Search

Botanical gardens are collections of plants cultivated in a closed space to be utilized for scientific inquiry, recreation, conservation, botanical and horticultural education and also for public landscape aesthetics. Due to their richness in plant diversity and also their facilities, botanical gardens can have remarkable roles in agricultural studies and plant sciences. In addition, botanical gardens are very important regarding to their roles in creating green space in urban spaces, tourist attractions, economical objects and well-being aspects of peoples. Accordingly, in this study, the roles of botanical gardens were reviewed regarding to biodiversity and genetic studies, seed science, plant protection, soil and water researches, ecological evaluation, climate change, research and educations. These topics were also discussed regarding to their usage in agriculture and plant science studies. Furthermore, some scientific potentials of botanical gardens for future studies have been also taken into account.

In comodulation masking release (CMR), the auditory signal threshold improves when maskers far from the frequency of the target signal are coherently amplitude-modulated. Studies show that inhibitory function may play a role in CMR. In individuals who have tinnitus, decreasing inhibitory functioning in auditory central nervous system has been documented. Therefore, in this study, the purpose was to evaluate CMR in individuals suffering from tinnitus and compare CMR findings with those who do not have tinnitus. Seventeen normal-hearing individuals (without tinnitus) and 13 individuals having unilateral tonal tinnitus (4000 or 6000 Hz) with normal or near to normal hearing participated in this study. All participants were 20 to 50 years of age and underwent comodulated (CM), unmodulated (UM), and reference (RF) threshold measurements and then the CMRs (CMR and Across Frequency CMR; AF-CMR) were calculated. An ANOVA showed that the CM thresholds were statistically different between groups, while the RF and UM thresholds were not statistically different. CMR (CMR & AF-CMR) function was higher in those without tinnitus compared to unilateral tinnitus sufferers. Due to the inhibitory role of the auditory central nervous system in CMR, it appears that tinnitus and CMR both may be influenced by inhibitory function.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Detection of auditory signals may be improved when maskers far from the frequency of the target signal are coherently amplitude-modulated. This improvement of signal detection is called comodulation masking release (CMR). In the CMR experiments, flankers have been usually arranged symmetrically. In practice, we will be confronted with a problem by using symmetric flankers due to the limited output of clinical audiometers, especially at high-frequency. We aimed to check whether flanker arrangement has any effect on the amount of CMR, especially when there is no flankers with a frequency higher than the signal. Subjects and. METHODS Eighteen normal hearing listeners ranging in age from 20 to 46 years old participated. Symmetric (2-2) and asymmetric (3-1 and 4-0) flankers were used and then the amount of CMR compared among them. RESULTS Our results showed in the same numbers of flankers, there were no statistically CMR differences between symmetric and asymmetric arrangement. Also when we did not have a flanker at a frequency higher than the signal and all flankers were placed below the signal, there was no statistically difference with the symmetric arrangement. CONCLUSIONS The asymmetry of the flankers and also omitting the flankers with a frequency higher than the signal, have no effect on CMR results. We concluded that CMR can be considered by using clinical audiometer.

A polymerizable Graphene Oxide (Graphene Oxide Monomer, GOM) was synthesized through attaching vinyl groups onto graphene oxide sheets. GOM was copolymeized with methacrylic acid in different ratios. Obtained nanocomposites were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and EDX to study their properties. Naproxen was entrapped in these pH-sensitive nano-carriers and the in vitro release profiles were established in both enzyme-free simulated gastric and intestinal fluids (SGF, pH 1) and (SIF, pH 7.4) respectively. It was observed that the drug release in SIF was higher, hence the prepared nanocomposite could be considered as a suitable carrier for colon specific drug delivery.

Objective : To assess neonates and children suffering from meningitis , during the critical and recovery periods , using ABR , EOAE and Behavioral Audiometry. Method and Material: 40 neonates to 12-year-old children were assessed. Using ABR test, the hearing of these cases was evaluated during the critical period-that is , 24-72 hours following the diagnosis. This test was repeated when patients recovered from meningitis-that is 24 hours before discharge (recovery period) Hearing function , again , was assessed 7-14 days following discharge through Immittance Audiometry, Behavioral Audiometry (PTA , SF and BOA). And EOAE (TEOAE and DPOAE) tests procedures. Findings: During the critical period , ABR test revealed normal hearing in 35 patients (87.5%) and severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (unilateral and bilateral) in 5 patients (12.5%-girl=4, boy=1). The same result were obtained in re-evaluation in the recovery period. On the other hand , 7-14 days after of discharge , Immittance Audiometry and Behavioral Audiometry (including PTA , S.F and BOA tests), confirmed the mentioned results (cross - gcheck). EOAE test (DPOAE and TEOAE) in 35 normal hearing patients (according to ABR test) , showed normal cochlear function. 2 out of 5 cases suffering from severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss revealed normal cochlear function. According to EOAE results , abnormal cochlear function was evident in 3 patients. Conclusion: ABR , EOAE tests , and Behavioral Audiometry in children meningitis during the critical period and recovery period can be used to diagnose any degree of hearing loss with a high level accuracy. The results of persent study is confirmed by previous investigations.

Background Objective: The one of the main objectives of malaria elimination program is protection and expansion of cleared up foci, towards and its final goal which is zero is to cut off the indigenous malaria cases. This study is aimed to assess the effect of foreign immigrants on malaria incidence in some clear up and potential foci in Konarak District, south east of Iran. Material and methods In this descriptive-analytic study, the numbers of malaria patients in clear up and potential foci were analyzed in Jahliyan region, located on the route of Pakistani and Afghan migration immigrants, during the 2005 to 2009. Data were described using frequency tables and analyzed by paired T-test. Also some of the development indicators were investigated in order to make sure that they did not change during the years of the study period. Results The Annual Parasite Incidence (API) increased from a range of “30 to 142.9” after presence of immigrants in 2007, while it was “ 0t o 49” three years before their presence. The paired T-test showed a significant difference between the number of malaria cases in the villages from 2006 to 2008 and also 2007 to 2008. Development indicators didn’t have dramatic change during the five years, 2005-09 years. Conclusions According to this research, the major cause of increasing malaria in the villages was the presence of foreign immigrants that led to increasing API index in 2008; so, cross border movement foreign immigration is a critical issue point to be considered in the malaria elimination program especially in the cleared up foci.

Background Malaria elimination is one of the important health priorities for the government of the I.R. of Iran. In 2010, the National Strategic Plan for Malaria Elimination was ratified by the High Council for Health and the Governor Generals of three malarious provinces (i.e. Sistan & Balouchestan, Hormozgan and Kerman) were assigned as the core persons for leading the program, dealing with potential challenges, administrative arrangements and financial support. The number of malaria reported cases were 11,000.