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In this study, we present a new approach for load forecasting (LF) using a recurrent fuzzy neural network (RFNN) for Kermanshah City. Imagine if there is a need for electricity in a region in the coming years, we will have to build a power plant or reinforce transmission lines, so this will be resolved if accurate forecasts are made at the right time. Furthermore, suppose that by building distributed generation plants, and predicting future consumption, we can conclude that production will be more than consumption, so we will seek to export energy to other countries and make decisions on this. In this paper, a novel combination of neural networks (NNs) and type-2 fuzzy systems (T2FSs) is used for load forecasting. Adding feedback to the fuzzy neural network can also benefit from past moments. This feedback structure is called a recurrent fuzzy neural network. In this paper, Kermanshah urban electrical load data is used. The simulation results prove the efficiency of this method for forecasting the electrical load. We found that we can accurately predict the electrical load of the city for the next day with 98% accuracy. The accuracy index is the evaluation of mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The main contributions are: (1) Introducing a new fuzzy neural network. (2) Improving and increasing the accuracy of forecasting using the proposed fuzzy neural network. (3) Taking data from a specific area (Kermanshah City) and forecasting the electrical load for that area. (4) The ability to enter new data without calculations from the beginning. [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]

The iolinid mite Coccalicus clavatus Willmann, 1952 was collected during a survey from the soil of Gilanegharb, Kermanshah, Iran in 2022. This species was first described in the family Alycidae by Willmann in 1952 and then André and Uusitalo transferred it to the family Iolinidae in 2006, accompanied by transferring species from the genus Paratydaeolus to the genus Coccalicus. Some challenges about species characters of this mite are discussed in this paper and the synonymy of C. lukoschusi and C. clavatus is proposed. The genus consists of 12 species with clavate trichobothria, and is related to various habitats like soil, stored products, under barks, on leaves of different plants, and on birds. They have been reported from Europe, Antarctica and North America and this is the first record of the Coccalicus mites from Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A suicide attempt is a major societal problem because it imposes high costs on societies worldwide. This paper analyses the spatiotemporal clustering of suicide attempt in Kermanshah, Iran from 2006-14. Methods: This study draws on 18,333 individuals (7,234 males and 11,097 females) who attempted suicide across the Kermanshah province. Data was collected from the records of individuals registered in hospitals across the Kermanshah province between 2006 and 2014. Mean Center, Standard Deviational Ellipse (SDE), Moran's I and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) in Arc/GIS10.6 software were used for the analysis of the spatial distribution of suicide attempt, while the chi-squared test in SPSS was used to examine the different demographic variables between groups within/outside spatial clusters of suicide. Results: The results show that a total of 18,331 suicide attempts (39.46% male and 60.53% female) were reported between 2006 and 2014 in the Kermanshah province. The spatial pattern of suicide attempts was clustered in 16 clusters (6 high clusters and 10 low clusters) and statistically significant differences were found within and outside the hotspots of suicide attempts. Most hot spots were formed in and around cities. Younger people were at a greater risk. The rate of suicide attempts reduced in illiterate people and increased in people with university degrees. Unmarried people were associated with a higher risk of suicide attempt than was married status for both males and females. Conclusion: The results of this study could help public health practitioners and policymakers in Iran prioritize resources and target efforts for suicide attempt prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Power system control and operation studies have been experienced essential changes due to increasing the penetration of uncertain renewable energy resources. One of the most critical issues in this regard is the optimal power flow (OPF). As a result, the deterministic methods do not have the capability of different modeling uncertainties raised in new power systems, and there is a need to investigate the effective models in this regard. This paper focuses on probabilistic optimal power flow (POPF) methods applied to power systems with uncertain wind and Photovoltaic power generations. In this paper, the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) and analytical methods such as the three-point estimation method (3PEM), unscented transformation (UT), and Interior-Point method (IPM) are applied to solve the probabilistic optimal power flow problem. MCS has been widely applied as a framework to assess the ability of analytical methods. The mentioned techniques are applied to a sample case study extracted from the IEEE 300-bus system. The main contribution of this work is the comparison of analytical methods concluding 3PEM, UT, and IPM, and with MCS as well. The obtained results on the studied networks by the suggested techniques show that in the 3PEM, due to the limited points, the optimal solution is achieved in less calculation time than the other methods. From another perspective, the voltage changes at the buses would be more stable in the IPM. Also, this method is much faster than the MCS method in terms of the convergence rate. To show the effectiveness of the mentioned methods, this paper presents probabilistic load flow method based on the statistical methods to deal with fluctuations because of large-scale renewable energy integration. The proposed methods are validated on the improved industrial 85-bus system of Kermanshah region (in the west of Iran) by adding solar and wind farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic is a severe ongoing health crisisworldwide. Studying the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 can help policymakers develop successful pandemic management plans. This paper focuses on the spatial epidemiology of COVID-19 among different social classes in the Kermanshah metropolis, Iran. This cross-sectional study uses the data of people infected with COVID-19 in the Kermanshah metropolis in 2020, acquired from the official COVID-19 Registry of Kermanshah. The results show that 2013 people were infected with COVID-19 (male = 1164 and female = 849). The mean age of the patients was 45 ± 18.69. The Moran's I show that COVID-19 in different social classes was clustered across the neighbourhoods in the Kermanshah metropolis. The mean ages of men and women were 44.51 ± 18.62 and 45.69 ± 18.76, respectively. Importantly, COVID-19 was highly prevalent in the middle-class groups. Age group comparisons indicate that older people were the most infected in poorer neighbourhoods. In the middle-classtheage group of 0–14 years and in the rich neighbourhoods the age group of 15–64 years were the most exposed to the disease. The findings of this study suggest that older people and lower socioeconomic classes should be prioritised while developing and implementing preventative programs for COVID-19 and similar pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Iran, the Rural Hadi Project is recognized as the first organized and comprehensive national effort to spatially organize villages. It is the most extensive and costly project that has been implemented in geographical areas in the country in order to develop villages. In a simple definition, Hadi Plan is a plan that aims at organizing and modifying the existing texture, the amounts of future expansion, and the way of using lands for various functions, such as residential, commercial, and agricultural lands, facilities and equipment, and general rural needs, as the case may be, in the form of approval for spatial plans and settlements. It determines rural or regional master plans. Taking an approach based on the limitation of physical changes in rural development, several projects have been implemented, all of which have sought rural development. Therefore, it is referred to as a comprehensive rural development plan and the most important tool for rural development management in Iran. One of the important measures that can help strengthen and sustain the positive effects of Hadi Plan is the pathology of the Rural Hadi Plan. In fact, this will lead to awareness of the experts’ views and opinions and identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the plan. Rural communities are perhaps the best evaluators of the functional impairments of Hadi Plan. According to the above, the main questions of the present study were as follows: What are the most important structural damages of the Rural Hadi Plan? What are the most important operational and executive solutions to eliminate the identified damages? 