The paleoecology and depositional model of the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammad Abad Area, the west of Baft, SW Kerman, Iran

This paper deals with the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammadabad Area, W Baft, SW Kerman. The studied coral reefs include 11 families, 25 genera and 33 species of the scleractinian corals. The coral reef successions have deposited in three cycles on a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate platform. To understanding the paleoecology, reef architecture and depositional model of studied reefal successions, statistical analyses based on the coral niches, sedimentology analyses based on the grain size of the marly strata and microfacies analyses on limestone strata have used. Based on the statistical analyses, the coral community includes eight ecotypes. The distribution of these ecotypes indicates that, despite of various thicknesses, in all three coral reef successions, the branching and fast growth ecotypes are present at the basal parts and the massive, placoid and meandroid colonies are recorded in the slope, crest and distal parts of the reefs. The main disruptive phenomenon that stopped the reef development and affected the reef architecture has been the addition of clastic deposits to the carbonate system. This sediment load increase is recorded as marly strata. By The addition of clastic sediment load to the system, the carbonate content of the system has diluted, the salinity, water transparency and photic level is decreased, the favorable attachment hard substrate for coral polyps is limited, the nutrient and oxygen flux is disrupted and the coral reefs are suffocated

Effect of membrane properties on the performance of batch reverse osmosis (RO): The potential to minimize energy consumption

Efforts to improve the performance of RO desalination include new membranes and new system configurations. Batch RO is an innovative configuration which helps to minimize Specific Energy Consumption (SEC) at high recovery. However, there is a lack of experimental studies regarding the performance of different membranes in batch RO. In this study, we tested four 8-in. RO membranes of different permeabilities in a free-piston batch RO system to assess how membrane properties affect performance. Tests were conducted with brackish feed water containing 1000–5000 mg/L of NaCl, at recovery of 0.8. Performance in terms of SEC, permeate quality and salt rejection was quantified. SEC and salt rejection varied considerably from low-permeability to high-permeability membranes. For the lowest permeability membrane rejection was >95 %, whereas for the higher permeability membranes it was only 82–96 %. SEC with high-permeability membranes was approximately 25–29 % lower than with the lowest permeability membrane. Using a verified model, we predict that on increasing the permeability from 5 to 20 L/m2/h/bar, hydraulic SEC would go down further by 17–28 % using ultra high-permeability membranes. Though this study shows the potential for SEC reduction, it also underlines the limitations of current commercial membranes and therefore the need for membranes with even higher permeability

Glass ceiling for women and work attachment: the moderating effect of marital status (Case study: female employees of health centers in the east of Gilan province)

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between glass ceiling for women and work attachment due to the moderating effect of marital status among female employees of health centers in the east of Gilan province. In this study, glass ceiling for women, work attachment, and marital status were considered as an independent variable, a dependent variable and a moderating variable, respectively. The method of the present study is descriptive survey and the statistical population of the present study is the female employees of the executive and government agencies in the east of Gilan province, which will be a statistical sample among the people present in this community. In order to analyze the statistical data and test the research hypotheses using SPSS24 and SmartPLS3 statistical software, structural equation modeling has been performed. The results indicated that the glass ceiling for women has a significant effect on women's work attachment in health centers in the east of Gilan. However, marital status does not have a moderating effect on the relationship between the glass ceiling for women and women's work attachment in the east of Gilan health centers

Ameliorating the effect of Zingiber officinale (ginger) hydroethanolic extract on scopolamine-induced memory impairment in adult male rats

Background and aims: The spice Zingiber officinale or ginger possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. In this study we hypothesized that treatment with hydroethanolic extract of ginger (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o) would have an effect on the scopolamine-induced memory impairment in rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 64 male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups (8 rats in each group): normal saline, scopolamine (1 mg/kg), ginger extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), or scopolamine (1 mg/kg) plus ginger extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Memory impairment was induced with a single injection of scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p). Cognitive functions were evaluated using passive avoidance learning (PAL) task. Retention test was carried out 24 hours after training, and the latency of entering the dark compartment step-through latency (STL) and the total time in the dark compartment (TDC) were recorded. All statistical analysis was carried out at 5% level of significance using SPSS version 21. The data were analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test. Results: The time latency in scopolamine-treated group was lower than control (p<0.001). Treatment of the animals by 100 and 200 mg/kg of ginger extract before the training trial increased the time latency at 24 h after the training trial (p<0.01). Also, administration of extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg in scopolamine received groups before retention trials, increased the time latency than the scopolamine only treated groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results revealed that the ginger hydroethanolic extract attenuated scopolamine-induced memory impairment

