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Historically, maritime trade has been a major driver of economic growth and cross-cultural interchange, especially in antiquity. Because of its advantageous position and extensive maritime history, the Persian Gulf has been essential in bridging cultures and promoting the exchange of ideas and products. This article explores the historical evidence of maritime trade in the Persian Gulf, emphasising its revolutionary influence on the region’s history, especially during the pivotal Bronze Age. The article also emphasises how important it is to acknowledge the Persian Gulf’s historical significance as a crucial commerce route connecting Europe, Africa, and East and West Asia. The paper uses these realisations to support the growth of Chabahar Port as a pillar of economic independence and regional collaboration. Through the application of historical lessons and the embracement of sustainable maritime trade, the Persian Gulf and the Makoran Sea have the potential to resurface as centres of cultural and economic interaction, thereby promoting global wealth and connectedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compares the two emerging seaports: Gwadar port (Pakistan); and Chabahar port (Iran). The study evaluates the trade attractiveness among the neighboring countries, i.e., Afghanistan, China, and the Central Asian States, while keeping China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) development in perspective. The two ports may provide one of the closest sea links for the resource-rich Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. At the same time, Gwadar provides China with an alternative and short trade route via Pakistan. The study employs the Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) technique of Multi-Criteria Decision Making methods to evaluate and select the best seaport. The findings establish that Gwadar is a better option. The study also provides recommendations for the authorities of the two ports and the prospective other countries in the neighborhood to ensure maximum return on their investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smokeless tobacco consumption is one of the serious health-threatening factors in society, especially among adolescents. Due to the high usage of these products in the southeastern regions of Iran, this survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence of smokeless tobacco products and related factors among high school students in Chabahar city. This study was a cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study, in which 330 high school students were selected by a simple multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire and was filled using an in-person method. Data were then analyzed using descriptive and analytical tests by SPSS v.21 software. In this study, the mean age of the students was 16.3±1.14 years. Results showed that the prevalence of smokeless tobacco products was 45.8% among students, 43.3% among close friends, and 38.8% in families, where the predominant form of smokeless tobacco products was Pan-Prague (62.2%). Furthermore, the results of logistic regression revealed that addiction of close friends (OR=3.8, p=0.001), addiction of family members (OR=2.1, p=0.03), addiction of males (OR=2.2, p=0.001), low awareness (OR=3.9, p=0.001), and low attitude (OR=2.7, p=0.001) can significantly increase the likelihood of smokeless tobacco usage in students. Altogether, the findings of this study showed that the prevalence of smokeless tobacco usage among high school students in Chabahar is high, and thus, appropriate, effective, and preventive interventions should be taken into account regarding the influential factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural stones (armourstones) of varying sizes and qualities are frequently used to construct breakwaters to protect coastal engineering structures from wave actions for economic reasons. Time-related armourstone deterioration in the form of abrasion and disintegration may result in structural damage. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the performance and quality of the armourstones, which should be robust and long-lasting. The study aimed to examine the quality of two distinct types of rocks from three breakwaters used as armourstones in the Chabahar region and compare the results to the observed field performance. This study aimed to illustrate why it is crucial to characterise rocks thoroughly before deciding which ones to use in a particular project and to evaluate how well current classification techniques account for the observed field performance of stones that may have complex geological compositions. The physical and mechanical properties of the rock were evaluated through both on-site observation and laboratory testing. The results indicated that the class of rocks used in the breakwater had a wide range of suitability ratings. It was discovered that sedimentary rocks have the best water absorption and porosity properties. In addition, age is a positive factor, as the rate of destruction decreases with age. Component and particle size can also play a role in lithology, which is a significant factor in the rock's durability. Also, the findings demonstrated that the marine organisms in the rock