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Pythium sensu stricto (s.s.) and Globisporangium species are important components of the soil microbial community and exhibit diverse lifestyles, including mycoparasitism. However, a comprehensive understanding of the species diversity of these mycoparasites in the West Azarbaijan province of Iran is lacking. In this study, a total of 114 mycoparasitic Pythium s.s. and Globisporangium isolates were obtained from agricultural soils collected from six regions in the province. Through DNA barcoding, all Globisporangium isolates were identified as G. nunn, while the barcode markers were insufficient to accurately resolve species boundaries in Pythium s.s. By combining morphological and multilocus sequence data, five species within the genus Pythium s.s. were identified: P. salmasense sp. nov., a potentially new species, and three known species, P. acanthicum, P. ornamentatum, and P. periplocum. Pythium ornamentatum was the most common species and found in all regions studied, followed by G. nunn and P. acanthicum, which were both isolated from four regions. While the isolates of G. nunn showed no mycoparasitic activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, all Pythium s.s. species were capable of infecting the hyphae of this pathogen. The existence of mycoparasitic species is promising for biological control of soil‐borne fungal pathogens in the province. The widespread occurrence of P. ornamentatum, G. nunn, and P. acanthicum may suggest their adaptation to local soil and environmental conditions, indicating their potentially superior effectiveness in controlling plant diseases across different regions if used as biocontrol agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dam construction has some qualitative and quantitative effects on groundwater resources. This effect may be in the form of an increasing groundwater table or a changing groundwater system. In this paper, the effect of the Rodbal dam construction on the Darab aquifer was investigated. For this paper water table levels from observation wells and precipitation data was used. The study aims to analyse the behaviour of the water table during precipitation by employing a combination of the standardisation process, Fuzzy Inference System (FIS), and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) calculations. Fuzzy logic involves the fuzzification of input data, transforming precise values into fuzzy sets. The effectiveness of the FIS is highlighted, particularly in determining the number of membership functions for inputs. The performance of the results is assessed using indicators such as RMSE and Coefficient of Determination (R2). The FIS showed a high level of effectiveness in performance assessment, exhibiting a 70% similarity between the fuzzy and Mann–Kendall methods. Nonetheless, the Fuzzy Purpose Method corresponded more closely with the observed data, indicating a more accurate reflection of reality. The findings indicate that for P3, P7, and P8, the results from the Mann–Kendall method do not show a discernible trend. Conversely, the proposed Fuzzy method accounts for changes in the behaviour of these piezometers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Citrus canker caused by the bacterium Xanthomonas citri (Hasse 1915) is known as a dangerous disease that has serious economic impacts on citrus production in many tropical and subtropical countries. In Iran, Citrus canker disease has caused significant damage to various citrus fruits, particularly limes. Nowadays, employing antagonistic bacteria as an effective and environmentally friendly method for plant disease management has gained special importance. Results: Citrus leaf samples were collected from different regions of Iran, and after isolating epiphytic bacteria, ex planta and in planta investigations concerning antagonistic activities of the isolates against Xanthomonas citri pathotypes A and A* were performed. A total of 94 epiphytic bacterial isolates were isolated from citrus aerial parts. Based on biochemical, physiological, morphological, and genotypic tests, it was determined that these bacteria belong to the Bacillus and Staphylococcus genera. The highest inhibition activity against the pathogenic bacterium was related to isolates D4 and D5. Using the molecular method and the resulting dendrogram, it was found that these isolates were most similar to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The present findings demonstrated that pathogenicity test on key lime leaves infected with X. citri pathotypes A and A*, along with the application of the biocontrol strain B. amyloliquefaciens, resulted in a significant reduction in the number of canker lesions. Conclusion: The results strongly suggested that the identified antagonistic bacterial isolates hold promising potential as biocontrol agents for managing citrus bacterial canker disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tomography results reveal not only distinct velocity structures in different tectonic zones but can also provide valuable insights into the geological features of the area. This study presents the results of 2D Rayleigh wave tomographic maps obtained in NE Iran. For this purpose, we used the recorded waveforms of more than 500 earthquakes with M > 4 that occurred between January 2000 and October 2020 at 165 stations. The calculated tomographic maps cover a period range of 3 to 36 s, providing the 3D VS model to analyze crustal structure at depths ranging from 2 to 30 km. At shorter periods, the tomographic maps are primarily influenced by sediment thickness, with the presence of thick sediment layers (~ 10 km) responsible for the observed low VS anomalies (< 3.1 km/s) in the study area. At longer periods, the tomographic maps highlight the structural characteristics of the middle-lower crustal layers and, somewhere, the depth variations of the Moho discontinuity. The VS model also confirms the correlation between tectonic fractures and known faults in the study area as boundaries of seismotectonic provinces. Moreover, a distinct area was observed beneath the Binalud foreland, which we interpreted as a suture zone, as suggested by previous studies. The reliability of the resolved anomalies was supported through a series of tests, including checkerboard and earthquake location uncertainties. These tests demonstrated the robustness of the results and provided confidence in the accuracy of the findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cut points of psychological tools to diagnose clinical conditions are not universal and depend on the region and prevalence of the disorder. Thus, we aimed to identify the cutoff points of the Persian original version of the personality inventory for DSM‐5 (PID‐5; 220 items) that would optimally distinguish nonclinical from clinical groups. Methods: Both nonclinical (N = 634, 73% female, 34.0 ± 10.8 years) and clinical (N = 454, 29% female, 29.5 ± 7.4 years) samples from the West of Iran participated in the study. Data were analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Youden's index was used to determine the cutoff scores across the PID‐5 domains and facets. The means and standard deviations of both the clinical male and female were compared with the nonclinical group using Cohen's d and independent t‐tests. Results: All the PID‐5 algorithms and facets significantly distinguished clinical from nonclinical samples with some unique findings for male and female samples. The mean score of all the PID‐5 algorithms and facets in the clinical male and female samples were respectively 1.0−2.0 SD and 0.5−1.0 SD above the mean for the nonclinical counterparts. A score higher than 1.5 on ranging from 0 to 3 in each domain or facet indicated clinical status. Conclusion: Raw cutting scores throughout the PID‐5 algorithms can be well used to diagnose any pathology of personality and the severity of the disorder in clinical patients. The cut scores provide a useful tool for the clinical use of the original version of PID‐5 in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People with disabilities (PWD) have different health service needs and different factors affect the utilization of these services. Therefore, the aim of this present study was to identify determinants of inpatient healthcare utilization among PWDs in Iran. Methods: This research was a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study. The present study used data gathered for 766 PWDs (aged 18 years and older) within the Iranian Society with Disabilities (ISD) between September and December 2020. Multiple logistic regression models calculated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals in order to identify determinants of inpatient healthcare utilization among PWDs. Results: Data for 766 people with disabilities were analyzed. A large number of participants were over 28 years of age (70.94%), male (64.36%), and single (54.02%). In the present study, more than 71% of participants had no history of hospitalization during the last year. In this study, males [aOR 2.11(1.14–3.91), participants with Civil Servants health insurance coverage [aOR 3.44 (1.16 − 10.17)] and individuals in the 3th quartile of disability severity [aOR 2.13 (1.01 − 4.51)] had greater odds of inpatient healthcare utilization compared to the other groups. The value of the concentration index (C) for inpatient healthcare utilization was − 0.084 (P.value = 0.046). The decomposition analysis indicated that gender was the greatest contributor (21.92%) to the observed inequality in inpatient healthcare utilization among participants. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that the likelihood of hospitalization among the study participants could be significantly influenced by factors such as gender, the health insurance scheme, and the degree of disability severity. These results underscore the imperative for enhanced access to outpatient services, affordable insurance coverage, and reduced healthcare expenditures for this vulnerable population. Addressing these issues has the potential to mitigate the burden of hospitalization and promote better health outcomes for disadvantaged individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Patients with leukemia suffer from significant psychological, spiritual, and social symptoms. Therefore, the current research aimed to study the impact of spiritual end-of-life support on the quality of life for leukemia patients. Method: To this end, the present quasi-experimental research with a pre-test and post-test design was performed. The sample included 60 cancer patients randomly assigned to intervention and control groups through the method of permutation block. The experimental group received spiritual support intervention for eight sessions of 60 minutes, while the control group received no intervention. Patients filled out the questionnaire of World Health Organization Quality of Life. The World Health Organization conducts a three-phase assessment to measure the quality of life. These phases include a pre-test, which is conducted before any intervention takes place. Then comes the post-test, which occurs after the intervention. Finally, there is a follow-up assessment conducted two months after the post-test. The obtained results were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis and independent samples t-test using SPSS software. Results: The findings from the repeated measures analysis revealed that there was a statistically significant interaction between time and group (P = 0.01). In other words, being compared to the control group, the spiritual support significantly increased the life quality of the patients in the experimental group. The experimental group witnessed a sustained enhancement in the quality of life for a period of two months following the intervention (follow-up, P = 0.01). Conclusion: Ultimately, the provision of spiritual support has the potential to enhance the overall well-being of individuals approaching the end of their lives, offering solace and aiding them in comprehending the true essence and purpose of their existence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim in the present study was to explore the cultural and social factors for child marriage in Sanandaj, Iran. In this qualitative study, semi-structured individual interviews were employed to collect data from the women married under the age of 18, their parents, and key informants. Thematic analysis was used to generate new insights and concepts from the data, collected from 40 participants. The socio-cultural factors perpetuating child marriage, reported by participants, were; "neutralization of girls," "child marriage-inducing customs and beliefs," "determinant power of males," "technology and facilitators of child marriage." Families' efforts to marry their children, the acceptance of child marriage by law and norms, encouragement of social networks, neighborhoods, relatives, and peers all have a mutual and reinforcing interdependence, which facilitates child marriage in the community. So, the interaction of all these features should be taken into account while delving into child marriage phenomenon. Socio-cultural elements should be emphasized in all interventional efforts and micro- and macro-level health promotion policy-makings aiming at reducing the rate of child marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the (Covid-19) pandemic outbreak, questioning regarding climate and incident of Covid-19 infection rates has been debated, while there is no clear research evidence until now in Iran. This study has focused on investigating the association between Covid-19 cases and demographic –meteorological factors in arid and semi-arid zones of Iran (from March 1, 2020, to January 31, 2022) by analyzing with Via Poisson and negative binomial regression. As a result, the incidence rate of both Covid-19 hospitalization and mortality cases reached peaks in the summer followed by the autumn. Interestingly, Covid-19 hospitalization cases are associated with humidity, temperature, and wind factors seasonally and monthly, but mortality cases are just associated with wind. In conclusion, the result demonstrated that demographicand meteorological factorsare positively and negatively associated with Covid-19 cases. Therefore, identifying the environmental factors contributing to the excess Covid-19 can help to prevent future pandemic waves in Iranian arid and semi-arid zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is essential because the challenges that ASD children and their parents face will be managed better by developmental and behavioral intervention at earlier ages. Objectives: This study aims to diagnose ASD based on electroencephalography (EEG) with the help of an artificial neural network (ANN). Materials & Methods: The statistical population includes all girls and boys aged 3 to 7 years referred to child psychiatry and neurodevelopmental centers in Mashhad City, Iran. A total of 34 children with ASD (5 girls and 29 boys) and 11 children without any neurodevelopmental disorders (8 girls and 3 boys) participated in this study. EEG signals were recorded through C3 and C4 channels based on the standard 10-20 system. With the help of programming codes, the absolute power of the frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, mu rhythm, beta, and gamma) was extracted from the brain signals of the samples. Results: This study showed a significant difference in mu rhythm between the two groups. The classification result based on discriminant function analysis in two groups gave a sensitivity of 67.6% in the third stage of EEG recording. Seven band frequencies were used as features for ANN inputs. The results indicated that the radial basis function network with 402 neurons in the hidden layer accurately diagnosed and classified the EEG signals of ASD children from nonneurodevelopmental children (mean square error=1.22325e-5). Conclusion: It can be concluded that band frequencies are notable features in diagnosing ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was performed to assess the concentration and health risk of eight trace elements (manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As)) in animal product samples (n = 120) in Markazi province of Iran by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Some trace elements such as Mn, Hg, Cu, Pb, Fe, and Zn were detected in samples while Cd and As non-detected. Fe had the highest mean level of trace elements in meat samples (1551.28 ± 83.25 μg/kg). The levels of Pb and Hg in some samples were upper than the limit of the European Commission (EC) and the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran (ISIRI), International/National Standards for Heavy Metals, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Deterministic and probabilistic health risk assessment approaches to evaluate of the target hazard quotients (THQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) index were applied. The Monte Carlo probability distributions revealed that the rank order of total target hazard quotient (TTHQ) was milk > meat > egg. The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic index of toxic elements indicated that exposed population in Markazi province was safe (1> THQ, 10−4> CR), except Hg exposure for children in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: If somatization is an independent personality trait, it is not clear whether it is specific to the temperament or maladaptive spectrum of personality. We aimed at the head-to-head comparison of temperament and maladaptive systems and spectra of personality to predict both somatization and somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD). Methods: The samples included 257 cases with SSRD (70.8% female) and 1007 non-SSRD (64.3% female) from Western Iran. The Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-4 (PDQ-4), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A), Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament Scale (AFECTS), and Positive Affect and Negative Affect Model (PANAS) was used to data collection. A somatization factor plus temperament and maladaptive spectra of personality were extracted using exploratory factor analysis. Several hierarchical linear and logistic regressions were used to test the predictive systems and spectra. Results: All personality systems jointly predict both somatization and SSRD with a slightly higher contribution for temperament systems. When the temperament and maladaptive spectra were compared, both spectra above each other significantly predicted both somatization (R2 =.407 versus.263) and SSRD (R2 =.280 versus.211). The temperament spectrum explained more variance beyond the maladaptive spectrum when predicting both the somatization factor (change in R2 =.156 versus.012) and SSRD (change in R2 =.079 versus.010). Conclusion: All temperament and maladaptive frameworks of personality are complementary to predicting both somatization and SSRD. However, the somatization is more related to the temperament than the maladaptive spectrum of personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The World Health Organization recommends assessing screening for helicobacter pylori infection to lower gastric cancer (GC) rates. Therefore, we carried out a study to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of different H. pylori screening approaches in Iran. Materials and Methods: We used a Markov model with a 50‐year time horizon and health system perspective to compare four H. pylori screening strategies (endoscopy, serology, urea breath test [UBT], stool antigen test [SAT]) to no screening in the population aged 20 years and older in Iran. Model parameters were extracted from primary data and published studies. Cost data also came from medical records of 120 patients at different stages of GC. We calculated costs, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for each strategy. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) using Monte Carlo simulation tested the model's robustness. All analyses were done in TreeAge Pro 2020. Results: All screening strategies provided more QALYs compared to no screening. Base‐case analysis found the UBT strategy was the most cost‐effective, with an ICER of 101,106,261.5 Iranian rial (IRR) per QALY gained, despite being more costly. No screening and endoscopy were dominated strategies, meaning they had higher costs but provided fewer effectiveness compared to other options. PSA showed at a willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) threshold of 316,112,349 IRR (Iran's GDP per capita) per QALY, UBT was the optimal strategy in 57.1% of iterations. Conclusion: This cost‐effectiveness analysis found that screening for H. pylori may be cost‐effective in Iran. Among the 4 screening strategies examined, UBT was the most cost‐effective approach. Further studies should do cost‐effectiveness analyses for specific age groups to optimize the benefits achieved with limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Canine herpesvirus 1 (CHV‐1) is an important cause of death in newborn puppies and of fertility problems in adult dogs. Identification of risk factors may help to reduce infection rates and alleviate concerns for dog owners and breeders. This study was designed to screen for CHV‐1 infection in bitches of breeding kennels and farms in Iran and relate this to possible risk factors. Methods: A total of 63 vaginal samples were collected from dogs in 5 breeding kennels (n = 47) and from 7 farms (n = 16). Real‐time polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the CHV‐1 specific glycoprotein B (gB) gene. Prevalence rates were evaluated in relation to various risk factors, including region, housing, vaccination, deworming, pregnancy, reproductive problems, number of dogs living together and hygiene conditions. Results: In total, 21 (33.3%) of 63 vaginal samples were positive for CHV‐1 DNA. The prevalence rate in farms (7/16; 43.7%) was higher than in kennels (14/47; 29.7%). No association was found between CHV‐1 prevalence and potential risk factors. Conclusions: CHV‐1 is highly prevalent in dogs in Iranian farms and kennels. Since the CHV1 vaccine is unlicensed in Iran, effective management strategies are essential to reduce the consequences of this pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) leaves are an important beverage crop due to their high caffeine content. Although the north of Iran is the main region for high-quality tea plants, there is no document on variations of phenotypic traits of different accessions. The present study was to assess the biodiversity of 12 tea accessions originating from four tea main sites in Iran (Langroud, Siahkal, Kobijar and Bazkiaguorab) using multivariate analysis. Two-year-old tea plants were cultivated in a completely randomized design with five replicates in a greenhouse. One year after plant establishment, phenotypic characteristics were studied. The tea accessions showed different responses in chlorophyll and total ash contents. The highest and lowest amount of caffeine in tea accessions was found in Kobijar A7 and Langroud A2, respectively. Epicatechin was obtained in a 6.48–15.44 mg g−1 range, and the maximum variability was found in epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), differing from 0.94 to 21.03 mg g−1. Langroud A2 and Bazkiaguorab A11 contained the maximum EGCG and the total polyphenolic content in Bazkiaguorab was greater than other accessions. Heat map analysis showed the maximum variability of EGCG, catechin, and GA among the accessions. The main essential oil compounds were 2-pentyl furan followed by hexanal, gamma-terpinene, octane, ortho-cymene, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-copaene and E-caryophyllene. In conclusion, changes in phytochemical traits caused by genetics and origin can significantly alter the quality of tea compounds. The results of this study can be utilized as raw materials in future breeding projects to improve new cultivars with superior characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the incidence of leukemia's is not high, many of these cancers lead to death over a short period. This is a cross-sectional study on leukemia deaths in southern Iran. Methods: All deaths due to leukemia in the Fars province were obtained from the population-based electronic death registration system (EDRS). Crude and age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), YLL, and YLL rate data were calculated, and joinpoint regression was used to examine the trend. Results: Totally, 3141 deaths from leukemia occurred in the Fars province during the study period (2004-2019). Of these, 61.5% (1933 cases) pertained to men. The crude mortality rate was 6.1 (95% CI: 5.8 to 6.4) in men and 3.9 (95% CI: 3.7 to 4.2) in women. Also, ASMR was 6.6 (95% CI: 6.3 to 6.9) and 4.2 (95% CI: 4.0 to 4.4) in men and women, respectively. The total YLLs due to leukemia were 32 804 in men and 23 064 in women. The joinpoint regression analysis demonstrated that the trend of YLL rate due to premature mortality was stable: the annual percent change (APC) was -1.2% (95% CI: -2.5 to 0.2, P = 0.090) for males, and -1.0% (95% CI: -2.9 to 0.9, P = 0.274) for females. Conclusion: The mortality and YLL due to leukemia had a stable trend. However, this trend has been decreasing or increasing in some age groups. Determining and controlling essential risk factors, especially the environmental factors of leukemia, may reduce its burden in the Fars province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Gasht-Masuleh area in the Alborz Mountains, gabbroic magma intruded Palaeozoic metasediments and Mesozoic sediments and crystallised as isotropic and cumulate gabbros. LREE enrichment points to relatively low degrees of mantle melting and depletion of Ti, Nb and Ta relative to primitive mantle points to an arc related component in the magma. Clinopyroxene compositions indicate MORB to arc signatures. U–Pb zircon crystallisation ages of 99.5 ± 0.6 Ma and 99.4 ± 0.6 Ma and phlogopite 40Ar/39Ar ages of 97.1 ± 0.4 Ma, 97.5 ± 0.4 Ma, 97.1 ± 0.1 Ma, within 2σ error, indicate that gabbro intrusion occurred in the (Albian-)Cenomanian (mid-Cretaceous). As active subduction did not take place in the Cretaceous in North Iran, the small volume mafic magmatism in the Gasht-Masuleh area must be due to local, extension-related mantle melting. Melting was most likely caused by far field effects triggered by roll-back of the Neo-Tethys subducting slab. As subduction took place at a distance of ~ 400 km (present distance) from the Alborz Mountains, the observed arc geochemical signatures must be inherited from a previous subduction event and concomitant mantle metasomatism, possibly in combination with contamination of the magma by crustal material. Highlights: Gasht-Masuleh gabbros calc-alkaline, extensional setting, inherited arc signature (Albian-) Cenomanian, 99 Ma zircon ages 97–98 Ma 40Ar/39Ar phlogopite ages Mantle upwelling and formation of gabbros triggered by Neo-Tethys slab roll-back causing extension [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Falling is a common aging-associated problem. Over one-third of older adults have experienced at least one episode of falling, and its prevalence increases with age. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the effect of fall-prevention multimedia training on the fear of falling, home safety, and the quality of life in older adults presenting to a designated healthcare center. Methods: Design: Parallel, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. Setting: The orthopedic outpatient clinic of Dena Hospital in Shiraz, Fars province, Iran. Participants: 100 older adults, including 50 randomly allocated to the intervention group (multimedia training) and 50 to the control group (standard teaching) by permuted block randomization. Measurements: For data collection, a demographic information form, the fear of falling inventory, the home falls and accidents screening tool (HOME FAST), and LEIPAD (an instrument for assessing the quality of life in older adults) were completed before and three months after the intervention. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: The comparison of the pre-and post-intervention scores of the three assessed outcomes between the study groups showed a significant difference between the mean scores of home safety before and after the intervention (P < 0.001) in the intervention group; however, there were no significant differences in the scores of fear of falling (P = 0.30) and quality of life (P = 0.32). In the control group, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean scores of the three outcomes before and after the intervention. Calculating the standardized mean difference revealed the significant effect of the intervention on home safety (Cohen's d = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.43 - 1.3). Conclusions: Given the potential effectiveness of multimedia training in the improvement of older adults' fear of falling and quality of life, especially concerning home safety, this type of training should be emphasized in future educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neonatal sepsis, particularly gram-negative (GN) bacteria-induced, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. Healthcare professionals find this issue challenging because of antibiotic resistance. This study aims to combine findings to identify the prevalence of GN bacteria and their antibiotic resistance in Iranian neonates with sepsis. Methods: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The literature search was performed through international databases, including (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science), Iranian local databases (Magiran, Iranmedex, Irandoc, Scimed, and SID), and the first 100 records of Google Scholar. Analytical cross-sectional study checklist from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was used for the quality assessment of included studies. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 2 was used to conduct the meta-analysis. The between-study heterogeneity was investigated by I2 statistics. Results: The prevalence of GN bacteria was estimated to be 53.6% [95% CI: 45.9– 61.1: P = 0.362] in Iranian neonates with sepsis, based on 31 studies with a sample size of 104,566. klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumonia) (23.2% [95% CI: 17.5–30.0, P < 0.001]) followed by Escherichia coli (E.coli) (13.5% [95% CI: 9.4–18.9, P < 0.001]) were more prevalent among GN bacteria. The highest resistance in K.pneumoniae was observed in Cefixime (80.6%, [95% CI: 56.3–93.1, P = 0.018]). E.coli showed greater resistance to Ampicillin (61.8%, [95% CI: 44.2–76.5, P = 0.188]. The prevalence of GN bacteria in Iranian neonates with sepsis has a decreasing trend based on the year, as shown by a meta-regression model (P < 0.0004). Conclusion: GN pathogens, particularly K.pneumoniae, and E.coli, are the leading cause of neonatal sepsis in Iran. GN bacteria showed the highest resistance to Third-generation cephalosporin and Aminoglycosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While self-rated health (SRH) and quality of life (QoL) has been associated with substance use disorders (SUDs) in sex-working populations, little is known about this association in Iran. This study aimed to assess QoL and SRH in Iranian female sex workers (FSWs) in Tehran. Method: FSWs were recruited using convenience sampling methods from substance abuse treatment centers in Tehran that exclusively provided services for women. Participants completed an interviewer-administered demographic questionnaire in Persian and the Iranian version of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Descriptive analyses, means and standard deviations; frequency and percentages, t-test and one-way ANOVA, and Chi-square tests were utilized to analyze the data. Results: The mean age among 161 participants clinically diagnosed with SUD was 34.09 years (SD 7.97; range: 18–57). The total mean QoL score was 41.03 (SD: 12.92). The highest and lowest mean scores were observed in the physical functioning (52.23) and role emotional (26.64) dimensions, respectively. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in QoL were observed according to education and marital status, and the average QoL score was lower in women who reported permanent marriages and women who were illiterate. The average score of QoL was significantly higher in employed women. Overall, 51.6% of the women rated their health as sub-optimal, with divorced participants and women who were illiterate more likely to rate their health as sub-optimal (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Results emphasize the need for mental, physical, and sexual health screening and gender-specific interventions to improve QoL in this population. Further investigation may elucidate the consequences of poor SRH and QoL on SUD treatment adherence, sexual risk behavior, and morbidity and mortality in FSWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The outbreak of Coronavirus in late 2019 and its continuation in the following years has affected all human societies, government organizations, and health systems. Access to health services is an important issue during crises. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the consumption of health services in the public sector compared to the private sector in Iran. Methods: The research population consisted of all insured individuals covered by Iran Health Insurance Organization in Fars province, which amounts to approximately 2,700,000 people. The required information including the utilization of laboratory, radiology, medicine, and hospitalization services was extracted on a monthly basis from February 2019 to February 2021. The Multiple Group Interrupted Time Series Analysis (MGITSA) was used for data analysis along with STATA.15 software. Results: According to the findings of MGITSA, in the short-term, the utilization of private laboratory, radiology, medication, and hospital admissions had decreased by approximately 18,066, 8210, 135,445, and 1086 times, respectively (P < 0.05). In the long-run, the use of laboratory and radiology services had increased by about 2312 and 514 times (P < 0.05), respectively. The comparison between the public and private sectors showed that in the short-term, the use of radiology services decreased by about 12,525, while the use of medication increased by about 91,471 times (P < 0.05). In the long-run, the use of laboratory services decreased by about 1514 times (P = 0.076) and no change was observed in the other services utilization (in public relative to private centers). Conclusions: Utilization of health services in the public versus private centers, except for medication and hospitalization, significantly decreased in the short-term. However the utilization of most services returned to the usual trend in the long-term. The reduction in access to health services could impose a significant burden of various diseases, at least in the short-term, and increase health costs in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), originally designed to diagnose and assess athletes with concussion syndrome, is now widely used to evaluate postural stability. To inteipret balance status, a normative database can be a reliable source. However, different anthropometric characteristics and sociocultural backgrounds across populations hinder the application of previously developed databases in different populations. Objective: The present study was designed to develop a normative data set for the general population of healthy Iranian adults according to their age groups and to study the correlation between BESS scores and the participants' sex, height, weight, and body mass index. Design: A cross-sectional study. Participants: A total of 1051 community-dwelling adults aged 20-69 years not suffering from balance disorders, dizziness, or other neurological or musculoskeletal diseases were recruited and stratified into 5 different age groups by decade. Main Outcome Measures: The BESS tests were composed of single-leg, double-leg, and tandem stances, each on a rigid surface and a foam pad. The individuals maintained each position for 20 seconds with eyes closed. The assessor recorded the total number of errors as the individuals' BESS score (range: 0-60). Results: Significant but weak correlations were found between BESS score and height (r = -.13, P<.001) and between BESS score and body mass index (r=.11, P<.001), and the difference between sexes in BESS score was statistically significant in the 50- to 59-year-old (P = .021) and 60- to 69-year-old (P<.001) groups. The BESS scores were significantly different between all age groups (P < .05), except between the 20- to 29-year-old and 30- to 39-year-old groups (P - 1.000) and between the 40- to 49-year-old and 50- to 59-year-old groups (P = .086). Conclusions: This study provided a normative database for different age groups of asymptomatic Iranian adults. The BESS score had weak correlations with height and body mass index and no correlation with weight, and significant differences were found between sexes in 50- to 69-year-old individuals. This study emphasizes the importance of obtaining specific normative data for different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: By creating an international emergency, the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to compromised reproductive health care, including family planning services, and thus increased unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. This study was conducted to compare methods of contraception, abortion, and unintended pregnancies in those served by the health centers of Babol city in Iran, both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including 425 participants registered to the health centers of Babol city, Mazandaran province, Iran. Using a multi-stage method, 6 urban health centers and 10 rural centers were selected for inclusion. Proportional allocation method was used for sampling those who met the inclusion criteria. A questionnaire was used to collect data in relation to individual characteristics and reproductive behaviors via 6 questions focused upon methods and preparation of contraception, number and type of abortions, and number and causes of unintended pregnancy from July to November 2021. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26. Significance level was considered to be p < 0.05 in all tests. Results: Most participants aged between 20 and 29 years old had a diploma level of education, were housewives and lived in the city. Prior to the pandemic, 32.0% used modern contraceptive methods and 31.6% used these during the pandemic. No change in the combination of contraceptive methods used was observed between these two periods. Approximately two-thirds used the withdrawal method in both periods. The majority of participants in both periods purchased their contraceptives from a pharmacy. Unintended pregnancy increased from 20.4% prior to the pandemic to 25.4% during the pandemic. Abortions increased from 19.1% prior to the pandemic to 20.9% during the pandemic, although these findings were not found to be statistically significant. Contraceptive methods had a statistically significant relationship with age, education, spouse's education, spouse's occupation, and place of residence. The number of unintended pregnancies had a significant relationship with age, the educational level of both participants and their spouses and socio-economic status, and the number of abortions had a statistically significant relationship with the age and education level of the spouse (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Despite there being no change in contraceptive methods compared to the pre-pandemic period, an increase in the number of unintended pregnancies, abortions and illegal abortions was observed. This may be indicative of an unmet need for family planning services during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: COVID-19 burden the health system by influencing several aspects of social determinants of health (SDH). We review SDH inequity in Iran with notice on COVID-19 pandemic and sanctions. Method: The Databases such as MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched. The SDH components were extracted regarding the effect of COVID-19 and sanctions. Global burden of disease was used to evaluate the impact of sanctions on mortality in Iran. Result: The literacy rate improved over the last decades but, there is still inequality between provinces. Age and regional inequity exists, regarding NCD mortality. Food insecurity varies in different regions between 20% and 60%.Providing care for a growing aging population, with a large burden of NCDs and disabilities will be the major issue in the next decade. The decrease slop of mortality rate due to NCDs, have become smoother since impose of sanctions, while, cancer mortality have changed upwards. COVID-19, and sanctions negatively impacts lower socioeconomically vulnerable groups due to preexisting conditions which wider the existing inequity in SDH are adding a heavy burden of inequity in Iran. Conclusion: Iran, similar to large numbers of countries, face inequity at regional level in different SDH related issues. The COVID-19 pandemic showed that economic status and health are aligned. Sanctions superimposed on the COVID-19 pandemic cause harm to millions of innocent people. One of the main goals of health authorities is to reduce SDH inequity in order to achieve the goal of "health for all". To tackle these inequities, prompt action is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Reproductive behaviors and intentions are affected by