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Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate drug use disorders which are a major cause of Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods: This article is a part of the global burden of diseases (GBD), injuries, and risk factors 2019 study. The GBD modeling approach was used to estimate population-level prevalence of drug use disorders. We combined these estimates with disability weights to calculate years of life lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 1990–2019. Results: It is estimated that in 2019 in EMR around 3.4 million people have drug use disorder which has increased by 137% compared to 1990. Also, in 2019, DALY number for drug use disorders was 1217.9 (95% UI: 940.4, 1528.9) thousand years and 7645 (95% UI: 6793.7, 8567.9) deaths occurred. The DALY rate increased 39.6% in the region since1990, whereas the global rate increased by 24.4%. United Arab Emirates, Libya, and Iran were most affected by drug use disorders with the highest rates of age-standardized DALY in EMR in 2019. The most prevalent drug use disorder in the region is opioid use which is accountable for 80% of all drug use disorders DALYs. Conclusion: Despite many interventions, drug use disorders are still responsible for high rates of DALY in the region which has increased since 1990 in both males and females; more comprehensive policies, better control measures and proper education could reduce the adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characteristics of livers and spleens of people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) could constitute good biomarkers of MS-related characteristics such as the disability status. To test the hypothesis "the gross anatomical features of livers and spleens, are not similar between pwMS with different disease characteristics" a cross-sectional study was conducted on pwMS seen at the Isfahan MS clinic, Iran, from February until December 2023. Definitive, otherwise-healthy, pwMS were enrolled after an initial laboratory evaluation. Presence/absence and grading of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the span of spleen were determined by a radiologist using high-resolution abdominopelvic ultrasonography. 193 pwMS (160 women) were enrolled. Of whom, 143 (74.1%) were receiving first-line disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), 24 (12.4%) fingolimod, and 26 (13.5%) rituximab. The span of spleen was negatively associated with EDSS (adjusted β [SE] − 4.08 [1.52], p < 0.01), as well as 6 m-CDW (adjusted β [SE] − 6.94 [3.56], p = 0.05), unlike age, DMTs, and MS duration (all with p > 0.05). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed, spleen span performs significant but poor in discrimination of EDSS > 1 from EDSS = 1 (area under curve [AUC] 0.62, SE 0.05, p < 0.01), yet, significant and fair in discrimination of presence from absence of 6 m-CDW (AUC 0.72, SE 0.06, p < 0.01). Other findings were unremarkable. Further longitudinal, prospective studies are warranted to confirm whether smaller spleens are predictive of higher disability accrual rate in pwMS. Particularly, findings require further validation in untreated/treatment-naïve pwMS, and ones with higher EDSS scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attaining sustainable agriculture requires water consumption management. A water allocation optimization model was developed for the Moghan irrigation network (northwest of Iran) based on the AquaCrop plug-in model. The genetic algorithm was applied to optimize water allocation for five main crops, including wheat, first-cultivation maize, second-cultivation maize, soybeans, and alfalfa. The heuristic economic utility (EU) function was used as the objective function to optimize water allocation. In this function, drained water salinity was applied as a penalty factor to the total benefit, and soil salinity deterioration due to irrigation was also considered as a factor in each crop's benefit. The results showed that the optimal allocated water depth was 17% less than the normal water consumption. Moreover, the application of soil water salinity coefficients did not affect the ratio of EU to EB (economic benefits) for wheat and alfalfa. However, first-cultivation maize, second-cultivation maize, and soybeans cultivation led to a reduction in EU within the study area. A combination of the crops cultivation led to a change in river water quality and an 8.2% reduction in the ratio of EU to EB function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The presence of toxic heavy metals (HMs) in agricultural crops ‎can be considered as a noteworthy threat for consumers. The aim of this study was to assess the content of HMs ‎(Pb, As, Cr, Cd, Co, Hg, and Ag) and their potential health risk in summer crops and vegetables (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, melon, tomato, onion, ‎potato, raw and stewed vegetables) in Ilam province, Iran. Methods: Totally, 31 crop samples were collected from local farms during the 2019 harvest ‎season and the elements ‎ content were evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The non-carcinogenic health risk of HMs to the adults and children was estimated by Monte Carlo simulation method and target hazard quotients (THQs). Results: In general, the results showed that the concentration of Cr in the studied ‎agricultural crops was higher than other HMs. As well as, the carcinogenic risk (CR) obtained for adults and children were more than the acceptable range for As. Also, CR for As in raw vegetable was the most (‎8.19E-1) and violated the threshold risk limit. The total carcinogenic risk of HMs in children was higher than that in adults. Conclusion: These results suggest that the agricultural crops were not safe for human consumption with potential risks associated. Due to the possible health effects of such products consumption, proper action should be taken to avoid chronic exposure, prevention of further pollution and consequent adverse health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal condition that is characterized by multiple pathological phenotypes. Oxidative stress caused by DS in individuals leads to DS phenotypes, which include various morphological abnormalities and externalizing disorders. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and reactive metabolites and the antioxidant defenses. Considering the physical and behavioral problems of adolescents with DS, the family is the first source of support for these adolescents. So one of the methods that can help adolescents with DS is family-based intervention. This study aimed to investigate the effects of family-based interventions on oxidative stress and social skills of adolescents with DS. The design of the research was quasi-experimental and pre-test/post-test with a control group. The study sample was 24 adolescents with DS in Rasht City, Guilan Province, Iran, in 2023, who were selected by the convenience sampling method. To collect data, blood laboratory evaluation and strengths and difficulties questionnaire (teacher form) were used before and after the training. The experimental group received behavioral management group training for 10 sessions, and the control group did not receive any training. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis of covariance. The results showed that family-based interventions improved oxidative stress and increased social skills of adolescents with DS (p < 0.001). According to these results, family-based interventions can have important implications for social adaptation and the prevention of physical problems in individuals with DS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Discovery of underlying intermediates associated with the development of dyslipidemia results in a better understanding of pathophysiology of dyslipidemia and their modification will be a promising preventive and therapeutic strategy for the management of dyslipidemia. Methods: The entire dataset was selected from the Surveillance of Risk Factors of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in 30 provinces of Iran (STEPs 2016 Country report in Iran) that included 1200 subjects and was stratified into four binary classes with normal and abnormal cases based on their levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and non-HDL-C. Plasma concentrations of 20 amino acids and 30 acylcarnitines in each class of dyslipidemia were evaluated using Tandem mass spectrometry. Then, these attributes, along with baseline characteristics data, were used to check whether machine learning (ML) algorithms could classify cases and controls. Results: Our ML framework accurately predicts TG binary classes. Among the models tested, the SVM model stood out, performing slightly better with an AUC of 0.81 and a standard deviation of test accuracy at 0.04. Consequently, it was chosen as the optimal model for TG classification. Moreover, the findings showed that alanine, phenylalanine, methionine, C3, C14:2, and C16 had great power in differentiating patients with high TG from normal TG controls. Conclusions: The comprehensive output of this work, along with sex-specific attributes, will improve our understanding of the underlying intermediates involved in dyslipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the optimization of the location of oil production and injection wells, the number of production and injection wells, and the economic evaluation in the water injection process has been carried out using three algorithms: PSO, GA, and HGAPSO. Optimizing the oil extraction process by optimizing well locations, the optimal number of production and injection wells, and economic evaluation can improve the performance and efficiency of the process. In this study, the optimization of the water injection process into oil reservoirs using the PSO, GA, and HGAPSO algorithms has been addressed. Additionally, economic evaluation, considering costs and profits from oil production using the best-optimized parameters, has been conducted, and the best Net Present Value (NPV) has been calculated. Initially, the optimal well location problem is modeled, taking into account reservoir characteristics and geological conditions. Using the PSO and GA algorithms, the best well location and number of water injection wells have been obtained, leading to improved efficiency and cost reduction. Then, the GA algorithm is used to combine and modify viewpoints and optimize the number and location of wells. This