component play an important role in the stability of these structures, even though rock mass breakwaters are less qualified for breakwater construction as per international coastal engineering standards. According to the findings, a breakwater made of lumachel rock boulders, or alternatively sandstone boulders, will last the longest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rejecting economic gradualism, Rosenstein-Rodan, back in 1943 advocated huge government-led initial infrastructure investment or 'Big-Push Approach' to achieve big economic growth. Welfare economists like Arthur Lewis and Rugnar Nursk expanded the proposition through their 'Dual Sector Model' and 'Balanced Growth Approach' converting the whole idea as a body of 'Modernisation Theories' for economic growth and development. John Maynard Keynes endorsed the idea too through his 'Mixed Economy Growth Model' prescription. Seaports are India's trade and geo-economic gateways. India meanwhile has launched a very ambitious maritime modernization program called 'Sagarmala 2015–2035' to modernize Indian Seaports and develop port-led industrialization similar to Rodan's Big Push approach. Seaports and their vessel traffic pattern provide critical insight into national maritime geo-economic outreach. In the background of India's Sagarmala maritime modernization experience and similar lessons from the neighborhood, using Seaports vessel traffic as a variable, this article analyzes India's maritime geo-economic comparative outreach and challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geopolitical competition between India on one hand and the China-Pakistan axis, on the other hand, have made various researchers investigate the different, unknown, and influential aspects of this competition. One of the fields that can influence the analysis of these competitions is political geography. Therefore, in the present research, the researchers have tried to create a new point of view regarding Iran's position in the geopolitical competition between China and India by relying on the sources and analyses that have been done by Indian authors and researchers regarding the issue of China-India competition and also Iran's position in this competition. The authors of this research adopted a meta-analytic approach to drive conclusions from the collected data. Authentic documents in books, scientific-research articles, reliable internet websites and important international news agencies were analyzed to collect the relevant data. The findings suggest that regarding geopolitical access, both China and India are persistently seeking to facilitate their connection to Eurasia through Iran and Pakistan and thus increase their geopolitical weight to enjoy a better position in world politics in the 21st century. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership (CSP) has been described as a potentially disruptive alignment. This article analyses the impact of the CSP in two regional security complexes (RSCs): the Persian Gulf and South Asia. It finds that of the two RSCs, the China-Iran CSP has a greater likelihood of affecting the strategic landscape of the South Asian RSC as China seeks to contain India's power and influence. In the Persian Gulf, China's economically-motivated regional presence is supported by the maintenance of the status quo, and as a result the CSP is not likely to adversely affect that RSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural stones (armourstones) of varying sizes and qualities are frequently used to construct breakwaters to protect coastal engineering structures from wave actions for economic reasons. Time-related armourstone deterioration in the form of abrasion and disintegration may result in structural damage. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the performance and quality of the armourstones, which should be robust and long-lasting. The study aimed to examine the quality of two distinct types of rocks from three breakwaters used as armourstones in the Chabahar region and compare the results to the observed field performance. This study aimed to illustrate why it is crucial to characterise rocks thoroughly before deciding which ones to use in a particular project and to evaluate how well current classification techniques account for the observed field performance of stones that may have complex geological compositions. The physical and mechanical properties of the rock were evaluated through both on-site observation and laboratory testing. The results indicated that the class of rocks used in the breakwater had a wide range of suitability ratings. It was discovered that sedimentary rocks have the best water absorption and porosity properties. In addition, age is a positive factor, as the rate of destruction decreases with age. Component and particle size can also play a role in lithology, which is a significant factor in the rock’s durability. Also, the findings demonstrated that the marine organisms in the rock component play an important role in the stability of these structures, even though rock mass breakwaters are less qualified for breakwater construction as per international coastal engineering standards. According to the findings, a breakwater made of lumachel rock boulders, or alternatively sandstone boulders, will last the longest.

