Conflicting perceptions on participation between citizens and members of local government.

There is a growing consensus among citizens and members of local government that citizen participation is desirable for local government. However in practice, there are differing perceptions between them regarding the level and extent of citizen participation. As citizen participation is a multi faceted concept, its meaning is construed differently by both the members of local government and the citizen groups.

Down-regulation of CatSper 1 and CatSper 2 genes by lead and mercury.

In the study of the expression of CatSper genes, consideration of the effects of environmental metal toxicity is very important. Therefore, in this study, the effects of lead acetate and mercury chloride exposure on expression of CatSper genes, sperm parameters, histology of testis and prooxidant antioxidant balance (PAB) values of serum were investigated. A total of 28 mice was divided into four groups.

Preventive effects of garlic (Allium sativum) on oxidative stress and histopathology of cardiac tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Since some complications of diabetes mellitus may be caused or exacerbated by an oxidative stress, the protective effects of garlic (Allium sativum) were investigated in the blood and heart of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, garlic, diabetic, and diabetic+garlic. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal (i.

The evaluation of Candida albicans biofilms formation on silicone catheter, PVC and glass coated with titanium dioxide nanoparticles by XTT method and ATPase assay.

Lots of Candida albicans infections involve in biofilm formation on medical devices. This kind of biofilm can impede antifungal therapy and complicates the treatment of infectious diseases particularly in field of chronic diseases associated with implanted devices. This study has investigated the influence of treating silicone catheter, PVC and glass coated with Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on attachment of C.

Prevalence of GJB2-associated deafness and outcomes of cochlear implantation in Iran.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of mutations in the coding exon of the GJB2 gene in Iranian children with cochlear implants, and to compare the outcomes of auditory perception and speech production in cochlear-implanted children with and without GJB2 mutation.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and sixty-six prelingually deaf children who had undergone cochlear implantation at the Iranian Cochlear Implant Center, Tehran, were selected from a pool of 428 implanted children. The prevalence of GJB2 gene mutations was assessed using nested polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.

Evaluation of DNA damage in the root cells of Allium cepa seeds growing in soil of high background radiation areas of Ramsar-Iran.

Plants are unique in their ability to serve as in situ monitors for environmental genotoxins. We have used the alkaline comet assay for detecting induced DNA damage in Allium cepa to estimate the impact of high levels of natural radiation in the soils of inhabited zones of Ramsar. The average specific activity of natural radionuclides measured in the soil samples for 226Ra was 12,766 Bq kg(-1) whereas in the control soils was in the range of 34-60 Bq kg(-1).

High background radiation areas of Ramsar in Iran: evaluation of DNA damage by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).

The hot springs in special areas in Ramsar, a northern coastal town in Iran, contain (226)Ra and (222)Rn. The natural radiation effects, radiosensitivity or adaptive responses, on the inhabitants of high natural radiation in Ramsar were studied. The single cell gel electrophoresis was used to monitor DNA damages.