An Early OrdovicianTrilobite assemblage from the Lashkarak Formation, Damghan area, northern Iran Assemblage à trilobites de la Formation de Lashkarak, Ordovicien inférieur de la région de Damghan, Nord de l'Iran

International audienceA low diversity Lower previous termOrdoviciannext term trilobite assemblage is described from the middle part of the Lashkarak Formation at Simeh-Kuh, northwest of Damghan, northern Iran. Co-occurrence with conodonts of the lowermost Paroistodus proteus Biozone suggests an uppermost Tremadocian age. This assemblage includes four taxa, including one new genus and two new species, Damghanampyx ginteri nov. gen. nov. sp. and Asaphellus fecundus nov. sp. The third diagnosable species from the formation is Taihungshania miqueli (Bergeron, 1894) which has previously been reported from southern France and the Turkish Taurides, suggesting north Gondwanan faunal affinities. La partie moyenne de la Formation de Lashkarak dans la coupe de Simeh-kuh au Nord de l'Iran (NW de Damghan), a livré un assemblage à trilobites peu diversifié (4 taxons) de type biofaciès à raphiophoridés. D'après les conodontes associés, il est attribué au Tremadocien terminal, Biozone à Paroistodus proteus. Cet assemblage comprend des formes endémiques décrites pour la première fois, avec un nouveau genre de raphiophoridés : Damghanampyx ginteri nov. gen. nov. sp. et une nouvelle espèce du genre Asaphellus, A. fecundus nov. sp., mais aussi une forme typiquement gondwanienne, Taihungshania miqueli (Bergeron, 1894), signalant des affinités fauniques avec la Turquie et le Sud de la France (Montagne Noire)

Study on the effects of different cooking methods on concentration of essential elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni) in Cyprinus Carpio

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of different cooking methods on the level of iron, copper, zinc, and nickel in the muscle of Cyprinus carpio. For this purpose, 75 samples of fish with different sizes were obtained from Azadegan Aquaculture Center in Ahvaz. The samples were digested through the wet-digestion method and the concentrations of the essential elements were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. According to the results, fried and steamed samples had the highest (3.54±0.31 mg/100g wet weight) and lowest (1.64±0.11 mg/100g wet weight) concentration of iron. The highest and lowest concentration of zinc was recorded in the fried (1.74±0.09 mg/100g WW) and steamed (1.24±0.09 mg/100g WW) samples, respectively. In the case of copper, the highest (0.12±0.09 mg/100g WW) and lowest (0.07±0.003 mg/100g WW) concentration were recorded in the micro-waved and steamed specimens, respectively. The results for nickel was determined as 0.023±0.001 mg/100g WW and 0.016±0.0002 mg/100g WW in the fried and grilled fishes Moreover, the highest and the lowest level of essential elements which were recorded among the samples belonged to iron and nickel respectively. In all samples, the level of iron was recorded below the FDA limit. In addition, in all samples, the level of nickel, zinc, and copper was estimated below the maximum acceptable limit of WHO, MAFF, NHMRC, and FAO

Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance in children with cerebral palsy: A protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background/Aims Children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy have limitations in activities requiring reach and manipulation of objects with their affected upper extremity. Transcranial direct current stimulation and the cognitive orientation to occupational performance approach are relatively new interventions that may lead to promising results for these children. This article describes the method of a randomised clinical trial that will compare the effects of the combination of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance with transcranial direct current stimulation and neurodevelopmental treatment. Methods A four-armed clinical trial with a sample size of 36 participants will be performed in Tehran. Participants will be randomly divided into four groups. Group A will receive neuro-developmental treatment with sham transcranial direct current stimulation, group B will receive neurodevelopmental treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation, group C will receive cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance with sham transcranial direct current stimulation, and group D will receive cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance with transcranial direct current stimulation. The examiner will be blind to the study and assessments will be done at baseline, after the end of the intervention and 1 month after the completion of the intervention (as follow up). Data analysis will be as repeated measure analysis of variance and intention to treat. Conclusions This article describes the protocol of a clinical trial that compares the effects of the combination of transcranial direct current stimulation and cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance with the combination of transcranial direct current stimulation and neurodevelopmental treatment on upper extremity goals and functions of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. © 2020 MA Healthcare Ltd. All rights reserved

Serum selenium level in patients with gastric non-cardia cancer and functional dyspepsia