China has invested in the Gwadar port in Pakistan to create an economic corridor with the aim of connecting China to Central Asia through the Indian Ocean. This program is part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including several roads, sea routes, and corridors. On the other hand, India, a regional rival to China, is keen to invest in the port of Chabahar in the I.R. Iran to create the International North-South corridor, which can connect India to Central Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Northern Europe through the Indian Ocean. According to these significant facts, two critical questions will be discussed in the present study: the first question investigates whether Indo-Chinese competition makes Chabahar and Gwadar rival ports, and the second question examines whether it would be possible for China to investigate in Chabahar as an alternative corridor. To address these questions, the present study hypothesizes that Chabahar can be an international port, fulfilling the interests of all parties, including China. This study is a qualitative research, based on the International Order theory by Hadley Bull, using the SWOT analysis in order to address the strength, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges of Iran-China bilateral relations in Chabahar for both sides. For collecting the data, existing documents and articles, as well as in-depth interviews have been used. Results indicate that the Chabahar port, as one of the main gateways to the Iranian transit corridors, could be a common point of Interest for Iran, India and China to create a regional order, based on cooperation in transit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a landlocked country, Afghanistan has been given special privileges by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to access seaports through transit states. Pakistan, as a transit state to Afghanistan, has violated such provisions of international treaties on many counts by blocking transit routes for trade with India and by denying access to its Karachi Port. India's Chabahar Port project in Iran acts as an alternative for Afghanistan to trade and aims to reduce its vulnerability of being dependent on Pakistan. This article attempts to highlight the India–Iran–Afghanistan trilateral understanding in Chabahar as an example of multilateral cooperation in fulfilling commitments made to international regimes, such as the UNCLOS, while bringing out the geopolitical challenges that India faces to complete the Chabahar project. In this context, the aim is to study the applicability of UNCLOS for rights of landlocked states and the importance of the Chabahar Port in protecting Afghanistan's commercial freedom. The article also highlights India's role in the region as it is responsible for implementing the Chabahar Port project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran is pulled in different directions by China and India when it comes to their rivalry in economic and geopolitical spheres. Yet, Iran – which initially exploited the Sino-Indian rivalry to maximize its benefits following the 2015 nuclear deal – has strived to navigate ties between China and India to survive in the face of tough U.S. sanctions since 2018. This article, first, provides a brief discussion on historical precedents that have shaped Iran's foreign policy in general. Then, the pivots of Iran-China-India triangular relationship are examined by looking at Iran's a) involvement in China's Belt and Road Initiative; b) partnership with China in the Iranian oil fields; c) participation in India's International North-South Transport Corridor; and d) partnership with India in the Chabahar port. Finally, Iran's reorientation in response to former President Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 deal and its reaction to President Biden's possible return to the deal are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study is to estimate monthly precipitation by support vector regression and the nearest neighbourhood methods using meteorological variables data of Chabahar station. Methods and Results: Monthly precipitation was modelled by using two support vector regression and the nearest neighbourhood methods based on the two proposed input combinations. Conclusions: The results showed that the support vector regression method using normalized polynomial kernel function has higher accuracy and it has lower estimation error than the nearest neighbour method. Significance and Impact of the Study: Precipitation is one of the most important parts of the water cycle and plays an important role in assessing the climatic characteristics of each region. Modelling of monthly precipitation values for a variety of purposes, such as flood and sediment control, runoff, sediment, irrigation planning, and river basin management, is very important. The modelling of precipitation in each region requires the existence of accurately measured historical data such as humidity, temperature, wind speed, etc. Limitations such as insufficient knowledge of precipitation on spatial and temporal scales as well as the complexity of the relationship between precipitation-related climatic parameters make it impossible to estimate precipitation using conventional inaccurate and unreliable methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An understanding of the factors that affect the abundance of 'Anopheline' species provides an opportunity to better understand the dynamics of malaria transmission in different regions. Chabahar, located south east of Iran, is the most malarious region in the country. Objective: The main aim of this study was to quantify the spatiotemporal Anopheles population dynamics, response to climatic conditions in Chabahar. Methods: Satellite-based and land-based climatic data were used as explanatory variables. Monthly caught mosquitoes in 6 village sites of Chabahar were used as dependent variable. The spatiotemporal associations were first investigated by inspection of scatter plots and single variable regression analysis. A multivariate linear regression model was developed to reveal the association between environmental variables and the monthly mosquito abundance at a 95% confidence level ('P' ≤ 0.5). Findings: Results indicated that Anopheles mosquitoes can be found all year in Chabahar with 2 significant seasonal peaks from March to June (primary peak) and September to November (secondary peak). Results of the present study showed that 0.77 of yearly mosquito abundance emerges in the thermal range of 24°C to 30°C and the humidity range of 0.70 to 0.80 in Chabahar. Conclusion: According to the developed multivariate linear model, 0.88 of temporal variance of mosquito abundance, nighttime land surface temperature, and relative humidity of 15 Universal Time Coordinated (18.30 Iran) are the main drivers of mosquito population dynamics in Chabahar.