several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the intention to reproduce and its causes in Iran during the period prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive-comparative study included 425 cisgender women from 6 urban health centers and 10 rural centers in Babol city, Mazandaran province, Iran. Urban and rural health centers were selected using a multi-stage approach with proportional allocation. A questionnaire was used to collect data in relation to individual characteristics and reproductive intentions. Results: Most participants aged between 20 and 29 years had a diploma level of education, were housewives and lived in the city. The intention to reproduce decreased from 11.4% before the pandemic to 5.4% during the pandemic (p = 0.006). The most common reason for wanting to have children prior to the pandemic was not having children (54.2%). During the pandemic, a desire to reach the ideal number of children was the most common reason to want to have children (59.1%), though no statistically significant difference was observed between the two periods (p = 0.303). The most common reason for not wanting to have children in both periods was having enough children already (45.2% before and 40.9% during the pandemic). The reasons for not wanting to have children had a statistically significant difference between the two periods (p < 0.001). Reproductive intentions had a statistically significant relationship with the variables of age (p < 0.001), the education level of both participants (p < 0.001) and spouses (p = 0.006), occupation (p = 0.004), and socio-economic status (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Despite restrictions and lockdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on people's desire to reproduce in this context. Economic problems caused by the sanctions which increased during the COVID-19 crisis may be one of the reasons for a reduction in people's intentions to become parents. Future research could usefully investigate whether this decrease in the desire to reproduce will lead to significant changes in population level and future birth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anomia is a language disorder that negatively affects communication abilities in people with aphasia (PWA). We aimed to compare the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the left and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and superior temporal gyrus (STG) on the picture-naming accuracy and reaction time in PWA. Methods: A randomized, single-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial was conducted in 2021 at Mobasher Kashani Clinic, Hamadan, Iran. Sixteen patients received both five days of real-tDCS (1 mA for 20 minutes) and five days of sham-tDCS with a seven-day washout period in between. Using the Persian aphasia naming test, picture-naming accuracy and reaction time on 50 images were assessed at baseline, real-tDCS, and sham-tDCS stages. The data were analyzed using STATA software, version 11.0. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Sixteen non-fluent PWA participated in the study. Of all patients, 64% benefited from tDCS over the STG and 18% over the IFG. The results showed that real-tDCS had a significant effect on the picture-naming accuracy (P=0.003) and the Persian-Western aphasia battery-one score (P=0.01), whereas sham-tDCS had no noticeable effects. Both the real- and sham-tDCS had no significant effect on the reaction time (P=0.28). Conclusion: Five sessions of individualized tDCS protocol (1 mA for 20 minutes) were adequate to improve picture-naming accuracy in patients with chronic aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the rural entrepreneurial process is relatively limited. This quantitative study appraised an opportunity-based model of rural entrepreneurial process that consisted of two components including the principal stages and the important factors in each stage. Using tree analysis, the pathways passed by the rural entrepreneurs and the drivers of the process were investigated. A survey was conducted with a sample of 193 rural entrepreneurs supported by Omid Entrepreneurship Fund, Iran. Based on the results, the rural entrepreneurs passed 7 pathways to get from opportunity recognition to opportunity exploitation. Process of analyzing the regression tree indicated that the rural entrepreneurial process resulted from a complex set of various stages and drivers. The first determinant stage of the predicted value of opportunity exploitation as the dependent variable was opportunity evaluation. All rural entrepreneurs were divided into two categories of low and high opportunity evaluation. The most important drivers of this stage were prior knowledge, access to expertise, and access to financial resources. According to the results, social supports, proactiveness, and expectancy for success were the most effective drivers of the rural entrepreneurial process in which opportunity revision was the most determinant stage. Opportunity examination was another determinant stage influenced by normative environment and self-efficacy. Innovativeness and social networks were the best drivers for the rural entrepreneurs who passed the rural entrepreneurial process with high ability of opportunity recognition. According to the results, both individual and contextual factors were important, in almost all pathways. To facilitate and accelerate the rural entrepreneurial process and promote its quality, it is important to consider the rural entrepreneurs' abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the fields of agricultural, food and medical research, the potential impacts of tea on human health are of special interest because tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) is continuously consumed by many people in the world. The evaluation of the diversity of genotypes found in tea germplasm can aid in the improvement of the breeding programme. In this study, the genetic diversity of 30 tea genotypes from two commercial sites of tea production in Iran was investigated by using morphological and 12 ISSR markers. Morphological analysis showed that the diversity between samples of tea was limited, and the narrow matching range was calculated. In cluster analysis at level 0.63, samples were divided into four groups. The application of 12 ISSR primers produced 91 polymorphic bands. PIC test showed a range of 0.41–0.48. Based on the ISSR data, the matching range was obtained in the range of 0.24–0.93. In cluster analysis, samples at level 0.58 were divided into five groups. According to the results, it can be understood that these series of traits and primers can very well recognize genetic differences. Using these markers, genetic diversity was observed among tea genotypes, but this diversity was not such as to be able to separate genotypes of various regions from each other. The results showed that the tea genotypes in Iran had high genetic diversity. As a consequence, the findings of our study will help the development of tea germplasm conservation strategies and their sustainable use in breeding programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between iron deficiency anemia with restless leg syndrome (RLS) and sleep quality in workers working in a textile factory in Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 216 workers working in a textile factory in Iran. In addition to demographic and occupational variables, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and RLS questionnaires were used for the data collection. To investigate iron deficiency anemia, 2 CC of blood was taken from the brachial artery with the help of a 10-CC syringe with a blue or pink tip. Then, relevant data were entered into SPSS26 and analyzed. Results: The mean (S. D.) age of the workers was 32.23 (6.14) and 60.6% of them were women. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was 21.2 and 69.5% in men and women, respectively. Most of the workers were in moderate condition in terms of RLS severity, and 78.2% had sleep disorders. There was an inverse and significant correlation between age (β= −0.200), work experience (β= −0.160), hemoglobin (β= −0.149), and ferritin (β= −0.186) with global PSQI score (P value<0.05). Also, an inverse and significant correlation was observed between age (β= −0.164), hemoglobin (β= −0.548), and ferritin (β= −0.410) with RLS score (P value<0.05). However, there was a direct and significant correlation between TIBC level and RLS score (β= 0.227) and global PSQI score (β= 0.395) (P value<0.05). Conclusions: Intervention programs to reduce iron deficiency anemia and periodic screening programs to identify sleep disorders and RLS in textile factory workers seem necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody against the Interleukin-6 (IL6) receptor, but its effect on improving the clinical condition of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients is debated. Accordingly, this study investigated the impact of Tocilizumab as an alternative treatment on the outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, 300 COVID-19 patients in Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Iran, from November 2021 to January 2022 diagnosed by Real Time-PCR test with severe pneumonia were classified into two groups: 150 patients in the control group, treated with standard treatment, and 150 patients in the case group, that treated with intravenous Tocilizumab in addition to those treatments. Prognostic factors such as the hospitalization period, need for mechanical ventilation, and the patient's discharge condition were investigated. Results: Effect of Tocilizumab on outcomes of COVID-19 patients, like demanding mechanical ventilation, and length of hospitalization in the case group, despite the presence of poor biological symptoms such as severe lymphopenia in admission, show a significant difference in comparison to the control group. Tocilizumab does not affect the patient's discharge condition and the mortality rate. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Tocilizumab, despite the lack of an apparent effect on the outcome of the COVID-19 disease (recovery or death), reduced length of hospitalization and the necessity for mechanical ventilation and can be used as an alternative therapy with other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: One of the most prevalent drug-resistant bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) causing healthcare infections. Previously, a meta-analysis study on the frequency of MRSE was conducted from Mar 2006 to Jan 2016 in Iran. The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in this prevalence in the last 5 years in different cities in Iran. Materials and Methods: Published articles on the frequency of MRSE were collected from the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and Iranian databases from the beginning of 2016 to the end of 2020. Of the 503 records identified, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria, and their extracted data were analyzed using comprehensive meta-analysis version 2.0 (Biostat). Results: The analysis showed that the frequency of MRSE has decreased significantly in the last five years and reached 60.8 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 54.2-66.9] among culture-positive cases of S. epidermidis in Iran. Conclusion: The noticeable reduction in the prevalence of MRSE in Iran could be due to the improvement of infection control programs and interruption of the pathogen transmission cycle. Another influential reason is the significant reduction in methicillin prescriptions by physicians for infections caused by staphylococci. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with the thalassemia have a basic requirement for self-efficacy regarding their treatment procedure. The present study aimed to compare the effect of self-care education via a smartphone application and lectures on the self-efficacy of patients with thalassemia. Methods: In the present quasi-experimental study, 99 patients with thalassemia at Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Yasuj, Iran, in 2019 who were eligible to enter the study, were selected. The block randomization was done with the block sizes of 3, 6, and 9, and participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: smartphone application (A), lecture intervention (B), and control (c). Smartphone application and lecture interventions were performed for intervention groups A and B, respectively, during 8 weeks. Scherer's self-efficacy measure was used to collect the data at baseline and eight weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS-version 25 software using Paired t-test, Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Ninety-nine patients with thalassemia with a mean (SD) age of 25 (6) and 58 females (58.59%) participated in the present study. The results indicated a significant difference in self-efficacy among 3 groups after intervention (P = 0.001). However, self-care education with smartphone application revealed a significant increase in the mean (SD) of self-efficacy of the patients with thalassemia 68.36(8.45) compared to the lecture method 62.55 (7.3) (P = 0.003) and control 62.09 (6.7) (P = 0.001). There were no significant differences among the self-efficacy scores of the patients in lecture intervention and control groups. Conclusions: The results revealed that smartphone application was a suitable educational software to promote self-efficacy in patients with thalassemia. It is recommended to use smartphone application methods to improve the self-efficacy levels of patients with thalassemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unintentional poisoning is a critical type of poisoning by which people injure themselves with no intention. Such a condition occurs accidentally, occupationally, or through abusive manners. The present study aims to examine the one-year frequency and causes of unintentional poisoning in patients treated by the prehospital emergency center in Qaemshahr City, Iran, in 2016. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 259 patients with unintentional poisoning. The variables were extracted and then registered in the questionnaires. The data were analyzed by the SPSS software. Results: In this study, 83.8% of the patients were male and 16.2% were female. Most toxicity cases (89.1%) were unintentional as a result of drug abuse in the forms of tramadol abuse (42.8%), narcotic drugs (26.6%), and alcohol (19.7%), ranking 1 to 3, respectively. A total of 48.2% of the unintentional poisoning cases were caused by medicinal factors and other cases (51.8%) were due to non-medicinal agents. Benzodiazepines and cardiovascular drugs were the most common drugs causing a medicinal overdose. Gastrointestinal poisoning was the most prevalent way of toxicity (77.6%) and the rate of death was 4%. Conclusion: The results of the present study and similar research show that unintentional poisoning includes large populations of toxicity cases that occur mainly by drug abuse, such as tramadol and narcotic drugs. This study can be considered a pattern to conduct more research in the relevant fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC), is one of the most important parameters determining soil quality and fertility, crop productivity as well as soil resistance to drought. Therefore, the preparation of accurate maps of SOC is of great importance not only for precision agriculture but also for selection of suitable strategies by policy makers. Iran suffers from deficiency of a comprehensive dataset of SOC in agricultural lands. Therefore, this study aimed to present the SOC map of Iran´s agricultural soils, to compare SOC content of different agricultural land use and to compare SOC of agricultural lands in different Iran´s agro-ecological zones (AEZs). For this purpose, 3327 sites were sampled. These sampling sites were located in different Iran´s agricultural land use types (irrigated agricultural lands (AgI), dry farming (AgD), horticultural (Ho) and fallow (Fa) lands) of Iran´s AEZs, which were selected based on soil and geology maps as well as using a 6000 × 6000 m grid-sampling pattern. According to SOC map of Iran, only 4% of all agricultural lands of Iran (0–30 cm) possessed >2% SOC. This area is located in AEZ2 with wet and humid conditions and expanse covers the western coast of the Caspian Sea. The SOC content in 70% of Iran´s agricultural topsoil is less than 1%. Meanwhile, about 10% of the topsoil ´agriculturallands had SOC more than 1.5%. In addition, among different studied land uses, SOC content of surface soil decreases as this trend Ho>AgI> AgD> Fa because of more SOC accumulation in horticultural and irrigated agricultural lands than dry farming and fallow ones. In addition, more dairy manure applied in the horticultural lands. According to the results of SOC map, it is essential to manage agricultural strategies for better SOC sequestration in different AEZs in order to achieve sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traffic rules violations in urban areas, which can cause traffic crashes and unsafe situations, are a major issue nowadays. The present paper aims to analyze the frequency of traffic violations in Tehran city, Iran, over a five-year period (March 2016- March 2021). The data is obtained via road traffic violation monitoring system which can capture and process various traffic violations. This database, containing about 97 million violations committed by about 16 million drivers, is explored applying three statistical approaches. In the first approach, some multiplicative SARIMA and Bayesian Spatio-temporal models are fitted to the monthly violations. Also, in the second approach, the K-means clustering algorithm is applied to discover homogeneous districts of Tehran Municipality regarding their number of violations and their number of violations per camera towers meter during the study. Finally, in the third approach, a random-effect zero-truncated one-inflated Poisson model is proposed to study factors affecting driver's number of violations over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the amount and physical and chemical characteristics of airborne microplastics (MPs) pollution in dust samples in Sistan, located in the eastern part of Iran, is reported. Sampling stations were selected according to the wind direction and population density. MPs were collected by a static dust sampler and analyzed by optical microscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. Results showed that the distribution frequency of MPs in residential and non-residential areas was 6 to 11 pieces per 100 g (pcs/100 g) with an average abundance of 9.8 pcs/100 g. Fragmented MPs were approximately consisted 64% of total MPs and their sizes were in the range of 0.9–3.8 mm. Polyethylene (49%), polystyrene (21%) and polyester (18%) were the main MPs presented in the dust samples. It was observed that population density and wind direction were the most important parameters affecting MPs pollution in dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to estimate the socio-economic inequality in prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adults in north-west of Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ardabil with data from the PERSIAN Cohort Study. Diabetes has been measured by combining self-reported and clinical records. Based on the socio-economic status score, households divided into five quintiles. A multiple logistic regression model was used to examine the association between having diabetes and independent variables and the Blinder–Oaxaca (BO) method was used to decompose the socioeconomic inequality, respectively. Results: The Overall age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes among 20,419 Ardabil's adults was 14.3% (95% CI: 13.6 to 14.9). The prevalence of type 2 diabetes for the poorest and richest groups was 16.07% and 7.60%, the gap between the poorest and richest groups was 8.47%. The prevalence type 2 diabetes was significantly increasing with increasing in age (OR = 4.05, 95% CI = 3.27–5.02), BMI (OR: 3.10, 95%CI = 1.25–7.68), blood pressure (OR: 2.61, 95% CI = 2.37–2.88), and decreases with higher education level (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.63–0.97). The richest-economic group has lower prevalence of diabetes (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.60–0.88). The decomposition showed that most important factors affecting the difference between poorest and richest group in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes were age (86.1%), years of schooling (46.9%) and having chronic diseases such as hypertension (26.9%). Conclusions: The present study showed that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes was significantly higher among the elderly, women, uneducated, obese, and poor populations. Policies that address people poverty such as increasing job opportunities, increasing the minimum income etc. could reduce diabetes risk for poor people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Minority language studies have received increasing attention over the last decade in Iran. Drawing on Spolsky's (Spolsky, Bernard. 