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Electric arc furnace (EAF) is one of the most disturbing loads in the power system as it is highly time‐varying and nonlinear. In this paper, new models based on the instantaneous EAF voltage and current, recorded from EAFs in Mobarakeh steel company in Isfahan/Iran are proposed. The focus of this paper is on developing efficient models based on the Schwarz model where three modified types are proposed. The original Schwarz model has four constant parameters. Unlike the original Schwarz model which uses invariant parameters, the time‐varying nature of the arc's parameters is considered in the proposed models. The first modified model has two constant model orders and two time‐varying coefficients. Additionally, to further enhance the model's accuracy, in the second modified model, six parameters include three constant model orders, and three time‐varying coefficients exist. The third model uses all the original model's parameters as time‐series parameters. The parameters of the time‐varying model are derived using autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models. The accuracy of the proposed model is evaluated by calculating the active power, harmonics, instantaneous flicker, and short‐term flicker. Finally, three MATLAB codes are provided to generate the model parameters time series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rabies is a prevalent endemic and zoonotic fatal disease, which is normally transmitted to humans by contact (scratches and bites) from infected animals. The present paper deals with the first documented evidence of rabies in the stone marten (Martes foina). Rabies symptoms were observed in a marten in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. The animal with a strange demeanour approached people without fear, which was died after some while. Samples were taken from its brain (cerebellum, hippocampus, and hypothalamus), shortly after death. In this report, laboratory evidence of rabies by fluorescent antibody (FAT) was proved. The present work is valuable because of the environmental importance of the stone marten. Hence, sensitive surveillance and advanced reporting systems should be regularly monitored on suspected cases of rabies in animals and humans to control and prevent this deadly disease. This involves exposure history, clinical examinations, symptoms and experimental results. Rabies can be controlled by fast diagnostic tests and vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Physiological changes during pregnancy make mothers susceptible to periodontal diseases, in particular gingivitis, which could be prevented by good oral hygiene. Therefore, their knowledge and attitude could affect their oral hygiene and general health. This study therefore aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding oral hygiene, of pregnant women living in a city in Iran. Material and Methods: It was a cross‐sectional study that was performed in Urmia City in 2019. After completing an informed consent form, pregnant women completed a specially designed questionnaire, which included questions on demographic characteristics and assessed participants' knowledge and attitude about oral health care during pregnancy. A clinical examination of each participant's oral cavity was performed and dental plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), and number of decayed, missed, filled teeth (DMFT) index were recorded. Any correlations between participants' knowledge and attitude and oral health indices were evaluated. A paired t test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were employed for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 96 pregnant women (mean age of 29.11 ± 6.80 years) participated in this study. Among them, 67 had a moderate level of knowledge. There was no significant correlation between participants' knowledge, and attitude levels and educational level (p =.88 and p =.43, respectively). Also, there was no correlation between knowledge and attitude levels and GI, PI, and DMFT (p >.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the knowledge and attitude of the pregnant women who participated were not favorable and their oral hygiene needed to be improved. "WHY THIS PAPER IS IMPORTANT" / "WHAT S KNOWN" / "WHAT S NEW": The pregnant women are susceptible to some oral diseases.Poor oral hygiene during pregnancy can affect the systemic health of mother and her fetus.Proper oral hygiene was not observed among pregnant participants.Knowledge and attitude of the pregnant women were not satisfactory and performance of oral health care needed to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The study aimed to collect and compare clinical and laboratory findings of children with severe and nonsevere COVID‐19 in Kermanshah City, located in the west of Iran. Methods: The study was conducted on 500 children with COVID‐19 hospitalized in Mohammad‐Kermanshahi Hospital in Kermanshah City. Pediatric COVID‐19 was confirmed by reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) test using respiratory secretion samples. Medical records were reviewed and information related to demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and chest computed tomography (CT) scans were all extracted from electronic and paper records. Patients were divided into three groups according to the severity of the disease: mild, moderate, and severe. Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between the groups and the collected data were analyzed by statistical methods. Results: Out of 500 patients, 286 were boys and 214 were girls. Of the patients, 321 cases were only COVID‐19, while 179 patients were diagnosed as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS‐C) positive. The average age of COVID‐19 patients was 3.85 ± 4.48 and of MIS‐C patients was 3.1 ± 3.5. In order, fever, cough, and heart disorders were the most common symptoms in patients with COVID‐19 and MIS‐C, respectively. In terms of disease severity, 246 patients had mild disease, 19 patients had moderate disease, and 56 patients had severe disease. In severe patients, the average number of white blood cells (WBC) was higher, while the average number of lymphocytes was lower. Also, in these patients, the average age was lower, and most of them had respiratory distress. In mild patients, often cough, diarrhea, and vomiting were observed. Conclusion: The results of our study showed that laboratory factors such as WBC count, lymphocyte count, CT findings, Respiratory distress, cough, diarrhea, and vomiting can be used to evaluate the severity of COVID‐19 in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Infrastructures as Best Management Practice (GI‐BMP) play important role in preserving cities from urban flood and excessive runoff. In the process of using GI‐BMP in cities for stormwater management, a number of steps are taken that normally include selection of suitable sites, formulating proper combination of infrastructures, and optimization of the place and design of GI‐BMPs to maximize their cost‐effectiveness. This paper presents a site‐scale GI‐BMP implementation in Tehran West Bus Terminal (TWBT), Iran. To achieve this goal, this study applies a three steps framework namely GI‐BMP suitability analysis, GI‐BMP combination planning, and GI‐BMP optimization. In the first step, using the BMP Siting Tool, the suitable places for allocating GI practices were identified. In the next step, suitable GI‐BMP practices, including permeable pavements, bioretention basin, infiltration trench, and rain barrel were planned and arranged for each subwatersheds of the study area. In the third step, with the use of System for Urban Stormwater Treatment and Analysis Integration (SUSTAIN) model and NSGA‐II algorithm, the sizes of the planned GI‐BMP types were optimized for each subwatershed. The results indicate that runoff problem caused by surface runoff in the study area was serious and needed to be controlled. The results also revealed that there were 104 near‐optimal solutions that help reduce runoff volume by up to 70%. According to the results, applying GI‐BMPs in TWBT will reduce 60% of flow volume in the site with the price of 353,568$. This research is of practical importance for stormwater management using nature‐based solutions in bus terminals. Recommendation For Resource Managers: Considering suitable places, selecting proper combination, and optimizing GI‐BMP location and design will result in an efficient green infrastructure planning in the context of cities.BMP Siting Tool and SUSTAIN model applied in this research provided a framework for planning and optimization of GI‐BMP in TWBT.This study suggested 104 near‐optimal solutions for GI‐BMP planning for TWBT reducing the cost of GI construction and reduce runoff volume.The proposed solutions for GI‐BMP development in TWBT may reduce up to 60% of annual volume of runoff with the cost of 353,568$. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the mining of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin has attracted much global attention due to the simplicity and high profitability of this business, especially in countries with low electricity rates. The process of cryptocurrency mining using cryptocurrency mining devices requires a significant amount of computing power. This industry, which is increasingly growing in energy and carbon emissions, can cause environmental concerns. Common ways to reduce this amount of energy consumption are to prohibit mining and charge these loads at a higher electricity rate; however, these solution methods are not feasible and applicable in many countries. This paper presents an energy efficiency program to persuade the customers to mine cryptocurrency using high‐efficient cryptocurrency mining devices (CMDs), including informative, regulation, and financial policy instruments. This energy efficiency approach suggests a standard, if implemented, would ban the application of inefficient CMDs, and would encourage the cryptocurrency miners to improve the profitability of their business with high‐efficient CMDs through a penalty‐reward strategy. The performance of this energy efficiency program is studied through an analysis of data gathered from different CMDs used in Iran. The effectiveness of this suggested program is proved through its sufficient incentives for miners using high‐efficient CMDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the impact of residential photovoltaic (PV) battery systems in a real test system with the goal of system peak load shaving. In order to encourage residential investors, a levelised feed‐in tariff (LFiT) scheme is introduced. Accordingly, two proposed cases and relevant suggestions are presented to reach a better performance. The profitability of the project is apprised via several economic criteria such as net present value, simple and discount payback period years (PBY and DPBY), internal rate of return (IRR), benefit to cost ratio, net cash flow, and levelised cost of energy. Moreover, different levels of peak shaving subject to customers' participation and the size of the PV‐battery system are also obtained. An actual test system regarding 1‐year recorded data is employed to elevate the precision of results. Obtained results demonstrate that in the current situation in Iran, the PBY is about 5.83 years and the IRR is about 0.43. Meanwhile, the ratio of the LFiT should be about 3.5 to reach the same result as the current circumstances. Finally, a sensitivity analysis on systems' parameters is performed to identify the impact of these parameters on economic indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, supporting schemes have been legislated by several governments to encourage private investors in installing renewable energy resources (RER). In such cases, the supportive policies are mainly enacted based on the either investor or distribution companies' standpoint. In this paper, a distribution network expansion planning (DNEP) framework with the cooperation of residential private investors (RPI) is proposed. Due to the presence of a couple of main participants, the proposed framework is arranged in a bi‐level framework, where the RPI participation is optimized at the upper level, and the system structure is determined at the lower level. In order to assess the profitability of the project from the investors' attitude, payback period years (PBY) is utilized. Meanwhile, due to the presence of uncertainty resources, fuzzy clustering method (FCM) is developed to catch the intermittency of the problem. The proposed framework is implemented on a real 81 bus distribution test system in Iran. Moreover, the existing scheme in Iran and also a modified plan are investigated to make cost‐effective decisions. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed to reach a more beneficial result. Obtained results demonstrated how distribution companies can utilize the potential of residential customers in long‐term planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an online protective scheme of estimating critical inter‐area angle for controlling the inter‐area oscillations based on evaluating the rate of changes of rotor angle oscillations as an adaptive tripping index (ATI)‐based protective zone. For this purpose, by using wide area measuring system technology, oscillatory signals Δδ and Δω are measured which based on correlation coefficients criteria, coherent groups are identified which based on evaluating oscillating areas, inter‐area signals ΔδCOI‐AB and ΔωCOI‐AB are provided. In the case of evaluating an inter‐area oscillation, the proposed ATI scheme is activated which the first zero crossing point (ZCP0) of δCOI‐AB is determined as the critical criteria for estimating unstable situation. The proposed ATI approach consists of two adaptive protective zones ATI1 and ATI2 to estimate inter‐area oscillatory and inter‐area transient instabilities, respectively. The proposed ATI is an online and non‐model‐based scheme which evaluates the system dynamic stability through two straight and sinusoidal‐based adaptive zones. The effectiveness of the proposed ATI approach is evaluated on three different test systems IEEE 39‐bus, modified IEEE 39‐bus with converter‐based low inertia sources and a practical Iran nation power grid with presenting positive effects of damping inter‐area oscillations through different operational and topological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a survey of geological attributes on the lateritic‐bauxitic deposits to examine their provenance, palaeogeography, and palaeoclimate condition in the Permian–Triassic boundary of Alborz Mountain, north Iran. The mineralogical analysis revealed that haematite, quartz, goethite, kaolinite, diaspore, boehmite, and anatase are the major rock‐forming minerals in these deposits. The major oxide composition of samples detected that enrichment of Al2O3 (up to 31.5%) and Fe2O3 (up to 37.9%) led to the formation of laterite, kaolinitic laterite, and bauxitic kaolinite. The distribution of trace and rare elements provides information about the enrichment of deposits concerning immobile elements. Employing geochemical proxies such as Al2O3/TiO2, bivariate diagrams of Eu/Eu* versus Sm/Nd and TiO2/Al2O3, enrichment of samples relative to heavy rare earth elements, and positive Eu anomaly revealed that the deposits originated from intermediate to mafic rocks. Several factors are inferred to be responsible for the transformation of parent rock(s) into lateritic‐bauxitic deposits: The high values of CIA, CIW, and PIA (mostly above 80) and increase of kaolinite point to deep to moderate parent rock(s) weathering, which is consistent with warming and humidity around the Permian–Triassic boundary. In continuation, transportation and trapping of weathered materials above the karstified carbonate bedrock of the Ruteh Formation and environmental interactions induced the formation of new minerals in a transitional environment near the vadose zone. The deposits have a generic correspondence with Palaeotethys Oceanic crustal subduction due to tectonic uplift, exhumation of bedrock, and regional sea‐level fall at the end of Palaeozoic that offered an opportunity for lateritization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study relies on a unique synthesis of ambidexterity theory and the natural resource orchestration approach to investigate how green intellectual capital elements, namely green human, structural, and relational capital, along with ambidextrous green innovation, trigger a synergy in favor of environmental performance. In particular, this paper primarily aims to test the mediating role of ambidextrous green innovation in the relationship between green intellectual capital and environmental performance. Based on a survey of 105 Iranian public listed companies, the results indicate that green intellectual capital elements are not directly associated with environmental performance. Instead, they influence environmental performance only through the channel of ambidextrous green innovation as a mediating variable. This is the first study to simultaneously embed the resource orchestration theory in the green intellectual capital and ambidexterity literature. The findings of the current study offer new insights into the issue of how organizations gain maximum benefit from the orchestration of their various green assets and capabilities, including green intellectual capital and ambidextrous green innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran is one of the most potent energy exporters and fastest‐growing energy consumers in the world. Its large amount of energy exported can directly impact the economy of importer countries. Iran's energy matrix mostly consists of hydrocarbons, while the remaining portion is compounded by a blend of biofuels, hydropower, wind, solar, and other renewable sources. Even though the country has an excellent potential to reach a large amount of renewable power, it is most likely that Iran will deal with a shortage in its electricity segment during the upcoming years. Besides wind and solar energy, bioenergy appears to be a good alternative for enhancing the country's energy matrix and transit Iran's energy consumption pattern from a high‐level usage of hydrocarbons to a more renewable scenario. Therefore, in the present paper, the role of Iran in global energy production is discussed, and its potential for renewable energy generation is described. The review presents a vast set of data related to environmental, infrastructural, economic, and social aspects to clarify the potential and benefits of Iran's transition to a more renewable energy matrix. The investigations revealed the country's extremely favourable conditions to use bioenergy resources as a key solution to avoiding future energy crises, besides improving quality of life. The context can help researchers, power suppliers, and energy consumers know how renewable energies, especially bioenergy, can modify the energy matrix of a country rich in hydrocarbon resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Off‐grid renewable energy systems are a solution for power generation in areas where access to the grid is not possible or cost‐effective; in particular, low population rural areas located far away from grid lines or in rugged terrains. Furthermore, over‐reliance on fossil fuels for supplying global energy demand has led to the depletion of nonrenewable resources and environmental issues. This paper presents a feasibility assessment of an off‐grid hybrid renewable energy system for a remote rural area in Kohgiluye and Boyer‐Ahmad Province in Iran. Regarding the available energy resources in the region, a photovoltaic (PV)‐biomass energy system is considered. HOMER Pro software is utilized to find the optimized sizing of the PV‐biomass system to fulfill this load demand. The objective function in this optimization is the system's total net present cost. Due to the rapid fluctuation of economic factors in the country, several rates of inflation and discount rate are considered to investigate their influence on the costs of the system. The optimization result for the current inflation rate of 40% and the discount rate of 18% in the country proposes a hybrid energy system consisting of a 3 kW biogas‐fueled generator, 4.74 kW PV, 10 kWh battery, and 2.07 kW converter to meet the 2.64 kW peak load and 14.53 kWh/day consumption of the