ABSTRACT Background and Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease and a health problem in different parts of Iran, especially two cities of Mashhad and Chabahar. Due to morphological similarities of most Leishmania species and difference in reservoirs of L. major and L. tropica, it is necessary to determine the parasite specie to combat the disease. Thus, this study used gene sequencing and genotyping of 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) to differentiate the two species of Leishmania. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, microscope slides and cultures were prepared from 43 patients suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chabahar and Mashhad. PCR was performed after genomic DNA extraction and then PCR products were sequenced and analyzed. Results: Of the 43 patients studied, 32 direct smear and culture (74.4%) were positive and 11 (25.6%) showed negative results, and were therefore excluded from the study. Using HSP70-specific primers, 1962 bp and 1152bp bands were observed for HSP70 of L. major in Chabahar and L. tropica in Mashhad, respectively. Based on the results, there were 18 nucleotide differences between HSP70 of L. major in Chabahar and L. tropica in Mashhad. Conclusion: Due to the morphological similarities between Leishmania species and inability to differentiate species through parasitological methods, the HSP70 gene can be used for identification of the species, and prevention and treatment of the disease.

High costs, unreliable resources for long term use and extensive negative impact on our environment are such problems associated with traditional sources of energy and fossil fuels which make us move toward implementation of renewable sources of energy. Fossil fuel pollution and reserve depletion in oil producing countries caused by increasing demands, make wind energy an attractive source of energy in the future. Renewable energy sources are expected to have an important role in many countries as well as Iran and would be flourished in near future. In this study we aim to offer economic evaluation of wind turbine installation for chabahar in southeastern part of Iran. This study evaluates the economic feasibility of electricity generation using wind turbines in Chabahar - Iran situated in the Southeast part of Iran. All analyzes were performed by Homer software and local weather information and software provided by NASA Weather Homer is used. In this study 5 MW wind turbine with INVELOX technology is used .The analysis results show that Annual average of wind speed is 4.11 m/s at a Height of 10 m and 905 Gwh is the average of annual energy production, the cost of energy is calculated of 2.3 cents/kwh.

Abstract Introduction: As Lieshmaniasis is considered as a huge hygienic problem and since epidemiological studies are effective in controlling this disease and taking prevention steps, the present study deals with cutaneous lieshmaniasis in Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan from 2008 to 2010. Materials and Methods: The current research has been conducted as descriptive-analytical, based on victims of cutaneous leishmaniasis during previous years in health centers of Chabahar, by extracting the demographic and epidemiologic information, recorded in Chabahar health centers, and analyzing them via SPSS 18. Results: From total victims of cutaneous leishmaniasis under the study, the total incidence rate in male 1.14 and 0.9 per 1000 in female. The highest total incidence rate of the disease were in the age range of birth to 4 years (with incidence rate 1.96 per 1000) and the lowest one in the age range of 5 to 9 years (with incidence rate 0.7 per 1000). Most damages (wounds) were in the hands and feet and the majority of the patients had two wounds (with incidence rate 0.66 per 1000). The studied patients were Iranian and Afghani with the majority belonging to the former. A sum of 241 patients (37%) lived in cities with the remaining 412 (63%) residing in the villages. Moreover the Highest incidence rate of the disease were reported in winter, 2008, with least ones in autumn, 2010. Conclusion: Based on the study results, disease incidence rete in Chabahar during 2008 and 2010 had a descending trend, which can indicate an improvement in educational-hygienic status as well as following hygiene practices by the people.

The present study aims to evaluate the influence of climate conditions on tourism in the port of Chabahar, southeastern Iran, using the climate comfort indices (CIT, PMV, and TCI) and the field data relative to the tourist satisfaction. According to the computed TCI, the autumn-winter season (October-April) is climatically favorable for tourism in Chabahar, but it is ideal during January to March. Based on the computed PMV index, the studied region is in the range of climate comfort in most parts of the year. However, when the PMV thermal comfort limits (− 0.5 < PMV < 0.5) and the PPD limits (0 < PPD < 10) are considered, only the March and November are included in the thermal comfort range. The CIT index also indicates that all months of the year are acceptable for tourism that does not coincide with the reality of the region. However, by blending the PMV and the tourist’s degree of satisfaction, a slight modification was made to the CIT index to better represent the reality of the region regarding the climate comfort. The modified CIT gave a different result, reflecting the importance of tourists’ perceptions in defining the climate comfort rather than merely relying on the climate variables. The modified CIT also suggests November-March as a period with favorable to ideal climate condition for tourism in Chabahar which is a more realistic assessment of climate condition of the region as perceived by the tourists interviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 1990s India has been