algorithm explores optimal solutions in the well location space. Economic evaluation is performed using the best-optimized parameters by the algorithms. Costs of water injection, oil production costs, and profits from increased oil production are considered. By calculating the best Net Present Value (NPV), optimal decisions regarding the water injection process and enhancing the performance of oil reservoirs are made. Simulation results indicate that the GA algorithm outperforms other algorithms and can be used as a robust and effective method for optimizing well locations and the number of production and injection wells in the oil injection process. Ultimately, this study assists the oil industry in making better decisions about optimizing water injection and improving the efficiency and profitability of the process using the introduced optimization algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescence is a crucial period for identity formation and sexual exploration, and many adolescents turn to online media platforms to enhance this aspect of their lives. Given the interactive nature of these platforms, there is a possibility for adolescents to share sexual content. This study investigates the lived experiences of teenage girls regarding the consequences of sharing sexual content on social networks. Employing a qualitative method of descriptive phenomenology, this research focuses on understanding the multifaceted outcomes associated with the dissemination of sexual content in the sexually conservative culture of Iran. The participants comprised adolescent girls aged 16–19 residing in Tehran during the winter of 2023. A targeted sampling technique was employed, with data collection continuing until saturation was achieved. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data analysis was performed using the seven-step Claysey method. Through 12 interviews emerged 59 sub-codes, 14 main codes, and 4 core codes, encompassing the themes of need satisfaction, consequences within online relationships, interpersonal consequences, and social consequences. The findings of this study underscore the diverse consequences of sharing sexual content, influenced by cultural factors. These results aim to enhance parental awareness and support relevant professionals in safeguarding children and adolescents against potential stigma, trauma, and abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the scarcity of meteorological observation stations in some areas, there is not enough data available for hydrological simulation as one of the main subjects of hydrology and environmental subjects. This can be partially solved by extracting the required data from global climate centers. The essential data for modeling rainfall-runoff of Dez watershed (16,000 km2), Khuzestan province, Iran, for a 20-year period (1990–2010) were obtained from NCEP CFSR climate center. The simulation (calibration and validation) was done by Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and Identification of Unit Hydrographs and Component Flows from Rainfall, Evapotranspiration and Streamflow (IHACRES) models. The SWAT-CUP software has been used for optimization, calibrating and analyzing the uncertainty of the SWAT model by communicating with the model. The ability of the models to simulate the runoff of the basin was determined using the coefficient of determination (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE). R2 and NSE for the SWAT model were 0.75, and 0.78 (calibration), and 0.59 and 0.72 (validation); for the IHACRES model, they were equal to 0.63 and 0.69 (calibration), and 0.54 and 0.66 (validation), respectively. The SWAT model performed better than the IHACRES model by efficiently using the climatic database of NCEP CFSR center. The IHACRES model was also able to simulate the runoff of the watershed with a relatively high correlation with the observational data. It is possible to simulate and predict rainfall-runoff of the Dez watershed using the tested models for taking the measures, which may avoid natural phenomenon including flooding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important aspects of climate change is alterations in the amount and characteristics of precipitation. The present study intended to project precipitation changes over Iran based on the regional models of the CORDEX project under two scenarios (namely, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). For this purpose, six indices, including maximum 1-day precipitation, simple precipitation intensity index, maximum length of dry spell, annual count of days when PRCP ≥ 10 mm, annual count of days when PRCP ≥ 1 mm, and annual total precipitation in wet days, were extracted. MERRA2 reanalysis precipitation data, highly correlated with observation data from 48 weather stations all over the country, were used for the 1980–2006 time period to assess the CORDEX project outputs. The results were presented in three different time periods, including the base period (1980–2006), the near future (2021–2050), and the far future (2071–2100). The results of the analyses indicated that four indices, namely the maximum 1-day precipitation, the annual count of days when PRCP ≥ 1 mm, the annual count of days when PRCP ≥ 10 mm, and the annual total precipitation in wet days, demonstrated a decrease in precipitation and an increase in dry spells all over the country except for the east and the southeast regions where these indices will increase compared to the base period (except for the maximum length of the dry spell). Research Highlights: 1. The study focuses on monitoring and projecting spatiotemporal changes in extreme precipitation indices over Iran for historic (1980 to 2006), near future (2021-2050), and far future (2071-2100) time periods. 2. From 1980 to 2006, MERRA2 reanalysis precipitation data show a strong spatial correlation with monthly observational data, and total precipitation shows negative significant trends in the northwest and positive significant trends in the north. 2. From 1980 to 2006, MERRA2 reanalysis precipitation data show a strong spatial correlation with monthly observational data, and total precipitation shows negative significant trends in the northwest and positive significant trends in the north. 3. For projecting extreme precipitation, four CORDEX-WAS models based on two RCPs (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) are used. 4. A precise plane is required to deal with precipitation reduction and increased dry spells in the near and far future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the Tethyan belt, the NW-Iranian block is bound by two sutures, the Sevan-Akera suture in the north, and the Zagros suture in the south, where the pre-Cambrian geology is poorly constrained. Lower-Middle Cambrian sandstone in NW Iran is represented by quartz and feldspar dominated sub-arkose and sub-litharenite with well-developed cross bedding structures. They are interlayered with shale and limestone and overlain unconformably by Middle Cambrian dolomite. Here we describe and present U–Pb ages of the detrital zircon and rutile together with in-situ ε-Hf data from Lower to Middle Cambrian sandstones. Some zircons are characterized by oscillatory zoning and Th/U ratios of 0.3 to 2.0, pointing to an igneous provenance. Ages of the detrital zircons range from 481 to 2762 Ma, whereby the majority of zircons have ages between 524 and 1000 Ma (Neoproterozoic), and small peaks at 1800–2000 and 2400–2600 Ma. Late Paleoproterozoic to Mesoproterozoic zircons (1100–1750 Ma) are absent in the detrital record which is a distinctive feature of Gondwana-related detrital zircons. Detrital rutile has elevated Cr contents and variable Zr content (88 to 1087 ppm), suggesting derivation mainly from amphibolite-facies meta-basic rocks. U–Pb rutile ages range from 561 to 1253 Ma. Initial ε-Hf values of the Neo-Proterozoic zircons range from -10 to 20, suggesting an association of highly depleted mantle and crustal magmas. Thus, the Lower-Middle Cambrian sandstones in Iranian Azerbaijan were supplied from a Neoproterozoic igneous and metamorphic provenance. Sandstone whole-rock major and trace elements are in accordance with a detrital material provenance from continental granitoids and Precambrian recycled sediments. These results support the hypothesis that Iranian Azerbaijan Cambrian detritus was supplied from repetitive recycling of the crystalline basement and related sedimentary cover of the Saharides and the Arabian-Nubian Shield and deposited in a passive-margin setting in northern Gondwana land. Our results show a close geological tie between Iranian Azerbaijan, Sanandaj-Sirjan, Zagros, Alborz, and other Gondwana-Land-derived units in terms of Early Paleozoic detritus sources. Northwest Iranian Block was probably a passive continental margin in Late Ediacaran-Cambrian after the so-called Cadomian orogeny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change alters the global distribution of leishmaniasis vector sandfly species. However, the possible effect of altering environmental factors on sandfly species varies by species and area. The aim of this study was to project the future potential effect of climate change on the Western Asian occurrence of the sandfly vector species Phlebotomus papatasi and Phlebotomus sergenti and the parasites Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica for 2041–2060 and 2081–2100 compared to their modelled climatic suitability patterns in the reference period 1970–2000. The model results suggest that by 2041–2060 and 2081–2100, in the coastal areas of the Levantine countries and the mid-elevation regions of Western Iran and Southeast Turkey, the climatic suitability of all the studied species is predicted to increase. In contrast, the model results suggest the decline of the populations of the studied vectors as well as the disappearance of the parasites in Iraq, North Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the inland regions of Western Asian countries. Considering the present-day population density patterns, it can be said that although in large regions of the region, the climatic suitability values are predicted to decrease, the populated Levantine regions seem to be at risk of climate change-facilitated increase in cutaneous leishmaniasis in the second half of the twenty-first century. The model results suggest that climate change will especially increase the climatic suitability of Leishmania tropica in the Levantine region in the late twenty-first