Analysis of Spatial Inequalities in Tehran Metropolis

Purpose: Nowadays, Spatial and social inequalities are universal and expanding phenomenon. Identification and spatial analysis of social, economic and ecological inequalities in metropolises is one of the essential and basic proceeding for planning and achieving urban sustainable development. Aims to reviews the quality of spatial differentiations between the 374 neighborhoods of Tehran metropolis. Methodology: The method of the research is descriptive-analytic. To identify regions’ development levels in Tehran, 10 sub-criteria in the form of 3 main criteria were used. With Using of AHP method and EXPERT CHOISE software each criteria and sub-criteria mutually were compared relative to each other, evaluated, and scored. Finally, by the method of hierarchical clustering, Tehran metropolis neighborhoods in terms of ranking of development at five levels of developed, relatively developed, medium developed, less developed, and underdeveloped regions, were clustered and in the Arc GIS settings were displayed as a map. Findings: The result of the indicators review shows that Tehran metropolis lacks socio-physical unity and spatial differentiations between the north and south of it remain still as the main feature of the spatial structure of Tehran metropolis. Originality/Value: The present study believes that the continuance of the current procedure, not only in Tehran but also at the national level is the main challenge over the way to achieve urban sustainable development and a good city

Investigation and identification of social harms in the new city of Sahand, Tabriz (With emphasis on Mehr housing)

Purpose: With the increase of Iran's urban population, large cities faced many problems and new cities were located and built to attract population overflow in the area of these cities. The new city of Sahand was built to reduce the demographic, economic, social and physical problems of the metropolis of Tabriz in the sphere of influence of this city. With the creation of Mehr housing in phases 2, 3 and 4 of this city, a new issue was raised. This article seeks to examine and identify the social issues and problems of this city, prioritize them and identify solutions to reduce the impact. Methodology: The research method used in this research is applied and survey. Findings: Results show that the most important problems are: drug use, class differences, cultural poverty, distrust of neighbors, distrust of city officials, economic poverty, presence Thugs, the presence of badly supervised women, unusual relationships between girls and boys, harassment of women, quarrels and conflicts, running away from home, begging, unconventional relationships between married men and women, child abuse and white marriage, relationships Poor neighborhood, general dissatisfaction with living conditions, feeling of insecurity in parks and gardens, inadequate lighting and lighting of roads, flooded roads, traffic jams and the problem of parking cars, unsuitable sidewalks, lack of medical centers, lack of playgrounds for children and adolescents, Lack of green space, inadequate garbage collection system, low quality of housing, lack of recreational space for citizens, etc., which are the most important factors in the occurrence and emergence of social harms in this city. Originality/Value: In this paper, investigation and identification of social harms in the new city of Sahand, Tabriz (With emphasis on Mehr housing) is done

Chronic Arsenic Toxicity from Drinking Well Water in a Rural Area

Background: Drinking water is the most important cause of poisoning in the world. Iran is one of the countries with arsenic-contaminated water upper limit of normal. In this study, we decided to determine the effects of chronic arsenic poisoning on demographic, clinical and laboratory features of people. Methods: This descriptive-sectional study carried out on all people resided in Shahidabad Village, Qazvin Province in 2015. All of them were evaluated in terms of demographic features, blood pressure, diabetes, dermatologic, and neurologic lesions, and fasting blood sugar. People with exclusion criteria were excluded. The data were analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive statistics. Results: Out of 400 subjects, 278 (69.5%) females and 122 (30.5%) males), 88 (22%) people had positive urine test for arsenic and 312 (78%) subjects had negative urine test. The mean age of them was 48.9± 16.6 yr. The mean age and duration of residence in the region in arsenic positive group were significantly higher than arsenic negative group (P<0.05). Blood pressure, history of diabetes, dermatologic and neurologic lesions, and fasting blood sugar had no significant differences between two groups. Conclusion: Although there were no significant differences between two groups in terms of many clinical and laboratory findings but the prevalence of 22% of poisoning with arsenic in the selected population reveals the necessity of screening, preventive measures and appropriate treatments in people exposed to arsenic contamination

Evaluation of different types of arsenic methylation and its relationship with metabolic syndrome in an area chronically exposed to arsenic

Evidence suggests that the relationship between arsenic metabolism and diseases, including metabolic syndrome, is complex. The aim of this study was to evaluate the different types of arsenic methylation and its association with metabolic syndrome in an arsenic endemic area. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 132 subjects from Shahid-Abad Village, Qazvin province, Iran (arsenic endemic area). Demographic characteristics, metabolic syndrome, and urinary arsenic species, including iAs (inorganic arsenic), MMA (monomethylarsonic acid), and DMA (dimethylarsinic acid) were measured for all patients and their relationship was analyzed by appropriate statistical methods. In this study, 34.5% of the participants had metabolic syndrome. The decrease in %MMA, increase in %DMA and increase in secondary methylation index (DMA/MMA) were associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome (p<0.05). We did not find any association between the incidence of metabolic syndrome with primary methylation index (MMA/iAs) and %iAs (p>0.05). This study showed that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly higher in people with metabolic syndrome than in the general population. A closer examination revealed that the secondary methylation index is related to the metabolic syndrome and its components. Given the higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in patients with metabolic syndrome, it is necessary to change the pathogenesis of the disease using comprehensive management methods for decreasing patient complications

Exploring the Validity of Available Markers and Indices in the Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) in People with Type 2 Diabetes in Saudi Arabia

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common among Saudi patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, recommended clinical procedures to detect it are unavailable in many locations. Therefore, better and more available diagnostic biomarkers for NAFLD are needed. Various serum parameters were suggested, and algorithms that employ routine measurements in clinical practice have been developed for the prediction of fat stores in the liver in different populations. However, no such studies have been conducted on Saudis. We aimed to compare selected biochemical markers and calculated indices in T2DM patients diagnosed with NAFLD and patients without NAFLD to find the best markers associated with NAFLD. A cross-sectional study was employed to recruit 67 people with T2DM from endocrine outpatient clinics at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital. NAFLD was detected by ultrasonography in 28 patients. Demographic information, anthropometric, and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure glucose, glycated haemoglobin, lipid profile, liver function tests, and highly sensitive C-reactive protein. Fatty liver index, hepatic steatosis index, NAFLD-liver fat score, and triglyceride and glucose index were calculated. Following stepwise forward likelihood ratio regression with independent variables included in one model using binary logistic regression with age and waist circumference (WC) entered as covariates, elevated diastolic BP and low high-density lipoprotein- cholesterol remained significantly associated with NAFLD (p = 0.002 and 0.03, respectively). However, none of the investigated indices could be used to diagnose the disease adequately due to low specificity, even after calculating new cut-off values. Investigating novel markers and adjusting existing equations used to calculate indices to improve sensitivity and specificity in our population is needed

Notes for genera – Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10--15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of `Ainsworth Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi' in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the ``Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi'' published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. De Not. (Art. 59)