A framework for sustainable architecture in Iran with emphasis on the views of scholars

Development of the built environment needs to be addressed in a way that is socially and ecologically responsible. There is great urgency to make sustainable interventions in Iran, while built environments are being created without the above engagement. Lack of awareness and consensus on sustainable actions needs formulation of a framework set by scholars analyzing effects of its components in a comprehensive model. The need to develop an instrument for investigation of views of scholars has instigated the researcher to collect the necessary data through interviews and prepare a research questionnaire. Moreover, the exploratory factor analysis survey method was employed, so that structural equation can be used for modeling purposes. The results led to development of a theoretical model to describe views of sustainable architecture in Iran. Results show that environmental and productivity in the use of nature aspects of buildings is the cause of transition to sustainable architecture. Technology, construction and operations of buildings aspects as mediating variables have effects on environmental awareness as dependent variable of transition to sustainable architecture in Iran. The results can pave the path for further research in this area and orient the research priorities for sustainable architecture in Iran

Simulation Investigations of High Power Overmoded Relativistic Backward Wave Oscillator with Trapezoidal Resonant Reflector

An S-band high power relativistic backward wave oscillator using a trapezoidal resonant reflector and overmoded slow-wave structure is demonstrated by finite difference time domain based Particle-In-Cell code. The trapezoidal resonant reflector and slow-wave structure are chosen to improve the RBWO power handing capability to gigawatt (GW). The Trapezoidal resonant reflector enhances the pre-modulation during electron beam propagation, thus increasing the generated RF signal overall efficiency and coherency. The particle-in-cell simulation generated an RF output power ~5.4 GW in TM01 mode at ~3.6 GHz in a 2.0 T magnetic field and developed a 13.5 kA current for a 1.2 MV DC cathode voltage. The power conversion efficiency is achieved as ~33 %. Further, the influence of different design parameters on frequency, RF output power, and efficiency are analysed through Particle-In-Cell simulations

The menopausal age and associated factors in Gorgan, Iran

Background: Considering the physical, emotional and psychological complications of early or delayed menopause on women's life, it is necessary to determine associated factors of menopause age. This study designed to determine menopausal age and associated factors in women of Gorgan, i.e. the capital of Golestan province in the north-east of Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 804 menopausal women in Gorgan were selected via two-stage sampling method in 2009. The study included only women who had undergone natural menopause and had their last menstrual bleeding at least one year before. Data were gathered through structured questionnaire that included individual characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, menstrual and fertility characteristics and climacteric complaints. Socioeconomic status was defined using principal component analysis. Data were analyzed with Tstudent's and ANOVA tests using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) for Windows. Results: The mean menopause age was 47.6±4.45 years with the median age of 48 years. The mean menopause age in women with first pregnancy before 30 years (47.58±4.47years), without pregnancy (46.26±4.90years) and without delivery (46.30±4.47years) was significantly lower than others (p 0.05). Socioeconomic status was not associated significantly with menopause age (p>0.05). Conclusion: This study illustrated that menstrual and fertility factors have influence on menopausal age while socioeconomic factors were not effective

Larvicidal and mosquito repellent activities of Pine (Pinus longifolia, Family: Pinaceae) oil

Background & objectives: Various plant-based products are safe and biodegradable alternatives tosynthetic chemicals for use against mosquitoes. Oil of Pinus longifolia is traditionally used forprotection against mosquitoes in some rural areas but there is no documented report of its use againstmosquitoes. The present study was undertaken to scientifically evaluate the activity of Pine oilagainst mosquitoes.Methods: The oil was procured from the market and its contents were chemically analysed. Larvicidalactivity of oil was tested in laboratory bioassays, while repellent action was studied during wholenight bait collections in field by direct application on the skin and after its impregnation on mats.Results: Results showed varying degree of larvicidal activity of Pine oil against mosquitoes with LC50values ranging between 82 and 112 ppm. The Pine oil had strong repellent action against mosquitoesas it provided 100% protection against Anopheles culicifacies for 11 h and 97% protection againstCulex quinquefasciatus for nine hours respectively. Electrically heated mats prepared from Pine oilprovided, 94 and 88% protection against An. culicifacies and Cx. quinquefasciatus for 10 and sevenhours respectively.Interpretaion & conclusion: Pine oil is effective against mosquito larvae at very higher doses whichare not of any practical utility. However, Pine oil showed strong repellent action against An. culicifacies(malaria vector) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (pest mosquito). Thus its use could be popularised asmosquito repellent

Benthic community survey of Gwadar (east bay) Balochistan, Pakistan

Benthic communities of the Gwadar east bay (Balochistan) was surveyed during the onset of S.W. monsoon. A total 1030 specimens were collected which represented Phyla of Arthropoda, Mollusca, Annelida, Echinodermata. The most abundant class observed was that of Bivalvia. Seawater parameters such as dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, salinity together with sediment characteristics were measured. Analysis of variance between observed stations and fauna do not show any significant difference (P<0.05). The present observation forms a baseline study in the area

