Birjand City Research Articles

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis E in Eastern Iran

Background: Hepatitis E infection is one of the most common causes of acute hepatitis. It is caused by the RNA virus of the hepatomegaly viridae family, which is transferred through stool in contaminated water. Cases of infection are most prevalent in developing countries. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis E among urban adults. The reason was the current lack of information on the hepatitis E prevalence among the general population in the city of Birjand in eastern Iran. This information is necessary because Southern Khorasan is in close proximity to Afghanistan. Methods: In this cross sectional study, 522 participants aged over 17 years were selected from the city of Birjand, eastern Iran, using the random cluster sampling. The participants completed a researcher-made questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, risk factors for infectious diseases such as records of blood transfusions, specific exposures, intravenous drug abuse, recent diagnosis or a history of liver disease, and other medical information. After selection, a blood sample was taken from each participant to a volume of 5 cc. Each blood sample was then measured for the title of IgG antivirus of hepatitis E by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method using the third generation ELISA kit made by Delavara Company. Results: This study included 554 participants. The mean age of the participants was 41.4 years (age range, 17 - 72 years). From a total of 554 participants, 295 (53.2%) were females and the remainder were males. Results showed that the hepatitis E antibody title was positive in 139 (25.1%) participants and negative in the others. Comparison of the prevalence rates of positive HEV between men and women showed no statistically significant difference although it was significantly higher in married participants than in single ones (P < 0.001). Results also showed that the prevalence was less in participants with a tertiary education compared to those with a lower level education. Along with age, the prevalence of the positive antibody title increased significantly. The prevalence of HEV in participants who were smokers was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than in those who were nonsmokers. Conclusions: In this study, the seroprevalence of contact with HEV in urban adults in the city of Birjand was 25%. The results of this study showed that the prevalence of hepatitis E in the city of Birjand, eastern Iran, was higher than in other places compared with previous studies on communities in Iran. Also, the prevalence of HEV in single and educated people was significantly less than that in married and literate individuals.

An Unusual Cause of Heart Failure in a Newborn: Your Diagnosis?: A Case Report

Introduction: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are abnormal connections between an artery and a vein whereby the interconnecting capillary network is missed. Vein of Galen is a short midline venous structure formed by the confluence of the two internal cerebral veins and the basal veins of Rosenthal and the aneurismal malformation of this vein is a congenital vascular anomaly that comprises 30% of the pediatric vascular malformations. The pathogenesis of the vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is unknown. Here, we report a neonate patient with complications related to vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation. Case Presentation: A 9-day-old male neonate referred with icter, poor feeding, tachypnea, and tachycardia and was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Vali-e-Asr hospital in Birjand city, Iran, on 5th July 2016. In his chest X-ray (C-X-ray), a cardiomegaly was shown. Suspecting to congenital heart disease, a transthoracic echocardiography was performed. In echocardiography, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) with the right to left shunt, small ventricular septal defect (VSD), and tiny patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were observed, which are the signs of heart failure. The observed heart defects in echocardiography did not justify heart failure in this patient; therefore, we decided to do brain and liver sonography for rolled/out AVM. In brain sonography, an echo-free zone in midbrain with very high turbulence flow vessel was observed that confirmed A-V malformation. Conclusions: In the infancy, VGAM is usually presented with high cardiac output failure that can be associated with multiorgan dysfunction. Since the prenatal diagnosis of VGAM and its treatment will be associated with better prognosis, intrauterine detection of this anomaly and its treatment are recommended.

