Integrated Water Resources Management Modelling For The Oldman River Basin Using System Dynamics Approach

Limited freshwater supply is the most important challenge in water resources management, particularly in arid and semi-arid basins. However, other variations in a basin, including climate change, population growth, and economic development intensify this threat to water security. The Oldman River Basin (OMRB), located in southern Alberta, Canada, is a semi-arid basin and encompasses several water challenges, including uncertain water supply as well as increasing, uncertain water demands (consumptive irrigation, municipal, and industrial demands, and non-consumptive hydropower generation, and environmental demands). Reservoirs, of which the Oldman River Reservoir is the largest in the basin, are responsible for meeting most of demands, and, protecting the basin’s economy. The OMRB has also faced extreme natural events, floods and droughts, in the past, which reservoir management plays a critical role to adapt to. The complexity of the climate, hydrology, and water resource system and water governance escalates the challenges in the basin. These factors are highly interconnected and establish dynamic, non-linear behavior, which requires an integrated, feedback-based tool to investigate. Integrated water resources (IWRM) modelling using system dynamics (SD) is such an approach to tackle the different water challenges and understand their non-linear, dynamic pattern. In this research study the Sustainability-oriented Water Allocation, Management, and Planning (SWAMPOM) model for the Oldman River Basin is developed. SWAMPOM comprises a water allocation model, dynamic irrigation demand, instream flow needs (IFN), and economic evaluation sub-models. The water allocation model allocates water to all the above-mentioned demands at a weekly time step from 1928 to 2001, and under different water availability scenarios. Meeting irrigation demands relies on the crop water requirement (CWR), which is calculated under different climatic conditions by the dynamic irrigation demand sub-model. This sub-model estimates the weekly irrigation demand for main crops planted in the basin. SWAMPOM also computes environmental demands or instream flow need (IFN) for the Oldman River, and allocates water to rivers to meet IFN under different policy scenarios and uncertain water supply. Finally, the major water-related economic benefit in the basin, earned by agriculture and hydropower generation, is computed by the economic evaluation sub-model. The results show that SWAMPOM could reasonably satisfy the demands at a weekly time step and provide an adequate estimation of the crop water requirement under different hydrometeorological conditions. Based on the SWAMPOM’s results, the average annual irrigation demand is 306 mm over the historical time period from 1928 to 2001 in the main irrigation districts. The average weekly instream flow need of the Oldman River is calculated to be approximately 20.5 m3/s, which can be met in more than 97% of weeks in the historical time period. Average annual water-related economic benefit was computed to be 192.5 M$in the OMRB. It decreased to 82.8 M$ in very dry years, and increased up to 328.6 M$ in very wet years. This research also developed different sets of Oldman Reservoir’s operation zones, resulting in trade-offs between the optimal economic benefit, water allocated to the ecosystem, minimum floodwater and minimum flood frequency. This helps decision makers to decide how much water should be stored in the reservoir to meet a specific objective while not sacrificing others. A multi-objective performance assessment, Pareto curve approach, is applied to identify the optimal trade-offs between the four objective functions (OFs), and 18 different optimal, or close to optimal sets of operating zones are provided. The decision regarding the operating zones depends on decision makers’ preference for higher economic benefit, water allocated to IFN, or flood security. However, the set of operating zones with minimum floodwater causes 11 less flood events; the operating zones with maximum economic benefits result in 4.1% more financial gain; and the zones with maximum water allocated to IFN lead to 10.1% more ecosystem protection in the whole 74 years, compared to current zones

Stressors of Parents of Hospitalized Preterm Infants: a study in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran

Background: Birth is a pleasant event, but premature birth and subsequently neonate hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit, is stressful for parents. Therefore, identifying sources of stress and applying strategies to reduce parental stress seems to be necessary. The present study was conducted to determine the sources of stress in parents of preterm infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit of Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive analytic study, 154 parents of premature infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit completed the Parent Stressor Scale questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and through SPSS19 software package. Results: According to the results, participants experienced a moderate level of stress during hospitalization of their preterm infant (2.61± 0.69). Among "environmental stressors", the sound of the monitor alarm, among "parental role alteration stressors", parents' despair in supporting their neonate against pain and painful procedures, and among stressors related to the "appearance and behavior of infants", observing neonate in pain brought the highest level of stress to parents. Parents experienced different levels of stress according to some personal characteristics such as relationship with baby, previous history of hospital admission and type of stay in the ward. Conclusion: Since preterm birth and neonate hospitalization causes parents' stress, it is necessary that medical staff, in addition to neonate care, support parents of the neonate in order to decrease their stress level and consequently prevent negative outcomes for their neonate and family

Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles in response to exercise intervention: Organ crosstalk in health and diseases

Dear Editor-in-ChiefExosomes contain regulatory signals such as growth factors, miRNAs, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids that can be transported to adjacent or distant cells to affect the target tissue under both physiological and pathological conditions (Isaac et al., 2021). Exosomes are involved in various stages of disease control including apoptosis, immune regulation, angiogenesis, cell migration and cell proliferation. Exosomes are a ubiquitous, evolutionarily conserved mechanism of cellular communication. They play important roles in healthy physiological functions. Proteins, metabolites, and nucleic acids delivered by exosomes to recipient cells effectively modulate their biological response. Such exosome-mediated responses can promote or inhibit disease. The intrinsic properties of exosomes in regulating complex intracellular pathways have increased their potential application in the therapeutic control of many diseases, including neurological conditions and cancer.Many agents are involved in modulating exosomes and other extracellular vesicles gene expression and release. One of these agents is the mechanical stress caused by exercise training. Exercise with its mechanical and oxidative stress can disrupt cell homeostasis and create adaptations at the molecular and cellular level to improve physiological health, which is effective in prevention of different diseases. Exercise by activation of all organs of the body, especially skeletal muscle, promotes the release of exosomes, through which it can develop organ crosstalk and have beneficial effects at the cellular level. It has been show that exercise promotes the release of exosomes without modification of its vesicle size (Estebanez et al., 2021). Little current data suggests that exosomes are released into the circulation in an intensity-dependent manner in response to acute endurance exercise. Many of the currently reported myokines/exerkines are also produced from exosomes. Finally, exosomes within skeletal muscle are depleted in response to an acute bout of endurance exercise (Safdar & Tarnopolsky, 2018)

Evaluation of anti-biofilm activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Nisin on the expression of aap, ica-A and ica-D as biofilm-associated genes of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Background and Objectives: In the present study, the anti-biofilm activity of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Nisin was investigated on biofilm-forming abilities of Staphylococcus epidermidis strains and the expression of the biofilm-associated genes. Materials and Methods: In this study, the standard strain of L. rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) and Nisin were used to assess their anti-microbial and anti-biofilm effects on S. epidermidis (RP62A). Results: The MIC and MBC analysis showed that Nisin at 256 μg/mL and 512 μg/mL, and L. rhamnosus GG at 1×107 CFU/mL and 1×108 CFU/mL have anti-microbial activity compared to the negative control respectively. L. rhamnosus GG bacteria and Nisin inhibited the biofilm formation of S. epidermidis based on optical density of at 570 nm (P 0.05). In addition, the relative expression of aap and icaA genes, but not icaD (P>0.05), was significantly lower than the negative control (0.62 and 0.7 fold, respectively) (P>0.05), after exposure to the sub MIC of L. rhamnosus GG. Conclusion: Nisin and L. rhamnosus GG exhibit potent activity against biofilm-forming abilities of S. epidermidis and these agents could be utilized as an anti-biofilm agents against S. epidermidis infections

