Toward an integrated sustainable urban design framework in the historic center of Baghdad

The old center in Baghdad is well defined by its unique urban fabric, surrounded by modern urban pattern and by modern roads, which replaced its walls. Narrow alleys, natural shading, mixed use, human scale, privacy, and walkable and natural environments are the most significant features in the historic center, which also represent the main principles of urban sustainability. The historic area in Baghdad is currently suffering from problems such as air pollution, a lack of modern facilities, traffic congestion, uncontrolled land use, and a low standard of infrastructure. These problems have brought into focus the extent to which a sustainable urban design framework can provide appropriate solutions to regenerate the traditional fabric in terms of urban form, land use, transportation, and create a new vision to deal with the social and economic processes. This paper will explore how the traditional urban fabric in Baghdad might be the perfect solution for implementing urban sustainability. Consequently, our challenge in this paper is to find a solution that can serve as a platform to resolve the conflicting values of traditional urban form and modern design models, sourcing new sustainable technologies and the integration of the infrastructure systems

Immunoreactivity of various peptides in typical and atypical bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumours.

The presence of a number of regulatory peptides (bombesin, gastrin, glucagon, somatostatin, calcitonin and ACTH) was compared in 30 typical carcinoid tumours and 27 well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (atypical carcinoids) using conventional immunocytochemistry. Strong immunostaining for one or more peptide was observed in 97% of the typical carcinoids (29/30) whereas only 67% of the neuroendocrine carcinomas showed immunoreactivity. The peptide most frequently detected in typical carcinoids was bombesin (67%), while gastrin was more common in neuroendocrine carcinomas (44%). Immunoreactivity for more than one peptide was present in 33 tumours and in three cases, six different peptides were detected. The study shows that immunoreactivity to various peptides is more common in typical carcinoids than well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas. The significance of these findings is discussed

Long-term discolouration modelling for cast iron mains

Water companies have been working to introduce strategies to reduce discolouration customer contacts via non-specialist ‘business as usual’ practices. A greater understanding of discolouration material behaviour, however, is still needed to accurately inform the mobilisation response and regeneration rates in mains of different materials. The Variable Condition Discolouration Model (VCDM) that tracks both accumulation and mobilisation processes has been validated in some pipe materials using long-term time series data. This paper investigates calibration for a 15 km cast iron (CI) main, using daily turbidity responses with VCDM parameter sensitivity and temporal stability investigated using a statistical approach comparing three periods of the data. Results highlight the VCDM as widely applicable to determine long-term discolouration behaviour and improve behavioural understanding. In this case, analysis of different time periods indicates flow-conditioning not only improves network resilience but can also reduce mobilisation rates and discolouration risk

Children as frequent attenders in primary care: a systematic review

Background: Frequent paediatric attendances make up a large proportion of the general practitioner (GP) workload. Currently no systematic reviews on frequent paediatric attendances in primary care exists. Aim: To identify the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of children who attend primary care frequently. Design and setting: A systematic review.Methods: The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched up to January 2020, using terms relating to frequent attendance in primary care settings. Studies were eligible if they considered children frequently attending in primary care (0-19 years). Relevant data were extracted and analysed by narrative synthesis.Results: Six studies, of overall fair quality, were included in the review. Frequent attendance was associated with presence of psycho-social and mental health problems, younger age, school absence, presence of chronic conditions, and high level of anxiety in their parents.Conclusions: Various sociodemographic and medical characteristics of children were associated with frequent attendance in primary care. Research on interventions needs to account for the social context and community characteristics. Integrating GP services with mental health and social care could potentially provide a response to medical and psycho-social needs of frequently attending children and their families

Chondroprotective Effect of Zerumbone on Monosodium Iodoacetate Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate chondroprotective effect of zerumbone, a purified compound of Zingiber zerumbet Smith against monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) induced knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the rat. The effect on the articular cartilage was examined and compared with celecoxib (Celebrex®), a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID). Forty adult male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=10 for each). All animals were injected with MIA intraarticularly in their right knee joints to induce OA. Rats from first and second groups were treated with zerumbone in a same dose but with two different concentrations. Rats in the third group were treated with celecoxib and served as positive control whereas the fourth group were treated with corn oil and served as negative control. Evaluation of OA changes in the knees was assessed with the aid of both radiography and histopathology score. Macroscopic as well as microscopic examinations revealed curative effect of zerumbone in a dose dependent manner on the osteoarthritic knee joints. Apart from this, our data also revealed very poor anti-OA property of celecoxib. We concluded that oral administration of zerumbone in a dose of 2 mL kg-1 b.wt. of 0.4% w/v diluted with corn oil for a period of 4 weeks has some chondroprotective effects

Utilization of Waste Iron Powder as Fine Aggregate in Cement Mortar

This paper reports about the use of recycled iron powder (IP) in producing cement mortar under normal conditions. Flow table test was performed on fresh mortar. Destructive tests were conducted on cubes of the hardened mortar to obtain the compressive and flexural strengths of the cement mortar. The effects of adding 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% of waste IP as a natural sand replacement were assessed and compared. Waste iron are of two types: iron IP, which shows a similar particle size distribution to that of the sand used in making the samples, and fine iron powder (FIP), which contains fine particles. The compressive strength decreased with the increased amount of added IP in the mixtures, but it increased with the addition of 10% FIP and decreased gradually with the increased FIP level. By contrast, the flexural strength significantly increased with increased FIP in the mixtures. Recommendations regarding the applications of recycling to conserve resources and raw materials and prevent environmental pollution are provided

Complication Following percutaneous coronary intervention via the femoral artery Experience in lraqi center for the Heart Disease and lbn Al-Bitar Hospital for cardiac surgery.

