reaching 20% of renewable energy (RE)-based electricity generation by 2022 and reducing the fossil fuel dependency. After presenting the techno-economic investigations of large wind farms in El-Tor area located in Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, the state of the art of defining the near-optimal wind micro-siting of best controlled wind turbines and the relevant technical selection criteria are introduced. The topographical data and wind characteristics in El-Tor area are fully analyzed. Using the WindPROTM software, the wind site optimal selection of controlled wind turbines and layout for maximum energy production are discussed considering the governing risk uncertainties; then finalized in terms of cost-benefit feasibility study during the wind farm life span for the national grid integration. Considering the soft and commercial loan factors, the economic viability of the wind farm implementation with its controlled turbine locations/spacing in El-Tor area is studied in comparison with the conventional power plants neglecting the certified emission reductions benefit. The methodology of this paper illustrates a systematic guided way for the selection and sizing of large wind farms as either standalone with storage battery systems or gas turbine back up or direct interfacing with the electric utility at high penetration levels of 15-20%.

Spectral characteristics, petrography and opaque mineralogy of the Oligo-Miocene basalts at Wadi Abu Qada- Wadi Wata area, west-central Sinai, Egypt

The Oligo-Miocene basaltic exposures at Wadi Abu Qada – Wadi Wata area, west-central Sinai Peninsula occur as intra-continental fissure-fed eruptions in the form of km-scale sill attaining thickness of about 30 m and dyke of about 70 m thick, intruding/extruding the Early Cretaceous to Early Eocene sedimentary sequences. Stratigraphy of the study area was dealt with in the context of the geologic setting of these Oligo-Miocene basalts, which are genetically related to the Gulf of Suez rifting in the late Oligocene. These basaltic exposures were discriminated from their surrounding sedimentary rocks using ASTER, Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 datasets. Spectral characteristics of these basalts were determined by remotely-sensed satellite data as well as by using a handled ASD mineral identifier. Advanced image processing techniques were applied and many images processing algorithms were used in image enhancement including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Band ratios, Decorrelation Stretch (DS), Mixture Tuned Match Filter (MTMF), and ASTER mineral's indices. All these techniques in conjunction with petrographical investigations were applied in lithological discrimination of the studied Oligo-Miocene basalts and new geological mapping were accomplished and verified by field data. The considered Oligo-Miocene basaltic rocks are mainly olivine dolerite with minor olivine porphyritic basalts. The main mineralogical components are plagioclase, augite and olivine with subordinate Fe-Ti oxides (ferriilmente and titanomagnetite).

Brief Synopses of New Arabic-Language Publications

Brief Synopses of New Arabic-Language Publications

Intra-Site Structure of the Early Ahmarian Site of Al-Ansab 1, AH 1 (Jordan)

The Early Ahmarian represents an Early Upper Palaeolithic cultural unit, which spans throughout the Levant to the Sinai Peninsula. At least 40 sites belong to this unit. Both open-air and cave sites provide different amounts of archaeological material at various spatial resolutions. The team of the Collaborative Research Centre 806 “Our Way to Europe” excavated the site of Al-Ansab 1, Wadi Sabra, since 2009. The site provides one of the largest lithic assemblages of the Early Ahmarian. Analysis of intra-site distributions and patterns has been conducted for a small number of sites, providing scarce information on the spatial makeup of Early Ahmarian occupation layers. The internal structure testifies to repeated settlement without task specialisation. While this has been described for the sites on the Sinai Peninsula, the situation has been unclear for locations placed in the escarpments of the Transjordanian Highlands. At Al-Ansab 1, we can observe the repeated, relatively ephemeral occupation of a specific location in the Wadi Sabra for the execution of various tasks such as processing of faunal elements and raw material exploitation. Our results correlate to a pattern of mobility observable at other Early Ahmarian sites such as Abu Noshra II. These sites are usually attributed to relatively small and highly mobile bands of hunter-gatherers. Analysing these patterns of intra-site and regional spatial behaviour in the context of environmental patterning highlights potential external drivers to the expression of human occupation at sites such as Al-Ansab 1, archaeological horizon 1.

Interlinkages between Marginalisation of Bedouins and Security Crisis in Sinai Peninsula

The Sinai Peninsula has always served as a geo-strategic pivot point in power struggles between opposing major players. Throughout the fight for domination between ancient Egypt and the Assyrians, the Ottoman and British Empires, and more recently the ongoing confrontation between Israel and Egypt, the peninsula has served as the focal point of the regional balancing forces. The study makes an effort to investigate the Sinai Peninsula’s security crises as a function of power tussle between states and quasi states. It will examine the Bedouins who live in Sinai and their interactions with the state, the persistent pattern of Bedouin marginalisation in Sinai, together with their opposition to or difficulty participating in official Egyptian decision making. It will test the premise that both Egypt and Israel have failed to adequately address the needs of the local Bedouin population in Sinai and have instead chosen to ignore them. Thus, the formation of militant groups and their function as third parties will be examined in the same framework