2004. Language policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) language policy theoretical framework, this inquiry reports on the language ideologies, practices, and management efforts of an under-explored group of Kurdish families residing in the city of Kermanshah. To this end, semi-structured interviews and ethnographic fieldwork guided the collection of data from 40 Kurdish–Persian bilingual parents. The thematic analysis of data revealed glaring inconsistencies among the three elements of family language policy (FLP). That is parents' strong attachment to Kurdish did not necessarily translate into their language practices and efforts. The results also suggest that the studied parents adopted a subtractive approach to their children's proficiency in Kurdish. We argue that parents are not the core force in heritage language maintenance and there are other external factors determining the transmission of the home language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID‐19 patients, especially the patients requiring hospitalisation, have a high risk of several complications such as opportunistic bacterial and fungal infections. Mucormycosis is a rare and opportunistic fungal infection that mainly affects diabetic and immunocompromised patients. An increase has been observed in the number of rhino‐orbital mucormycosis in patients with COVID‐19 admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran, since October 2020. This is a report of the frequency, risk factors, clinical manifestations, treatment and prognosis of COVID‐19 associated with mucormycosis infection. Methods: The medical records of COVID‐19 patients with rhino‐orbital mucormycosis who were diagnosed in an educational therapeutic hospital in Kermanshah, west of Iran were surveyed. Several parameters were analysed including demographic, clinical, therapeutic and laboratory characteristics. Results: Twelve patients with COVID‐19–associated rhino‐orbital mucormycosis were identified from 12 October to 18 November 2020. All cases reported as proven mucormycosis had a history of hospitalisation due to COVID‐19. Comorbidities mainly included diabetes mellitus (83.33%) and hypertension (58.33%). Seventy‐five per cent of patients received corticosteroids for COVID‐ 19 treatment. The sites of involvement were rhino‐sino‐orbital (83%) and rhino‐sino (17%). Amphotericin B/liposomal amphotericin B alone or in combination with surgical debridement or orbital exenteration was used as the first‐line therapy. The overall mortality rate was 66.7% (8/12). Conclusions: We found a high incidence of mucormycosis among COVID‐19 patients. Diabetes mellitus and corticosteroid use were the dominant predisposing factor of mucormycosis. Mucormycosis is a life‐threatening and opportunistic infection; therefore, physicians should know the signs and symptoms of the disease so that a timely diagnosis and therapy can be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to estimate the prevalence of prediabetes, and diabetes mellitus (DM). We estimated awareness, treatment, plasma glucose control, and associated factors in diabetes, as well as, socioeconomic-related inequality in the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes. Data for adults aged 35–70 years were obtained from the baseline phase of the Dehgolan prospective cohort study (DehPCS). Diabetes status was determined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of ≥ 126 mg/dl and/or taking glucose lowering medication confirmed by a medical practitioner. Prediabetes was considered as 100 ≤ FPG ≤ 125 mg/dl. The relative concentration index (RCI) was used to exhibit socioeconomic inequality in the prevalence of prediabetes and DM. Prevalence of prediabetes and DM, diabetes awareness and treatment, and glycemic control of DM 18.22%, 10.00%, 78.50%, 68.91% and, 28.50%, respectively. Increasing age (p < 0.001), Increasing body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05), ex-smoker (p < 0.01), family history of diabetes (FHD) (p < 0.001), and comorbidity (p < 0.001) were independent risk factors for DM. Age group of 46–60 (p < 0.05), ex-smoker (p < 0.05), FHD (p < 0.05) were increased chance of awareness. Current smokers (p < 0.05), and higher education increase the chance of glycemic control in DM. Both DM (RCI = − 0.234) and prediabetes (RCI = − 0.122) were concentrated significantly among less-educated participants. DM was concentrated significantly among poor (RCI = − 0.094) people. A significant proportion of DM awareness and treatment can be due to the integration of diabetes into the primary health care system. The high prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes, which is affected by socioeconomic inequality and combined with low levels of glycemic control may place a greater burden on the health system. Therefore, awareness, receiving treatment, and glycemic control in people with diabetes, and the socioeconomic status of people have become increasingly important in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing workload and its effects on the quality of nursing care is a major concern for nurse managers. Factors which mediate the relationship between workload and the quality of nursing care have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of implicit rationing of nursing care, job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion in the relationship between workload and quality of nursing care. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 311 nurses from four different hospitals in center of Iran were selected by convenience sampling method. Six self-reported questionnaires were completed by the nurses. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. Structural equation modeling was used to determine the relationships between the components using Stata 14 software. Results: Except direct and mutual relationship between workload and quality of nursing care (P ≥ 0.05), the relationship between other variables was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The hypothesized model fitted the empirical data and confirmed the mediating role of implicit rationing of nursing care, job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion in the relationship between workload and the quality of nursing care (TLI, CFI > 0.9 and RMSEA < 0.08 and χ2/df < 3). Conclusion: Workload affects the quality of the provided nursing care by affecting implicit rationing of nursing care, job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion. Nurse managers need to acknowledge the importance of quality of nursing care and its related factors. Regular supervision of these factors and provision of best related strategies, will ultimately lead to improve the quality of nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most prevalent cancer and the fourth in terms of cancer-related death worldwide. The GC is the most commonly diagnosed and the most important cause of cancer-related death in Iranians. Due to the significant burden of stomach cancer in Iran, we aimed to review all articles that have been conducted on the Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and survival of Gastric Cancer in Iran and compare them with the global situation. We surveyed Google Scholar, Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Science (ISI), and Science Direct databases using the keywords of Gastric Cancer, Stomach Cancer, Gastric Neoplasm, Stomach Neoplasm, and Iran and obtained English language articles. After a two-step screening of articles, 51 out of 202 remained eligible for our study (related to Incidence, Prognostic Factors, and survival of stomach Cancer in Iran). We found that although Iran is one of the high-burden countries for GC, the incidence rate and mortality rate are very different in different provinces (up to a six-fold and thirty-fold difference in mortality rate and incidence rate have been reported respectively in reviewed articles between Northern and Southern Iran). Considering that the initial stage is one of the most important and probably the most important prognostic factors, through upper endoscopy screening, the disease can be diagnosed in earlier stages and the survival of patients can be improved. We recommend the Ministry of Health identify high-risk people according to their combination of risk factors (especially geographical region) and make a national cost-effective screening algorithm for Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Candida albicans is a part of the mycoflora of healthy individuals, it is causing mild to severe forms of candidiasis in patients with underlying diseases. The recent molecular investigations were classified three genotypes, A, B and C for C. albicans. The aim of the present study was to detect different genotypes of C. albicans complex species in a normal population in Iran. Saliva was randomly collected from a normal population, homogenized and cultured on CHROMagar Candida. Classical and molecular methods were used for the detection of isolates. Candida 25S rDNA gene was amplified using the primer pairs of CA‐INT‐L and CA‐INT‐R for ABC genotyping of C. albicans. Candida albicans complex was recovered from 103/194 (53·1%) normal papulation. Genotype A with a frequency of 41·7% was the most common isolate, followed by genotype C (34%), genotype B (20·4%) and genotype D (3·9%). Genotyping of C. albicans species complex from healthy individuals showed the presence of three A, B and C genotypes of C. albicans and one D genotype of C. dubliniensis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The registry will provide adequate motivation for researchers to conduct various studies in numerous fields of medical and neuropsychological sciences. Objectives: Up to the present, no registry system for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been developed in Iran. Therefore, the present study aimed at the generation of the protocol to develop an informative system of ASD registry in Hamadan, one of the western cities of Iran. Methods: Before conducting this protocol, screening of 18-month-old children for ASD was executed. A researcher-made questionnaire will be used for data collection. The