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Older adults are a vulnerable group and face a series of problems that are preventable by changing their lifestyle, so it is necessary to understand the healthy lifestyle and its related factors in older adults. This study aimed to determine the relationship between healthy lifestyle, self-esteem, and subjective vitality in the older adults of Sirjan. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study included 200 older adults referred to community health centers in Sirjan in 2021. Older adults with inclusion criteria were selected by two-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected by demographic information questionnaire, the healthy lifestyle questionnaire for elderly, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, and the subjective vitality scale. The data were analyzed using SPSS20 and descriptive and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis, post hoc tests, and Spearman correlation coefficient). A significance level, Author(s): Somayeh Alizadeh [1]; Vahidreza Borhaninejad [2]; Reza Sadeghi [3]; Narges Khanjani [4]; Maryam Saber [1]; Parniya Abolghaseminejad (corresponding author) [5,6] 1. Introduction The global population is aging [1]. Improving [...]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic created a sense of unsafety and uncertainty in various industries and occupations. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of the employees of Golgohar Mining and Industrial Co. during the COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted on 20 employees of the Golgohar Mining & Industrial Co. in Sirjan, Iran, recruited through purposeful sampling from March 2021 to January 2022. After gaining informed consent, semi-structured interviews were conducted and continued until data saturation was achieved. The interviews lasted for 35-50 minutes and were recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed by MAXQDA software, version 2020. Results: Three categories emerged from the qualitative data analysis: “Challenging work environment,” “unsafe workplace,” and “crisis management.” These categories formed the main theme, “encountering a crisis,” which refers to the very difficult situation that the workers experienced with the emergence of COVID-19. Conclusion: The workers did not fully comprehend the seriousness of the pandemic and lacked sufficient information about the disease, which contributed to the spread of infection. Teaching problem-solving strategies and behavior control, combined with training on disease prevention, can be effective in crisis management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the geographic information system (GIS) application has used the latest spatial data to help researchers make the right decisions in the shortest time. This study was conducted with the aim of using geographic information systems (ArcGIS) for selecting the best location for installing banners and billboards in a health campaign. This research was an analytical and applied research conducted in Sirjan city, Iran in 2018. In this research, GIS and fuzzy logic methods were used. In order to implement the fuzzy operator in the GIS environment, initially, the main influencing criteria in location selection were determined. Then the weighted layers were put on top of each other and, by considering the sub criteria, the most suitable places to install banners and billboards were identified in the final map. The final map showed the best places to install billboards and educational banners for the 'hookah is the enemy of health' campaign. The final number of these places was 30 according to the main criteria, and the number was reduced to 25 places, after considering the sub criteria. ArcGIS can be used in selecting the best locations for installing banners and billboards in a health campaign.

Tomato leafminer Tuta absoluta Meyrick (Lep: Gelechiidae) is one of the most important pests affecting tomato cultivation in Iran. Given its wide spread distribution, it becomes necessary to apply an effective management method. The high damage inflicted by this pest on tomato crops has historically led farmers to use chemical pesticides for quick control, resulting, in pesticide overuse and the development of resistance, rather than effective control against the tomato leafminer. Planting resistant cultivars to agricultural pests considered as one of the most important strategies for the cost-effective production of healthy products and the reduction of pesticide consumption. This study investingates the egg laying preferences of T. absoluta on 15 different tomato genotypes resulting from the hybridization (crossing) of two commercial cultivars, Sakhiya and Eshkol, using a free choice test under greenhouse conditions. Additionally, trichome density and chlorophyll content were assessed in the studied genotypes. The results revealed that Eshkol 52-2 (2), Sakhiya 9-2 (3) and Sakhiya 8-2 (3) exhibited the highest rates of egg laying, while Eshkol 52-7(2) and Eshkol 52-4 (2) showed the lowest. Furthermore, the genotypes with higher egg-laying rates were associated with lower trichome density. However, the chlorophyll content in Eshkol 52-2 (2), which had the most egg-laying rate, was notably high. Conversely, Sakhiya 9-2 (3) and Sakhiya 8-2(3), which also demonstrated relatively high egg-laying rates, exhibited lower chlorophyll content. The chlorophyll content in the genotypes Eshkol 52-7 (2) and Eshkol 52-4 (2), was relatively low but also the egg laying rate was low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to compare macular vascular changes one and three months after treatment with either panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) or intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB). Methods: A total of 62 eyes with very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy or early proliferative diabetic retinopathy without center-involved diabetic macular edema, were included in this retrospective study. Thirty-nine eyes were allocated to the PRP group, while 23 eyes were treated with IVB. