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Total radioactivity measurements (cps) in 59 sites were achieved in the Hit–Kubaiysa–Haditha area. Geological samples (soil and rock) from those sites were analyzed for Ra-226, U-238, Th-232, and K-40 using Gamma spectroscopy system based on high pure germanium. The study aims to assess the radioactivity in the study area and attempt to understand the relationship between radioactivity and the geological situation in the area. The results showed that many sites have relatively high total radioactivity exceeding the background radioactivity by many times. The radioactivity concentrated in areas around the springs spreading in the area caused by the high concentration of Ra-226 which being have disequilibrium with its parent U-238. Some areas also have a relatively high concentration of U-238 in depressions areas where the upper part of the Euphrates Formation is outcropped. Based on the pattern of the spread of total radioactivity in the study area, the extension of the Euphrates Fault Zone and the Abu Jir Fault Zone could be determined. These fault zones extend towards northwest–southeast, in addition to the delineation of some of the recent faults that intersect with these zones in an east–west direction, most of which follow the spreading pattern of the springs in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dike swarms and structural lineaments were investigated in the Hada Alsham area, west-central Arabian Shield of Saudi Arabia, using remote sensing, field observations, and geochemical analysis techniques. SPOT-7 digital satellite data were employed in the analysis of these structural lineaments and dike swarms. The extracted orientations of the structural lineaments and dike swarms confirm that they are approximately identical, trending mainly in the NNW–WNW, NE–ENE, and E–W directions. Based on field observations and cross-cutting relationships, these dike swarms can be geochronologically arranged (from oldest to youngest) as mafic NNW- to WNW-trending dikes, mafic NE- to ENE-trending dikes, felsic NE-trending dikes, and local mafic E–W dikes. Major and trace elements geochemistry indicates that the studied dike swarms are basalt, basaltic andesite, and rhyolite in composition. Trace and REE diagrams, as well as their immobile elemental ratios of the studied dike swarms suggesting their formation in a typical intraoceanic island arc setting. In addition, the felsic NE dikes may represent extensive fractionation of the mafic magma from which the mafic NE dikes were formed because their incompatible elements signatures are almost similar. All dike swarms were likely emplaced between 620 and 576 Ma, and during the post-collisional extension and relaxation, following the amalgamation of terranes (island arcs) during the collision between the East and West Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The threat of criminal activity in the fisheries sector has concerned the international community for a number of years. In more recent times, the presence of organized crime in fisheries has come to the fore. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly asked all states to contribute to increasing our understanding the connection between illegal fishing and transnational organized crime at sea. Policy-makers, researchers and members of civil society are increasing their knowledge of the dynamics and destructiveness of the blue shadow economy and the role of organized crime within this economy. Anecdotal, scientific and example-based evidence of the various manifestations of organized crime in fisheries, its widespread adverse impacts on economies, societies and the environment globally and its potential security consequences is now publicly available. Here we present the current state of knowledge on organized crime in the fisheries sector. We show how the many facets of organized crime in this sector, including fraud, drug trafficking and forced labour, hinder progress towards the development of a sustainable ocean economy. With reference to worldwide promising practices, we highlight practical opportunities for action to address the problem. We emphasize the need for a shared understanding of the challenge and for the implementation of intelligence-led, skills-based cooperative law enforcement action at a global level and a community-based approach for targeting organized crime in the supply chain of organized criminal networks at a local level, facilitated by legislative frameworks and increased transparency. The authors review how the presence of organized crime in the fisheries sector hinders progress towards the development of a sustainable ocean economy and highlight practical opportunities to address this problem at both the local and the global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the incidence, trends, maternal and neonatal risk factors of severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) among infants born 24–32 weeks and/or < 1500 g, and to evaluate the impact of changing of hospital policies and unit clinical practice on the IVH incidence. Study design: Retrospective chart review of preterm infants with a gestational age (GA) of 24–326 weeks and/or weight of < 1500 g born at King Abdulaziz Medical City–Riyadh (KAMC-R), Saudi Arabia, from 2016 to 2018. Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to determine the probability of developing severe IVH and identify associations with maternal and neonatal risk factors. Results: Among 640 infants, the overall incidence of severe IVH was 6.4% (41 infants), and its rate decreased significantly, from 9.4% in 2016 to 4.5% and 5% in 2017 and 2018 (p = 0.044). Multivariate analysis revealed that caesarian section delivery decreased the risk of severe IVH in GA group 24–27 weeks (p = 0.045). Furthermore use of inotropes (p = 0.0004) and surfactant (p = 0.0003) increased the risk of severe IVH. Despite increasing use of inotropes (p = 0.024), surfactant therapy (p = 0.034), and need for delivery room intubation (p = 0.015), there was a significant reduction in the incidence of severe IVH following the change in unit clinical practice and hospital policy (p = 0.007). Conclusion: Cesarean section was associated with decreased all grades of IVH and severe IVH, while use of inotropes was associated with increased severe IVH. The changes in hospital and unit policy were correlated with decreased IVH during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field and structural studies supported by remote sensing and thermobarometeric data are attempted to decipher the deformation and metamorphic histories of Umm Gheig shear belt which represents the eastern supracrustal rocks of the Sibai core complex in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Umm Gheig shear belt is build up of three major structural domains (Abu Lassaf, Umm Luseifa, and Kab Ahmed) formed by four deformation events (D1–D4) during the late Cryogenian–Ediacaran (650–542 Ma). The border between these domains is controlled by major thrusts and sinistral-reverse shear zones. Abu Lassaf shear belt includes NW-oriented major folds, serpentinite klippes, and oppositely dipping bidirectional thrust forming pop-up structures. Umm Luseifa shear belt is marked by a major doubly plunging, curvilinear, asymmetrical anticline, series of fault bounded thrust slices, and bordered by two major NE- and SW-verging thrusts. Kab Ahmed shear belt includes the highly strained rocks and expresses as an imbricate NE-verging thrusts forming a simple piggyback imbricate thrust system with a unidirectional sense of thrust propagation to the NE. Presence of D3-related horsetail splays that grouped into a major of NW-trending sinistral shear zones in the Umm Gheig shear belt gives additional evidence for the formation and exhumation of Sibai core complex in oblique island arc collision zones and includes lateral extrusion in a transpressional collision zone along major strike-slip shear zones. The rocks of the Umm Gheig shear belt are subjected to prograde low-medium-grade regional metamorphism in the range of greenschist to lower amphibolite facies (350–620 °C at 2–6 kb). The structures in Umm Gheig shear belt are the products of an E–W shortening phase accompanied by compressional due to oblique shortening of the Arabian–Nubian Sheild between East and West Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volutrauma is an important factor in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Our aims were to identify risk factors in the first 24 h for prolonged ventilator dependence and assess volume delivery and carbon dioxide levels in infants with evolving BPD. A retrospective study was undertaken of 41 infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestational age (GA). A higher tidal volume, minute volume and resistance and a lower GA, birth weight and compliance were associated with a significantly higher risk of ventilator dependence at 28 days. The strongest relationships were with birth weight (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, AUROC = 0.771) and GA (AUROC = 0.813). Tidal volume remained significantly higher after adjusting for GA in those who remained ventilator dependent at 28 days. The 18 who remained ventilator dependent at 28 days had increased mean carbon dioxide (PCO2) levels with increasing age from a mean of 41 mmHg in the first 24 h to 65 mmHg at 28 days PMA (p < 0.001). The increase in PCO2 occurred despite increases in peak inflation pressures (p < 0.001), tidal volumes (p = 0.002) and minute volumes (p < 0.001).Conclusion: These results suggest that initial volutrauma may contribute to the development of chronic ventilator dependence. What is Known: • In prematurely born infants, excessive tidal volumes are important in the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), but a tidal volume that is too low will increase the risk of atelectasis, work of breathing and energy expenditure. What is New: • A high tidal volume in the first 24 h was associated with an increased risk of ventilator dependence at 28 days, which remained significant after adjusting for gestational age. Carbon dioxide levels significantly increased over the first month despite increased pressures and volumes in those who remained ventilator dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the outcomes of infants with a right (RCDH) versus a left-sided (LCDH) congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and whether these differed according to whether the infants had undergone fetoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO).Methods: Demographics, the type of surgical repair, preoperative and postoperative courses and