Genetic Algorithm Model to Optimize Water Resources Allocation in Gaza Strip

Groundwater aquifer is considered the main and only water supply source for all kind of human usage in Gaza Strip (domestic, agricultural and industrial). This source is severely deteriorated in both quality and quantity for many reasons, includ- ing low rainfall, dramatic increase in the urban areas and population, pollution from overland activities, and seawater intrusion. In 2011, the Palestinian Water Authority has instituted a plan for integrated management of Gaza water resources that considers introducing of new external water resources to the system such as seawater desalination and treatment and reuse of wastewater. In this work, a genatic algorithm model was developed to seek the optimal combination of the management scenarioios of Pales- tinian water authority plan. The optimization code is designed and run using MATLAB R2011b. The objective function maxim- ized the benefits and minimizes the cost related to the use of different sources of water. The decision variables represents water allocation over different users sectors. The benefits from utilizing water for municipal and industrial purposes are based on the marginal value of water which is derived from the economic equilibrium point between supply and demand curves. The benefits from irrigation water are affected by the relationship between crop yield and salinity. The constraints in the optimiza- tion model are allowed to iterate between two bounds (upper bound and lower bound) until the optimal value for each variable is found. The results show that there is a significant improvement in aquifer’s water levels in the majority area of the Gaza Strip for the planning years 2015, 2025, and 2035 providing that the planned phased desalination and wastewater treatment schemes are implemented in the specifies time horizon. The results show that the resulted quality of available water for agriculture use in term of total weighted average of electrical conductivity is 962 µS/cm in the year 2015, and 876 µS/cm in the year 2025, and 842 µS/cm in the planning year 2035. The results also show that the resulted quality of available water for municipal and industrial use in term of total weighted average of electrical conductivity is 867 µS/cm in the year 2015, and 685 µS/cm in the year 2025, and 631 µS/cm in the planning year 2035

Clinical Significance of G6PD Variants among Palestinians

Conclusion: We conclude that children with G6PD A-deficiency are also susceptible to AHA, but demonstrate in direct comparison within this same population that G6PD Mediterranean and G6PD Cairo are more severe forms of deficiency than G6PD A‐. Further, we show that the heretofore poorly studied G6PD Cairo may be associated with low‐level, chronic hemolysis. This study illustrates favism is a significant public health problem in Gaza due to fava beans as a staple in the diet and the coexistence of polymorphic G6PD deficiency variants in the society. Favism is an easily preventable and manageable genetic disorder with the proper awareness, intervention and education programs

Determinants of hemoglobin level in adolescence students at Gaza strip, Palestine

Purpose: Hemoglobin (Hb) level could be affected by different interfering factors that include nutritional, socio-demographical, economical, and habitual determinant factors. The present study was designed to identify possible factors that could affect the hemoglobin level in adolescence students (14-22 years) at Gaza Strip, Palestine. Methods: Complete blood count (CBC), serum iron (SI), total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and HbA2 were performed on blood samples of 1171 students from both sexes (548 M & 623 F). Socioeconomic, demographic, habitual and nutritional information were collected through close-ended questionnaire. Results: Iron deficiency and beta thalassemia minor are prevalent in 9.6% and 4.2%, respectively, of the adolescent students. At all categorizations, except in carriers for beta thalassemia gene, significantly higher Hb levels were reported in males than females. The determinant factors for Hb level of the overall subjects were student education (school vs university), parents consanguinity, geographical locality (urban, rural, refugee camp), owning house, smoking, family size/income, tea drinking, consumption of citrus, meat, and green leafy vegetables. Conclusions: It was concluded that different sociodemographic variables and nutritional factors are significant detriments for Hb levels in Palestinian adolescents (14-22 yr). Interventional educational programs directed toward improving the dietary and nutritional issues among the adolescents is recommended. Keywords: Hemoglobin; Determinant factors, Socioeconomic; Demographic; Refugees

Health Consequences of Using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as an Alternative Car Fuel in Gaza Governorates

Purpose: To investigate the attitude and perceived health status of car drivers in relation to the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as car fuel. Methods: Close-ended questionnaire was administered to 230 drivers and volatile organic compounds (VOC) levels emission were determined for each of the cars driven by the drivers. Results: Although none of the cars was authorized to work on LPG, 42.6% of car engines were powered with LPG. The lowest health complains were reported by drivers using LPG. Public health and environmental impact of LPG were not among the concerns of the majority of drivers. The mean health complains percentage score (MHCPS) significantly favours LPG as better fuel for driver health. All categories of cars showed more or less degree of VOC emissions, the lowest VOC was recorded in diesel-based engines. Significant correlation was found between MHCPS and VOC. Conclusions: A high proportion of drivers use LPG in their cars even though public health and environmental soundness of LPG were not among the concerns of the majority of drivers. It is recommended that a public enlightenment program should be organised to address the problem properly.Keywords: Fuel; Liquefied petroleum gas; Attitude; Health complains; Volatile organic compound

Possible health effects of liquefied petroleum gas on workers at filling and distribution stations of Gaza governorates ‫غزة‬ ‫حمافظات‬ ‫يف‬ ‫الغاز‬ ‫وتوزيع‬ ‫ملء‬ ‫حمطات‬ ‫يف‬ ‫العاملني‬ ‫عىل‬ ‫ال‬ َ ‫س‬ ُ ‫امل‬ ‫البرتويل‬ ‫للغاز‬ ‫املحتملة‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫ال

ABSTRACT Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is widely used in the Gaza Strip for domestic purposes, in agriculture and industry and, illegally, in cars. This study aimed to identify possible health effects on workers exposed to LPG in Gaza governorates. Data were collected by a questionnaire interview, and haematological and biochemical analyses of venous blood samples were made from 30 workers at filling and distribution stations and 30 apparently healthy controls. Statistically significant differences were found in all self-reported healthrelated complaints among LPG workers versus controls. LPG workers had significantly higher values of red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit mean corpuscular haemoglobin and platelet counts. They also had significantly higher values of kidney function tests (urea, creatinine and uric acid) and liver function enzyme activities (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase). LPG workers at Gaza Strip petroleum stations are at higher risk for health-related symptoms and clinical abnormalities. ‫األالنني).‬ ‫أمني‬ ‫وناقلة‬ ‫االسبارتات،‬ ‫أمني‬ ‫(ناقلة‬ ‫الكبد‬ ‫الصحية.‬ ‫واالضطرابات‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫للمتالزمات‬ ‫أكرب‬ ‫الختطار‬ Effets potentiels du gaz de pétrole liquéfié sur la santé des employés des stations-service dans les gouvernorats de Gaza RÉSUMÉ L'utilisation du gaz de pétrole liquéfié (GPL) est très répandue dans la Bande de Gaza pour des usages domestiques, en agriculture et dans l'industrie mais aussi illégalement pour les voitures. La présente étude visait à identifier les effets potentiels du GPL sur la santé des employés exposés dans les gouvernorats de Gaza. Des données ont été recueillies par questionnaire au cours d'entretiens. Des échantillons de sang veineux ont été prélevés auprès de 30 employés de stations-service et de 30 témoins en bonne santé apparente à des fins d'analyses hématologiques et biochimiques. Des différences statistiquement significatives ont été observées dans tous les résultats des employés de stations-service de GPL ayant autodéclaré des problèmes de santé par rapport aux résultats d'analyses des témoins. Les employés exposés au GPL présentaient des valeurs nettement supérieures pour la numération érythrocytaire, l'hémoglobine, l'hématocrite, la teneur corpusculaire moyenne en hémoglobine et la numération plaquettaire. Les résultats de leur bilan de la fonction rénale (urée, créatinine, et acide urique) et de leur bilan de l'activité fonctionnelle des enzymes hépatiques (aspartate aminotransférase et alanine aminotransférase) étaient aussi nettement plus élevés. Les employés des stations-service de la Bande de Gaza exposés au gaz de pétrole liquéfié courent un risque plus élevé de présenter des symptômes liés à la santé et des anomalies cliniques

Genotype-phenotype characteristics of β thalassemia children in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

Methods Blood samples were collected just before scheduled blood transfusion from 53 β-thalassemic children who are already characterized for the causative mutation. Blood samples were collected also from 53 apparently healthy children of the same sex and age range. Complete blood count and biochemical tests were performed

Should sex differences be considered when applying mathematical indices and formulas for discriminating β- thalassemia minor from iron deficiency?

Background: β-thalassemia minor (BTM) and iron deficiency (ID) are common disorders characterized by microcytosis and/or hypochromasia, leading to a challenge in their discrimination during mass-screening programs especially in developing countries where resources are limited. It has been shown with varying reliability that quick exclusion of either disorder could be achieved mathematically using RBC-based indices and formulas. However, none of these proposed indices and formulas considered the sex-based hematological differences. This comparative retrospective study examined the efficacy of using sex-based RBC indices in the mathematical discrimination BTM and ID in adult males and females. Methods: The CBC of randomly selected eight hundred adults diagnosed with BTM or ID (200M & 200F BTM, and 200M & 200F ID) were used in the comparisons. The discrimination power, in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and Youden index were calculated for all subjects and separately for males and females for 20 mathematical indices and formulas. Results: Data revealed significant differences in the RBC-based indices between males and females for both BTM and ID groups. Significant variation in reliability indicators for the different indices and formulas were discovered between males and females samples. Conclusion: Sex-based indices and formulas are necessary to improve the reliability in mathematically discriminating between BTM and ID in mass screening programs. We also advocate for a large–scale multicenter study to establish the parameters of such indices and formulas with sex and age. Keywords: β-thalassemia minor, Iron deficiency, Mathematical indices and formulas, Discrimination power, Sensitivity, Specificit

Homocysteine and vitamin B 12 status and iron deficiency anemia in female university students from Gaza Strip, Palestine

OBJECTIVE: Nutritional deficiencies are very significant to the overall health of humans at all ages and for both genders, yet in infants, children and women of childbearing age these deficiencies can seriously affect growth and development. The present work is aimed to assess homocysteine and vitamin B12 status in females with iron deficiency anemia from the Gaza Strip.METHODS: Venous blood samples were randomly collected from 240 female university students (18-22 years old) and parameters of the complete blood count, serum ferritin, homocysteine and vitamin B12 were measured. Statistical analysis included the t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the IBM SPSS software (version 18). Statistical significance was set for p-values <0.05.RESULTS: The results revealed that 20.4% of the students have iron deficiency anemia. The mean serum vitamin B12 level in females with iron deficiency anemia (212.9 ± 62.8 pg/mL) was significantly lower than in normal controls (286.9 ± 57.1 pg/mL) and subjects with microcytic anemia and normal ferritin (256.7 ± 71.1 pg/mL). Significantly higher serum homocysteine levels were reported in the iron deficiency anemia group (27.0 ± 4.6 µmol/L) compared to normal controls (15.5 ± 2.9 µmol/L) and in subjects with microcytic anemia and normal ferritin (18.1 ± 2.7 µmol/L). Statistically significant negative correlations were reported for serum homocysteine with serum ferritin, vitamin B12, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels.CONCLUSION: Important associations were found between serum homocysteine and markers of iron deficiency. Monitoring homocysteine levels might be essential to understand the development of different clinical conditions including anemia. It seems necessary to conduct prospective trials to determine whether treating anemia ameliorates homocysteine levels