Study of plant macrofossils from Baladeh area (Central Alborz): dating and biostratigraphy

The Shemshak Group is well-exposed and spread in the Baladeh area (Central Alborz). 22 macrofossil species allocated into 14 genera of various orders such as Equisetales, Filicales, Bennettitales, Cycadales, Ginkgoales, Czekanowskiales and Coniferales are identified. Two asseblage biozones are recognized. Assemblage zone I is established based on Ptilophyllum minor and Klukia exilis, and assemblage zone II is recognized according to Coniopteris hymenophylloides and Ptilophyllum harrisianum. Furthermore, on the basis of presence of index fossils such as Equisetites columnaris, Coniopteris hymenophylloides, Klukia exilis, Nilssonia macrophylla and Ptilophyllum minor the Early to Middle Jurassic age (?Hettangian-Toarcian to Bajocian) is suggested for these sediments

Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study of Chemical Warfare Victims: Design and Methods

Background: insights into long-term clinical consequences of sulfur mustard have emerged from some investigations but less is known about the basic and molecular mechanisms of these complications. Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study is a comprehensive historical cohort study on Sardasht chemical victims' population which was designed to find out the long-term complications of sulfur mustard exposure and the basic mechanisms underlying clinical manifestations. This paper describes the design and methodology of Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study. Methods: In Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study, 500 individuals including 372 subjects from Sardasht, as the exposed group, and 128 subjects from Rabat, as the unexposed age-matched control group were evaluated. The exposed group was divided into two groups based on the severity of clinical complications at the time of exposure. Different samples including blood, sputum, saliva, tear, urine, and semen were collected for immunologic, hematologic, biochemical, and other laboratory analysis. Data were gathered from medical records, clinical examinations, laboratory tests, and questionnaires for psychological and lifestyle situations. Conclusion: The Important distinctions setting this study apart from the previous ones are discussed. The Sardasht-Iran Cohort Study provides important information on various aspects of long-term consequences of sulfur mustard exposure. This database will provide a better position to suggest guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of delayed complications in the patients exposed to sulfur mustard