respiratory, gastrointestinal, surgical and skeletal morbidities at follow-up were compared between infants with a RCDH or LCDH. A sub-analysis was undertaken in those who had undergone FETO.Results: During the study period, there were 167 infants with a LCDH and 24 with a RCDH; 106 underwent FETO (15 RCDH). Overall, the need for inhaled nitric oxide (p = 0.036) was higher in the RCDH group and, at follow-up, infants with RCDH were more likely to have a hernia recurrence (p = 0.043), pectus deformity (p = 0.019), scoliosis (p = 0.029) and suffer chronic respiratory morbidity (p = 0.001). There were, however, no significant differences in short term or long term outcomes (hernia recurrence (p = 0.237), pectus deformity (p = 0.322), scoliosis (p = 0.0174) or chronic respiratory morbidity (p = 0.326)) between infants with a right or left sided CDH who had undergone FETO.Conclusion: Overall, infants with a RCDH compared to those with a LCDH had greater long-term morbidity, but not if they had undergone FETO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imperial Porphyry, a famous dimension stone of spectacular purple color, was quarried in the Mons Porphyrites area north of Jabal Dokhan in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, from the beginning of the first until the middle of the fifth century AD. During this period, the valuable material was processed as decorative stone and was used for objects of art, reserved exclusively for the Imperial court of the Roman Empire. Later on, only antique spoils of smaller or bigger size have been re-used for these purposes. The Imperial Porphyry is a porphyritic rock of trachyandesitic to dacitic composition that occurs in the uppermost levels of shallow subvolcanic sill-like intrusions, forming a member of the Dokhan Volcanic Suite. Its purple color is mainly due to dispersed flakes of hematite, resulting from hydrothermal alteration of a dark green Common Porphyry of similar composition, underlying the Imperial Porphyry. Both, the Common Porphyry and the purple Imperial Porphyry’, are extensively exposed in the Roman quarries. Contacts between Common and Imperial Porphyry are irregular and gradational. In both rock types, intrusive breccias are frequent, indicating a complex intrusion history. U-Th-Pb zircon geochronology on two samples of Imperial Porphyry and one sample of the Common Porphyry yielded an age range of 609-600 Ma, thus confirming earlier results of radiometric dating. Geochemical evidence indicates that both the Imperial and the Common Porphyry are of medium- to high-K calc-alkaline affinity. The magmas have formed by partial melting of a subduction-modified upper mantle. The subsequent intrusion took place within a highly extended terrane (HET). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sukhaybarat East and Red Hill deposits, in the northeastern part of the Arabian Shield, are mesothermal vein-type gold deposits hosted by late Cryogenian-Ediacaran intrusive rocks of the Idah suites (diorite, tonalite, granodiorite) and, at Sukhaybarat East, also by Ediacaran metasedimentary rocks. Gold mineralization comprises quartz-arsenopyrite veins (Sukhaybarat East), quartz-carbonate-pyrite veins (Red Hill), and subordinate gold-base metal sulfide veins. In the Red Hill deposit, alteration is complicated due to multiple overprinting hydrothermal events and is characteristically affected by pervasive, pink quartz-K-feldspar-hematite alteration which is overprinted by potassic alteration characterized by a quartz-biotite-carbonate-muscovite/sericite-rutile-apatite assemblage. This assemblage is associated with molybdenite veins which appear to form late in the paragenetic sequence and may represent either evolution of the ore fluid composition, or a later, unrelated mineralized fluids. Hydrothermal alteration at the Sukhaybarat East deposit is dominated by quartz-carbonate-sericite-arsenopyrite assemblages. Zircon from ore-hosting tonalite at Sukhaybarat East yields a U-Pb age of 629 ± 6 Ma, and biotite from the same rock gives an 40Ar/39Ar age of 622 ± 23 Ma. The 40Ar/39Ar age is within the uncertainty range for the U-Pb age of the host intrusion and is interpreted as a minimally disturbed cooling age for the tonalite. In the Red Hill area, granodiorite was emplaced at 615 ± 5 Ma, whereas muscovite/sericite separated from a mineralized sample of a quartz-carbonate-pyrite vein, that was overprinted by molybdenite-bearing veinlets, yields an 40Ar/39Ar age of 597 ± 8 Ma. We interpreted this age to represent the maximum age of the molybdenite mineralization and the probable minimum age of gold mineralization in the Red Hill deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxygenation impairment can be assessed non-invasively by determining the degree of right-to-left shunt and ventilation/perfusion (VA/Q) inequality. These indices have been used in sick newborn infants, but normative values have not been reported which are essential to determine the magnitude of the abnormality. We, therefore, aimed to measure the shunt and VA/Q in infants with no history of respiratory conditions and determine if there was any effect of supine or prone position and the reproducibility of the data. Data were analysed from infants who had undergone a hypoxic challenge and in a subset who had been assessed in the supine or prone position. Transcutaneous oxygen