سمانه حیدری

 This study aims to assess the implementation of drug-related harm reduction programs in Iranian prisons and suggest solutions for their improvement.

 This study was conducted in three steps. First, library method was used for collecting data from the central library of Iran’s Prisons, Security and Corrective Measures Organization. In the second step, performance indicators were extracted based on the results of first step and two researcher-made checklists were designed. Finally, a field visit and a semi-structured interview with the authorities involved in the treatment and harm reduction services were carried out.

 In most of prisons, drug-related harm reduction programs were underway. Despite a lack of human resources and budget at the beginning, the quality of measures was gradually increased and the attitude of authorities was improved. Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Triangular Clinics were the most common harm reduction programs, in addition to HIV and tuberculosis screening programs in collaboration with medical sciences universities. The program continued despite the change of officials.

 Harm reduction programs are able to reduce infection diseases, self-harm and violent behaviors in prisons of Iran. Cultural programs along with other harm reduction programs, briefings and seeking support from the authorities can greatly help with continuation of the programs in prisons. By eliminating the shortage of manpower and redefining the security areas for ordinary prisoners, it will be possible to make better use of the facilities of universities and research centers.

Introduction :

Along with the rapid growth of urbanization and the issues of global warming, environmental pollution, the urban heat island, and climate change, thermal comfort has turned into one of the most influential factors in adaptation of the design of climate-related urban open spaces. Today, the high temperature in human-made areas has doubled the need to consider thermal comfort in open urban spaces. Thus, wind flow is regarded as one of the most influential climatic parameters, where the speed and movement of the wind affect human thermal comfort.

Theoretical Framework :

The traditional architecture and urban planning applied in the city of Isfahan, Iran makes up a unique local examples of Iranian architecture, which has been forced to provide many climatic solutions due to the hot, dry climatic conditions. In the past half century, however, a new pattern has emerged in building massing models as a result of the changes in the forms of housing space into different types of dense multi-family housing. Due to their extension and pervasiveness in Iran, these terraced housing models can be considered as part of the new urban planning trend in the country. Because of the increase in density and building surface ratios, however, part of the self-purification capacity of the urban environment has vanished, and certain construction models have become common in different climates with unfavorable conditions. As many cities are looking for solutions to apply compression and massing as far as possible, the drawbacks of the previous model have become more prominent, and a need has arisen for solutions to the current situation, in order to reduce the probable adverse consequences in the future. The consequences that may arise from this trend include a lack of thermal comfort in open urban spaces, an increase in heat exchange between indoor and outdoor spaces, and a rise in energy loss as a result. A master plan and an auxiliary force to urban designers and planners, the Booklet for Urban Planning and Building Regulations of the city of Isfahan always seeks to modify this pattern in the current situation. In the present study, therefore, attempts are made to consider the existing directions in the booklet and examine the role of physical factors in wind flow and its extent in the new fabric of the city.

Due to its applied nature, this research uses the descriptive-analytical method and documentary and field techniques for data collection. Moreover, the large eddy simulation (LES) model is used for analysis of the defined scenarios.

In order to achieve its purposes, the present study was designed in three phases. Thus, the effective physical indicators were first extracted through examination of the theoretical foundations related to thermal comfort, and their overlap with the directions in the Booklet for Urban Planning and Building Regulations of Isfahan was then studied. In the final step, LES was conducted through definition of the probable scenarios based on terrace housing models of the dominant line in the new fabric of Isfahan. An analysis of the simulation of different scenarios confirmed that an increase in lot coverage ratio, among the extracted indicators, caused a sharp decrease in speed ratio, while an increase in building height led to a decrease in speed ratio, and density exhibited a different effect, which could be interpreted along with the other criteria.

Based on the results, lot coverage ratio is the most effective parameter on air flow in the area, and density is not a suitable criterion for such measurement. Moreover, the effect of a change in lot coverage ratio on wind speed is greater than that of a change in building height. As for passage width, the fluctuations in speed ratio on narrow streets are far more limited than those on wide alleys and streets. Thus, speed is higher at the beginning and end of an alley than at the middle. In scenarios where building height is set between 10.5 and 14 meters, therefore, proper conditions are provided for urban air quality, ventilation, and air pollution.

The lavender is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in Iran, which has been used in traditional medicine since the past. This study aimed to identify the chemical compounds and antibacterial activity of Lavandula sublepidota essential oil which is an endemic species in Iran.

In this study, chemical compounds of Lavandula sublepidota essential oil were identified using gas chromatography. The inhibition zone diameter of the Lavandula sublepidota essential oil on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli was identified on a concentration of 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml, respectively, by disk and well diffusion methods. Common antibiotics, including Ampicillin, Enrofloxacin, Gentamicin, and Kanamycin were used to compare the microbial inhibition zone diameters. Moreover, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (diluted in liquid) and minimum bactericidal concentration of the aforementioned microorganisms were determined in this study.

In total, 99.41% of the essential oil compounds were identified using gas chromatography. Linalool was found to be the most abundant among the identified compounds (43.3%). The most sensitive and resistant bacteria to Lavandula sublepidota essential oil were S. aureus and P. aeruginosa with inhibition zone diameter of 30.70±0.40 and 10.10±0.68 in a concentration of 100 mg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the MICs of P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, B. cereus, and E. coli were estimated at 32, 8, 16, and 16 mg/ml, respectively.

The results of this study revealed that Lavandula sublepidota essential oil has an acceptable antibacterial activity against the pathogenic microorganisms. However, gram-positive bacteria obtained higher antimicrobial activity of the essential oil, compared to gram-negative bacteria. It is recommended that further studies be conducted to investigate the clinical application of Lavandula sublepidota essential oil.