2- Methodology The present qualitative research was conducted within the framework of the interpretiveconstructive paradigm and its governing method of analysis was thematic analysis. The statistical and target population included the experts and specialists of the Rural Hadi Project. The community included all the individuals at the provincial level and even the nationally recognized experts, who had scientific expertise and executive background for preparing and implementing the master plan. These people included the officials and senior managers, as well as the experts of the Housing Foundation of the Islamic Revolution, surveyors, consultants for preparing the master plan, contractors, consulting engineering companies, the fourth factor, and so on. The relevant data were collected through in-depth semi-structured individual interviews and group interviews, which were based on the theoretical saturation. 3- Discussion Based on the content analysis of the individual and group interviews conducted with managers, experts, specialists, etc., the identified structural damages included 3 comprehensive themes: extraorganizational, technical-executive, and managerial themes. Each of these themes was derived from several organizing themes (a total of 10 organizing themes), which themselves were identified from 105 basic themes. The identified themes in combination led to the formation of serious damages in the process of preparation and implementation of the Rural Hadi Plan. The effectiveness of this national and macro plan faced many challenges. Therefore, providing operational and executive solutions to solve these damages can be as effective as possible in the Rural Hadi Plan. 4- Conclusion Pathology of all development programs and projects can help identify the challenges and issues facing them, present operational-executive solutions to solve problems, and provide the ground for their success as much as possible. Due to the increasing growth of the preparation and implementation of Hadi Plan in rural settlements of the country, the pathology of this design can be effective in further improving its performance. These damages can be grouped into 2 categories: structural and functional. Structural damage in this study meant all the processes related to the Rural Hadi Plan before its impact (its functional effect) on the rural community. The results showed that the most important structural damages of Hadi Plan could be grouped into 3 comprehensive themes: "external organizational", "technical-executive", and "managerial" themes. These resulted in 10 themes the organizer could obtain: damages related to the type of credit and the amount of its allocation, description of the project preparation services and instructions and the criteria for its implementation, handing over the project to the local authorities and maintaining them, preparation of the plan, project implementation monitoring mechanism, consultant (surveyor, design preparation consultant, and fourth agent) and contractor, selection of a village to prepare/review and implement the plan, selection of the type of executive project, schedule of the plan implementation, and approval and notification steps. Due to the uniform process of preparation and implementation of Hadi Plan throughout the country, the results of this study can be generalized to all other provinces in the country. Therefore, the thematic map prepared regarding the structural damage of the conductor design in this research can be used as a basis for solving the damages of Hadi Plan and optimizing its performance in other provinces. Since the output of any scientific study is providing operational and executive solutions to the problem under study, appropriate solutions were presented for each of the identified damages in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major portion of daily dietary nitrate that enters the human body is derived from vegetable consumption. High concentration of nitrate in edible parts of vegetables causes a variety of poisonings, anemia in children and production of carcinogen nitrosamine in adults. To investigate the concentration of nitrate in potatoes and onions grown in Kermanshah province, sampling was carried out from the fields located in different counties at the time of harvest in the summer and autumn of 2019. After washing, drying, grinding, and extracting the samples, the nitrate concentrations were determined with a spectrophotometry method. The results showed that the mean nitrate concentration in potato and onion samples (94.56 and 74.62 mg kg-1 FW, respectively) of all regions was significantly lower than the World Health Organization standard limit (250 and 1000 mg kg-1 FW, respectively). The highest concentration of nitrate in potato (153.70 mg kg-1 FW) and onion (98.02 mg kg-1 FW) was observed in samples from the Qasr-e-Shirin and Kermanshah, respectively. The non-cancer hazard quotient (HQ) of nitrate via potato and onion consumption was below 1 for all age receptor groups. Although, it does not seem to be a particular problem with consuming these vegetables; however, the evaluation of nitrate concentration in potato and onion samples is recommended at regular time intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locations prone to landslides must be identified and mapped to prevent landslide-related damage and casualties. Machine learning approaches have proven effective for such tasks and have thus been widely applied. However, owing to the rapid development of data-driven approaches, deep learning methods that can exhibit enhanced prediction accuracies have not been fully evaluated. Several researchers have compared different methods without optimizing them, whereas others optimized a single method using different algorithms and compared them. In this study, the performances of different fully optimized methods for landslide susceptibility mapping within the landslide-prone Kermanshah province of Iran were compared. The models, i.e., convolutional neural networks (CNNs), deep neural networks (DNNs), and support vector machine (SVM) frameworks were developed using 14 conditioning factors and a landslide inventory containing 110 historical landslide points. The models were optimized to maximize the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), while maintaining their stability. The results showed that the CNN (accuracy = 0.88, root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.37220, and AUC = 0.88) outperformed the DNN (accuracy = 0.79, RMSE = 0.40364, and AUC = 0.82) and SVM (accuracy = 0.80, RMSE = 0.42827, and AUC = 0.80) models using the same testing dataset. Moreover, the CNN model exhibiting the highest robustness among the three models, given its smallest AUC difference between the training and testing datasets. Notably, the dataset used in this study had a low spatial accuracy and limited sample points, and thus, the CNN approach can be considered useful for susceptibility assessment in other landslide-prone regions worldwide, particularly areas with poor data quality and quantity. The most important conditioning factors for all models were rainfall and the distances from roads and drainages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contraception represents a deliberate choice made by individuals, both men and women, to regulate their desired number of children. The primary objective of this study was to examine the prevalence and predictors of contraceptive use, while also exploring