Appraisal of the geostatistical methods to estimate Mazandaran coastal ground water quality

The present study was carried out to evaluate three interpolation methods including weighted moving average (WMA) with the power of 2 and 3, Kriging and Cokriging methods. Data of 23 wells in Mazandaran province were collected in fall and spring 2006. Seven parameters including electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), total hardness (TH), chloride concentration (Cl- ) and sulphate concentration (SO4 2- ) have been chosen as groundwater quality indices in the study area. Variogram analysis and extracting the spatial distribution maps of groundwater quality parameters were done using Geostatistics extension program in GIS environment. All interpolation methods have been evaluated based on mean bias error (MBE) and mean absolute error (MAE) criteria. The spherical model for semi-variograms had the less value of RSS (residual sum of square) for Cl- , EC, pH, SAR and SO4 2- parameters. TDS and TH parameters followed a Gaussian model. All semi-variograms and cross variograms had high confident level due to little values of nugget effects (Co) relative to sill. The covariance matrix demonstrated that magnesium concentration (Mg2+), sodium concentration (Na+), Total anions, Cl- , EC and TDS parameters have been the best covariate for estimating TH, SO4 2- , Cl- , PH, TDS and EC parameters, respectively. Co-Kriging was the best method for estimating all parameters far apart TH for which Kriging method was the best. Spatial distribution maps of groundwater quality indices demonstrated that the groundwater in the study area is slightly basic and the values of EC exceeded the permeable limit in more than 40% of the study area. Also there was sodium hazard and high concentration of TDS in the north-east part. Therefore, further studies are needed to recognize the pollution sources in order to reclaim the polluted part in the study area

Estimating the avoidable burden of certain modifiable risk factors in osteoporotic hip fracture using Generalized Impact Fraction (GIF) model in Iran

Backgrounds: The number of hip fractures, the most common complication of osteoporosis, has increased rapidly over the past decades. The goal of this study is to estimate the avoidable burden of certain modifiable risk factor of the condition using the Generalized Impact Fraction (GIF) model, which has been suggested and used by epidemiologists to overcome the drawbacks associated with the use of Attributable Fraction index. In addition to preventing a risk factor or the avoidable fraction of burden, this index can also calculate the change in the burden, when a risk factor is altered.Methods: International databases were searched through PubMed, CINAHLD, Embase using OVID and Google scholar. National resources were searched through IranDoc, IranMedex, SID and Journal sites. Other resources include abstract books and articles sent to the IOF congress. The following search strategy was used: (" Osteoporotic fracture" OR " Fragility Hip fracture" OR " Calcium" OR " vitamin D" OR " BMI" OR " lean body weight" OR " Physical activity" OR " exercise" OR " Smoke" ) AND (" prevalence" OR " incidence" OR " relative risk" ) and limited to " humans." Results: With regards to different scenarios already explained in modifying the studied risk factors, the greatest impact in reducing the prevalence of risk factors on osteoporotic hip fractures, was seen in low serum vitamin D levels, low physical activity and low intake of calcium and vitamin D, respectively. According to the fact that interventions for low serum vitamin D and low intake of calcium and vitamin D, are related to each other, it can be concluded that implementing interventions to change these two risk factors, in the easy, moderate and difficult scenarios, would result in approximately a 5%, 11% and 17% decrease in the burden of osteoporotic hip fractures, respectively. The addition of interventions addressing low physical activity in the easy, moderate and difficult scenarios, an 8%, 21% and 35% reduction in the burden of osteoporotic hip fractures would be reported, respectively.Conclusion: Improving serum vitamin D levels, recommending the consumption of calcium and vitamin D supplementations and advocating physical activity are the most effective interventions to reduce the risk of osteoporotic hip fractures. © 2013 Shahnazari et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Vremenske i prostorne varijacije salaniteta podzemnih voda u ravnici Mazandaran, Iran, tijekom dugogodišnjeg razdoblja od 26 godina

