New instrumentation technologies for testing the bonding of sensors to solid materials

This report presents the results of a comprehensive research and development project that was conducted over a three-year period to develop new technologies for testing the attachment of sensors to solid materials for the following NASA applications: (1) testing the performance of composites that are used for the lining of solid rocket motor nozzles, (2) testing the bonding of surface-mounted platinum resistance thermometers that are used on fuel and oxidizer lines of the space shuttle to detect valve leaks by monitoring temperature, (3) testing the attachment of strain gages that are used in testing the performance of space shuttle main engines, and (4) testing the thermocouples that are used for determining the performance of blast tube liner material in solid rocket boosters

Hydrology, hydrobiology and environmental pollution in the southern Caspian Sea

The project investigates the relationship between the biological parameters (phytoplankton, zooplankton, Macrobenthic and ctenophore- Mnemiopsis leidyi) and environmental parameters, nutrients and environmental pollutants (oil, pesticides, heavy metals, and detergents) in water and sediment, at the southern Caspian Sea in 2010-2011. Sampling was carried out in four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and in eight transects perpendicular to the coast (Astara, Anzali, Sefidroud, Tonekabon, Noshahr, Babolsar, Amir Abad and Bandar Turkmen). Samples were collected from the different layers at depths of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 meters. The relationship between biological and environmental parameters surveyed through parametric and multivariate statistical methods. Result showed that the annual mean of environmental parameters and nutrients concentration such as water temperature, pH, transparency, DO, ammonium, nitrate, inorganic nitrogen (DIN), organic nitrogen (DON), inorganic phosphorus (DIP), organic phosphorus (DOP) and soluble silicon (DSi) at euphotic layer were 16.70±0.43 (ºC), 8.38±0.01 (m), 5.48±0.05 (ml/l), 1.52±0.06 (µM), 1.80±0.08 (µM), 3.41±0.10 (µM), 43.3±0.9 (µM), 0.32±0.01 (µM), 0.52±0.02 (µM), 8.88±0.22 (µM), respectively. Meanwhile, annual mean of environmental pollutant such as PAHs and OCPs in sediment were recorded 0.88±0.16 (µg/g.dw) and 9.78±2.20 (µg/g.dw), respectively. In addition, annual mean of heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb and Hg in sediment were obtained 247±46 (µg/g.dw), 29.5±1.5 (µg/g.dw), 49.9±4.9 (µg/g.dw) and 0.179±0.800 (µg/g.dw), respectively. Annual mean abundance of biological parameters namely phytoplankton, zooplankton and M. leidyi (0-20m) at photic layer were 238±17 (million cells/m^3), 4808±362 (individuals/m^3) and 26±3 (individuals /m^3) respectively, and for biomass were 747±60 (mg/m3), 44.3±5.0 (mg/m^3), 2.15±0.31 (g/m^3). Annual mean abundance of those biological parameters at below of photic layer (50-100m) were 104±35 (million cells/m^3), 843±92 (individuals/m^3) and 2±1 (individuals /m^3) respectively, and for biomass were 412±93 (mg/m3), 9.1±1.0 (mg/m^3), 0.15±0.05 (g/m^3). Annual mean abundance and biomass of macrobenthic were 5073±1225 (individuals /m^2) and 144±73 (g/m^2), respectively. Annual mean annual percentage of TOM, Gravel, Sand and Silt-clay were recorded 3.74±0.26, 0.92±0.32 , 22.51±4.97 and 76.67±5.01, respectively. The stratification of water column was strongly based on gradient of water temperature and the phenomenon (difference of temperature between water layers) was more clear in this study compared to previous years. Temperature and biological factors (phytoplankton) were effected on changes of dissolved oxygen at warm and cold seasons summer and winter), but coefficient factor of temperature was higher than biological factors in winter. The nutrients concentration (with the exception of inorganic phosphorus) in different years 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 increased compared to 1995-1996 (the year of stability of ecosystem). One of the reason attribute to the presence of the ctenophore (M. leidyi) in Caspian Sea after 1999. The annual correlation of phytoplankton abundance and temperature was reversed but seasonal pattern was varied at each season (within a year). In this study, the Caspian Sea contained the conditions of nitrogen