Comparison between some meteorological elements measured by ECMWF and Earth stations in different regions in Iraq

The aim of this paper is to validate the data of three meteorological elements Air Temperature (Ta) , Relative Humidity (RH), Wind Speed (WS) from the European Center For-Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF) , against ground stations data using several Models at six stations well distributed in Iraq (Mosul, Kirkuk, Baghdad, Kut, Nasiriya, and Basra). Due to the difficulties which experienced by the ground climate stations in Iraq from a shortage of devices and equipment for measuring the various climatic elements, which led to a huge shortage of data throughout time for political, economic and natural disasters. It is found that researchers can adopt the data of satellite stations to monitor the climate because let’s found that there is a highly significance Correlations between the data of these stations and the data of the ground stations for climate monitoring Five Mathematical Models were used for that [Linear Models, Quadratic Models, Exponential Models, Logarithmic Models, and Power Models]. The performance of these models were evaluated by comparing the calculated (Ta, RH, WS) from earth stations. Those mathematical correlations help to be able to calculate the ground data in state of there is no ground climate stations data. Several statistical tests Correlation Coefficient (R), Coefficient of Determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) were used to control the validation and goodness of these Models. The R2 obtained from these Models were very high in all stations. This means that, there is a highly significance Correlations between (Ta, RH, WS) estimated and [Ta, RH, WS] measured in all statio

PCR-RFLP-based identification of polymorphisms in BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 genes associated with litter size in Beetal and Teddy goats

The genes BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 are oocyte-derived members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, which is essential for follicular growth and ovulation. The aim of the current study was to determine the incidence of reported mutations in exon 3 of BMPR1B gene, exon 1 of GDF9 gene, and exon 2 of BMP15 gene and their association with litter size in three parities of Beetal and Teddy goats. Based on the known mutations in these genes, PCR primers were designed to find out the polymorphism through the PCR-RFLP technique in 120 randomly selected animals of the two breeds, which vary in their prolificacy. The current results show that there were significant differences in litter size [1.708 ± 0.060 in Beetal (B) and 2.167 ± 0.056 in Teddy (T) goats] in both breeds. The results of breed x parity interaction showed significant differences in litter size in first [1.158 ± 0.061 (B); 1.861 ± 0.057 (T)], third [2.062 ± 0.078 (B); 2.583 ± 0.073 (T)] and average parity [708 ± 0.060 (B); 2.167 ± 0.056 (T)] in both breeds. All three loci in both breeds were found to be polymorphic and the results of breed x parity x genotype analysis showed that genotypes of all the three genes were significantly associated with litter size in all parities in both breeds. For the BMPR1B gene, heterozygous (CT) animals of Beetal and Teddy goats had the largest litter size in all three parities and the average (parity) litter size, showing the overdominance of the heterozygotes. Similarly, for GDF9 gene, heterozygous animals (AG) had the largest litter size in both breeds. For BMP15 gene homozygous carrier animals (CC) of both breeds had the highest number of kids, followed by the heterozygous (AC) genotypes. The current results show the importance of BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 as the major genes that influence prolificacy in both Beetal and Teddy goats. It is suggested that these polymorphisms can be used as molecular markers to select the prolific animals in these breeds.Keywords: Beetal goats, Teddy goats, molecular markers, prolificacy, polymorphis

Boosting the Item-Based Collaborative Filtering Model with Novel Similarity Measures

Collaborative filtering (CF), one of the most widely employed methodologies for recommender systems, has drawn undeniable attention due to its effectiveness and simplicity. Nevertheless, a few papers have been published on the CF-based item-based model using similarity measures than the user-based model due to the model\u27s complexity and the time required to build it. Additionally, the substantial shortcomings in the user-based measurements when the item-based model is taken into account motivated us to create stronger models in this work. Not to mention that the common trickiest challenge is dealing with the cold-start problem, in which users\u27 history of item-buying behavior is missing (i.e., new users) or items for which activity is not provided (i.e., new items). Therefore, our novel five similarity measures, which have the potential to solve sparse data, are developed to alleviate the impact of this important problem. Most importantly, a thorough empirical analysis of how the item-based model affects the CF-based recommendation system’s performance has also been a critical part of this work, which presents a benchmarking study for thirty similarity metrics. The MAE, MSE, and accuracy metrics, together with fivefold cross-validation, are used to properly assess and examine the influence of all considered similarity measures using the Movie-lens 100 K and Film Trust datasets. The findings demonstrate how competitive the proposed similarity measures are in comparison to their alternatives. Surprisingly, some of the top state-of-the-art performers (such as SMD and NHSM) have been unable to fiercely compete with our proposed rivals when utilizing the item-based model