Groundwater resources are one of the main sources of water supply for agricultural sector in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the situation of groundwater salinity in Mazandaran for use in agriculture. In this study, statistical analysis of collected data, proper semivariogram model selection, cross validation of predictions and preparing probabilistic and zoning maps using geostatistical tools in the ArcGIS software, were performed. To investigate the spatial variations and preparing zoning maps of water salinity, ordinary kriging (OK) was used and the zoning maps were prepared. Spatial structure of electrical conductivity (EC) assessment showed a moderate spatial dependence in most years. Zoning and probabilistic maps of EC showed that the salinity of groundwater will be added and the most probable salinity is related the lowland areas in the eastern part of the plain. The use of this groundwater for irrigation in the long term can decrease the rice yield and faced rice production with a serious risk. The results of the Mann-Kendall and the Sen tests indicated a decreasing trend in the area of groundwater with EC higher than one dS/m in Mazandaran plain that this expressing an improvement in the quality of groundwater in the plain.Resursi podzemnih voda jedan su od glavnih izvora vodoopskrbe poljoprivrednog sektora u Iranu. Stoga je ova studija usmjerena na istraživanje stanja saliniteta podzemnih voda u Mazandaranu koje se koriste u poljoprivredi. U ovoj studiji provedena je: statistička analiza prikupljenih podataka, odabir pravilnog modela semivariograma, unakrsno potvrđivanje predviđanja i pripremanje probabilističkih i zoniranje karata koristeći geostatističke alate u ArcGIS softveru. Da bi se istražile prostorne varijacije i pripremile karte slanosti vode korišteno je obično krigiranje (OK) i pripremljene su karte zoniranja. Prostorna struktura procjene električne provodljivosti (EC) pokazala je umjerenu prostornu ovisnost u većini godina. Zoniranje i probabilističke karte električne vodljivosti pokazale su da će se dodati slanost podzemnih voda, a najvjerojatnija slanost povezana je s nizinskim područjima u istočnom dijelu ravnice. Korištenje takvih podzemnih voda za navodnjavanje dugoročno može smanjiti prinos riže i proizvodnju s rižom s ozbiljnim rizikom. Rezultati ispitivanja pomoću Mann-Kendall-ovog i Senovog testa ukazali su na trend pada podzemnih voda s električnom vodljivošću 1 dS/m, što upućuje na poboljšanje kvalitete podzemnih voda u ravnici Mazandaran

Influence of B cells in liver fibrosis associated with hepatitis B virus harboring basal core promoter mutations

The development of the liver disease in chronic hepatitis B with common viral variants can be determined through the interaction between the virus and the host immune response. B cells constitute half of the intrahepatic lymphocyte population with an impact on fibrosis. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) has been shown to have a co-stimulatory activity on B cells. For this study HBV DNA was amplified and then sequenced to show the presence of the basal core promoter (BCP) mutations in the serum from 57 patients with chronic hepatitis B. The range of IgD-positive B cells was detected by immunohistochemistry in liver biopsies; and patients serum was assayed for APRIL levels by enzyme immunoassay. Twenty-seven patients (47.4) harbored the A1762T-G1764A BCP mutations. Coefficients of logistic regression showed that the effect of increasing IgD-positive B cells in rising odds of the liver disease is the same in the patients with BCP mutation A1762T-G1764A and in the patients without mutation, nevertheless the effect of APRIL is not similar in these two groups of patients. Logistic regression in patients with BCP A1762T-G1764A mutations demonstrated that increasing one score of APRIL decreased the odds of fibrosis stage about 8. These results suggest that in infection with viral variants of hepatitis B virus, the population of IgD-positive B cells may play a decisive role in later stages of the liver disease which is reduced by APRIL in chronic hepatitis patients with BCP mutations. J. Med. Virol. 84:18891896, 2012. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

A panel of cultivate specific marker based on polymorphisms at microsatellite markers for Iranian cultivated Almonds (Prunus dulcis).

