Background and Aim: In clinical practice it is commonly assumed that occlusal splints have therapeutic value in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), however there is still lack of sufficient evidence to support this claim. The purpose of this double-blind study was to evaluate the short-term (8-week) efficacy of a stabilization splint in subjects with temporomandibular disorders seeking treatment.Materials and Methods: Seventeen TMD patients were treated with stabilization splints for eight weeks. In addition to filling out questionnaires, all patients underwent a preoperative and postoperative clinical-functional investigation of the masticatory system. Qualitative data were analyzed using Fisher exact and Chi-square tests and Wilcoxon signed ranks test was applied to report quantitative data.Results: A statistically significant decrease was observed postoperatively in the Helkimo clinical dysfunction index (P=0.000) as well as the anamnestic dysfunction index (P=0.020). In addition there was a statistically significant decrease in muscle tenderness, after treatment (P=.002).Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the use of a stabilization splint is beneficial in treatment of the signs and symptoms of TMD, and especially has a positive effect on muscle tenderness.

Iran is a country with unstable soil. If soil classes, characteristics and structures are not identified properly, railroads or roads that are to be built can face significant problems, as the soil becomes saturated. Some soils in our environment cannot undergo the normal tension they encounter, and by the slightest increase in the ratio of humidity, will encounter high settlement. These kinds of soil, mainly found in hot and dry regions, like deserts, are called collapsible soils. In this article, to correct the soil of these regions, some items, like the behavior of lime injected materials in the presence of clay in cementitous soil, for creating suitable adhesion among grains and micro-silica as porosity filling materials, are studied separately.In this study, to investigate and stabilize soil, reduce collapse potential and increase its strength properties, the use of limestone injection technology has been considered. Then, the collapse potential of the soil under injection has been compared with that of natural state soil. The results indicate the good performance of the injection method compared with existing methods. These results show that the injection of lime will reduce the potential for soil collapse. The soil shear strength parameters improved after injection, and the value of fu after injection reached an amount of approximately 2.15 times the initial internal friction angle. Parameter f’ increased up to 1.62, which, considering the fixed amount of tension in both tests on soil in normal state, and the injected soil, was associated with an increase in internal friction and a reduction in the adhesion of soil grains. The results of field and laboratory tests reveal that according to clay cementation among soil grains on site, the injection of lime would result in a considerable reduction in the collapsibility potential of soil in a saturated condition. Therefore, it can be suggested as a suitable solution.

One of the ordinary methods to protect, rehabilitate, and enhance an ecosystem function in arid and semi-arid areas of the world is sand dune stabilization using biological practices. Plantation of species on the soil plays a great role in sustainable management of the ecosystem. This research studies the effects of cultivation of Haloxylon ammodendron and Atriplex canescens on physical-chemical characteristics of soil. The study area was Yousef Abad, Neyshabour, located in the northeastern part of Iran in which these two plants species were cultivated 20 years ago. The study area was then compared with a control area near the investigated area. Two different sites within the cultivated area as well as a site in control area were selected for soil sampling. Six samples were taken at each site from depths of 0-20 cm and 20-80 cm, in the sites of H. ammodendron and A. canescens three profiles were randomly digging from under the shrubs canopy and 3 of them were sampled from between the shrubs totaled 36 soil samples. The percentage of clay, silt, sand, electrical conductivity, soil acidity, organic matter content, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, sodium, and calcium carbonate of each sample were measured. The collected data were analyzed and means comparisons were made using LSD by SAS software. The results showed that the three sites had different soil characteristics. H. ammodendron led to increasing soil nutrient factors and soil fertility after 20 years of cultivation but silt particles transportation and wind erosion was reduced in site of A. canescens in this period.

Facilities built in areas affected by earthquake activity, such as tunnels, which have always been an integral part of human life, must withstand both dynamic and static loading. It has led to the need for practical studies on the effects of earthquakes on underground structures and the factors affecting their destruction. For this purpose, in this research, at first different patterns of tunnel’s excavation were investigated and by using Plaxis 2D software and based on Tabas earthquake in Iran, sensitivity analysis on geotechnical parameters of the soil surrounding tunnel such as cohesion, friction angle, unit weight and modulus of elasticity was carried out, and the parameters whose changes have the greatest and least effects on the bending moment changes on the tunnel lining are introduced. The results show that tunnel excavation patterns significantly affect the bending moment, axial forces, displacements, and surface settlement of the tunnel. Often, by dividing tunnel excavation area to small parts, the values of bending moment, axial forces, displacements, and surface settlement of the tunnel decreases in static analysis. Also, outputs of sensitivity analysis on geotechnical parameters of the soil surrounding tunnel showed that modulus of elasticity of the soil surrounding tunnel has the most effect and cohesion changes have the least effect on bending moment induced on tunnel lining..

