Survey of heavy metal (copper, iron, lead, cadmium, zinc and nickel) concentrations and their effects on the water quality of Anzali wetland

Anzali International wetland is one of the most valuable water resources as registered in Ramsar convention with an extent of about 150 km2 in the south Caspian Sea. This wetland, not only has ecological and biological importance for migratory birds and rare fish species, but also is used for farms to discharge into the Caspian Sea through this wetland. Therefore its pollution control is very important for human life. In this study 6 elements (copper, iron, lead, zinc, cadmium and nickel ) in Anzali wetland were analyzed by Atomic Absorption spectroscopy method. . Water samples were collected from ten sampling sites seasonally and the results were compared with each other. The detection limits obtained were 0.016 ng/ml for cadmium, 0.02 ng/ml for copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn), 0.025 ng/ml for iron (Fe) and 0.026 ng/ml for nickel (Ni). Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) was 1.7%. The results showed that these heavy metals were present in the water. Concentrations of Cu (0.6 mg/l) were higher than international standards reported in some stations. This can be due to industries around the wetland. The average level of heavy metals was higher in spring than in the other seasons which can be due to increase in seasonal rainfall and intensity of flow from rivers to wetland

A study on the personalization methods of the web

Search engine personalization is one of the various deep personalization methods. It can be said that personalization systems that help users find the information they need requires the use of contextual and semantic information analysis techniques that exist in the field of data recovery such as web personalization and the process of optimizing the methods to get to web pages in a way that are consistent with the needs of each user. What helps the current problem of search engines and accelerate their performance, is providing a proper framework for finding the correct pattern considering great items in history of users. This approach improves the advising process of the search engines as well. The aim of this paper is to introduce some process improvement methods of correct patterns and analyze them. Here we will discuss the basic concepts of web personalization and consider the three approaches of web personalization and we evaluated the methods belonging to each of them.Keywords: personalization, search engine, user preferences, data mining method

Pilot-scale studies of combined clarification, filtration, and ultraviolet radiation systems for disinfection of secondary municipal wastewater effluent

Disinfection of municipal wastewater effluent was evaluated using three alternatives, including: (1) low-pressure (LP)+medium-pressure (MP) UV lamps; (2) clarifier+LP+MP; and (3) pressurized sand filter+ LP+MP. Total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC), fecal Streptococcus (FS), TSS, several physicochemical parameters, absorbtivity and UV transmittance (UVT; ) were tested. The UVT for secondary, clarified and filtered effluents were 3.5, 34 and 50, respectively. A 15 photo-reactivation in secondary effluent disinfected by LP lamp was observed, while it was limited to 0.03 by the MP lamp after filtration. Filtration to a surface overflow rate (SOR) of 1050 L/m2h, followed by MP irradiation at a dose of 230 mW s/cm2 was an effective alternative to reduce the TC, FC, and FS in the disinfected secondary effluent. Filtration+MP lamp met the standards of 1000 TC and 400 FC/100 mL for effluent discharge to receiving waters. This process can also inactivate FS, effecting a 6-log reduction. Among the evaluated alternatives, none of the other treatment systems performed as well as the pressurized sand filter+MP lamp, making this the best combination for post-treatment and disinfection of secondary effluent from a well-run wastewater treatment plant. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Scleral buckling surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with subretinal proliferation

PurposeTo evaluate the outcome of scleral buckling surgery in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with subretinal proliferation.MethodsIn this retrospective study, a chart review of all patients with RRD associated with subretinal proliferation who were primarily treated with scleral buckling procedure, from April 2007 to April 2014, was undertaken. Main outcome measures were anatomical retinal reattachment and visual acuity.ResultsForty-four eyes of 43 patients including 24 males and 19 females with a mean age of 26.5±13.1 years were evaluated. Immediately after the surgery, retina was reattached in all eyes. However, five eyes (11.3) needed additional surgery for retinal redetachment. Single surgery anatomical success rate was 88.7. Four eyes (9.1), needed pars plana vitrectomy for the treatment of redetachment associated with proliferative vitreoretinopathy and scleral buckle revision surgery was successfully performed in the other eye. Best corrected visual acuity improved from 1.5±0.9 logMAR before surgery to 1.1±0.7 logMAR after surgery (P2 lines was found in 23 eyes (52.2) and worsening of best corrected visual acuity of >2 lines was observed in 2 eyes (4.5).ConclusionsScleral buckling surgery is highly successful in eyes with RRD associated with subretinal proliferation. © 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved

In-hospital and six-month outcomes of elderly patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute st-elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients constitute a rapidly growing proportion of the population, and hence the increasing rises in the number of patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), which is now established as the preferred reperfusion strategy in STEMI patients, has been inadequately investigated in this high-risk group. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in- hospital and 6-month outcomes of primary PCI in elderly patients (� 75 years) with STEMI. METHODS: A total of 100 elderly patients with STEMI including those with cardiogenic shock were included. Primary PCI procedures were performed in a tertiary referral center between 2009 and 2014. In-hospital and 6-month outcomes of patients were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 79.6 ± 3.8 years (range = 75-90 years) and 27.0 were women. Cardiovascular risk factors and prior events were common. Nearly, half of the patients had three-vessel disease and the left anterior descending artery (LAD) was the most common infarct-related artery. The presence of cardiogenic shock but not the other variables was associated with less anatomic and procedural success (P < 0.001). It was also the major independent predictors of 6-month mortality in the patients aged � 75 years, hazard ratio (HR) = 8.02; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75-25.97, P < 0.001. In-hospital mortality was 2.4% in the patients without and 83.0% in those with cardiogenic shock. CONCLUSION: Primary PCI in aged patients could be associated with low complication rates and improved survival if performed in high-volume centers with experienced operators. Considering the very high rate of mortality in patients with cardiogenic shock, there should be measures to treat these patients before the onset of hemodynamic instability. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Prevalence and determinants of diabetes and prediabetes in southwestern Iran: the Khuzestan comprehensive health study (KCHS)

Background: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is postulated to have the highest increase in the prevalence of diabetes by 2030; however, studies on the epidemiology of diabetes are rather limited across the region, including in Iran. Methods: This study was conducted between 2016 and 2018 among Iranian adults aged 20 to 65 years residing in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran. Diabetes was defined as the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level of 126 mg/dl or higher, and/or taking antidiabetic medications, and/or self-declared diabetes. Prediabetes was defined as FBG 100 to 125 mg/dl. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to examine the association of multiple risk factors that attained significance on the outcome. Results: Overall, 30,498 participants were recruited; the mean (±SD) age was 41.6 (±11.9) years. The prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes were 30.8 and 15.3, respectively. We found a similar prevalence of diabetes in both sexes, although it was higher among illiterates, urban residents, married people, and smokers. Participants aged 50�65 and those with Body Mass Index (BMI) 30 kg/m2 or higher were more likely to be affected by diabetes RR: 20.5 (18.1,23.3) and 3.2 (3.0,3.6). Hypertension RR: 5.1 (4.7,5.5), waist circumference (WC) equal or more than 90 cm RR: 3.6 (3.3,3.9), and family history RR: 2.3 (2.2,2.5) were also significantly associated with diabetes. For prediabetes, the main risk factors were age 50 to 65 years RR: 2.6 (2.4,2.8), BMI 30 kg/m2 or higher RR: 1.9 (1.8,2.0), hypertension and WC of 90 cm or higher RR: 1.7 (1.6,1.8). The adjusted relative risks for all variables were higher in females than males, with the exception of family history for both conditions and waist circumference for prediabetes. Conclusions: Prediabetes and diabetes are prevalent in southwestern Iran. The major determinants are older age, obesity, and the presence of hypertension. Further interventions are required to escalate diabetes prevention and diagnosis in high-risk areas across Iran. © 2021, The Author(s)

Cost-effectiveness analysis of adding low dose ribavirin to peginterferon alfa-2a for treatment of chronic hepatitis C infected thalassemia major patients in Iran