The Suez Canal under Quarantine: Sanitary History of the Mediterranean Gateway (19th–21st centuries)

The Suez Canal is ranked among the most significant engineering feats in human history. Besides its geopolitical and economic impact, however, the Canal became a subject of sanitary concern right from the beginning of its operation in 1869, which coincided with the fourth pandemic of cholera. Sanitary efforts during the 19th century focused on humans and merchandise distributed through the Canal in the frame of the theories of contagion and contamination. Contact with Asia via maritime trade routes entailed increased possibilities of dangerous pathogens and infectious diseases invading the Mediterranean and – by extension – Europe, as evidenced by the cholera and plague epidemics in Egypt. The sanitary significance of the Suez Canal was further demonstrated in the early 20th century when the cholera biotype El Tor was discovered in the Sinai Peninsula. After the Second World War the health systems evolved by incorporating all guidelines of the World Health Organization, whereas special provisions were established for pilgrims traveling to Mecca. The Suez Canal continues to serve as one of the most important global commercial hubs of the 21st century. Accordingly, health security remains a global priority, while strict adherence to international health regulations and epidemiological monitoring represent key elements in safeguarding health in the Mediterranean region.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and Sub-Saharan Africa: In Search of Influence, Security, and New Markets

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) States and Sub-Saharan Africa:In Search of Influence, Security, and New Markets Michael B. Bishku (bio) Introduction The GCC was established in 1981 and includes the countries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia and the UAE currently have the most interactions with Sub-Saharan Africa (defined as those areas on the continent south of the Arab North African states located on the Mediterranean),1 while Bahrain has the least. Oman has historical connections with Africa's east coast, while Qatar has become more active on the continent especially since its rivalry with Saudi Arabia and the UAE heated up in 2017, due to Qatar's military ties with Turkey and the perception that it was too favorable in its dealings with Iran and Islamist organizations. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait (which received its independence from Britain in 1961), and the UAE became active on the African continent during the 1970s, especially following the 1973 Arab-Israeli War when many African countries broke off diplomatic relations with Israel over its continued occupation of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula captured as a result of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain received their independence from Britain in 1971, while the late-Sultan Qaboos of Oman was able to assume full control over his country's domestic and foreign policy [End Page 48] a year earlier, also from Britain. During the 1970s and 1980s, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE were involved with providing developmental aid in Africa and even working for the same purpose as Libya's leader Muammar Qaddafi on the continent when activities were directed in garnering support for the Arab world in its conflict against Israel. Investment and increased trade as well as counteracting the activities of Iran's Islamic Republic in Africa have become more important for Saudi Arabia since then and, in more recent years for the UAE, which has surpassed the Saudis in those endeavors as well as in regarding Turkey as a rival for influence on the African continent. This article will review the connections and interactions of the GCC states in Sub-Saharan Africa, something that is need of more study. This is especially important given the increased activity on the continent during post-Cold War period in both security arrangements for protecting shipping lanes and in dealing with the threat of terrorist organizations and/or in economic arrangements on the part of both bigger powers such as the U.S., Russia, China, and France, middle powers such as Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, India, and other countries with interests in the region such as the remainder of the Arab Gulf states. As scholars sometimes debate which countries to include in the category of middle powers, it is best to elaborate what might constitute such. A most succinct definition of a middle power is offered by Dong-min Shin: "…a state actor which has limited influence on deciding the distribution of power in a given regional system but is capable of deploying a variety of sources of power to change the position of great powers and to defend its own position on matters related to national or regional security that directly affect it."2 While greater attention is usually given by scholars of diplomatic history and international relations to the bigger powers, not enough is devoted to recognized middle powers and other countries seeking or on the verge of such status. Though there have been an increasing number of studies in recent years, especially [End Page 49] of Turkey's,3 Iran's,4 and Israel's5 activities in Africa, attention towards Saudi Arabia and the GCC states has been lagging behind; this article seeks to address that matter. The GCC States' Involvement in Africa during the Cold War Saudi Arabia's King Abdelaziz (also known as Ibn Saud) established diplomatic relations with Ethiopia's Haile Selassie in 1934 as his country was at the time one of only two independent states on the Arabian Peninsula, the other being Yemen. This was in part in response to fascist Italy's diplomatic moves in those two countries and...

The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle Eastern and North African History

The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Middle Eastern and North African History

Radiological hazard assessments of radionuclides in building materials, soils and sands from the Gaza Strip and the north of Sinai Peninsula

Radiological hazards to the residents of the Gaza Strip, Palestine and the north of the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, were determined using the naturally occurring radionuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in 69 samples of building materials (demolition debris, plasters, concretes, from recycling plants and raw cements from suppliers), soils and sands collected in the field. The radiological hazard indices and dose rates calculated with the activity concentrations of radionuclides in those materials determined by gamma-ray spectrometry indicate that the values are all within the global limits recommended by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation 2000 and European Commission 1999. The results of Spearman's correlation and hierarchical cluster analysis for 210Pb in the building materials, soils and sands suggest that the samples include 210Pb from the atmospheric fallout. The medium correlation between 232Th and 40K in demolition debris implies that their activity concentrations are characteristic of the building materials and constituents of the demolition debris. Non-natural ratio of 238U/235U was found in the soil and sand samples collected in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, 137Cs and 241Am were detected in some soil, sand and demolition debris samples analyzed in this study. The origins of those anthropogenic radionuclides were considered.