Accommodative-Convergence Mechanism failure in HIV-Positive Non Presbyopic Patient on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy: A case report

Purpose: Accommodative-convergence mechanism failure could occur in non presbyopic HIV- sero positive patients on Highly Active Anti-Retroviral  Therapy (HAART). This could be due to either direct neuronal infection by HIV, pathologic changes of the lens or the ciliary body or adverse effects of some individual drugs constituting the HAART regimen on the cranial nerves which play vital roles in the mechanism of accommodation and convergence. Case report: This is a case report of an accommodative- convergence mechanism failure in HIV positive non presbyopic 32-year-old male patient  that was on HAART for more than five years. He presented with distance visual acuity (VA) of OD: 6/9 +2, OS: 6/9, and near visual acuity (NVA) of N24 both eyes, 3Δ esophoria at distance and 4Δ esophoria at near. Amplitude of accommodation (AA) was 3.50D and accommodative  convergence/accommodation (AC/A) ratio was 6/1. Following comprehensive evaluation, his refractive correction was OD: Plano/-0.50DC X 180 6/5 and OS: Plano/-0.50DC X 90 6/5 at distance with near addition (Add) 2.50D N5. This was prescribed for regular wear in form of D-Top bifocal lens. Conclusion: These findings showed that HIV sero-positive adults on HAART could develop accommodativeconvergence mechanism failure, which may be characterized by low amplitude of accommodation, receded near point of convergence and high non presbyopic reading addition. These conditions may be under-recognized and need for reading addition of a non presbyopic age is often overlooked. Key Words: Accommodative-Convergence, HIV, Lateral Phoria, Refractive error

PHOTOLYSIS OF METHYLENE BLUE DYE USING AN ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESS (ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE)

Photolysis of methylene blue was studied by using an advanced UV/H2O2 oxidation process. This study investigated different initial dye concentrations (I0, 20, 30 ppm) using different concentrations of H2O2 (10 %, 30%, 50 %) in three additions (5 mL, 10 mL, 15 mL). The results showed that the degradation efficiencies of this dye at different concentrations were as follows: 99.86 % at 10 ppm using 15 mL of 10 % H2O2 after 60 min, 99.22 % at 20 ppm using 15 mL of 30 % H2O2 for 60 min, and 98.90 % at 30ppm using 15 mL of 50 % H2O2 after 90 min. An increase in the optimum concentration of H2O2 was observed with an increase in the initial dye concentration. The de-coloration time also increased with increasing initial dye concentration

Machine Learning-Based Peripheral Artery Disease Identification Using Laboratory-Based Gait Data

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) manifests from atherosclerosis, which limits blood flow to the legs and causes changes in muscle structure and function, and in gait performance. PAD is underdiagnosed, which delays treatment and worsens clinical outcomes. To overcome this challenge, the purpose of this study is to develop machine learning (ML) models that distinguish individuals with and without PAD. This is the first step to using ML to identify those with PAD risk early. We built ML models based on previously acquired overground walking biomechanics data from patients with PAD and healthy controls. Gait signatures were characterized using ankle, knee, and hip joint angles, torques, and powers, as well as ground reaction forces (GRF). ML was able to classify those with and without PAD using Neural Networks or Random Forest algorithms with 89% accuracy (0.64 Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient) using all laboratory-based gait variables. Moreover, models using only GRF variables provided up to 87% accuracy (0.64 Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient). These results indicate that ML models can classify those with and without PAD using gait signatures with acceptable performance. Results also show that an ML gait signature model that uses GRF features delivers the most informative data for PAD classification

Machine Learning-Based Peripheral Artery Disease Identification Using Laboratory-Based Gait Data