saturations (SpO2) were recorded at fractions of inspired oxygen (FIO2) of 0.21 and 0.15. Two independent raters used a computer software algorithm which analysed and fitted paired data for FIO2 and SpO2 and derived a curve which represented the best fit for each infant's data and calculated the shunt and VA/Q. The raters ability to interpret the SpO2 value which corresponded to a given FIO2 was compared. The downwards displacement of the FIO2 versus SpO2 curve was used to estimate the degree of right-to-left shunt and the rightwards shift of the curve was used to calculate the VA/Q ratio. The mean (SD) gestational age of the 145 infants was 39 (1.6) weeks, their birth weight was 2990 (578) gms and median (range) postnatal age at measurement 3 (1-8) days. The mean (SD) VA/Q ratio was 0.95 (0.21). None of the infants had a right-to-left shunt. No significant differences were found in VA/Q in the supine compared to the prone position. The intraclass correlation coefficient of VA/Q between two independent raters was 0.968 (95% CI 0.947-0.980), p < 0.001. Right-to-left shunt and VA/Q ratio in healthy newborn infants were similar in the prone compared to the supine position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies of infants with acute respiratory distress have demonstrated that neurally adjusted ventilator assist (NAVA) had better short-term results compared to non-triggered or other triggered models. We determined if very prematurely born infants with evolving or established bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) had a lower oxygenation index (OI) on NAVA compared to assist control ventilation (ACV). Infants were studied for 1 h each on each mode. At the end of each hour, blood gas analysis was performed and the OI calculated. The inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2), the peak inflation (PIP) and mean airway pressures (MAP) and compliance were averaged from the last 5 min on each mode. Nine infants, median gestational age of 25 (range 22-27) weeks, were studied at a median postnatal age of 20 (range 8-84) days. The mean OI after 1 h on NAVA was 7.9 compared to 11.1 on ACV (p = 0.0007). The FiO2 (0.36 versus 0.45, p = 0.007), PIP (16.7 versus 20.1 cm H2O, p = 0.017) and MAP (9.2 versus 10.5 cm H2O, p = 0.004) were lower on NAVA. Compliance was higher on NAVA (0.62 versus 0.50 ml/cmH2O/kg, p = 0.005).Conclusion: NAVA compared to ACV improved oxygenation in prematurely born infants with evolving or established BPD. What is Known: • Neurally assist ventilator adjust (NAVA) uses the electrical activity of the diaphragm to servo control the applied pressure. • In infants with acute RDS, use of NAVA was associated with lower peak inflation pressures and higher tidal volumes. What is New: • This study uniquely reports infants with evolving or established BPD, and their results were compared on 1 h each of NAVA and assist controlled ventilation. • On NAVA, infants had superior (lower) oxygen indices, lower inspired oxygen concentrations and peak and mean airway pressures and higher compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: The morbidity of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) who had undergone foetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion (FETO) to those who had not was compared and predictors of survival regardless of antenatal intervention were identified. FETO was undertaken on the basis of the lung to head ratio or the position of the liver. A retrospective review of the records of 78 CDH infants was undertaken to determine the lung-head ratio (LHR) at referral and prior to birth, maximum oxygen saturation in the labour suite and neonatal outcomes. The 43 FETO infants were born earlier (mean 34 versus 38 weeks) (p < 0.001). They had a lower mean LHR at referral (0.65 versus 1.24) (p < 0.001) but not prior to birth and did not have a higher mortality than the 35 non-FETO infants. The FETO infants required significantly longer durations of ventilation (median: 15 versus 6 days) and supplementary oxygen (28 versus 8 days) and hospital stay (29 versus 16 days). Overall, the best predictor of survival was the OI in the first 24 h.Conclusion: The FETO group had increased morbidity, but not mortality. The lowest oxygenation index in the first 24 h was the best predictor of survival regardless of antenatal intervention.What Is Known: • Randomised controlled trials have demonstrated that foetal endotracheal occlusion (FETO) in high risk infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia is associated with a higher survival rate. • Mortality is greater in foetuses who underwent FETO and delivered prior to 35 weeks of gestation. What is New: • Infants who had undergone FETO compared to those who had not had significantly longer durations of mechanical ventilation, supplementary oxygen and hospital stay. • Regardless of antenatal intervention, the lowest oxygenation index in the first 24 h was the best predictor of survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrochemistry and stable isotopic technique were used in studying the water resources interaction in a semi-arid area, western Iraq. Throughout Iraq, 28 groundwater samples, 7 surface water samples from the study area, and 18 rainwater samples were analyzed for H and O stable isotopes and hydrochemical analysis. In this study, the temperature, altitude