century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zagros oak forests in Iran are facing a concerning decline due to prolonged and severe drought conditions over several decades, compounded by the simultaneous impact of temperature on oak populations. This study in oak woodlands of central Zagros forests in Lorestan province analyzed abiotic factors such as climate properties, topographic features, land use, and soil properties from 1958 to 2022. We found that higher elevation areas with steeper slopes and diverse topography show significant potential for enhancing oak tree resilience in the face of climate change. Additionally, traditional land use practices like livestock keeping and dryland farming contribute to a widespread decline in oak populations. Preserving forest biodiversity and ensuring ecological sustainability requires immediate attention. Implementing effective land-use management strategies, such as protecting and regulating human-forest interaction, and considering meteorological factors to address this issue is crucial. Collaborative efforts from stakeholders, policymakers, and local communities are essential to oppose destructive suburban sprawl and other developments. Sustainable forestry practices should be implemented to improve the living standards of local communities that rely on forests and traditional livestock keeping, offer forestry-related jobs, and ensure social security. Such efforts are necessary to promote conservation awareness and sustainable practices, safeguarding this unique and vital ecosystem for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Late Albian- Early Turonian Formation is the second-largest carbonate reservoir in the South and Southwest of Iran hosting significant accumulations of hydrocarbons deposited on the edge of the Neotethys. The purpose of this study is to analyze the sequence stratigraphy and Milankovitch cycles of the Sarvak Formation in three wells of the Anaran exploration block by using the Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis (MESA) of gamma ray logs and integration with core studies to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the formation. The study of 353 microscopic samples led to the identification of 8 microfacies including (a) mudstone to oligostigenid wackestone with benthic and pelagic foraminifera, (b) packstone-rudstone, (c) rudistic with benthic foraminifers, (d) bioclast intraclast, (e) grainstone with benthic foraminifers, (f) peloid Wackestone to peloid wackestone with low benthic foraminifera diversity, (g) Peloid packstone with diverse benthic Foraminifers and (h) Bioclast Wackestone, which are distributed in three facies belts ranging from lagoon to shoal and open marine settings. In addition to four third-order sedimentary sequences were also identified based on facies changes combined with the Prediction Error Filter Analysis (PEFA), Integrated Prediction Error Filter Analysis (INPEFA) diagrams. Examining the Milankovitch cycles based on the analysis of the distances between gamma peaks and MESA revealed 100 thousand year cycles. Orbital dating according to the counting of the Milankovitch cycles indicates the equivalent age of 11 to 12 million years for the Sarvak Formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of a spiritual care program (SCP), on the body image and resilience of second-degree burn patients in Iran. In this semi-experimental study, 60 patients with second-degree burns were selected in the Tehran Mottahari Burns Hospital, Iran in 2022. These patients were divided through random allocation into two intervention and control groups. The patients of both groups filled out Beck's self-esteem Test (BSCT) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) before, immediately, and 3 months after the intervention. In the intervention group, SCP was performed for eight sessions over two weeks. Firstly, the 4D Model of Spiritual Health and Well-Being was examined, then two one-hour sessions were held with each patient about each dimension, with a total of four dimensions including eight sessions, in which these dimensions were examined and discussed. There was no difference in the score of body image (P = 0.326) and resilience (P = 0.597) before intervention in the control and intervention groups. However, the mean of body image score in the intervention group immediately (109.56 ± 4.86) and 3 months after (109.16 ± 6.06) the intervention was significant, respectively. Also, the mean of resilience score in the intervention group was significant immediately (85.86 ± 6.78) and 3 months after the intervention (85.73 ± 6.27). It is suggested for healthcare providers to use the SCPs to reduce the recovery time of burned patients and reduce complications and treatment costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recent evidence suggests that adherence to dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet can be effective in managing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated the effect of DASH diet on hepatic fibrosis, steatosis and liver enzymes in patients with NAFLD. Methods: This 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted among seventy patients with NAFLD who were randomly assigned into two groups including intervention group (DASH diet containing 50–55% carbohydrate, 15–20% protein, and 30% total fat) and the control group (a healthy diet containing 50–55% carbohydrate, 15–20% protein, and 30% total fat). Both diets were calorie-restricted (500–700 kcal lower than the energy requirement). The primary outcomes included hepatic fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Results: At the baseline, there was no significant difference between two groups in the level of hepatic fibrosis (P = 0.63), hepatic steatosis (P = 0.53), ALT (P = 0.93), AST (P = 0.18) and GGT (P = 0.76). A significant reduction was found in the intervention group compared to the control group in hepatic fibrosis (23 grades reduction vs. 7 grades reduction; P = 0.008) and hepatic steatosis (31 grades reduction vs. 9 grades reduction; P = 0.03) after intervention. In addition, a significant change was observed in the intervention group compared to control group in ALT (– 8.50 ± 8.98 vs. – 2.09 ± 7.29; P = 0.002), and AST (– 5.79 ± 6.83 vs. – 0.51 ± 6.62; P = 0.002). Conclusions: Adherence to DASH diet may be effective in management of NAFLD. Trial registration: The trial was registered on 06 February 2022 at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20170117032026N3) with URL: https://www.irct.ir/trial/60887. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing number of studies show that transgender people are at higher risk for psychiatric morbidities. This increased vulnerability can result from the discrimination, violence, and other forms of stigma transgender people experience. Several studies have assessed the stigma by studying the public attitudes and beliefs towards transgender people. Using the Genderism and Transphobia Scale, we evaluated how citizens of a metropolitan city in Iran think and feel about transgender people. A total number of 1202 participants, with a mean age of 41.57 years ± 13.41 (27.4% cisgender men and 72.6% cisgender women), were recruited via a random cluster sampling. Demographic data and socioeconomic status were collected for all the participants. The findings showed a notable level of transphobia. Participants identifying as men, being single, personally acquainted with a transgender individual, possessing a higher education, and having a higher socioeconomic standing displayed significantly more positive views towards transgender people. Iranian transgender people, living under a theocratic state, experience more challenges compared to those live in Western countries. Our findings demonstrate that educational level accounted for much of the variance in transgender attitudes. Therefore, representing transgender issues in social media can educate the general population and positively change attitudes and behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, have been increased by about 35% from 2011 to 2015 worldwide. The objective of this study was to assess the trend and pattern of diabetes and prediabetes prevalence in Iran and also evaluate the diagnosis and status of diabetes management. Methods: The results of this study are extracted from the National Stepwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS), conducted in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2021 in Iran. We evaluated all obtained data by questionnaires (demographic, epidemiologic, risk-related behavioral data), physical measurements, and laboratory measures. Results: The prevalence of diabetes almost doubled from 2007 to 2021 among adults 25 years old and above. Diabetes prevalence increased from 10.85% (95% CI:10.30–11.40) in 2016 to 14.15% (13.42–14.87) in 2021. Prediabetes prevalence increased from 18.11% (17.46- 18,76) in 2016 to 24.81% (23.88–25.74) in 2021. Diabetes diagnosis stayed constant hence; diabetes coverage improved from 56.87% (54.21–59.52) to 65.04% (62.40- 67.69). Despite an enhancement in diabetes diagnosis and coverage, diabetes effective care did not improve significantly during 2016 and 2021, with a number of 35.98% (32.60- 39.36) in 2016 and 31.35% (28.20- 34.51) in 2021. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in Iran is almost doubled during the past 14 years. Although, several health policies had been developed to improve the screening and quality of diabetes care; there are still significant gaps in the effective control of diabetes. Accordingly, the current care plan should be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highest quality pomegranate necessitates a tropical or subtropical environment for proper growth and development. This study evaluated two pomegranate cultivars including Rabab Poost Ghermez Neyriz (RPGN) and Makhmal Malas Shahreza (MMS) for physical traits, biochemical properties, and juice quality in their native locations as well as other warm and arid regions during two growing seasons (2019–2020 and 2020–2021) in Iran. The results showed that cultivars with the maximum redness (a*) were more likely to originate in cooler climates, and the cultivar's responses to changing climates were also different. According to pomegranate characteristics, cultivars in different regions had different fruit, aril, and skin weights. According to these findings, pomegranate fruits cultivated in other climates than the origin climate have a smaller edible fraction. The findings also demonstrate that pomegranate fruits cultivated in mountain climates have more significant biochemical parameters such as total phenol, anthocyanin content, antioxidant capacity, and vitamin C than those produced in desert environment settings. The increased titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), and pH values of pomegranates produced in origin climate than the warm environment; thus, suggest that changes in pomegranate cultivar origin had a clear impact on fruit juice quality. Environmental factors, such as wind speed, altitude, and annual precipitation, had a significant correlation with a* skin, TSS, fruit weight, aril weight, edible portion, pH, TA, phenol, antioxidants, and anthocyanin content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carnation, a major cut flower product cultivated economically in Iran, faces economic challenges due to the devastating Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. dianthi (Fod). To address this issue, twenty-five Trichoderma harzianum and T. viride isolates were collected from the rhizosphere soil of three Iranian provinces: Tehran, Markazi, and Fars. RAPD-PCR was applied to analyze the genetic relatedness of the isolates. Results: The RAPD profiles showed genetic diversity among the isolates, with two major clusters. The antagonistic potential of the twenty isolates was evaluated against the carnation wilt caused by Fod. The results showed that Th1, Th7, and Th2 isolates of T. harzianum significantly inhibited Fod mycelial growth (58, 56.5, and 48.6%, respectively). Among T. viride isolates, Tv5, Tv4, and Tv7 exhibited the highest antifungal ability to inhibit mycelial growth. All investigated isolates of Trichoderma secreted volatile compounds that hindered Fod mycelial growth, with isolates of T. harzianum ranging from 9.3 to 67.5% inhibition and those of T. viride from 25.2 to 50.2%. Additionally, the experiment on competitive saprophytic ability indicated that maximum colonization occurred with Th1, Th7, and Th2 isolates at 78.2, 70.8, and 69.8%, respectively. Lastly, the greenhouse experiment showed a complete pathogen eradication or significant inhibition in the infected carnation after T. harzianum and T. viride. Conversely, control treatment with the Fod pathogen died after 90 days. Conclusions: The investigation suggested that Trichoderma spp. could be a potential biocontrol agent to mitigate Fusarium wilt in carnation and improve production quality, replacing chemical pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemotropic Mycoplasma species are vector-borne bacteria that attach and grow on the surface of erythrocytes in various mammals, yet reports of canine hemoplasmosis in Iran are scarce. The aim of this study was molecular detection and identification of hemoplasmas in the blood of dogs (n = 370) from five provinces of Iran and ectoparasites infesting them including Ctenocephalides canis and Pulex irritans fleas, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato ticks, Heterodoxus spiniger lice and Hippobosca longipennis keds. Hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. pathogens were detected using genus-specific conventional PCRs, and subsequently identified using species-specific PCRs for Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc), and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp). Sanger sequencing was then performed to confirm the species. Correlation of infection and risk factors (geographical area, keeping condition, body condition, sex, age, ectoparasite infestation) were analyzed. In total, 210 dogs (56.7%) were tested PCR-positive for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. Species-specific PCR and sequencing revealed infection with Mhc in 17.8%, with CMhp in 7.02% and co-infection in 31.9% of dogs. Flea infestation, poor body condition, and being older than 3-years-old correlated with hemoplasmosis. In ectoparasites, DNA of hemoplasmas were detected only in fleas i.e. Mhc in P. irritans, CMhp in P. irritans and C. canis, and co-infection in C. canis. To our knowledge, this is the first large-scale molecular epidemiology study of canine hemoplasmosis in Iran. Considering the high prevalence of canine hemoplasmosis all over the country including potentially zoonotic CMhp, effective ectoparasite control strategies, regular examination of dogs, successful chemoprophylaxis and public awareness strategies are advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What factors have played a role in Iran's struggle against this epidemic? This article is the second part of research that has been conducted to analyze the factors affecting Iran's battle against this epidemic. The study has been done in two stages, qualitatively and quantitatively. The four final factors (five factors presented in the first part) will be analyzed as follows: "Iranian-Islamic culture of citizens," "comprehensive media support for the fight against COVID-19", "Iran's information technology capacities," "unique features of Iran's economic system. The implications of these factors for crisis governance and public administration for other countries can be instructive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an integrated workflow based on recent geoscience data is presented for assessing the reservoir characterization and structural interpretation of the Burgan formation, a highly productive formation in the Abadan plain, SW Iran. Utilizing newly acquired high-resolution SEM images, we evaluated the pore size, pore distribution, and pore aspect ratio of Burgan formation. The watershed segmentation algorithm is also capable of detecting throats and closed pores. The porosity fractions from SEM images are used for calibration of the porosity log at several well locations in order to perform petrophysical modeling. Due to the complexity of facies behavior in the study area, we utilized supervised Bayesian classifiers using P-wave velocity, density, and facies log data in order to incorporate spatial dependence into the model. The confusing matrix and machine learning metrics including Accuracy (97.01%), Precision (93.88%), F1 Score (94.16%), and False Positive Rate (2.52%), indicate that the classifier has been properly trained at well locations. A reasonable match is evident between the modeled petrophysical parameters and the true (core) porosity and water saturation at the location of the test well. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the validity of assumptions concerning the dominance of extensional structure in the Abadan plain by using interpreted seismic data. The presented workflow can be used to optimize drilling operations and reduce risks in similar geological settings in the studied formation. Highlights: • The vital pore properties have been evaluated using newly obtained SEM images. • Bayesian classification is a reliable classifier for complex facies modeling. • The dominant extensional structure can be observed in the Abadan plain. • The watershed segmentation algorithm can detect closed pores and throats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between maternal parenting style and locomotion fundamental skills (LFS) of male children with emphasis on body mass index (BMI). The statistical population of this study was 8- to 10-year-old boys of Kermanshah city in Iran. A random sample of 197 children (mean = 8.74 ± 0.53) and their parents participated in this study and using the Bamrind parenting style questionnaire, maternal parenting style was measured. Also, BMI of parents and children was calculated and using Ulrich test, LFS of children were measured. Data were analyzed using Kendall's tau and Kruskal–Wallis test at a significance level of 0.05. The results showed that there was a significant positive relationship between permissive parenting style and BMI (r = + 0.391, p < 0.05), but the relationship between authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles and BMI did not reach a significant level (r = + 0.197, p = 0.170 and r = 0.185, p = 0.068). Permissive and authoritarian parenting methods also had a significant negative relationship with LFS (r = − 0.516, p < 0.001 and r = − 0.339, p < 0.05, respectively) and authoritative parenting style had a significant positive relationship with LFS (r = + 0.229, p < 0.05). Maternal and paternal BMI was significantly positively correlated with boys' BMI (r = + 0.167, p < 0.05 and r = + 0.152, p < 0.05, respectively), but the relationship between maternal and paternal BMI and LFS did not reach a significant level (r = − 0.070, p = 0.329 and r = − 0.113, p = 0.115, respectively). According to these findings, maternal parenting styles can affect the boys' LFS and based on that, children's health and preparation strategies should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to compare levels of six micro-elements and six potentially toxic elements in the breast milk of non-smoking women compared to those found in women who smoke tobacco and women exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy and lactation. This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 100 lactating women in western Iran. The studied subjects were in three groups: passive smokers, active smokers, and a control group. Concentrations of selected trace elements in breast milk (essential and non-essential metals) were determined using ICP-MS. Our results indicated that the parameters of education, fruit consumption, and cosmetics usage had a significant difference among the groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, for trace elements, the Kruskal–Wallis test was statistically significant for arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) (p < 0.05). The post hoc Dunn test revealed a significant difference in the levels of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb between non-smoker and passive/active smoker groups (p < 0.05). Our findings illustrate that exposure to cigarette smoke can cause an increase in the level of potentially toxic elements in human milk, which is dangerous for the consumption of premature newborns, but more research is needed to evaluate the potential toxic mechanisms of toxic metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus scoparia (Spach) C. K. Schneid is among the most prevalent species which has the potential of being used as a dwarf rootstock for the cultivated almond. In the present study, the phenotypic variation of 521 wild accessions of this species naturally grown in 29 