NASA/USRA high altitude reconnaissance aircraft

At the equator, the ozone layer ranges from approximately 80,000 to 130,000+ feet which is beyond the capabilities of the ER-2, NASA's current high altitude reconnaissance aircraft. This project is geared to designing an aircraft that can study the ozone layer at the equator. This aircraft must be able to cruise at 130,000 lbs. of payload. In addition, the aircraft must have a minimum of a 6,000 mile range. The low Mach number, payload, and long cruising time are all constraints imposed by the air sampling equipment. A pilot must be able to take control in the event of unforseen difficulties. Three aircraft configurations were determined to be the most suitable for meeting the above requirements, a joined-wing, a bi-plane, and a twin-boom conventional airplane. The techniques used have been deemed reasonable within the limits of 1990 technology. The performance of each configuration is analyzed to investigate the feasibility of the project requirements. In the event that a requirement can not be obtained within the given constraints, recommendations for proposal modifications are given

Relationship between breast feeding and obesity in children with low birth weight

Background: Breast feeding appears to play a role in determining obesity and abdominal obesity during childhood, specifically in children with a history of low birth weight. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation of breast-feeding with either of abdominal obesity and obesity among Iranian school children. Materials and Methods: A total of 1184 students (625 girls and 559 boys), aged 10 to 13 years old, were selected from 112 governmental elementary schools in Iran. Height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure were measured using standard instruments and a pretested standardized questionnaire was performed for compiling information about family economics and educational level, first–degree family history of obesity, history of breast feeding, food pattern and birth weight, as well. Results: 13.68% (n = 160) of students had a history of low birth weight, and 26.41% of them had abdominal obesity. Of all participants, 22.04% were overweight and 5.32% were obese which was more prevalent in girls than in boys (P = 0.03). First-degree family history of obesity (P = 0.001), excessive gestational weight gain (P = 0.001) and birth weight (P = 0.01) were significantly correlated with the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity during childhood. Moreover the prevalence of abdominal obesity in children with low birth weight was significantly correlated with breast feeding (P = 0.04); But this relation was not significantly about obesity in our participants (P = 0.9). Furthermore duration of breast feeding was significantly and inversely correlated with obesity and abdominal obesity in schoolchildren with low birth weight (P = 0.01). Conclusions: The results suggest that Breast feeding and its long-term consequences were important factors for preventing metabolic syndrome criteria in childhood and later years of life span. With regard to the increasing prevalence of obesity in children, more research is urgently needed to clarify whether breast feeding have negative consequences for the risk of chronic disease in children, especially in children with low birth weight

Naturally occurring autoantibodies against beta-amyloid: investigating their role in transgenic animal and in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting regions of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions. Immunization against β-amyloid (Aβ) in animal models of AD has been shown to be effective on the molecular level but also on the behavioral level. Recently, we reported naturally occurring autoantibodies against Aβ (NAbs-Aβ) being reduced in Alzheimer's disease patients. Here, we further investigated their physiological role: in epitope mapping studies, NAbs-Aβ recognized the mid-/C-terminal end of Aβ and preferentially bound to oligomers but failed to bind to monomers/fibrils. NAbs-Aβ were able to interfere with Aβ peptide toxicity, but NAbs-Aβ did not readily clear senile plaques although early fleecy-like plaques were reduced. Administration of NAbs-Aβ in transgenic mice improved the object location memory significantly, almost reaching performance levels of wild-type control mice. These findings suggest a novel physiological mechanism involving NAbs-Aβ to dispose of proteins or peptides that are prone to forming toxic aggregates

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotypes in Bushehr province, Iran

Background and Objectives: Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very important for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in Bushehr province (South West of Iran). Materials and Methods: A total of 100 patients who were detected as positive for HCV antibody (by using ELISA method and RIBA test) referred to Arya Virology Laboratory between 2007-2009 in order to molecular diagnosis and furthermore virus genotyping. After detection of HCV, RNA genotyping of virus was done by using genotype specific primers. Results: Genotype 1a was found in 49% of the patients and genotype 3a was found in 40% of the patients and 1b in 5% of patients, while the genotype of the virus could not be identified in 5% of the patients. Finally, in 1% of patients coinfection due to 1a-3a genotypes was identified. Conclusion: The dominant genotype of HCV in Bushehr province, Iran, was determined as 1a.with acute hepatitis C ultimately develop chronic infection1. Only a minority of cases of acute HCV recover completely, with spontaneous virus eradication. In most cases the acute infection progresses to chronicity. Chronic HCV infection is defined as an infection that persists for more than 6 months, with or without clinical manifestations of hepatic or extrahepatic disease. Chronic type of this infection can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. HCV infection is a global health problem and it is estimated that 200 million people of the world population are infected5. The global spread of chronic HCV infection coincided with the widespread use of transfused blood and blood products and with the expansion of intravenous drug use but decreased prior to the wide implementation of anti-HCV screening6. There are at least six major genotypes designated by Arabic numerals and more than 50 subtypes of HCV identified by lower case letters. The different genotypes have different geographic distributions1,4. Genotype determination of HCV is one of the most important factors in order to prediction of the viral persistency, pathogenicity and resistancy to antivirals7. The success and the treatment period of interferon and ribavirin seems to be related to the genotype of virus8. Furthermore, HCV genotyping is a useful tool to determine its molecular epidemiology, as they are indicative of transmission route of infection9,10. There is no published data about the distribution of HCV genotypes from Bushehr province (South West of Iran). Prevalence of HCV genotypes in Bushehr is an issue that is not sufficiently investigated and there is a need, therefore, to study this in detail