community. The total net present cost and cost of energy are $93,057 and 0.0933 $/kWh, respectively. Finally, the environmental assessment of the proposed hybrid system shows an annual CO2 emission of 2.95 kg, which means 99.9% CO2 emissions mitigation compared to a conventional coal‐based electrical plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water and water management are no longer related to environmental studies. There is a very strong link between water and a state's security, as well as its survival and development. A decline in water availability may lead to a collapse or even the extinction of a whole civilization. Sometimes referred to as a "water‐bankrupt" state, Iran is a case that underlines the close relation between water and security, from the perspective of survival and opportunities for development. Without a doubt, the Islamic Republic of Iran is among those countries that are the most affected by climate change and low water levels. The main goal of this paper is to analyze challenges related to water in Iran, including the political, security, economic, and social dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the real world, there are complex decision‐making problems in which a variety of intertwined factors and hierarchical structures exist, and it is difficult or impossible to solve these problems using classical methods. The prioritization of circular economy (CE) adoption barriers is one such complex problem that cannot be solved using current classical methods. Hence, in this paper, for the first time, a new method, namely, FBWDS, is developed. FBWDS derives from the combination of fuzzy best–worst method (BWM), fuzzy decision‐making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), and Supermatrix structure. This proposed method establishes weights of the intertwined factors in hierarchical networks under uncertainty; these weighted factors and their interdependencies are calculated using the fuzzy BWM and fuzzy DEMATEL techniques, respectively. In addition, the Supermatrix structure is applied to integrate the results of these two techniques. The proposed approach efficiency is evaluated in the field of the CE adoption barriers using data from a cable and wire industry in Iran. The results showed that "high setup costs," "financial limitations," and "absence of public awareness about CE" rank as the most challenging barriers, and "lack of standards for designing recycled products" and "absence of standard system to evaluate performance" are the least important barriers to CE adoption in the cable and wire industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws on the newly developed notion of "natural resource orchestration" to propose and test a framework that shows how the use of environmental performance measurement systems mobilizes green intellectual capital to influence organizational performance. More precisely, this study examines to what extent companies place emphasis on the use of environmental performance measurement to translate green intellectual capital into enhanced organizational performance in terms of both economic and environmental performance. Based on a survey of 105 Iranian public listed companies, the results show that two elements of green intellectual capital, namely, green human capital and green structural capital are positively associated with both environmental performance measurement use and environmental performance. In contrast, green relational capital affects environmental performance only in the presence of environmental performance measurement as a mediating variable. By embedding the resource orchestration theory in the management accounting and intellectual capital settings, this study contributes to the existing literature and sheds light on the issue of how companies need to synchronize their green resources with proper organizational control systems to reap the maximum benefits of those green strategic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is a rare genetic disorder, associated with some physical symptoms including spots and tiny bumps on the skin, and internal organ involvement. People suffering from neurofibromatosis face various challenges in their daily lives. However, there is little understanding on how patients deal with neurofibromatosis. This study aimed to investigate the life challenges of patients with NF1. Methods: This qualitative study was performed by implementing a grounded theory with the cooperation of the Society for Neurofibromatosis Patients over the course of 15 months in 2019 across 4 provinces in Iran. Twenty‐four patients with NF1 were interviewed. An analysis was performed using the constant comparative method. Findings: The results of the analyses indicated that the major concern of the NF1 patients was feelings of failure and falling behind in life. In the face of failure in life in such a context, patients used the main strategy of "unsuccessful struggle to escape" the disease and its complications, which was represented itself in the forms of 'hopelessness and impatience', 'suicidal thoughts and unsuccessful suicide attempts', 'isolation and seclusion', 'expressing complaints and grievances to God', 'hiding the disease' and 'hopelessness and refusing to receive care'. The implementation of such strategies helped patients reduce tension and achieve a temporary, though vulnerable and fragile, sense of relief and peace. Conclusion: Given an unfavourable life condition, NF1 patients turned to a harmful passive strategy in the face of the challenges posed by the disease. Patient or Public Contribution: Public contributors were active partners throughout, and co‐authored the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To reduce mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 and cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is necessary to understand the relationship between patient's symptoms, risk factors, and comorbidities with their mortality rate. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first which take into account the determinants like risk factors, symptoms, and comorbidities leading to mortality in CVD patients who are hospitalized with COVID‐19. Methods: This study was conducted on 660 hospitalized patients with CVD and COVID‐19 recruited between January 2020 and January 2021 in Iran. All patients were diagnosed with the previous history of CVD like angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, abnormal heart rhythms, and congenital heart disease before they were hospitalized for COVID‐19. We collected data on patient's signs and symptoms, clinical and paraclinical examinations, and any underlying comorbidities. t test was used to determine the significant difference between the two deceased and alive groups. In addition, the relation between pairs of symptoms and pairs of comorbidities has been determined via correlation computation. Results: Our findings suggest that signs and symptoms such as fever, cough, myalgia, chest pain, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia had no impact on patients' mortality. There was a significant correlation between COVID‐19 cardiovascular patients' mortality rate and symptoms such as headache, loss of consciousness (LOC), oxygen saturation less than 93%, and need for mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: Our results might help physicians identify early symptoms, comorbidities, and risk factors related to mortality in CVD patients hospitalized for COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geochemical data for 435 samples of the Pliocene to Quaternary (P–Q) volcanic rocks from Iran, distributed mostly along a NW–SE trending belt, were compiled from 28 papers (12 written in Persian). Until now, the rock nomenclature employed has been inconsistent with the recommendations of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Moreover, older bivariate and ternary tectonic discrimination diagrams and only traditional qualitative approaches using Nb and Ta anomalies, have been used to understand the origin and evolution of the P–Q magmas. The P–Q magma and rock types were classified by strictly following the IUGS recommendations. Two geochemometric multidimensional models based on 10 and 16 elements, along with two decision procedures, capable of discriminating 29 fine tectonic settings, were used to document the existence of six tectonic settings in Iran during the P–Q. The rare earth elements indicated that the evolved intermediate and silicic rocks had a significant crustal component in their origin. The quantification of Nb and Ta anomalies in multielement diagrams was used to support the tectonic inferences from the multidimensional geochemometric models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental taxes, such as carbon tax, also affect other economic variables in a different way in addition to the main goal of politicians. The carbon tax aims to reduce energy consumption and pollutant emissions, while it can also reduce labor tax and labor costs which are incentives to create new jobs. It is necessary to evaluate the carbon taxation policy in Iran due to the special circumstances of the budget deficit mainly caused by the decline of exports and oil revenues. The present study is based on a general equilibrium model in the form of a nonlinear equations system. The model has been calibrated for the 2017 reference year using the data table adopted from Iran's economy. It has been shown that if the carbon tax revenue is employed to decrease the labor income tax, the environmental quality will be improved by reducing pollutant emissions on the one hand, and it will lead to positive effects on the welfare and employment on the other hand. In the present paper, the effect of applying this tax on two policies with redistribution (compensation) and without redistribution (no compensation) of income tax among the households is examined. Maximum, minimum, and optimal values of pollutant emissions reduction under the influence of carbon tax policies were calculated in both scenarios. The simulation results show that the taxation without redistribution of tax revenues decreases the welfare and household's actual consumed budget by 6.2%, but in policy with compensation of