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Mucormycosis is a serious fungal infection caused by fungi in the order of Mucorales. Orbital mucormycosis occurs more frequently in rhino-orbital, sino-orbital, and rhino-orbito-cerebral forms of the disease, while isolated orbital mucormycosis is much less common. Herein, we present four cases of immunocompetent children who developed primary cutaneous mucormycosis, which subsequently invaded and progressed to orbital mucormycosis following direct traumatic injury caused by pecking from Acridotheres tristis (Common Myna). Given the low prevalence of orbital mucormycosis in healthy children, an unknown source of infection and delayed diagnosis followed by late therapeutic interventions could result in life-threatening conditions and serious sequelae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study was conducted to explain the reasons for the tendency of young people to smoke hookahs in Iran. This was a qualitative content analysis study. The research population comprised of young people living in Sirjan, Iran. This study was conducted from March 2019 to June 2020. Twenty-two participants were selected using purposeful sampling. After gaining consent, semi-structured interviews were conducted for data collection. Three main themes were identified including: "Misconception about hookah smoking" including thinking it is harmless, it should be consumed at happy times and is a reason for being together, and it reduces anxiety and fatigue; "Accessibility" including easy access to hookah, hookah pipes being sold without age restrictions, hookah pipes being available in coffee shops, public places and homes, the cheapness of smoking hookahs; and "Achieve a better feeling" including feeling good while or after smoking hookah, boosting confidence, thinking it is a tool for forgetting problems and getting rid of stress and anxiety. In this study, a variety of factors which contribute to hookah smoking among young people have been identified. Hookah smoking prevention programs and community interventions can be designed based on the results of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of daylighting simulations for the built environment strongly depends on the modeling of the exterior surround. The practice of modeling a space with a flat ground surface with little or no external architectural or landscape elements, particularly early in the design phase, is often applied. In this study, this approach and a number of different levels of detail for modeling the exterior surround were investigated by comparing real-life empirical measurements with their corresponding simulation results. A total of 13 different exterior views were studied under 15 different sky/seasonal conditions to investigate the contribution of the surrounding features to the daylight delivered inside a small office. These features were classified into one of four different groups – sky, architectural structures, standing vegetation, and horizontal ground. Five of these locations were chosen for further simulation by applying six levels of detail to the exterior surround in a simulation model. The results reveal that ignoring exterior surround objects (common practice for some) yielded an average error of 67.9%, while a high level of detail (which applied high polygon vegetation representations) resulted in an average error of only 11.3%. A detailed model of the surround with the IES LM-83 suggested method of modeling trees resulted in an average error of 22.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hookah is addictive and hazardous for health, but it has become popular particularly among adolescence. Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Health Communication Efforts (HCE) based on the KAP model to reduce hookah use among adolescents in Sirjan, Iran. Methods: This was a pre- and postintervention study. Participants were 280 male and female adolescences who were selected randomly from the schools of Sirjan. The educational campaign was conducted for 3 months and participants were trained through interpersonal, group, organizational, and community channels and mass media. Data were collected by filling out a questionnaire (containing 35 questions) by the participants before the intervention and 3 months after. Data were analyzed by chi-square, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and paired t-test, through SPSS20 software. Results: The prevalence of hookah smoking was 43.9% among the adolescence. There was a significant change in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice after the HCE (p <.05). Also, the prevalence of hookah smoking among the target group for those who had ever consumed decreased from 8.9% to 4.3% and for those who used it occasionally decreased from 35% to 19.6%. The windshield survey before and 6 months after the intervention, conducted in two major parks in the city showed that the number of people smoking hookah decreased as well. Discussion: The HCE was effective in reducing hookah smoking, and raising knowledge, attitude, and practice among the adolescence of Sirjan. Hence, this KAP-based campaign can be used as an educational intervention for preventing hookah use among adolescents. Translation to Health Education Practice: This study supports the suitability of HCE as an intervention for reducing hookah use and changing the social norms against using hookah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the genus Awaous are found in fresh and brackish waters and have a circumtropical distribution from Africa to the Americas, with most species being found in the Indo-West Pacific region. Based on the detailed morphology and osteology of a specimen collected in southeastern Iran and comparison with type specimens, the Iranian population of snout goby is taxonomically assigned to Awaous jayakari. This is an additional genus and species for the fish fauna of Iran. A key for the inland and coastal gobies of Iran is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for chronic diseases in the world and its use is growing rapidly among the adolescents and youth. Health literacy is one of the major personal abilities in order to acquire, interpret and understand health information to prevent and control health problems. This study aimed to determine the association between health literacy and smoking among the young men in Sirjan, Iran. Methods: The present study was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study done on 200 males aged 18–24 selected by stratified random sampling. Demographic and health literacy questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed by SPSS 