Relationship between platelet parameters and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Sudden deafness or sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHO is defined as sensorineural hearing loss of greater than 30 dB over 3 contiguous puretone frequencies occurring within 3 days' periodObjective: To investigate the relationship of some platelet parameters including platelet count (PC), mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) with the occurrence of SSNHL.Data source: A PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, OVID, EMBASE and Google Scholar search (date last searchedApril2016) search was done. No restrictions of time, language and location were placed.Study selection: All case-control studies which have been studied the relationship of PC, MPV and PDW with the occurrence of SSNHL were included in the meta-analysis.Data extraction: The required data from selected studies including the title, authors, publication date, location of study, sample size of patients and control groups, number of withdrawals, the mean and standard deviation of PC, MPV and PDW for patients and control groups and the result of different tests were extracted and entered to EX CELL.Data synthesis: A total of 9 case-control studies were r found in our search from them 8 studies have reported mean PC, 7 studies have reported mean MPV and 4 studies have reported mean PDW. Our analysis showed that mean PC of patients is 0.03 (-0.14-0.20) unit higher than that of controls with 95% CI which is not statistically significant. Also, mean MPV of patients is 0.31 (-0.03-0.65) unit higher than that of controls with 95% CI which is statistically not significant too. Finally, mean PDW of patients is 0.70 (0.03- 1.37) unit higher than that of controls with 95% CI which is statistically significant.Conclusions: Our study confirmed only the probable relationship of PDW and SSNHL but due to the limited studies on this subject more studies is needed

Gingival Mesenchymal Stem Cell (GMSC) Delivery System Based on RGD-Coupled Alginate Hydrogel with Antimicrobial Properties: A Novel Treatment Modality for Peri-Implantitis

Purpose Peri-implantitis is one of the most common inflammatory complications in dental implantology. Similar to periodontitis, in peri-implantitis, destructive inflammatory changes take place in the tissues surrounding a dental implant. Bacterial flora at the failing implant sites resemble the pathogens in periodontal disease and consist of Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria including Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa). Here we demonstrate the effectiveness of a silver lactate (SL)-containing RGD-coupled alginate hydrogel scaffold as a promising stem cell delivery vehicle with antimicrobial properties. Materials and Methods Gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) or human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMMSCs) were encapsulated in SL-loaded alginate hydrogel microspheres. Stem cell viability, proliferation, and osteo-differentiation capacity were analyzed. Results Our results showed that SL exhibited antimicrobial properties against Aa in a dose-dependent manner, with 0.50 mg/ml showing the greatest antimicrobial properties while still maintaining cell viability. At this concentration, SL-containing alginate hydrogel was able to inhibit Aa on the surface of Ti discs and significantly reduce the bacterial load in Aa suspensions. Silver ions were effectively released from the SL-loaded alginate microspheres for up to 2 weeks. Osteogenic differentiation of GMSCs and hBMMSCs encapsulated in the SL-loaded alginate microspheres were confirmed by the intense mineral matrix deposition and high expression of osteogenesis-related genes. Conclusion Taken together, our findings confirm that GMSCs encapsulated in RGD-modified alginate hydrogel containing SL show promise for bone tissue engineering with antimicrobial properties against Aa bacteria in vitro

Stimulation of the histamine 4 receptor with 4-methylhistamine modulates the effects of chronic stress on the Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.

Alterations to the immune system caused by stress have been considered to markedly increase the risk for immune-related diseases such as cancer and autoimmune disorders. We investigated the potential anti-stress effects of the histamine 4 receptor (H4R) agonist, 4-methylhistamine (4-MeH), in a murine stress model. Mice were placed in 50ml conical centrifuge tubes for 12h followed by a 12h rest. The effects of treatment with 4-MeH (30mg/kg, i.p., twice daily) for 2 days were assessed. At 2 days after physical restraint, mice were sacrificed and tissues harvested. We evaluated the effects of 4-MeH treatment on CD4(+) T cell production, and intracellular IFN-γ and IL-4 expression in these cells. We also assessed IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-4 mRNA expression as well as IFN-γ, TNF-α, GITR, Ox40 and IL-4 protein expression in the spleen. The results showed that 4-MeH treatment of stressed mice results in a substantial increase in the CD4(+) T cells as well as in IFN-γ production by these cells. Compared to both untreated and stressed controls. In contrast, IL-4 expression decreased significantly following 4-MeH treatment of mice. Moreover, stimulation of the H4R resulted in up-regulated expression of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-α mRNAs and decreased the expression of IL-4. Western blot analysis confirmed decreased protein expression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, GITR, Ox40 and increased IL-4 in the SC group and treatment of mice with 4-MeH reversed these effects. Our results confirm the significant impact of chronic stress on T cell function and production of Th1/Th2 mediators H4R