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) manifests from atherosclerosis, which limits blood flow to the legs and causes changes in muscle structure and function, and in gait performance. PAD is underdiagnosed, which delays treatment and worsens clinical outcomes. To overcome this challenge, the purpose of this study is to develop machine learning (ML) models that distinguish individuals with and without PAD. This is the first step to using ML to identify those with PAD risk early. We built ML models based on previously acquired overground walking biomechanics data from patients with PAD and healthy controls. Gait signatures were characterized using ankle, knee, and hip joint angles, torques, and powers, as well as ground reaction forces (GRF). ML was able to classify those with and without PAD using Neural Networks or Random Forest algorithms with 89% accuracy (0.64 Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient) using all laboratory-based gait variables. Moreover, models using only GRF variables provided up to 87% accuracy (0.64 Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient). These results indicate that ML models can classify those with and without PAD using gait signatures with acceptable performance. Results also show that an ML gait signature model that uses GRF features delivers the most informative data for PAD classification

Smoking a dangerous addiction: A systematic review on an underrated risk factor for oral diseases

Despite growing knowledge of the adverse effects of cigarette smoking on general health, smoking is one of the most widely prevalent addictions around the world. Globally, about 1.1 billion smokers and over 8 million people die each year because of cigarette smoking. Smoking acts as a source for a variety of oral and systemic diseases. Various periodontal issues such as increased pocket depth, loss of alveolar bone, tooth mobility, oral lesions, ulcerations, halitosis, and stained teeth are more common among smokers. This systematic review was conducted according to the guidelines from PRISMA, and research articles were retrieved from the Web database sources on 31 May 2021. The quality of research articles was ensured by the type of evidence from combined schema incorporating as schema-13 evidence type description, Cochrane health promotion and public health field (CHPPHF), and the health gains notation framework-14 screening question for quality assessment of qualitative and quantitative studies. Smokers have been found to have bleeding on probing, periodontal pockets, and clinical attachment loss compared to nonsmokers. Oral and respiratory cancers are among the most lethal known diseases caused by cigarette smoking and other commonly occurring sequelae such as stained teeth, periodontal diseases, etc

Sleep-wake sensitive mechanisms of adenosine release in the basal forebrain of rodents : an in vitro study

Adenosine acting in the basal forebrain is a key mediator of sleep homeostasis. Extracellular adenosine concentrations increase during wakefulness, especially during prolonged wakefulness and lead to increased sleep pressure and subsequent rebound sleep. The release of endogenous adenosine during the sleep-wake cycle has mainly been studied in vivo with microdialysis techniques. The biochemical changes that accompany sleep-wake status may be preserved in vitro. We have therefore used adenosine-sensitive biosensors in slices of the basal forebrain (BFB) to study both depolarization-evoked adenosine release and the steady state adenosine tone in rats, mice and hamsters. Adenosine release was evoked by high K+, AMPA, NMDA and mGlu receptor agonists, but not by other transmitters associated with wakefulness such as orexin, histamine or neurotensin. Evoked and basal adenosine release in the BFB in vitro exhibited three key features: the magnitude of each varied systematically with the diurnal time at which the animal was sacrificed; sleep deprivation prior to sacrifice greatly increased both evoked adenosine release and the basal tone; and the enhancement of evoked adenosine release and basal tone resulting from sleep deprivation was reversed by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor, 1400 W. These data indicate that characteristics of adenosine release recorded in the BFB in vitro reflect those that have been linked in vivo to the homeostatic control of sleep. Our results provide methodologically independent support for a key role for induction of iNOS as a trigger for enhanced adenosine release following sleep deprivation and suggest that this induction may constitute a biochemical memory of this state

Histological Changes in Some Organs of The Female Rats Infected With Toxoplasma Gondii Parasite Isolated From Embryo of Aborted Sheep

The current study included identifying the lesions and the histological changes caused by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which was isolated from embryos of aborted ewes. Intraperitonially injected in 15 female albino rats (3 months old) with suspension containing 100 tissue cysts.Histological section showed after four months of injection a chronic infection characterized by autolysis in all sections, where the liver sections showed expansion in the central hepatic veins, congestion in sinusoidal curves with irregularity in hepatic cords, and the presence of parasites in the liver cells. The brain tissue showed vacuoles in the neurons with an increase in the number of Purkenji cells. Kidney sections were characterized by degenerative and necrotic changes in the endothelial cells of the proximal and distal convoluted tubules with Sloughing of necrotic and degenerated cells of the tubes which accumulated inside the cavity. The parasites appeared in the endothelial cells of the glomerular tufts. Ovary and the uterus showed increased vascular wall thickness, furthermore, the spleen showed autolytic changes, deposition of pigment with the presence of parasites within the cells