18 and by chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 20.7 ± 2.4 years, 38% did not smoke, 16% used cigarettes and 46% used hookah. Only 16% of those who used hookah had adequate health literacy. All variables except father's occupation and residence showed a significant correlation with health literacy. Based on logistic regression, there was a significant association between smoking and health literacy and its constructs (accessing, reading skill, perception, evaluation, and usage). Conclusion: The findings indicate that young men in Sirjan have inadequate health literacy about the dangers of smoking. Therefore, proper education based on the health education model is recommended to enhance health literacy and promote healthy behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomic status of Iranian populations of an introduced freshwater goby of the genus Rhinogobius is analysed. The populations examined here had previously been considered as Rhinogobius similis or R. cheni. Comparison of new material with a recent re-description of R. similis reviewing the morphological characters available in the literature, and recent morphogenetic studies of material collected in Iran, revealed that the introduced goby should be designated as R. lindbergi. New records show that the distribution of this species extends to the Tigris River system (Persian Gulf basin) far outside of its native range. It has been probably introduced accidentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy economic damages are the major concern in storage that was caused by coleopteran pests. The conventional control that is accomplished by synthetic pesticides created toxicity to non-target organisms, development of resistance and residue’s problems. Nowadays, with changes in legislation and consumer demand, alternatives to synthetic pesticide to manage the store product pest are increasingly needed. The repellent compounds could be considered as one of the mentioned methods in storage. In this study, five widespread species of stored product pest includingSitophilus oryzaeLinnaeus,Tribolium castaneumHerbst,Rhizopertha dominicaFabricius,Oryzaephilus surinamensisLinnaeus andLasioderma serricorneFabricius were conducted to assay the percentage repellency (PR) of Palizin®(Coconut Soap 65%). Percentage repellency was achieved with beetles which were exposed to 0, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10% concentration using three techniques: filter papers, Y-shape tube and cup bioassays. In each of these methods, the means of PR reacted to increasing concentration exceptT. castaneumandO. surinamensisafter 72 and 48 h. The maximum PR of Palizin®belonged to a concentration of 10% (exceptR. dominicaat 5% and 48 h). Among the methods, except filter paper, degradation process resulted to a decreasing trend of PR. In the present experiment, Palizin®can be recommended as a limiting factor of all beetles and the data which were exported by Cub bioassay were closely adapted to reality condition of storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleontological and biostratigraphical studies on carbonate platform succession from southwest Iran documented a great diversity of shallow-water benthic foraminifera during the Oligocene-Miocene. Larger foraminifera are the main means for the stratigraphic zonation of carbonate sediments. The distributions of larger benthic foraminifera in two outcrop sections (Abolhayat and Lali) in the Zagros Basin, Iran, are used to determine the age of the Asmari Formation. Four assemblage zones have been recognized by distribution of the larger benthic foraminifera in the study areas. Assemblage 3 (Aquitanian age) and 4 (Burdigalian age) have not been recognized in the Abolhayat section (Fars area), due to sea-level fall. The end Chattian sea-level fall restricted marine deposition in the Abolhayat section and Asmari Formation replaced laterally by the Gachsaran Formation. This suggests that the Miocene part of the formation as recognized in the Lali section (Khuzestan area) of the Zagros foreland basin is not present in the Abolhayat outcrop. The distribution of the Oligocene larger benthic foraminifera indicates that shallow marine carbonate sediments of the Asmari Formation at the study areas have been deposited in the photic zone of tropical to subtropical oceans. Based on analysis of larger benthic foraminiferal assemblages and microfacies features, three major depositional environments are identified. These include inner shelf, middle shelf and outer shelf. The inner shelf facies is characterized by wackestone-packstone, dominated by various taxa of imperforate foraminifera. The middle shelf is represented by packstone-grainstone to floatstone with a diverse assemblage of larger foraminifera with perforate wall. Basinwards is dominated by argillaceous wackestone characterized by planktonic foraminifera and large and flat nummulitidae and lepidocyclinidae. Planktonic foraminifera wackestone is the dominant facies in the outer shelf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statin medications for elevated cholesterol are one of the most commonly prescribed medications worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine if statin medications affect the rate of disease progression, the severity and frequency of muscle cramping, and serum CK levels in patients with ALS. We conducted a prospective cohort study in patients diagnosed with ALS with statin medication as the predetermined exposure variable and the rate of decline of the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) as the primary outcome. One hundred and sixty-four consecutive patients with laboratory supported probable, clinically probable, or clinically definite ALS were evaluated from January 2006 to September 2007. Thirty-two patients (20%) were taking statin medications and 132 were in the control group. After adjusting for covariates, we found a highly significant increase in the rate of decline in the ALSFRS-R for the statin group (1.71 units/month) compared to the control group (1.05 units/month, p<0.0001) representing a 63% increase in the rate of functional decline. Patients on statin therapy also reported a significant increase in muscle cramp frequency and severity (p<0.0001). This study has demonstrated a strong association between statin medications and an increased rate of functional decline and muscle cramping in patients with ALS. Although this association does not prove a causal relationship, it is prudent to exercise caution and discuss discontinuation or replacement of statin medications in patients with ALS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]