Prediction of Flow Duration Curve for Seasonal Rivers in Iraq

This paper presents a new method to estimate the flow duration curves [FDCs] for ungauged river basins whose natural and meterological characteristics are known. This study highlights the modeling of the lower three-quarters of the section of the flow duration curves [FDCs]. Eight sub-catchments were used to develop and evaluate the proposed flow duration model in the north of Iraq. The logarithmic type function has been found appropriate for the lower three-quarters of the section of [FDCs] for all river sub-catchments located in the study area. Parameter values of the logarithmic function model were calculated using topographic, hydrological and climatic characteristics of the basins under study by two regional regression models: first CA-MAP (catchment area-mean annual precipitation) model and second MAF-PE (mean annual flowpotential evapotranspiration) model. Generally, it is found that both models used were predicting a good estimate at the end of the flow duration curve (low-flows). In most cases, the statistics and graphical results showed that the agreement between observed and estimated FDCs is very good by using MAF-PE model as compared to CA-MAP model

TREND DETECTION OF METROLOGICAL DROUGHT IN NORTH OF IRAQ

This study presents an analysis of meteorological drought using multi time-scales of Standardized Precipitation Index SPI (6, 9 and 12 month), based on observed 49-year daily mean precipitation data records at 11 stations over the Northern region of Iraq. The detection of drought trends in results of SPI analysis was studied to identify whether there is any increase or decrease in the severity of drought at the selected meteorological Stations; Mann Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator were used to detect statistically significant trends. The results indicate that there is a statistically significant decreasing trend of SPI time series at 5% significant level in most of the selected stations. Based on drought categories the meteorological drought in the study region can be classified as mild drought

Utjecaj oligosaharida hitozana na određene hematološke pokazatelje u štakora izloženih kadmiju

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) on some hematological parameters, and define the percentage of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocytes in rats that had been exposed to cadmium (Cd). Thirty-two (n = 32) male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into four groups as the control (C), chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), cadmium (Cd), and Cd + COS (CdCOS) groups. Blood samples were collected to assess erythrocytes (RBC), leukocytes (WBC), hemoglobin levels (HGB), hematocrit values (HCT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), platelets (PLT), and alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) positive lymphocytes. The number of WBCs significantly increased in the Cd group compared to the C, CdCOS, and COS groups (P<0.05). Although the lymphocyte count decreased significantly in the Cd group (P<0.05), it was ameliorated by COS treatment in the CdCOS group compared to the Cd group (P<0.05). Also, the percentage of peripheral blood ANAE positive lymphocytes decreased significantly in the CdCOS and Cd groups (P<0.05). COS exhibits a partially protective effect on some hematological characteristics, apart from the percentage of ANAE positive lymphocyte in cases of chronic Cd exposure.Cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti učinak oligosaharida hitozana (COS) na određene hematološke pokazatelje odnosno postotak limfocita pozitivnih na alfa-naftil-acetat-esterazu (ANAE) u štakora izloženih kadmiju (Cd). Mužjaci (n = 32) pasmine Wistar albino, slučajnim odabirom podijeljeni su u četiri skupine: kontrolnu (C), skupinu s oligosaharidom hitozanom (COS), skupinu s kadmijem (Cd) i skupinu s kadmijem i oligosaharidom hitozanom (CdCOS). Prikupljeni su uzorci krvi kako bi se odredili eritrociti (RBC), leukociti (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematokrit (HCT), prosječni hemoglobin u eritrocitima (MCH) i njegova koncentracija (MCHC), prosječan obujam eritrocita (MCV), trombociti (PLT), te limfociti pozitivni na alfa-naftil-acetat-esterazu (ANAE). Broj leukocita znakovito je porastao u skupini Cd u usporedbi s kontrolnom skupinom te skupinama C, CdCOS, i COS (P < 0,05). Iako je broj limfocita znakovito smanjen u skupini Cd (P < 0,05), to je ublaženo primjenom COS-a u skupini CdCOS u usporedbi sa skupinom Cd (P < 0,05). Također, postotak limfocita iz periferne krvi pozitivnih na ANAE znakovito je smanjen u skupinama CdCOS i Cd (P < 0,05). COS je, u slučaju kronične izloženosti štakora kadmiju, pokazao djelomice zaštitni učinak na određene hematološke značajke, osim na postotak limfocita pozitivnih na ANAE