committed to the completion of the Chabahar Port despite external and internal constraints that slowed the project's development. This article explores the reasons behind Indian interest in the development of the Chabahar Port, and the challenges this project continues to face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a poorly known rookery of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting in sandy beaches of Chabahar town, northeastern Gulf of Oman, Iran.This study has been carried out to evaluate nesting activity of this small rookery in 2014 nesting season (June to October). In this study, total clutches were collected and transferred to an artificial hatchery. The peak of nesting occurred from the third parts of August to the end of September. Mean CCL was 106.3 ± 6 cm and mean CCW was 94.5 ± 5 cm. Females laid on average of 99.42 ± 47.8 eggs per clutch. The mean inter-nesting interval was 18.5 days. The observed clutch frequency was 3.4. Mean hatching success was 36.63 ± 4.1%. The incubation period was 61.07 ± 5.4 days. Nest status evaluation represented that major causes for the failure was unhatched egg with no obvious embryo followed by unhatched eggs with obvious but undeveloped embryos > unhatched eggs with developed embryos > hatched eggs but dead embryos. The results achieved in this study are a valuable contribution to cognition of the reproductive ecology of the green turtle population globally and regionally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basically, many developed any developing countries need to expand tourism activities for accessing to the goals of national economic development and attracting foreign funds, therefore evaluating the efficiency of tourism industry can have significant help in recognizing the existed tourism potentials. The Chabahar zone in spite of numerous potential abilities in attracting domestic and foreign tourists and despite the fact that it is known as one of the important poles of tourism in Iran, but it is not so successful in attracting tourists. The present research has been provided to access to the efficiency of tourism industry in this area. For analyzing the information, the Data Envelopment Analysis Method (DEA) have been used. According to the results, the technical, management and scale efficiencies are 0.58, 0.69 and 0.84 percent respectively. It is suggested to strengthen the marketing, advertising and doing appropriate transportation infrastructure by employing manpower and efficient and expert management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anopheles mosquitoes are an important group of arthropods due to their role in transmission of ma­laria. The present study was conducted for determination of susceptibility status of Anopheles stephensi to different imagicides collected from malarious area in Chabahar city, Iran. Methods: In the present study seven insecticides including: DDT 4%, lambdacyhalothrin 0.05%, deltamethrin 0.05%, permethrin 0.75%, cyfluthrin 0.15% and etofenprox 0.5% were tested based on WHO method. Regression line was plotted for each insecticide using mortality of different exposure times. Bioassay data were analyzed using Probit software and the lethal time for 50% and 90% mortality (LT50 and LT90) values were calculated. Results: The susceptibility levels of field strain of An. stephensi to the discriminative dose of different imagicides were determined 100, 98, 96, 89, 82 and 62% for etofenprox, permethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, cyfluth­rin and DDT, respectively. Our finding indicated that An. stephensi is resistant to DDT, lambdacyhalothrin and cyfluthrin, and susceptible to etofenprox and permethrin and candidate of resistant to deltamethrin based on WHO criteria. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that An. stephensi is resistant to DDT and some pyrethroid insecticides which can be developed due to application of insecticides in health and agriculture. These results can provide a clue for future chemical control program in the study area.

Monitoring coastal areas is an important parameter in the sustainable development and protection of the environment. The expansion of constructions in Iran's southern coasts has not only led to the destruction of geomorphological landforms, but has also changed the process of erosion and sedimentation in coastal areas. Nowadays, remote sensing data are considered as the most efficient source of information for the study and interpretation of coastal landforms, tidal levels, changes in coastline, depth of water, and so forth. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in the coastline of Chabahar Gulf, located on the coasts of the Oman Sea by using remote sensing techniques. This study examined and interpreted qualitative and quantitative changes of the coastlines in a forty-two-year period. Different supervised classification methods were used from which the most accurate one was ultimately chosen. The classified images were divided into two classes of land and water, and the changes of these two classes between 1972 and 2014 were extracted. The net change results indicate that in the forty-two-year period, 1,832,436 m² of the land has been added to water class, and 7,004,844 m² of water has been added to land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anomaly in Pak-Iran relations started due to Afghanistan, and served as a stimulus for Indo-Iranian strategic convergence in the longer run. India's ties with Iran cater to its ambition of circumventing Pakistan in its western backyard. India has been trying to bring Afghanistan into its sphere of influence through Iran, to undermine Pakistan's interest. This has adversely impacted Pak-Iran ties and rejuvenation has become a formidable challenge. The paper argues that Pakistan and Iran have to resurrect mutual strategic relationship. Notwithstanding