the shifts in contraception methods following the COVID-19 pandemic. This study employed a quantitative approach with a survey technique. The survey was conducted in Kermanshah, one of Iran's metropolises located in the western part of the country. The sampling methodology employed in this study involved a combination of multi-stage classification and systematic random methods. The survey took place between July and August 2022. The target population for the survey included women between the ages of 15 and 49. A total of 600 women from this population were selected and included in the survey sample. The sample was described using frequency tables, as well as central and dispersion indices (mean and standard deviation). Additionally, multivariate analysis was conducted through the application of logistic regression. Findings pointed out that approximately 65% of the women in the sample utilized contraception methods. Among these methods, the condom and oral pill were found to be the most prevalent choices. Moreover, the findings indicated that an increase in the number of both living and ideal children was associated with a decreased likelihood of contraceptive use. Following the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an observed increase in the utilization of traditional and natural methods of contraception. This shift highlights the importance of considering a broader range of contraceptive options and not solely focusing on restricting contraception services. In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, women turned to traditional contraceptives, which may increase the risk of unintended pregnancies and subsequent miscarriages. Therefore, providing in-person services to women at their place of residence is necessary during epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the fact that studies indicate that earthquake trauma is associated with numerous psychological consequences, the mediating mechanisms leading to these outcomes have not been well-studied. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between trauma exposure with substance use tendency, depression, and suicidal thoughts, with the mediating role of peritraumatic dissociation and experiential avoidance. Methods: The descriptive-correlational approach was employed in this study. The participants were people who had experienced the Kermanshah earthquake in 2017. A total of 324 people were selected by convenient sampling method. The Traumatic Exposure Severity Scale, the Peritraumatic Dissociative Experiences Questionnaire, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, the Iranian Addiction Potential Scale, Beck's Depression Inventory [BDI-II], and Beck's Suicidal Thoughts Scale were used to collect data. The gathered data was analyzed‌ using structural equation modeling in ‌SPSS Ver. 24 and LISREL Ver. 24. Results: The study findings indicated that the intensity of the trauma exposure is directly and significantly associated with depression symptoms, peritraumatic dissociation, and experiential avoidance. The severity of exposure to trauma had a significant indirect effect on the tendency to use substances through experiential avoidance. This is while the severity of the trauma experience did not directly correlate with substance use and suicidal thoughts. In addition, peritraumatic dissociation did not act as a mediator in the relationship between the severity of trauma exposure with substance use, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Conclusions: The severity of exposure to the earthquake was associated with symptoms of depression and these findings indicate the importance of experiential avoidance in predicting the tendency to use drugs. Hence, it is essential to design and implement psychological interventions that target experiential avoidance to prevent drug use tendencies and to establish policies that lower depression symptoms following natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF), especially the elderly, faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, which need to be explored. The present study aimed to analyse the challenging experiences facing the elderly with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. To achieve this aim, a qualitative approach to research was employed. Methods: The present qualitative research employed a phenomenological approach to study 12 elderly with heart failure visiting Imam Ali Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kermanshah, Iran. The data collection occurred between August 5, 2022, and November 21, 2022. The participants were selected through a purposive sampling method and interviewed using a semi-structured interview. MAXQDA10 software was used for data organisation and the Colizzi analytical technique for data analysis. Guba and Lincoln's criteria were also used to evaluate the trustworthiness of the qualitative research. Results: A total of two categories, 8 subcategories, and 110 primary codes were extracted from the data. The two categories were challenges and coping strategies. The former included the sub-categories of economic issues, fear, anxiety, and fear of death; limited access to health care; quarantine issues; disruption of family life; and medication non-adherence. The subcategories of the latter were faith in God, social support, and self-care behaviors. Conclusions: The present study revealed the challenges experienced and the coping strategies employed by elderly patients with heart failure during the pandemic in Iran. A knowledge of these challenges and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic can raise healthcare workers' awareness of the elderly patients' strategies used to cope with the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, Iran has encountered a growing frequency of earthquake disasters. Given that nurses constitute the largest group of healthcare providers, it is imperative that they possess adequate disaster preparedness skills, irrespective of the location or time. Despite the operating room nurses' roles in disasters, their experiences and challenges in disaster preparedness have been overlooked. Consequently, this study aimed to investigate the experiences, challenges, perspectives, and factors influencing the disaster preparedness of operating room nurses during the 2017 earthquake in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: The present qualitative research was carried out in Iran In 2022 utilizing conventional content analysis. The study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 16 operating room nurses who had participated in disaster preparedness during the Kermanshah earthquake. The participants were selected using a purposive sampling approach that aimed to achieve maximum diversity. The interviews were continued until the point of data saturation was reached, and the verbatim transcripts were analyzed using conventional content analysis in MAXQDA software. To ensure the rigor of the research, Guba and Lincoln's criteria were employed. Results: The study conducted data analysis to identify the main theme as "insufficient disaster preparedness due to a faded preparedness", along with six major categories and eighteen subcategories related to earthquake disaster preparedness. The major categories included: knowledge and perception of preparedness for disasters; educational and training programs for disaster preparedness; equipment preparedness for disasters; managerial-organizational preparedness for disasters; clinical skills for responding to disasters; and resilient ability in disaster response situations. Conclusion: The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the dimensions of disaster preparedness in earthquake disasters among operating room nurses. Nursing managers can utilize these findings to develop effective strategies and provide support in areas such as improving knowledge and educational level, equipment preparedness, strengthening plans and managerial structures, enhancing skills, and explaining resilience strategies to improve the disaster preparedness of operating room nurses and medical organizations' disaster response teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sodium valproate is recommended as a first-line drug to prevent migraine attacks, and sodae is an herbal medicine. Objectives: Sodium valproate and herbal sodae were compared