Sustainable water management in Iraq (Kurdistan) as a challenge for governmental responsibility

During the last few decades, a critical scarcity of water has occurred in the Middle East due to climate change and the mismanagement of water resources. The situation is complicated by the absence of an effective legislative framework at the local level as well as by the incapability and disrepute of the local water authorities. Most Iraqi citizens depend on the surface waters of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which have their sources in upstream neighbouring countries. Water crises concerning the shared waters urgently require a solution at the international level. Unfortunately, Iraq has faced several wars in a row (1980-2003), which has prevented the country from establishing its institutions. The rapid increase in the population of the transboundary countries on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the high demands on agriculture, are accelerating water exploitation. In this paper, the present state of water management in Iraq from the viewpoint of the legislative framework, water balance, and transboundary issues will be discussed, with special attention to Kurdistan. Many legislative documents have been established or amended by the Iraqi and Kurdistan parliaments since 2003. In 2015, the Kurdistan Government Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, in cooperation with the EU, issued a guide for environmental legislation related to all environmental components such as air, water, and soil. The recommendations on actions needed in the water management in Kurdistan will be presented; they are inspired by the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (2000/60/EC) implemented in EU member states.Web of Science1011art. no. 165

Integrating ecosystem–based management and marine spatial planning for sustainable ocean governance in the Bay of Bengal

In the contemporary world, oceans are increasingly realized as ‘threatened places’ in need of environmental protection, at risk from pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing. On the other hand, nations around the world are turning their attention to oceans as a new source of economic development and growth, seeing them as ‘industrialized spaces’. The concept of integrating Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a new approach for sustainable Ocean Governance (SOG). As an effective strategic tool for planning and managing conflicting ocean uses and their interactions with marine ecosystems, the EBM-MSP approach creates an opportunity for long-term development in relation to ocean and its resources. This thesis scrutinizes the contemporary concepts, definitions, and approaches pertinent to the establishment of a comprehensive Ecosystem-based Management and Marine Spatial Planning (EBM-MSP) framework for Sustainable Ocean Governance that reflects global and regional standards. The study also analyses various scientific data – especially the pollutants’ concentration at spatial and temporal scales – with special reference to EBM-MSP. The research analyses international laws, declarations, conventions, and agreements that are relevant to the proposition of a new dynamic approach to SOG based on EBM-MSP. This new approach could be useful to support necessary reforms, filling gaps in legal regimes and achieving integrated and effective ocean governance mechanisms to prevent, reduce, and control pollution in the marine environment, as well as promoting sustainable exploration of marine resources. Specifically, the research critically analyses the existing legal frameworks in relation to SOG in the Bay of Bengal (BOB). Based on an analysis of sectoral legislation and institutional arrangements in the BOB, the thesis recommends the modification and adoption of legislation, as well as integration among the relevant departments of Bangladesh Government, to match transboundary SOG, particularly along with EBM-MSP development processes. The study focuses on national policies and strategies along with sectoral legislation and institutional arrangements to contribute towards EBM-MSP at national level for SOG, by considering socioeconomic balance and jurisdictional overlays. Based on experiences in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), the research determines numerous key features to assist with the generation and application of EBM-MSP in the BOB region, specifically in Bangladesh, by integrating EBM-MSP with particular reference to a Comprehensive Ocean Zoning (COZ). The substantial outcome of the study is to suggest a COZ Framework for Bangladesh to protect priority seascapes and sites, species of special concern, and their critical habitats, by designing Marine Protected Area networks throughout the transboundary coast

DSDV, DYMO, OLSR: Link Duration and Path Stability

In this paper, we evaluate and compare the impact of link duration and path stability of routing protocols; Destination Sequence Distance vector (DSDV), Dynamic MANET On- Demand (DYMO) and Optimized Link State Routing (OLSR) at different number of connections and node density. In order to improve the efficiency of selected protocols; we enhance DYMO and OLSR. Simulation and comparison of both default and enhanced routing protocols is carried out under the performance parameters; Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), Average End-to End Delay (AE2ED) and Normalized Routing Overhead (NRO). From the results, we observe that DYMO performs better than DSDV, MOD-OLSR and OLSR in terms of PDR, AE2ED, link duration and path stability at the cost of high value of NRO

On Link Availability Probability of Routing Protocols for Urban Scenario in VANETs

