Multivariate Statistical Evaluation of Major and Trace Elements in Shatt Al-Arab Sediments, Southern Iraq

River sediments are normally the final pathway of both natural and anthropogenic components derived or produced to the environment. As such, it is important to study these components systematically (i.e. their distribution, levels, and sources). Multivariate statistical techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Agglomerative Hierarchal Cluster Analysis (AHCA) as well as pollution analysis such as Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis were used to analyze the data and identify possible sources of sediment’s components in Shatt Al-Arab at Basra Governorate. The results of PCA and AHCA were compatible, defining four groups of elements; each group has a specific sourcing (a) Mg, Mo, and As show a general enrichment having mean EF values of 8.34, 12.41, and 7.01 respectively, indicating that  Shatt Al-Arab is polluted in these metals, and they are mainly of anthropogenic sources; (b) P, Cl, V, Br, Th, Cu, and Ba have mean EF values of 4.18, 3.52, 1.31, 18.85, 1.67, 2.44, and 0.54 respectively indicating that Shatt Al-Arab is unpolluted in Cl, V, Th, Cu, and Ba; minimally polluted in P, and significantly polluted with Br; (c) Al, Ni, Rb, Nb, Ga, Ti, Y, Mn, and Fe have the lowest mean EF of 1.29, 1.50, 1.07, 0.67, 1.60, 1.67, 0.91, 1.43, and 1.40 respectively; therefore, Shatt Al-Arab can be considered unpolluted in these elements; (d) Pb, Sr, Cr, Zn, and U have mean EF of 0.74, 2.38, 2.78, 2.92, and 0.80 respectively indicating that Shatt Al-Arab is unpolluted in these elements. Hence, AHCA and PCA findings are compatible with EF analysis, strongly confirming the suggested sources of elements. Keywords: Pollution, Sediments, Multivariate Analysis, Pollution Index, Shatt Al-Arab, Basr

Preliminary Assessment of Shatt Al-Arab Riverine Environment, Basra Governorate, Southern Iraq

Environmental investigation has been done for 16 selected sites at Basra Governorate, Southern Iraq (eight sites at Shatt Al-Arab River, four irrigation canals branching from Shatt Al-Arab, three marshlands, and Arabian Gulf). These sites represent distinct land uses: urban, agricultural, marshes, and marine. Water samples have been analyzed for major anions and cations (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cl, F, Br, NO3, PO4, and SO4) as well as for heavy metals (Li, Be, Al, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Mo, Cd, Pb, and U) in an effort to make a preliminary assessment for Shatt Al-Arab riverine environment (i.e. contaminants’ distribution, level, and sourcing) and to examine the water suitability for drinking and irrigation purposes. Analyses revealed that Shatt Al-Arab water quality does not comply with drinking or irrigation standards. High population rate, major oil and gas production plants, power generating plants, and agricultural activities at Basra governorate indicate anthropogenic sources of some pollutants as we evidenced in this study. Keywords: Environmental Geochemistry, Water Quality, Pollution, Irrigation, Shatt Al-Arab, Basr

Geological and Engineering Properties of Granite Rocks from Aqaba Area

Abstract Jordanian granitic rocks (JG) are highly distributed and available in huge quantities in south Jordan, Aqaba area. Granite in south Jordan (JG) is belonging to Aqaba granite complex. This study has been carried out to investigate geological and engineering properties of JG from Aqaba vicinity, south Jordan, in addition to identify and classify the different granitic rocks. 27 random samples of JG were collected from different quarries in three locations from the study area to investigate their characterization. Engineering properties of JG were tested and investigated using ultra sonic velocity test, abrasion test, flexural strength, specific gravity test, and compressive strength test. Engineering tests results show that JG has metal disk abrasion less than 21 mm, flexural strength of 16.9 Mpa, average dry specific gravity of 2.69 and very low absorption while the compressive strength results range between 60 to 90 Mpa. The results show that the engineering characterization of JG is complying with local and international specifications and standards used for classifying the decorative and building granite stones

Brucella and Osteoarticular Cell Activation: Partners in Crime

Osteoarticular brucellosis is the most common presentation of human active disease although its prevalence varies widely. The three most common forms of osteoarticular involvement are sacroiliitis, spondylitis, and peripheral arthritis. The molecular mechanisms implicated in bone damage have been recently elucidated. B. abortus induces bone damage through diverse mechanisms in which TNF-α and the receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-the natural modulator of bone homeostasis are involved. These processes are driven by inflammatory cells, like monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, Th17 CD4+ T, and B cells. In addition, Brucella abortus has a direct effect on osteoarticular cells and tilts homeostatic bone remodeling. These bacteria inhibit bone matrix deposition by osteoblasts (the only bone cells involved in bone deposition), and modify the phenotype of these cells to produce matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and cytokine secretion, contributing to bone matrix degradation. B. abortus also affects osteoclasts (cells naturally involved in bone resorption) by inducing an increase in osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast activation; thus, increasing mineral and organic bone matrix resorption, contributing to bone damage. Given that the pathology induced by Brucella species involved joint tissue, experiments conducted on synoviocytes revealed that besides inducing the activation of these cells to secrete chemokines, proinflammatory cytokines and MMPS, the infection also inhibits synoviocyte apoptosis. Brucella is an intracellular bacterium that replicates preferentially in the endoplasmic reticulum of macrophages. The analysis of B. abortus-infected synoviocytes indicated that bacteria also replicate in their reticulum suggesting that they could use this cell type for intracellular replication during the osteoarticular localization of the disease. Finally, the molecular mechanisms of osteoarticular brucellosis discovered recently shed light on how the interaction between B. abortus and immune and osteoarticular cells may play an important role in producing damage in joint and bone.Fil: Giambartolomei, Guillermo Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Arriola Benitez, Paula Constanza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; ArgentinaFil: Delpino, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentin

The influence of bisphosphonates on human osteoblast migration and integrin aVb3/tenascin C gene expression in vitro

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bisphosphonates are therapeutics of bone diseases, such as Paget's disease, multiple myeloma or osteoclastic metastases. As a severe side effect the bisphosphonate induced osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ) often requires surgical treatment and is accompanied with a disturbed wound healing.</p> <p>Therefore, the influence on adhesion and migration of human osteoblasts (hOB) after bisphosphonate therapy has been investigated by morphologic as well as gene expression methods.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>By a scratch wound experiment, which measures the reduction of defined cell layer gap, the morphology and migration ability of hOB was evaluated. A test group of hOB, which was stimulated by zoledronate 5 × 10^-5M, and a control group of unstimulated hOB were applied. Furthermore the gene expression of integrin aVb3 and tenascin C was quantified by Real-Time rtPCR at 5data points over an experimental period of 14 days. The bisphosphonates zoledronate, ibandronate and clodronate have been compared with an unstimulated hOB control.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After initially identical migration and adhesion characteristics, zoledronate inhibited hOB migration after 50 h of stimulation. The integrinavb3 and tenascin C gene expression was effected by bisphosphonates in a cell line dependent manner with decreased, respectively inconsistent gene expression levels over time. The non-nitrogen containing bisphosphonates clodronate led to decreased gene expression levels.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Bisphosphonates seem to inhibit hOB adhesion and migration. The integrin aVb3 and tenascin C gene expression seem to be dependent on the cell line. BONJ could be enhanced by an inhibition of osteoblast adhesion and migration. The gene expression results, however, suggest a cell line dependent effect of bisphosphonates, which could explain the interindividual differences of BONJ incidences.</p

A randomized controlled trial of sucrose and/or pacifier as analgesia for infants receiving venipuncture in a pediatric emergency department

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although sucrose has been accepted as an effective analgesic agent for procedural pain in neonates, previous studies are largely in the NICU population using the procedure of heel lance. This is the first report of the effect of sucrose, pacifier or the combination thereof for the procedural pain of venipuncture in infants in the pediatric emergency department population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study design was a double (sucrose) and single blind (pacifier), placebo-controlled randomized trial – factorial design carried out in a pediatric emergency department. The study population was infants, aged 0 – 6 months. Eighty-four patients were randomly assigned to one of four groups: a) sucrose b) sucrose & pacifier c) control d) control & pacifier. Each child received 2 ml of either 44% sucrose or sterile water, by mouth. The primary outcome measure: FLACC pain scale score change from baseline. Secondary outcome measures: crying time and heart rate change from baseline.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sucrose did not significantly reduce the FLACC score, crying time or heart rate. However sub-group analysis revealed that sucrose had a much greater effect in the younger groups. Pacifier use reduced FLACC score (not statistically significant), crying times (statistically significant) but not heart rate. Subgroup analysis revealed a mean crying time difference of 76.52 seconds (p < 0.0171) (0–1 month) and 123.9 seconds (p < 0.0029) (1–3 month). For subgroup age > 3 months pacifier did not have any significant effect on crying time. Age adjusted regression analysis revealed that both sucrose and pacifier had significant effects on crying time. Crying time increased with both increasing age and increasing gestational age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Pacifiers are inexpensive, effective analgesics and are easy to use in the PED for venipuncture in infants aged 0–3 months. The benefits of sucrose alone as an analgesic require further investigation in the older infant, but sucrose does appear to provide additional benefit when used with a pacifier in this age group.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN15819627</p

Feasibility studies of time-like proton electromagnetic form factors at PANDA at FAIR

Simulation results for future measurements of electromagnetic proton form factors at \PANDA (FAIR) within the PandaRoot software framework are reported. The statistical precision with which the proton form factors can be determined is estimated. The signal channel $\bar p p \to e^+ e^-$ is studied on the basis of two different but consistent procedures. The suppression of the main background channel, $\textit{i.e.}$ $\bar p p \to \pi^+ \pi^-$, is studied. Furthermore, the background versus signal efficiency, statistical and systematical uncertainties on the extracted proton form factors are evaluated using two different procedures. The results are consistent with those of a previous simulation study using an older, simplified framework. However, a slightly better precision is achieved in the PandaRoot study in a large range of momentum transfer, assuming the nominal beam conditions and detector performance