areas of 11 provinces in Iran was assessed. The accessions investigated showed significant differences based on the measured traits. The majority of the characters measured (90 out of 100) exhibited a coefficient of variation of higher than 20.00%, indicating considerable variation among the accessions. The range of nut-related characters was as follows: nut length: 9.72–22.87 mm, nut width: 5.81–15.54 mm, nut thickness: 5.67–12 mm, and nut weight: 0.18–0.99 mm. The range of kernel-related characters was as follows: kernel length: 6.83–19.23 mm, kernel width: 4.28–10.32 mm, kernel thickness: 2.16–7.52 mm, and kernel weight: 0.03–0.37 g. Kernel weight exhibited positive and significant correlations with nut length (r = 0.57), nut width (r = 0.54), nut thickness (r = 0.42), nut weight (r = 0.69), kernel length (r = 0.75), kernel width (r = 0.78), and kernel thickness (r = 0.58). Cluster analysis based on Ward's method showed two different major clusters among all the accessions. Based on the bi-plot created using principal component analysis of population analysis, the studied 29 natural habitats formed four groups. The studied accessions showed considerable variation in terms of the measured traits within and among populations. This variation is due to cross-pollination, cross-incompatibility, natural hybridization, propagation by seeds, gene flow, and exchange of plant material between the study areas. By using crosses between accessions of different regions, it is possible to increase the amount of variability in different traits of wild almonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious animal disease caused by a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, with significant economic costs and uneven distribution across Asia, Africa, and South America. While spatial analysis and modeling of FMD are still in their early stages, this research aimed to identify socio-environmental determinants of FMD incidence in Iran at the provincial level by studying 135 outbreaks reported between March 21, 2017, and March 21, 2018. We obtained 46 potential socio-environmental determinants and selected four variables, including percentage of population, precipitation in January, percentage of sheep, and percentage of goats, to be used in spatial regression models to estimate variation in spatial heterogeneity. In our analysis, we employed global models, namely ordinary least squares (OLS), spatial error model (SEM), and spatial lag model (SLM), as well as local models, including geographically weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR). The MGWR model yielded the highest adjusted R 2 of 90%, outperforming the other local and global models. Using local models to map the effects of environmental determinants (such as the percentage of sheep and precipitation) on the spatial variability of FMD incidence provides decision-makers with helpful information for targeted interventions. Our findings advocate for multiscale and multidisciplinary policies to reduce FMD incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smoking is recognised as a critical public health priority due to its enormous health and economic consequences. Constant monitoring of the effectiveness of tobacco control programs calls for timely population-based data. This study reports the national and sub-national patterns in tobacco consumption among Iranian adults based on the results from the STEPwise approach to chronic disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) survey 2021. This study was performed through an analysis of the results of the STEPS survey 2021 which had been conducted as a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Participants included Iranian adults aged ≥ 18 years in all provinces of Iran, who were selected via multistage cluster sampling method. Data were analyzed via survey analysis while considering population weights. The total number of participants was 27,874, including 15,395 (55.23%) women and 12,479 (44.77%) men. The all-ages prevalence of current tobacco smoking was 14.01% overall, 4.44% among women, and 25.88% among men. The all-ages prevalence of current cigarette smoking was 9.33% overall, 0.77% among women, and 19.95% among men. The all-ages prevalence of current hookah smoking was 4.5% overall, 3.64% among women, and 5.56% among men. The mean (SD) number of cigarettes smoked per day was 12.41 (10.27) overall, 7.65 (8.09) among women, and 12.64 (10.31) among men. The mean (SD) monthly times of hookah use was 0.42 (7.87) overall, 2.86 (23.46) among women, and 0.3 (6.2) among men. The national all-ages prevalence of second-hand smoking at home was 24.64% overall, 27.38% among women, and 20.26% among men. The national all-ages prevalence of second-hand smoking at work was 19.49% overall, 17.33% among women, and 22.94% among men. The tobacco consumption in Iran remains alarmingly high, indicating the current tobacco control policy implementation level is ineffective and insufficient. This calls for adopting, implementing, and enforcing comprehensive packages of evidence-based tobacco control policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Religiosity is a desirable alternative coping strategy for many people when facing negative life events including age-related infirmities and stressors. Religious coping mechanisms (RCMs) have been investigated meagerly with regard to religious minorities around the world and, to the best of current knowledge, no study has been conducted on Iranian Zorostrians to explore their religious coping mechanisms in dealing with age-related chronic diseases. This qualitative research, therefore, was aimed to canvas perceptions about RCMs that are utilized by Iranian Zoroastrian older adults to deal with chronic diseases in the city of Yazd, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with purposefully selected fourteen Zoroastrian older patients and four Zoroastrian priests in 2019. The main extracted themes included performing certain religious behaviors and having sincere religion-based beliefs as employed mechanisms for better coping with their chronic diseases. Prevalent dilemmas/barriers with mitigating impact on the coping capacities in dealing with a persistent illness was another predominant identified theme. Identification of RCMs that religious and ethnic minorities are using to better confront diverse life events, such as chronic diseases, could pave the path to expand new approaches in planing sustainable disease management and proactive quality of life improvement initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the perception and definition of prostitution by sex workers in Iran are scarce. Also, there is limited research on the attitude and judgment of Iranian sex workers toward their behavior. The issues are mainly due to the traditional and religious structure of Iran's society as well as its cultural, social, and moral considerations and limitations. This research was conducted to analyze the meaning of prostitution from the point of view of sex workers. We used a qualitative approach and emphasized the phenomenological strategy. The main data collection method was an in-depth and semi-structured interview with 37 sex workers in Mazandaran province using snowball sampling. Our research findings show that most participating women have a different understanding of their actions, which is not necessarily similar or consistent with the general society's perception of prostitution. This group of sex workers does not consider their actions as prostitution, but their definition of prostitution is an action that is only for earning a living and not for pleasure with different sexual partners. Therefore, the definition of this group for their actions is categorized into three main categories: denial, reasoning (justification), and admission. Based on the present research, it can be said that prostitution is not only for receiving money in exchange for the sale of a body and is not limited to low-income women but women from different social classes are involved in prostitution. The sex workers' different lifestyles and life needs lead them to such relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hormuz Strait and Makran coastal plains in southeast Iran are significant sources of dust storms in south Asia due to an arid climate with a strong wind regime, low topography, poor vegetation cover, and large watersheds with available loose fine-grained sediments. However, their sedimentology, mineralogy, and geomorphic landforms are poorly studied. Granulometry and mineralogy analyses are performed on 46 samples of the coastal plains to explore the influence of aeolian and fluvial processes on the surface sediment properties of the coastal plains. The geomorphic landforms are mapped based on field observations, geological-geomorphological maps, and satellite images. The results show that the main sources of fine-grained dust are distal alluvial fans and flood plains, supratidal plains, and badlands. Calcite, quartz, and feldspar are major, and dolomite and halite are minor minerals. Calcite displays a positive relationship with grain size and eastward subtractive distribution pattern, while quartz exhibits a negative correlation with grain size and eastward additive distribution pattern. Feldspar shows almost a scatter distribution. The monotonous distribution pattern of chlorite, illite, and kaolinite as the main clay minerals is controlled by fluvial and alluvial processes. Aeolian processes influenced the eastward subtractive distribution of montmorillonite and palygorskite as minor clay minerals. The surface sediment texture and mineralogy of the Hormuz Strait coast are strongly affected by northwesterly wind and dust storms. Aeolian processes are dominated on the western Makran coast with large terrestrial and coastal sand dunes, while fluvial and alluvial processes are dominant on the eastern Makran coast with large distal alluvial fans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prunus scoparia (Spach) C. K. Schneid is among the most prevalent species which has the potential of being used as a dwarf rootstock for the cultivated almond. In the present study, the phenotypic variation of 521 wild accessions of this species naturally grown in 29 areas of 11 provinces in Iran was assessed. The accessions investigated showed significant differences based on the measured traits. The majority of the characters measured (90 out of 100) exhibited a coefficient of variation of higher than 20.00%, indicating