GREENWAYS AND THE URBAN FORM: CITY OF ANKARA, TURKEY

A greenway is a linear open space established along either a natural corridor, such as a riverfront, stream valley, or ridgeline, or overland along a railroad right-of-way converted to recreational use, a canal, scenic rood, or other route. It is any natural or landscaped course for pedestrian or bicycle passage. An open-space connector linking parks, nature reserves, cultural features, or historic sites with each other and with populated areas (Little, 1995; Miller et al., 1998; Viles and Rosier, 2001). A greenway is a connector; a pattern of protected lands linking other protected lands such as natural features or historic sites into a greater whole. According to Fabos and Ahern (1996), greenways are urban riversides, recreational paths and trails, ecologically significant natural corridors, scenic and historic roads and comprehensive regional green infrastructures incorporating elements from all the previous four. The system can be defined as a connected and integrated system of mostly linear, rear-natural and cultural areas which remained as almost undeveloped corridors passing through the human-altered landscape. In the 1980’s, increased interest in open-space conservation converged with the growing popularity of outdoor recreation, resulting in many new greenway projects along with vigorous support across the country (Little, 1995). As the loss of open space has become increasingly apparent on the national level and particularly striking in many urban areas, interest in all types of land conservation has risen to an unprecedented level. At the same time, the cost of land in many places especially in metropolitan areas has continued to rise while federal funding for land conservation has plummeted. Land protection has thus become increasingly difficult in many parts of country. Greenways are a partial solution to this problem because they often require less than traditional, non linear parks, especially when recreation is the primary focus. One estimate put the number of greenways existing in the United States at 1989 at over 250. The actual number of greenways may be much higher, since many protected linear open spaces that lack organized management, administration, or publicity often go unrecognized. The term greenway can usually be applied to many linear open spaces that have, not traditionally been so named. Dozens of greenway projects are now under way across the country in urban, suburban and rural settings. Notable efforts with a strong recreational focus, but which also involve land protection, are taking place in San Francisco, where the Bay Trail and The Bay Area Ridge Trail trace concentric rings around San Francisco Bay; along the Chattanooga River in Chattanooga, Tennessee; from New York City to Albany and beyond along the Hudson River, and in Boston, where the Bay Circuit Trail encircles the metropolitan area much as Frederic Law Olmsted’s Emerald Necklace encircled the inner city over a century ago. Several coordinated urban greenway networks are now under way that stresses both recreation and conservation in cities like Boulder, Colorado; Davis, California; and North Carolina. The state of Maryland has launched a statewide greenways program that seeks to combine water resource and habitat protection. In Texas, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to secure a major wildlife corridor along 250 miles of the lower Rio Grande (Smith and Helmund, 1993)

Fault dictionary size reduction through test response superposition

Abstract Th

Microstructural Analysis of Austempered Ductile Iron Castings

A ustempered ductile iron ADI castings have a wide range of application areas in engineering designs due to their promising mechanical properties and lower cost. ADI has very good strength and toughness values at the same time its ductility is relatively high compared to most of the other cast irons. These promising mechanical properties originate from combination of specific graphite and matrix microstructure. The size, shape and fraction of graphite as well as the matrix microstructure influences the mechanical properties. In this paper the efforts regarding to a localization project of ADI is presented. In a more detailed manner, the first locally produced ADI which cannot satisfy the mechanical properties stated in ISO 17804 is compared with the original sample which is conform with the standard. The two pieces are inspected by mechanically and microstructurally by means of which necessary actions are detected for the local production. In other words the relation between the macro mechanical properties and the microstructural conditions are tried to be clarifie

Influence of lead and zinc oxides on the radiation shielding properties of tellurite glass systems

The radiation shielding properties of xPbO-(100-x)TeO2, x = 10, 20, and 30 mol% binary glasses and y[ZnO]-(100-y)[70(TeO2)-30(PbO)] y = 15, 20, and 25 mol% ternary glasses were investigated using Geant4 simulations and the newly developed Phy-X/PSD program. The glasses’ gamma shielding abilities were assessed using their mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ρ), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Zeff), and half value layer (HVL) values. The neutron shielding ability was evaluated by determining the removal cross-section (RCS) values, which were 0.097, 0.101, and 0.103 cm-1 for binary PbO-TeO2 (PT) glasses and 0.118, 0.116, and 0.114 cm-1 for ternary ZnO-PbO-TeO2 (PTZ) glasses. The gamma and neutron shielding features of the glasses were compared with those of various ordinary concretes and Pb-free, Pb-based, and commercial glasses. The addition of PbO changed the gamma and neutron properties of the PT glasses, while the addition of ZnO demonstrated a different trend in the gamma properties of the PTZ glass system