The Helicobacter pylori Genome Project : insights into H. pylori population structure from analysis of a worldwide collection of complete genomes

Helicobacter pylori, a dominant member of the gastric microbiota, shares co-evolutionary history with humans. This has led to the development of genetically distinct H. pylori subpopulations associated with the geographic origin of the host and with differential gastric disease risk. Here, we provide insights into H. pylori population structure as a part of the Helicobacter pylori Genome Project (HpGP), a multi-disciplinary initiative aimed at elucidating H. pylori pathogenesis and identifying new therapeutic targets. We collected 1011 well-characterized clinical strains from 50 countries and generated high-quality genome sequences. We analysed core genome diversity and population structure of the HpGP dataset and 255 worldwide reference genomes to outline the ancestral contribution to Eurasian, African, and American populations. We found evidence of substantial contribution of population hpNorthAsia and subpopulation hspUral in Northern European H. pylori. The genomes of H. pylori isolated from northern and southern Indigenous Americans differed in that bacteria isolated in northern Indigenous communities were more similar to North Asian H. pylori while the southern had higher relatedness to hpEastAsia. Notably, we also found a highly clonal yet geographically dispersed North American subpopulation, which is negative for the cag pathogenicity island, and present in 7% of sequenced US genomes. We expect the HpGP dataset and the corresponding strains to become a major asset for H. pylori genomics

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Trend Analysis of Hydrological Drought for Selected Rivers in Iraq

The surface water in study area supports a range of uses such as water supply, irrigation and hydropower generation. Therefore, the assessment and analysis of the hydrological drought are important in the planning and management of the water resources. In this paper, hydrological drought was assessed using stream-flow drought index (SDI) based on observed mean monthly stream-flow data collected from three selected gauging stations at Greater Zab River, Lesser Zab River and Khazir River located in the North-Eastern region of Iraq. Trend analysis of the hydrological drought was investigated using Mann-Kendall non-parametric method to evaluate the significance of trends and Sen's slope method to determine the magnitude of the slope of trends for 47 years during the period 1965-2011. According to the SDI 3, 6 and 12-month time scales, the recorded drought was severe, and M-K method showed that the decreasing trends in the SDI values were statistically significant at α=0.05 mostly in the Greater Zab River and Lesser Zab River basins, increasing trend in SDI values is insignificant. This indicates that the hydrological drought is increasing over time at the study area

PERFORMANCE OF THE PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTIONS FOR PLOTTING POSITIONS IN ESTIMATING THE MAXIMUM DISCHARGES OF ADHAIM RIVER

In this study, the peak discharges of Adhaim River were plotted against their hydrologic years.Two probability distributions and five plotting positions formulas were fitted to the annualmaximum discharges AMD. The performances of the probability distributions with plottingposition formulas were evaluated using the coefficients of determination R2, root mean squareerrors RMSE, Mean Absolute Percent Error MAPE, and absolute differences between predictedand observed discharges. The annual maximum discharges of Adhaim River vary in magnitudefrom 111 to 3520 m3/sec for record periods. The mean of annual maximum discharges 753m3/sec. The Lognormal LN and Log-Person type III LP3 distributions have the highest R2 usingWeibull plotting position formula WPP of 0.992 and 0.989, respectively. The LN had minimumRMSE and MAPE of 69.13 and 7.3%, respectively, when conformed with California plottingposition CPP. The LP3 had minimum RMSE and MAPE of 93.6 and 6.5% respectively whenconformed with Chegadayev plotting position CHPP. The minimum absolute differences atreturn periods of 25, 50,100, and 200 years were obtained when LN conformed with Hazenplotting position HPP and when LP3 conformed with CPP. HTTP://DX.DOI.ORG/10.30572/2018/KJE/10040

Iridoid Glycosides from Globularia Davisiana

From the ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Globularia davisiana. a new iridoid glycoside, davisioside (1), was isolated. Davisioside (1) comprises a rare iridoid aglycone structure with a saturated double bond between C-3 and C-4. Nine known iridoid glycosides, asperuloside (2). alpinoside (3), geniposide (4), globularin (5), globularicisin (6), 10-O-benzoylcatalpol (7), lytanthosalin (8), melampyroside (9), agnuside (10), and three known phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside, isoacteoside and leucosceptoside A Acre also isolated and characterized. The structures of the isolates were established by spectroscopic methods (one-dimensional (1D)- and two-dimensional (2D)-NMR, MS).WoSScopu