considerable variation among the accessions. The range of nut-related characters was as follows: nut length: 9.72–22.87 mm, nut width: 5.81–15.54 mm, nut thickness: 5.67–12 mm, and nut weight: 0.18–0.99 mm. The range of kernel-related characters was as follows: kernel length: 6.83–19.23 mm, kernel width: 4.28–10.32 mm, kernel thickness: 2.16–7.52 mm, and kernel weight: 0.03–0.37 g. Kernel weight exhibited positive and significant correlations with nut length (r = 0.57), nut width (r = 0.54), nut thickness (r = 0.42), nut weight (r = 0.69), kernel length (r = 0.75), kernel width (r = 0.78), and kernel thickness (r = 0.58). Cluster analysis based on Ward's method showed two different major clusters among all the accessions. Based on the bi-plot created using principal component analysis of population analysis, the studied 29 natural habitats formed four groups. The studied accessions showed considerable variation in terms of the measured traits within and among populations. This variation is due to cross-pollination, cross-incompatibility, natural hybridization, propagation by seeds, gene flow, and exchange of plant material between the study areas. By using crosses between accessions of different regions, it is possible to increase the amount of variability in different traits of wild almonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zenith Tropospheric delay (ZTD), as one of the error sources on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signal, plays a significant role in determining the moisture field of the earth's atmosphere. This study investigated the statistical quality of four ZTD models (HGPT2, Hopfield, Saastamoinen, and GTrop) in Iran. To do this, ZTD estimates obtained from processing GPS observations at 27 stations were considered reference values. The average Root Mean Squares Error (RMSE) values for one-year ZTD calculated using the Hopfield, HGPT2, GTrop, and Saastamoinen models were achieved at 77 mm, 39 mm, 31.4 mm, and 26 mm, respectively. The lowest mean bias values of ZTD belong to the GTrop model, which was 5.6 mm. Moreover, taking into account the temporal changes in the behavior of the ZTD parameter, the conventional Saastamoinen model was improved. The coefficients of the modified Saastamoinen model for the Iranian region were estimated with the help of GPS_ZTD values in 14 stations. Then, in 13 other stations of the GPS network that were not involved in estimating the model parameters, the modified Saastamoinen model was evaluated. On average, the modified Saastamoinen model has reduced the quantity of bias and RMSE of the calculated tropospheric delay in all the test stations about by 80% and 27%, respectively. Also, the correlation of the ZTD values obtained from the modified Saastamoinen model with GPS_ZTD has increased by 8% compared to the corresponding values obtained from the conventional Saastamoinen model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a new responsive-green-cold vaccine supply chain network during the COVID-19 pandemic is developed for the first time. According to the proposed network, a new multi-objective, multi-period, multi-echelon mathematical model for the distribution-allocation-location problem is designed. Another important novelty in this paper is that it considers an Internet-of-Things application in the COVID-19 condition in the suggested model to enhance the accuracy, speed, and justice of vaccine injection with existing priorities. Waste management, environmental effects, coverage demand, and delivery time of COVID-19 vaccine simultaneously are therefore considered for the first time. The LP-metric method and meta-heuristic algorithms called Gray Wolf Optimization (GWO), and Variable Neighborhood Search (VNS) algorithms are then used to solve the developed model. The other significant contribution, based on two presented meta-heuristic algorithms, is a new heuristic method called modified GWO (MGWO), and is developed for the first time to solve the model. Therefore, a set of test problems in different sizes is provided. Hence, to evaluate the proposed algorithms, assessment metrics including (1) percentage of domination, (2) the number of Pareto solutions, (3) data envelopment analysis, and (4) diversification metrics and the performance of the convergence are considered. Moreover, the Taguchi method is used to tune the algorithm's parameters. Accordingly, to illustrate the efficiency of the model developed, a real case study in Iran is suggested. Finally, the results of this research show MGO offers higher quality and better performance than other proposed algorithms based on assessment metrics, computational time, and convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious animal disease caused by a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, with significant economic costs and uneven distribution across Asia, Africa, and South America. While spatial analysis and modeling of FMD are still in their early stages, this research aimed to identify socio-environmental determinants of FMD incidence in Iran at the provincial level by studying 135 outbreaks reported between March 21, 2017, and March 21, 2018. We obtained 46 potential socio-environmental determinants and selected four variables, including percentage of population, precipitation in January, percentage of sheep, and percentage of goats, to be used in spatial regression models to estimate variation in spatial heterogeneity. In our analysis, we employed global models, namely ordinary least squares (OLS), spatial error model (SEM), and spatial lag model (SLM), as well as local models, including geographically weighted regression (GWR) and multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR). The MGWR model yielded the highest adjusted R 2 of 90%, outperforming the other local and global models. Using local models to map the effects of environmental determinants (such as the percentage of sheep and precipitation) on the spatial variability of FMD incidence provides decision-makers with helpful information for targeted interventions. Our findings advocate for multiscale and multidisciplinary policies to reduce FMD incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Methanol poisoning is a worldwide phenomenon that has resulted in deaths and irreversible complications. However, studies show it is more prevalent in developing countries and areas with lower socioeconomic status. So, accurately recognizing socio-economic risk factors, increasing people's awareness about methanol poisoning, and proper hospital management will reduce its dangerous complications and mortality. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted retrospectively at Sina Hospital, a poisoning center and tertiary referral center in northwestern Iran, and investigated demographic findings and hospital management indicators through systematic random sampling between February 20, 2020, and September 22, 2022 (or the COVID-19 era). We assessed variable correlations using Spearman's correlation coefficient, Mann–Whitney U, and Kruskall–Wallis. Results: Out of 131 patients, 126 (96.2%) were males, and 5 (3.8%) were females. 45.5% and 30.3% of poisoning incidents occurred between the winter and spring, respectively. 67 patients (50.8%) were referred to this hospital due to vision complaints. Unfortunately, 10 patients (7.6%) passed away despite receiving care. Employed individuals were referred to the treatment facility more quickly than unemployed individuals (P-value = 0.01). Patients with medical insurance coverage were referred faster after consuming alcohol (P-value = 0.039). Older patients referred to the hospital later. (P-value = 0.006). Conclusions: Mortality and morbidity following methanol poisoning are likely to be affected by factors including access to medical care, financial stability, and employment status. Consequently, reducing mortality and morbidity requires attention to these concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trypanosoma evansi, the causative agent of "surra" is enzootic in Iran. The current study aimed to detect T. evansi in horses from different regions of Iran using morphological, serological, and molecular methods. In 2021, 400 blood samples were collected from horses in eight regions. Eighty horses showed clinical signs such as cachexia (n = 64), fever (n = 36), foot edema (n = 40), and abdominal edema (n = 32), and 320 horses appeared healthy. All samples from the studied regions were evaluated for the presence of trypanosomes using direct analysis of blood smears, mercuric chloride, and PCR-based tests. In total, 12% (95% CI: ± 3.1%), 21% (95% CI: ± 3.9%), and 21% (84) of animals were positive for Trypanosoma in microscopic, serologic, and molecular analyses, respectively. All animals positive for SSU rDNA PCR were from Qom, Semnan, and Golestan regions. Further molecular analyses on 84 PCR-positive horses revealed that 29 horses scored positive in PCR using primers of trypanozoon species and 5 scored positive in PCR using primers of Trypanosoma evansi type A. All samples (n = 5) were from Qom region. The 205-bp fragments of T. evansi RoTat 1.2VSG (accession numbers: ON017789-93) analyzed and compared to other isolates sequence from GenBank BLAST search. It has close similarities with isolates from Pakistan, Egypt, Malaysia, Kenya, and India. Data herein demonstrated that horses from Iran were at high risk of T. evansi infection. Comprehensive control programs, such as those based on the application of repellants and traps, and also, compliance with quarantine standards are recommended for minimizing the risk of the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Saqez-Sardasht region (~2000) is located in the north Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ), between longitudes of 46°00′67 00″ E to 46°30′00″ and latitudes of 36°00′00″ N to 36°30′00″, northwest Iran. The region was fully studied to recognize the promising areas for gold deposits using various methods of fuzzy fusion techniques. Accordingly, six evidential layers (i.e., lithological, tectonic, alteration, with Au, Sb, and W geochemical anomalies have been derived from three geo-data sets of geology, geochemistry, and remote sensing. A concentration–number (C–N) fractal method was used to determine the geochemical threshold values. The outcome was then combined, using the multiple indicator kriging (MIK) geochemical methods to improve the mineral potential mapping of gold deposits. In this study, four various fuzzy mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) methods