Molecular markers developed for Prunus also offer a powerful tool to study the evolution of the genome, and for understanding of genome structure and determinants of genetic diversity. Two hundred eighty almond genotypes/cultivars from different origins distributed throughout Iran besides some foreign cultivars and their hybrids with Iranian ones were collected. Microsatellite analysis was carried out using 9 pair flanking SSR sequences previously cloned and sequenced specifically in almond. The total number of detected alleles was 152 (9 to 20 alleles per locus with an average of 16.87). The mean PIC value of the polymorphic loci wasrelatively high (0.81) and the mean value for He was 0.83, so that we were able to distinguish 98% of the genotypes using 5 loci. Incluster analysis, the genotypes were divided into 2 major groups, foreign cultivars and Iranian almond genotypes. Principal coordinate analysis based on Shared Allele method indicated proper distribution of the studied markers through the genome. Some specific markers were recorded among the germ plasm which can be used efficiently in rapid and precise identification of the related genotypes and also in breeding programs through MAS. Genotypes were coded using our suggested coding method for genotype molecular identification

Ionizing Radiation Stimulates Expression of Pro-Osteoclastogenic Genes in Marrow and Skeletal Tissue

Exposure to ionizing radiation can cause rapid mineral loss and increase bone-resorbing osteoclasts within metabolically-active, cancellous-bone tissue leading to structural deficits. To better understand mechanisms involved in rapid, radiation-induced bone loss, we determined the influence of total-body irradiation on expression of select cytokines known both to stimulate osteoclastogenesis and contribute to inflammatory bone disease. Adult (16wk), male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to either 2Gy gamma rays (137Cs, 0.8Gy/min) or heavy ions (56Fe, 600MeV, 0.50-1.1Gy/min); this dose corresponds to either a single fraction of radiotherapy (typical total dose is 10Gy) or accumulates over long-duration, interplanetary missions. Serum, marrow, and mineralized tissue were harvested 4hrs-7d later. Gamma irradiation caused a prompt (2.6-fold within 4hrs) and persistent (peaking at 4.1-fold within 1d) rise in the expression of the obligate osteoclastogenic cytokine, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB-ligand (Rankl) within marrow cells over controls. Similarly, Rankl expression peaked in marrow cells within 3d of iron exposure (9.2-fold). Changes in Rankl expression induced by gamma irradiation preceded and overlapped with a rise in expression of other pro-osteoclastic cytokines in marrow (e.g., monocyte chemotactic protein-1 increased 11.9-fold, tumor necrosis factor-alpha increased 1.7- fold over controls). Marrow expression of the RANKL decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin (Opg), also rose after irradiation (11.3-fold). The ratio Rankl/Opg in marrow was increased 1.8-fold, a net pro-resorption balance. As expected, radiation increased a serum marker of resorption (tartrate resistant acid phosphatase) and led to cancellous bone loss (16% decrease in bone volume/total volume) through reduced trabecular struts. We conclude that total-body irradiation (gamma or heavy-ion) caused temporal, concerted regulation of gene expression within marrow and mineralized tissue for select cytokines which are responsible for osteoclastogenesis and elevated resorption; this is likely to account for rapid and progressive 52 deterioration of cancellous microarchitecture following exposure to ionizing radiation

Effects of Caspian Sea water level fluctuations on existing drains

This study is an attempt to develop an integrated methodology to predict the impact of the Caspian Sea on flooding using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and hydrodynamic modeling. A rise in the sea level might lead to major flooding events, and have a severe impact on the spatial development of cities and regions. The feasibility of simulating a flood event along a drain channel is evaluated near residential development areas along the Chapakroud drain. The results of the study show that about 2 km of the drain embankments would be influenced by changes in sea water levels. For elevations of -23 m and -24 m, the maximum depths of water in the drain are 3.95 m and 2.94 m. The tail of the backwater reaches 3465 m and 2390 m, respectively, leading to flooded areas of 35.97 ha and 12.88 ha. The study shows that at these elevations environmental and social problems arise with regards to the drain. The results also indicate that GIS is an effective tool for floodplain visualization and analysis. It should be noted that the mixture of salt and soft water, as a result of rising sea water level, is a problem that was not investigated in this study and should be examined in the future

