Geospatial Distributions of Groundwater Quality in Gedaref State Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI).

The observation of groundwater quality elements is essential for understanding the classification and distribution of drinking water. Geographic Information System (GIS) and remote sensing (RS), are intensive tools for the performance and analysis of spatial datum associated with groundwater sources control. In this study, groundwater quality parameters were observed in three different aquifers including: sandstone, alluvium and basalt. These aquifers are the primary source of national drinking water and partly for agricultural activity in El Faw, El Raha (Fw-Rh), El Qalabat and El Quresha (Qa-Qu) localities in the southern part of Gedaref State in eastern Sudan. The aquifers have been overworked intensively as the main source of indigenous water supply in the study area. The interpolation methods were used to demonstrate the facies pattern and Drinking Water Quality Index (DWQI) of the groundwater in the research area. The GIS interpolation tool was used to obtain the spatial distribution of groundwater quality parameters and DWQI in the area. Forty samples were assembled and investigated for the analysis of major cations and anions. The groundwater in this research is controlled by sodium and bicarbonate ions that defined the composition of the water type to be Na HCO3. However, from the plots of piper diagram; the samples result revealed (40%) Na-Mg-HCO3 and (35%) Na-HCO3 water types. The outcome of the analysis reveals that several groundwater samples have been found to be suitable for drinking purposes in Fa-Rh and Qa-Qu areas.

Surgical resection of low-grade gliomas in eloquent areas with the guidance of the preoperative functional magnetic resonance imaging and craniometric points.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical resection of low-grade gliomas (LGGs) in eloquent areas is one of the challenges in neurosurgery, using assistant tools to facilitate effective excision with minimal postoperative neurological deficits has been previously discussed (awake craniotomy and intraoperative cortical stimulation); however, these tools could have their own limitations thus implementation of a simple and effective technique that can guide to safe excision is needed in many situations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected data of 76 consecutive surgical cases of LGGs of these 21 cases were situated in eloquent areas. Preoperative functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), pre- and post-operative MRI with volumetric analysis of the tumor size was conducted, and intraoperative determination of the craniometric points related to the tumor (navigation guided in 10 cases) were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of the aforementioned tools in safe excision of the aforementioned tumors. RESULTS: Total-near total excision in 14 (66.67%) subtotal in 6 (28.57%), and biopsy in 1 case (4.57%). In long-term follow-up, only one case experienced persistent dysphasia. CONCLUSION: In spite of its simplicity, the identification of the safe anatomical landmarks guided by the preoperative fMRI is a useful technique that serves in safe excision of LGGs in eloquent areas. Such technique can replace intraoperative evoked potentials or the awake craniotomy in most of the cases. However, navigation-guided excision might be crucial in deeply seated and large tumors to allow safe and radical excision.