tax revenue, these indices will increase by 0.8%. The gross domestic product (GDP) decreases by about 1.7% and 2.1% in both policies, respectively, while the consumer price index (CPI) in both scenarios will increase by about 6.4% and 8%, respectively. According to this research findings, carbon taxation with the redistribution of revenue is a suitable policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adhere to international commitments at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper introduces an innovative multicriteria wind potential assessment study using fuzzy logic in decision making. Regarding the diverse conditions and lack of comprehensive studies, Iran was selected as a case study, and by applying the proposed framework, all the 559 synoptic meteorological stations in the country were studied. Fourteen technical, eco‐environmental, and social indicators were defined for the assessment. Each of the indicator's effectiveness was determined using related literature and interviews with local experts. Finally, using fuzzy logic in decision making, all the selected sites and the provinces were scored and ranked. Moreover, the priority maps of Iran provinces considering social and eco‐environmental aspects were provided. The selected sites' final standing for the development of offshore and onshore wind power plant was also determined. The results indicate that taking just the technical conditions into account can result in misleading conclusions and social and eco‐environmental criteria must also be considered for potential assessment studies. Moreover, it was shown that equal supportive policies for wind development throughout the country would mitigate their efficiency. Therefore, the energy strategies should be codified, considering local circumstances to organize investment resources, leading to higher legislation efficiencies and faster development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HLA‐G allele frequencies were studied in Yucatán (Mexico) Maya Amerindians by a direct exon DNA sequencing technique. It is described that Mayas are probably one of the first populations together with Olmecs that populated Meso America and that important HLA genetic differences between Mexican and Guatemalan Mayas support that Maya languages were imposed to several neighbouring Amerindian groups. HLA‐G*01:01:02, HLA‐G*01:01:01 and HLA‐G*01:04:01 are the most frequent alleles in this population. It is remarkable that HLA‐G*01:05N allele was not found in the population in accordance with similar results found in another Amerindians. Also, protein allele HLA‐G*01:04 frequency is found not to differ to those found in another far or close living Amerindians in contrast to other World populations. It seems that while high HLA‐G*01:05N frequency is found in Iran and Middle East populations, probably where this allele appeared within an ancestral HLA‐A*19 group of alleles haplotype and it is maintained by unknown evolutionary forces, Amerindians do not have a high frequency because a founder effect or because required natural evolutionary forces do not exist in America. Finally, we believe useful to study HLA‐G evolution for its physiopathology understanding in addition to the many papers on statistics on HLA‐G and in vitro models that are yearly published. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving network power quality through harmonic reduction requires recognition of Harmonic Sources (HSs) to drive them to compensate their harmonics. This paper proposes a new method for equitable distribution of the Harmonic Compensation Cost of the network among the HSs based on the Harmonic Contribution Matrix. Each element of the Harmonic Contribution Matrix is the harmonic contribution of a specific source to the harmonic voltage of a specific bus. The output of the proposed method is a penalty curve for each HS over time. The amount of the fine estimated for each individual HS per hour is a function of not only the contribution of that HS to the harmonic voltage of different buses, but also the contribution of the Harmonic Compensation Cost from the perspective of each bus, nominal voltage of each bus, and the sensitivity of each bus to the harmonic voltage. The proposed algorithm is evaluated on the IEEE 14‐bus network and Esfahan regional electrical power network in Iran. The simulation results demonstrate the capability of the proposed method to allocate the hourly penalty curve to the HSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the influence of food safety standards related to aflatoxin contamination on the pistachio trade of the world's two leading pistachio producers (the United States and Iran) during the period 1996–2014. Using diverse econometric procedures, the estimation of extended gravity models shows that both countries benefit from stricter food safety standards imposed by importing countries. The results also show that US exports are not negatively affected by the distance from the importer (higher differentiation), while the impact of distance on the Iranian pistachio trade is negative. The results reveal that stricter food safety requirements are positive for both producing countries, regardless of their level of economic development, resulting in a "win–win" scenario. However, the findings also confirm that other variables, such as distance, the role of producers' associations and quality perception, should be considered. [EconLit citations: F10, F63, I18, Q17]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate sex differences in response to repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) patients. Identifying the factors that mediate treatment response to rTMS in MDD patients can guide clinicians to administer more appropriate, reliable, and personalized interventions. Methods: In this paper, we developed a novel pipeline based on convolutional LSTM‐based deep learning (DL) to classify 25 female and 25 male patients based on their rTMS treatment response. Results: Five different classification models were generated, namely pre‐/post‐rTMS female (model 1), pre‐/post‐rTMS male (model 2), pre‐rTMS female responder versus pre‐rTMS female nonresponders (model 3), pre‐rTMS male responder vs. pre‐rTMS male nonresponder (model 4), and pre‐rTMS responder versus nonresponder of both sexes (model 5), achieving 93.3%, 98%, 95.2%, 99.2%, and 96.6% overall test accuracy, respectively. Conclusion: These results indicate the potential of our approach to be used as a response predictor especially regarding sex‐specific antidepressant effects of rTMS in MDD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa as an opportunistic pathogen produces several virulence factors. This study evaluated the relative frequency of exoenzymes (exo) A, U and S genes and integron classes (I, II, and III) among multi‐drug‐resistant clinical P. aeruginosa isolates from burn patients in Ahvaz, southwest of Iran. Methods: In this cross‐sectional study P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from 355 wound samples. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by disk agar diffusion method on Muller‐Hinton agar according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. MDR isolates were defined if they showed simultaneous resistance to 3 antibiotics. Extensively drug‐resistant was defined as nonsusceptibility to at least one agent in all but two or fewer antimicrobial categories. The presence of class I, II, and III integrons and virulence genes was determined using a PCR assay on extracted DNA. Results: Overall, 145 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were confirmed with biochemical and PCR tests. Overall, 35% (52/145) of the isolates were taken from males and 64% (93/145) from female hospitalized burn patients. The highest resistance rates of P. aeruginosa isolates to antibiotics were related to piperacillin 59% (n = 86/145) and piperacillin‐tazobactam 57% (n = 83/145). A total of 100% of isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic. MDR and XDR P. aeruginosa had a frequency of 60% and 29%, respectively. The prevalence of integron classes I, II, and III in P. aeruginosa was 60%, 7.58%, and 3.44%, respectively. IntI was more common in MDR and XDR P. aeruginosa isolates. In addition, 70(48%) of P. aeruginosa isolates did not harbor integron genes. Besides, exoA, exoS, and exoU in P. aeruginosa had a frequency of 55%, 55%, and 56%, respectively. Conclusion: It was found that P. aeruginosa as a potent pathogen with strong virulence factors and high antibiotic resistance in the health community can cause refractory diseases in burn patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Multidrug and extensive drug‐resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was extracted from burn patients referring to burn centers in southwest Iran so that biofilm generation and antibiotic resistance could be investigated. Methods: A specific primer was used to confirm all our considered 110 P. aeruginosa culture‐positive reports on 345 burn patients. The resistance of P. aeruginosa to seven antibiotics and Colistin with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was assessed. Biofilm formation was assessed by the phenotypic study of specimens under Congo red agar and microtiter plate assays. Results: One hundred and 10 clinical P. aeruginosa isolates taken from burn wound infections were validated. Among P. aeruginosa isolates, Piperacillin, Ceftazidime, Maeropenem, Gentamycin, and Gatifloacin had the highest resistance to antibiotics, while Ticarcillin‐Clavulanic acid and Ceftolozane‐Tazobactam showed the least resistance. MICs were then evaluated via the E test. Seven isolates were resistant to colistin. Colistin reference MICs for multidrug‐resistant P. aeruginosa prevalence was 38%, while it was 22% for extensively drug‐resistant (XDR) P. aeruginosa. One P. aeruginosa was pandrug‐resistant (PDR). Under Congo red agar test, 66 isolates (67%) formed biofilms and black colonies, whereas 44 isolates (50%) had red colonies. In MTP, 76% formed biofilm. 