The Increased Level of Serum p53 in Hepatitis B-Associated Liver Cirrhosis

BACKGROUND: The ability of tumour suppressor protein p53 (P53) to regulate cell cycle processes can be modulated by hepatitis B virus (HBV). While preliminary evidences indicates the involvement of protein-x of HBV (HBx) in altering p53 DNA binding, no further data have been accumulated for the significance of serum p53 in chronic hepatitis B virus infected patients. METHODS: 72 non-cirrhotic and 19 cirrhotic patients infected by HBV were enrolled for the analysis in this study. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to study the concentrations of serum p53 protein. The tertiary structures of HBx and P53 were docked by Z-dock and Hex servers for in-silico protein-protein interaction analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant association between the serum p53 and cirrhosis (OR=1.81 95 CI: 1.017-3.2, P=0.044). Cirrhotic patients had higher level of serum p53 compare with chronic infection of HBV (1.98+/-1.22 vs. 1.29+/-0.72 U/ml, P=0.05). No evidence of correlation was seen between the different variables such as age, gender, log viral load, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with serum p53. Tertiary model shows that the amino acid residues from Arg110 to Lys132 of the N-terminal of P53 which is critical for ubiquitination, are bonded to a region in N- terminal of HBx amino acid residues from Arg19 to Ser33. CONCLUSION: There is an increase in serum p53 in HBV-related cirrhosis patients. In this case, HBx might be responsible for such higher concentration of p53 through HBx-p53 protein-protein interaction, as is shown by molecular modeling approach

Water relations and yield of lysimeter-grown strawberries under limited irrigation

The effects of partial root-zone drying (PRD), as compared to deficit irrigation (DI) and full irrigation (FI), on strawberry (cv. Honeoye) berry yield, yield components and irrigation water use efficiency (WUEI) were investigated in a field lysimeter under an automatic rain-out shelter. The irrigation treatments were imposed from the beginning of flowering to the end of fruit maturity. In FI the whole root zone was irrigated every second day to field capacity viz. volumetric soil water content (u) of 20%; while in DI and PRD 60% water of FI was irrigated to either the whole or one half of the root system, respectively, at each irrigation event. In PRD, irrigation was shifted from one side to the other side of the plants when u of the drying side had decreased to 8–11%. Compared to FI plants, leaf water potential was significantly lower in DI and PRD plants in 3 out of 10 measurement occasions, while stomatal conductance was similar among the three treatments. Leaf area, fresh berry yield (FY), individual berry fresh weight, berry water content, and berry dry weight (DW) were significantly lower in DI and PRD plants than those of FI plants; whereas the total number of berry per plant was similar among treatments. Compared with FI, the DI and PRD treatments saved 40% of irrigation water, and this led to a 28 and 50% increase of WUEI based on berry FY and DW, respectively, for both DI and PRD. Conclusively, under the conditions of this study PRD had no advantage compared to DI in terms of berry yield and WUEI. DI and PRD similarly decreased berry yield and yield components and thus cannot be recommended under similar conditions.This is the peer-reviewed version of Liu, F., Savić, S., Jensen, C.R., Shahnazari, A., Jacobsen, S.E., Stikić, R.,& Andersen, M.N. (2007). Water relations and yield of lysimeter-grown strawberries under limited irrigation. in Scientia Horticulturae, Elsevier., 111, 128-132. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2006.10.006

Improving water resources management using different irrigation strategies and water qualities: Field and modelling study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two different irrigation strategies, regulated deficit irrigation, RDI and partial root drying, PRD using surface freshwater (SW) and brackish treated wastewater (TWW) for maize and potato crops. The SALTMED model has been applied using the field measurements of two cropping seasons 2013 and 2014 at the Canale Emiliano Romagnolo, CER’s experimental farm located in Mezzolara di Budrio (Bologna, Italy). In 2013, PRD irrigated potato received 17% less irrigation water than RDI but produced nearly the same yield as under RDI. The water productivity, o naverage, was 11% higher for PRD compared with RDI. For maize 2014 season, the PRD strategy received almost 15% less irrigation water, but produced a yield only 6% lower than that of RDI and gave equal water productivity to RDI. Given that the two strategies received the same amount of rainfall the results favour the PRD over RDI. Had the site not received above average rainfall (258 mm in 2013 and 259 mm during the 2014 growing seasons), PRD might have produced higher yield and water productivity than RDI. In terms of model simulations, overall, the model showed a strong relationship between the observed and the simulated soil moisture and salinity profiles, total dry mater and final yields. This illustrates SALTMED model’s ability to simulate the dry matter and yield of C3 and C4 crops as well as to simulated different water qualities and different water application strategies. Therefore, the model can run with “what if” scenarios depicting several water qualities, crops and irrigation systems and strategies without the need to try them all in the field. This will reduce costs of labour and investment