Chabahar and Gwadar projects, both need to recalibrate their bilateral ties with respect to regional dynamics, to explore the potential for entente, and to neutralize Indian factor in the relations. For Pakistan, Iran provides connectivity to Central Asian Republics (CARs). There is also a great potential for boosting energy trade, developing border security mechanism and a joint plan to address the issue of terrorism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Anopheles mosquitoes are an important group of arthropods due to their role in transmission of malaria. The present study was conducted for determination of susceptibility status of Anopheles stephensi to different imagicides collected from malarious area in Chabahar city, Iran. Methods: In the present study seven insecticides including: DDT 4%, lambdacyhalothrin 0.05%, deltamethrin 0.05%, permethrin 0.75%, cyfluthrin 0.15% and etofenprox 0.5% were tested based on WHO method. Regression line was plotted for each insecticide using mortality of different exposure times. Bioassay data were analyzed using Probit software and the lethal time for 50% and 90% mortality (LT50 and LT90) values were calculated. Results: The susceptibility levels of field strain of An. stephensi to the discriminative dose of different imagicides were determined 100, 98, 96, 89, 82 and 62% for etofenprox, permethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, cyfluthrin and DDT, respectively. Our finding indicated that An. stephensi is resistant to DDT, lambdacyhalothrin and cyfluthrin, and susceptible to etofenprox and permethrin and candidate of resistant to deltamethrin based on WHO criteria. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that An. stephensi is resistant to DDT and some pyrethroid insecticides which can be developed due to application of insecticides in health and agriculture. These results can provide a clue for future chemical control program in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease and a health problem in different parts of Iran, especially two cities of Mashhad and Chabahar. Due to morphological similarities of most Leishmania species and difference in reservoirs of L. major and L. tropica, it is necessary to determine the parasite specie to combat the disease. Thus, this study used gene sequencing and genotyping of 70-kDa heat shock protein (HSP70) to differentiate the two species of Leishmania. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, microscope slides and cultures were prepared from 43 patients suspected of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Chabahar and Mashhad. PCR was performed after genomic DNA extraction and then PCR products were sequenced and analyzed. Results: Of the 43 patients studied, 32 direct smear and culture (74.4%) were positive and 11 (25.6%) showed negative results, and were therefore excluded from the study. Using HSP70-specific primers, 1962 bp and 1152bp bands were observed for HSP70 of L. major in Chabahar and L. tropica in Mashhad, respectively. Based on the results, there were 18 nucleotide differences between HSP70 of L. major in Chabahar and L. tropica in Mashhad. Conclusion: Due to the morphological similarities between Leishmania species and inability to differentiate species through parasitological methods, the HSP70 gene can be used for identification of the species, and prevention and treatment of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India and Central Asia have shared a geo-cultural affinity and a long tradition of historical contacts that dates back to antiquity. There is convergence of views and interests between the Central Asian Republics and India, on fundamental issues such as; (a) need to maintain social harmony and equilibrium by promoting inter-ethnic harmony and peaceful co-existence; (b) commitment to secularism and democracy and opposition to religious fundamentalism; (c) recognition of threat to regional security and stability from trans-border terrorism, arms and drug trafficking, religious extremism and ethnic-religious secessionism; (d) commitment to the principles of territorial integrity of nation states and inviolability of state borders; (e) promoting economic, scientific and cultural cooperation and (f) ensuring peaceful and tranquil neighbourhood in Afghanistan.The Central Asian Republics, being cautious and wary of dominating influence of the powerful neighbours like Russia and China look towards India as a friend and partner, which does not have any political or territorial ambitions in the region. India is also expected to play a balancing role in the big power games in Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mosquito-borne diseases are a major public health threat in Iran. The objective of this study was to de­ter­mine the fauna of culicinae mosquitoes for future mosquito control programs. Methods: Three genera and eleven species of the subfamily Culicinae (Diptera: Culicidae) were collected by dipping tech­nique and identified in Chabahar County, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, southeastern Iran, during January, Feb­ru­ary, and March 2007. Results: The collected species included: Aedes vexans (new occurrence record for the province), Culex arbieeni, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. deserticola, Cx. hortensis, Cx. perexiguus, Cx. pipiens, Cx. pseudovishnui, Cx. pusillus, Cx. quinquefasciatus, Cx. sinaiticus, Cx. theileri, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Culiseta longiareolata, Ochlerotatus cabal­lus, Oc. caspius, and Uranotaenia unguiculata. Conclusion: Our observations indicate that, in South of Iran hot and wet climatic conditions support the persistence of culicinae mosquitoes. As our study, regular monitoring of culicinae mosquitoes in this area could be the most use­ful for mosquito control and mosquito-borne disease prevention.