limitation (55%) and nitrogenphosphorus limitation (6-43%) as well as phosphate limitation (2-39%) (DIN/DIP>20) . Inspite of no silica limitation (sufficient concentration of silica) in the Caspian ecosystem, Bacillariophyta was not dominance phylum at whole seasons.It seems that other factors such as the temperature changes of seasons, the effects of predation and feeding of the next chains of the food chain, the difference of the ability in the growth and reproduction, competition (uptake of nutrients) in dfferent groups of phytoplankton and stoichiometry of the nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) were caused of non-diatoms dominance at most seasons. As, Pyrrophyta and Bacillariophyta were dominant at spring and winter, respectively and Cyanophyta was pre-dominant at summer and autumn. Multivariate analysis showed the significant correlation between Coppepoda and oxygen and water temperature only. The other gropus of zooplankton did not show any significant correlation with environmental parameters. It might be due to stronger effects of other parameters such as food and predators on different groups of zooplankton at each season and abundance of zooplankton groups indirectly affected by environmental parameters. In this study, Shannon diversity indices of zooplankton and phytoplankton were closer to 1995-96 values and showed diferent trend compared to 2009-2010. However it is not enough reason for recovery of ecosystem in to the stability of Caspian Sea. It is because of other negative evidiance such as strong increasing trend of phytoplankton to zooplankton biomass ratio in all seasons and regions particularly the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 years compared to 1995-96 (the year of stable ecosystem). In the other word, the balance between the biomass of the first and second of the food chain has been disturbed and the value was much much higher than the year of stable ecosystem in 1995-96. Based on multivariate analyses, there was not significant correlation between zooplankton groups and some edible phytoplankton species, vise versa zooplankton groups consumed some unsuitable species of phytoplankton (based on size, nutritional value, difficulty of digestion and absorption, the potential of toxicity and harmfulness). The lack of expected relationship and routine rules of nutritional between zooplankton and phytoplankton are the more resons of instability in the ecosystem. In current study, dominant group of macrobenthos (polychaeta) observed in depths less than 20 meters which the percentage of silt-clay and sand were 74 and 26, respectively. It seems that this ratio of silt-caly and sand was suitable for their living and accumulation. PCA analysis showed that increasing the percentage of TOM and siltclay accompanied to the decreasing of macrobenthos abundance while increasing the temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH had a positive effect on macrobenthos abundance in most seasons. Increasing the abundance of macrobenthos at all seasons (except spring) would not be a strong indication of improvement of Caspian ecosystem after the ctenophore introduction stress and unfavorable evidence such as low Shannon diversity index observe in the results. Meanwhile, in the present study, Streblospio and oligochaeta (invasive growth and advantage to the food uptake and habitat and sediment seeding) similar to the years of 2008-2009, 2009-2010 still were dominant groups insteade of Gammaridae family (feeding on suspended solids). This means that sediment has a noteworthy amount of organic matter which indicate to the trophic level of ecosystem tend to eutrophy level. The comparison of results on this study to previous studies on biological parameters (phytoplankton, zooplankton and macrobenthos) indicating to the persistence of stress (such as biological and anthropogenic) on their changing population patterns (quantitative relationships between species) and structural patterns (species composition and seasonal succession of dominant species). In other words, many species (both macroscopic and microscopic) of the Caspian Sea are still vulnerable to complications of stressor factors. In order to protection and sustainable exploitation of this worth ecosystem it is necessary to look more serious studies and practical techniques from the relevant organizations in this area

