Evaluation of some physical, chemical and bacteriological characteristics of fish ponds in Kirkuk City

The present study aimed to conduct a field study on the water ponds in different areas of Kirkuk city. For the purpose of evaluating the water quality for four selected areas, which included water before the pond (wells water) and water inside and outside the ponds (fish ponds). December until 7/31/2021 in July. The study included measuring physical properties such as (water temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved solids) and chemical properties such as (pH, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen requirement, chemical oxygen requirement, total basicity, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, chlorides, Sulfates, phosphates, nitrates, total nitrogen, proteins) and the percentage of bacterial contamination was also studied, which included (the total number of bacteria (Total Plate Count (TPC), the total number of Escherichia Coli Bacteria and the number of Fecal Coliform Bacteria). The results were compared with the international determinants and specifications of water standards

Governance in Seaport Clusters

Seaports can be meaningfully analysed with a cluster perspective. In this perspective, seaports are regarded as concentrations of economic activity related to the arrival and service of ships and cargoes at ports. This perspective has two main advantages: first, it draws attention to forces of agglomeration and disagglomeration in seaports. Some seaports are able to become concentrations of logistics activities, commercial centres, ‘information hubs’ and ‘shipping hubs’, while others do not attract such activities. The cluster perspective allows for an analysis of such processes of agglomeration. Second, the cluster perspective enriches existing theories on governance in seaports. The analysis of governance in seaports has mostly been limited to the role of the port authority. Notwithstanding the central role of port authorities in ports (port clusters), we argue that a port authority is one ‘arrangement’ to improve the governance in clusters, but not the only ‘arrangement’. Other arrangements include the formation of associations, the development of public-private partnerships and the use of networks. The literature on governance in clusters provides a broad analytical framework. This framework has implications for analysing the important and complex issue of the role of port authorities in seaports. In this paper, we deal in depth with the issue of cluster governance in seaports and illustrate our approach to cluster governance with an analysis of the port of Rotterdam. Maritime Economics & Logistics (2004) 6, 141–156. doi:10.1057/palgrave.mel.9100100

High-resolution structure of a DNA helix containing mismatched base pairs.

The concept of complementary base pairing, integral to the double-helical structure of DNA, provides an effective and elegant mechanism for the faithful transmission of genetic information. Implicit in this model, however, is the potential for incorporating non-complementary base pairs (mismatches) during replication or subsequently, for example, during genetic recombination. As such errors are usually damaging to the organism, they are generally detected and repaired. Occasionally, however, the propagation of erroneous copies of the genome confers a selective advantage, leading to genetic variation and evolutionary change. An understanding of the nature of base-pair mismatches at a molecular level, and the effect of incorporation of such errors on the secondary structure of DNA is thus of fundamental importance. We now report the first single-crystal X-ray analysis of a DNA fragment, d(GGGGCTCC), which contains two non-complementary G X T base pairs, and discuss the implications of the results for the in vivo recognition of base-pair mismatches

Decreasing central line-associated bloodstream infections rates in intensive care units in 30 low- and middle-income countries: An INICC approach

Background: Central line (CL)-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) occurring in the intensive care unit (ICU) are common and associated with a high burden. Methods: We implemented a multidimensional approach, incorporating an 11-element bundle, education, surveillance of CLABSI rates and clinical outcomes, monitoring compliance with bundle components, feedback of CLABSI rates and clinical outcomes, and performance feedback in 316 ICUs across 30 low- and middle-income countries. Our dependent variables were CLABSI per 1,000-CL-days and in-ICU all-cause mortality rates. These variables were measured at baseline and during the intervention, specifically during the second month, third month, 4 to 16 months, and 17 to 29 months. Comparisons were conducted using a two-sample t test. To explore the exposure-outcome relationship, we used a generalized linear mixed model with a Poisson distribution to model the number of CLABSIs. Results: During 1,837,750 patient-days, 283,087 patients, used 1,218,882 CL-days. CLABSI per 1,000 CL-days rates decreased from 15.34 at the baseline period to 7.97 in the 2nd month (relative risk (RR) = 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.48-0.56; P < .001), 5.34 in the 3rd month (RR = 0.35; 95% CI = 0.32-0.38; P < .001), and 2.23 in the 17 to 29 months (RR = 0.15; 95% CI = 0.13-0.17; P < .001). In-ICU all-cause mortality rate decreased from 16.17% at baseline to 13.68% (RR = 0.84; P = .0013) at 17 to 29 months. Conclusions: The implemented approach was effective, and a similar intervention could be applied in other ICUs of low- and middle-income countries to reduce CLABSI and in-ICU all-cause mortality rates.Revisión por pare

Immunization status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A multicenter study from Turkey

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to detect the prevalence and the factors associated with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and outcomes of vaccination during 2013-2014 season in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey

Immunization status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A multicenter study from Turkey

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to detect the prevalence and the factors associated with influenza and pneumococcal vaccination and outcomes of vaccination during 2013-2014 season in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Turkey. METHODS: This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study performed in 53 different centers in Turkey. RESULTS: During the study period, 4968 patients were included. COPD was staged as GOLD 1-2-3-4 in 9.0\%, 42.8\%, 35.0\%, and 13.2\% of the patients, respectively. Influenza vaccination rate in the previous year was 37.9\%; and pneumococcus vaccination rate, at least once during in a life time, was 13.3\%. Patients with older age, higher level of education, more severe COPD, and comorbidities, ex-smokers, and patients residing in urban areas had higher rates of influenza vaccination. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that advanced age, higher education levels, presence of comorbidities, higher COPD stages, and exacerbation rates were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination. The number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was 2.73 +/- 2.85 and 0.92 +/- 1.58 per year, respectively. Patients with older age, lower education levels, more severe COPD, comorbid diseases, and lower body mass index and patients who are male and are residing in rural areas and vaccinated for influenza had significantly higher rates of COPD exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in COPD patients were quite low, and the number of annual physician/outpatient visits and hospitalizations due to COPD exacerbation was high in Turkey. Advanced age, higher education levels, comorbidities, and higher COPD stages were associated with both influenza and pneumococcal vaccination