Over the past few decades, several excavations have been carried out in the Bronze Age sites of southeastern Iran, and the results of these studies have led to the compilation of a chronology of the region with a focus on the Shahr-i Sokhta. So far, most of the prehistoric research in Sistan has focused on the Shahr-i Sokhta, while in the archaeological survey in Sistan, there are more than 900 contemporary sites with the Shahr-i Sokhta in the southern plain of Sistan. To better understand of the cultures of Sistan in Bronze Age, some of the related-settlement to the Shahr-i Sokhta needs to be studied carefully. Although numerous archaeological and interdisciplinary studies have been conducted on the cultural finds of the Shahr-i Sokhta, there are still major problems in the absolute chronology of the region. Perhaps the main reason for this is the limitation of archaeological excavations and researches, the unpublished or incomplete publication of some excavation results and studies, and the lack of absolute dating to obtain an accurate chronology. Extensive and main archeological researches of Sistan in the past focused on Shahr-i Sokhta and today it is considered as the main basis of the chronology of the region. Fortunately, the research done by the author and other colleagues from the Department of Archeology of Zabol University in the related settlements of Shahr-i Sokhta has been able to help to some extent to analyze biological patterns and economic and social status and cultural interactions in the region. Due to the existing problems in recognizing the cultural features of the Bronze Age of Sistan plain and also educating the students of the Department of Archeology of Zabol University, Tape Talebkhan was excavated. One of the main objectives of the fifth season in this site was stratigraphy and relative and absolute dating. During the excavation, six settlement phases were identified, of which only four phases of architecture, including brick walls with right-angled spaces and a circular heated structure was obtained. Apart from architecture, other findings include pottery, human and animal figures, counting objects, metal, animal bones, and botanical remains. In this article, an attempt is made to analyze the chronology of this area by analyzing cultural materials, especially pottery obtained from the excavation of this site and using the results of carbon 14. Considering the importance of the subject, the most important questions of this research are: What was the settlement sequence of Tape Taleb Khan? And what cultural periods does the region coincide with? What is the start and end date of the settlement in this site using the relative comparison of pottery and C14? And how can the C14 results of this site be used to explain the challenges in the chronology of the region? According to the questions raised, in this article, first the site will be introduced and its chronological sequence will be presented, then by comparing clay samples to relative chronology and cultural relations with other sites, and finally while presenting the results of C14 samples of this site, the challenges in the chronology of the region have been studied. For the absolute dating of the cultural deposits of Taleb Khan, 4 samples of charcoal were sent to the laboratory of the University of Oxford, the results of which show that this area was established around 2500 BC and continued until about 2300 BCE. Since the pottery finds from this site have many similarities to phases 1 and 0 of the Shahr-i Sokhta, it seems that the date is probably older than previously thought, between 2300 and 2200 BC should be considered for the end of the Shahr-i Sokhta settlement. At this time, important settlements such as Shahr-i Sokhta, Graziani and Talebkhan are abandoned.

The Firouzkuh Fault in most of its extension is located at the southern side of Firouzkuh Valley in west of the Central Alborz.  It is a SW – NE prominent structure with a 70 km long on a sinistral –normal fault. It has been known as a south-dipping reverse fault.Paleoseismic analysis and C14 dating along the Firouzkuh left -lateral strike-slip fault indicate that Central Alborz has been shaken by large earthquakes during the Holocene. Here we present the data carried out of one of the two excavated trenches with 15 m long, 2m wide, ~ 4m deep in the east of Firouzkuh, where we found some evidence for last paleoearthquake associated to seismic re-activity  on Firouzkuh Fault in the second trench (F2) that dug across a gauge zone. The last event is evidenced by cutting young superficial deposit where this faulted unit stratigrafically covered alluvium deposits yielded dated human bones fragments. The bones found in 60-70cm-deep of trench which a C14 age of 1159 ± 28 BP. Regarding to estimated slips per event on paleoseismological log of eastern wall of trench F1, event magnitudes for each paleoearthquakes are M≈7.

Radiocarbon dating is a fundamental method employed in archaeological, historical, and paleographic research to determine the chronological framework of findings. This article discusses the results of radiocarbon dating analyses conducted on human remains recovered from six graves excavated during the fourth season of the Mersinchal Archaeological Project. The Mersinchal Cemetery is located in Telajim Village, Mehdi Shahar County, Semnan Province, Iran. Four seasons of archaeological excavations have been conducted at this site, leading to the proposal of a relative dating for the cemetery, attributed to the late first millennium BC, based on the analysis of the findings. This article adopts a research methodology that integrates both fieldwork and laboratory analysis. During the fieldwork phase, burial practices and graves Finds were carefully examined and systematically documented. Human samples were selected for further scientific analysis. In the laboratory phase, six human skeletal samples discovered during the fourth season of excavations at the Mersinchal cemetery were analyzed for absolute dating using radiocarbon (14C) techniques and employing the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) method. The main purpose of this article is to establish an absolute chronology for the Mersinchal cemetery and answer some fundamental questions, including: To which cultural periods does this cemetery belong? What do burial practices and the associated findings within the graves? And what insights can be gained about their diet? The radiocarbon dating results indicate that this cemetery was used between 409 BC to 51 BCE, corresponding to Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Parthian periods. Interestingly, the burial practices and objects inside the graves remained consistent throughout these periods, showing no significant change over time. The isotopic values of the individuals indicated that their diet, influenced by local agriculture, consisted of both C3 and C4 plants. Animal proteins, including meat and dairy products, were also included in the diet.