Customized clinical practice guidelines for management of adult cataract in Iran

Purpose: To customize clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for cataract management in the Iranian population. Methods: First, four CPGs (American Academy of Ophthalmology 2006 and 2011, Royal College of Ophthalmologists 2010, and Canadian Ophthalmological Society 2008) were selected from a number of available CPGs in the literature for cataract management. All recommendations of these guidelines, together with their references, were studied. Each recommendation was summarized in 4 tables. The first table showed the recommendation itself in clinical question components format along with its level of evidence. The second table contained structured abstracts of supporting articles related to the clinical question with their levels of evidence. The third table included the customized recommendation of the internal group respecting its clinical advantage, cost, and complications. In the fourth table, the internal group their recommendations from 1 to 9 based on the customizing capability of the recommendation (applicability, acceptability, external validity). Finally, customized recommendations were sent one month prior to a consensus session to faculty members of all universities across the country asking for their comments on recommendations. Results: The agreed recommendations were accepted as conclusive while those with no agreement were discussed at the consensus session. Finally, all customized recommendations were codified as 80 recommendations along with their sources and levels of evidence for the Iranian population. Conclusion: Customization of CPGs for management of adult cataract for the Iranian population seems to be useful for standardization of referral, diagnosis and treatment of patients. © 2015 Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow

Heterogeneity of associations between total and types of fish intake and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: Federated meta-analysis of 28 prospective studies including 956,122 participants

The association between fish consumption and new-onset type 2 diabetes is inconsistent and differs according to geographical location. We examined the association between the total and types of fish consumption and type 2 diabetes using individual participant data from 28 prospective cohort studies from the Americas (6), Europe (15), the Western Pacific (6), and the Eastern Mediterranean (1) comprising 956,122 participants and 48,084 cases of incident type 2 diabetes. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for associations of total fish, shellfish, fatty, lean, fried, freshwater, and saltwater fish intake and type 2 diabetes were derived for each study, adjusting for a consistent set of con-founders and combined across studies using random-effects meta-analysis. We stratified all analyses by sex due to observed interaction (p = 0.002) on the association between fish and type 2 diabe-tes. In women, for each 100 g/week higher intake the IRRs (95% CIs) of type 2 diabetes were 1.02 (1.01–1.03, I = 61%) for total fish, 1.04 (1.01–1.07, I = 46%) for fatty fish, and 1.02 (1.00–1.04, I = 33%) for lean fish. In men, all associations were null. In women, we observed variation by geographical location: IRRs for total fish were 1.03 (1.02–1.04, I = 0%) in the Americas and null in other regions. In conclusion, we found evidence of a neutral association between total fish intake and type 2 diabetes in men, but there was a modest positive association among women with heterogeneity across studies, which was partly explained by geographical location and types of fish intake. Future research should investigate the role of cooking methods, accompanying foods and environmental pol-lutants, but meanwhile, existing dietary regional, national, or international guidelines should con-tinue to guide fish consumption within overall healthy dietary patterns

Establishment of Functioning Human Corneal Endothelial Cell Line with High Growth Potential

Hexagonal-shaped human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) form a monolayer by adhering tightly through their intercellular adhesion molecules. Located at the posterior corneal surface, they maintain corneal translucency by dehydrating the corneal stroma, mainly through the Na+- and K+-dependent ATPase (Na+/K+-ATPase). Because HCEC proliferative activity is low in vivo, once HCEC are damaged and their numbers decrease, the cornea begins to show opacity due to overhydration, resulting in loss of vision. HCEC cell cycle arrest occurs at the G1 phase and is partly regulated by cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) in the Rb pathway (p16-CDK4/CyclinD1-pRb). In this study, we tried to activate proliferation of HCEC by inhibiting CKIs. Retroviral transduction was used to generate two new HCEC lines: transduced human corneal endothelial cell by human papillomavirus type E6/E7 (THCEC (E6/E7)) and transduced human corneal endothelial cell by Cdk4R24C/CyclinD1 (THCEH (Cyclin)). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of gene expression revealed little difference between THCEC (E6/E7), THCEH (Cyclin) and non-transduced HCEC, but cell cycle-related genes were up-regulated in THCEC (E6/E7) and THCEH (Cyclin). THCEH (Cyclin) expressed intercellular molecules including ZO-1 and N-cadherin and showed similar Na+/K+-ATPase pump function to HCEC, which was not demonstrated in THCEC (E6/E7). This study shows that HCEC cell cycle activation can be achieved by inhibiting CKIs even while maintaining critical pump function and morphology

