Bathymetric modeling from satellite imagery via Single Band Algorithm [SBA] and Principal Components Analysis [PCA] in southern Caspian Sea

Remotely sensed imagery is proving to be a useful tool to estimate water depths in coastal zones. Bathymetric algorithms attempt to isolate water attenuation and hence depth from other factors by using different combinations of spectral bands. In this research, images of absolute bathymetry using two different but related methods in a region in the southern Caspian Sea coasts has been produced. The first method used a Single Band Algorithm [SBA] and assumed a constant water attenuation coefficient throughout the blue band. The second method used Principal Components Analysis [PCA] to adjust for varying water attenuation coefficients without additional ground truth data. PCA method [r=-0.672394] appears to match our control points slightly better than single band algorithm [r=-0.645404]. It is clear that both methods can be used as rough estimates of bathymetry for many coastal zone studies in the southern Caspian Sea such as near shore fisheries, coastal erosion, water quality, recreation siting and so forth. The presented methodology can be considered as the first step toward mapping bathymetry in the southern Caspian Sea. Further research must investigate the determination of the nonlinear optimization techniques as well as the assessment of these models' performance in the study area

[Determination of mercury concentration in different tissues of coot [fulica atra], mallard [anas platyrhynchos] and great cormorant [phalacrocorax carbon]]

The heavy metals pollution in aquatic ecosystems especially mercury, always makes concern about health of aquatic organisms. So, the purposes of this study were determination of total mercury in different tissues of the three species of the most important water birds at north of Iran and comparison with world health standards. Generally, 51 birds were captured randomly. Then, samples of feather, liver, kidney and muscle were taken and the mercury concentrations were determined by Advanced Mercury Analyzer [Model; Leco, AMA 254]. The most amount of accumulated mercury was in great cormorant's liver [piscivorous species]. Means of mercury concentration in liver of great cormorant, mallard, and coot were 14.80, 2.05, 0.18; in kidney 12.00, 1.90, 0.17; in feather 6.57, 1.09, 0.23 and in muscle 8.67, 0.26, 0.09 mg/kg dry weight respectively. Means Comparison showed significant difference among all tissues [P < 0.05], But there were not significant difference between sexes [P > 0.05]. The levels of accumulated mercury in all tissues of great cormorant were more than the established limits by WHO, FAO and EPA. The other species had less use limitation, but mercury concentration in mallards was considerable. These results can be a serious warning for consumers these birds, especially vulnerable people

[Study of deafness associated with DFNB59 gene [Pejvakin] mutation in Fars province]

Hearing loss is the most frequent sensory disorder affecting 1 in 500 neonates with more than 50% of inherited cases. This trait is a very heterogeneous disorder and happens due to genetic or environmental causes or both. More than 46 genes may be involved in non-syndromic hearing loss. Recently, DFNB 59 gene has been shown to cause deafness in some Iranian populations. The aim of this study was to determine the role of DFNB 59 gene mutations causing deafness in a group of 130 deaf pupils in Fars province. This descriptive-laboratory based study investigated the frequency of DFNB59 gene mutations using PCR-SSCP/HA strategy. Two different DFNB59 polymorphism including 874G>A and 793C>G were found in 1 and 9 of 130 patients studied respectively. However, no DFNB59 mutation was identified. The results of this study shows that the association of DFNB59 mutations with deafness in Fars province is very low

[Examination of mercury concentration in the hair of breast-feeding mothers and relation to fish diet, number of dental amalgam filling, age and place of live]