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the most common gastrointestinal cancer in Iran. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) accounts as one of the main risk factors for gastric non-cardia cancer (GNCC). It is suggested that high serum selenium level may have a protective role in GNCC. In this cross-sectional study, we determined the serum Se level and the status of H. pylori infection in two populations with GC and functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS: The enrolled patients were 85 (27 women, 58 men) with recent pathologically proven GNCC (adenocarcinoma) and 85 (34 women, 51 men) FD patients. Serum Se was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. H. pylori IgG antibody was detected by quantitative enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: The mean age in the GNCC and FD patients were 62.85±14.6 and 58.9±14.7 years, respectively (P=0.08). The serum selenium levels were 111.6±27.7 and 129.9±32.1 μg/L (mean±SD) in GNCC and FD patients, respectively (P<0.001). The frequency of H. pylori infection was 49.4% (n=42) and 68.2% (n=58) in GNCC and FD patients (P=0.013). The crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) between GNCC and the linear effect of serum selenium level were 0.98 and 0.982, respectively (P=0.002). This means that each unit increase in serum selenium level decreases the odds of cancer by 2%. CONCLUSION: Serum selenium level was significantly lower in GNCC cases. It suggests that lower serum selenium might have some association with the risk of GNCC. H. pylori infection does not play a significant impact on this association

Early Ordovician (Tremadocian) faunas and biostratigraphy of the Gerd-Kuh section, eastern Alborz, Iran

The Tremadocian of the East Alborz Region is dominated by condensed fine clasticsediments. These beds have yielded low to medium diversity trilobite associations, which belong to theolenid, nileid and raphiophorid biofacies, characteristic of an outer shelf environment. Five successivetrilobite biozones can be recognised in the Tremadocian succession of Alborz. The lower TremadocianAsaphellus inflatus–Dactylocephalus and Psilocephalina lubrica zones are characterised by mediumdiversity trilobite associations with strong links to contemporaneous faunas of South China. Three upperzones are documented in the section at Gerd-Kuh, the successive Vachikaspis insueta and Kayseraspiszones represent a low diversity interval during a time of rapid changes in the sea level changes; themedium diversity fauna of the Asaphellus fecundus–Taihungshania miqueli zone shows strong links tothe faunas of Mediterranean segment of Gondwana. Brachiopods in Gerd-Kuh are represented by themonotaxic Tarfaya Association and the low diversity Paralenorthis–Xinanorthis Association. Therecurrent oligotaxic Protambonites Association invaded the area in the late Tremadocian during shortterm regressive episodes

Early Ordovician (Tremadocian) faunas and biostratigraphy of the Gerd-Kuh section, eastern Alborz, Iran

The Tremadocian of the East Alborz Region is dominated by condensed fine clasticsediments. These beds have yielded low to medium diversity trilobite associations, which belong to theolenid, nileid and raphiophorid biofacies, characteristic of an outer shelf environment. Five successivetrilobite biozones can be recognised in the Tremadocian succession of Alborz. The lower TremadocianAsaphellus inflatus–Dactylocephalus and Psilocephalina lubrica zones are characterised by mediumdiversity trilobite associations with strong links to contemporaneous faunas of South China. Three upperzones are documented in the section at Gerd-Kuh, the successive Vachikaspis insueta and Kayseraspiszones represent a low diversity interval during a time of rapid changes in the sea level changes; themedium diversity fauna of the Asaphellus fecundus–Taihungshania miqueli zone shows strong links tothe faunas of Mediterranean segment of Gondwana. Brachiopods in Gerd-Kuh are represented by themonotaxic Tarfaya Association and the low diversity Paralenorthis–Xinanorthis Association. Therecurrent oligotaxic Protambonites Association invaded the area in the late Tremadocian during shortterm regressive episodes

Early Ordovician (Tremadocian) faunas and biostratigraphy of the Gerd-Kuh section, eastern Alborz, Iran

The Tremadocian of the East Alborz Region is dominated by condensed fine clasticsediments. These beds have yielded low to medium diversity trilobite associations, which belong to theolenid, nileid and raphiophorid biofacies, characteristic of an outer shelf environment. Five successivetrilobite biozones can be recognised in the Tremadocian succession of Alborz. The lower TremadocianAsaphellus inflatus–Dactylocephalus and Psilocephalina lubrica zones are characterised by mediumdiversity trilobite associations with strong links to contemporaneous faunas of South China. Three upperzones are documented in the section at Gerd-Kuh, the successive Vachikaspis insueta and Kayseraspiszones represent a low diversity interval during a time of rapid changes in the sea level changes; themedium diversity fauna of the Asaphellus fecundus–Taihungshania miqueli zone shows strong links tothe faunas of Mediterranean segment of Gondwana. Brachiopods in Gerd-Kuh are represented by themonotaxic Tarfaya Association and the low diversity Paralenorthis–Xinanorthis Association. Therecurrent oligotaxic Protambonites Association invaded the area in the late Tremadocian during shortterm regressive episodes