Use of geographic information system and water quality index to assess groundwater quality for drinking purpose in Birjand City, Iran

Use of geographic information system and water quality index to assess groundwater quality for drinking purpose in Birjand City, Iran

A Comparative Study of the Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Dust-Full Particles in Three Stations of Birjand City in Eastern Iran

Dust storms happening frequently in arid and semiarid regions of the world carry huge amount of particulate matters; hence, these are recognized as one of the most important environmental issues at regional and international scales. This study aimed to evaluate heavy metals laden dustfall particles in Birjand, East Iran. Sampling of dustfall particles was conducted once every 1 month from July 2016 for 6 month at three stations of Agriculture university, Aboozar avenue, and Shokat university simultaneously using Deposit Gauge Method. The concentration of Fe and Mn were measured using Flame Atomic. Absorption Spectroscopy and Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy was used for analyzing Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Cu, and Zn. Then, pollution levels for the heavy metals were evaluated using Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo) and Integrated Pollution Index (IPI). Mineralogy and morphology of the dustfall particles were inspected using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Igeo index indicated that levels of pollution for Pb and Zn higher than other among the dustfall particles of the three stations whereas the concentrations of the other heavy metals were not evaluated as contaminant. Moreover, means of IPI values calculated for stations of Agriculture, Aboozar, and Shokat were 1.51, 1.99 and 1.66 respectively. X-ray diffraction revealed abundance of silicate (quartz) and carbonate (calcite) minerals in dustfall particles. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy emphasized on similarity of shape of dustfall particles in the three stations. Mean of dustfall particles on area unit in Shokat station was less than Agriculture and Aboozar.

Assessment of Outdoor and Indoor Background Gamma Radiation, the Annual Effective Dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk in Birjand, Iran

Background: The health implication of exposure to gamma radiation in the outdoor and indoor environments has become a major concern worldwide. Methods: This study was conducted in the city of Birjand where three stations and buildings were randomly selected to measure the background radiation in outdoor and indoor places; for this purpose, GM detector (X5C plus) was used. All dose rates on the display of the survey meter were recorded, and the mean of all data in each station and buildings was computed and taken as the measured dose rate of that particular station. Results: The average dose rate of background radiation was 71.8 nSv/h for outdoor and 82.0 nSv/h for indoor environments, and the maximum and minimum dose rates were 79.6 nSv/h and 61.7 nSv/h for outdoor measurements and 112.9 nSv/h and 70.8 nSv/h for indoor measurements, respectively. Conclusions: The results revealed that the annual effective dose is 0.49 mSv, which is similar to that of the global level (0.48 mSv). The estimated excess lifetime cancer risk was 1.715 × 10-3, which was high compared to the world average value of 0.25 × 10-3.

Assessment of Outdoor and Indoor Background Gamma Radiation, the Annual Effective Dose and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk in Birjand, Iran

Background: The health implication of exposure to gamma radiation in the outdoor and indoor environments has become a major concern worldwide. Methods: This study was conducted in the city of Birjand where three stations and buildings were randomly selected to measure the background radiation in outdoor and indoor places; for this purpose, GM detector (X5C plus) was used. All dose rates on the display of the survey meter were recorded, and the mean of all data in each station and buildings was computed and taken as the measured dose rate of that particular station. Results: The average dose rate of background radiation was 71.8 nSv/h for outdoor and 82.0 nSv/h for indoor environments, and the maximum and minimum dose rates were 79.6 nSv/h and 61.7 nSv/h for outdoor measurements and 112.9 nSv/h and 70.8 nSv/h for indoor measurements, respectively. Conclusions: The results revealed that the annual effective dose is 0.49 mSv, which is similar to that of the global level (0.48 mSv). The estimated excess lifetime cancer risk was 1.715 × 10-3, which was high compared to the world average value of 0.25 × 10-3.

