Role of water-saving devices in reducing urban water consumption in the mega-city of Tehran, case study: a residential complex

Iran is one of 27 countries that are likely to face increasing water shortage crises between now and 2025 unless action is taken to reduce currently high-per-capita urban water consumption. Accordingly, consumption control in the mega-city of Tehran will be an invaluable achievement. A study of Tehran water consumers has determined that household consumers are responsible for 70 percent of the total consumption. Keeping that figure in mind, the authors set out to assess rates of consumption by water fixtures, with an emphasis on household users, and to examine the effects of installing subcounters and reducers. They selected an apartment complex in which it was possible to install water subcounters for each unit. The first step was to evaluate resident attitudes. Block 3, which had 10 units, was selected to cooperate with the project. The second step was to install counters for all 10 units to determine consumption by different fixtures. (The counters were installed in kitchens, in bathrooms, on toilets, on washing machines, and on flash tanks). In the next step, data entry forms for fixture consumption were completed for a period of 10 days. Then single-handle faucets and reducers were installed, and the outcomes were logged for a period of 10 days. Counter readings were performed by the volunteer residents or by educated personnel every 24 hours, and the total volume of inside consumption was compared with the consumption registered by a base counter placed outside each unit. In the course of the project, the consumption per capita was calculated every 24 hours to yield a real and unbiased model that is applicable to city of Tehran. The results showed a total reduction in water consumption of about 20 percent. Thus, with suitable planning and application of cultural and technical methods, it is possible to optimize consumption in Tehran in the near future.     

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma of the oral cavity: a case report

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is a rare vascular neoplasm which exhibits the potential for malignancy and recurrence as well as the ability to metastasize. Although numerous sites of involvement are possible, these tumors most commonly arise in soft tissues, lung, liver, bone, and lymph nodes. In this report, we describe a case of oral epithelioid hemangioendothelioma in a child. This tumor appeared as exophytic ulcerated painless masses in the maxillary and mandibular gingiva. Histologically, the tumor was composed of a proliferation of tumor cells arranged in nests, cords, and short strands. Epithelioid cells exhibited abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with nuclear and cellular pleomorphism and intra-cytoplasmic vacuoles.     

Intraosseous verrucous carcinoma originating from an odontogenic cyst: a case report

Carcinoma originating in bone is uncommon; most of them apparently arise in odontogenic cysts. In this paper, we report an extremely rare case in which, verrucous carcinoma originated from an odontogenic cyst. This lesion was firm and non-tender on palpation and had a white-pink appearance. It was encased in the anterior aspect of the maxilla and exhibited microscopic features of verrucous carcinoma of the oral mucosa. After surgical enucleation, no recurrence or metastasis has been observed up to now. It is mandatory to correlate the clinical and histopathologic findings to establish a true diagnosis.     

Level set fiber bundle segmentation using spherical harmonic coefficients

Classifying brain white matter fibers into bundles is of growing interest in neuroscience. Quantification of diffusion characteristics inside a fiber bundle provides new insights for disease evolutions, therapy effects, and surgical interventions. In this paper, we present a novel method for segmenting fiber bundles using spherical harmonic coefficients (SHC) that describe diffusion signal obtained from High Angular Resolution Diffusion Imaging (HARDI) protocols. Based on SHC, we define a similarity measure and use it as a speed function term in level set framework. We show advantages of the proposed measure over similarity measures based on Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) indices. Without any assumptions about diffusion model, we deal with diffusion signal instead of orientation distribution function (ODF) calculated using complicated mathematics, inaccurate simplifications, and time-consuming implementation. By applying the proposed algorithm on synthetic data, its superior accuracy and robustness in low SNR conditions are shown. Application of the proposed method on real HARDI MRI data also illustrates its superior performance, especially in heterogeneous diffusion areas with low traditional diffusion anisotropies.     

The effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in Iranian HIV/AIDS patients: a pilot study

Psychological or behavioral interventions that attenuate the effects of stress may be useful in promoting immunocompetence and delaying HIV disease progression and CD4 count level. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a behavioral intervention that has as its foundation the practice of insight-oriented (or mindfulness) meditation. In this study, we examined the effects of MBSR upon psychological, physical status and CD4 count of HIV/AIDS infected patients registered at the Positive Club of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2007. Using a pilot study, we evaluated the effectiveness of a psychological intervention (8-week) that was based on training in mindfulness at the Positive Club of Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2007. Eight 2-hour sessions weekly and a day-long retreat were planned for a group of 10 participants with HIV. We investigated the long-term effects of this approach on psychological and physical status of patients by SCL-90-R and MSCL questionnaires and CD4 count after MBSR and in 3, 6, 9 and 12-month follow-ups. We studied six HIV positive patients. The mean age was 35 +/- 7.7 yrs. There was no significant difference in MSCL scores after MBSR and in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months compared to those before MBSR (P>0.05). There was a significant difference in SCL-90-R score after MBSR compared with before (P=0.05). Nevertheless, in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months no significant differences were seen in SCL-90-R scores relative to those before MBSR (P>0.05). The means of CD4 count, before and after MBSR, and in 3, 6, 9 and 12 months were 549 +/- 173.6, 640.2 +/- 189.4, 655.3 +/- 183.4, 638 +/- 167.4, 619.3 +/- 163.2, and 595.2 +/- 165.6, respectively. There was a significant difference in CD4 counts in comparison with those before MBSR (P<0.05). In our study, MBSR had positive effects on psychological status and CD4 count. However, more studies with large sample size are necessary.     

Identification of type-specific anticancer histone deacetylase inhibitors: road to success

Cancer is a serious and life-eliminating disease. Majority of anticancer agents are non-selective. Along with the cancerous cells they also target the normal ones. An important aspect is to hit the developing mechanism of the tumor, which is highlighted by in silico drug designing. On the basis of novel molecular targets, in silico (computational approach) drug discovery has emerged as today’s need. Histone deacetylases are an important therapeutic target for many human cancers. The first and only approved (in 2006) histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) is Zolinza. Depending on the types of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes, discovery of type-specific inhibitors is important. With continued research and development, in near future HDACIs are likely to figure prominently in cancer treatment plans. This review presents the overview of HDACs, their role in cancer, their structural classes, activity, catalytic domain and the inhibitors of HDACs for cancer therapy. Also it helps in understanding the open directions in this area of research and highlights the importance of computational approaches in discovering specific drugs for cancer therapy.