Evaluation of Development and Changes in Land Use using Different Satellite Image Processing and Remote Sensing Techniques (Case Study: Kermanshah, Iran)

Abstract: Currently the largest city in the western Iran, Kermanshah enjoys fast growing trend because of its strategic location. Remote sensing and satellite imagery are well suited for assessing the changes in land use over different time periods. In this study, satellite images from Landsat TM sensor and ETM sensor have been prepared during 1987 and 2007 as geometric and radiometric corrections have been made to them. The process was followed by selecting the best combination of false color by using Optimal Index Factor (OIF) in ILWIS software. Greenness, brightness and wetness indexes along with NDVI index of land cover were then derived in each period using Fuzzy Art map Supervised Classification, Principal Components Analysis and Tasseled-cap Transformation. The results indicated that Pca2 index can properly demonstrate increasing and decreasing changes among the main components as greenness index can display decreasing and no changes in land uses among tasseled-cap components, while the wetness index would reflect increasing changes in land use with high accuracy. Moreover, the precision and results of NDVI index is so close to that of greenness index. The overall results of the study suggest that the urban surface area is annually increased at a rate of 109.6 ha, which was a major decline in agricultural and range land use

Effects of processing variables and full fat soy flour on nutritional and sensory properties of spaghetti using a mixture design approach.

The influence of full-fat soy flour (FFSF) and extrusion conditions on nutritional and sensory characteristics of spaghetti was evaluated using a mixture design, in order to produce functional pasta. Addition of FFSF increases the nutritional composition significantly (P<or=0.05). Generally, the presence of FFSF showed a negative influence on the color attribute, but no effect on the firmness and surface condition of spaghetti. No significant difference was observed in the beany flavor up to 23.0 g/100 g. The temperature and screw speed of the extruder had no significant effect on nutritional and sensory attributes, but both enhanced the effect of formulation on the color and surface condition of spaghetti. Also, interaction between the screw speed and the ingredients resulted in a slight positive effect on the firmness and beany flavor attributes. Optimum nutritional value and sensory attributes of spaghetti were produced when 17.0 g/100 g FFSF was added and processed at a screw speed of 40 rpm and a temperature of 70 degrees C

Legal requirements for the protection of water resources in the laws of Iran and France in the light of cooperative criminal policy

Water is a natural resource in constant movement through the hydrological cycle, and for this reason, understanding the law in this area is difficult and faces inadequacies. Water law, as one of the nascent fields of law, tries to organize social phenomena in a way that covers social rights in addition to respecting individual rights. What is certain is that water resource management cannot provide the necessary platform for crisis control without solving existing legal challenges. Governments have spent a long time to integrate this natural resource with legal requirements and regulations. Recently, the unitary and universal nature of water has received attention. In Iranian law, the cooperative and executive criminal policy in the field of water resources protection faces challenges. Therefore, despite the problems related to water shortage, the necessary capacity for accountability should be created and the level of executive and operational management should be improved from a legal point of view, and finally, a coherent and integrated criminal policy of water resources should be institutionalized with the support of various discussion platforms. In France, the water law was adopted on December 30, 2006, incorporating the principles confirmed in the 1992 law. The findings of the research indicate that the legal requirements for the protection of resources in France are quite complex and difficult to access, because the criminal policy and the law governing the protection and management of water are scattered in several articles, laws, decrees, etc. But in the field of structural requirements of executive and cooperative institutions, there have been some improvements. Although these developments are influenced by EU law, the requirements and legal framework of this vital resource pay more attention to its natural cycle, ecological reality, natural environments and water environments than criminal measures and official reactions

Effects of Methamphetamine on Testes Histopathology and Spermatogenesis Indices of Adult Male Rats

Background: Methamphetamine (mAMP) as a recreational drug has devastating effects on the central nervous system (CNS). Several studies have shown that mAMP has inhibitory effects on oogenesis and spermatogenesis, and causes impaired fertility. This study designed to investigate the effect of mAM Padministration on histological changes and spermatogenesis indices in the testis of adult male rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (received no treatment, n = 10), vehicle (received saline for 7 and 14 days, n = 20), and experimental group [received mAMP, 5 ml/kg, intraperitoneal (IP) for 7 and 14 days, n = 20]. Testicular tissue samples were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) technique. For histological study, we counted the number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and Leydig cells. Spermatogenesis indices which include: tubular differentiation index (TDI), spermiogenesis index (SI), repopulation index (RI) and the mean seminiferous tubules diameter (MSTD) were studied. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA, using SPSS software. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Findings: This study showed that mAMP caused a significant decrease in number of seminiferous tubules cells and spermatogenesis in treated group compared with the control group. Moreover, results showed a significant decrease in spermatogenesis indices including TDI, SI, RI, and MSTD in 14th day, compared to control group (P < 0.001).Conclusion: The data showed the adverse effects of mAMP administration (for 7 and 14 days) on testes structure and spermatogenesis indices in rat testis tissue. The underlying mechanism(s) needs further investigation

Broadly cross-reactive antibodies dominate the human B cell response against 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus infection

Although scarce after annual influenza vaccination, B cells producing antibodies capable of neutralizing multiple influenza strains are abundant in humans infected with pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza

Global prevalence and genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus infection in 2015 : A modelling study

Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier LtdBackground The 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030, which can become a reality with the recent launch of direct acting antiviral therapies. Reliable disease burden estimates are required for national strategies. This analysis estimates the global prevalence of viraemic HCV at the end of 2015, an update of—and expansion on—the 2014 analysis, which reported 80 million (95% CI 64–103) viraemic infections in 2013. Methods We developed country-level disease burden models following a systematic review of HCV prevalence (number of studies, n=6754) and genotype (n=11 342) studies published after 2013. A Delphi process was used to gain country expert consensus and validate inputs. Published estimates alone were used for countries where expert panel meetings could not be scheduled. Global prevalence was estimated using regional averages for countries without data. Findings Models were built for 100 countries, 59 of which were approved by country experts, with the remaining 41 estimated using published data alone. The remaining countries had insufficient data to create a model. The global prevalence of viraemic HCV is estimated to be 1·0% (95% uncertainty interval 0·8–1·1) in 2015, corresponding to 71·1 million (62·5–79·4) viraemic infections. Genotypes 1 and 3 were the most common cause of infections (44% and 25%, respectively). Interpretation The global estimate of viraemic infections is lower than previous estimates, largely due to more recent (lower) prevalence estimates in Africa. Additionally, increased mortality due to liver-related causes and an ageing population may have contributed to a reduction in infections. Funding John C Martin Foundation.publishersversionPeer reviewe