61 research outputs found
Il laterizio nelle abitazioni tradizionali a Mashhad, Iran: conoscenza e restauro
No full textThe present paper, derived from a PhD dissertation, studies the most ancient houses of Mashhad, the holy city of Iran. The residential buildings in question, including numerous traditional dwellings in different scales, have confronted with transformation and been under destruction by local municipality due to urban developments. In the meantime, most remnants which have got away with demolition are partially in ruin or abandoned, in spite of possessing historical values and architectural features worthy of being preserved. Since both great mansions and vernacular houses in Mashhad are built of brick-masonries, a descriptive documentation of the nature of bricks, the damages they face as well as the implementing methods associated with sketches will assist scholars with the recognition of heritage exposed to annihilation. The approach has been mainly concerned with direct observation of the masonries together with laboratory analyses of the brick samples taken from case studies complemented with library and archival resources. Additionally, the recent conservation projects in which the author was directly present or involved have been highlighted to provide a Comprehensive research work.
Simin Daneshvar\u27s Savushun: Examining Gender Under Patriarchy
No full textThe author covers issues of gender and Iranian national identity as reflected in Iran’s first published woman novelist, Simin Daneshvar. Her novel, Savushun, is the first novel to be published by an Iranianwoman in 1969. The novel depicts Iran at the start of the country’s governmental factions in 1941 when Reza Shah Pahlavi overthrew years of Iranian dynasty and established a monarchy. This thesis explores how the novel is a vital part of Iran’s historical literature as well as essential to the present day discussion of gender and politics, especially for women within the patriarchal paradigm
Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines Predominate in Acute Human Plasmodium knowlesi Infections.
No full textPlasmodium knowlesi has entered the human population of Southeast Asia. Naturally acquired knowlesi malaria is newly described with relatively little available data, including data on the host response to infection. Therefore pre-treatment cytokine and chemokine profiles were determined for 94 P. knowlesi, and for comparison, 20, P. vivax and 22 P. falciparum, patients recruited in Malaysian Borneo. Nine, five and one patient with P. knowlesi, P. falciparum and P. vivax respectively had complicated malaria as defined by World Health Organisation. Patients with uncomplicated P. knowlesi had lower levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8 and TNFα than those with complicated disease (both p<0.05, Dunn's post test, DPT). The anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ra and IL-10 were detected in all patients in the study. IL-1ra, the most abundant cytokine measured, correlated with parasitaemia in P. knowlesi (r(s) = 0.47, p = <0.0001), P. vivax (r(s) = 0.61, p = 0.0042) and P. falciparum (r(s) = 0.57,p = 0.0054) malaria. IL-10 correlated with parasitaemia in both P. knowlesi (r(s) = 0.54, p = <0.0001) and P. vivax (r(s) = 0.78, p = <0.0001) infections. There were between group differences in soluble markers of macrophage activation (MIP-1β and MCP-1). P. knowlesi patients had significantly lower levels of MIP-1β than P. falciparum (DPT, p = <0.01). Uncomplicated P. knowlesi patients had significantly lower levels of MCP-1 than uncomplicated P. falciparum patients (DPT, p = <0.001). There was no significant difference between complicated and uncomplicated P. knowlesi infections. MCP-1, MIP-1β, IL-8 and TNFα increased in complicated P. knowlesi but decreased in complicated P. falciparum infections. Descriptions of human knowlesi malaria provide a comparative means to discover mediators of pathophysiology in severe P. knowlesi as well as P. falciparum malaria. Crucially, P. knowlesi may be the disease and experimental primate model for severe malaria
Human Infections and Detection of Plasmodium knowlesi
No full textPlasmodium knowlesi is a malaria parasite that is found in nature in long-tailed and pig-tailed macaques. Naturally acquired human infections were thought to be extremely rare until a large focus of human infections was reported in 2004 in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. Human infections have since been described throughout Southeast Asia, and P. knowlesi is now recognized as the fifth species of Plasmodium causing malaria in humans. The molecular, entomological, and epidemiological data indicate that human infections with P. knowlesi are not newly emergent and that knowlesi malaria is primarily a zoonosis. Human infections were undiagnosed until molecular detection methods that could distinguish P. knowlesi from the morphologically similar human malaria parasite P. malariae became available. P. knowlesi infections cause a spectrum of disease and are potentially fatal, but if detected early enough, infections in humans are readily treatable. In this review on knowlesi malaria, we describe the early studies on P. knowlesi and focus on the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical aspects, and treatment of knowlesi malaria. We also discuss the gaps in our knowledge and the challenges that lie ahead in studying the epidemiology and pathogenesis of knowlesi malaria and in the prevention and control of this zoonotic infection
The problems of short prose by Simin Daneshvar: on the material of the collection of short stories “To whom shall I say hello?”