The survey of pedestrainization feasibility in urban spaces and its relationship with the citizens’ vivacity. Case study: The city of Birjand’s Hakim Nazari street

The current article aims at the survey of the feasibility of transforming Hakim Nazari Street to a walk way along with the social vivacity and it is seeking to find an answer to the question proposed in the current research project which states that “whether Hakim Nazari St. has the potential to be changed into a side walk causing a higher deal of social spirit?” and it is also in search of proving the study hypothesis implying that “it seems that Hakiim Nazari St. is capable of being transformed into a side walk with social vivacity through taking all its potentials and capabilities into practical use”. Firstly, we deal with the survey of the specialized contexts and try to extract the scales and standards of building sidewalks feasibilities and likelihoods and its relation with the citizens’ vivacity through making use of a descriptive-analytical method and in the form of documentary-library researches and after that the extracted items have been investigated and evaluated through field studies and questionnaire and interviewing with the space users. The questionnaire has been designed structurally in two parts of pedestrian-oriented indicators and indices and the citizens’ vivacity and joyfulness and the questionnaires have been distributed in 6 days (all week days) and various hours (morning, noon, night) to 320 people from both male and female genders with an age range of 15 to 65 years and from different social classes and groups (residents, businessman and woman, space users) based on a systematic randomized method on the street and finally the questionnaires have been collected and the data extracted thence have been analyzed. The current study indicates that Hakim Nazari Street based on the sidewalk indices and because of scoring 2.23 from the total of 3 points has the potential to be changed into a sidewalk and the study hyyupothesis has been confirmed following the researches and investigations carried out. Keywords : building sidewalks, vivacity, urban spaces, Hakim Nazari Street

The Allocation of Ambulance to Emergency Centers with the Help of Simulation Techniques Case Study: Birjand City

Providing timely and quick medical services to patients and injured people reduces death statistics and increases the satisfaction of the people. This article uses an applied research in which it has been tried to improve the current situation and provide some measures for optimal and appropriate allocation of emergency facilities and number of ambulances available in each base in transportation section of Birjand. In this article Birjand was divided into 15 regions and given the 5 emergency sections available in the city of Birjand and the time interval between regions and centers of the simulation and problem solving was done by the use of MATLAB programming software and finally appropriate allocation was done so that shortest possible time to provide health care services was provided. Information on this study was obtained from the medical emergencies of Birjand. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n4S2p76

Prevalence of Noncommunicable Diseases’ Risk Factors Among Secondary School Students in Eastern Iran in 2013

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the main causes of mortality and disability in the world. In order for a campaign against NCDs’ risk factors it is necessary to estimate the extent of their prevalence for their decrease through appropriate interventions. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCDs’ risk factors among secondary school students in Birjand city, east of Iran. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 369 secondary school students aged between 15 - 20 years were selected using randomized cluster sampling in 2013. To gather data, the national health system questionnaire regarding NCDs with a stepwise approach was used. The data were derived by health trained workers through face-to-face interview, and physical assessments including height, weight, and blood pressure in every school. Finally, the obtained data were analyzed using the chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests with the SPSS software version 18. Results: From a total of 369 students in the study, 180 cases (48.8%) were boys with the mean age of 16.98 ± 1.04 years. The prevalence rates of cigarette, and hookah smoking were 2.4% and 18.4%, respectively. Overweight and obesity were diagnosed in 15.2% of the population. The prevalence of hypertension was observed in 6% of the participants. The prevalence rates of hookah smoking and hypertension in boys were significantly higher than in girls (P < 0.05). Moreover, it was found that low consumption rates of fruits and vegetables were 57.7% and 58.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Generally speaking, the critical prevalence of NCDs’ risk factors was observed. Regarding the more favorable effect of preventive measures on adolescents, planning for appropriate interventions to improve lifestyle to prevent various risk factors must be taken into account.