Background: Vascular complications have been recognized as an important factor in morbidity after diagnostic and percutaneous coronary interventions. Objectives: This study sought to evaluate vascular complications after diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from the common femoral artery. Patients and methods: This prospective cohort study was carried out over a year period, from February 2008 till January 2009, at the Iraqi Center for the Heart Disease and Ibn Al-Bitar Hospital for Cardiac Surgery. A total number of 2400 patients underwent 3600 procedures, diagnostic coronary angiography (2196) and PCI(1404) via their common femoral arteries were included in this study. Result: A total 407(11.3%) patients developed different vascular complications (retroperitoneal hematoma, loss of distal pulse, arterial perforation each of them 0.03%, bruises 8.9%, pseudoaneurysm 0.69%, AV fistula 0.03%, hematoma ≥10cm 0.3% and <10cm 1.2%). We identified multiple factors associated with increased frequency of vascular complications like age, gender and past medical history. We have more frequent minor complications and more attendance to treat our complications surgically. Conclusions: This study has shown that the vascular complications continue to occur post PCI and diagnostic coronary angiography

The Ankle- Brachial Pressure Index AS A Predictor of Coronary Artery Disease Severity

Background: Atherosclerosis is a diffuse disease process, being present in one vascular bed predicts its presence in the others. Ankle –brachial pressure index (ABI) is a non invasive test proved to be sensitive and specific in detecting and assessing the severity of peripheral arterial disease. Patients and Methods: One hundred fifty patients (150) were enrolled in this study, from January - June 2007; all were referred to the Iraqi Centre for Heart Diseases (I.C.H.D.) for further evaluation, with request for further assessment of CAD or lower extremity peripheral arterial disease. Clinical data and physical examination were performed; ABI was calculated by measurement of systolic pressure on both ankles over both dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries and on both arms over the brachial arteries by using a Doppler stethoscope. The Ankle –Brachial Pressure Index (ABI) calculation was made by taking the lowest value for the ankle pressure and the highest value for the brachial pressure. The normal value for the ABI range from (1-1.4), a cutoff value of < 0.90 was used to identify low ABI. All patients underwent diagnostic coronary angiography and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) was used to identify the lesion length and severity of stenosis. The severity of CAD was quantified by GENSINI score, the number of diseased vessels and the number of significant lesions. Results: The mean Ankle-Brachial Pressure index (ABI) for the sample was 0.908±0.31 (range 0- 1.53), the mean GENSINI score was 44.02±40 (range 0-148), GENSINI score was zero in 30 (20%) patients, 40 (26%) were having no diseased vessel, 41(27%) having single, and 43 (28.7%) double and 26 (17%) triple vessel disease. ABI was inversely related to the extent of CAD assessed by GENSINI (p-value 0.015), number of diseased vessels (p-value 0.009), and number of significant lesions (p-value 0.021). ABI < 0.9 was recorded in 51 patients (34%) and a low ABI was an independent factor for a higher GENSINI scores (p-value 0.043) and a higher number of diseased vessels (p-value 0.0001). Patients who were referred with PAD were found to have significantly lower ABI than the rest of the sample (p=0.0001), and a coexisted CAD was detected in 15 out of 20 (75%) patients. Conclusions: ABI was a useful bedside clinical test that predicts the severity of the CAD in patients who are already suffering from or suspected to have ischemic heart disease

Characterization of Niti Super Elasticity Shape Memory Alloys

Ni-Ti samples were prepared by powder metallurgy. The prepared samples were master samples M1 (55% Ni- 45%Ti) and M2 (56% Ni- 44%Ti). The additive percentage of Ta was 5%, 7% and 9% to master sample M1 and M2, while Nb addition was 1%, 2% and 4% to M1 and M2. The pressure of pressing was 800 Mpa. The samples were sintered at 950 °C for a time of 9 hr. Samples were then examined by using SEM technique, XRD, DSC, Vickers hardness. The porosity was measured according to Archimedes method. Scanning electronic microscopy images showed that most prepared samples have porosity, which in turn imparts decreasing microhardness values across the surface. Better increase of microhardness values is found in M2+5%Ta. Scanning electron microscopy indicated also the best martensitic structure in M1+4% Nb and M2+4%Nb. X-ray diffraction observations indicated that NiTi, Ni3Ti and NiTi2 phases exist in all samples. NiTi phase is playing a dramatic role in enhancing shape memory effect and superelasticity. DSC results show that transformation temperatures range in (46-134°C). This indicates that all samples at room temperature have one phase which is martensite

Season does not have a deleterious effect on proportions of stallion seminal plasma proteins

The mechanism by which the content of the major groups of seminal plasma proteins in stallion semen changes between the breeding and non-breeding seasons remains unknown. Here, we investigated the proportions of non-heparinbinding, phosphorylcholine-binding, and heparin-binding proteins in seminal plasma with the aim of relating them to sperm quality and testosterone levels in good and bad freezer stallions. Only minor variations in the major protein groups were found between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. In the non-breeding season, a higher content of a subset of nonheparin binding proteins as well as of heparin-binding proteins was found. Analysis of semen characteristics revealed a somewhat contrasting picture. While only minor variations in sperm kinematics and sperm morphology were found between seasons, the flow-cytometric measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential and also, to some extent, reactive oxygen species production indicated lower sperm quality in the breeding season. Chromatin integrity and testosterone levels were unchanged between seasons. The results suggest that stallion ejaculates could be used year-round for freezing, since only minor differences in protein composition exist between the breeding and non-breeding seasons, as well as between good and bad freezers. In addition, sperm quality is not impaired during the non-breeding season