Mercury is a heavy metal that is widespread in the environment and has many toxic effects. At present, MeHg exposure on women remain an important issues for researching, especially those of continuous uptake in high-fish consumption. MeHg can be transferred to infant through breast milk. The objective of this study was to characterize the risk of Hg exposure in mothers in south of the Caspian Sea. In this study mercury in hair of 70 breast-feeding women [17-36 years old] and influencing factor on it, were assessed. Mothers lives in Nur, Nowshahr and Chamestan cities and villages of Nur and Nowshahr. In order to researching on influencing factors, mothers fill questionnaires. Hair samples [about 1 gr] were obtained from mothers. The mercury was measured by LECOAMA254 Advanced Mercury Analyzer [USA] according to ASTM, standard NO.D-6722. Total mean mercury concentration in mothers hair obtained 0.19 +/- 0.09 [micro g gr[-1]]. Tukey test show that the influence of the variables place of live [p=0.02], fish and sea food consumption of mother [P=0.00] were significantly affected on hair mercury concentration of mothers. The other factors [age and number of dental amalgam filling] had no significant effect on mercury levels in hair of mothers. Total mean mercury concentration in mothers hair were lesser than normal dose recommended by WHO [2 micro g g[-1]] and EPA reference [5 micro g g[-1]]. Analysis of questionnaires showed that three kinds of fish including carp, golden mulle and kutum. Although were often used in this study, mercury concentration in fish was not determined, but in according to significant relation between fish consumption and mercury concentration in mother's hair, pollution with mercury in the fish can be the main factor of mercury exposure in this study

[Prevalence of hyphema and its complications in patients with eye blunt trauma]

Eye trauma is a common cause of one-sided blindness in children and teenagers. Blunt trauma can cause rupture of orbital cavity and the herniation of its content may affect the nearby sinuses leading to hemorrhage in the anterior chamber [hyphema].Traumatic hyphema that specially happens in the eyes with blunt trauma can be followed by high infra ocular pressure, corneal staining, cataract, injury of the optic nerve and sever loss of visual acuity [VA]. Early diagnosis and treatment of this complication can prevent the later and worst complications. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of traumatic hyphema and its complications in eye blunt trauma. According to a cross- sectional descriptive protocol, we studied 83 patients with eye blunt trauma who referred to the eye clinics of Bahman 22[nd] and Farabi hospitals. A formal questionnaire was designed to be completed for personal particularities of each patient as well as the information about the examinations of orbit, cornea, AC, lens and optic nerves. In addition, the Intraocular Pressure [IOP] and initial VA were recorded. Then we analyzed these records and evaluated the prevalence of hyphema and its complications in eye blunt trauma. This study shows that hyphema is a common complication of eye blunt trauma that occurs in approximately 50% of the patients with eye blunt trauma. 36.1% of the patients were in the age group of 20-40 years old with an average age of 36.7 years. There were 65.9% males and 34.1% females. The most common causes of trauma included projectiles [48.8%] and assaults [36.6%]. The most common associated symptoms with hyphema included red eye [56.09%] and dark vision [48.7%].The most frequent occurring complications included sever decrease of initial VA [75.6%] and high IOP [48.8%]. Hyphema is a common complication of eye blunt trauma that may lead to other complications like sever loss of VA and high IOP. So, thinking of and searching for hyphema in any patient with eye blunt trauma can help us to diagnose it at early stages and prevent other complications

[Protecting living environments in Islam]

The wise God, has created the environment based on the set goals logic and purposes. God has created everything quantitavely and qualitatively in a proper manar. God has declared in the Quran: [Verily, all things have we created by measure] and/or in another verse he says: [And the earth, we have spread it out, creating firm standing mountains, and grown in it every thing in balance.] The study aims to search the verses of Quran and hadith about protection of living environment and its role in human health. In this review article, Islamic resources on environmental protection were reviewed. In the universe there is enormous diversity and variety of living forms and functions. The universe and its various elements fulfill human welfare and are evidence of the Creator's greatness. Thus, in Islam the utilization of these resources is the right and privilege of all people and all species. The Islamic ideology emphasizes in the fact that all Moslems must protect and appreciate the God's creations including the living environment. It can be inferred that Moslems must use all the legal and moral tools to protect the living environment and to prevent its destruction