Sustainable Management of Treated Wastewater, the New El-Mahsama Wastewater Treatment Plant in Sinai

As part of the national water resources strategy 2030 of Egypt, safe usage of treated wastewater should be expanded in newly reclaimed lands. In 2020, the first mega-waste water treatment plant (El-Mahsama WWTP) was constructed in the east of the Suez Canal in the Sinai Peninsula to treat 1.0 million m3 per day of El-Mahsama agricultural drain and other small drains, mainly for agricultural purposes in Sinai. However, treated wastewater utilization unwisely may incur several risks to human health, crop yields, livelihood, social and economic conditions, and environmental sustainability. This can be attributed to the possible existence of chemical, biological, or salts in poorly or partially treated wastewater. This research paper aimed at analyzing the best sustainable uses of that treated wastewater of El-Mahsama WWTP in agriculture without causing risks to human and environmental health. Using a qualitative evaluation approach, it was proved that the “favorable sustainable management scenario” includes cropping pattern for the 1st scheme (70,000 feddans) as wheat, barley, beans, and maize, then cropping pattern for the 2nd scheme (about 52,000 feddans) as cotton, flax, kenaf, oil crops as jojoba, jatropha, canola, and sunflower. The socio-economic benefits associated with that favorable management scenario is high. The disposal of agricultural drainage water from the agricultural schemes should be diverted to irrigate forest trees “mahogany”. The compost produced should be safely used after appropriate processing and special treatment of the effluent sludge as animals’ fodder. Furthermore, the sludge should be used after anaerobic digestive processes to produce biofuel energy for the nearby communities’ daily life activities. Wastewater treatment could reduce carbon emissions and accordingly mitigate the climate change risks. Expansion in non-conventional water use could give wastewater a second life with the target to reduce water scarcity, reduce environmental deterioration, increase resilience to climate change and improve people’s livelihoods.

Antimicrobial Profile of Actinomycin D Analogs Secreted by Egyptian Desert Streptomyces sp. DH7.

Egyptian deserts are an underexplored ecological niche, especially the Sinai Peninsula. In our recent study, we explored this extreme environment and shed light on the bioactive capabilities of desert Actinobacteria isolated from Sinai. Fifty desert Actinobacteria were isolated from the Sinai desert using mineral salt media, basal media, and starch casein media. The filtrate of Streptomyces sp. DH 7 displayed a high inhibitory effect against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The 16S rDNA sequencing confirmed that isolate DH7 belongs to the genus Streptomyces. The NJ phylogenetic tree showed relatedness to the Streptomyces flavofuscus strain NRRL B-2594 and Streptomyces pratensis strain ch24. The minimum inhibitory concentrations against MRSA were 16 and 32 μg/μL. Chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces sp. DH7 led to the isolation and purification of natural products 1–4. Structure elucidation of the purified compounds was performed using detailed spectroscopic analysis including 1 and 2D NMR, and ESI-MS spectrometry. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for the isolation of compounds 1–4 from a natural source, while synthetic analogs were previously reported in the literature. Compounds 3–4 were identified as actinomycin D analogues and this is the first report for the production of actinomycin D analogs from the Sinai desert with an inhibitory effect against MRSA. We indorse further study for this analog that can develop enhanced antimicrobial activities. We confirm that the desert ecosystems in Egypt are rich sources of antibiotic-producing Actinobacteria.

Trauma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Mental Health Care of Asylum Seekers.

Asylum seekers in Israel from East Africa frequently experienced traumatic events along their journey, particularly in the Sinai Peninsula, where they were subjected to trafficking and torture. Exposure to trauma has implications for rights that are contingent on refugee status. This retrospective chart review aimed to characterize the types of traumas experienced by 219 asylum seekers (149 men) from Eritrea and Sudan who sought treatment at a specialized mental health clinic in Israel, and to compare the mental health of trauma victims (n = 168) with that of non-trauma victims (n = 53). About 76.7% of the asylum seekers had experienced at least one traumatic event, of whom 56.5% were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most reported traumas were experienced en route in the Sinai, rather than in the country of origin or Israel. Few clinical differences were observed between trauma victims and non-trauma victims, or between trauma victims with and without a PTSD diagnosis. Our findings emphasize the importance of accessibility to mental and other health services for asylum seekers. Governmental policies and international conventions on the definition of human trafficking may need to be revised, as well as asylum seekers’ rights and access to health services related to visa status.