Saket, A., Etemad-Shahidi, A., Moeini, M.H., 2013. Evaluation of ECMWF wind data for wave hindcast in Chabahar zone Wind waves are the most important environmental forces acting on the marine structures. Due to the incompleteness of measured wave parameters, wave prediction plays a key role in the design of coastal and offshore structures. Nowadays, numerical wind wave models are widely used for wave hindcast and forecast. Since wind is the most important forcing term in the numerical wind wave model, the selection of appropriate wind source is a vital step in the wave modeling. In the present study; two wind sources i.e. the measured synoptic and the ECMWF (European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) data, were evaluated for wave simulation near the Chabahar zone. To simulate wave parameters the third generation spectral SWAN model was utilized and the results were compared with those of in situ measurements in a depth of about 17 m. The whitecapping dissipation coefficient and bottom friction factor were used for calibration of the model. The sensitivity analysis showed that other physical parameters have no specific effect on the wave characteristics. Calibration of whitecapping dissipation rate led to the overestimation of high waves. Therefore, a combination of whitecapping dissipation and bottom friction factors was used to calibrate the model. It was found that the SWAN model forced by ECMWF wind data predicted the south-west and west waves successfully while underestimated the east, south-east and south waves. This was mainly due to well prediction of south-west and west wind and underestimation of wind from the east to the south by the ECMWF model. In addition, it was revealed that synoptic wind data can be used as an appropriate wind source for wave hindcasting at the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrastructure development in South Asia is driven by competition for geographic control—to secure resources and markets—and by fears of strategic encirclement. Two recently built ports, Gwadar in Pakistan and Chabahar in Iran, have respectively solidified strategic alliances between China and Pakistan and between India and Iran. These projects are creating an uncertain balance of regional power at a time when the United States is reducing its military role in the region. The competition for regional control could impede global shipping and exacerbate existing enmities. One solution is to develop a code of maritime conduct for the Indian Ocean that defines the process of communication between disputants in maritime territorial conflicts. However, the process of developing a code of conduct is one best initiated by the private sector, so all states can negotiate from equal positions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objectives: Cholera is spread by drinking water or eating food that is contaminated by bacteria, and is related to climate changes. Several epidemics have occurred in Iran, the most recent of which was in 2005 with 1133 cases and 12 deaths. This study investigated the incidence of cholera over a 10-year period in Chabahar district, a region with one of the highest incidence rates of cholera in Iran. Study design: Descriptive retrospective study on data of patients with Eltor and NAG cholera reported to the Iranian Centre of Disease Control between 1997 and 2006. Methods: Data on the prevalence of cholera were gathered through a surveillance system, and a spatial database was developed using geographic information systems (GIS) to describe the relation of spatial and climate variables to cholera incidences. Fuzzy clustering (fuzzy C) method and statistical analysis based on logistic regression were used to develop a model of cholera dissemination. The variables were demographic characteristics, specifications of cholera infection, climate conditions and some geographical parameters. Results: The incidence of cholera was found to be significantly related to higher temperature and humidity, lower precipitation, shorter distance to the eastern border of Iran and local health centres, and longer distance to the district health centre. The fuzzy C means algorithm showed that clusters were geographically distributed in distinct regions. Conclusion: In order to plan, manage and monitor any public health programme, GIS provide ideal platforms for the convergence of disease-specific information, analysis and computation of new data for statistical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The reflective response of Chabahar breakwater was studied via field measurements. • Two new formulae were suggested to estimate the wave reflection from rubble mounds. • Two well-known formulae showed general good agreement with field observations. • The frequency reflective response is different for sea and swell wave predominant conditions. The present study analyzes the field measurements of the reflective response of a permeable rubble mound breakwater encountered with a bimodal wave regime. The coexistence of sea and swell wind-driven waves during the measurement program provided directional spreading wave realizations for subsequent bulk and frequency-dependent wave reflection analysis. The directional wave data were acquired near the primary breakwater of Chabahar Port within 28 days, including 643 bursts using an AWAC wave recorder. The available formulae for wave reflection coefficient were evaluated against this data set. Results showed that the equations proposed by Postma (1989) and Zanuttigh and Van der Meer (2007) are in general agreement with the observations of the present study. However, the accuracy of