SHAHID CHAMRAN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE
Year:2007 | Volume:NEW SERIES | Issue:17 (SECTION B)|Papers Count:13

In this article, with the aid of bivariate time series as cross correlation function and cross spectral function, zonation of Shahr-e-Kord aquifer was accomplished. To prepare this zonation, the monthly time series of water tabel fluctuations of 17 pizometers have been used. According to the ground water flow direction, the total correlation of time series of the chosen pizometers was calculated by cross correlation function. Using single spectral density, the fluctuations in time series were determined.According to the results, trend component, seasonal fluctuations with frequency of 0.083 and cyclic fluctuations with return period of 4.5 years were identified. After removing trend component, it was observed that the main remaining fluctuations in time series were seasonal fluctuations. To make a precise assessment, cross spectral analytical methods have been used, and the amount of correlation and lag time of the two series of frequency of 0.083 (sesonal fluctuations) have been examined.Finally, according to the results of cross correlation function and cross spectral density, the region was divided into four zones: zone 1 including high correlation- low phase lag, zone 2 including high correlation-high phase lag, zone 3 including high correlation-medium phase lag and zone 4 including low correlation- high phase lag.

To provide guides for exploration of porphyry copper mineralization at a district scale, the spatial association between known copper deposits and geologic features in south central Iranian volcanic belt was examined, with the use of Landsat TM images. After several corrections, geological intrusive bodies and intrusive margins, fault-fractures and alteration haloes were extacted using 741 and 754  bands, PCA, DEM and filtering techniques. The spatial associations between the porphyry copper deposits and fault-fractures, batholithic pluton margins and porphyry plutons are quantified using weights of evidence modeling. The porphyry copper occurrences are associated spatially with fault-fractures, intrusive margins and contacts of porphyry plutons within distances of 1 and 2.5km, respectively. In addition, the porphyry type mineralizations are associated spatially with strike-slip fault fracture and contacts of intrusive bodies within a distance of 1 and 1.5km, respectively. Based on these observations, local strike-slip faults related to regional strike-slip faults systems are the most important foci for emplacement of copper-bearing porphyritic intrusions in the study area. Then using fuzzy logic method, and based on the results of weights of evidence modeling, the quantified favourable potential regions and study area, according to porphyry copper potential model, are divided to four parts namely; favourable, moderate, weak and unfavourable.

In this research, Pabdeh formation in Zeloi and Ahvaz oilfields has been evaluated geochemically. Geochemical logs prepared show maximum total organic carbon, TOC, as high as 4.1% and 2.8% in Ahwaz and Zeloi oilfields, respectively. In both oilfields, determined Kerogen is of type II and III mixed. In this study, Pabdeh formatioin both oilfields has been categorized geochemically into three zones of A, Band C. Zone B contains maximum TOC and is classified in oil prone vicinity. Maturity of organic matter differs in the two studied oilfields. Pabdeh formationin Ahwaz oilfield never observed enough maturity, whereas in Zeloi oilfields its Tmax crossed 430oC, hence entered the oil window. The results of this research reveal that zone B with highest TOC is appearing deeper from South-West to North-East and demonstrates the basin's deepening in the same trend. Higher maturity of pabdeh formation in Zeloi oilfield which is situated north of Ahwaz oilfield also supports these findings. Finally, Plot of SI versus TOC indicates that the hydrocarbons in both oilfields are indigenous.

Masjed-e-Soleyman (M.I.S) is seismically an active area. The earthquakes with magnitude of 4 to 5 in Richter scale occurred in this region during 1382 and 1383. In order to evaluate the earthquake hazard in the area, distribution of active faults was investigated, because tectonically active faults can cause devastating earthquakes in the study region, (e.g. the Andika earthquake Mb=6.3 in 1380). In this paper, the faults around Masjed-e-Soleyman as far as 80 Km were studied. With one exception, all of them were reverse faults. According to calculations, the magnitude of earthquake which resulted from the activity of these faults range from 6.4 to 7 in Richter scale. The maximum of horizontal acceleration resulting from these earthquakes equals to 0.3g. The maximum of vertical acceleration resulting from these earthquakes equals to 0.15 g. At present gas seepage is a great problem in this cityMasjed-e-Soleyman hydrocarbon reservoir has an unsafe and weak cap rock. The presence of old gas seepages before drilling in reservoir shows that cap rock cannot prevent gas seepages from the reservoir. Because the most gas seepage locations are in the urban area, the occurrence of earthquake will be accompanied by fire in Masjed-e-Soleyman. Therefore, the problem of earthquake critical management in this city requires special attention.