40%, 32%, 21% of the isolates were strong, moderate, and weak biofilm formers, respectively, while 43% did not form biofilms. Conclusion: The P. aeruginosa resistance to antimicrobial agents has largely challenged the control of the infection. Accordingly, a higher resistance occurred when the isolates were transferred to the patients. Less than 50% P. aeruginosa samples generated strong biofilms. Consequently, hygienic measurements are essential to inhibit P. aeruginosa transmission to hospitalized patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: There is increasing interest worldwide in using alternative and complementary approaches for treating male infertility. This interest has spawned a multitude of published systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. The aim of this Umbrella review was to consolidate the available evidence regarding the effect of complementary and alternative medicine on male infertility to inform clinical decision‐making processes. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to identify systematic reviews and meta‐analyses pertaining to the effects of complementary and alternative medicine on male infertility. This search encompassed various databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, Proquest, Google Scholar, SID, EMBASE, Magiran, Cochrane Library, Iranmedex, ScienceDirect, SAGE. Subsequently, two researchers independently extracted the data from the selected meta‐analyses and systematic reviews, and evaluated their methodological quality using the assessment of multiple systematic reviews 2 (AMSTAR2). Results: This analysis encompassed 11 studies, with four originating from Iran, two from Korea and five from China. The results regarding the effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine are controversial, indicating a need for further research. The methodological quality of the systematic reviews and meta‐analyses appraised by AMSTAR 2 was rated as low or critically low. This assessment is attributed to inadequate examination of publication biases in the reviews and a lack of discussion regarding the effect of risk of bias. Conclusion: The existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of alternative and complementary medicine in addressing male infertility is limited. Furthermore, the overall methodological quality of the published systematic reviews and meta‐analyses may have been underestimated as the use of AMSTAR2 appears to be a more precise appraisal instrument compared to its predecessor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most crucial and essential methods for the prevention and management of respiratory infections is for healthcare professionals to take precautions for their own safety. Using Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), the current study looked into effective elements influencing the staff at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital's preventive actions against respiratory diseases. Methods: One hundred ninety‐two male and 108 female employees of the Valiasr Hospital in Kazeroon, Iran, participated in this cross‐sectional study, in May 2022. Census data were used as the sample technique. A questionnaire based on the PMT and a questionnaire collecting demographic data served as the data collection method. The study's content validity was confirmed by 10 health education experts, and its reliability was assessed using internal consistency techniques, resulting in a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.87.The statistical program SPSS 24 was used to examine the data using the independent t test, logistic regression, and Pearson correlation. Results: The average age was 34.11 ± 8.91 for men and 32.77 ± 6.09 for women. The majority of participants were married (73.3%), had university education (76.7%), and earned a monthly income between 10 and 15 million Tomans (75%). Notably, 97.7% of participants had received the COVID‐19 vaccine, and 77.7% had undergone training related to respiratory infections. The most common preventive practices included avoiding touching the eyes, noses, or mouths, wearing appropriate protective gear, and maintaining a safe distance of 1–2 m from others. Analysis of PMT constructs showed that participants had a generally positive perception toward preventive behaviors. Perceived vulnerability (P = 0.02), perceived cost (P = 0.03), and motivation (P = 0.001) were the three analyzed components that had the greatest impact on respiratory infection preventative behavior. Logistic regression revealed that perceived susceptibility, cost, and motivation significantly predicted the prevention of respiratory infections, with a predictive power of 45%. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the factors influencing preventive behaviors among hospital staff, from respiratory infections like COVID‐19. Conclusion: According to the findings, the personnel at Kazeroon's Valiasr Hospital wore gloves, goggles, and other appropriate personal protective equipment. The individuals' decision to wear personal protection equipment was also impacted by perceived susceptibility, cost, and motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study evaluates the cost‐effectiveness of Apixaban and Rivaroxaban, compared to Warfarin, for stroke prevention in patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation in Iran. Method: A Markov model with a 30‐year time horizon was employed to simulate and assess different treatment strategies' cost‐effectiveness. The study population comprised Iranian adults with NVAF, identified through specialist consultations, hospital visits, and archival record reviews. Direct medical costs, direct nonmedical, and indirect costs were included. Quality‐adjusted life years (QALY) were assessed using an EQ‐5D questionnaire. This study utilized a cost‐effectiveness threshold of $11 134 per QALY. Results: Apixaban demonstrated superior cost‐effectiveness compared to Rivaroxaban and Warfarin. Over 30 years, total costs were lower in the Apixaban and Rivaroxaban groups compared to the Warfarin group ($126.18 and $109.99 vs. $150.49). However, Apixaban showed higher total QALYs gained compared to others (0.134 vs. 0.133 and 0.116). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio for comparing Apixaban to Warfarin was calculated at −1332.83 cost per QALY, below the threshold of $11 134, indicating Apixaban's cost‐effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings, with ICER consistently remaining below the threshold. Over 5 years (2024−2028) of Apixaban usage, the incremental cost starts at USD 70 250 296 in the first year and gradually rises to USD 71 770 662 in the fifth year. DSA and PSA were assessed to prove the robustness of the results. Conclusion: This study shows that Apixaban is a cost‐effective option for stroke prevention in non‐valvular atrial fibrillation patients in Iran compared to Warfarin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nitrogen regulatory policy (NRP) solution is introduced as a mitigation measure against environmental nitrogen losses and keeps food production in the Safe Operating Space of the Nitrogen Planetary Boundary. Meanwhile, scientific research shows that steps taken to reduce environmental harm can increase the unpredictability of calorie production from crops. This study sought to investigate the impact of NRP solutions on the level of risk of accessibility to calorie sources from domestic production, the variations in calorie sources by livestock and non‐livestock diet components, and the responses of different dietary preferences, namely, poor, medium, and rich livestock protein diets, against NRP solutions in the Zayandeh‐Rud River basin, Iran. We developed the aggregate household food security index (AHFSI) and combined it with outputs of crop simulation model to examine how changes in dietary energy supplies under three NRP scenarios—low, moderate, and high nitrogen fertilizer application—affect the stability of three regional dietary preferences. The comparison of NRP scenarios movements realized that increases (or decreases) in nitrogen fertilizer rates contradicted the stability in AHFSI. Additionally, a one‐unit change in the average calories from non‐livestock sources, such as wheat and potatoes, results in greater fluctuations in the standard deviations of produced calories compared to changes in meat and dairy production. We proposed that in order to prevent adverse effects of NRP solutions on food security, mitigation strategies addressing the NRP solution should be structured based on (i) regional heterogeneities, (ii) type of crops, that is, food and feed crops, (iii) the range of nitrogen rates movement; (iv) and the socioeconomic background related to dietary preferences or economic deciles of food expenditure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As climate issues gradually attract public attention worldwide, the operation of crude oil pipelines has been attached with new emission‐reduction targets. Though previous studies concerning life cycle assessment (LCA) of oil and gas pipelines have estimated the carbon footprint to some extent, there is a lack of research on life cycle carbon emissions that take the process of crude oil pipelines transportation. the main objective of this study is to build a comprehensive LCA model of carbon footprint for crude oil pipeline systems. A gate‐to‐gate analysis is provided for the LCA model, which means that the entire pipeline's life cycle from the extraction to disposal is considered. The LCA approach used both midpoint and endpoint impact assessment methods to evaluate the environmental impacts of crude oil pipeline transportation in Iran. The study analyzed the major environmental impact categories, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, water usage, and solid waste generation. The results showed that the crude oil pipelines transportation has significant environmental impacts in Iran. The three highest impacts on the midpoint scale are marine ecotoxicity by 61.54 kg 1,4‐DCB, terrestrial ecotoxicity by 52.26 kg 1,4‐DCB and fossil resource scarcity by 40.22 kg oil eq. The endpoint impacts of three stations were also compared. The Chamran, Abadan and Zanganeh stations have 95.44%, 94.22%, and 6% impacts on human health, respectively. Also, Abadan station has the largest amount of damage to ecosystems and resources with 96.65% and 80.02%, respectively. The findings of