Precipitation Variability and Probabilities of Extreme Events in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (Latakia Governorate-Syria as a Case Study)

This study aimed at analysis of the general-index change for the mean annual and seasonal precipitation in six stations in Latakia Governorate (Syria). The data of precipitation were collected for 40 consecutive years (1970–2010) in order to figure out the extent of the changes and variability in precipitation rates and the impact of this change on changes in the potential density that might cause extremely high or low precipitation rates according to Gumbel distribution of the extreme precipitation rates. Results revealed a decrease of the annual precipitation rates in all stations, the reduction in precipitation ranged from 46 to 210 mm during the whole period of the study. Spring, however, recorded the highest and statistically significant reduction, which reached 46–210 mm, while winter precipitation increased by 21–82 mm. Spring also has witnessed a decrease of about 3–9% of the total annual precipitation as compared to winter precipitation which increased by 5–8% of the total. The potential density of extremely high winter precipitation rates increased in all stations as indicated from Gumbel distribution in winter, and a greater increase took place in the probabilities of occurrence of the extremely low spring precipitation rates. This shows significant probability of occurrence of drought during spring season. By contrast, probabilities of winter precipitation rates increased more, thus winter is relatively more humid than before and spring is relatively drier than before

Penerapan Media Film Untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Siswa Pada Mata Pelajaran IPS Terpadu Kelas VII SMP Negeri 10 Kota Banda Aceh

Istilah media berasal dari kata latin yang merupakan bentuk kata medium yang berarti perantara atau pengantar pesan. Media film merupakan media yang dipergunakan untuk memvisualisasikan atau menyalurkan pesan dari sumber ke penerima. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui: (1) Peningkatan hasil belajar Peserta didik; (2) Kegiatan guru dan Peserta didik; (3) Keterampilan guru dalam mengelola pembelajaran dan (4) Respon siswa terhadap penerapan media film. Subjek pada penelitian ini adalah peserta didik kelas VII SMPN 10 Banda Aceh yaitu 25 orang. Materi pembelajaran dalam penelitian ini adalah potensi dan pemanfaatan sumber daya alam. Hasil penelitian membuktikan bahwa (1) Persentase ketuntasan individual mengalami peningkatan dari 19 siswa yang tuntas pada siklus I, 22 pada siklus II dan 24 tuntas pada siklus III, persentase ketuntasan klasikal meningkat dari 60% di siklus I, 80% di siklus II dan 90% di siklus III; (2) Kegiatan guru dan peserta didik meningkat dari siklus I hingga siklus III, pada siklus I dari 8 aktivitas 3 aktivitas yang belum tuntas, 2 aktivitas pada siklus II, dan pada siklus ke III semuanya sudah tuntas; (3) Keterampilan guru meningkat dari perolehan skor 2,55 pada siklus I berkategori sedang, skor 2,66 di siklus II berkategori baik dan 3,49 di siklus III dengan berkategori baik; (4) Respon siswa terhadap penerapan media film bisa dikategorikan baik yaitu 96 persen

Prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and Hymenolepis nana in Afghan refugee population of Mianwali district, Pakistan.

Background: Present study aimed to investigate prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and Hymenolepis nana in Afghan refugees visiting Central Health Unit (CHU), Kot Chandana (Mianwali, Northern Punjab) during two years period (February 2007 to December 2009).Methods: A total of 687 stool samples were collected from different age groups of both genders. Samples were processed under sterile conditions after gross examination. Microscopic examination was done on same day along with eggs (H. nana), cyst and trophozoites (G. intestinalis) detection after staining.Results: The prevalence of G. intestinalis was significantly higher (x2=59.54, p<0.001) than that of H. nana. Females were found more likely to be infected as compared to males (OR: 1.40, 95% CI=1.03-1.92). Prevalence of both parasites decreased with age and highest prevalence was observed in young individuals belonging to 1-15 years of age group (41.8% and 48.7% respectively for H. nana and G. intestinalis, p<0.001). Abdominal distress (OR: 1.13, 95%CI=0.83-1.53), vomiting (OR: 1.13, 95%CI=1.13-1.81) and rectal prolapse (OR: 4.26, 95%CI=1.38-13.16) were the gastro-intestinal clinical symptoms observed in G. intestinalis. Whereas, bloody diarrhea (OR: 1.56, 95%CI=1.00-2.43) and rectal prolapse (OR: 5.79, 95%CI=1.87-17.91) were associated with H. nana infections.Conclusions: Intestinal parasitic infections are common among Afghan refugees and serious preventive measures should be implemented to promote the safety and healthy lifestyle of these people.Keywords: Giardia intestinalis, Hymenolepis nana, Prevalence, Afghan Refugees, Punjab