The global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally, with substantial variation in levels and trends of disease in different countries and regions. Understanding these geographical differences is crucial for formulating effective strategies for preventing and treating IBD. We report the prevalence, mortality, and overall burden of IBD in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017, based on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017. Methods We modelled mortality due to IBD using a standard Cause of Death Ensemble model including data mainly from vital registrations. To estimate the non-fatal burden, we used data presented in primary studies, hospital discharges, and claims data, and used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, to ensure consistency between measures. Mortality, prevalence, years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated. All of the estimates were reported as numbers and rates per 100 000 population, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UI). Findings In 2017, there were 6.8 million (95% UI 6.4-7.3) cases of IBD globally. The age-standardised prevalence rate increased from 79.5 (75.9-83.5) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 84.3 (79.2-89.9) per 100 000 population in 2017. The age-standardised death rate decreased from 0.61 (0.55-0.69) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 0.51 (0.42-0.54) per 100 000 population in 2017. At the GBD regional level, the highest age-standardised prevalence rate in 2017 occurred in high-income North America (422.0 [398.7-446.1] per 100 000) and the lowest age-standardised prevalence rates were observed in the Caribbean (6.7 [6.3-7.2] per 100 000 population). High Sociodemographic Index (SDI) locations had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate, while low SDI regions had the lowest age-standardised prevalence rate. At the national level, the USA had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate (464.5 [438.6-490.9] per 100 000 population), followed by the UK (449.6 [420.6-481.6] per 100 000). Vanuatu had the highest age-standardised death rate in 2017 (1.8 [0.8-3.2] per 100 000 population) and Singapore had the lowest (0.08 [0.06-0.14] per 100 000 population). The total YLDs attributed to IBD almost doubled over the study period, from 0.56 million (0.39-0.77) in 1990 to 1.02 million (0.71-1.38) in 2017. The age-standardised rate of DALYs decreased from 26.5 (21.0-33.0) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 23.2 (19.1-27.8) per 100 000 population in 2017. Interpretation The prevalence of IBD increased substantially in many regions from 1990 to 2017, which might pose a substantial social and economic burden on governments and health systems in the coming years. Our findings can be useful for policy makers developing strategies to tackle IBD, including the education of specialised personnel to address the burden of this complex disease. Copyright (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

