Artisans and guild life in the later Safavid period

In the social and economic history of Iran, as of other Moslem countries, bazaars and guilds of craftsmen and tradesmen working in them have always played an important part. After a discussion of the historical background, this thesis examines the functions of the guilds in the later Safavid period (c. 1597-1722 A.D.), when Iran was a large and generally stable empire administered on bureaucratic rather than feudal lines. Guild practices and traditions from the period endured into the 19th and 20th centuries. Evidence is adduced to show that the guilds had a dual role as spontaneous associations for defence of their members' interests and as agencies used by the Safavid government for collection of taxes, control of prices, and procurement of goods and labour. Among the subjects which are examined are the functions of responsible officials and headmen, the taxes and the tax collection methods, the apprenticeship system, price supervision, judicial and penal matters, and guild restrictions. Attention is also given to the Safavid government's intervention in economic life through royal industrial establishments and royal monopolies. Although merchants were not organized in guilds, they influenced the life of the bazaars, and so too did the East India Companies which established "factories" in Iran during the period. Attention is therefore given to the activities of Muslim Iranian, Armenian, Jewish, and Hindu merchants and financiers, and of the English and Dutch East India Companies

Design and Simulation of Regional Navigation Constellation with Optimized Mean DOP based on Hybrid GEO and IGSO Satellites

In this article, achieving an optimal layout of satellite constellation has been investigated with the aim of navigation (positioning) and with the least amount of error in a region coverage. In navigation, a parameter defined as DOP specifies influences of the geometry of satellite placement in space on position error. Less DOP means more precise navigation, and an attempt has been made in this study to minimize it. In the optimization phase, using genetic algorithm, the number of moments in which coverage is less than four reached zero and then the DOP parameter was minimized. Subsequently, the issue was studied by applying constraints on various orbital elements each time with a certain number of satellites (6 or 7), and the different results were analyzed and compared with each other as well as other navigational systems

NASA/USRA high altitude reconnaissance aircraft

At the equator, the ozone layer ranges from approximately 80,000 to 130,000+ feet which is beyond the capabilities of the ER-2, NASA's current high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. This project is geared to designing an aircraft that can study the ozone layer at the equator. This aircraft must be able to cruise at 130,000 lbs. of payload. In addition, the aircraft must have a minimum of a 6,000 mile range. The low Mach number, payload, and long cruising time are all constraints imposed by the air sampling equipment. A pilot must be able to take control in the event of unforseen difficulties. Three aircraft configurations were determined to be the most suitable for meeting the above requirements, a joined-wing, a bi-plane, and a twin-boom conventional airplane. The techniques used have been deemed reasonable within the limits of 1990 technology. The performance of each configuration is analyzed to investigate the feasibility of the project requirements. In the event that a requirement can not be obtained within the given constraints, recommendations for proposal modifications are given

Wall slope effects on the vertical pull-out capacity of tapered suction caissons

AbstractSuction caissons offer certain advantages over other underwater foundation systems by virtue of large bearing capacity, ease of installation, and efficiency. They are typically built with upright walls. The behaviour of upright suction caissons in regard to their applications, installation, load-bearing, etc. has already been investigated by a number of researchers. However, the performance of tapered suction caissons has not been formerly studied. This paper addresses the pull-out capacity of tapered suction caissons under vertical pull-out loads. A numerical approach was used. The finite element model was first calibrated against available test results on upright suction caissons and then used to simulate the pull-out of tapered caissons. It is admitted, however, that further validation of the model against experimental results on tapered suction caissons will increase the acceptability of the results. It was observed that positive wall slopes may noticeably improve the pull-out capacity. A change from local to global failure modes was postulated as the main reason for this improved resistance. With negative wall slopes, however, the pull-out capacity slightly decreased. In addition, effects from the caisson wall slope were investigated for a number of caisson geometries, drainage conditions and soil properties

Relationship between breast feeding and obesity in children with low birth weight

