Background/Objective: Hepatic lesions may be missed in the routine abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan protocol using soft tissue WINDOW setting. The ability to find these lesions is very important in the assessment of metastasis and follow-up of patients.Patients and Methods: In this study, 411 patients who underwent abdominal CT for various causes were evaluated separately by two radiologists blindly. All LIVER images were viewed in two different WINDOW SETTINGS, soft tissue WINDOW setting: WINDOW width (WW) of 350–400 Hounsfield units (HU), WINDOW level (WL) of 35–50 HU, and LIVER WINDOW setting: WW of 150 HU, WL of 50–100 HU, at the workstation.Results: Out of 411 patients, 181 (44%) were referred for cancer follow-up and 230 (56%) for evaluation of abdominal discomfort. Soft tissue WINDOW setting revealed no lesion in 334 (81.26%) patients, single lesion in 30 (7.31%), and multiple lesions in 47 (11.43%) patients. LIVER WINDOW setting revealed no lesion in 313 (76.2%) patients, single lesion in 35 (8.5%), and multiple LIVER lesions in 63 (15.3%) patients. Compared to LIVER WINDOW, soft tissue WINDOW setting revealed 77.77% of all detectable LIVER lesions. LIVER WINDOW showed new lesions in 22 (6.6%) of patients in whom no lesion had been found in soft tissue WINDOW setting. Therefore, LIVER WINDOW setting brought 5.3% increase in the diagnostic yield of CT in our series, and changed the decision for treatment in 2.4% of patients studied.Conclusion: LIVER WINDOW setting added to the standard soft tissue setting protocol of abdominal CT at the workstation can improve the diagnosis and follow-up of patients, especially for those who have known cancer. Image review with this new setting takes a few minutes and the cost is also low; there is no added radiation exposure to patients.

Background: According to some researches in recent years, Blastocystis is considered as the etiological agent of some gastrointestinal disorders. This parasite is polymorphic and its detection is not easy under the microscope. Because of this problem, several microscopic based studies have already reported different Blastocystis infection rates. Application of culture methods increases the chance of diagnosis of this parasite. The in vitro culture of Blastocystis in LIVER Infusion Tryptose (LIT) medium is described for the first time in this study.Materials and Methods: LIVER Infusion Tryptose (LIT) containing 10% fetal calf serum in screw-capped tubes was used. Samples incubated in 37°c and examined after 24, 48 and 72 hours.Results: 420 fresh stool samples were tested by LIT culture method and 100 positive samples (23.8%) of Blastocystis sp. were detected. while only 64 samples (15.2%) were positive with direct smear examination.Conclusion: This study highlights the same sensitivity of this culture media and other regular cultures media and it introduces a new medium for Blastocystis sp. detection.

Considering globalization and very intense competition between the main ports of the world, this paper tries to assess re-engineering processes using new servicing techniques in some of the most important regional and international ports. Today, traditional practices are considered as barriers to growth and expansion of the ports. High speed transportation and cargo handling requires new strategies and technologies. Regarding the intense competition to attract the customers, it is very necessary for Iranian ports to offer new services that satisfy customers. Using Information Technology (IT) and being adherence to international organizations like UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business) are some of these practices. Many ports have boomed with increasing global trade and therefore have faced new opportunities. Single WINDOW is one of the technologies that ports use to handle the high volume of goods and cargoes.

Close encounters with the Western culture and art starts under the Qajar rule. In this period, art elements of the West find their way in the Persian art and architecture. This paper reports the results of a survey of WINDOW-guards extant form the Qajar period in Hamadan City. Of an initial sample of 68 WINDOWs, 26 samples were selected for not being a repetition of other designs. These show a gradual evolution in technique and style of using wrought iron in four phases.In the first phase, a pattern formed with S-shaped elements covers the rectangular area of a WINDOW, while the semicircular area under the spanning arch is usually blocked. In the second phase, by modifying the ‘S’ element, all the WINDOW area is covered. In the third phase, the S element is further modified, its tips become convoluted and its proportions are freely changed to fill rectangular areas. In the fourth phase, the WINDOW-guard is treated as a decorative architectural element. Therefore, in addition to the S element, other decorative spiral elements are used.

"Demographic WINDOW" refers to a particular period, in the demographic history of a population, in which age-dependency ratio falls to an unprecedented low level. This period is short, the beginning and end of it can be estimated, and it lasts about three to four decades.The Demographic WINDOW of Iran began at the threshold of 2006 census and is expected to end by 2046. Therefore, it is expected to last for almost 4 decades. Thereafter, the population of Iran moves towards becoming old, to an unprecedented level in its history.In the demographic history of each country, demographic WINDOW opens once, and during the time it is open, it provides an exceptional opportunity for the development of the country. However, it is not automatic. It should be activated and guided. Demographic WINDOW becomes a demographic bonus only with appropriate preparation: policy-making, planning and correct implementation of programs.Several years, apparently unnoticed, passed since Iran entered its demographic WINDOW. Time is moving fast and this short time span becomes shorter. Therefore, it seems urgent to conduct required studies for the appropriate utilization of this unrepeatable opportunity for the development of the country.