THE IMPACT OF A COOPERATIVE LEARNING MODEL ON STUDENTS’ SELF-MOTIVATION AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN HIGH SCHOOL

This study aimed at investigating the impact of a Cooperative Learning Model on self-motivation and academic performance in high levels of learning in students. The method of the study was quasi-experimental and the educational action was performed in two experimental groups; Hamyar Dabir cooperative teaching was employed in one group and in the other group, the same method together with students’ selfassessment for eight 90-minutes sessions were employed. The population consisted of all male students in third grade of high school in Birjand city and the sample consisted of 54 individuals in the form of three groups each consisting of 18 individuals (two experimental groups and one control group). The sample was selected using purposive sampling and the study tools consisted of a part of Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) by Pintrich and De Groot (1990) and a researcher-made geometry academic progress test for measuring low and high levels of cognitive domain. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey test were used for investigating the self-motivation test data. For analyzing the data from academic achievement test mixed analysis of variance was used. The main findings of the study indicate that “cooperative learning and self-assessment” are effective in improving “self-motivation” of students in geometry course. Also, “cooperative learning and self-assessment” had significant impact on and created difference in components of self-motivation or “motivational beliefs” in the groups. In addition, Hamyar Dabir (cooperator with teacher) cooperative learning model and self-assessment had positive impact on both high and low levels of learning of students in the cognitive domain.

Performing the power spectrum-area method to separate anomaly from background for induced polarization data: (a case study; Hamyj copper deposit, Iran)

Anomaly separation plays a critical role in mineral exploration. The power spectrum-area considers the spatial data which give rise to detecting the anomalies more significantly. Induced polarization data has been surveyed using dipole-dipole array in the Hamyj copper index. Electrode spacing was designed at about 20 m. The Hamyj index was explored based on the result of remote sensing and economic geology. Hamyj deposit is located about 80 km west of Birjand city, South Khorasan province, Iran. In this paper, the induced polarization from the concentration-place domain was transferred to the time-frequency domain by using two dimensional Fourier transforms in order to use the power spectrum-area method. Then, the power spectrums of induced polarization signals were calculated and differentiated by means of fractal geometry. The threshold of separation for the design of digital filter was used to filter the data. Threshold IP and filtered data was calculated by concentration-area method. Finally, IP data and filtered data were compared with each other and 72 percentages of the anomalous data corresponded significantly with each other. The results showed that the power spectrum-area method can eliminate noise; hence, anomalies can be highlighted more sharply. As far as this study is concerned, this method can be used to suggest the best places for drilling.

Effects of Video- and Pamphlet-based Patient Educations on Anxiety and Satisfaction Among Candidates for Gastroscopy

Background: Endoscopy is a diagnostic tool, which causes its candidates different levels of anxiety. Anxiety can reduce patients’ tolerance and cooperation and increase the likelihood of endoscopy-related complications. One strategy to alleviate anxiety is patient education. However, previous studies reported conflicting findings about the most appropriate patient education method. Objectives: This study aimed at examining the effects of video- and pamphlet-based patient educations on anxiety and satisfaction among candidates for gastroscopy. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 90 patients referred to the endoscopy unit of Valiasr hospital in Birjand city, Iran. The patients were selected through convenience sampling method and randomly allocated to a video, pamphlet, or control group. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a researcher-made questionnaire for satisfaction assessment, and the Spielberger’s state-trait anxiety inventory. One day before gastroscopy, the participants completed the demographic questionnaire and Spielberger’s state-trait anxiety inventory. Then, educations were provided to them. In the day of their gastroscopy, their anxiety was reassessed both two to three hours before and immediately after the procedure. Collected data were entered into the SPSS software version 15. As all study variables had normal distribution, the data were analyzed by performing the one-way analysis of variance, the Tukey’s post hoc, the paired- and independent-sample t test, the chi-square, and Fisher’s exact tests at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The groups did not differ significantly from each other regarding the pretest and posttest values of total, state, and trait anxiety. However, the level of patient satisfaction in the video group was significantly greater than the control and pamphlet groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, patient satisfaction was not significantly correlated with patients’ demographic characteristics. Conclusions: Video-based patient education can improve patient satisfaction among candidates for gastroscopy.