No full textBackground. Iranian women's prose of the 20th century. is defined by the reflection of the complex struggle between traditional and religious values and the desire for personal freedom. In the works of fiction of the second half of the 20th century. the central place is occupied by the themes of female identity, social inequality, the struggle for equality and the inner world of women in a patriarchal society. A vivid example of such transformations in Persian literature was the work of Simin Daneshvar (1921–2012) – a writer and translator, recognized in Iran and the world.
The limited number of scientific works in Ukraine devoted to Iranian women's prose of the second half of the 20th – early 21st centuries, in particular the works of S. Daneshvar, determines the novelty and relevance of this investigation, the purpose of which is to establish the thematic structure and conflict dynamics in the prose works of S. Daneshvar based on the analysis of the collection of stories " To whom shall I say hello?" («به کی سلام کنم؟»). The main task of the article is to identify the leading problems and socio-psychological conflicts in the stories of the collection «To whom shall I say hello?» by S. Daneshvar.
Methods. The following research methods were used: theoretical analysis (study of scientific literature on the topic of the study), elements of comparative-thematic analysis, psychological and feminist criticism, interpretive approach, hermeneutic approach and descriptive method.
Results. During the analysis of four stories «To whom shall I say hello?» («به کی سلام کنم؟»), «Broken ball» («تیله شکسته»), «Accident» («تصادف»), «Snake and man» («مار و مرد») from the collection «To whom shall I say hello?» («به کی سلام کنم؟»), the main problems and socio-psychological conflicts that occur in the prose works of S. Daneshvar were identified. The analysis revealed what social, psychological, existential or cultural problems the author brings to the center of the artistic image.
Conclusions. The main problems and conflicts in the stories of the collection “To whom shall I say hello?” by Simin Daneshvar are: social isolation, fear of the future and lonely old age, class inequality, gender discrimination, spiritual decline and feigned religiosity, belief in superstitions, identity crisis, woman as a victim and as a subject of change in a patriarchal society, etc.Вступ. Іранська жіноча проза ХХ ст. визначається відображенням складної боротьби між традиційними й релігійними цінностями та прагненням до особистої свободи. У художніх творах другої половини ХХ ст. центральне місце займають теми жіночої ідентичності, соціальної нерівності, боротьби за рівноправність і внутрішнього світу жінки в умовах патріархального суспільства. Яскравим прикладом таких трансформацій у перській літературі стала творчість Сімін Данешвар (1921–2012) – письменниці і перекладачки, визнаної в Ірані та світі. Обмежена кількість в Україні наукових праць, присвячених іранській жіночій прозі другої половини ХХ – початку ХХІ ст., зокрема художнім творам С. Данешвар, зумовлює новизну й актуальність цієї розвідки, метою якої є встановлення тематичної побудови й конфлiктної динамiки у прозових творах С. Данешвар на основі аналізу збірки оповідань ʺЗ ким мені привітатись?ʺ (ʺبه کی ﺳﻼم کنم؟ʺ). Основне завдання статті – визначити провідні проблеми та соціально-психологічні конфлікти в оповіданнях збірки ʺЗ ким мені привітатись?ʺ С. Данешвар.
Методи. Використовувались такі методи дослідження: теоретичний аналіз (опрацювання наукової літератури за темою дослідження), елементи порівняльно-тематичного аналізу, психологічної та феміністичної критики, iнтерпретативний пiдхiд, герменевтичний підхід та описовий метод.
Результати. Під час аналізу чотирьох оповідань ʺЗ ким мені привітатись?ʺ ("به کی ﺳﻼم کنم؟"), ʺРозбита кулькаʺ ("تیله شکسته"), ʺАваріяʺ (ʺتصادفʺ), ʺЗмія і чоловікʺ (ʺﻣﺎر و ﻣردʺ) зі збірки ʺЗ ким мені привітатись?ʺ (ʺبه کی ﺳﻼم کنم؟ʺ) виділено основні проблеми та соціально-психологічні конфлікти, які зустрічаються у прозових творах С. Данешвар. За підсумками здійсненого аналізу виявлено, якi соцiальнi, психологiчнi, кзистенцiйнi або культурнi проблеми авторка виносить у центр художнього зображення.