for effectiveness and side effects. Materials & Methods: A two-center, randomized, double-blind clinical trial included migraine patients from Kermanshah and Hamadan cities into two groups: Sodae herbal recipients and valproate (200 mg) recipients, for 3 months. A numerical rating scale (NRS) scale was used to measure residual pain at the end of each month of treatment. Also, a researcher-made form and the headache impact test (HIT-6) questionnaire were used. Side effects reported by the patients were collected, and liver function tests and complete blood cell count tests were conducted. Results: A total of 70 migraine patients were evaluated: 33 patients (47%) in the soda group and 37 patients (53%) in the valproate group. The NRS scores in both groups decreased constantly, with no significant difference (P=0.303). Also, HIT-6 scores were constantly reduced in both groups with no significant difference (P>0.05). More side effects are significantly (P=0.043) reported in the valproate group (54.05%) than in the sodae group (30.30%). The most common side effect in the valproate group was drowsiness (13.5%), while among the sodae group, it was diarrhea (15.1%). Conclusion: The sodae and valproate did not differ in headache improvement, HIT-6 scores, and changes in laboratory parameters. However, the valproate group reported more side effects than the sodae group. Sodae is a suitable herbal medicine for preventing and controlling migraine attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dietary glycemic load (GL) indicates the quantity and quality of carbohydrates, which can affect ovulation and fertility by controlling insulin sensitivity. Also, past studies confirm the role of the dietary inflammatory index (DII) in many diseases, including metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disorders, so it may be related to reproductive health. This case–control study aims to study the association between glycemic index (GI), GL, and DII with infertility in women. This study was conducted on 300 infertile women in the case group and 300 fertile women in the control group in Kermanshah, Iran. Food intake was evaluated using FFQ, and using NUTRITIONIST IV software programs, GI and GL values were determined. DII was computed as well using FFQ data. Physical activity was assessed using IPAQ‐SF. The association between GI, GL, and DII with infertility was evaluated using a logistic regression test, using STATA version 14 software. The results showed that the DII, GI, and GL were higher in the case group compared to the control group ([p =.009], [p =.0001], and [p =.0007], respectively). The increase in GI, GL, and DII caused an increase in infertility factors, and consequently enhanced chance of infertility ((adjusted odd ratio [OR] 2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16, 3.45), (OR 3.68; 95% CI, 1.99, 6.82), and (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 0.97, 2.95), respectively). The present study indicated that the chance of infertility is higher in women who follow a diet with high GI, GL, and DII. Therefore, a positive association may be present between GI, GL, and DII with infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sexual function is one of the important aspects of quality of life which is often impaired after menopause. Given the side effects of hormone therapy on postmenopausal women, alternative treatments such as aromatherapy have won popularity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using Salvia officinalis on the sexual function and satisfaction of postmenopausal women. Methods: This was a double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted on postmenopausal women referring to health centers in Kermanshah, Iran, in 2018. The participants were randomly divided into two groups: Salvia officinalis (n = 32) and control (n = 32). Women in the intervention group received 2 drops of Salvia officinalis essential oil by inhalation twice a day for 5 consecutive days of a week continued for 6 weeks. The control group received almond oil in the same dosage and frequency. Sexual function and satisfaction were evaluated using the Lindberg sexual satisfaction questionnaire and the female sexual function index, respectively before the intervention and 6 weeks after it. Results: After 6 weeks of intervention, the total mean scores of sexual function (28.8 ± 2.13 vs.17.9 ± 1.59 P < 0.001) and sexual satisfaction (71.53 ± 5.86 vs. 50.44 ± 10.41) were significantly higher in the Salvia officinalis group compared with the control group, respectively. Conclusion: The findings showed that aromatherapy using Salvia officinalis has a significant effect on improving sexual function and satisfaction in postmenopausal women. Therefore, given the prevalence of sexual disorders in postmenopausal women, aromatherapy using Salvia officinalis is recommended to be used for improving these disorders. Clinical trial registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; https://en.irct.ir/user/trial/50212/view (IRCT20160427027633N6), registered (12/08/2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The threat of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic systems is almost a new challenge in environmental management. The municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) act both as collectors of MPs from anthropic use and as a source to natural environments. This study is aimed to determine the abundance, characteristics, and removal of MPs in a municipal WWTP with conventional activated sludge process. Particle size/type, influent loads, and removal rate of MPs in bar screen, grit chamber, primary sedimentation, returned activated sludge, and secondary clarification units of this WWTP were studied by collecting composite samples from wastewater and sludge over a 3-month sampling campaign. Suspected MP particles were counted by light microscopy and characterized using SEM, EDS, FTIR, and TGA–DSC techniques. The mean total MPs, fibers, and fragment concentration after the grit chamber were 6608, 3594, and 3014 which were reduced to 1855, 802, and 1053 particles/L in the effluent, respectively. The sludge retention of total MPs, fibers, and fragments were 8001, 3277, and 4719 particles/L, respectively. The overall efficiency of WWTP with an activated sludge process to remove MPs was 64% and it removed 66.6% and 60% of fibers and fragments, respectively. Fibers were the dominant shape for the collected samples after the grit chamber and fragments were prevalent in the effluent. Polyethylene polymer was detected in most wastewater samples. Existing treatment processes are effective in the removal of MP particles but still act as a potential source to the aquatic ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is one of the major sources of exploitation in arid and semiarid regions. Spatial and temporal quality distribution is an important factor in groundwater management. Thus for protecting groundwater quality, data production on spatial and temporal distribution is essential. The present study has applied multiple linear regression (MLR) techniques to predict the fitness of groundwater quality in Kermanshah province, west of Iran. The parameters examined were Total dissolved solids (TDS), Total hardness (TH), Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR). the quality variables were modelled by MLR. Finally, the performance of the models was assessed using the coefficient of determination (R2). The relationship between parameters by MLR showed that TDS and water quality parameters in semi-deep wells and aquifers had a strong positive correlation (r = 0.94, r = 0.98) and there was a strong positive significant correlation between SAR and water quality parameters in deep wells and aquifers (r = 0.98, r = 0.99). Also, TH and water quality parameters in all water sources had a strong positive correlation (r = 1). The MLR model could serve as an alternative and cost-effective tool for groundwater quality prediction where there is limitation in laboratory facilities, trained expertise or time. Consequently, the usefulness of these linear regression equations in predicting the groundwater quality is an approach, which can be applied in any other locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the current research was to evaluate and measure the effects of foresight on development