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The N–S-trending Sistan Suture Zone in East Iran results from the collision of the Lut and Afghan continental blocks. The southern Sistan Basin hosts Eocene terrigenous deep-marine turbiditic sequences with carbonate olistoliths, debris-flow sheets and calcareous turbidites. These carbonates represent one or several early to middle Eocene carbonate platforms fragmented and redeposited in a deep-marine environment. Palaeocurrent measurements on the terrigenous and calcareous turbidites show that the source carbonate platform was located on the Afghan active margin. Volcanic debris in the limestone and surrounding turbidites corroborate an active magmatic margin on the Afghan side. The formation of limestone debris-flow sheets is attributed to increased erosion and retreat of the carbonate platform, potentially triggered by the closure of the Sistan Basin and continental collisions in the late middle Eocene, after subduction of the Sistan Ocean beneath the Afghan Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) and the human health risk of the metals were estimated through drinking water consumption. Totally, 48 samples of groundwater were collected and analyzed during 2019. Health risk indices were estimated using chronic daily intake (CDI), hazard quotient (HQ) and, hazard index (HI), as well as cancer risk (CR). Except for As (66.6% of the areas were above permissible limits), the concentrations of other three heavy metals were within the US EPA and WHO permissible limits. ∑ HI values in 100% and 75% of the areas were above 1 for children and adults, implying non-carcinogenic risk from sum of heavy metals. Children total cancer risk (CRt) in all areas (except one area with acceptable risk) fell within unacceptable risk. Adults CRt in all areas (except one area with unacceptable risk) were in acceptable risk category. As was the highest contributor to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks both for children and adults. Our results showed that children were more exposed to health risks, due to intake of drinking water containing As, Cr, and Pb in the study areas. The study can provide a basis for local governments to properly manage drinking water quality and provide a reference for water quality management in neighborhood areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of surface and groundwater resources to heavy metal due to mining activities is a worldwide major issue because of its probable health risks to local residents. In the present research, we measured the concentrations of As, Cd and Cr in 26 water samples collected from 13 rural areas in the vicinity of mines in Sabzevar, Iran, during January 2019 and estimated potential health risks among local residents. Heavy metal concentrations were analysed using an atomic absorption spectrometer and compared with guidelines set by the WHO. The results showed that As and Cr concentration in drinking water of rural areas in the vicinity of mines were estimated to be in the range of 0.0152 to 0.0220 and 0.0194 to 0.1806 mg/L, respectively, which exceeded the drinking water guidelines recommended by WHO. For cadmium, the concentrations ranged from 0.0003 to 0.0018 mg/L. Total HI (hazard index) values were above one in drinking water of all villages and generally, total HI values for children were much higher than those of adults in each studied area. The total cancer risk values of metals (sum of As, Cd and Cr) for children and adults in all the villages were above the USEPA limit. The CR (carcinogenic risk) values for both children and adults through the oral pathway were found in order of As>Cr>Cd. The findings of health risk assessment of groundwater near the mining area could be valuable for proper management of water resources in the rural areas in particular and to the other mining areas in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provenance analysis including sandstone modal compositions, heavy mineral assemblages, and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating with in-situ Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircons defines two types of Late Cretaceous-Eocene turbiditic sequences separated by the Siah Cheshmeh-Khoy-Misho-Tabriz Fault in the Azerbaijan Province, Northwest Iran: (1) Volcaniclastic turbidites to the southwest and (2) terrigenous turbidites to the northeast. The first appearance of Cr-spinel in Upper Cretaceous sandstones of both sequences indicates the erosion of ophiolites at that time. The southwestern volcaniclastic sandstones contain few Late Triassic and dominantly Late Cretaceous zircon grains whose Hf isotopic compositions suggest a continental magmatic arc provenance. In the northeastern terrigenous sandstones, detrital zircon U-Pb ages cluster in five main age groups from Paleoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic with Hf isotopic