[Effect of age, gender, years of practice, specialty and number of amalgam restorations on mercury concentration in nails of dentists practicing in Tehran]

Dental professionals are at risk of being exposed to inorganic mercury, through handling amalgam. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of age, sex, years of practice, specialty and number of amalgam fillings on the concentration of mercury in nails of dentists practicing in Tehran. This analytic-descriptive study, conducted between May 2005 and May 2006, involved a randomly selected sample of 100 dentists and 35 controls in Tehran. All participants were asked to provide a nail sample and complete a questionnaire. Mercury was measured by the LECO AMA 254 Advanced Mercury Analyzer [USA] according to ASTM, standard No. D-6722. The LECO AMA254 is a unique Atomic Absorption Spectrometer [AAS] that is specifically designed to determine total mercury contents in various solids and certain liquids without sample pre-treatment or sample pre-concentration. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests. Mercury content in nails differed significantly among operative dentists: 0.14-27.27 mg/kg; orthodontists: 0.15-14.53 mg/kg; and controls: 0-1.7 mg/kg [p=0.000]. Age had a significant effect on mercury concentrations [p=0.01]. However, gender [p=0.93], years of practice [p=0.49], number of amalgam fillings [p=0.58] and the studied specialties [p=0.07] did not significantly affect mercury levels. Mercury levels were significantly higher in dentists and correlated with age. High mercury concentrations in some dentists appeared to be related to background exposure from the preparation of amalgam, amalgam residues and spillage of mercury

effect of flowable composite and resin cement on shear bond strength of porcelain veneer to enamel

There are insufficient data on the shear bond strength of Porcelain Veneers to enamel by using flowable composite as a luting Cement. This study was conducted in order to compare the shear bond strength of two different systems by using bovine enamel. Thirty freshly extracted anterior mandibular intact bovine teeth were randomly divided into two groups. Feldespatic Porcelain discs were attached to the enamel by Panavia F2 resin Cement and Filtek Flow flowable composite according to the manufacture's instruction. The bonded specimens were immersed in 37°C water for 30 days and then thermocycled at 5°C and 55°C for 500 cycles. Samples were subjected to shear bond strength test. The modes of failure were determined under stereo microscope. Group differences were statistically analyzed by using the student-t test. The mean bonding strength in Panavia F2 group was 24.26 [ +/- 8.2] mega paschal [Mpa], and 17.25 [ +/- 8.1] Mpa, in Filtek Flow group. The statistical analysis showed significant difference between the two groups [P<0.005]. Mode of failure in the first group was mainly cohesive and adhesive in the second one. This study revealed that the shear bond strength of dual cure Panavia F2 resin cement is considerably higher than that of light cure Filtek Flow flowable composite

study of quantitative and qualitative changes of essential oil from smyrnium cordifolium boiss. in lorestan province

Smyrnium cordifolium belongs to Umbelliferae family which growing in the west and southwest of Iran and has nutritive and medicine use in the regions. Aim: Identification of chemical compositions of essential oil of S. cordifolium grown in different regions of Lorestan province and study effects of environmental factors on it. This plant was collected from five different regions of Lorestan province and was investigated for quantitative and qualitative changes of its essential oil. The oils was injected to GC for identification of constituents. Yields of essential oil were 0.07% to 0.55% in these different regions. The most amount of essential oil was related to Poldokhtar and the least amount to Aligoodarz. In the essential oil of different regions two oxygenated sesquiterpen Curzerene and Curzerenone had the most amount. Among common and remarkable components we can mention to Germacrene-D, Isopimarol and Phyllocladanol. In Kouhdasht and Khoramabad, Curzerene was the main component with 39.4 and 34.2 percentages respectively, and in Poldokhtar, Nourabad and Aligodarz it was Curzerenone with 49.4, 33.8 and 35.6 percentages.Also, in different regions Germacrene-D is abundant in the oil. The identified components of essential oil of different regions showed the differences and similarities from quantitative and qualitative point of view. GC/MS analysis revealed that the sesquiterpen compounds were the main components in different regions, alpha-pinene and beta-pinene were just observed in Norabad and Aligodarz

