Comparative Analysis of Climatic Change Trend and Change-Point Analysis for Long-Term Daily Rainfall Annual Maximum Time Series Data in Four Gauging Stations in Niger Delta

The aim of this study is to establish the prevailing conditions of changing climatic trends and change point dates in four selected meteorological stations of Uyo, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Warri in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Using daily or 24-hourly annual maximum series (AMS) data with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and the modified Chowdury Indian Meteorological Department (MCIMD) models were adopted to downscale the time series data. Mann-Kendall (MK) trend and Sen’s Slope Estimator (SSE) test showed a statistically significant trend for Uyo and Benin, while Port Harcourt and Warri showed mild trends. The Sen’s Slope magnitude and variation rate were 21.6, 10.8, 6.00 and 4.4 mm/decade, respectively. The trend change-point analysis showed the initial rainfall change-point dates as 2002, 2005, 1988, and 2000 for Uyo, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Warri, respectively. These prove positive changing climatic conditions for rainfall in the study area. Erosion and flood control facilities analysis and design in the Niger Delta will require the application of Non-stationary IDF modelling.

Modeling Rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) and Establishing Climate Change Existence in Uyo-Nigeria Using Non-Stationary Approach

This study aims at establishing if climate change exists in the Niger Delta environment using non-stationary rainfall Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) modelling incorporating time-variant parameters. To compute the intensity levels, the open-access R-studio software was used based on the General Extreme Value (GEV) distribution function. Among the four linear parameter models adopted for integrating time as a covariate, the fourth linear model incorporating scale and location with the shape function constant produced the least corrected Akaike Information Criteria (AICc), varying between 306.191 to 101.497 for 15 and 1440 minutes, respectively, selected for calibration of the GEV distribution equation. The non-stationary intensities yielded higher values above those of stationary models, proving that the assumption of stationary IDF models underestimated extreme events. The difference of 13.71 mm/hr (22.71%) to 14.26 mm/hr (17.0%) intensities implies an underestimation of the peak flood from a stationary IDF curve. The statistical difference at a 95% confidence level between stationary and non-stationary models was significant, confirming evidence of climatic change influenced by time-variant parameters. Consequently, emphasis should be on applying shorter-duration storms for design purposes occurring with higher intensities to help reduce the flood risk and resultant infrastructural failures.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in People with Type 2 Diabetes in Romania

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been and remains a highly controversial topic. There is a close association of (MetS) with a group of symptoms associated with diseases of the heart, blood vessels, arteries, and accelerated aging. To find out and discover whether the distribution of these associations or the totals of (MetS) components differ from one gender to another or from one ethnicity to another, 110 subjects were selected as a sample at the National Institute of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases (N.C.Paulescu) In Bucharest, 110 subjects in divided between 47 Males, 63 females with an age range of 54 years for age groups 35 - 65 years. The pathological conditions in the present study were divided into 2 groups: G1: Patients who have metabolic syndrome. G2: Patients without metabolic syndrome. This study, therefore, aims to diagnose metabolic syndrome according to the criteria approved by ATP III (MetS), also known as insulin resistance syndrome or Syndrome X, which is defined as (a group of several conditions that together increase a person’s risk of developing diabetes and increased heart disease), a disease that is achieved by the presence of 3 or more than 5 components that are considered as parameters or directories (MetS);such as “High level of obesity;High triglyceride levels;High blood sugar level;Decrease in HDL, or good cholesterol and High blood pressure,” but not in a condition in which the person has blood pressure. To achieve this goal, a sample of 110 subjects was selected. An increase in the number of patients with metabolic syndrome at a rate of prevalence (71.1%) of type II Diabetes Patients is among those 110 diabetes patients. Especially among the large age groups, by approximately 55%, Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed in 81 patients, and an apparent increase in the number of female patients with metabolic syndrome (44 females, 37 men). Results have also shown that the metabolic syndrome criterions evolved intrinsically among type 2 diabetes patients with high blood pressure as the highest incidence (79.01%). In contrast, the low level of the high-density lipoprotein had come as the minimal incidence (38.39%). The finding confirmed in this study the data indicates that (MetS) is expected in the category of patients with type 2 diabetes, with an estimated rate of up to 70%. In general, and for people with diabetes in particular, new lifestyles and new health interventions must be followed regarding type 2 diabetes in Romania and the world at large in order to stop or neutralize the burdens, complications, and risk of heart disease in patients with diabetes.

Carboxylic Esterase and Its Associations With Long-term Effects of Organophosphorus Pesticides

To examine a） the effect of organophosphorus pesticide exposure on activity of carboxylic esterases, namely butyrylcholinesterase （BChE）, carboxylesterase （CarbE） and paraoxonase （PonE）; and b） the association of polymorphisms of BChE and PonE with individual genetic susceptibility to organophosphorus pesticide exposure. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 75 workers exposed to organophosphorus pesticides and 100 non-exposed controls. The serum activity of these enzymes was measured. Variant forms of BCHE-K, PON-192, and PON-55 were detected. A symptom score was developed as a proxy measure of clinical outcomes. Results Activities of both BChE and CarbE were lower in exposed workers （27.3±21.65 runol.hl.mL^-l and 235.6±104.03 nmol-min^-l.mL^-l） than in non-exposed workers （78.313±30.354 nmol.h^-l.mL^-1 and 362.681_＋194.997 nmol.min^-1.mL^-1）. The activity of PonE was not associated with exposure status. The AChE activity in the exposed workers with BCHE-K genotype UU （61 cases）, genotype UK （12 cases） and genotype KK （2 cases） was 105.05, 84.42 and 79.00 mmol-h^-1.mL^-1, respectively and the accumulative symptom scores were 3.74, 9.17, and 12.50 accordingly. The AChE activity in the exposed workers with PON-192 genotype BB （37）, genotype AB （27） and genotype AA （11） was 116.8, 91.2, and 72,3 mmol-h^-1.mL^-1, respectively and the symptom scores were 2.00, 6.74, and 9.73 accordingly. The AChE activity in those with PON-55 genotype LL （70） and genotype LM （5） was 102.4 and 82.8 mmol-h^-1.mL^-1 and the symptom scores were 4.53 and 9.20. The symptom score was the highest in individuals with abnormal homozygote for each of the three gene loci. Condusions Long-term exposure to organophosphorus pesticides can inhibit BChE and CarbE activity, but exerts no inhibitory effect on PonE activity. Different genotypes of BCHE-K, PON-192, and PON-55 may be related to the severity of adverse health effects of organophosphorus pesticide exposure. Implications of potentially higher susceptibility of workers with mutant homozygotes should be evaluated to reduce health risks.