Tjelesni sastav u iranskih dječaka s poremećajima autističnog spektra

The aim of this study was to assess body composition of boys with autism and also to investigate the association of demographic factors, autism severity and drug therapy with their body composition. We recruited 85 boys aged 7-14 years by stratifi ed random sampling in autism-specifi c schools in Tehran. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. The study revealed that 9.4% of participants were underweight and 47.3% were suff ering from overweight and obesity. The mean total body fat percentage and fat mass index were 23.46% and 4.8, respectively. A high rate of obesity was found in Iranian children and adolescents with autism. Furthermore, boys whose mothers had higher educational levels may have less chance of being within the normal weight ranges in comparison with sons of lower-educated mothers (p=0.002), while father’s educational level had no eff ect on the child’s body mass index. In conclusion, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed in Iranian male children and adolescents suff ering from autism according to their body mass index and body fat percentage.Cilj ovoga istraživanja bio je procijeniti tjelesni sastav dječaka s autizmom te ispitati povezanost demografskih čimbenika, težine autizma te lijekova s njihovim tjelesnim sastavom. Ispitivanje je obuhvatilo 85 dječaka u dobi od 7 do 14 godina slučajno odabranih u teheranskim školama za autističnu djecu. Tjelesni sastav mjeren je analizom bioelektrične impedancije. Rezultati istraživanja su pokazali da 9,4% ispitanika ima nedovoljnu masu, dok njih 47,3% ima prekomjernu masu ili su pretili. Srednji postotak ukupne tjelesne masti bio je 23,46%, a indeks tjelesne masti 4,8. U iranske djece i adolescenata s autizmom utvrđena je visoka stopa pretilosti. Nadalje, za dječake čije majke imaju višu razinu obrazovanja manja je vjerojatnost da će biti unutar normalnih granica za masu u usporedbu sa sinovima majki s nižom razinom obrazovanja (p=0,002), dok obrazovanje očeva nema učinka na djetetov indeks tjelesne mase. Prema indeksu tjelesne mase i postotku tjelesne masti, visoka je učestalost prekomjerne tjelesne mase i pretilosti među iranskom djecom i adolescentima muškog spola koji boluju od autizma

Glucose-based Biofuel Cells: Nanotechnology as a Vital Science in Biofuel Cells Performance

Nanotechnology has opened up new opportunities for the design of nanoscale electronic devices suitable for developing high-performance biofuel cells. Glucose-based biofuel cells as green energy sources can be a powerful tool in the service of small-scale power source technology as it provides a latent potential to supply power for various implantable medical electronic devices. By using physiologically produced glucose as a fuel, the living battery can recharge for continuous production of electricity. This review article presents how nanoscience, engineering and medicine are combined to assist in the development of renewable glucose-based biofuel cell systems. Here, we review recent advances and applications in both abiotic and enzymatic glucose biofuel cells with emphasis on their “implantable” and “implanted” types. Also the challenges facing the design and application of glucose-based biofuel cells to convert them to promising replacement candidates for non-rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are discussed. Nanotechnology could make glucose-based biofuel cells cheaper, lighter and more efficient and hence it can be a part of the solutions to these challenges

Overexpression of Metastatic Related MicroRNAs, Mir-335 and Mir-10b, by Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B in the Metastatic Breast Cancer Cell Line

Purpose : One of the advanced cancer therapy strategies is immune - stimulating compound based immunotherapy Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) is one of the potent superantigens, which can efficiently activate antitumor immune response to eradicate tumor growth and inhibit metastasis. Herein, we evaluated the effect of SEB on the expression of two master microRN As, mir - 335 and mir - 10b, involved in metastasis. Methods : A metastatic breast cancer cell line MDA - MB231was treated with four different concentrations of SEB, including 10, 10 2 , 10 3 and 10 4 ng/ml, for 24 and 48 hours. To identify the cytotoxic effect of S EB, treated cells were examined by MTT assay. The stem loop RT - PCR (TaqMan) was used to analyze the mir - 335 and mir - 10b expression. Results : Results showed that SEB significantly increased the expression of mir - 335 both after 24 and 48 hours ( p v < 0.001 and p v < 0.05, respectively). No significant differences were found in the mir - 10b expression. Conclusion : Moreover, our findings demonstrated no cytotoxic effect of SEB on the treated cells. Our results suggest that SEB probably induces its anti - m etastatic effect via the expression regulation of the main genes which contributes to metastasis

