Photographic protocol for image acquisition in craniofacial microsomia

Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital condition associated with orbital, mandibular, ear, nerve, and soft tissue anomalies. We present a standardized, two-dimensional, digital photographic protocol designed to capture the common craniofacial features associated with CFM

Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review

Toy M, Önder FO, Wörmann T, et al. Age- and region-specific hepatitis B prevalence in Turkey estimated using generalized linear mixed models: a systematic review. BMC infectious diseases. 2011;11(1): 337.BACKGROUND: To provide a clear picture of the current hepatitis B situation, the authors performed a systematic review to estimate the age- and region-specific prevalence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Turkey. METHODS: A total of 339 studies with original data on the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Turkey and published between 1999 and 2009 were identified through a search of electronic databases, by reviewing citations, and by writing to authors. After a critical assessment, the authors included 129 studies, divided into categories: 'age-specific'; 'region-specific'; and 'specific population group'. To account for the differences among the studies, a generalized linear mixed model was used to estimate the overall prevalence across all age groups and regions. For specific population groups, the authors calculated the weighted mean prevalence. RESULTS: The estimated overall population prevalence was 4.57, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.58, 5.76, and the estimated total number of CHB cases was about 3.3 million. The outcomes of the age-specific groups varied from 2.84, (95% CI: 2.60, 3.10) for the 0-14-year olds to 6.36 (95% CI: 5.83, 6.90) in the 25-34-year-old group. CONCLUSION: There are large age-group and regional differences in CHB prevalence in Turkey, where CHB remains a serious health problem

Oceanography of the Black Sea: a review of some recent results

A new synthesis of the Black Sea oceanography is presented, primarily based on studies carried out in the southern Black Sea, as well as on some recent work covering the entire basin, obtained in a new era of increasing cooperation between the riparian countries. A review of the physical environment is given. Seasonal and interannual climatic variability of the system are discussed in relation to its hydrology. Water mass variability and formation are studied, with emphasis on the inflow of Mediterranean waters, pycnocline variability, shelf and internal mixing, and double diffusive convection. The general circulation of the basin, and the roles of stratification, topography and coastline variations in determining the behaviour of the rapid, unstable boundary currents and upwelling along the coast are discussed, based on hydrographic data and satellite observations. Impacts of the physical processes on the ecosystem are discussed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V

THE EVOLUTION OF MEDITERRANEAN WATER IN THE BLACK-SEA - INTERIOR MIXING AND MATERIAL TRANSPORT BY DOUBLE-DIFFUSIVE INTRUSIONS

After its entry into the Black Sea from the Bosphorus Strait, Mediterranean Water first evolves by mixing with the Cold Intermediate Water on the shelf region, and later sinks along the continental slope, reaching the halocline in the form of cold anomalies. The intrusion of the modified waters drives a series of intermediate depth nepheloid layers spreading from the southwestern margin into the interior of the Black Sea basin. In many cases, the temperature, salinity, suspended matter and other properties of the intruding layers in the interior can be traced back to the southwest shelf region. The opposing effects of the existing temperature and salinity gradients on the stability of the interior density stratification, and the anomalous temperature and salinity of the intrusions themselves, result in a unique mechanism of double diffusive convection at intermediate depth

SIMULTANEOUS DEEP AND INTERMEDIATE DEPTH CONVECTION IN THE NORTHERN LEVANTINE SEA, WINTER 1992

The northern Levantine Sea is the primary source region for the Levantine Intermediate Water (LIW) in the Mediterranean Sea. The Deep Water (DW) of the Eastern Mediterranean mainly originates in the Adriatic basin, but local contributions from the Levantine Sea have also been suspected in the past. Observations in the northern Levantine Sea during March 1992 shed new light on the above processes, showing simultaneous formation of DW in the cyclonic Rhodes Gyre (Rhodes Gyre) area, and of LIW in the adjacent regions. The deep convection region coincides with the permanent dome structure of the Rhodes Gyre, where overturning of the water is generated by cooling during sufficiently severe winters. The LIW is produced in a much larger area of the northern Levantine Sea than previously thought, by direct surface cooling and mixing of the near-surface stratified waters

BOUNDARY CURRENT INSTABILITIES, UPWELLING, SHELF MIXING AND EUTROPHICATION PROCESSES IN THE BLACK-SEA

Satellite and in situ data are utilized to investigate the mesoscale dynamics of the Black Sea boundary current system with special emphasis on aspects of transport and productivity. The satellite data are especially helpful in capturing rapid sub-mesoscale motions insufficiently resolved by the in situ measurements