Hydrochemical changes over time in the Zahedan Aquifer, Iran.

Groundwater in the Zahedan Aquifer located in the arid southeast of Iran was chemically characterized to understand both the nature of the alluvium aquifer and the effect of human activities, specifically sewage disposal on groundwater quality. Concentrations of major cations and anions in the Zahedan Aquifer are much higher than concentrations observed in groundwater of similar settings. Although the nature of the aquifer and climatic parameters have affected the chemistry of groundwater, human impacts on the groundwater quality are more significant. The electrical conductivity in some areas of the Zahedan aquifer increased up to 7,500 microS/cm in 25 years. Human influences in some areas are so prevalent, that the groundwater type changed from a Na(+)-HCO(3) (-) in 1976 to a Na(+)-Cl(-) type in 2000. The impact of human influences on the groundwater quality is also indicated through observed nitrate concentration up to 4.81 meq/L in the urban area.

Experimental corneal studies with the excimer laser.

The excimer laser is potentially capable of achieving wide area central corneal reprofiling because of its extreme precision and limited penetration into adjacent tissues. A beam modifying system designed for this application is described. Initial clinical studies in monkeys and in ten human patients with blind eyes were performed. Long-term clinical data and interim histologic analyses are available from these studies. The results indicate that following ablation with an ultraviolet laser in both humans and primates, the ablated tissue shows a normal healing reaction resulting in a mild to moderate stromal interface haze. The effects of this healing on best corrected vision must be elucidated through additional research. Some loss of refractive effect was seen early in the healing process with apparent stabilization.

Human excimer laser keratectomy. Short-term histopathology.

The first human trial utilizing the argon fluoride excimer laser at 193 nm to produce a superficial keratectomy in the initial three of 10 human eyes has been described with the clinical appearance and short-term (less than 14 days) histopathologic evaluation of these three eyes. The process of laser superficial keratectomy has proved one of the promising areas of surgical intervention for reconstructive or refractive keratoplasty in the future. Intensive investigations of corneal wound healing following laser ablation as well as the nature and long-term stability of the corneal excisions or induced refractive corrections are needed. It is essential that the optimal laser parameters be established for the various refractive corrections and other corneal surgical techniques and that pathophysiologic and histopathologic changes that have been induced by the excimer laser-corneal tissue interaction in animals and humans be critically and extensively analysed.

Excimer laser instrumentation and technique for human corneal surgery.

The design and development of the instrumentation utilized during the clinical and histopathologic evaluations of the first human eyes treated by argon fluoride excimer laser radiation are described. The laser, optical, alignment, measurement, and control subsystems required for this research were constructed to create a laser beam that has an axially symmetric energy distribution, can be calibrated and measured, can be aligned with the target tissue, and can be manipulated to excise surface tissue. The use of this excimer laser system has demonstrated that a nonuniform superficial lamellar keratectomy can be produced to excise areas of opacified, scarred, or abnormal cornea or to create a new anterior corneal curvature in attempts to correct refractive errors.

Human excimer laser corneal surgery: preliminary report.

The first human trial utilizing the argon fluoride excimer laser at 193 nm to produce a superficial keratectomy in ten human eyes has been described with the histopathological evaluation of four eyes and the longer gross appearance of six eyes at intervals extending to 10 months post-excimer laser treatment. The process of laser superficial keratectomy has proved to be one of the promising areas of surgical intervention for reconstructive or refractive keratoplasty in the future. Intensive investigations need to be undertaken on the corneal wound healing process following laser ablation as well as the nature, and long-term stability of the corneal excisions or induced refractive corrections. It is essential that the optimal laser parameters be established for the various refractive corrections and other corneal surgical techniques, and that pathophysiologic and histopathologic changes that have been induced by the excimer laser-corneal tissue interaction in animals and humans be critically and extensively analyzed.

Alternative perspective on photosynthetic yield and enhancement.

In the traditional Z scheme of photosynthesis the Emerson effects of red drop (decline in yield of photosynthesis in far-red light) and enhancement (of far-red yield by supplementary short-wavelength light) are taken to be evidence for the coupling in series of two photosystems that absorb unsymmetrically in the far-red region of the spectrum. An alternative explanation for red drop and enhancement is proposed here that does not invoke the series-coupling hypothesis. It is suggested that the Emerson effects may be due to the drop in intensity of radiation from sample absorption, which causes a photochemical loss when the reaction shuts off at depth in the medium. The effects of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and temperature on the yield may also be interpreted in terms of this model.

Effect of sequential bleeding on body weight gain in rats.

Monthly withdrawal of a total of 1.25--2.0 ml of blood from young, mature, inbred Fischer 344 rats produced no noticeable effects on common hematologic parameters, but it did cause a decrease in the rate of body weight gain. The difference in body weight between rats bled and not bled was evident 3 weeks after the study began, and the difference persisted throughout the 23-week study.

Carcinogenesis bioassay of technical-grade piperonyl butoxide in F344 rats.

The insecticide synergist piperonyl butoxide--alpha-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene--was tested for carcinogenicity in inbred F344 rats in a 2-year study employing doses of 10,000 and 5,000 ppm of the compound administered continuously in the feed. Although a statistically significant dose-related increase in the incidence of lymphoreticular neoplasia was associated with administration of the compound to females, the incidence of that class of neoplasm was higher in control males than in treated males. The finding of statistical significance in one sex is not considered by itself to constitute sufficient evidence of a biologic effect to justify an indictment of carcinogenic action. However, inasmuch as the chief use of this substance is to alter the in vivo metabolism of other chemicals, its possible role as a cocarcinogen should be carefully considered in any risk-benefit evaluation aimed at setting policies regarding its uses.