Evaluation the Non-Thermal Plasma Application Activity in AFB1 Detoxification

Contamination raw agricultural materials has been a food safety concern for human and animals. A non thermal plasma or cold plasma  is a novel antimicrobial intervention, that can be reduce the level of aflatoxin B1(AFB1) in complete cow's feed samples .AFB1 are carcinogenic compound produce primarily by two certain strain of Aspergillus include A. flavus and A. parasiticus , the  contamination of feed is arise for  animals health. Fifty samples from complete cow's feed were designated into imported 15 samples and local 35 samples , obtained randomly from different region in Baghdad from March 2014 to February 2015. Samples were tested for AFB1 by ELISA and HPLC technique and exposure to application cold plasma protocol to treatment of AFB1 contamination the samples in different time (5, 10 and 15) seconds at 3.5 cm between the plasma source and samples then tested by ELISA and HPLC. There are appears the best time successful in reducing levels of toxin at 10 sec. in local samples 3.12, 0.05 ng / g imported samples 1.21, 6.19 ng / g in HPLC and ELISA. In local and imported samples at 10 sec and that was 15 sec less time periods ability to reduce toxin level in local and imported samples, that indicated the length of exposure to NTP application is not necessary to reduce toxin level. According to the study we observed that the results from ELISA method were more sensitive, accuracy and simplicity when compared with results from HPLC technique. Keyword: Cold plasma, decontamination,AFB1, HPLC, ELISA

Stereotactic body radiation therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Practice patterns, dose selection and factors impacting survival

Background Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is an emerging option for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) without consensus regarding optimal dose schemas. This analysis identifies practice patterns and factors that influence dose selection and overall survival, with particular emphasis on dose and tumor size. Materials/Methods Query of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) identified patients with unresectable, nonmetastatic HCC who received SBRT from 2004 to 2013. Biological Effective Dose (BED) was calculated for each patient in order to uniformly analyze different fractionation regimens. Results A total of 456 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median BED was 100 Gy (22.5-208.0), which corresponded to the most common dose fractionation (50 Gy in five fractions). Various factors influenced dose selection including tumor size (P 2 to 4 months, HR 2.192, P < 0.001) were associated with worse survival. Conclusion SBRT use is increasing for HCC, and multiple regimens are clinically employed. Although high BED was associated with improved outcomes, multiple factors contributed to the dose selection with favorable patients receiving higher doses. Continued efforts to enhance radiation planning and delivery may help improve utilization, safety, and efficacy.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

An integrated approach of building information modelling and life cycle assessment (BIM-LCA) for gas and solar water heating systems

Buildings are responsible for the energetic consumption and potential greenhouse gas emissions during their life cycle. Water heating system contribute to a building’s energetic consumption, mainly in residential units, throughout the building’s operational phase. Variability in energy sources, reservation and distribution systems of hot water along with the types of construction materials used in these building systems are key decisions to make in the initial design phases of a building project. Often, the definition of the most appropriate water heating system for a building is made via a technical-economic decision. However, the decision is rarely based on natural resource consumption and environmental impact generation throughout the life-cycle of the heating systems and of buildings as a whole. This study presents an application of a specific environmental management tool, based on an integrated Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) method for selection of hot water systems, during the early design building phase. The proposed approach is implemented in the pre-operational phase, in order to enable decision makers to appreciate the resulting environmental performance of water heating systems in buildings. The applicability of the framework is tested via a comparative study of solar heating water systems and natural gas heating water systems for a residential multifamily building to be constructed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For the indicators damage to human health and damage to ecosystem, results indicate that the greatest impact on global warming comes from the natural gas heating system, while for solar heating, free particulate matter was the highest negative contribution. The operation phase for the natural gas system was highest for climate change while for solar heating system, it was the fresh water that was impacted the most during the pre-operational phase of the system’s use

Survival or death: a dual role of autophagy in stress-induced pericyte loss in diabetic retinopathy

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Intra-retinal extravasation and modification of LDL have been implicated in diabetic retinopathy: autophagy may mediate these effects. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect autophagy marker LC3B in human and murine diabetic and non-diabetic retinas. Cultured human retinal capillary pericytes (HRCPs) were treated with in vitro-modified heavily-oxidised glycated LDL (HOG-LDL) vs native LDL (N-LDL) with or without autophagy modulators: green fluorescent protein–LC3 transfection; small interfering RNAs against Beclin-1, c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) and C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP); autophagy inhibitor 3-MA (5 mmol/l) and/or caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk (100 μmol/l). Autophagy, cell viability, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress, JNK activation, apoptosis and CHOP expression were assessed by western blots, CCK-8 assay and TUNEL assay. Finally, HOG-LDL vs N-LDL were injected intravitreally to STZ-induced diabetic vs control rats (yielding 50 and 200 mg protein/l intravitreal concentration) and, after 7 days, retinas were analysed for ER stress, autophagy and apoptosis. RESULTS: Intra-retinal autophagy (LC3B staining) was increased in diabetic vs non-diabetic humans and mice. In HRCPs, 50 mg/l HOG-LDL elicited autophagy without altering cell viability, and inhibition of autophagy decreased survival. At 100–200 mg/l, HOG-LDL caused significant cell death, and inhibition of either autophagy or apoptosis improved survival. Further, 25–200 mg/l HOG-LDL dose-dependently induced oxidative and ER stress. JNK activation was implicated in autophagy but not in apoptosis. In diabetic rat retina, 50 mg/l intravitreal HOG-LDL elicited autophagy and ER stress but not apoptosis; 200 mg/l elicited greater ER stress and apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Autophagy has a dual role in diabetic retinopathy: under mild stress (50 mg/l HOG-LDL) it is protective; under more severe stress (200 mg/l HOG-LDL) it promotes cell death. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-016-4058-5) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users