Iron therapy and migraine headache

زمینه و هدف: میگرن یکی از اشکال شایع سردرد می باشد که علت و مکانیسم کاملاً شناخته شده ای نداشته و علیرغم ارتباط بین کم خونی فقر آهن و سردرد، ارتباط این بیماری با حملات میگرن مشخص نیست. این پژوهش با هدف تعیین تاثیر آهن درمانی در شدت و مدت زمان حملات سردرد در بیماران مبتلا به میگرن انجام شده است. روش بررسی: این مطالعه شبه تجربی بر روی 90 نفر از زنان مبتلا به میگرن، در سه گروه 30 نفری (با تعادل منفی آهن، با آنمی فقر آهن و یا با آهن خون طبیعی)، در سه دوره 45 روزه انجام گردید. برای بیماران هر سه گروه در هر سه دوره درمانی داروی والپروات سدیم (mg 400 روزانه) تجویز گردید و در دوره دوم درمان بیماران هر سه گروه علاوه بر والپروات سدیم، روزانه سه قرص سولفات آهن حاوی mg 50 آهن دریافت نمودند. تعداد حملات و شدت سردرد بیماران قبل از شروع درمان و در انتهای هر دوره درمانی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. داده ها توسط آمار توصیفی و آزمون آنالیز واریانس مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته ها: تعداد حملات میگرن گروه با آهن خون طبیعی در دوره دوم علیرغم کاهش کلی نسبت به دو گروه دیگر بطور معنی داری بالاتر بود (05/0

Artisans and guild life in the later Safavid period

In the social and economic history of Iran, as of other Moslem countries, bazaars and guilds of craftsmen and tradesmen working in them have always played an important part. After a discussion of the historical background, this thesis examines the functions of the guilds in the later Safavid period (c. 1597-1722 A.D.), when Iran was a large and generally stable empire administered on bureaucratic rather than feudal lines. Guild practices and traditions from the period endured into the 19th and 20th centuries. Evidence is adduced to show that the guilds had a dual role as spontaneous associations for defence of their members' interests and as agencies used by the Safavid government for collection of taxes, control of prices, and procurement of goods and labour. Among the subjects which are examined are the functions of responsible officials and headmen, the taxes and the tax collection methods, the apprenticeship system, price supervision, judicial and penal matters, and guild restrictions. Attention is also given to the Safavid government's intervention in economic life through royal industrial establishments and royal monopolies. Although merchants were not organized in guilds, they influenced the life of the bazaars, and so too did the East India Companies which established "factories" in Iran during the period. Attention is therefore given to the activities of Muslim Iranian, Armenian, Jewish, and Hindu merchants and financiers, and of the English and Dutch East India Companies

Comparison of effect of ventolin and hypersaline 3 on recovery course of acute bronchiolitis in hajar hospital, shahrekord in 2013-2014

Background and Objective: Acute bronchiolitis is one of the most common reasons for inflammation, small airways obstruction, and lower respiratory tract infection in infancy. Owing that there has been no study on the efficacy of hypersaline 3% in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in Iran, the present study was undertaken to deal with this issue. Materials and Methods: This double-blinded clinical trial was carried out in Hajar Hospital of Shahrekord in 2013-2014. 70 patients under 2 years of age with bronchiolitis were assigned to two groups of 35 each. The first group received nebulized Ventolin while the second group was given nebulized hypersaline 3% three times a day. Subsequent to these administrations, recovery duration was compared in both groups. Results: The mean and standard deviation of recovery duration in the Ventolin group was 4.14±0.9 days and in the hypersaline 3% group was 3.06±0.6 days. T-test and mean recovery duration was significantly lower in the hypersaline 3% group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Nebulizer hypersaline 3% had a better therapeutic effect than Ventolin in the treatment of acute bronchiolitis. Therefore, the use of this drug, rather than Ventolin, is recommended for the treatment of acute bronchiolitis in children under two years of age. © 2016, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. All right reserved

Drug-related mutational patterns in hepatitis B virus (HBV) reverse transcriptase proteins from Iranian treatment-Naïve chronic HBV patients

Background: Immunomodulators and Nucleotide analogues have been used globally for the dealing of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the development of drug resistance is a major limitation to their long-term effectiveness. Objectives: The aim of this study was to characterize the hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase (RT) protein variations among Iranian chronic HBV carriers who did not receive any antiviral treatments. Materials and Methods: Hepatitis B virus partial RT genes from 325 chronic in active carrier patients were amplified and directly sequenced. Nucleotide/amino acid substitutions were identified compared to the sequences obtained from the database. Results: All strains belonging to genotype D.365 amino-acid substitutions were found. Mutations related to lamivudine, adefovir, telbivudine, and entecavir occurred in (YMDD) 4% (n = 13), (SVQ) 17.23% (n = 56), (M204I/V + L180M) 2.45% (n = 8) and (M204I) 2.76% (n = 9) of patients, respectively. Conclusions: RT mutants do occur naturally and could be found in HBV carriers who have never received antiviral therapy. However, mutations related to drug resistance in Iranian treatment-naïve chronic HBV patients were found to be higher than other studies published formerly. Chronic HBV patients should be monitored closely prior the commencement of therapy to achieve the best regimen option. © 2013, KOWSAR Corp