This paper presents the link availability probability. We evaluate and compare the link availability probability for routing protocols; Ad hoc On-demand Distance vector (AODV), Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) and Fisheye State Routing (FSR) for different number of connections and node density. A novel contribution of this work is enhancement in existing parameters of routing protocols; AODV, DSR and FSR as MOD-AODV, MOD-DSR and MOD-FSR. From the results, we observe that MOD-DSR and DSR outperform MOD-AODV, AODV, MODOLSR and OLSR in terms of Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), Average End-to End Delay (AE2ED), link availability probability at the cost of high value of Normalized Routing Overhead (NRO).Comment: IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS2012)", Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 201

A cross sectional study of liver function tests in normal pregnancy during third trimester: a treasure from the past

Background: During pregnancy, a lot of changes do occur and affect every organ system in the body. Objective of the study was to find out expected variations, if any, in liver function tests (LFT) in normal pregnancy during the third trimester.Methods: A total of 75 women aged between 20 to 35 years were enrolled in the study of which 25 were non-pregnant women (control group) and 50 were pregnant women in their third trimester (study group).Results: In the study group, there were no changes in SGPT, serum albumen and serum globulin values in any of the subjects. However out of 50 subjects, a rise in serum alkaline phosphatase could be demonstrated in as many as 44 (88%) subjects. In 10 (20%) subject Serum Bilirubin was high and in 6 (12%) subjects each a rise in SGOT and fall in Serum Proteins could be demonstrated.Conclusions: Except for a significant change in serum phosphatase levels, there is no significant variation in any of the liver function tests in third trimester of pregnancy

Relationship Of Academic, Physical And Social Self-Concepts Of Students With Their Academic Achievement

This study investigated relationship between self-concept and academic achievement of bachelor degree students. Female students at bacholar were considered the target population. A sample of 1500 students was selected by using two stage cluster sampling technique. An amended form of Self-Descriptive Questionnaire developed by Marsh (1985) was used as tool of research. Factor analysis was employed to explore the pattern of inter-item correlations of the questionnaire. Kendall’s-Tau-b technique of corrrelation was applied to correlate responses obtained on academic, physical and social self concepts related items with the academic achievement scores of students  Physical self-concept and social self-concepts were found unrelated to academic achievement. However, a significant but weak correlation was found between academic self-concept and academic achievement

N-[(2,4-Dimethyl­phen­yl)carbamothio­yl]-2-methyl­benzamide

The title compound, C17H18N2OS, adopts a trans–cis geometry of the thio­urea group which is stabilized by intra­molecular hydrogen bonds between the O atom of the carbonyl group and the H atom of the thio­amide group. A C—H⋯S intramolecular hydrogen bond is also present. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular N—H⋯S hydrogen bonds to form centrosymmetric dimers

Vasopressin for the management of catecholamine-resistant anaphylactic shock

Severe anaesthetic anaphylaxis is relatively uncommon. Oxygen, fluids and epinephrine are considered to be the mainstay for treatment of cardiovascular collapse and current guidelines for the management of anaphylaxis list only epinephrine as a vasopressor to use in the event of a cardiovascular collapse. Recently, evidence has emerged in the support of the use of vasopressin in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, it is also recommended for the treatment of ventricular fibrillation, septic shock and post-cardiopulmonary bypass distribution shock. Currently, there is no algorithm or guideline for the management of anaphylaxis that include the use of vasopressin. We report a 24-year-old woman who developed severe anaphylactic shock at induction of anaesthesia while undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Circulation shock was refractory to epinephrine and high doses of pure alpha-agonist phenylephrine and norepinephrine. Single intravenous dose of two units of vasopressin re-established normal circulation and blood pressure

Stacking Sequence Optimization Based on Deflection and Stress using Genetic Algorithms and Finite Difference for Simply Supported Square Laminate Plate Under Uniform Distributed Load

In this paper, the optimization and increasing of the stiffness of squareplate, numerical simulation of laminate composite plate using genetic algorithms with finite difference analyses, in which applied to the design variables of the objective functions of the stacking sequence are studied. The plates have been evaluated with actual condition of problem such as distributed load,under simply supported boundary condition with different number of layers (5, 10, 20, 30, 50) and different stiffness ratios (E1/E2) 5, 10, 20, 30, 50. The effects of fiber orientation, number of layers and stiffness ratios on the deflection and stress response of symmetric of classical laminated composite plate subjected to uniformly pressure load (flexural loading) are presented. The maximum deflection and stress are the major parameters that were taken into account in the plate design. Then obtain the optimal suitable stacking sequence orientation of composite plate that gives a small maximum deflection and maximum stress of central point of the plate which represent the main aim in this work. The results were compared with ANSYS software results and obtain a good agreemen