This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of body weight traits in Markhoz goats, using B-spline random regression models. The data used in this study included 19549 records collected during 29 years (1992-2021) in Markhoz goat Breeding Research Station, located in Sanandaj, Iran. The model used to analyze data included fixed effects (year of birth, sex, type of birth and age of dam) and random effects including direct additive genetic, maternal additive genetic, permanent environmental and maternal permanent environmental assuming homogeneous and heterogeneous residual variance during the time. Akaike (BIC) and Bayesian (BIC) information criteria were used to compare the models and bspq.4.4.4.4 was selected as the best model. The direct heritability values for birth, 3-month, 6-month, 9-month and 12-month weights were estimated to be 0.14, 0.16, 0.08, 0.28 and 0.26, respectively. Genetic correlation between body weights at birth and 3-month, birth and 6-month, birth and 9-month, birth and 12-month, 3-month and 6-month, 3-month and 9-month, 3-month and 12-month, 6-months and 9-month and 9-month and 12-month were 0.22, 0.38, 0.21, 0.56, -0.26, 0.30, 0.62, 0.86 and 0.77, respectively. The highest phenotypic correlation was between the weight of 9-month and 12-month (0.82) and the lowest correlation was between birth weight and 3-month and 6-month (0.12). The results showed that the 9-month weight is a good criterion for selection in Markhoz goats.

One of the noticeable slope types is land slide that has affected human life with economic and social destruction. The factors of slope, geological factors, land use and settlements of rural area, deforestation, destruction of agricultural soils can be affected in land slides.Recognition of landslides area and zoning it, could help land use and low hazards in this area. This phenomenon can help environmental planning and managers for the safety lives of settlements and planning management crises.\The aim of this paper is to study physical and humanity factors which affect landslide and to provide a solution.The research method of this paper is descriptive and the result has shown that for the management of landslide, GIS for analyzing data and integrated river basin management are needed. Up to now there have been many studies about landslides phenomena which hava submitted deferent methods for stability in Iran and in the world. It has been found that management crises center in the capital of provinces and important urban areas.

Objective: Balance disturbance is one of the observed impairments in patient with forward head posture (FHP). The aim of this study was comparing the effect of stabilization and stretching-strengthening exercises on the improvement of balance in these patients.Materials & Methods: Thirty three females with FHP were randomized into three groups of stabilization training, stretching strengthening and control. The degree of FHP was measured using plumb line and the crania-vertebral angle. Balance tests performed in three different standing conditions on a force platform. The subjects were evaluated after 6 weeks training and 1 month follow-up by repeated measure ANOVA and T-test through SPSS software.Results: Balance parameters in both stretching-strengthening and control groups showed no significant changes (P>0.05) while in the stabilization group, significant decrease in displacement and velocity of center of pressure were seen under conditions of double-leg, eyesopen, foam-surface and single-leg, eyes-closed, rigid-surface (P<0.05) and no changes observed in balance parameters under conditions of double-leg, eyes-open, rigid-surface (P>0.05).Conclusion: In the conditions of standing that visual and proprioception information from plantar region of foot is challenged, stabilization exercises lead to more balance improvement than stretching strengthening exercises.

Nowadays, desertification is one of the ecological crises of the world. To control desertification, having a clear understanding of its factors and processes is necessary. Desertification is defined as the reduction of biomass potential and degradation of environmental resources and ecosystems which affects regional and cross-regional levels of human life. The degradation of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas on the one hand and unnecessary exploitation of humans, on the other hand, have led to the erosion of deserts and made them an acute problem at the national level. Its solution is to predict the changes occurring in the natural environment with continuous monitoring and meta-analysis. The aim of this study is to compare Nebkas in the Chah Jam Erg, and to introduce the most appropriate type for quicksand stabilization, using analysis of Nebka morphometric parameters, via ELECTRE algorithm. This algorithm is one of the methods of multiple criteria decision making, that combines the quantitative and qualitative indicators and weights according to importance of each criterion, can help decision makers to choose the best alternative. To this end, first, the most important morphometric parameters of 462 Nebkas from Astragalus Gummife, Seidlitzia florida, Tamarix Macatensis, Zygophyllum Eurypterum, Alhagi Mannifera, Salsola rigida and Haloxylon types were measured by linear sampling in field. Then, the studied Nebkas were prioritized using comparative evaluation by ELECTRE algorithm. The results showed that Tamarix Macatensis and Haloxylon Nebkas, with weight of 4, had the highest effect in stabilization of quicksand. Astragalus Gummife and Alhagi Mannifera Nebkas, with weight of -6, had the least importance. Therefore, for implementation of stabilization projects of mobile sands in study area, developing Tamarix Macatensis and Haloxylon Nebka systems have the highest of importance and efficiency. The results of this study will be beneficial in systemic management of desert regions and stabilization projects of quicksand.