Mercury (II) as a harmful metal ion is popularly associated with male reproductive toxicity in animal models and may have the potential to produce adverse effects in men. In the present study, we investigate the antioxidant potential of ascorbate and albumin (BSA), in vitro, in mercuric chloride treated bull spermatozoa. We demonstrated that mercury (100mM) could induce lipid peroxidation (LPO) in spenn samples significantly over three hours. Ascorbate (700 & 1000mM) and BSA (0.25 & 0.5%) depressed the LPO rate, but 1300mM ascorbate and 1% BSA had adverse effect resulting in more LPO. Furthermore, mercury lowered the motility percent and viability of bull sperm cells as well. Here again, ascorbate and. BSA attenuated the negative effects of mercury only in lower concentrations. Mercury produced a reduction in reduced glutathione/GSH levels but co-addition of ascorbate and BSA (low concentrations) with mercury could restore the GSH pool in the bull spermatozoal homogenates. Interestingly, it was found that adding 1300mM ascorbate and 1% BSA may increase GSH levels as a consequence of LPO propagation. These data support that mercury is an active pollutant in nature which may induce infertility in animals by changing the biochemical and physiological aspects of spermatozoa. The researchers may also keep in mind that antioxidants are as double-edged swords when implicated in the narrow concentration ranges.

In this study the effect of matricaria chamomilla hydro alcoholic extract on locomotor activity behavior in the presence and absence of sex glands in adult male and female NMRI mice was investigated. Male and female animals were divided into 14 groups (n=7) including intact, sham operated, gonadectomized and receiving hydro alcoholic extract of chamomile (30 and 50mg/kg i.p).Motor activity monitor apparatus was used to evaluate locomotor's activity parameters in all groups (number of slow and fast movements, number of slow and fast stereotyped movements, number of slow and fast rearing). Results showed that: Hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile in dose of 50 mglkg decreased motor activity parameters in the presence and absence of sex glands in male mice but did not make any significant changes in dose of 30mg/kg. Hydroalcoholic extract of chamomile (50mg/kg dose) increased motor activity parameters in the presence and absence of sex glands in female mice but it did not make any significant changes in dose of 30mg/kg. Gonadectomy did not show any significant effect on locomotor activity parameters in male mice. Gonadectomy decreased motor activity parameters in female mice. It seems the different effects of chamomile extract in the presence and absence of gonads in male and female mice are related to the chamomile phytoestrogenic components that interact with sex hormone receptors in female mice which probably increased locomotor activity in the same way with ovary steroids. These components probably do not interact with testes steroids and may alter locomotor activity by the other involving system.

Sesame oil is one of the vegetable oiles that has different effects on body function. Some evidence indicates that unsaturated fatty acids can modulate learning and memory. So, in this study the effect of intramuscular and intrahippocampal injection of sesame oil on spatial learning and memory in N-MRI adult male rats is investigated. The animals were divided into 6 groups (n=7). At first stage there were 3 groups: control (no injection), normal saline sham and sesame oil test groups which received 0.1 ml normal saline and sesame oil injection intramuscularly 45 minutes before training every day. At the second stage animals were bilaterally cannulated in to the CA1 region of hippocampus and after recovery they were divided into the following 3 groups (n=7): control (no injection), normal saline sham and sesame oil groups which received 0.5ml sesame oil, respectively, in to the CA1 region of hippocampus immediately before training. Then each rat was trained in 30 trials every day for a total of 5 days using Y-maze and after one month the memory of all groups was tested (one session memory test). Data shows that sesame oil increased spatial learning. In memory test, there were no significant differences between the mean of correct responses of 5thday and one month later among groups and so the indication is that their memory has not been changed. In conclusion, it seems that sesame oil increases spatial learning task through their unsaturated fatty acids by changing the membrance fluidity and by lecithin as a precursor of acetylcholine.