Prevalence of Cigarette Smoking and Related Factors in Birjand, Iran During Year 2014

Background Smoking is amongst unhealthy behaviors that endangers public health and can impose significant costs on the society. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of cigarette smoking and related factors in Birjand city, Eastern Iran, during year 2014.Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 5235 participants in Birjand city, east of Iran, during year 2014. We analyzed comprehensive data from Birjand study. Researchers asked participants to complete a check-list, which contained demographic questions and infectious disease risk factors. Binary logistic regression model was performed and P Results Prevalence of smoking was 7.0% (2.0% in females and 12.7% in males). No history of cigarette smoking (OR = 0.02, P Conclusions The prevalence of cigarette smoking was lower than similar studies in Iran. This study showed that males smoked cigarettes more than females. The results showed that it is better to plan for the future to control cigarette smoking and its related factors.

The Effects of Philosophical Stories on Emotional Intelligence and Educational Progress of Students in Science Lessons

The present study aims to study the effects of philosophical stories on emotional intelligence and educational progress in science lessons among students of second grade who are studying in Shahid schools of Birjand City. The present study is of semi-experimental type and its statistical population includes all elementary students of Birjand City. In the present study, the two-stage cluster sampling is used. Among all elementary schools, the Shahid schools were selected out of which the second grader are included in the statistical population. Out of the statistical population 50 students are randomly assigned to test group (25 students) and control group (25 students). The instruments of data collection in the present study are Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT, 1998) and researcher’s questionnaire of educational progress. The results are analyzed through SPSS Software (version.19) and covariance analysis. The results show that philosophical stories significantly contribute to improved emotional intelligence and educational progress in science lessons among students of second grade who are studying in Shahid schools of Birjand City. Therefore, one may state that the usage of philosophical stories make the students interested in education and improves their educational condition. In addition, the teachers could increase the students’ emotional intelligence and educational progress. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n2p282

The role of desalination in removal of the chemical, physical and biological parameters of drinking water (a case study of Birjand City, Iran)

One of the important components of public health is providing clean water in communities. According to documentations by international organizations, it is clear that high percentage of illnesses is directly related to water consumption in the society. Considering the fact that large mineral content in water can cause problems for consumers, the use of desalination to remove the minerals solute would therefore be a great idea in Iran. This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed to evaluate the role of six desalination devices (reverse osmosis) in Birjand that can remove chemical and physical parameter inputs such as nitrate, nitrite, total hardness, electrical conductivity (EC), chromium(VI), manganese, total dissolved solids (TDS), and microbial parameters (fecal coliform and total coliform) of water. One hundred and forty-four (144) samples of input and output point’s desalination were harvested and analyzed according to standard methods. The results showed that these devices could remove up to 90% chromium(VI), TDS, salinity, nitrite, from input water and 100% in many cases. The concentrations of chemical parameters in treated water were as follows: TDS = 262–369 mg/l, total hardness = 92–200 mg/l as CaCO3, nitrate = 4.31–11 mg/l, nitrite = 0 mg/l, Cr = 0–0.002 mg/l, Ca = 6.4–12.8 mg/l, Mg = 17.3–40.3 mg/l, Mn = 0 mg/l, salinity = 63 mg/l, pH range = 7–7.6, fecal coliform = 0 (MPN/100), total coliform = 0 (MPN/100), EC = 403.4–507.7 μs/cm and membrane flux retention coefficient = 1. Analysis of input and output data using paired t-test showed significant differences in these parameters (p < 0.05). Thus to remove high levels of mineral from drinking water in Birjand and since heavy metal chromium(VI) in the resource water in that area is higher than the standard requirement, using these systems can achieve good results.

Comparing the Spiritual Health and Quality of Life in Addicted and Non-Addicted Patients in the City of Birjand, Iran.