Quality Indicators and Outcomes of Emergency Caesarean Deliveries at a District-level Maternity Hospital

The objective of this research study is to identify quality indicators of cesarean deliveries and determine their relationship to neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality in one high volume maternity hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi. Demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data were collected on all cesarean deliveries over three months. Indicators of quality (antibiotic administration, use of oxytocin, decision-to-incision time, and uterine incision type) were compared to maternal morbidities (postpartum hemorrhage, fistula and wound infection) and neonatal mortality. Causes of delays in decision to incision time were identified. 513 cesarean deliveries were performed during the study period, with no maternal deaths and 39 neonatal deaths. Adherence to oxytocin and antibiotic administration was high but not complete, with greater adherence to the former (97.1% vs 82.6%). The decision to incision time between women with and without neonatal deaths was similar (1.62 hours vs 1.49 hours, p=0.41). Most delays were attributed to a busy operating theatre (49.1%) and delayed transfer to the operating theatre (26.9%). Uterine rupture and cesarean hysterectomy were associated with an outcome of neonatal death (p&lt;0.001). Infrastructure and personnel limitations are major barriers to the improvement of quality of cesarean deliveries. Future endeavors towards quality improvement must address these deficiencies. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[3]: 61-67). Keywords: obstetrics, international, quality, low resource L'objectif de cette étude est d'identifier les indicateurs de qualité de césariennes et de déterminer leur relation à la morbidité et la mortalité néonatale et maternelle dans un hôpital de la maternité de volume élevé à Lilongwe, au Malawi. Démographique, périopératoire, et les données post-opératoires ont été recueillies sur tous les accouchements par césarienne plus de trois mois. Indicateurs de qualité (l'administration d'antibiotiques, l'utilisation de l'ocytocine, l e temps de décision à l'incision, et de l'utérus de type d'incision) ont été comparés à de morbidité maternelle (hémorragie post-partum, la fistule et infection de la plaie) et la mortalité néonatale. Les causes de retards dans la prise à l'incision du temps ont été identifiés. 513 césariennes ont été effectuées au cours de la période de l'étude, aucun décès maternels et 39 décès néonatals. L'adhésion à l'ocytocine et l'administration d'antibiotiques était haute mais pas complet, avec une plus grande adhésion à l'ancien (97,1% vs 82,6%). La décision d'incision de temps entre les femmes avec et sans décès néonatals était similaire (1,62 vs 1,49 heures heures, p = 0,41). La plupart des retards ont été attribués à un théâtre chargé d'exploitation (49,1%) et le transfert retardé au théâtre d'exploitation (26,9%). La rupture utérine et l'hystérectomie césarienne ont été associées à un résultat de décès néonatal (p &lt;0,001). Infrastructure et du personnel des limitations sont des obstacles majeurs à l'amélioration de la qualité des accouchements par césarienne. Les efforts futurs vers amélioration de la qualité doivent combler ces lacunes. (Afr J Reprod Health 2015; 19[3]: 61-67). Mots-clés: obstétrique, internationale, de qualité, à faible ressourc

The paleoecology and depositional model of the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammad Abad Area, the West of Baft, SW Kerman, Iran

This paper deals with the Oligo-Miocene coral reefs in the Mohammadabad Area, W Baft, SW Kerman. The studied coral reefs include 11 families, 25 genera and 33 species of the scleractinian corals. The coral reef successions have deposited in three cycles on a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate platform. To understanding the paleoecology, reef architecture and depositional model of studied reefal successions, statistical analyses based on the coral niches, sedimentology analyses based on the grain size of the marly strata and microfacies analyses on limestone strata have used. Based on the statistical analyses, the coral community includes eight ecotypes. The distribution of these ecotypes indicates that, despite of various thicknesses, in all three coral reef successions, the branching and fast growth ecotypes are present at the basal parts and the massive, placoid and meandroid colonies are recorded in the slope, crest and distal parts of the reefs. The main disruptive phenomenon that stopped the reef development and affected the reef architecture has been the addition of clastic deposits to the carbonate system. This sediment load increase is recorded as marly strata. By The addition of clastic sediment load to the system, the carbonate content of the system has diluted, the salinity, water transparency and photic level is decreased, the favorable attachment hard substrate for coral polyps is limited, the nutrient and oxygen flux is disrupted and the coral reefs are suffocated