this study could be used by policymakers, oil companies, and other stakeholders to make informed decisions and implement strategies to reduce the environmental impact of oil transportation in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detrital zircon records significant information in the 'source‐sink' system. With the application of in situ laser ablation technology, a large number of high‐quality detrital zircon data have been published since 2000. In this study, a total of 41,342 detrital zircon U–Pb ages and 6,129 Hf isotopes were compiled from the published literatures of the Middle East (Iranian and Arabian plates). Through data filtering and recalculation, valid data were employed for further analysis. The detrital zircons from the Middle East show a Cambrian–Precambrian age population of 500–1,000 Ma, with a major age peak of ~620 Ma and dispersed εHf(t) values of −35 to +20. The Alborz Mountains and central Iran terrane show a Permo–Triassic age range of 200–300 Ma. The Mesozoic–Cenozoic detrital zircons are mostly occurred in the Zagros orogenic belt and Makran accretionary complex, with three obvious age ranges of 145–180 Ma, 80–110 Ma and 15–65 Ma. The Mesozoic zircons yield positive εHf(t) values, while Cenozoic zircons have varied εHf(t) values. This database allows for the further exploration of the provenance analysis and application in constraining the timing of the major tectonic events in the Middle East, and may also help to explore the affinities of plates, thus guiding future palaeogeographic research efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To develop the general population knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) questionnaire towards the COVID‐19 outbreak. Design: A methodological study. Methods: The general population KAP questionnaire items were designed using a literature review. A panel of experts was used to calculate content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI). Construct validity was examined using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and hypothesis testing. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was measured using Cronbach's α coefficient. Eight hundred forty‐seven patients referred to health centres in Tabriz, Iran completed the questionnaire in 2021. Results: The developed questionnaire consisted of three parts, including knowledge, attitudes and practices. EFA identified three dimensions for the knowledge (ways of transmission and prevention, high‐risk groups, and symptoms and treatment), three dimensions for the attitudes (hope, fear and view of the vaccine) and three for the practices (adherence to personal and public hygiene, limiting their presence in society and protecting yourself in the community). The Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin index for knowledge, attitudes and practices was 0.733, 0.725 and 0.886, respectively, with a significant Bartlett's test of sphericity (p < 0.01). The hypotheses of knowledge and attitudes that are the related factors of practices were confirmed. Cronbach's α was 0.63, 0.74, 0.77, 0.1 and 0.85 for knowledge; fear, hope and view of the vaccine subscales of attitudes; and practices, respectively. Patient or Public Contribution: The developed 47‐item questionnaire had acceptable validity and reliability. Thus, nurses can use it to assess the clients' KAP during the COVID‐19 outbreak. Also, nursing researchers can use this questionnaire in their descriptive and interventional studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: With the outbreak of COVID‐19 and associated challenges such as increased workload for health providers and shortage of equipment, it became more challenging to maintain patients' dignity and satisfaction. This study evaluated the patients' dignity and satisfaction with COVID‐19 in Kashan, Iran, in 2021. Design: A cross‐sectional descriptive study. Methods: In total, 385 patients recovered from COVID‐19 were selected through sequential sampling method. Data were collected using demographic, patient dignity inventory, and patient satisfaction questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis, independent t‐test, ANOVA, and Spearman‐Brown coefficient. Results: The mean age of patients was 50.57. The mean scores of patients' dignity and satisfaction were 1.622 ± 0.653 and 3.851 ± 0.548 (out of 5), respectively. The dignity rating was associated with age, gender, education, underlying disease, and length of hospital stay (p < 0.05); but patient satisfaction was only associated with education (p = 0.002). The results indicated that dignity and satisfaction have a significant direct correlation (r = −0.23, p < 0.001). Patient or Public Contribution: This study was designed based on the research priorities and needs in the field of clinical research and patients were involved in conducting the study via participating in data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore nursing students' moral distress (MD) experiences in clinical settings. Design: An interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design was employed. Methods: Purposive sampling was used. In‐depth semi‐structured face‐to‐face interviews were conducted from December 2020 to June 2021 with nursing students who were taking the internship course in clinical settings. Data analysis was conducted following Dickman et al.'s (1989) method. Results: Ten nursing students participated in this study. Three main themes were identified, including (1) negative learning environments, (2) internal disgust and (3) threats to professional identity. Conclusion: Findings showed that value conflict, lack of knowledge of ethical standards and its application, and unprofessional approaches result in negative environmental learning perceptions from the nursing students. Therefore, due to being unable to change the situation, they start to feel guilt and shame and, as a result, decide to escape the problem instead of managing it. These feelings lead to internal disgust. This issue indicates the importance of improving the knowledge and perception of these situations. Thus, nursing students must be prepared for the real world, where their ideals are constantly challenged. MDs were experienced as threats to dignity, inequality, distrust, and change of mentality towards nursing, characterised as threats to professional identity. It is suggested to inquire about the process of nursing students' resiliency in morally disturbing situations to deduce the suitable approach for clinical education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rubella and measles are two highly contagious viral childhood diseases. However, the high possibility of brutal effects of both microorganisms during pregnancy has kept them emerging as a major public health issue. The current study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of rubella and measles among 15–25‐year‐old females in southwest Iran. Method: This descriptive study was performed in Jahrom, southern west Iran during 2012. Serum samples from female individuals with an age of 15–25 years visiting main laboratories in our study location were collected and evaluated by a commercial ELISA kit for anti‐rubella and measles IgG antibodies. Results: Among the 179 participants, regarding anti‐rubella antibodies, 171 (95.0%) were positive, 3 (1.7%) were negative, and 6 (3.3%) were borderline. Regarding anti‐measles antibodies, 166 (92.2%) of the subjects were positive, 1 (5.6%) was negative, and 13 (17.2%) were borderline. By assuming a positive value for the borderline cases, the ultimate findings demonstrated that 98.3% and 99.4% of the participants were immune against rubella and measles, respectively. There was no statistically significant association between measles and rubella immunity with age or the use of immunosuppressor medication. Conclusion: Implementation of vaccine program has obtained significant immunity level in inhabitants, particularly women of childbearing age who play a more important role in herd immunity. Therefore, maintaining the national immune screening against rubella and measles is needed to take into consideration to maintain the current satisfactory level of immunization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burn survivors experience profound physiological changes following injury, which may have lasting implications for cardiovascular health. This study aims to investigate the cardiovascular risk profile among burn survivors treated at a burn center in northern Iran. This observational study was conducted from 2022 to 2023 at the burn centre affiliated with Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran. This study assessed a cohort study of 210 burn survivors, focusing on individuals with ≥20% TBSA burn injuries who had recovered and returned to their daily lives. This study assessed patients' lipid profiles, Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score (FGCRS) and risk factors, including demographics, clinical variables and physical activity. Statistical analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean age was 49.23 years, and the mean TBSA burned was 37.06%. The risk of cardiovascular disease in 66% of the study population was less than 10%, and in 13%, it was more than 20%. Significant associations were identified between CVD risk and sex, diabetes, hypertension, BMI, TBSA burned, years after burn, physical activity level and LDL. Of the lipid profile measures, LDL, triglycerides and TC/HDL exceeded the desirable levels. This research highlights the heightened cardiovascular risk in burn survivors, emphasizing the necessity for targeted interventions and regular monitoring. Identifying modifiable risk factors enables healthcare practitioners to develop tailored strategies, enhancing cardiovascular health in this vulnerable population and improving overall outcomes and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the oxidative stability and antioxidant activity of seed oils were investigated in three Iranian pomegranate cultivars, Shirin Khafr, Torsh Sabz, and Rabab, along with the sesame (Sesamum indicume L. cv Dezful) seed oil. Punicic acid was the primary fatty acid in the pomegranate seed oils, with contents ranging from 75.5 to 