Multiple therapeutic combinations have been tested to determine the ideal regimens for eradication of Helicobacter Pylori as the major factor in peptic ulcer diseases with different results depending on geographic area. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of currently prescribed anti H. Pylori regimens in Tehran-Iran. We enrolled 415 subjects (242 males, 173 females, age 11-82 years) with documented H. Pylori infection of the stomach from outpatients of the gastroentrology department of Shariati Hospital. In all patients H. Pylori infection was identified by rapid urease test and or histology. Patients were then treated by different H. Pylori regimens (Triple or quadriple) on an intention to treat basis. One to six months after completion of therapy C14 urea breath test (C14-UBT) was performed for assessment of eradication. Overall success rate of all regimens were 37%, patient compliance (usage of> 80% drugs) were satisfactory (94%) and was identical for all regimens. The results of this intention-to -treat study was comparable with controlled (perprotocol) studies. The regimen containing amoxicillin + furazolidone was more successful than that of amoxicillin + metronidazole (83.3% vs 66.2%, P<0.05). Only the regimen containg amoxicillin + aetronidazole + omeprazole was superior to H2 receptor antagonists (86.6% Vs 66.2%, P < 0.05). The most successful antibiotic combination was tetracycline + furazolidone (100% success rate) which warrants more evaluation in a separate study. Successful eradication rate was identical in groups 1 and 2 evaluated 1-3 months and 3-6 months after completion of therapy respectively (73.6% vs 71.1%, P>0.05). Conventialy there was no significant difference between intention-to-treat therapy with reported preprotocol eradication rate. The best drug regimen in this study was bismuth + tetracycline + furazolidone + acid secretory inhibitors. Replacement of metronidazole by furazolidone was effective in improving eradication rate. In assessment of success of eradication, results of 3 months versus 6 months after therapy were almost similar and comparable.

Introduction: In previous studies it is stressed that the site of morphine action may be both on the embryo or the placenta. However, there is no doubt concern on the site of morphine action. In the present study, we try to identify the site of morphine action on Wistar rats' placenta fetal portion by using [C14] morphine.Materials and Methods: Female Wistar rats (260 g) were crossed with male rats and coupling time was recorded (Embryonic day 0-E0).Experimental groups received 0.05 mg/ml of [C14] morphine in drinking water daily. On the 9th and 14th days of pregnancy, groups of the pregnant rats were anesthetized and the placentas and uterus were surgically removed. The placentas were fixed in formalin 10% for two weeks. Then the placentas were processed, sectioned in 25 and 5 mm thicknesses, and fixed on the glasses for further evaluations. The placentas sectioned in 25, the glasses were fixed on the Blanc black and white film for 6 hr. The films then were appeared and their negatives were prepared. The placenta sectioned in 5, the staining hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) by light microscope and MOTIC software.Results: Our results indicated that the effect site increase of [C14] morphine action was on blood plexus of placenta fetal portion and oral morphine consumption may be inhibiting placenta fetal portion development and function natural.Conclusion: It could be concluded that morphine effectiveness on reduction of embryos growth and development may be via its effects on placenta fetal portion.

Uranium separation and removal are important from environmental, public health, and strategic veiwpoints. Scientits have put great efforts to develop technologies for uranium removal and regeneration because of its important applications and beneficial uses. In this study, efforts have been made to synthesize a modified form of Fe3O4@SiO2 and benzamide uranium complexes that can be exploited to remove and adsorb uranium onto an adsorbent that can be recycled. In the first step,Fe3O4@SiO2 was synthesized and later modified with trimethoxysilane. The adsorbent was subsequently characterized by SEM and FTIR. In a second step, experiments were performed to determine optimum stirring speed, contact time, ion strength, and adsorbent reusability. Finally, the performance of the adsorbent was tested in samples of real wastewater. SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed the satisfactory synthesis and modification of Fe3O4@SiO2 Nps. Statistical analyses revealed that although contact time, ion strength, and stirring speed were effective in adsorbent performance, they only led to a removal enhancement of 5% and a decrease of only 17% with increasing RPM to 250 and the enhancement of ion strength to 1.5M. The highest U(VI) removal efficiency in the synthetic solution was found to be 97%,which reduced to 49% in real wastewater samples. It was concluded that the nano-composite C14/SiO2_Fe3O4 adsorbent with its magnetic core and resistant surface not only offers the possibility for easy separation of urnaium from solutions but is also reusable and is only slightly affected by changes in stirring speed or ion strength. It, therefore, has a good capability for use as a U(VI) adsorbent in wastewater treatment.

Dear Editor, Studies of Helicobacter pylori show that it is the cause of duodenal ulcers, gastric ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and primary gastric B cell lymphoma (MALT lymphoma). Helicobacter pylori is the first established carcinogenic bacterium. Thus, it is very important to diagnose and treat H. pylori infection and determine the effectiveness of eradication treatments. The C14-urea breath test (C14-UBT) is a rapid, well-tolerated, non-invasive method to detect H. pylori, with a sensitivity of 94. 9% and specificity of 100% (1). We employed C14-UBT to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and evaluate its association with epidemiological, demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental factors of patients.