Background: Breast feeding appears to play a role in determining obesity and abdominal obesity during childhood, specifically in children with a history of low birth weight. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation of breast-feeding with either of abdominal obesity and obesity among Iranian school children. Materials and Methods: A total of 1184 students (625 girls and 559 boys), aged 10 to 13 years old, were selected from 112 governmental elementary schools in Iran. Height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured using standard instruments and a pretested standardized questionnaire was performed for compiling information about family economics and educational level, first–degree family history of obesity, history of breast feeding, food pattern and birth weight, as well. Results: 13.68% (n = 160) of students had a history of low birth weight, and 26.41% of them had abdominal obesity. Of all participants, 22.04% were overweight and 5.32% were obese which was more prevalent in girls than in boys (P = 0.03). First-degree family history of obesity (P = 0.001), excessive gestational weight gain (P = 0.001) and birth weight (P = 0.01) were significantly correlated with the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity during childhood. Moreover the prevalence of abdominal obesity in children with low birth weight was significantly correlated with breast feeding (P = 0.04); But this relation was not significantly about obesity in our participants (P = 0.9). Furthermore duration of breast feeding was significantly and inversely correlated with obesity and abdominal obesity in schoolchildren with low birth weight (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that Breast feeding and its long-term consequences were important factors for preventing metabolic syndrome criteria in childhood and later years of life span. With regard to the increasing prevalence of obesity in children, more research is urgently needed to clarify whether breast feeding have negative consequences for the risk of chronic disease in children, especially in children with low birth weight

Distribution of hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients infected by different sources and its correlation with clinical and virological parameters: a preliminary study

BACKGROUND: Information about genotypes and associated risk factors in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients in Iran is limited. The aim of this study was to identify the HCV genotypes and associated risk factors in a group of HCV infected patients from Iran. RESULTS: Genotyping analysis was performed in 156 patients with positive anti-HCV and HCV-RNA. Patients were questioned concerning documented risk factors. Genotypes 1 and 3 were found in 87 (55.8%) and 45 (28.8%) patients, respectively. The most frequent HCV subtype was 1a (37.8), followed by 3a (28.9%) and 1b (16.7%). There was no statistically significant difference between the risk factors analyzed and the acquisition of HCV infection. We further found that 18 (40%) and 17 (37.8%) patients that were intravenous drug users (IVDU) had genotype 1a and 3a respectively. CONCLUSION: Genotypes 3a and 1a in Iran are less prevalent in IVDU than in Europe and USA, but there is a high similarity between the pattern of genotype in IVDU in both Europe and United States, and Iran. However, in this case it can not be due to people migration among countries since history of travel abroad existed only in 6 cases (13.3%)

Expression, purification and immunogenic description of a hepatitis c virus recombinant coreE1E2 protein expressed by yeast pichia pastoris

Background: Gradual development of a useful vaccine can be the main point in the control and eradication of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Hepatitis C Virus envelope glycoproteins are considered as the main HCV vaccine candidate. Objectives: In this study, the Pichia pastoris expression system was used to express a recombinant HCV CoreE1E2 protein, which consists of Core (269 nt-841nt) E1 (842 nt-1417nt) and E2 (1418 nt-2506nt). Materials and Methods: By a codon optimization technique based on the P. pastoris expression system, we could increase the rate of recombinant proteins. Moreover, the purified protein can efficiently induce anti-CoreE1E2 antibodies in rabbits, and also by developing a homemade Enzyme-Linked ELISA kit we can detect antibody of HCV Iranian patients with genotype 1a. Results: In our study, the virus-like particle of rCoreE1E2 with 70 nm size, was shown by Electron microscopy and proved the self-assembly in vitro in a yeast expression system. Conclusions: These findings of the present study indicate that the recombinant CoreE1E2 glycoprotein is effective in inducing neutralizing antibodies, and is an influential HCV vaccine candidate. © 2015, Kowsar Medical Publishing Company. All rights reserved