Data Management website will keep under review all accomplished questionnaires through the registration process. Results: The developed registry system is a precious tool to survey ASD and accurately conceive the essence of the problem. In Hamadan, similar to other parts of Iran and on a larger scale worldwide, the number of children diagnosed with ASD is increasing. Conclusions: The essential services and facilities will be provided for children with ASD and their affected families through the obtained information from this registry system. In addition, the obtained data from a large population by the registry system for ASD will induce researchers to discover environmental and genetic contributions to the etiological components of ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aggressive driving is the leading behavior resulting in fatal or nonfatal disabling injuries. Therefore, programs with the main focus on driving behavior could reduce the risk of traffic injuries remarkably. We aimed to investigate the role of non-punitive performance feedback on drivers' behavior and evaluate the persistence of the altered behavior by using in-vehicle telematics. Methods: This study was done as a randomized controlled trial by repeated-measures design to evaluate the non-punitive behavioral intervention's efficacy on the behavioral transition to safer driving for 1,289 bus and 104 taxi drivers. All participants were studied during 17 weeks through three stages: stage 0 (five weeks for collecting the baseline characteristics of the participants), stage 1 (nine weeks for randomizing the participants into intervention group or control group and sending the intervention group feedback via short message service), and stage 2 (three weeks for following-up the participants without sending feedback). The intervention group drivers received weekly text messages about the driving score and drivers' rank within their peer group.The study's primary outcome was the driver score changing pattern throughout the study calculated by a neuro-fuzzy scoring system composed of four factors: speed violation, harsh acceleration, harsh braking, and harsh turning. Results: Among the bus drivers, a significant positive effect of the intervention was found in stage 1 (P<0.0001) and in stage 2 (P<0.0001) regarding the calculated scoring system. Among the taxi drivers, a significant positive effect of the intervention was found in stage 1 (P<0.0001), but the effect was not significant in stage 2 (P=0.15). Conclusion: The results of this study were in favor of using telematics and its positive effect on driving performance. The reformed behavior persisted even after the intervention ceased. Practical Application: Behavioral interventions could be considered a promising strategy to enhance and promote safe driving performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muḥammad b. Ibrāhīm al-Nuʿmānī, al-Kātib, (d. before 360/971) is a venerable Imāmī traditionist for his celebrated work the Kitāb al-ghayba —a compilation of nearly 445 traditions to demonstrate the occultation of the twelfth Imam and his parousia in the last days of history. Although some monographical studies have been done on this author and his work, the biographical questions about the Imāmī community that he came from, the first places from where he started his Ḥadīth study, and the connection between his being kātib by profession and his learning traditions remained unanswered. The present article is an endeavor to present a more complete biography of al-Nuʿmānī. It consists of an examination of the socioreligious milieu of his hometown al-Nuʿmāniyya, the different places that he visited to his teachers, some fragmentary information about his grandson Abū l-Qāsim al-Maghribī, his stay in Aleppo, his works and pupils, and a more plausible date of his death in Aleppo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since 1990, maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has significantly decreased in Iran. However, estimates for mortality and morbidity by cause at subnational scale are not available. Methods: This study is part of the Global Burden of Diseases study (GBD) 2019. Here we report maternal mortality and morbidity by age and cause across 31 provinces of Iran from 1990 to 2019. Results: Since 1990, MMR declined from 44.5 (95% UI: 38.6-50.1) to 15.9 (14.7--17.3) per 100 000 live births in Iran. In 1990 MMR ranged from 18.5 (11.2--26.4) to 76.9 (38.4--114.7) per 100 000 live births across provinces. Respective figures for 2019 were 7.1 (5.2--9.3) to 34.0 (25.1--44.7) per 100 000 live births. In 2019, MMR was higher in young women (aged 10 to 14) and older women (aged 45 or more). Percentages of deaths under 25 years was 24.8% in 1990 and 16.0% in 2019. There was remarkable decline in years lost due to premature death (YLL) rates from 1990 to 2019. While the decline was modest for years lived with disability (YLD) rates. Indirect maternal deaths and other maternal deaths ranked first or second in almost all provinces. Ultimately, there was an evident decrease in MMR along with increase in socio-demographic Index (SDI) from 1990 to 2019 in all provinces and an evident convergence across provinces. Conclusion: MMR has declined to levels much lower than Sustainable Development Goals in all provinces. Although there was a convergence in trends, there are still disparities across provinces. The decline in disabilities caused by maternal disorders is not as significant as mortality, which needs further actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Since 1990, neonatal, infant, and child mortality has substantially decreased in Iran. However, estimates for mortality by cause at subnational scale are not available. Methods: This study is part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD) 2019. Here we report the number and rates of neonate, infant, and child deaths by cause across provinces of Iran from 1990 to 2019. Results: Between 1990 and 2019, the neonatal mortality rate per 1000 live births decreased from 31.8 (95% UI: 28.1--35.5) to 6.8 (6.1--7.4). The child mortality rates decreased from 71.2 (63.6--79.1) to 11.1 (10.2--12.0) per 1000 live births. Mortality rates among neonates per 1000 live births ranged from 3.1 (2.6--3.7) to 10.0 (9.2--10.8) across provinces in 2019. Child mortality rate per 1000 live births ranged from 5.5 (4.6--6.5) to 17.9 (16.4--19.4) across provinces in 2019. Neonatal disorders, congenital birth defects, and lower respiratory infections were the three main causes of mortality in almost all provinces of Iran. The majority of neonatal disorders were due to neonatal preterm birth and neonatal asphyxia, trauma, and infections. The trends of mortality across provinces from 1990 to 2019 were converging and decreased along with increase in sociodemographic index (SDI). Conclusions: All provinces achieved the Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of neonatal mortality less than 12 and child mortality less than 25 per 1000 live births. However, disparities still exist across provinces, specifically in low-SDI provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to explore and determine the association between BMI and socio-economic factors in Iran. Methods: Adults aged 35 to 70 (n = 20,460) were included from Ardabil Non-Communicable Disease (ArNCD) cohort study. BMI was calculated as kg/m2. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to determine the socio-economic quintiles. Multivariate linear regression was performed to analyze the association of BMI as dependent variable with explanatory variables, Additionally, decomposition analyzing conducted to identify factors that explained wealth-related inequality in obesity. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obese people was 83.7% (41.4% overweight and 42.5% obese) wherein the highest frequency of obese people belonged to the age group of 45 to 49 years old (19.9%) and to the illiterate people (33.1%). The results of multivariate linear regression model showed that age, being female, marriage, lower education level, having chronic disease, alcohol use, and higher socioeconomic level positively associated with obesity. The results of the decomposition model showed that the most important variables affecting socioeconomic inequality in higher BMI level were socioeconomic status (75.8%), being women (5.6%), education level (− 4.1%), and having chronic disease (2.4%). Conclusion: BMI showed significant association with socio-economic status, where richest people had significantly higher BMI than poorest group. Considering the direct role of high BMI in non-communicable diseases, new policies are needed to be developed and implemented by means of diet intervention and increased physical activity to control the BMI in the population of Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effective measures to control COVID-19 should be based on an understanding of its epidemiological pattern and the evaluation of its prevalence in the community. This study aimed to examine the reproductive number (R) of COVID-19 and its trend in Fars Province in southern Iran. Methods: In this ecological study, the R trend was examined from July to November 2020. Data were collected from the daily reports of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. R is the product of three components, namely the number of infection- producing contacts per unit time, the probability of transmission per contact, and the contagiousness period. Incidence and prevalence rates were used to calculate R. The R value was calculated in Microsoft Excel 2016. Results: The first and second peaks of COVID-19 were observed on July 6th and November 22nd, respectively. The median and mean of R were 1.42 and 1.41, respectively. The highest and lowest values of R were observed on October 20th (2.60) and September 1st (0.46), respectively. The values of R had a slightly decreasing trend in the second half of July and November than the first half. In the second half of August and September, an increasing trend was observed than the first half. There was not much change in the second half of October. Conclusion: The highest value of R was related to the dates when there was a higher probability of exposure to the virus, including public holidays and different occasions on which the probability of people's participation in ceremonies, communities, and gatherings was higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]