compositions typical of continental crust to Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene zircon grains with Hf isotopic compositions similar to those of the southwest turbidites. The provenance characteristics define, along with sedimentary structures, two separate basins, a marginal basin to the northeast, and a deep oceanic basin to the southwest. We conclude that the Siah Cheshmeh-Khoy-Misho-Tabriz Fault overprints a boundary between two lithospheres separated by ophiolite outcrops; therefore, the Siah Cheshmeh-Khoy-Misho-Tabriz Fault is a reworked suture. The Cretaceous arc, witnessed by clastic material, has been largely eroded and/or subducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present zircon U-Pb crystallization ages combined with bulk rock major and trace element geochemistry and Sr-Nd-Pb and zircon in-situ Hf isotopic compositions of the Amand and Moro granitoid intrusions in northwest Iran. The Amand and Moro plutons include granite and syeno-diorite with LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon ages of 367 ± 6.8 Ma and 351 ± 1.3 Ma, respectively, representative of Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous magmatic activity in NW Iran. Geochemical characteristics such as typical enrichments in alkalis, Nb, Zr, Ga and Y, depletion in P and Sr and fractionated REE patterns with high Ga/Al ratios and Eu negative anomalies are consistent with A-type magmatic signatures. The granitoids are classified as A2-type and within-plate granitoids. The bulk rock geochemistry (enrichments in Th, Nb and, high Th/Yb, Zr/Y ratios) along with low variation of 143Nd/144Nd(i) and 87Sr/86Sr(i) ratios and positive zircon εHf(t) support the role of a mantle plume component for the evolution of the Amand and Moro A-type granitoids in an extensional tectonic environment. In fitting with wider regional knowledge, this magmatism occurred during Paleo-Tethys opening in northern Gondwana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antibiotic residues were investigated in raw and pasteurized milk produced in Neyshabur region, Iran. To this end, 82 milk samples, including raw and pasteurized milk of different brands and local raw milk samples of collection centers, were collected from Neyshabur region in two seasons during 2016. The antibiotic four-plate test (FPT) was performed to examine the presence of tetracycline, flomocaine, sulfonamide, enrofloxacin, aminoglycoside, and macrolide in the samples. The data were analyzed by the chi-squared test and logistic regression analysis to determine significant differences among variables at the significance level of p < .05. The results revealed that, among the 82 milk samples, 16 (47.2%) collected raw milk, 10 (41.6%) raw milk in the factories, and 6 (25%) pasteurized milk samples were positive. The findings showed that the most positive antibiotics belonged to the flomocaine, tetracycline, sulfonamide, and enrofloxacin groups, respectively. However, no aminoglycoside or macrolide was found in the samples. Analysis of milk samples performed in two seasons and the site of the sample collection showed a significant difference in the antibiotic residue content (p < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds of contamination in winter were 3.73 times that of fall (p = .006). Positive antibiotic residues were present in a large number of milk samples. This study highlights the need for special measures and effective monitoring programs to reduce the hazard of chemical contamination in the Neyshabur region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore predictors of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related risky sexual behaviors among women with substance use. A total of 150 women were selected from harm reduction centers in Tehran, Iran, and completed the risk behavior assessment, the Beck depression inventory, the revised self-efficacy scale, and the peer group beliefs regarding HIV-related risk behaviors scale. The results showed that age (β = −.07,P˂ .01) and exchange of sex for drugs or money (β = 3.34,P˂ .001) were significant predictors of whether women had multiple sex partners. Moreover, depression (β = .06,P˂ .05), exchange of sex for drugs or money (β = 1.42,P˂ .01), and self-efficacy (β = −.19,P˂ .001) significantly predicted unprotected sex among women with substance use. Accordingly, providing female substance users with harm reduction services and developing HIV prevention programs are likely to decrease high-risk sexual behaviors and consequent HIV infection within this vulnerable group. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The prospects of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and for carbon income, up to and beyond 2012, in the industrial sectors of Iran and five other Asian countries are investigated. The attractiveness and suitability of each host country, the status of their industrial sectors (based on four post-2012 scenarios), and the post-2012 potential of the CDM (or similar carbon projects) in these sectors are all examined. A multi-criteria analysis of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, China, and India, based on seven sets of criteria (institutional, regulatory, economic, political, social, CDM experience, and energy production/consumption), is conducted, and the post-2012 potential carbon incomes of each country – based on CO2e emissions of industrial processes – are calculated. Finally, the Iranian industrial sector and the impact of deregulation of energy prices are examined. The post-2012 potential savings in the Iranian industrial sector are calculated based on energy savings, carbon income, and environmental savings. The results indicate that there is strong demand for investment and new technology in this sector to combat several-fold energy price increases. Moreover, high-priced carbon credits could play a meaningful role in post-2012 energy policies in this sector. Policy relevance This research is the first study to quantify the carbon market potentials in the industrial sectors of the selected Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members. The Kyoto Protocol is considered by most OPEC countries to be a mixed bag of threats and opportunities and they have shown ambivalence towards it, mainly due to the threat a reduction of fossil fuel consumption poses to their economies. On the other hand, energy efficiency is a desirable goal for their industrial sectors. Iran, as an OPEC member country with vast energy resources, has mostly ignored the CDM during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and has performed poorly on CDM implementation. However, the current deregulation of energy prices in Iran, with profound cuts in energy subsidies, would definitely alter the perspective of its industrial decision makers on the post-2012 carbon potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines energy use patterns and the relationship between energy inputs and yield for soybean production in the Golestan province of Iran. Data used in this study were obtained from randomly selected soybean farms using a face-to-face survey. The results revealed that total energy of 35372.23 MJ ha-1 was required for soybean production and electricity, chemical fertilizers, and diesel fuel were the main energy consuming inputs. Energy use efficiency, energy productivity, and specific energy were 2.29, 0.09 kg MJ-1, and 10.94 MJ kg-1, respectively. Moreover, in specifying a functional relationship the Cobb-Douglas production function was selected as the best function. The results showed that fertilizer, water for irrigation, diesel fuel, machinery, human labor, and electricity energies significantly contributed to yield; while, the use of chemicals and seed energies was inconsistent with output. Also, the marginal physical productivity (MPP) technique was applied to analyze the effect of energy use on soybean production. It was found that, soybean production had more sensitivity on machinery, human labor, and water for irrigation energies; so that, an additional use of 1 MJ from each of the machinery, human labor, and water for irrigation energies would lead to increase in output by 0.57, 0.44, and 0.23 kg, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the post-revolutionary exiles people of political leaders in Iran, which culminated in the establishment of the Islamic Republic in1978-1979. Approximately two million people have been exiled wherein a sizeable number of them were so-called children of the revolution. The Council of National Resistance, Fedayeen-e-Khalq and Tudeh Party and monarchists were among major groups included at the exile. The revolutionary transition and post-revolutionary diaspora of Iran were discussed.

The article examines the prevalence of hegemony and resistance in media politics in Iran. The Islamic Republic in Iran appears to be one of the most totalizing, hegemonic revolutionary systems of contemporary history with its apparently ready-made political ideology. Yet closer examination reveals the immense difficulties in ideological socialization and political institutionalization that have occurred inside the Islamic Republic. Specifically, the authors show the considerable ideological work that has occurred in restructuring and reshaping the broadcast media into a more Islamic mold. Yet at the same time, the authors wish to show that this very process has to confront a pre-existing cultural environment--with a particular organizational culture, set of trained personnel, and already formed cultural habits--and thus encounters many contradictions and itself produces many resistances. What such a perspective implies is that there is much more politics, specifically around cultural issues in Iran than the simple vertical power models acknowledge.