consisting of conventional VIKOR, modified VIKOR, multi-class index overlay, and Geo Fuzzy Inference System (GeoFIS) have been employed to detect the most promising areas in the Saqez-Sardasht region. The MPMs were numerically compared to each other based on the MPM efficiency index for the seven gold prospects in the study region. The Geo Fuzzy Inference System (GeoFIS) acquired 91.84% agreement, so it is selected as the superior technique to lead the prospect selection. With affiliation to the outcome of MPM maps, promising mineralized areas, controlled by shear zones, were located in the southwestern part of the Saqez region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, river networks achieve a specific pattern as determined by the function of several factors such as climate, tectonic, geological structures, topography, lithology, and base-level fluctuations. The relative importance of mentioned factors on drainage systems was studied to determine the controlling factors of their heterogeneity across the tectono-stratigraphic zones of onshore Iranian Makran. We applied structural, geomorphological, and climate analysis. Results indicate that the dendritic patterns of N-S flowing rivers in the western part of Iranian Makran are mostly controlled by the Minab-Zendan Fault activity and distribution of olistostrome cover, whereas the dominant trellis patterns in the eastern part are controlled by the well-developed thrust fault-related fold systems. The channel steepness pattern demonstrates that the high values are mostly localized in the hanging wall of thrust and normal faults. Accordingly, the topographic profiles of the steep rivers show the old stages of incision in the Inner and Outer Makran. However, some rivers of the Coastal Makran are in the young stage of incision, where the normal faults are located and active. The sediment connectivity index shows that the Inner Makran has a high potential of sediment supplies, while the Outer Makran intra-mountain basins and the Coastal-plain are more prone to sediments accumulation. Our findings reveal that the river patterns and landscape evolution in the Inner and Outer Makran are controlled by thrust faults, olistostrome and related mini-basins, while rivers in the Coastal Makran are governed by activity of Pliocene–Pleistocene normal faults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining activities have increased the potential risks of metal pollution to the groundwater resources in arid areas across the globe. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the health risk associated with nickel (Ni) in the groundwater sources of a mining-impacted area, South Khorasan, Eastern Iran. A total of 110 stations were included in the study, comprising 62 wells, 40 qanats, and 8 springs in summer, 2020. Initially, the collected samples were tested for temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity (EC). Subsequently, the samples were filtered and treated with nitric acid (HNO3) to measure the concentration of Ni using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Hazard quotient (HQ) and non-carcinogenic risk assessments were employed to evaluate the potential risks of Ni to the inhabitants. The findings revealed that the concentration of Ni ranged from 0.02 to 132.39 μg l−1, and only two stations exhibited Ni concentrations above the WHO standards (20 μg l−1). The results demonstrated that 98.21% of the sampled locations had HQ values below one, indicating negligible risk, while 1.78% of the stations exhibited HQ values of one or higher, representing a high non-carcinogenic risk for water consumers. Overall, the concentration of nickel in the groundwater of South Khorasan exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) limit solely in the Halvan station, posing a non-carcinogenic risk for the residents in that area, and therefore, additional efforts should be made to provide healthier groundwater to consumers in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Sub-Watersheds (SWs) on each other can be more important in Flood Generation Potential (FGP). Therefore, the present study aims for prioritizing SWs based on FGP using Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) Methods including Game Theory (GT), Best-Worst Method (BWM), Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Analytical Network Process (ANP), Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP), Fuzzy Analytical Network Process (FANP) and comparing its results with Hydrological Modeling Approach (HMA) in the Cheshmeh-Kileh Watershed, Iran. In GT, Condorcet algorithm were used. The best and worst criteria were identified using the BWM and compared with other criteria. In AHP and ANP, expert opinions were used and the final weight of criteria and alternative was calculated using Expert Choice and Super Decision softwares. In HMA, HEC-HMS software was used to calculate the discharge with return periods of 10- and 100-year, and finally, in all methods, FGP maps were prepared in three classes and SWs were prioritized. Based on the results of different methods, SWs 9, 2, 7, 10 and 11 were given high FGP priority. There are two possible explanations for this result. The first explanation is the difference between the values of geo-environmental criteria in each SW, and the ratio of these values and the effect of each of these criteria on the FGP. The next explanation is due to the different structural nature of each of the MCDM, which caused different prioritization of SWs based on FGP. Downstream SWs were also in a non-critical state due to dense forest cover and low slope. A comparative evaluation between the methods showed that BWM had the same result as the field evidence and HMA results and this method provided the best result. Based on SWs prioritization in BWM, high and low FGP were 33.33 and 46.67% of the study area, respectively. After BWM, GT gave a relatively good result. AHP, ANP, FAHP and FANP presented different results, but had poor performance in identifying critical areas. This study showed that optimal MCDM approaches can be used for flood management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface albedo (LSA) and land surface temperature (LST) are used in many environmental studies. Linking topographical factors (altitude, aspect, and slope) with LST and LSA plays an essential role in climate modeling, environmental changes, hydrology, energy balance, architecture, etc. Knowing the relationship between them is of particular importance. In this research, the data of two remote sensing products that are Modis Terra and Aqua (for the period of 2000–2019) were used to investigate the link between topographical factors, LSA, and LST. Investigating the relationship between the altitude, aspect, and slope with LST showed that this parameter is strongly influenced by topographical factors; an increase in altitude, aspect, and slope leads to a decrease in LST. The correlation coefficients of altitude, aspect, and slope with the LST are estimated to be − 0.968, − 0.927, and − 0.684, respectively. The results of linking topographical factors with albedo showed that this parameter has a strong link with altitude, so as the altitude increases, there would be an increase in albedo. But there is no significant relationship between aspect and slope considering the low correlation coefficients. The correlation coefficients of latitude, aspect, and slope with LSA are 0.95, 0.087, and 0.18 respectively. Therefore, the altitude, aspect, and slope are important factors affecting the LST in Iran. Altitude also plays a vital role in the Iran's LSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores reasons for withdrawal use that is highly prevalent in Iran. A face-to-face semi-structured survey questionnaire was designed and 79 married women aged 15–49, who were only using withdrawal when attending five primary healthcare centers in Tehran during September–October 2021 were interviewed. Results showed that withdrawal mostly was chosen by the couple (67%), and partly by the woman alone (19%) or by the husband alone (14%). Participants evaluated withdrawal positively that has no side effect and cost, is easy to use and accessible, and increases sexual pleasure and intimacy. Most women agreed that husbands use withdrawal to protect their wife's health (76%). Women obtained contraceptive information primarily from gynecologists (42%), the internet (21%), midwives in public health centers (19%), and social networks (18%). "Side effects of modern methods" (37%), "fear of side effects" (16%), and "reduction in sexual pleasure" (14%) were the major reasons reported for using withdrawal. While 'side effects' was given mostly by women who alone or with their husband chose withdrawal (52%, 38%), 'reduction in sexual pleasure' and 'fear of side effects' were mostly reported by women whose husband was the sole decision maker in choosing withdrawal (28%, 25%). The 'fear of side effects' was reported mostly by women who had lower education (21%), used the internet for contraceptive information (23%), and whose husband alone chose withdrawal (25%). Cost of modern methods was a trivial reason for using withdrawal. Most withdrawal users (75%) would not switch to modern methods even if they were freely accessible. More educated women and their husbands would be less likely to switch to modern methods even they were provided freely (OR 0.28, CI 0.10–0.80; OR 0.20, CI 0.07–0.59). However, women who were using modern methods before, and those who alone chose withdrawal would be more likely to switch to modern methods (OR 6.4, CI 2.0–20.2; OR 3.4, CI 1.1–11.2). Access to regular contraceptive counselling and public health campaigns could help women to deal with fears of side effects of modern methods, learn their proper use, and to receive education on how to use withdrawal more effectively to avoid unintended pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, forced convection and subcooled flow boiling heat transfer coefficients of crude oil from southern oil fields of Iran were experimentally measured under different operating conditions. Despite the little data available on the heat transfer coefficient of crude oil at different operating conditions, there is an urgent need for precise and sufficient information about the status and mechanism of crude oil heat transfer for design and economic optimization of equipment such as crude oil preheaters in production units and oil refineries. The experiments were carried out in