Aladağlar Mountain Range: A Landscape-Shaped by the Interplay of Glacial, Karstic, and Fluvial Erosion

The Aladağlar Mountain Range (AMR) is a large massif mainly composed of carbonate rocks hosting beautiful examples of glacial, karstic, and fluvial erosion. Extreme variations in climate and topography as well as the multitude of diverse geochemical conditions since the early Paleocene allowed development of huge hypogenic and epigenic karst systems. The interplay between the surface and karst drainage systems resulted in an attractive fluvial morphology with large karst springs, travertine bridges, gorges, and valleys. All of the karst valleys spreading from the heights of the AMR-hosted valley glaciers that once flowed down to 1100 m elevation. With its diverse landscape, the AMR is a promising land for tourists, backpackers, trekkers, and mountaineers. Large hanging karst springs, long rafting routes along gorges, travertine bridges, U-shaped glacial valleys and lakes, and challenging peaks are the major landscape attractions. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.National Science Foundation, NSF 112Y087 Mount Allison University, MTA --Acknowledgements The authors thank the following institutions for their support/funding through various projects: General Directorate of Mineral Resources of Turkey (MTA), Hacettepe University Research Fund, The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK project 112Y087), National Science Foundation (USA) and Ukrainian Speleological Association. -

Global wood fuel production estimates and implications

Global wood fuel production can indicate opportunities and also challenges in sustainable development, forest management, and energy access. Estimates of wood fuel removals and charcoal production are essential for tracking global goals yet reliable measurements are rare. We synthesize existing understanding through a mechanistic, conceptual model and build on it to develop statistical models from official statistics and over 2000 newly identified data points. For 2019, we estimate 2525.7 million m3 of wood fuel removals globally, approximately 30% higher than previously understood. Our estimates are 50% higher in Africa and 40% higher in Asia, 10% lower in the Americas and 20% lower in Europe. Global production of wood charcoal is estimated at 70.5 million tonnes, approximately 50% higher than previous values; our estimates are 20% higher in Africa and 200% higher in Asia. These estimates describe global shifts in wood fuel removals and charcoal production and improve our understanding of the forest sector; they will likely underlie global models used to forecast future trends

Hydrology in the Sea of Marmara during the last 23 ka : implications for timing of Black Sea connections and sapropel deposition

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2010. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Paleoceanography 25 (2010): PA1205, doi:10.1029/2009PA001735.Sediments deposited under lacustrine and marine conditions in the Sea of Marmara hold a Late Quaternary record for water exchange between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. Here we report a multiproxy data set based on oxygen and strontium isotope results obtained from carbonate shells, major and trace elements, and specific organic biomarker measurements, as well as a micropaleontological study from a 14C-dated sediment core retrieved from the Sea of Marmara. Pronounced changes occurred in δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr values at the fresh and marine water transition, providing additional information in relation to micropaleontological data. Organic biomarker concentrations documented the marine origin of the sapropelic layer while changes in n-alkane concentrations clearly indicated an enhanced contribution for organic matter of terrestrial origin before and after the event. When compared with the Black Sea record, the results suggest that the Black Sea was outflowing to the Sea of Marmara from the Last Glacial Maximum until the warmer Bølling-Allerød. The first marine incursion in the Sea of Marmara occurred at 14.7 cal ka B.P. However, salinification of the basin was gradual, indicating that Black Sea freshwaters were still contributing to the Marmara seawater budget. After the Younger Dryas (which is associated with a high input of organic matter of terrestrial origin) both basins were disconnected, resulting in a salinity increase in the Sea of Marmara. The deposition of organic-rich sapropel that followed was mainly related to enhanced primary productivity characterized by a reorganization of the phytoplankton population.We acknowledge support from INSU and the French Polar Institute IPEV

Characterization of the association between 8q24 and colon cancer: gene-environment exploration and meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Genome-wide association studies and subsequent replication studies have shown that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the chromosomal region 8q24 are associated with colorectal cancer susceptibility.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined 11 SNP markers in the 8q24 region between 128.47 and 128.54 Mb, using a total of 1,987 colon cases and 2,339 controls who self-reported as white from two independent, well-characterized study populations. Analysis was performed separately within each study, and combined using random effects meta-analysis. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) and to test for effect modification by known colon cancer risk factors. We also performed a meta-analysis combining our results with previous studies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We observed evidence of association for four SNPs in low to high linkage disequilibrium (r²ranging from 0.18 to 0.93) localized in a 16.2 kb region defined by rs10505477 and rs1056368. The combined results for our two studies of colon cancer showed an OR of 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01-1.20, P_trend= 0.023), and a meta-analysis of our results with previously reported studies of colon and colorectal cancer strongly support the association for this SNP (combined OR for rs6983267 = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.18-1.24, p = 5.5 × 10^-44). We did not observe any notable evidence of effect modification by known colon cancer risk factors, and risk did not differ significantly by tumor site or stage.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study confirms the association between polymorphisms on chromosome 8q24 and colon cancer risk and suggests that the susceptibility locus in region 8q24 is not strongly modified by various lifestyle, environmental, and demographic risk factors for colon cancer.</p

Prevalence and etiology of community-acquired pneumonia in immunocompromised patients