policy in university libraries in Kermanshah using structural equation modeling. Methods: The research is applied in terms of purpose and causal in terms of descriptive nature. The statistical population includes librarians, faculty members, and managers of university libraries in Kermanshah. The research population consisted of 110 people and the sample size using the Morgan table included 86 people. The stratified sampling method was random. The method of collecting field data and the measurement tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The validity of questionnaire was confirmed by content validity, and its reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha equal to 0.77. The method of data analysis was descriptive statistics and linear regression and structural equation modeling. The software used in the research was SPSS26 and Smart PLS 3.3. Results: The findings of the research show that foresight on the dimensions of development policy includes participation with a 58 percent effect, facilitating implementation with a 32 percent effect, informing with a 38 percent effect, support with a 42 percent effect and reconfiguration with a 54 percent effect. It has an impact on the development policy in academic libraries. Furthermore, the role of the moderating variable of policy was confirmed with 21 percent between the relationship among foresight and development policy. Conclusions: According to the findings of the research, which indicates the impact of foresight on the policy dimensions of the development of university libraries, it can be concluded that the foresight is an effective factor on the development policy and its dimensions with 23 percent impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the main therapy for coronary artery disease is surgery. Prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with cardiac surgery is associated with high mortality. This study aimed to determine the factors related to long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) in patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery. Methods: The present study was a descriptive-analytical study in which the records of 1361 patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery and were on a mechanical ventilator during 2019–2020 at the Imam Ali Heart Center in Kermanshah city were examined. The data collection tool was a three-part researcher-made questionnaire including demographic characteristics, health records, and clinical variables. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistical tests and SPSS Version 25 software. Results: In this study, of the 1361 patients, 953 (70%) were male. The results indicated that 78.6% of patients had short-term mechanical ventilation, and 21.4% had long-term mechanical ventilation. There was a statistically significant relationship between the history of smoking, drug use, and baking bread with the type of mechanical ventilation (P < 0.05). Also, based on the regression test, some parameters, such as the history of respiratory conditions, could predict the prolongation of mechanical ventilation. Creatinine levels before surgery, chest secretions after surgery, central venous pressure after surgery, and the status of cardiac enzymes before surgery also affect this issue. Conclusion: This study investigated some factors related to prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients undergoing heart surgery. For optimizing the care and therapeutic measures, It is suggested, healthcare workers have a detailed assessment on patients with factors such as the history of baking bread, history of obstructive pulmonary disease, history of kidney disease, use of an intra-aortic pump, number of respirations and systolic blood pressure 24 h after surgery, creatinine level 24 h after surgery, chest secretions after surgery, and the amount of pre-operative ejection fraction and cardiac enzymes (CK-MB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the causes of premature deaths in different parts of the world and Iran during the Qajar era was the spread of infectious diseases in the 19th century. Meanwhile, in general, Iran did not have favorable health conditions. Kermanshah, as one of the main highways in the west of the country, the gateway to Mesopotamia and the most important pilgrimage route of Shiite Iran, has been one of the busiest travel, commercial and pilgrimage routes, and hence, was exposed to the spread of various infectious disease The purpose of this research is to investigate the prevalence of infectious diseases in Kermanshah during the Qajar era and its effects on the population change and death. The research method is historical and descriptive-analytical; documentary methods have been used to collect the information. The results and achievements of the research showed that the outbreak of infectious diseases, especially cholera, plague, and typhoid, occurred many times in Kermanshah and was one of the important factors in the significant decrease in the population of this state. The results of this research have shown that the ignorance, illiteracy, and superstition, the low level of medical knowledge, the inappropriate and insecure roads, the poor performance of the king and the local rulers in making appropriate decisions to prevent the spread of such diseases, had a significant impact on the extent of the casualties and the population decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corona disease anxiety is one of the factors that threaten the mental health of working women, and it is very important to identify the psychological factors affecting it. This study aimed to investigate the structural relationship between Corona anxiety and cognitive flexibility and evaluate the mediating role of emotion regulation and early maladaptive schemas. The current research is a descriptive correlational study. Statistical population of this study was all the occupied women of Kermanshah city (Iran) in 2022, from which 364 people were selected by cluster random sampling method. The research tools include the Corona Disease Anxiety Scale (CDAS) (Alipour et al., 2018), the short form of the Young Schema Questionnaire (1998) (YSQ-SF), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ) (Garnefsky and Kraaij, 2006) and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (Dennis & Vander Wal, 2010). The research data was analyzed using SPSS-25 software. Based on this, the path analysis method was used to analyze the research hypotheses. The evaluation of the proposed model had an acceptable fit. Path analysis identified the relationship between cognitive flexibility and corona anxiety, in addition, the findings indicated that cognitive flexibility is indirectly related to corona anxiety and predicts corona anxiety through the mediation of emotion regulation and early maladaptive schemas. In general, the findings showed that the implementation of interventions related to improving the psychological flexibility of working women by holding training classes and job webinars in the post-Corona era, in order to control and reduce anxiety, prepare and protect this group in possible relapses of infectious diseases is suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family support resources at all times have an effective role in supporting members and family structure to deal with various issues, especially in critical situations. Support resources are determined by the culture in each region and the expectations and meaning they give to these support resources. The family has undergone changes in recent years, and we need research to show whether the role of support resources has changed with these developments. The aim of this study was to determine the role of family support resources in decreasing the psychological vulnerability after the earthquake crisis in Kermanshah. The research sample was based on the purpose of the information saturation with 24 participants. Using semi-structured interviews, the experiences of families from the moment of the earthquake crisis were collected up to six months after that and with the grounded theory Analysis was made. Data analysis led to the extraction of support resources in five general categories including spatial-temporal resources, local-native resources, media resources, cultural-religious resources and related resources. According