Background: The prevalence of hepatitis C in Iran is 1 and 18 in general population and thalassemia patients respectively. The cost effectiveness analysis of adding Ribavirin to Peginterferon alfa-2a (PEG IFN alfa-2a) as a combination treatment strategy of chronic hepatitis C in thalassemia patients in comparison with monotherapy could help clinicians and policy makers to provide the best treatment for the patients. Objectives: In this study we aimed to assess whether adding Ribavirin to PEG IFN alfa-2a is a cost effective strategy in different genotypes and different subgroups of 280 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection from the perspective of society in Iranian setting. Patients and Methods: A cost effectiveness analysis including all costs and outcomes of treatments for chronic hepatitis C infected thalassemia major patients was conducted. We constructed a decision tree of treatment course in which a hypothetical cohort of 100 patients received "PEG IFN alfa-2a" or "Peg IFN alfa-2a plus Ribavirin." The cost analysis was based on cost data for 2008 and we used 9300 Iranian Rials (IR Rial) as exchange rate declared by the Iranian Central Bank on that time to calculating costs by US Dollar (USD). To evaluate whether a strategy is cost effective, one time and three times of GDP per capita were used as threshold based on recommendation of the World Health Organization. Results: The Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) for combination therapy in genotype-1 and genotypes non-1 subgroups was 2,673 and 19,211 US dollars (USD) per one Sustain Virological Response (SVR), respectively. In low viral load and high viral load subgroups, the ICER was 5,233 and 14,976 USD per SVR, respectively. The calculated ICER for combination therapy in subgroup of patients with previously resistant to monotherapy was 13,006 USD per SVR. Combination therapy in previously resistant patients to combination therapy was a dominant strategy. Conclusions: Adding low dose of Ribavirin to PEG IFN alfa-2a for treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype-1 was "highly cost effective" and in patients with low viral load and in previous monotherapy resistant patients was "cost effective." © 2013, Kowsar Corp

Emergence of semi-localized Anderson modes in a disordered photonic crystal as a result of overlap probability

In this paper we study the effect of positional randomness on transmissional properties of a two dimensional photonic crystal as a function of a randomness parameter $\alpha$ ($\alpha=0$ completely ordered, $\alpha=1$ completely disordered). We use finite-difference time-domain~(FDTD) method to solve the Maxwell's equations in such a medium numerically. We consider two situations: first a 90\degr bent photonic crystal wave-guide and second a centrally pulsed photonic crystal micro-cavity. We plot various figures for each case which characterize the effect of randomness quantitatively. More specifically, in the wave-guide situation, we show that the general shape of the normalized total output energy is a Gaussian function of randomness with wavelength-dependent width. For centrally pulsed PC, the output energy curves display extremum behavior both as a function of time as well as randomness. We explain these effects in terms of two distinct but simultaneous effects which emerge with increasing randomness, namely the creation of semi-localized modes and the shrinking (and eventual destruction) of the photonic band-gaps. Semi-localized (i.e. Anderson localized) modes are seen to arise as a synchronization of internal modes within a cluster of randomly positioned dielectric nano-particles. The general trend we observe shows a sharp change of behavior in the intermediate randomness regime (i.e. $\alpha \approx 0.5$) which we attribute to a similar behavior in the underlying overlap probability of nano-particlesComment: New published version with a new title. This article is featured on the cover of the corresponding journal (Nov. issue of EJPB

Search for a W' boson decaying to a bottom quark and a top quark in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV

Results are presented from a search for a W' boson using a dataset corresponding to 5.0 inverse femtobarns of integrated luminosity collected during 2011 by the CMS experiment at the LHC in pp collisions at sqrt(s)=7 TeV. The W' boson is modeled as a heavy W boson, but different scenarios for the couplings to fermions are considered, involving both left-handed and right-handed chiral projections of the fermions, as well as an arbitrary mixture of the two. The search is performed in the decay channel W' to t b, leading to a final state signature with a single lepton (e, mu), missing transverse energy, and jets, at least one of which is tagged as a b-jet. A W' boson that couples to fermions with the same coupling constant as the W, but to the right-handed rather than left-handed chiral projections, is excluded for masses below 1.85 TeV at the 95% confidence level. For the first time using LHC data, constraints on the W' gauge coupling for a set of left- and right-handed coupling combinations have been placed. These results represent a significant improvement over previously published limits.Comment: Submitted to Physics Letters B. Replaced with version publishe