The influence of crime prevention through environmental design on victimisation and fear of crime

People's perception of crime and incivilities vary considerably depending on their attitudes towards environmental conditions. This paper investigated the hypothesised relationships between Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), victimisation and fear of crime. The checklist was administered by using on-site observation to measure the CPTED construct followed by a self-administered questionnaire to explore the residents' perceptions of victimisation and fear of crime in their area of residency. In all, 164 respondents from a selected group of residents were involved in this study. The structural equation modelling technique was employed and the results indicate that CPTED is negatively related to victimisation. The model also shows that there is a significant positive direct influence of victimisation on fear of crime. However, no direct significant relationship was found between CPTED and fear of crime, but a negative indirect relationship between CPTED and fear of crime was observed through victimisation.     

A study on Aspergillus species in houses of asthmatic patients from Sari City, Iran and a brief review of the health effects of exposure to indoor Aspergillus

To study the distribution of Aspergillus spp. in outdoor and indoor air of asthmatic patients’ houses, as well as a review on the health effects of exposure to indoor Aspergillus. Open plates containing malt extract agar media were used to isolate fungi from the indoor (n?=?360) and outdoor (n?=?180) air of 90 asthmatic patients’ houses living in Sari City, Iran. Plates were incubated at room temperature for 7–14 days. Cultured Aspergillus spp. were identified by standard mycological techniques. All culture plates grew fungi, a testament to the ubiquitous nature of fungal exposure. Cladosporium spp. (29.2%), Aspergillus spp. (19.0%), and Penicillium spp. (18.3%) were most common inside the houses while Cladosporium spp. (44.5%), Aspergillus spp. (12.4%), and Alternaria spp. (11.1%) were most common outside the houses. Aspergillus flavus (30.1%) and A. fumigatus (23.1%) are the most commonly isolated species in indoor air. Aspergillus flavus (44.5%) and A. fumigatus (42.6%) were the most prevalent Aspergillus spp. outside. The most colony numbers of Aspergillus were isolated from kitchens (30.4%) and the least from bedrooms (21.1%). Aspergillus flavus was the most prevalent specie in all sampled rooms except in the kitchen where A. fumigatus was the most common. Aspergillus flavus is the most prevalent species among the Aspergillus spp. in the indoor and outdoor of a warm climate area. In these areas, A. flavus can be a major source of allergen in the air. Therefore, minimizing indoor fungal exposure could play an important role in reducing allergic symptoms in susceptible persons.     

Iodine deficiency status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: a systematic review

Iodine deficiency is a global public health issue because iodine plays a major role in the thyroid hormone synthesis and is essential for normal neurological development. This review summarizes the publications on iodine status in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. All related studies available in main national and international databases were systematically searched using some specific keywords to find article published between 1909 and 2015. The prevention of iodine deficiency disorders (IDDs) in the WHO EMR countries is currently under control without significant side effects. Mild to severe IDDs exist in some countries of the Middle East, due to lack of effective iodine supplementation program, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Bahrain and Tunisia have achieved the goal of universal salt iodization. Overall, despite enormous efforts to control IDDs, still IDD remains a serious public health problem in some countries of the region, requiring urgent control and prevention measures.     

Acute toxicity of waterborne manganese to Rutilus caspicus (Yakovlev, 1870) – gill histopathology,immune indices,oxidative condition,and saltwater resistance

The acute toxicity of manganese (Mn) in Caspian roach Rutilus caspicus was determined. The 96 h-LC₅₀ was calculated to be 300 (240–360) mg L^?1. Then, fish were exposed for 96 h to 300 (96 h-LC₅₀), 150 (50% of 96 h-LC₅₀), 60 (20% of 96 h-LC₅₀), and 0 (control group) mg L^?1 Mn. Exposure to all Mn concentrations led to fish gill damages, including epithelial lifting, hyperplasia, lamellar fusion, aneurism, and lamellar curling. Also, the fish exposed to all Mn concentrations showed decreased plasma alternative complement and lysozyme activity. Whole body superoxide dismutase, catalase, and malondialdehyde showed significant increases in the Mn-exposed fish which also exhibited lower tolerance to saltwater than the control group.