Висновки. Основними проблемами та конфліктами в оповіданнях збірки ʺЗ ким мені привітатись?ʺ Сімін Данешвар є: соцiальна iзоляцiя, страх перед майбутнім і одинокою старістю, класова нерiвнiсть, гендерна дискримiнацiя, духовний занепад й удавана релігійність, віра у забобони, криза iдентичностi, жiнка як жертва i як суб'єкт змiн у патрiархальному суспiльствi тощо.Кафедра мов і літератур Близького та Середнього Сход
Improved seed handling techniques for Juniperus polycarpos : implications for active restoration of degraded Juniper forests in Iran [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textJuniperus polycarpos (K. Koch) is one of six native juniper forest tree species in Iran whose population size is declining continuously. The ultimate aim of the research presented in this thesis was to increase the regeneration potential of J. polycarpos by identifying factors influencing seed quality and develop methods that increase germination capacity and vigor. The research focused on impact of infection by dwarf mistletoe on reproductive output, methods for sorting unproductive seeds from seed lots, improving germination capacity and vigor through sorting techniques and by breaking seed dormancy. The results show that moderate level of infection significantly (p < 0.05) reduced mean number of cones per unit area of the host crown, increasing the number of damaged seeds, reducing seed size and germination capacity. For sorting viable seeds from non-viable seeds, three methods were applied: Incubation, Drying and Separation (IDS), modified specific gravity (SG) separation and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). For the IDS experiments, seven days incubation followed by nine hours of drying and sedimentation in pure water or 200 g sucrose /l water solution resulted in 75% and 82% sunken-viable seeds, respectively. For seeds soaked for 48 hours, SG separation in 600 g/l sucrose solution also resulted in 77% sunken-viable seeds. For both sorting techniques, only 4% of viable seeds were lost into the discarded floating fraction. NIR spectroscopy of individual seeds discriminated between viable and non-viable seeds of J. polycarpos with 98% and 100% accuracy, respectively based on spectral differences attributed to seed coat chemical composition and storage reserves. For finding optimal dormancy breaking treatment and subsequent stimulation of germination capacity and vigor of J. polycarpos seeds, different pretreatments were tested. The results showed warm stratification for sixteen weeks followed by twelve weeks of cold stratification resulted in 72% germination after 12 days compared with 16-week cold-stratification alone (42%) and the control (8%). Exogenous application of phytohormones alone or in combination with cold stratification resulted in less than 50% germination, though significantly (p < 0.01) higher than the control (8%). As a whole, the results have strong implication for active restoration by increasing seedling production potential in nurseries. Keywords: dormancy, IDS, NIRS, seed sorting, stratification, seed quality, seed vigor Author’s address: Abolfazl Daneshvar, SLU, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre, P.O. Box 49, SE-230 53 Alnarp, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Clinical and parasitological response to oral chloroquine and primaquine in uncomplicated human Plasmodium knowlesi infections.
No full textBACKGROUND: Plasmodium knowlesi is a cause of symptomatic and potentially fatal infections in humans. There are no studies assessing the detailed parasitological response to treatment of knowlesi malaria infections in man and whether antimalarial resistance occurs.
METHODS: A prospective observational study of oral chloroquine and primaquine therapy was conducted in consecutive patients admitted to Kapit Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo with PCR-confirmed single P. knowlesi infections. These patients were given oral chloroquine for three days, and at 24 hours oral primaquine was administered for two consecutive days, primarily as a gametocidal agent. Clinical and parasitological responses were recorded at 6-hourly intervals during the first 24 hours, daily until discharge and then weekly to day 28. Vivax malaria patients were studied as a comparator group.
RESULTS: Of 96 knowlesi malaria patients who met the study criteria, 73 were recruited to an assessment of the acute response to treatment and 60 completed follow-up over 28 days. On admission, the mean parasite stage distributions were 49.5%, 41.5%, 4.0% and 5.6% for early trophozoites, late trophozoites, schizonts and gametocytes respectively. The median fever clearance time was 26.5 [inter-quartile range 16-34] hours. The mean times to 50% (PCT50) and 90% (PCT90) parasite clearance were 3.1 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 2.8-3.4) hours and 10.3 (9.4-11.4) hours. These were more rapid than in a group of 23 patients with vivax malaria 6.3 (5.3-7.8) hours and 20.9 (17.6-25.9) hours; P = 0.02). It was difficult to assess the effect of primaquine on P. knowlesi parasites, due to the rapid anti-malarial properties of chloroquine and since primaquine was administered 24 hours after chloroquine. No P. knowlesi recrudescences or re-infections were detected by PCR.
CONCLUSIONS: Chloroquine plus primaqine is an inexpensive and highly effective treatment for uncomplicated knowlesi malaria infections in humans and there is no evidence of drug resistance. Further studies using alternative anti-malarial drugs, including artemisinin derivatives, would be desirable to define optimal management strategies for P. knowlesi
Role of interventional pulmonology in the management of complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions and empyema
No full textPleural infection is a major problem that affects 80000 cases per year in the UK and USA. It is increasing in incidence, and in an ageing population, it presents a complex challenge that requires a combination of medical therapies and may lead to the need for surgery. This article focuses on the role of the interventional pulmonologist in the diagnosis and management of pleural infection. In particular, we examine the role of pleural ultrasound in diagnostics, thoracocentesis and real-time guided procedures, and the current management strategies, including the controversial role of medical thoracoscopy.peer-reviewe
Role of interventional pulmonology in the management of complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions and empyema
No full textPleural infection is a major problem that affects 80000 cases per year in the UK and USA. It is increasing in incidence, and in an ageing population, it presents a complex challenge that requires a combination of medical therapies and may lead to the need for surgery. This article focuses on the role of the interventional pulmonologist in the diagnosis and management of pleural infection. In particular, we examine the role of pleural ultrasound in diagnostics, thoracocentesis and real-time guided procedures, and the current management strategies, including the controversial role of medical thoracoscopy
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