Opium use and risk of bladder cancer: a multi-centre case-referent study in Iran

Background Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common type of cancer worldwide and the fourth most common type of cancer in Iran. Opium use is considered as one of the risk factors for BC. We aim to assess the association between various parameters of opium use, which in Iran is mainly ingested or smoked in various forms, and the risk of BC. Method In this multi-centre case-referent study in Iran, 717 BC cases and 3477 referents were recruited to the study from May 2017 until July 2020. Detailed histories of opium use (duration, amount, frequency) and potential confounders were collected by trained interviewers. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression models were used to measure adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The ORs were adjusted for age, gender, place of residence and pack-years of cigarette smoking. Results Regular opium consumption was associated with an increased risk of BC (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.8, 4.3) compared with subjects who never used opium. Compared with continuous users, the risk decreased to one-third for those who stopped opium more than 10 years ago. The adjusted OR for those who used both crude opium (teriak) and opium juice was 7.4 (95% CI: 4.1, 13.3). There was a joint effect of opium and tobacco (OR for users of both opium and tobacco 7.7, 95% CI: 6.0, 9.7). Conclusions Regular opium use is associated with an approximately 4-fold risk for BC. The OR decreases along with the increasing time since stopping opium use

Lung cancer risk in relation to jobs held in a nationwide case-control study in Iran

Background: Globally, lung cancer is the most frequent occupational cancer, but the risk associated with the occupations or occupational environment in Iran is not clear. We aimed to assess occupations with the risk of lung cancer. Methods: We used the IROPICAN nationwide case-control study data including 658 incident lung cancer cases and 3477 controls. We assessed the risk of lung cancer in relation to ever working in major groups of International Standard Classification of Occupations, high-risk occupations for lung cancer and duration of employment and lung cancer subtype among construction workers and farmers while controlling for cigarette smoking and opium consumption. We used unconditional regression logistic models to estimate ORs for the association between increased lung cancer risk and occupations. Results: We observed elevated ORs for lung cancer in male construction workers (OR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.0 to 1.8), petroleum industry workers (OR=3.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 9.8), female farmers (OR=2.6; 95% CI: 1.3 to 5.3) and female bakers (OR=5.5; 95% CI: 1.0 to 29.8). A positive trend by the duration of employment was observed for male construction workers (p< 0.001). Increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma was observed in male construction workers (OR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.0) and female farmers (OR=4.3; 95% CI: 1.1 to 17.2), who also experienced an increased risk of adenocarcinoma (OR=3.8; 95% CI: 1.4 to 9.9). Discussion: Although we observed associations between some occupations and lung cancer consistent with the literature, further studies with larger samples focusing on exposures are needed to better understand the occupational lung cancer burden in Iran.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Opium use and risk of bladder cancer : A multi-centre case-referent study in Iran

Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is the 10th most common type of cancer worldwide and the fourth most common type of cancer in Iran. Opium use is considered as one of the risk factors for BC. We aim to assess the association between various parameters of opium use, which in Iran is mainly ingested or smoked in various forms, and the risk of BC. Method: In this multi-centre case-referent study in Iran, 717 BC cases and 3477 referents were recruited to the study from May 2017 until July 2020. Detailed histories of opium use (duration, amount, frequency) and potential confounders were collected by trained interviewers. Multivariable unconditional logistic regression models were used to measure adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The ORs were adjusted for age, gender, place of residence and pack-years of cigarette smoking. Results: Regular opium consumption was associated with an increased risk of BC (OR 3.5, 95% CI: 2.8, 4.3) compared with subjects who never used opium. Compared with continuous users, the risk decreased to one-Third for those who stopped opium more than 10 years ago. The adjusted OR for those who used both crude opium (teriak) and opium juice was 7.4 (95% CI: 4.1, 13.3). There was a joint effect of opium and tobacco (OR for users of both opium and tobacco 7.7, 95% CI: 6.0, 9.7). Conclusions: Regular opium use is associated with an approximately 4-fold risk for BC. The OR decreases along with the increasing time since stopping opium use.publishedVersionPeer reviewe