80.9% (w/w). The tocopherol levels in pomegranate seed oils ranged from 1439 to 2053 mg/kg, whereas the phenolics ranged from 130 to 199.3 mg/kg, respectively. Comparatively, in the seed oil of sesame "Dezful," these substances' contents were 1053 and 79 mg/kg, respectively. Contrary to common perception, the seed oil of the three pomegranate cultivars cultivated in Iran had high oxidative stability and antioxidative activity during the 32 h of thermal processing at 170°C. The oxidation stability assayed by peroxide value, p‐anisidine value, and TOTOX index revealed that the pomegranate seed oils had a much higher resistance to the oxidation process than the sesame oil. The content of tocopherols increased during thermal processing due to the regeneration phenomenon. Tocopherols are not always free and may form a matrix with themselves or other compounds. Changes in the antioxidant activity during the thermal processing assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging power and by the FRAP test were consistent with those for the antioxidants. Therefore, these oils can be added to other edible oils as a natural antioxidant to improve their oxidative stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: One of the main responsibilities of health systems impacted by the global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, where the first case was discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, is the provision of medical services. The current study looked into the impact of vaccination on the utilization of services provided to COVID‐19 patients. Methods: This study was conducted in Iran between 2021 and 2022, utilizing a cross‐sectional research design. The research team collected data on the utilization of provided services and the number of COVID‐19 vaccines administered to 1000 patients in Iran through a random sampling approach. The data were analyzed with statistical methods, including the mean difference test, and multiple linear regression. Results: Regression estimates show that after controlling for confounding variables like age, type of admission, and comorbidities, vaccination reduces the utilization of healthcare services in the general majority of services. The study's results reveal a fall in COVID‐19 patients' utilization of services, specifically in patients administered two or three doses of the vaccine. However, the reduction is not statistically significant. Regression models are in contrast to univariate analysis findings that vaccination increases the mean utilization of healthcare services for COVID‐19 patients in general. Comorbidities are a crucial factor in determining the utilization of diagnostic and treatment services for COVID‐19 patients. Conclusion: Full COVID‐19 vaccination and other implementations, including investing in public health, cooperating globally, and vaccinating high‐risk groups for future pandemics, are essential as a critical response to this pandemic as they reduce healthcare service utilization to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems and allocate resources more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hypertension is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and cognitive impairment, and mortality and disability worldwide. Since prevention, early detection, and treatment of blood pressure improve public health, the aim of present study was to determine the best obesity indices and estimate the optimal cut‐off point for each one to predict the risk of elevated/stage 1 and undiagnosed hypertension in the population of center of Iran based on American ACC/AHA 2020 guidelines. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was performed on 9715 people who enrolled in 2018 in Persian Adult Cohort in Shahedieh area of Yazd, Iran in 2018. The anthropometric indices including body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), wrist circumference, hip circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, and waist‐to height ratio of individuals, were extracted. The receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to determine the optimum cut‐off point of each anthropometric index to predict hypertension stages and compare their predictive power by age‐sex categories. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The results showed that BMI has the best predictive power to recognize the risk of elevated/stage 1 hypertension for female (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72 and optimal cut‐off = 30.10 kg/m2) and WC for male (AUC = 0.66 and optimal cut‐off = 93.5 cm) in 35−45 age group. BMI had the best predictive power for the risk of undiagnosed hypertension for 35−45 years old male (AUC = 0.73 and optimal cut‐off = 28.90 kg/m2) and female (AUC = 0.75 and optimal cut‐off = 5.10 kg/m2), and hip circumference revealed similar predictive power for female as well (AUC = 0.75 and optimal cut‐off = 112 cm). Conclusion: Based on our findings, BMI and WC, which are simple, inexpensive, and noninvasive means, are the best markers to predict the risk of elevated/stage 1 and undiagnosed hypertension in young Iranians. It shows that the approach of reducing hypertension prevalence through primary prevention, early detection, and enhancing its treatment is achievable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Implementing diagnosis‐related groups (DRGs) in different countries increases the efficiency of healthcare services, improves treatment quality, and reduces treatment costs. Due to the lack of a coherent model for its implementation, the present study aimed to develop a DRGs‐based implementation action plan Model for Iran. Methods: The present study was an applied, descriptive cross‐sectional study conducted in three stages. In the first stage, a review of studies conducted in different countries was carried out. In the second stage, a model was designed for an action plan to implement the DRGs in Iran. In the third stage, the model was validated based on the Delphi technique. Results: The DRGs‐based implementation action plan model in Iran was designed in three primary axes, including the strategic approach of the DRGs‐based implementation action plan, technical dimensions, and executive institutions involved in the DRGs‐based implementation action plan. Validation of the designed model showed the agreement of experts (94%) for the mentioned axes. Conclusion: The significance of tailoring a DRGs‐based implementation action plan to each country's unique context is well‐established. Given the intricacies of the Iranian healthcare system, we recommend an initial pilot implementation of DRGs at the hospital level, followed by a gradual national rollout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hospitals are one of the most important healthcare centers for providing the patients with different medical needs. Several different factors might cause hospitals to downgrade their services or departments or close down overall. One of the most multifaceted reasons for hospital downgrading or closure is infectious disease outbreaks. In this regard, we aimed to evaluate the effects of hospital closure and downgrading due to the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mortality rate of the people residing in Fars province, Iran. Methods: We gathered mortality information, including the cause of death, age, sex, place, and time of death of all deceased cases occurring during a period of 3 years, from February 20, 2018 to March 2021 from the forensic medicine and also the Department of Biostatistics in Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Results: A total of 71,331 deaths have been reported since 2018 through the first quarter of 2021, with 57.9% of total mortality cases attributed to male gender. The total mortality counts ranged from 4229 to 9809 deaths per quarter, from which the minimum rate was reported in the first quarter of 2018 and the maximum in the fourth quarter of 2020. Based on the causes of death, diseases of the circulatory system were shown to be the all‐time most frequent cause of death, accounting for a total of 42.8% of recorded deaths, followed by neoplasms (9.77%) and diseases of the respiratory system (9.45%). Conclusion: Although the large number of deaths at the time of the pandemic are immediately due to COVID‐19 infection, deaths due to a notable number of other causes have had a significant increase which, along with the specific trend of place and causes of death, shows that the downgrading and closure of hospitals have had a significant impact on overall population mortality. Key points: Several different causes with various natures might cause hospitals to downgrade their services or departments or close down overall, including the COVID‐19 pandemic.Although the large number of deaths at the time of the pandemic are immediately due to COVID‐19 infection, deaths due to a notable number of other causes have had a significant increase which, along with the specific trend of place and causes of death, shows that the downgrading and closure of hospitals have had a significant impact on overall population mortality.Evaluation of the long‐term impact of hospital closure on disease‐related mortalities should be continuously assessed, especially after the reopening of hospitals, to evaluate the significance of the impact of these imposed conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary objective of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to ascertain the prevalence of anxiety and identify associated risk factors among individuals who have suffered burn injuries. We conducted a thorough and systematic search across various international electronic databases, including Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science, as well as Persian electronic databases like Iranmedex and the scientific information database (SID). Our search encompassed the period from the earliest available records up to 8 August 2023. We employed keywords derived from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) such as "Prevalence", "Anxiety" and "Burns". In total, 2586 burn patients participated in 13 cross‐sectional studies. The mean age of the participants was 32.88 (SD = 2.51). In a compilation of 13 studies, the documented