The global, regional, and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 195 countries and territories, 1990�2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background: The burden of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising globally, with substantial variation in levels and trends of disease in different countries and regions. Understanding these geographical differences is crucial for formulating effective strategies for preventing and treating IBD. We report the prevalence, mortality, and overall burden of IBD in 195 countries and territories between 1990 and 2017, based on data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017. Methods: We modelled mortality due to IBD using a standard Cause of Death Ensemble model including data mainly from vital registrations. To estimate the non-fatal burden, we used data presented in primary studies, hospital discharges, and claims data, and used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, to ensure consistency between measures. Mortality, prevalence, years of life lost (YLLs) due to premature death, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) were estimated. All of the estimates were reported as numbers and rates per 100 000 population, with 95 uncertainty intervals (UI). Findings: In 2017, there were 6·8 million (95 UI 6·4�7·3) cases of IBD globally. The age-standardised prevalence rate increased from 79·5 (75·9�83·5) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 84·3 (79·2�89·9) per 100 000 population in 2017. The age-standardised death rate decreased from 0·61 (0·55�0·69) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 0·51 (0·42�0·54) per 100 000 population in 2017. At the GBD regional level, the highest age-standardised prevalence rate in 2017 occurred in high-income North America (422·0 398·7�446·1 per 100 000) and the lowest age-standardised prevalence rates were observed in the Caribbean (6·7 6·3�7·2 per 100 000 population). High Socio-demographic Index (SDI) locations had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate, while low SDI regions had the lowest age-standardised prevalence rate. At the national level, the USA had the highest age-standardised prevalence rate (464·5 438·6�490·9 per 100 000 population), followed by the UK (449·6 420·6�481·6 per 100 000). Vanuatu had the highest age-standardised death rate in 2017 (1·8 0·8�3·2 per 100 000 population) and Singapore had the lowest (0·08 0·06�0·14 per 100 000 population). The total YLDs attributed to IBD almost doubled over the study period, from 0·56 million (0·39�0·77) in 1990 to 1·02 million (0·71�1·38) in 2017. The age-standardised rate of DALYs decreased from 26·5 (21·0�33·0) per 100 000 population in 1990 to 23·2 (19·1�27·8) per 100 000 population in 2017. Interpretation: The prevalence of IBD increased substantially in many regions from 1990 to 2017, which might pose a substantial social and economic burden on governments and health systems in the coming years. Our findings can be useful for policy makers developing strategies to tackle IBD, including the education of specialised personnel to address the burden of this complex disease. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licens

Identifying associations between diabetes and acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure : an analysis of the LUNG SAFE database

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a common co-existing disease in the critically ill. Diabetes mellitus may reduce the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but data from previous studies are conflicting. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between pre-existing diabetes mellitus and ARDS in critically ill patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). Methods: An ancillary analysis of a global, multi-centre prospective observational study (LUNG SAFE) was undertaken. LUNG SAFE evaluated all patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) over a 4-week period, that required mechanical ventilation and met AHRF criteria. Patients who had their AHRF fully explained by cardiac failure were excluded. Important clinical characteristics were included in a stepwise selection approach (forward and backward selection combined with a significance level of 0.05) to identify a set of independent variables associated with having ARDS at any time, developing ARDS (defined as ARDS occurring after day 2 from meeting AHRF criteria) and with hospital mortality. Furthermore, propensity score analysis was undertaken to account for the differences in baseline characteristics between patients with and without diabetes mellitus, and the association between diabetes mellitus and outcomes of interest was assessed on matched samples. Results: Of the 4107 patients with AHRF included in this study, 3022 (73.6%) patients fulfilled ARDS criteria at admission or developed ARDS during their ICU stay. Diabetes mellitus was a pre-existing co-morbidity in 913 patients (22.2% of patients with AHRF). In multivariable analysis, there was no association between diabetes mellitus and having ARDS (OR 0.93 (0.78-1.11); p = 0.39), developing ARDS late (OR 0.79 (0.54-1.15); p = 0.22), or hospital mortality in patients with ARDS (1.15 (0.93-1.42); p = 0.19). In a matched sample of patients, there was no association between diabetes mellitus and outcomes of interest. Conclusions: In a large, global observational study of patients with AHRF, no association was found between diabetes mellitus and having ARDS, developing ARDS, or outcomes from ARDS. Trial registration: NCT02010073. Registered on 12 December 2013

