Analysis of Spatial Inequalities in Tehran Metropolis

Purpose: Nowadays, Spatial and social inequalities are universal and expanding phenomenon. Identification and spatial analysis of social, economic and ecological inequalities in metropolises is one of the essential and basic proceeding for planning and achieving urban sustainable development. Aims to reviews the quality of spatial differentiations between the 374 neighborhoods of Tehran metropolis. Methodology: The method of the research is descriptive-analytic. To identify regions’ development levels in Tehran, 10 sub-criteria in the form of 3 main criteria were used. With Using of AHP method and EXPERT CHOISE software each criteria and sub-criteria mutually were compared relative to each other, evaluated, and scored. Finally, by the method of hierarchical clustering, Tehran metropolis neighborhoods in terms of ranking of development at five levels of developed, relatively developed, medium developed, less developed, and underdeveloped regions, were clustered and in the Arc GIS settings were displayed as a map. Findings: The result of the indicators review shows that Tehran metropolis lacks socio-physical unity and spatial differentiations between the north and south of it remain still as the main feature of the spatial structure of Tehran metropolis. Originality/Value: The present study believes that the continuance of the current procedure, not only in Tehran but also at the national level is the main challenge over the way to achieve urban sustainable development and a good city

Investigation and identification of social harms in the new city of Sahand, Tabriz (With emphasis on Mehr housing)

Purpose: With the increase of Iran's urban population, large cities faced many problems and new cities were located and built to attract population overflow in the area of these cities. The new city of Sahand was built to reduce the demographic, economic, social and physical problems of the metropolis of Tabriz in the sphere of influence of this city. With the creation of Mehr housing in phases 2, 3 and 4 of this city, a new issue was raised. This article seeks to examine and identify the social issues and problems of this city, prioritize them and identify solutions to reduce the impact. Methodology: The research method used in this research is applied and survey. Findings: Results show that the most important problems are: drug use, class differences, cultural poverty, distrust of neighbors, distrust of city officials, economic poverty, presence Thugs, the presence of badly supervised women, unusual relationships between girls and boys, harassment of women, quarrels and conflicts, running away from home, begging, unconventional relationships between married men and women, child abuse and white marriage, relationships Poor neighborhood, general dissatisfaction with living conditions, feeling of insecurity in parks and gardens, inadequate lighting and lighting of roads, flooded roads, traffic jams and the problem of parking cars, unsuitable sidewalks, lack of medical centers, lack of playgrounds for children and adolescents, Lack of green space, inadequate garbage collection system, low quality of housing, lack of recreational space for citizens, etc., which are the most important factors in the occurrence and emergence of social harms in this city. Originality/Value: In this paper, investigation and identification of social harms in the new city of Sahand, Tabriz (With emphasis on Mehr housing) is done

Effect of Vitamin E and Selenium Supplement on Paraoxonase-1 Activity, Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein and Antioxidant Defense in Diabetic Rats

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of vitamin E and selenium supplementation on serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Thirty two female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group (n=8) received a standard diet; streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats (n=12), received corn oil and physiological solution; and vitamin E and selenium supplemented diabetic rats (n=12) were treated with oral administration of vitamin E (300 mg/kg) and sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg) once a day for 4 weeks. Results: Significantly lower total antioxidant status (TAS), PON1and erythrocyte SOD activities and a higher fasting plasma glucose level were observed in the diabetic rats compared to the control. A significant increase in SOD and GPX activities in vitamin E and selenium supplemented diabetic group was observed after 5 weeks of the experiment. Compared to the normal rats, malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL) levels were higher in the diabetic animals; however, these values reduced significantly following vitamin E and selenium supplementation. Conclusion: Vitamin E and selenium supplementation in diabetic rats has hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and antioxidative effects and may slow down the progression of diabetic complications through its protective effect on PON1 activity and lipoproteins oxidation

Comparative Evaluation of Apoptosis Induction Using Needles, Bark, and Pollen Extracts and Essential Oils of Pinus eldarica in Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Although effective clinical drugs for treating advanced stages are available, interest in alternative herbal medicines has gained momentum. Herbal extracts are potent antioxidants that reportedly inhibit the growth of various cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the effects of essential oils and hexane, methanolic, and aqueous extracts, obtained from various parts (bark, needles, and pollen) of Pinus eldarica against human lung cancer (A549) cells. First, the DPPH radical scavenging activities of P. eldarica extracts and essential oils were examined, which revealed that methanolic extracts presented higher antioxidant activity than the other extracts and essential oils. Next, A549 cells were exposed to various concentrations of the extracts and essential oils for 48 h. P. eldarica extracts/essential oil-treated lung cancer cells demonstrated a significant decrease in cell proliferation, along with an induction of apoptotic cell death, particularly, the pollen hexane extract, bark essential oil, and methanolic needle extract showed superior results, with IC50 values of 31.7, 17.9, and 0.3 μg/mL, respectively. In the cell cycle analysis, treatment of A549 cells with the methanolic needle and pollen hexane extracts led to apoptosis and accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Further, exposure to the bark essential oil and methanolic needle extract decreased the cell population in the G2/M phase. Notably, treatment with the pollen hexane extract, bark essential oil, and methanolic needle extract resulted in caspase-3 activation, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, Bcl-2 downregulation, and Bax and p53 regulation in A549 cells. Furthermore, these extracts and essential oils decreased the migration, and colony formation of A549 cells. These findings provide experimental evidence for a new therapeutic effect of P. eldarica against human lung cancer and suggest P. eldarica as a potential chemopreventive natural resource for developing novel cancer therapeutics