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed to measure foveal avascular zone (FAZ) characteristics as well as the densities of superficial and deep capillary plexuses (SCP and DCP). Results: In the IVB group, the FAZ area and perimeter expanded at month one but returned to baseline level after three months. In the PRP group, however, the FAZ area and perimeter were rather steady. Changes in the FAZ area were significantly different between the treatment groups at month one (P = 0.02), but not at month three (P = 0.31). There was no significant difference in the change in FAZ circularity index between the two groups at each time point (P = 0.55 and P = 0.31). Similarly, changes in SCP density were not statistically significant between the two groups at both time points (all Ps >0.05). A comparison of the two treatment arms based on the mean change in DCP density revealed a significant difference at month one, but not at month three (P = 0.01 and P = 0.49, respectively). Conclusion: Although bevacizumab and PRP have different short-term macular vascular responses, both therapies have the ability to normalize or stabilize vascular measures over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Infectious keratitis (IK), which is one of the most common and catastrophic ophthalmic emergencies, accounts for the leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide. Different pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, can cause IK. The diagnosis and etiology detection of IK pose specific challenges, and delayed or incorrect diagnosis can significantly worsen the outcome. Currently, this process is mainly performed based on slit–lamp findings, corneal smear and culture, tissue biopsy, PCR, and confocal microscopy. However, these diagnostic methods have their drawbacks, including experience dependency, tissue damage, cost, and time consumption. Diagnosis and etiology detection of IK can be especially challenging in rural areas or in countries with limited resources. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has opened new windows in medical fields such as ophthalmology. An increasing number of studies have utilized AI in the diagnosis of anterior segment diseases such as IK. Several studies have demonstrated that AI algorithms can diagnose and detect the etiology of IK accurately and fast, which can be valuable, especially in remote areas and in countries with limited resources. Herein, we provided a comprehensive update on the utility of AI in IK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a tuned mass damper (TMD) is one of the passive methods of controlling structural vibrations. This energy absorption system has a mass, a spring, and a damper attaching to the main structure and vibrating with it, reducing the dynamic response of the structure by preventing the intensification. Therefore, finding optimal parameters is one of the main essential issues in the study and design of tuned mass dampers. This study investigates the optimization of parameters of an adjusted mass damper to reduce the displacement and relative response of a multi-story structural system equipped with this damper. For this purpose, a 10-story frame with similar properties on each floor and a 10-story frame with different properties on each floor were modeled under seismic loading in OpenSees software. The optimum parameters were extracted by Matlab software, using the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, whale optimization algorithm (WOA), and the combination of these two algorithms (Hybrid PSO-WOA) and state space equations controlled the results. Comparing the results with the methods presented by other researchers showed that the proposed methods have good performance and are recommended as approximate and rapid methods for the optimal design of these dampers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Some recommendations and health protocols were presented to control COVID-19 after the outbreak, such as the use of face masks, observing social distancing, closure of schools, etc. Despite these protocols, we witnessed different peaks and variants of COVID-19 for more than two years. This study investigated some risky behaviors, such as not wearing face masks, violating social distancing, and attendance at crowded places. Methods: We used a checklist containing some demographic, caring behaviors, and survey questions. Data were collected from four universities in Iran. Patients with positive PCR results for COVID-19 were included in the study. The minimum sample size required for this study was estimated to be 407, which were selected from the universities by proportional allocation. Results: The use of face mask proportion was different between the upper and lower age groups of 50 years (P=0.005). Also, this proportion was different in the subgroups of educational level, job status, income, and living area. Conclusion: The space of most crowded places was confined and many patients did not use face masks and did not observe social distancing in these places. Hence, social distancing and face mask use can be considered the most important caring behaviors to deal with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In discussing Hume's view of causality, it has been generally focused on its negative aspects and skeptical results. Whereas, according to naturalistic interpretation, Hume's purpose is to illustrate the nature of human beings and to determine the limits of human understanding. Hume's aim is not to philosophically reject the belief in causally connected, but rather to criticize the sort of philosophical thinking that claim to rationalize them. In this paper, the author intends to provide first the naturalistic explanation of Hume's causality discussion, relying on Kemp Smith's unprecedented interpretation. In explanation kemp smith provided for the functioning of human mind, the origin of the necessary connection idea is an inner feeling that is generalized to reality, and the belief in causality cannot be proved by any argument. The emotional origin of belief in causality, which is not based on reason, is a serious challenge in its acceptance and justification. Therfore the second and main purpose of this article is to examine the mental origin of the necessary connection, then the concept of reason is evaluated from Hume's view to clarify in what sense belief in causality cannot be based on reason. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]