Total hip arthroplasty in 40 years old patients or younger in comparison with the old ones

The results of total hip arthroplasty in young adults indicate a high complication rate and questionable durability. We set up this study to evaluate our experience in the mentioned topic. In a retrospective study, we evaluate 239 hips which have been undergone THA since 1983 in our hospital. We invite them for current set of clinical and radiological evaluation. Ninety Six of them responded and came for follow up. Then the Harris hip score and status of implant were compared. The mean age at the time of follow-up was 33.1 +/- 7.6 in younger group and 67 +/- 13.6 in older group. The mean Harris score, survival of cup and survival of stem was 79.8 +/- 14.6, 4 +/- 2.6 and 4.26 +/- 3 in young patients and 77.5 +/- 16.2, 5.2 +/- 3.7 and 5.3 +/- 3.6 in older patients respectively [P<0.55, P<0.06, and P<0.10 respectively]. Multivariable analysis shows significant effect of age and duration of follow up [P<0.039] on overall implant loosening which indicate the confounder role of follow up period. We match the following up period between the groups. Analysis of cemented THA shows: mean Harris score of 88 +/- 4 in younger and 8.12 +/- 11.7 in older group [P<0.27], 0% cup loosening of younger and 9.5% of older group [P<0.52] and 25% stem loosening of younger and 9.5% of the older group [P<0.38]. Analysis of cement less THA showed: mean Harris score of 76.5 +/- 15.9 in younger and 80.2 +/- 14.5 in older group [P<0.05, r-0.295] and 0% stem loosening of younger and 4% of older group [P<0.46]. The major draw back of our study was lower cementless cup survival in younger patients. Anyway, the new implant design and technique seems to improve durability of implant in younger adult but not enough to reject the concept of poor survival of THA in younger patients

Dietary overlap between invasion ctenophora [M . leidyi ] and anchovy [C. engrauliformis] in the southern parts of Caspian Sea

Mnemiopsis leidyi, native to America, Invaded the Caspian Sea in 1999. By the end of 2000, the entire sea was accupied with them. In parallel, a sharp decline in pelagic fish such accurrred. This survey was studied the relationship between the M. leidyi and this decline. Dietary analysis was conducted on anchovy sprat [Clupeonnela engrauliformis] and M. leidyi from August 2001 to October 2002 in the coastal water in the southern parts of Caspian Sea, in Iran. M. leidyi was caught by plankton net, [the mesh size -5 mm], at three depth at 5, 10 and 15 m. Sprat was caught by fisheries boat at Babolasar fishery harbor. Samples were not fixed in M. leidyi common fixative, 96% Ethanol were used. The Schoener index analysis reflected a similar diet composition of both species, with an critical level of overlap [>89 in Babolsar samples and >84 in Noushahar samples]. This competition is one of the reasons for the decline of anchovy sprat. also, the results show M. leidyi is feeding on fish eggs, but effects of this factor on anchovy population is less than feeding competition. Controlling of M. leidyi population is reducing the pressure of its invasion and the effective approach is introduces a predator to the Caspian Sea

estimation of the effect of accidental mortality on life expectancy and its economic consequences in 1381

The deaths resulting from car accidents have influenced life expectancy and the country's economic system greatly.It is a cross-sectional study in which 21873 people who died in car accidents in 1381 formed our subjects of study. The data were collected by a checklist and they were analyzed by means of two models: human capital and comprehensive model. The findings revealed that 29% of death rates resulted from car accidents. 81.3% of the victims were males and 18.7% were females. These rates cost economically 12580 Milliard Rials. Since death rates have a close relationship with economic problems, the investigation of the causes of accidents and finding solutions to reduce them are very important