Background. The correct management of immunocompromised patients with pneumonia is debated. We evaluated the prevalence, risk factors, and characteristics of immunocompromised patients coming from the community with pneumonia. Methods. We conducted a secondary analysis of an international, multicenter study enrolling adult patients coming from the community with pneumonia and hospitalized in 222 hospitals in 54 countries worldwide. Risk factors for immunocompromise included AIDS, aplastic anemia, asplenia, hematological cancer, chemotherapy, neutropenia, biological drug use, lung transplantation, chronic steroid use, and solid tumor. Results. At least 1 risk factor for immunocompromise was recorded in 18% of the 3702 patients enrolled. The prevalences of risk factors significantly differed across continents and countries, with chronic steroid use (45%), hematological cancer (25%), and chemotherapy (22%) the most common. Among immunocompromised patients, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) pathogens were the most frequently identified, and prevalences did not differ from those in immunocompetent patients. Risk factors for immunocompromise were independently associated with neither Pseudomonas aeruginosa nor non\u2013community-acquired bacteria. Specific risk factors were independently associated with fungal infections (odds ratio for AIDS and hematological cancer, 15.10 and 4.65, respectively; both P = .001), mycobacterial infections (AIDS; P = .006), and viral infections other than influenza (hematological cancer, 5.49; P < .001). Conclusions. Our findings could be considered by clinicians in prescribing empiric antibiotic therapy for CAP in immunocompromised patients. Patients with AIDS and hematological cancer admitted with CAP may have higher prevalences of fungi, mycobacteria, and noninfluenza viruses

Satisfaction of Patients with Type II Diabetes on Health Service in Specialized Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes /Baghdad 2019

Background: Patient satisfaction is of increasing importance and widely recognized as an important indicator of quality of the medical care. There was no homogeneous definition of patient satisfaction, since satisfaction concerns different aspects of care or settings, as well as care given by various professions.&#x0D; Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the patients’ level of satisfaction with diabetes care and to identify the underlying factors influencing it.&#x0D; Methods: This cross-sectional study had been conducted in the Specialized Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology in Baghdad Al- Rusafa 2018. Where150 type two diabetic patients attending their follow-up were requested to fill the questionnaire. The questionnaire identified patients, doctors, and practice related factors. For statistical analysis of the data, SPSS Version 24 was used, and the Chi-square statistical test was applied, A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The study showed that the overall level of satisfaction was 79.3%. There was a statistically significant association between age group, gender, profession, educational level and marital status where P value 0.001 for all variables.&#x0D; Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that patients’ satisfaction was high. Majority of the diabetic patients were satisfied with health services, the level of satisfaction increases with age, female gender, and married patients, but it decreases with a high level of education and profession. High level of dissatisfaction seen on treatment services&#x0D;  </jats:p

Karstic Landscapes and Landforms in Turkey

Approximately, 40% of Turkey’s landmass consists of soluble rocks (limestone, dolomite, and gypsum) highly suitable for karstification. While presenting different lithological composition, lithostratigraphic and structural characteristics, these rocks reach in some places up to 4000 m in elevation. Tectonic movements since the middle Miocene have played, together with climate, a major role in the processes of karst development. Several factors intervene in the formation processes and history of the karstic landscapes of Turkey: structural dynamics (mainly extensional tectonics and block faulting) and its spatial distribution, relief rejuvenation responding to the combination of uplift intensity and sea-level changes and the stratigraphic/lithologic context. Resulting from the various combinations possible, there are large-scale differences in the evolution of the karstic landscape within short distances. Consequently, six karstic regions and eleven distinct sub-karstic areas can be identified on the basis of their different morphogenetic and morphometric characteristics. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Quality of Life of Parents of Children with Type I Diabetes Mellitus, Baghdad 2017

Background: Diabetes is defined by the World Health Organization as a metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Families are co-regulating systems in which the stresses and strains of one family member affect the well-being of another member of the family. Caregivers of children with chronic illness report experiencing more parental stress than parents of healthy children.&#x0D; Objective: A descriptive cross-sectional study had been conducted in four centers of endocrine diseases in Baghdad city and data was collected by using self-administered questionnaire regarding quality of life adapted from World Health Organization. The study was conducted on six hundred participants. Data analysis was done by using frequency, percentage and mean and analytical statistics using Chi Square test.  P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.&#x0D; Results: The study showed that social domain had the highest mean score of (51.1) and that environmental domain had the lowest mean score of (38.9). The physical domain’s mean score was (40.2), while mean score of psychological domain was (46.2). The study reported that mothers of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus were more affected than fathers in physical, psychological and environmental domains. There was no difference between mothers and fathers in social domain of quality of life.&#x0D; Conclusion: It was concluded from the study that parents of diabetic children had generally poor quality of life that merits further investigations.</jats:p

The Rate Of Malaria Parasites Co –infection Salamoella TyphO And Para- Typhi BO In Khartoum State

Background: .&#x0D; Malaria is serious vector –borne tropical diseases that remains one of the primary reasons for death in several countries . Malaria  and typhoid  co-infection is a major public health problem in many developing countries. Most of the co-infections treated are based on methods of diagnosis plagued with assumptions which possibly exaggerate the situation. Objective: This the aim of this work was to investigate the rate of co-infection with respect to the use of direct Widal test for diagnosing typhoid fever in Khartoum state .&#x0D; Method: This was based descriptive cross-sectional malaria of Plasmodium falaciprum and Salamoella  . A total of 100 blood samples were collected from patients with a clinical of malaria positive and examined for malaria parasites and S. typhi infection.&#x0D; Results: This study was conducted in Khartoum State between 2020 to 2021 in individual form different age groups form both male and female, out of 100 samples were positive for malaria parasites(Plasmodium falciprum) by blood films (100%) and immunochormatogrphy test 80(80%)  , 52(52%) of which were positive for salmonella typhiO and 18(18%) salmonella para-  typhi BO by the direct  Widal test.</jats:p