Aflatoxins are highly toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus spp. Poultry feeds and ingredients are vulnerable to fungal growth and aflatoxin formation. Naturally occurring aflatoxin contains aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 and G2, but aflatoxin B1 is usually the highest concentration and is the most toxic. The most economically significant effects of aflatoxicosis in growing birds are decreasing growth and poor feed conversion rate, decreasing size and egg production and immunosuppressive effects. In the present study 75 samples consist of 25 samples of soyameal, maize and fish meal were collected from 2 main poultry feed factories and poultry farms around Ahvaz. Isolation of fungi was made by pour plate method and aflatoxins extracted by thin layer chromatography (TLC) method. The results of the present study showed that 96 percent of soyameal, 88 percent of maize and 100 percent of fish meal were contaminated with Aspergillus spp with different levels. The highest contaminations of Aspergillus were made from domestic maize and fishmeal. 60% of fishmeal, 40% of maize and 60% of soyameal contained different level of aflatoxin. The highest amount of B1 aflatoxin was 15 ppb detected in domestic fish meal.

GALT is a primary lymphoid tissue and a part of mucosal lymphoid system. Numerous reports explaine considerable differences in GALT structure and distribution among various fish species and also different parts of the gut. The histological and immunological recognition of these differences, in addition, is important for diagnosis of aqua culture disease, as well as for vaccination and disease control. In this study, 20 normal, adult, male and female fish with 46.80±1.46 and 48.40±1.57 cm length and 1425±150.97 and 1570±156.53 grams weight were selected respectively, from propagation 0 center of local fishes in Khuzestan province. The water temperature was 29.7oc in the summer. After weighting and biometrical study, the alimentary canal from the beginning of intestinal bulb up to the end of main intestine was separated and tissue samples were taken from anterior, middle and posterior parts of intestinal bulb and main intestine with maximum 0.5 cm thickness. The samples were immersed immediately in Bouin's solution and the sections were made by paraffin embedding method and stained with H & E and PAS staining techniques. The results showed that the lymphoid tissue is present in two different types and in two areas of intestinal bulb and main intestine walls of Barbus Sharpeyi. In the first type, they were scattered in the mucosal epithelium and in the second type, the lymphoid cells were present as an aggregated cord-like structure in the lamina propria or as diffuse type in the submucosa. The majority of lymphoid cells were lymphocyte and lymphoblast with a few macrophages and plasma cells. The most interesting finding was the lack of lymphoid follicles and payers patches in different parts of the Barbus Sharpeyi alimentary canal. Histometrical results showed a significant difference in the density and distribution of intraepithelial lymphocyte in different parts of intestinal bulb and main intestine (P<0.05) but no significant difference was noticed between two sexes (P>0.05). The most intraepithelial cells were located "in the anterior part of intestinal bulb and in the posterior part of main intestine in both sexes. The results suggest that location, shape and density of lymphoid cells of GALT in Barbus Sharpeyi have considerable species differences.

From different nutrients which can affect primary production rate of algeas, phosphorous and nitrogen with low concentration are recognized as limiting nutrient in fresh water. But the heavy load of these materials from agricultural and municipal runoffs causes the blooming of algeas and photosynthesis bacteria which in addition to damage of lake, is dangerous for human health. In this study water quality of Karkheh reservoir was determined with supporting of Fishery Research Center of Iran from January 2002 to December 2003. From statistical point of view the results indicated no significant differences in different stations and different depths. Corrolation tests showed the significant relation for dissolved oxygen (DO) with (NO2) at stations 1, 2 & 3, (NO3) at stationl, (NH3) at station 3, and also (TDS) with NO3 at stations 1 & 2. By considering the high concentration of DO and the lack of meaning, differences between the low concentrations of nutrients at different depths the Karkheh reservoir is classified as trophic lake. Determination of nutrient budget in the lake indicated that PO4(-3), NH3 and NO3- in the input were more than outlet and vis-versa for nitrit and also nutrient increased in undisturbed condition in water column and sediment.

In the present study, the effects of the sodium bicarbonate with various molarities on increasing the rice husk capacity for cadmium sorption at low concentration were investigated. The maximum sorption efficiency of cadmium by the rice husk occurred at pH=6, and the equilibrium time was determined to be 1.5 hours. The results of the chemical analysis and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) indicated that there was a logical relationship among pore numbers and the sorbent as well as sorption efficiency and cadmium by the rice husk. Also the maximum sorption efficiency of cadmium by the rice husk sorbent obtained in the study was 99.1% and the equilibrium time 1.5 hours, was 97.6% which belonged to the sorbent treated with 0.3 molar sodium bicarbonate solution.