a constant heat flux heat exchanger heated by an electric heater equipped with adjustable heat flux in the range of 40–90 kW m - 2 . Firstly, in order to ensure the quality of obtained data, the heat transfer coefficients of distilled water were measured and compared with the available literature data. The experimental results indicated that the heat transfer coefficient of crude oil is relatively 31% less than that of distilled water; so, the ability of crude oil in heat transfer is less than distilled water, and the temperature of the heated surface in the crude oil experiment is higher than that of distilled water. Furthermore, enhancement of fluid flow rate and heat flux increases the heat transfer coefficient. It is very difficult to distinguish the transition from forced convective heat transfer to boiling of crude oil by enhancement of heat flux. For this purpose, (Tw–Tb) was plotted against heat flux, and the obtained results indicated that the subcooled flow boiling of crude oil starts in the range of 41.9–51.3 kW m - 2 . Finally, the convective heat transfer coefficients were correlated in dimensionless Nusselt form as a function of dimensionless numbers Re and Pr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a novel approach for drought forecasting based on combining Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Multi-Resolution Analysis Wavelet Transform (MRA-WT), called MRA-WT-LSTM. In fact, Deep Learning (DL) methods provided an outstanding performance in several forecasting fields, especially drought. LSTM has proved a high ability in dealing with time-series drought indices compared to the others existing methods. Therefore, in this study LSTM was used to provide long-term drought forecasts. However, the non-stationarity of the drought indices is a major challenge that needs to be taken into consideration. In this regard, MRA-WT was applied to analyze the non-stationary time-series drought indices. Experiments were carried out in the Sarab region, Iran in the period between 1988–2016 in order to predict the standardized precipitation Evaporation index (SPEI). Drought is the most natural hazards in Sarab region that affect the socioeconomic development. The input data include the station data (i.e. rainfall, temperature (mean, minimum, and maximum), humidity, pressure, and Evaporation) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) derived from Landsat images. Through the experiment, the proposed methodology is evaluated compared to three ML methods (i.e. Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Random Forest Regression (RFR)) and LSTM. The different models were compared in terms of statistical metrics such as the coefficient of determination ( R 2 ), Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). Results revealed the effectiveness of MRA-WT-LSTM for drought forecasting with R 2 up to 0,93 and RMSE reached 0,02 for the different time lags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the spiritual pain concept in the Iranian-Islamic context using a hybrid research model during 2020–2021. During the first phase, international and Iranian-Islamic literature was systematically searched and reviewed. During the second phase, the researchers referred to oncology wards, palliative care centers, and intensive care units and conducted unstructured interviews with 19 dying patients. In the third phase, attributes, and final analysis of spiritual pain was extracted from the first phase, and following the second phase, the definition of spiritual pain was finalized. The results showed that spiritual pain is a type of unique transcendental pain in the context of a continuum, rooted in human nature. At the one end of the continuum, there is the pain of deprivation from worldly pleasures (oneself, the family, and others). At the other end, there is the pain of breaking away from and striving to return to one's origin (God). Exploring spiritual pain in the Iranian-Islamic context can help develop tools and clinical guidelines and plan for the presence of specialists at the bedside to relieve this pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. This disease triggers sexual dysfunction due to physiological, cognitive and mental effects. Since sexual function is often ignored in these patients, this study aimed to investigate the effect of sexual counseling based on EX‑PLISSIT model on improving the sexual function of married women with SLE. This clinical trial was conducted on 101 married women suffering from SLE (18–49 years) residing in Tehran. Randomization was performed by random block allocation with six blocks in a rheumatology clinic. A demographic questionnaire, the Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales-21 Items (DASS-21), and the female sexual function index were used to collect the data. The intervention group received counselling sessions every week while the control group (n = 55) received routine care for the disease. Eight and twelve weeks after completion of counselling sessions, outcomes compared between the intervention and control groups, using independent ttest, paired t-test, repeated measures and Chi-squared test. The scores of sexual function in both groups did not differ significantly before the intervention (p > 0.05). At the first follow-up session, the score of all sexual function domains except sexual pain increased significantly in the intervention group while a significant reduction was observed in all domains of sexual function in the control group (p < 0.05). In the second follow-up, sexual function significantly increased in the intervention group whereas it significantly decreased in the control group (p < 0.05). According to the findings of this study, counseling based on EX-PLISSIT model positively affected the sexual function of women with SLE. Therefore, this model can be used as a cost-effective and simple counseling method to improve the sexual functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes are the most important vectors of serious infectious diseases in the world. Dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever are emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, associated with the distribution of two key vectors i.e. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus throughout the world including countries neighbouring Iran. Entomological surveillance was planned and performed monthly from May to December during 2014–2020 in selected counties of Mazandaran Province, North of Iran, by ovitrap, larval collection, hand catch and human baited trap. Overall, 4410 Aedes specimens including 2376 larvae (53.9%) and 2034 (46.1%) adults belonging to six species, namely Aedes vexans, Aedes geniculatus, Aedes caspius, Aedes echinus, Aedes pulcritarsis and Aedes flavescence were collected and morphologically identified. Over the seven years of surveillance, Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus were not found by any sampling method. Aedes vexans and Ae. geniculatus were the most abundant species, their populations peaked in October and November and was positively correlated with precipitation and relative humidity. Aedes flavescence was a new species record for the province. A flowchart for planning and implementation of invasive mosquito surveillance for provincial health authorities in the country is proposed. These surveillance efforts provide basic and timely information for the health system to act promptly on integrated and intensified surveillance and control programs should Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus detected in the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslide susceptibility mapping is still an ongoing requirement for variety of applications such as land use management plans. The central objective of the present research was to investigate the effect of using ensemble machine learning methods for developing accurate landslide prediction. We aimed to explore and compare three techniques, namely the random forests, support vector machine and multiple-layer neural networks with an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system, which incorporates three metaheuristic methods including grey wolf optimization, particle swarm optimization, and shuffled frog leaping algorithm for landslide susceptibility assessment in the East Azerbaijan of Iran. Also, two ensemble ways (voting and stacking) were used in final decision stage. A sum of 766 locations with landslide inventory was recognized in the context of the study. Then the all models were trained using tenfold cross-validation technique. Lastly, the receiver operating characteristic and statistical procedures were employed to validate and contrast the predictive capability of the models. The findings of the study show the ANFIS–PSO model had high performance on the validation dataset (AUC = 0.89). Besides, the study revealed that using stacking ensemble technique could increase the predicting capability of all models (AUC = 0.911). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of groundwater potential mapping (GWPM) is eminent for the proper management of underpinning resources. This research applies artificial intelligence-based GWPM to the surroundings of Urmia Lake (Iran) which, unfortunately, has been facing severe drying in recent years. An artificial neural network (ANN) is assisted by an optimization algorithm, namely the water-cycle algorithm (WCA) to spatially analyze the relationship between environmental factors and the presence of springs. The proposed model goes through an iterative course to find the optimal contribution of the environment to the GWP within the study area. The results indicated the promising capability of the WCA-ANN for analyzing the spring patterns and also producing reliable GWPMs. Moreover, the WCA outperformed three benchmark algorithms called political optimizer (PO), equilibrium optimization (EO), and electrostatic discharge algorithm (ESDA). Area under the curve values of 0.761, 0.757, 0.801, and 0.767, as well as mean absolute errors of 0.205, 0.203, 0.186, and 0.201, respectively, have been obtained for the PO-ANN, EO-ANN, WCA-ANN, and ESDA-ANN. These outcomes indicate the greater competency of the proposed algorithm. The WCA-ANN and ESDA-ANN algorithms are both therefore recommended as capable methodologies for GWPM. Besides, the maps suggested in this study may help overcoming the Urmia Lake crisis by identifying wealthy groundwater resources in the nearby. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]