Limnologic study Sabalan run off Dam for aquaculture fish cold water

Limnological study of Sabalan run off Damfor aquaculture cold water fish was conducted in sixtimesat four stations from July to December 2009. Average minimum and maximum parameters measured in different stations were included water temperature, dissolved Oxygen, total hardness, electrical conductivity, pH, BOD5, COD, TDS, NH4, NO2, NO3, PO4, TN, TP, SiO2, respectively (10/3±9/5-14±8/7°C), (9±1/2-11/4±2/1 mg/liter), (367±19/8-381±17/8mg/liter), (0/95±0/07-1/05±0/07 mz/cm), (8/3±0/1-8/4±0/1), (3/3±1/14-3/88 ± 0/71mg/ liter), (15/5 ± 3/1-16/3 ± 3 mg/liter), (0/48 ± 0/04-0/54 ± 0/06mg/ liter), (0/08 ± 0/02-0/13 ± 0/07 mg/liter), (0/004 ± 0/003- 0/05 ± 0/1 mg/ liter), (0/6 ± 0/2-0/64 ± 0/29 mg/ liter), (0/19 ± 0/07-0/22 ± 0/07 mg/ liter), (10/48 ± 0/6-10/98 ± 0/54mg/liter), (0/39 ± 0/11-0/44 ± 0/18 mg/liter), and(9/9 ±0/6-11/1 ± 1/4 mg/liter). Average minimum and maximum of water heavy metalswas included of Cd, Pb, Zn, Fe, Cuand Ni respectively was measured as ND(No Deliver), ND, ND- 0/242, ND- 1/075, ND- 0/018 and ND-0/014inmg/ liter. Also among the 16 organochlorinecom pounds measured the highest amount of was belonged totoxin Hexachlorine Benzene (1/5 mg/ liter). The results of the analysis of water quality parameters showed that parameters except ofCOD, TDS, PO4, TP, Zn, Fe and water temperature, other parameters do not haveany restrictions foraquaculturecold water fish in therunoffDam. Based on data results it was noticed that there was temperature restriction up to November at downstream and station 2 showed less temperature fluctuation and more suitable condition compared to other stations. BOD5 value was within the allowable range for growing trout, in which station 2 somewhat with lower volatility of value had the most suitable BOD5 condition. In the present study, the amount of TDS in the study area was somewhat higher than the limitation and since TDS values increased with distance from the dam, therefore station 2 had somewhat better conditions for fish farming. In addition the amount of EC in the study area, indicating the inappropriateness of it for various activities in the fisheries. Although none of the stations in terms of the amount of phosphorus didn't show favorable conditions for rainbow trout fish propagation, it appears between the researches stations, station 2 had the most favorable terms. The results of this study (regardless of the unseen), it seems that in August and September; Zn had overestimated value for cold fish propagation. Recent study showed that among heavy metals, Fe in water, sediments and fish was over limitation value. Also, Fe value was measured of 1.08 at station 4, which showed over normal value for cold fish propagation. Therefore, station 2 at downstream seemed to have suitable cold fish propagation due to lower Fe value. On the based on the recent study, planktonic biological index did not endorse water quality for fish propagation. In this study, aquatic plant such as Potamogeton pectinatus and Pheragmitie saustralis was found at water of higher and somehow polluted organic matter. Probably, based on the results it was noticed that downstream water of dam was polluted to organic matter. At the recent study, resisted maroinvertebrates to organic matter (Chironomidae) was consisted noticeable frequency compared to other sensitive invertebrates to organic matter (EPT).Statistically, it can be expressed that probably organic pollution resulted to increase of resistance invertebrates and decreased of sensitive groups. In recent study, EPT/CHIR index was measured 0.6 in station 2 and 1.74 in station 4. This ration was less to many other mountain rivers. As ETP sensitive invertebrates has higher sensitive to other groups with the regards of environmental condition and pollution, unpredicted increase of Chironomidae compare to sensitive groups resulted of EPT/CHIR value which showed environmental stress. In this study, HFBI index was measured as 7.49 at station 2 and 7 in station 4. Based on HFBI index, station 2 was classified as a high organic pollution and station 4 with noticeable organic pollution. At the recent study, station 2 was catch more fish to station4. For instance, Squaliuscephalus and Alburnoides pinctatus were catch in station 2 and were not found in station 4. As a whole, Biological indicators whichwas included Plankton Bioindicator, EPT / CHIR. ,Hilsenh off Biological Indicator, diversity and distribution ofaquatic plants and fish, showed water situation in run off Damrich inorganic matter. Finally, the study area was approved for fish farm about 50 tons and needs management arrangements with the increased production rate