and continental effects on the isotopic composition of rain water in Iraq were studied. The results show that isotopes content in rainwater, in the current study, increases with increasing temperature and a good correlation exists between increasing latitude with decreasing δ O values. Rainwater isotopes show evidence of temperature effect and continental effect associated with altitude effect. Generally, due to variation in temperature and altitude throughout Iraq, the values of isotopic composition of rainwater range from (−7.25 ‰) to (−2.79 ‰), and from (−45 ‰) to (−9.7 ‰) for δO and δD, respectively. The similarity of isotopic composition of water of the Euphrates River and Haditha reservoir with that of groundwater taken from neighbor wells gives indication that intermixing between them is exist, while the groundwater of the wells far from the surface water resources is mostly affected by rainwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Humr Akarim and Humrat Mukbid plutons, in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt, are late Neoproterozoic post-collisional alkaline A-type granites. Humr Akarim and Humrat Mukbid plutonic rocks consist of subsolvus alkali granites and a subordinate roof facies of albite granite, which hosts greisen and Sn-Mo-mineralized quartz veins; textural and field evidence strongly suggest the presence of late magmatic F-rich fluids. The granites are Si-alkali rich, Mg-Ca-Ti poor with high Rb/Sr (20-123), and low K/Rb (27-65). They are enriched in high field strength elements (e.g., Nb, Ta, Zr, Y, U, Th) and heavy rare earth elements (La/Yb = 0.27-0.95) and exhibit significant tetrad effects in REE patterns. These geochemical attributes indicate that granite trace element distribution was controlled by crystal fractionation as well as interaction with fluorine-rich magmatic fluids. U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dating indicates an age of ~630-620 Ma but with abundant evidence that zircons were affected by late corrosive fluids (e.g., discordance, high common Pb). εNd at 620 Ma ranges from +3.4 to +6.8 (mean = +5.0) for Humr Akarim granitic rocks and from +4.8 to +7.5 (mean = +5.8) for Humrat Mukbid granitic rocks. Some slightly older zircons (~740 Ma, 703 Ma) may have been inherited from older granites in the region. Our U-Pb zircon data and Nd isotope results indicate a juvenile magma source of Neoproterozoic age like that responsible for forming most other ANS crust and refute previous conclusions that pre-Neoproterozoic continental crust was involved in the generation of the studied granites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Neoproterozoic Atud diamictite in Wadi Kareim and Wadi Mobarak in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and the Nuwaybah formation in NW Saudi Arabia consist of poorly sorted, polymictic breccia, with clasts up to 1 m of granitoid, quartz porphyry, quartzite, basalt, greywacke, marble, arkose, and microconglomerate in fine-grained matrix. Stratigraphic relations indicate that the diamictite was deposited in a marine environment. Integrated field investigation, petrographic study and U–Pb SHRIMP zircon ages demonstrate that the Atud and Nuwaybah are correlative. The distribution of zircon ages indicate that ~750 Ma ages are dominant with a significant component of older materials, characterized by minor Mesoproterozoic and more abundant Paleoproterozoic and Neoarchean ages. Some matrix and metasedimentary clast zircons yield ages that are a few 10s of Ma younger than the age of the youngest clast (754 ± 15 Ma), suggesting Atud/Nuwaybah diamictite deposition ~750 Ma or slightly later, broadly consistent with being deposited during the Sturtian glaciation (740–660 Ma). The Paleoproterozoic and Neoarchean clasts have no source within the ensimatic Arabian–Nubian Shield. The distribution of the pre-Neoproterozoic ages are similar to the distribution of the pre-Neoproterozoic ages in Yemen and Saharan Metacraton, suggesting that these clasts have been transported hundreds of kilometers, maybe by ice-rafting. The Atud diamictite may represent important evidence for Cryogenian “Snowball Earth” in the Arabian–Nubian Shield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning multiple descriptions for each class in the data has been shown to reduce generalization error but the amount of error reduction varies greatly from domain to domain. This paper presents a novel empirical analysis that helps to understand this variation. Our hypothesis is that the amount of error reduction is linked to the 'degree to which the descriptions for a class make errors in a correlated manner.' We present a precise and novel definition for this notion and use twenty-nine data sets to show that the amount of observed error reduction is negatively correlated with the degree to which the descriptions make errors in a correlated manner. We empirically show that it is possible to learn descriptions that make less correlated errors in domains in which many ties in the search evaluation measure (e.g. information gain) are experienced during learning. The paper also presents results that help to understand when and why multiple descriptions are a help (irrelevant attributes) and when they are not as much help (large amounts of class noise). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]