the results, family support resources can be used as a basis for reducing the psychological vulnerability of families in the crisis process and lead to a change in attitude and increase their compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Appropriate estimate of size of the female sex workers as well as the other hard-to-reach-populations plays a crucial role in reaching them with effective preventive measures. This study aimed to estimate the population size of female sex workers in Kermanshah City using the network scale-up method. Method: In this cross-sectional study, of the 1000 pedestrians aged between 18 and 65 years, selected from the population of Kermanshah City via a multistage sampling, were recruited in the study. Face-to-face interview using a questionnaire including the number of FSWs in the social network of the respondent was used to collect the data. Results: The overall estimated number of female sex workers in the general population was 4848(UI 95%: 4597, 5074). Accordingly, the prevalence of FSWs among women 18 years and older in Kermanshah in 2018 was about 11.92 (UI 95%: 11.30, 12.47) in one thousand. More than half of the female sex workers in the respondent's social network were unmarried and were in the age range of 18 to 29, and had a high school or university degree. Among high-risk behaviors, a history of alcohol consumption accounted for the highest percentage. Conclusion: The number of female sex workers estimated in this study is considerable, which highlights the importance of planning harm reduction interventions in order to alleviate the burden of HIV infection in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design and planning of waste transfer stations, treatment facilities, and landfills are essential components of municipal solid waste management. The source separation process reduces waste separation costs and improves the quality of recycled products by preventing the generation of mixed waste and assisting the waste recycling process. The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-period, multi-objective model for designing an integrated and sustainable supply chain network for municipal solid waste management that considers source separation and employs a reward-penalty mechanism. The objective functions include minimizing the system's total cost, greenhouse gas emissions, and adverse environmental impacts on residential areas. The proposed model is illustrated through a case study in Kermanshah, Iran. Three scenarios including the optimal solution of the proposed model considering the landfill location as a decision variable, the optimal solution of the proposed model with the current landfill location fixed, and the existing waste management system are introduced and compared. The results indicate that when the proposed system is used instead of the previous two scenarios, waste management costs are reduced by 12.4% and 66.6%, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by 0.5%, and increased by 3.3%. Environmental impacts are increased by 16.5% and reduced by 8.9%, respectively. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to determine the effect of varying the waste impurity percentage on supply chain performance, as source separation is believed to reduce system costs. • A multi-objective model is developed for the municipal solid waste management. • Economic, environmental, and social aspects are considered as objective functions. • The source separation is analyzed using a reward-penalty mechanism. • To evaluate the applicability of the model, a case study in Kermanshah is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a disease of the retinal vessels in premature newborns and can lead to a wide range of vision disorders from minor correctable visual acuity defects to retinal detachment. The present study aimed to determine the efficacy of oral propranolol in the prevention of severe ROP. Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 50 preterm newborns with retinopathy stage I or II without plus disease hospitalized at Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah city, Kermanshah, Iran. The samples were randomized into two groups (n=25 each). The intervention group received 0.5 mg/kg propranolol orally every 8 hours and was continued until retinal vascularization completion or the need for treatment by laser therapy or Avastin injection. In contrast, the control group received only routine care without receiving propranolol. Afterward, the two groups were compared in terms of progression to stage III and above of retinopathy, plus disease, retinal detachment, need for laser therapy or Avastin injection, and the duration of the retinal vascularization completion. Adverse events related to propranolol, such as hypoglycemia, hypotension, and bradycardia, were continuously monitored during the study. Finally, the data were entered into SPSS24 software and analyzed. Results: The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of demographic variables at the beginning of the study. The means of gestational age and numbers (%) of boys were 29±1.29 vs. 29.20±1.35 and 14 (56%) vs. 11 (44%) in the intervention and control groups, respectively. After the intervention, the duration of the completion of retinal vessels (day) was shorter in newborns receiving oral propranolol (61.04±6.13) than in the control group (70.08±5.72) (P<0.001). Moreover, the recovery rate from retinopathy and the incidence rate of plus disease were 88% vs. 68% and 4% vs. 12% in the intervention and control groups, respectively; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). No adverse events related to propranolol were observed. Conclusion: Although the duration of the completion of retinal vascularization was shorter in newborns receiving oral propranolol, it was not effective in preventing severe ROP. Multicenter clinical trial studies with a higher sample size are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social support has been found to positively influence the mothering experience. Yet little is known concerning primiparous mothers' perceptions of social support following childbirth. This qualitative study aims to explore primiparous mothers' perception and expectations regarding social support during the postpartum period. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study with content analysis approach was conducted on 11 postpartum mothers who had been routinely referring to comprehensive health service centers in Kermanshah, Iran, from October 2020 to January 2021 for receiving postpartum care within the first 6 months after birth. Also, to further enrich the study data, interviews were conducted with healthcare providers (n = 6) and husbands (n = 3). Twenty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted individually through a purposive sampling method. Two participants were interviewed twice. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim in Persian and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: Three main categories and thirteen subcategories emerged. The main categories were: "comprehensive support", "support barriers," and "support promotion strategies." The main perception and expectation of mothers regarding social support was the sense of not being alone and receiving comprehensive support, especially from the husband and increasing his awareness about this support. Conclusions: An understanding of a comprehensive support, support barriers, and support promotion strategies with respect to social support can help healthcare professionals to develop interventions and programs aimed at promoting mothers' social support in the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spatial Planning is the property of University of Isfahan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is recommended for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study evaluated the side effects of Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines in MS patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study among MS patients in Kermanshah province, Iran, who received Sinopharm or AstraZeneca vaccine, sampling was performed through convenience sampling according to the nationwide MS registry of Iran (NMSRI). Demographic and clinical information of the participants and data on the side effects of vaccines were collected