BackgroundSubstance abuse is a chronic phenomenon that affects many physical, psychological, social, familial and economic elements. Abusers are left with severely reduced interaction both with other individuals and society.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the spiritual health of addicts and people with a normal quality of life in the city of Birjand, Iran.Patients and MethodsThe sample consisted of 100 non-addicted subjects and 100 patients who were drug addicts in treatment centers and rehabilitation facilities both public and private in Birjand. Normal sampling measures were used to find subjects of the same age and gender. The subjects completed a spiritual health questionnaire and the short form of the world health organization’s (WHO) Quality of life questionnaire, and the data were analyzed using multivariate ANOVA.ResultsThe results of ANOVA showed significant differences between addicted and non addicted individual on spiritual well-being subscales.ConclusionsThe strengthening of spiritual and religious attitudes among drug users encourages them to engage in and justify actions that are relevant to their health. When this happens, their quality of life increases significantly.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Infection (HCV) in Birjand, Iran, 2014

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important global concern, with a frequency of 3% (i.e., 170 million of the population has HCV-Ab). Additionally, 50% of HCV and 80% of transfusion transmitted infections (TTI) are chronic. In 20% of cases, HCV occurs as an acute infection, and in the remaining 80% of cases, it becomes chronic. In chronic patients, risk of cirrhosis is up to 44%, risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is 13%, and risk of mortality is 14%. As there is no vaccine available for the virus yet, and since most of the cases are asymptomatic, attention to the epidemiology of the disease among the population is a pressing concern. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HCV in Birjand city. Patients and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 5,235 people who live in Birjand city were selected; after gaining permission for the study, a signed consent form was obtained from each patient. Prevalence of HCV was determined by ELISA test, and positive cases underwent Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genotyping for confirmation. Results: The mean age of the participants was 39.7 ± 14.4. Among them, 52.2% were female and 29.9% had university degrees. Prevalence of HCV-Ab+ was about 0.2% with ELISA, and 0.14% of entire group were confirmed by PCR. No significant relationship was found for age, sex, and education (P > 0.05). Also, there was no significant relationship found with risk factors such as endoscopy, blood transfusion, surgery, hospitalization, phlebotomy, and alcohol drinking (P > 0.05). HCV-Ab was 200 times more prevalent in IV-drug abusers compared to non-addicted people. Also, the prevalence of HCV-Ab in non-IV-drug abuser addicts was 9.3 times higher than in non-addict patients. Prevalence of HCV-Ab in patients who reported illicit sexual activities was 13.3 times higher. In patients with a familial history of HCV, infection was 26.3 times more prevalent than in patients with no familial history (P < 0.001). Conclusions: In this study, the prevalence of HCV was 0.2%, which is lower than the mean prevalence in Iran (1%). Prevalence of HCV had a significant relationship with IV-drug abuse.

The effect of brand experience, service quality and perceived value on brand loyalty study (Case Study: National Bank of Birjand city)

In the era of knowledge-based economy, the value-creating activities of the organization ??are not only based on their tangible assets, but the organization's ability to use the intangible assets, will form the main power of their value creating. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of brand experience, service quality and perceived value on loyalty to the brand in the National Bank of Birjand city. Hypothesized relations between the dimensions of brand marketing experience, service quality and perceived value of loyalty, with data that were selected through structured questionnaires from 254 in person clients of National Bank of Birjand by simple random sampling, were collected and analyzed. Research methodology in this study, from the nature dimension is applied and in terms of methodology is descriptive - survey. For the questionnaire validity, content validity was used and for the reliability, the Cronbach's alpha that the results of which were calculated 0.97 for the questionnaire was used and for data analysis, the structural equation modeling method with the partial least square approach of Smart PLS software has been used. The results of the analysis showed that there is a relation between brand experience marketing dimension and perceived value with brand loyalty directly and indirectly (through a mediator variable), however, a direct relationship between the quality of service and loyalty is not confirmed, but through mediator variables, the consent of the brand and trust to the brand the relation was confirmed.