reflection coefficient predictions was improved by developing two new alternative formulations. It was realized that the frequency reflective response differs between sea and swell prevailing conditions. The reflection coefficient decreases drastically within high sea wave predominant periods for the harmonics higher than peak frequency. However, reflection coefficients of high harmonics reduced slightly within swell domination periods. The frequency-dependent reflection coefficients can be even higher than unity due to energy transfer amongst other wave harmonics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed the characteristics of infragravity waves (hereafter IGWs) based on field observations collected near the plunging cliffs of Chabahar bay, Iran. Observations were made near Chabahar city during the summer monsoon season of 2018. The wave climate included two different durations of sea and swell predominance, with a maximum wave height reaching 2.5 m. Concurrent with the duration of the sea predominance, the ratio of IGW to swell wave height had an insensitive fluctuation against tidal variations, while this ratio had a strong negative correlation with tidal level during the high swell condition. The investigation of directional wave energy distribution revealed two correlated trends of shoreward and seaward IGWs with the wave regime. Larger values of the IGW reflection coefficients were observed during high sea wave conditions compared with high swell conditions. The IGW reflection coefficients decreased against swell energy growth with a logarithmic trend. The bound IGW energy fraction was studied using bispectral analysis. It is demonstrated that the maximum values of this parameter corresponded to high swell waves observed within low ebbs of the spring tide. The insignificant values of bound IGW energy fraction and the non-extended surf-zone revealed that most of the released IGWs originated from offshore and intermediate water depths. In addition, it was revealed that the inverse tidal trend of normalized IGW by swell height was due to bound IGW enhancement during ebb periods as a result of the nonlinear coupling of swell waves. • The first study of infragravity wave characteristics near plunging cliffs. • The infragravity wave (IGW) reflection has a negative correlation with swell wave energy. • The ratio of H I G W s H s w e l l shows a negative response to tidal variations of water level. • Bound IGW enhancement results in total IGW increasing during ebb periods. • The shoreward and seaward propagating IGWs are positively correlated with incident wave regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a linear formulation is found to estimate the wave reflection coefficient (K r) from plunging cliff coasts of Chabahar city according to field data measurements. The field measurement included directional wave data via three bursts for each hour and in total 1345 bursts during summer Southern-West monsoon using an ADCP gague. The significant wave heights reached 2.5 m and the corresponding peak periods were greater than 11 s. It was observed that the wave reflection coefficients are fully tidally modulated. The maximum values of K r reached 0.7 in a flood period of spring tide, while the minimum values were greater than 0.3 and corresponded to ebb periods in spring tide. The corresponding dimensionless parameters of wave height to depth, wave steepness and Ursell number to the highest values of K r were obtained as 0.17, 0.014, and 22, respectively. The variation ranges of reflection coefficient pertaining to the effect of four main tidal constituents as M2, S2, K1, and O1 were achieved as ∼ 9.6, 4.1, 7.1, and 3.6%, respectively. Finally, a linear formulation as a function of the tidal level was resulted to estimate the most accurate values of K r in the studied area. The averaged inaccuracy of resulted formulation was approximately 6.5%. The frequency reflection coefficients K r (f) was also investigated in this study. The results indicated the values close to 1 for long infragravity waves, because of occurrence of no significant dissipation. However, the similar values for short waves (fr > 0.25 Hz) were greater than 1 due to wind wave breaking as a result of the cliff toe collision. The temporal histogram of K r (f) revealed the tidally controlled variations of this parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gwadar and Chabahar ports have gained tremendous significance as both leverage their geo-strategic location to the two rising powers in Asia, China and India. Gwadar port is being managed by China under the China – Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), whereas the development of Chabahar port is funded by India under the tripartite Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Iran and Afghanistan, signed on May 23, 2016. Both are located at the international energy trading route and provide connectivity to Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The nature of the capitalist system and basic economic cost has the potential to put both ports in competition with each other. However, Iran and Pakistan deny any kind of such competition; rather both States aspire to build on cooperation and linkages between these two ports. Undoubtedly, China is an emerging power; however, the US is committed on containing China and fighting for resources in Asia. This paper will look into the argument and arrangements that will either lead to cooperation or competition between the two ports. Moreover, in light of different economic theories, the paper will project different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]