Abstract Aim: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder which affects communication and social interaction of children. It is a heterogeneous disease with various clinical presentations. Some genes are involved in its pathogenesis. It has been suggested that environmental exposure to lead can increase the risk of autism. The aim of our study was to compare blood lead levels among autistic and non-autistic children. Material and Method: This retrospective study included 107 children (60 with autism and 47 without autism) referred from the different Iraqi provinces, in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, to the poisoning consultation center in Baghdad. Data collection including age, gender, residence, referral source, family history and blood lead levels was taken from their medical records. Results: No significant differences were noticed between the prevalence of autism and both of age (P=0.843) and gender (P=0.699). The majority of children have no family history of autism (85%). Mean blood lead level for all participants was 16.01 μg/dl. The statistically significant difference in lead level was found between autistic and non-autistic children (17.38± 1.86 μg/dl in autism group versus 14.27± 1.57 μg/dl in non-autism group) with a P value of 0.001. Discussion: Mean blood lead level was high in all participants, compared to the international values, which might indicate a high level of lead exposure in Iraqi children due to environmental pollution. Autistic children have higher lead levels than non-autistic ones and this might explain the role of lead in the etiology of autism.
The quality of groundwater in the Al-Hawija area was assessed using a water quality index. Data of nine physico-chemical parameters of 28 groundwater wells were used to calculate the water quality index (WQI). A heterogeneous water quality was reported, where in close proximity to the Lesser Zab River (LZR), it has low WQI values and permissible for human consumptions due to the dilution processes by fresh water; whereas, it becomes deteriorated in areas located far away the river. The values of WQI ranges from 22 to 336, indicating a good to very poor groundwater quality.
The studied succession is deposited during late Berriasian-Aptian interval, which is represented by the Zubair, Ratawi, Yamama formations. The present study includes stratigraphic development and basin analysis for 21 boreholes (Rachi-1, 2; Rifaei-1, Diwan- 1; Ratawi-1, 2; Halfaia-5; West Qurna 12, 15; Nahr Umr-7,8; Zubair-47,49; North Rumaila- 72, 131, 158; Suba-7; Majnoon-2, 3 and Luhais-2, 12) distributed within 13 oil fields in the southern Iraq. The back-stripping process determined the original direction of basin depocenter for the studied succession. The Yamama basin in the study area stretches from southeast to southwest with single depocenters, it was located in the southeast of the study area near wells Mj-2, Mj-3.NR-8 and
... Show MoreUnder aerobic and anaerobic conditions, two laboratory-scale reactors were operated. Each reactor
was packed with 8.5 kg of shredded synthetic solid waste (less than 5 cm) that was prepared according to an
average composition of domestic solid waste in the city of Kirkuk. Using an air compressor, aerobic
conditions were created in the aerobic reactor. This study shows that the aerobic reactor was more efficient in
COD and BOD5 removal which were 97.88% and 91.25% while in case of anaerobic reactor, they were
66.53%and 19.11%, respectively.
Land forms are result from interaction between lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. Lithosphere composed of lithologic units and the main units of the study area are: limestone, marl, marley limestone, sandstone, pebbly sandstone, mudstone, claystone and secondary gypsum in addition to Quaternary sediments. Landforms of the study area can be subdivided according to their origin into many units: 1- Structural- denudational: plateau, mesas, hills, cliffs and wadis; 2- Denudational: desert pavement and mushroom rock; 3-Mass movements; 4- Solution: lake, salt marsh, piping caves; 5- Springs; 6- Fluvial: terraces, alluvial fan, infilled wadi, flood plain; 7- Drainage units; 8-Evaporational: sabkha, secondary
... Show MoreThis paper deals with the problem of the mechanics of the operation of cinematography in the development of museum exhibition halls. In the first chapter, the researcher dealt with the problem and presented it to reach the goals and purpose of the research, which was represented in using and developing the methods and mechanisms of the presentation to keep pace with what is happening in the world of technology and access to the presented model to new formula and vision declares aesthetical and cognitive measure, thus the search constitutes an importance in absorbing Scenography dimensions in the theater and moved to the idea of the museum and the development of the display models and using them in drawing and representation of perception
... Show MoreA total of 589 fishes, belonging to 23 species were collected from eight different localities
in north and mid Iraq during 1993. The parasitological inspection of such fishes revealed the
presence of 59 parasite species and two fungi. Among such parasites, five monogenetic
trematodes were recorded on the gills of some fishes for the first time in Iraq. These
included:- Ancyrocephalus vanbenedenii on Liza abu from Tigris river at Al-Zaafaraniya,
south of Baghdad; Dactylogyrus anchoratus on Cyprinus carpio from Tigris river at Al –
Zaafaranya D. minutus on C. carpio from both Tigris river at Al-Zaafaraniya and Euphrates
river at Al-Qadisiya dam lake; Discocotyle sagittata on L. abu from both the drainage system
at
The middle Cenomanian – early Turonian Mishrif Formation, a major carbonate reservoir unit in southern Iraq, was studied using cuttings and core samples and wireline logs (gamma‐ray, density and sonic) from 66 wells at 15 oilfields. Depositional facies ranging from deep marine to tidal flat were recorded. Microfacies interpretations together with wireline log interpretations show that the formation is composed of transgressive and regressive hemicycles. The regressive hemicycles are interpreted to indicate the progradation of rudist lithosomes (highstand systems tract deposits) towards distal basinal locations such as the Kumait, Luhais and Abu Amood oilfield areas. Transgressive hemicycles (transgressive systems tract deposits)
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