overall occurrence rate of anxiety among burn patients stood at 16.1% (95% CI: 10.0% to 24.7%; I2 = 93.138%; p < 0.001). The outcomes of a meta‐regression analysis, which examined the association between anxiety in burn patients and the year of publication, did not uncover any significant correlation (p = 0.442). Furthermore, there was a notable association between anxiety in burn patients and factors such as gender, TBSA affected, educational level and the types of burn injuries. Therefore, healthcare providers need to recognize the substantial prevalence of anxiety in burn patients as a fundamental consideration. This recognition should prompt a proactive approach toward early detection and timely intervention. Developing personalized intervention strategies tailored to each patient's unique risk factors and needs is paramount. These strategies may encompass a range of therapeutic options such as counselling, psychotherapy or consultations with mental health specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) is a metabolic disorder classified into phenylalanine‐4‐hydroxylase (PAH) and non‐PAH deficiency. The latter is produced by mutations in genes involved in the tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) biosynthesis pathway and DNAJC12 pathogenetic variants. The BH4 metabolism, including de novo biosynthesis involved genes (i.e., guanosine 5′‐triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH/GCH1), sepiapterin reductase (SR/SPR), 6‐pyruvoyl‐tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS/PTS)), and two genes that play roles in cofactor regeneration pathway (i.e., dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR/QDPR) and pterin‐4α‐carbinolamine dehydratase (PCD/PCBD1)). The subsequent systemic hyperphenylalaninemia and monoamine neurotransmitter deficiency lead to neurological consequences. The high rate of consanguineous marriages in Iran substantially increases the incidence of BH4 deficiency. Methods: We utilized the Sanger sequencing technique in this study to investigate 14 Iranian patients with non‐PAH deficiency. All affected subjects in this study had HPA and no mutation was detected in their PAH gene. Results: We successfully identified six mutant alleles in BH4‐deficiency‐associated genes, including three novel mutations: one in QDPR, one in PTS, and one in the PCBD1 gene, thus giving a definite diagnosis to these patients. Conclusion: In this light, appropriate patient management may follow. The clinical effect of reported variants is essential for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in the patients' families and significant for the improvement of precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Systems existing in hospital or clinic settings offer services within the physical environment. Examples of such systems include picture archiving and communication systems, which provide remote services for patients. To develop a successful system, methods like software development life cycles (SDLCs) and design techniques, such as prototyping, are needed. This study aimed to specify requirements, design, and evaluation of dental image exchange and management system using a user‐centered approach. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted in four phases, each corresponding to different stages of SDLCs. User‐needs data were used to gathered by interviews and observations. A prototype was developed using object‐oriented programming and presented to users for feedback. Finally, focus group was used to finalized the prototype into the desired system. Results: User needs were identified and prioritized from the outset, with ease of use, security, and mobile apps being their most essential requirements. The prototype underwent several iterations of design and evaluation in focus group sessions until users were satisfied, and their feedback was incorporated. Eventually, the prototype was refined into the final system with users' consent. Conclusion: The study revealed that instant access to information, voluntary participation, user interface (UI) design, and usefulness were critical variables for users and should be integral to any system. Successful implementation of such a system requires careful consideration of end‐users' needs and their application to the system. Moreover, integrating the system with electronic health records can further enhance the treatment process and the efficiency of medical staff. The voluntary perspective of users played a significant role in achieving an exemplary UI and overall satisfaction with the system. Developers and policymakers should consider these aspects in similar system development projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Emotional intelligence (EI) has improved job performance and has been associated with the success of individuals. The interfering role of happiness in this equation is unneglectable; however, this association has not been established in clinical medical students exposed to work pressures and stressful hospital atmospheric. The present perusal was conducted to evaluate the relationship between EI and happiness in clinical medical students. Methods: A multicenter cross‐sectional investigation was conducted in Iran from December 2021 to June 2022. Multi‐stage cluster sampling followed by a systematic random selection was applied to choose participants. Data gathering was carried out online by Brief Emotional Intelligence Scale‐10 and Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Results: Data from 405 participants were analyzed. The mean age was 24.2 years; men and women constituted 208 (51.4%) and 197 (48.6%) of all participants. Gamma regression analysis has determined age (Exp (B) = 1.016, p‐value < 0.001), female gender (Exp (B) = 0.966, p‐value = 0.04), extrovert personality (Exp (B) = 1.076, p‐value < 0.001), perceived somatic health (Exp (B) = 1.002, p‐value < 0.001), and stress level (Exp (B) = 0.990, p‐value = 0.01) as predictors of happiness. EI comprises five domains, and except for appraisal of others' emotions, an increase in all other domains of emotional intelligence was associated with higher happiness. GBRT model of significant variables revealed regulation of own emotions is the most happiness‐predictor variable (Exp (B) = 1.042, p‐value < 0.001). Conclusion: Diminishing the stresses helps medical students have a happier life. In happiness‐boosting strategies, vulnerable individuals (women, introverts, and those of higher age) ought to be noted as the targeted population. In this investigation, emotional intelligence was the most effective predictor of happiness in clinical medical students. Planning to promote happiness in these medical staff by enhancing their EI leads to better decision‐making and more prosperity in their job, resulting in better patient care services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to provide an overview of the prevalence of surgical wound infection and related factors in patients after long bone surgery. A comprehensive, systematic search was conducted in different international electronic databases, such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and Persian electronic databases such as Iranmedex and Scientific Information Database using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as "Prevalence", "Surgical wound infection", "Surgical site infection" and "Orthopedics" from the earliest to the May 1, 2023. The appraisal tool for cross‐sectional studies (AXIS tool) evaluates the quality of the included studies. A total of 71 854 patients undergoing long bone surgery participated in 12 studies. The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients who underwent long bone surgery reported in the 12 studies was 3.3% (95% CI: 1.5%–7.2%; I2 = 99.39%; p < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in male and female patients who underwent long bone surgery was 4.6% (95% CI: 1.7%–11.7%; p < 0.001; I2 = 99.34%) and 2.6% (95% CI: 1.0%–6.3%; I2 = 98.84%; p < 0.001), respectively. The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients with femur surgery sites reported in nine studies was 3.7% (95% CI: 2.1–6.4%; I2 = 93.43%; p < 0.001). The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in open and close fractures was 16.4% (95% CI: 8.2%–30.2%; I2 = 95.83%; p < 0.001) and 2.9% (95% CI: 1.5%–5.5%; I2 = 96.40%; p < 0.001), respectively. The pooled prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) was 4.6% (95% CI: 2.3%–8.9%; I2 = 81.50%; p < 0.001), 2.7% (95% CI: 1.2%–6.0%; I2 = 83.82%; p < 0.001) and 3.0% (95% CI: 1.4%–6.4%; I2 = 69.12%; p = 0.006), respectively. In general, the different prevalence of surgical wound infection in patients undergoing surgical treatment after long bone fracture may be caused by underlying factors (gender and co‐morbidity) and fracture‐related factors (surgery site and type of fracture). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are both complex and destructive, and in most parts of the world cause injury, death, loss of agricultural land, and social disruption. Flood susceptibility (FS) maps are used by land‐use managers and land owners to identify areas that are at risk from flooding and to plan accordingly. This study uses machine learning ensembles to produce objective and reliable FS maps for the Haraz watershed in northern Iran. Specifically, we test the ability of the support vector regression (SVR), together with linear kernel (LK), base classifier (BC), and hyper‐parameter optimization (HPO), to identify flood‐prone areas in this watershed. We prepared a map of 201 past floods to predict future floods. Of the 201 flood events, 151 (75%) were used for modeling and 50 (25%) were used for validation. Based on the relevant literature and our field survey of the study area, 10 effective factors were selected and prepared for flood zoning. The results show that three of the 10 factors are most important for predicting flood‐sensitive areas, specifically and in order of importance, slope, distance to the river and river. Additionally, the SVR‐HPO model, with area under the curve values of 0.986 and 0.951 for the training and testing phases, outperformed the other two tested models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]