Renal complications of lipodystrophy: A closer look at the natural history of kidney disease

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144612/1/cen13732_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144612/2/cen13732.pd

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Detectable clonal mosaicism and its relationship to aging and cancer

In an analysis of 31,717 cancer cases and 26,136 cancer-free controls from 13 genome-wide association studies, we observed large chromosomal abnormalities in a subset of clones in DNA obtained from blood or buccal samples. We observed mosaic abnormalities, either aneuploidy or copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity, of >2 Mb in size in autosomes of 517 individuals (0.89%), with abnormal cell proportions of between 7% and 95%. In cancer-free individuals, frequency increased with age, from 0.23% under 50 years to 1.91% between 75 and 79 years (P = 4.8 × 10(-8)). Mosaic abnormalities were more frequent in individuals with solid tumors (0.97% versus 0.74% in cancer-free individuals; odds ratio (OR) = 1.25; P = 0.016), with stronger association with cases who had DNA collected before diagnosis or treatment (OR = 1.45; P = 0.0005). Detectable mosaicism was also more common in individuals for whom DNA was collected at least 1 year before diagnosis with leukemia compared to cancer-free individuals (OR = 35.4; P = 3.8 × 10(-11)). These findings underscore the time-dependent nature of somatic events in the etiology of cancer and potentially other late-onset diseases

Genome-wide identification and phenotypic characterization of seizure-associated copy number variations in 741,075 individuals

Copy number variants (CNV) are established risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders with seizures or epilepsy. With the hypothesis that seizure disorders share genetic risk factors, we pooled CNV data from 10,590 individuals with seizure disorders, 16,109 individuals with clinically validated epilepsy, and 492,324 population controls and identified 25 genome-wide significant loci, 22 of which are novel for seizure disorders, such as deletions at 1p36.33, 1q44, 2p21-p16.3, 3q29, 8p23.3-p23.2, 9p24.3, 10q26.3, 15q11.2, 15q12-q13.1, 16p12.2, 17q21.31, duplications at 2q13, 9q34.3, 16p13.3, 17q12, 19p13.3, 20q13.33, and reciprocal CNVs at 16p11.2, and 22q11.21. Using genetic data from additional 248,751 individuals with 23 neuropsychiatric phenotypes, we explored the pleiotropy of these 25 loci. Finally, in a subset of individuals with epilepsy and detailed clinical data available, we performed phenome-wide association analyses between individual CNVs and clinical annotations categorized through the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO). For six CNVs, we identified 19 significant associations with specific HPO terms and generated, for all CNVs, phenotype signatures across 17 clinical categories relevant for epileptologists. This is the most comprehensive investigation of CNVs in epilepsy and related seizure disorders, with potential implications for clinical practice

Adaptive Test Cost and Quality Optimization Through An Effective Yet Efficient Delivery of Chip Specific Tests

The higher levels of integration and process scaling imposes failure behaviors which are challenging to interpret, necessitating the continuous augmentation of fault models and test vectors in the hopes of taming the defect escape rate. The subsequent inflation in the number of test vectors coupled with the constant increase in the size of each test vector continuously boosts test cost. The economics of particularly the competitive consumer marketplace however require a constant vigilance at the test cost while ensuring a satisfactory test quality. While the inclusion of new fault models helps boost test quality, the non-uniform distribution of various defect types and the defect coverage overlaps between fault models imply variable effectiveness of fault models and test vectors, resulting in the inclusion of a large number of ineffective vectors in test flow. A static derivation of test effectiveness however remains problematic in practice as it is well known that defect characteristics are prone to drifts throughout the product lifecycle. Furthermore, the increasing process variation and the integration of hundreds of domains within a chip result in increasingly distinct domains and individualized chip instances with diverse test resource requirements. The conventional test method of a static application of an identical test set to all chips consequently struggles to satisfy the demanding test cost and quality constraints in the face of the evolving defect behaviors and the increasing diversification in test resource requirements. This thesis addresses the simultaneous necessity for satisfactory test quality and low test cost through an adaptive test cost and quality optimization framework. The proposed methodologies not only adaptively assess the effectiveness of fault models and test vectors but also evaluate the variable test resource requirements of the chips and domains based on their distinct characteristics, enabling an effective yet efficient test through the selection of the most effective vectors and a carefully crafted allocation of test resources. The proposed methodologies are tailored for a broad set of application scenarios through the consideration of different defect classes and defect characteristic drift types while incorporating the test data gathering and delivery constraints and overcoming the associated algorithmic challenge