by telephone after the first dose. The data were analyzed in SPSS software. Results: 264 vaccinated MS patients (217 with Sinopharm and 47 with AstraZeneca) were studied. In the Sinopharm and AstraZeneca groups, respectively, 58.5% and 73.3% of patients had side effects that were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.064). In the AstraZeneca group, the severity of side effects and prevalence of taking painkillers were significantly higher (P < 0.050) and the interval between vaccination and side effects onset was significantly shorter (P = 0.013). The most commonly experienced side effects in the Sinopharm group were fatigue (29.0%), myalgia (24.9%), fever (24.0%), and headache (21.7%), and in the AstraZeneca group were fever (59.6%), chills (51.1%), myalgia (40.4%), and fatigue (34.0%). Logistic regression by controlling for confounding variables showed that considering some factors as confounding factors did not show a significant difference between the 2 vaccines in the experience of side effects (P = 0.104). Conclusion: The AstraZeneca vaccine caused more severe side effects in MS patients than the Sinopharm vaccine. Most of the side effects were moderate in severity and transient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the occurrence of disasters has increased frequently and has resulted in growing concern about their adverse effects on the environment, Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics (SHL) has received great attention recently. SHL aims to reduce disaster damages in an environmentally-friendly manner in the shortest possible time. The terms including 'environmentally-friendly' and 'shortest possible time' refer to the environmental and social aspects of sustainability. This research proposes a stochastic multi-objective mixed-integer programming model to configure an SHL network during the response phase. Having compared to the research literature, this is the first study that considers economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability by incorporating relief cost, deprivation cost, and carbon emissions, respectively. Then, the improved multi-choice goal programming approach is applied to solve the proposed multi-objective model. To indicate the validity of the proposed model, an earthquake that occurred in a region of Kermanshah, Iran, in 2017 is investigated as a real case study. Finally, sensitivity analysis is performed and several managerial and theoretical insights are provided. The results show that exerting environmental issues in humanitarian logistics does not necessarily increase the relief costs, but can be in contrast with the social aspect. Furthermore, a minor increase in the budget of the preparedness phase drastically decreases the response costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency content and time duration of earthquakes are as effective as the peak ground acceleration on structural damage. Therefore, using rapid seismic vulnerability assessment methods that consider the earthquake acceleration time history is noticeable. Kermanshah is a historical city that is generally affected by far-field earthquakes. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the effect of the low-frequency shocks in evaluating the vulnerability of buildings in this city. Herein, a historic school in Kermanshah is assumed as a case study and two well-known damage index formulas are used for determining the damage index spectra of this structure, considered as a single degree of freedom system. Then, the effective parameters of the damage index, including ductility, relative degradation of stiffness, and dissipated energy are determined from a nonlinear analysis of the structure under the effect of the most probable earthquake acceleration records. Finally, the damage index spectra can be used for rapid seismic vulnerability assessment of masonry buildings on similar sites with various fundamental periods for large-scale assessments. The result shows that the building tends to collapse at a peak ground acceleration of 0.15 g. Furthermore, results confirm the seismic resistance reduction effect of flexible floors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is an industrial medicinal plant that is potentially threatened by extinction. In this study, the effects of salinity (0 and 200 mM sodium chloride (NaCl)) and Azotobacter inoculation were evaluated on 16 licorice accessions. The results showed that salinity significantly reduced the fresh and dry biomass (FW and DW, respectively) of roots, compared to plants of the control group (a decrease of 15.92% and 17.26%, respectively). As a result of bacterial inoculation, the total sugar content of roots increased by 21.56% when salinity was applied, but increased by 14.01% without salinity. Salinity stress increased the content of glycyrrhizic acid (GA), phenols, and flavonoids in licorice roots by 104.6%, 117.2%, and 56.3%, respectively. Integrated bacterial inoculation and salt stress significantly increased the GA content in the accessions. Bajgah and Sepidan accessions had the highest GA contents (96.26 and 83.17 mg/g DW, respectively), while Eghlid accession had the lowest (41.98 mg/g DW). With the bacterial application, the maximum amounts of glabridin were obtained in Kashmar and Kermanshah accessions (2.04 and 1.98 mg/g DW, respectively). Bajgah and Kashmar accessions had higher amounts of rutin in their aerial parts (6.11 and 9.48 mg/g DW, respectively) when their roots were uninoculated. In conclusion, these results can assist in selecting promising licorice accessions for cultivation in harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different regions of Iran are influenced by dust storms since they are located in the arid and semi-arid zone and due to their plain structure, the penetration of different synoptic systems, and adjacency with desert and important dust centers. This research investigates the effect of dust sedimentation on the yield of irrigated and rainfed wheat in four neighbouring provinces and on wheat production in Iran (Khuzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah, and Lorestan). Data are for the crop years from 2011–2012 to 2018–2019. For higher accuracy, the research studies irrigated and rainfed wheat systems separately with the panel model of the Just–Pope function. In the Just–Pope stochastic function, the effects of inputs on two indices of mean yield and yield variance are studied simultaneously. Based on the results, the risk function of irrigated wheat is significantly influenced by the variables of machinery, labour, and dust at the 1% level and by the variables of water and precipitation at the 10% level. The most influential variable in this function is dust (3.03%). In the risk function of rainfed wheat, all variables have a significant impact on production fluctuations at the 1% level. The most influential factor is the temperature (0.86%). Furthermore, the results reveal that the variable of the number of dusty days is significant in the production of irrigated and rainfed wheat at the 15% and 1% levels, respectively. The effect of this variable on rainfed wheat is negative and 0.101%. In this regard, it is necessary to develop dust-specific projects in the agricultural sector and estimate the cost imposed by this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women are at higher risk of death during disasters due to physical, biological, psychological, and cultural differences. After a disaster, they experience more miscarriages, premature births, inadequate fetal growth, low birth weight, sexual violence, and unwanted pregnancies. This study aims to investigate the reproductive health status of women affected by the 2017 earthquake in Kermanshah, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018. The study population consists of women aged 15-49 years (Mean age=31.7 years) living in Sarpol-e Zahab, Javanrood, and Thalas Babajani towns in Kermanshah city affected by the earthquake in 2017. The questionnaire used for assessing the status of reproductive health in women was the Reproductive Health Assessment Questionnaire for Women of Reproductive Age, which has already been localized in Iran and its reliability and validity have been confirmed. Native Kurdish language experts completed the questionnaires on behalf of 396 participants. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the variables. Results: It was found that 42.4% of women complained of abnormal menstruation and 34.09% of limited menstrual hygiene materials. Sixty women were pregnant at the time of the earthquake, all of whom gave birth in hospital; two had miscarriages, two had premature births, and one had stillbirth. Urinary tract infection was the most common problem (21%) in pregnant women. Moreover, 48% of women used contraceptive methods after the earthquake, the most commonly used method was the use of contraceptive pills (23%). Access to contraception methods was difficult for 14.4% of them after the earthquake. Furthermore, 25% had experienced violence after the earthquake; of these, 30 reported physical violence, 86 verbal violence, and 13 sexual violence. Conclusion: The control of pregnancy and safe delivery in earthquake-affected areas of Kermanshah is relatively acceptable; however, the provision of reproductive health services seems to be challenging. It is recommended to pay attention to the menstrual hygiene of women and regular distribution of contraceptives (despite the current population growth plan), address sexual acts of violence, and develop a protocol to support the victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the present research, challenges arose when many reports have been published on the poisoning of humans due to the ingestion of crops of Crataegus plants contaminated with cyanobacterial toxins. The discovery of several poisonings around agricultural zones prompted us to study the toxic compounds in a strain of Neowestiellopsis which is the most abundant in the agricultural zones of Kermanshah province of Iran, using a polyphasic approach. Molecular procedure was followed to study these strains deeply. Material and methods: To elucidate their systematic position, besides the 16S rRNA gene, the analyses of molecular toxicity markers, namely nos, mcy G, mcy D and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), were also used. Results: Based on the results, for the first time, we record the presence of a gene cluster coding for the biosynthesis of a bioactive compound (Nostopeptolides) that is very rare in this family and the presence of toxic compounds (microcystin), which might account for the poisoning of humans. Conclusions: This case is the first observation of a toxic soil strain from the genus Neowestiellopsis from agricultural fields in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessibility, as a multifaceted concept, has a rich literature in most of its aspects. Despite of other kinds of accessibility, measuring the potential accessibility power of urban fabric (PAPUF) is still neglected. Eleven primary methods for measuring all types of accessibility have been recognized that most of them are complicated and confusing for the majority of readers. After scrutinizing these methods based on research coordination and considering urban form approach, urban form perspective and nature of measurement, the proper measure for measuring PAPUF couldn't be found. A simple method for measuring this kind of accessibility has been developed, which called the SLM method. A framework for measuring this kind of accessibility has been proposed, based on general knowledge and available data. Accessibility has been defined according to two variables consist of Connectivity and Permeability. Selecting Dowlatabad settlement in Kermanshah city, Iran, as a case study, accessibility has been measured based on twelve indices practically. Results show that Short blocks and wide streets have significant effects on PAPUF. Also, it was found that the formal quarter is not more accessible than informal or semiformal quarters necessarily. The final amounts of two variables of this study show that there is no direct relationship between connectivity and permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Literary Arts is the property of University of Isfahan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Recognizing controlling factors of groundwater chemistry in the ophiolite region of the southeastern area of Kermanshah is the aim of this study. The findings reveal that some samples' calcium, magnesium, and sodium absorption risk is higher than the standard range. Besides, statistical relationships of the data were investigated to recognize the key factors controlling water chemistry. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the elements with the same source. Saturation index (SI) and water–rock interaction helped us find the important minerals in reaction with water. Besides, the map of the spatial distribution of heavy elements was applied to prove the elements with a common source. According to these ties, the important factors controlling groundwater chemistry of the region are dissolution of gypsum as the common source of Ca, Sr, and S; dissolution and weathering of Cr-spinel mineral in peridotites as the common source of Si, Mg, and Cr; dissolution of existing Fe–Mg olivine and pyroxene in peridotite silicates as the common source of Mg and Ni, and dissolution of chalcedony, barite, and calcite as three minerals with the highest dissolution in water–rock interaction of groundwater samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 virus in a short time has caused a terrible crisis that has been spread around the world. This crisis has affected human life in several dimensions, one of which is a sharp increase in urban waste. This increase in waste volume during the pandemic, in addition to the intense increase in costs associated with the risks of virus contagion through infectious waste. In this study, a hybrid mathematical modelling approach including a Bi-level programming model for infectious waste management has been proposed. At the higher level of the model, government decisions regarding the total costs related to infectious waste must be minimized. At this level, the collected infectious waste is converted into energy, the revenue of which is returned to the system. The lower level relates to the risks of virus contagion through infectious waste, which can be catastrophic if ignored. This study has considered the low, medium, high and very high prevalence scenarios as key parameters for the production of waste. In addition, the uncertainty in citizens' demand for waste collection was also included in the proposed model. The results showed that by energy production from waste during the COVID-19 pandemic, 34% of the total cost of collecting and transporting waste can be compensated. Finally, this paper obtained useful managerial insights using the data of Kermanshah city as a real case. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of livability is one of the new concepts in the field of rural planning that has been considered following the quality of life in rural areas. The basis of proper planning to increase the level of the livability of villages around the city is not enough to discuss the vulnerability of these areas and it is necessary to know the livability status of these villages. Because by correctly identifying the indicators of livability and the factors affecting it, the existing problems in these villages can be solved to some extent and their viability can be improved and the conditions for sustainable development can be provided. The purpose of this study is to investigate the viability of villages in the Dorodfaraman district, Kermanshah city. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-analytical in terms of nature, which has been done using survey method and questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software. Shannon and Copras entropy model has also been used to rank the studied villages in terms of livability status. The statistical population of the study includes 20 villages inhabited by the Droudfaraman rural district, which was determined using Cochran's formula with a sample size of 459 people. The results show that the living conditions in the villages of Dorodfaraman rural district are at a low level and also the villages of this rural district were ranked in three levels of favorable, average and unfavorable, which have more favorable conditions than other villages. Dehpahn, Shahrakesanati Faraman, Bijaneh, Gakiyh, Mourian and the rest do not have very favorable conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]