Measles Elimination Program in Southern Khorasan-e-Razavi From 2001 to 2011

Based on a 5-year strategy of the Eastern Mediterranean Region since 1999 in the countries that are able to eliminate measles disease, achieving high immunization coverage of over 90% with two doses of MMR, vaccine has been administered in their immunization program that the 1st dose of MMR, immunization coverage doses of vaccine had been administered in over 15 countries and at the 2nd dose over 11 countries were covered over 95% in 2009 [1]. The elimination phase of measles will be achieved when the indigenous transmission of measles is ceased by widespread vaccination in the country. In Khorasan province (before dividing Khorasan to 3 sub-provinces of Northern, Razavi and Southern) 1920 suspected cases were reported to Center of Diseases Control of Iran (CDC) from 2001 to 2005 that suspected cases of neighboring cities of Gonabad and Bajestan cities had the same statues meaning that Ghaenat (Ghaen city) had reported 39 suspected cases from 2001 to 2006 (according to CDC), Torbat-e-Heidariah 169, Ferdows 80 and Kashmar city 79 cases, but 58 cases was reported from Gonabad city at that time. The reported cases across the country had been 122 cases from 2001 2004 [2]. The most important index was detection of 2 suspected cases in 100,000 populations that its incidence was more than 1 and it was 22.5 and 15.4 in 2002 and 2010 in sequence. The incidence of the disease was 7.4 in Birjand, 2.6 in Bojnoord, 4.4 in Mashhad city in 2010 and 6.2 in Sabzevar city in 2007 with the most range of the disease. It seems that one of the most strong points of the program in Gonabad city was low size of its population (in comparing with other cities of Khorasan province) that makes the relationship and interaction easier with other organizations and offices resulted in fast detection and identifying of suspected cases. Considering laboratory results, we found 33 positive cases in Mashhad and 3 in Birjand city in 2010. In 2009 only 5 cases in Mashhad and 7 cases of laboratory positive cases had been recorded in Birjand city in 2007 and 2008. Reporting of detected cases of measles within 48 hours after appearing of cutaneous rashes is from the aims of measles elimination program that in this research the index has been less than 80% before the year 2007, but after that it has increased higher than 90% through improvement of reporting system [3]. In 2006 the index was 57% in Birjand, 75% in Bojnoord, 54% in Mashhad and 48% in Sabzavar city, but it increased gradually in the following years, so that it was 71% in Birjand, 49% in Mashhad, 73% in Sabzevar and 37% (decrease) in Bojnoord city. One of the most important points in the elimination of measles program is to decrease clinically approved cases (sample less) because it decreased from national index in general that Birjand city had 1, Bojnoord 2, Mashhad 26 and Sabzevar city had 5 clinically approved cases in 2010. We conclude that it is necessary to promote and strengthen the system of teaching, informing system and people participation in referring to health centers on time.

Application of the fractal method to determine the membership function parameter for geoelectrical data (case study: Hamyj copper deposit, Iran)

The selection of a suitable membership function and its parameters plays a critical role in the integration of layer information by the fuzzy method. In this paper, parameters of membership function for induced polarization (IP) and resistivity (RS) data (in the Hamyj copper deposit) have been determined by the threshold parameter of IP and resistivity data, already determined by expert opinion or drilling data. The Hamyj deposit is located about 80 km west of Birjand city, South Khorasan province, Iran. In this area, resistivity and induced polarization data have been surveyed by dipole–dipole array. In this paper, outlier-induced polarization data have been corrected by the Doerffel method and then IP and resistivity data have been inversed by the Newton and Gauss–Newton methods. The threshold of the IP data is recognized by statistical (gap statistic) and fractal (concentration–area) methods. The determined threshold by the fractal method is higher than the gap statistic. These two thresholds have been used to determine the S-shape function for the IP data. The thresholds of the RS data are recognized by the fractal method. These two thresholds have been used to determine the Z-shape function for the RS data. The integration of geoelectrical layer information has been carried out by the Gama method. Finally, the best drilling points were proposed based on fuzzy modelling for the area. The results show that the optimum exploration borehole is located at a depth of 25 m.