Performance Evaluation of Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) in Forecasting Precipitation in two Arid and Hyper arid Regions

One of the most important problems in the management and planning of water resources is to forecast long-term precipitation in arid region and hyper arid regions. In this study, statistical downscaling model (SDSM) is used for study of climate change effects on precipitation. The data used as input to the Model are daily precipitation of Kerman and Bam synoptic stations, NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) data and the A2 and B2 emission scenarios HadCM3 for the reference period (1971-2001). Using HadCM3 A2, B2 data the precipitation for three period (2010-2039), (2040-2069) and (2070-2099) are predicted and compared with the reference period. We used the first 15 years data (1971-1985) for the calibration and the second 15 years data (1986-2001) for model validation. Research results showed that the precipitation will change and Change directions are positive in some months and negative in other months. After the examination function Indexes results from SDSM model shown that this model has better accuracy and a high ability to predict precipitation in arid region than hyper arid region

Erratum: Impact of the C1431T Polymorphism of the Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-Gamma (PPAR-γ) Gene on Fasted Serum Lipid Levels in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The C1431T polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) gene is related to diabetes and metabolic-syndrome. However, studies have been inconclusive about its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) and there have been no studies analyzing the association of this polymorphism with fasted-serum-lipid levels in Iranian-individuals with CAD. We investigated the association of PPAR-γ C1431T-polymorphism with CAD and dyslipidaemia in 787 individuals. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Anthropometric-parameters and biochemical-measurements were evaluated, followed by genotyping. The association of the genetic-polymorphisms with CAD and lipid-profile was determined by univariate/multivariate-analyses. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Patients with CT or CT+TT genotype were at an increased-risk of CAD relative to CC-carriers (adjusted odds ratio: 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-4.09; p = 0.046). However, in the larger population, CT genotype was present at a higher frequency in the group with a positive angiogram. Furthermore, CT+TT genotypes were associated with an altered fasted-lipid-profile in the initial population sample of patients with a positive angiogram, compared to the group with a negative-angiogram. The angiogram-positive patients carrying the T allele had a significantly higher triglyceride, serum C-reactive protein and fasting-blood-glucose. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> We have found the PPAR-γ C1431T polymorphism was significantly associated with fasted serum lipid profile in individuals with angiographically defined CAD. Since accumulating data support the role of PPAR-γ polymorphisms in CAD, further studies are required to investigate the association of this polymorphism with coronary artery disease