Functional Role of the Homeobox Transcription Factor Six1 in Neoplastic Transformation of Human Keratinocytes

The homeobox transcription factor SIX1 contributes to both tumor development and progression. Numerous studies have determined that the inappropriate expression of embryonic genes, in particular transcription factors, contributes to carcinogenesis. SIX1 is essential for the development of numerous organs including the auditory and olfactory system as well as the kidney, by promoting proliferation, survival and migration of progenitor cells during embryogenesis. SIX1 has also been shown to increase cancer cell proliferation, survival and invasion. The aberrant expression of SIX1 occurs in numerous adult and pediatric cancers. We have previously determined that our in-vitro model system for HPV16-mediated tumorigenesis shares many important features with cervical cancer and enables us to study the molecular mechanisms of transformation and immortalization in our cell human keratinocyte (HKc) lines. SIX1 mRNA and protein levels are overexpressed in our HPV16-transformed HKc lines at the differentiation-resistant stage (HKc/DR) compared with early passage, HPV16-immortalized HKc (HKc/HPV16) and in HKc/HPV16 compared to normal HKc. Furthermore, we have recently determined that SIX1 overexpression in HKc/HPV16 induces the differentiation-resistant phenotype characteristic of HKc/DR, and that SIX1 overexpression in HKc/DR induces tumorigenicity. In this study, we explored the role of SIX1 as a regulator of growth and transformation in normal HKc, and its role in the maintenance of growth and a transformed phenotype in HKc/HPV16 and HKc/DR. We determined that loss of SIX1 is not tolerated by HKc/DR, which appear to be “addicted” to this oncogene. Decreased SIX1 expression results in slower proliferation and decreased HPV16 E6/E7 mRNA levels. We utilized Affymetrix GeneChip Arrays to explore the gene expression changes associated with decreased SIX1 expression in HKc/DR. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, real-time PCR and functional cell-based assays determined that SIX1 is vital for cell survival; the decline in SIX1 causes a transition from the mesenchymal phenotype characteristic of HKc/DR towards the standard epithelial phenotype (mesenchymal-epithelial transition, MET). MET is accompanied by a switch in TGF-β signaling from an EMT-inducing tumor promoter to a tumor suppressor in HKc/DR cells. Additionally, we observed that SIX1 overexpression in normal HKc extends their lifespan and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition, EMT. In summary, our studies suggest that SIX1 is necessary for cell survival in HPV-16 –transformed cells and may potentially become a suitable therapeutic target for HPV-driven cancers

THE MICROFACIES, SEQUENCE STRATIGRAPHY AND GENESIS OF THE UPPER DEVONIAN PHOSPHORITES IN THE NORTH OF KERMAN, SE IRAN

This research focuses on the microfacies, sequence stratigraphy and genesis of the upper Devonian phosphate-rich deposits in the Kerman province, SE Iran. These deposits are investigated in the Sarashk and Hutk sections, which are the most complete upper Devonian strata in the studied area. This region was located on the northern coast of the Gondwanaland during the Devonian. Detailed sampling and sedimentological analyses indicate that the studied successions consist of limestone, shale and sandstone lithofacies. The limestone lithofacies includes 12 microfacies and the shale and sandstone lithofacies include two microfacies. Based on the microfacies analysis, five sedimentary sequences are distinguished in each section. The microfacies analyses suggest a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic ramp sedimentary environment. Based on the sequence stratigraphic settings, the phosphorite layers are divided into three types, the first involves lumachella strata and was deposited in transgressive system tract settings; the second was deposited in the high stand system tract and maximum flooding surface settings and the third includes the basal parts of the falling stage system tract setting. The first phosphorite type seems to be a direct result of upwelling currents and blooms in continental shelf deviling creatures, especially brachiopods and fishes. The second, and the most commercially qualified, type formed as an indirect result of upwelling currents and subsequent toxic waters, high mortality and rise of Oxygen Minimum Zone. The third type was a result of post deposition burial digenesis and cementation processes