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Two new mite species of Leptus Latreille, 1796 (Acari: Erythraeidae) are described and illustrated based on their larval stages. All mites were collected from grasshopper hosts (Orthoptera: Acrididae) during surveys in the Zagros Mountains of Iran. This study is part of a more extensive survey of the Parasitengona fauna and their grasshopper hosts in diverse terrains along this mountain range, one of the global biodiversity hotspots. Leptus (Leptus) mallahae Kiany, Seiedy & Hakimitabar sp. nov. was collected parasitizing Oedipoda miniata (Pallas, 1771), Acrotylus insubricus (Scopoli, 1786), and Sphingoderus angustus Descamps, 1967. Leptus (L.) etesamiae Kiany, Seiedy & Hakimitabar sp. nov. was collected on Sphodromerus luteipes Uvarov, 1933.Leptus mallahae Kiany, Seiedy, & Hakimitabar in Kiany, Seiedy, Hakimitabar, Kiany & Husemann, 2024 Leptus etesamiae Kiany, Seiedy, & Hakimitabar in Kiany, Seiedy, Hakimitabar, Kiany & Husemann, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rift Valley fever is a vector-borne zoonosis that can affect various species, including ruminants and camels. The present study reports the first serological detection of the Rift Valley fever virus in sheep and goats, along with an analysis of risk factors in Fars province, located in the south of Iran. The province of Fars was distributed into three climate zones, and three cities were accidentally chosen for each climatic zone. Two epidemiologic units were selected in each city, and samples of all the sheep and goats were collected from each unit. In total, 540 serum samples (391 from sheep and 149 from goats) were gathered and tested by a commercial ELISA kit. Out of 540 samples tested, 12 (2.2%) were found to be seropositive for the Rift Valley fever virus, with 10 from sheep and 2 from goats, indicating the presence of specific antibodies. The correlation between seropositivity and risk factors such as age, sex, climate, animal type, and, history of abortion was not significant. In conclusion, the Rift Valley fever virus is not endemic in Fars province. Further studies are recommended to investigate the distribution of mosquito vectors and their genotype in Fars province, isolate the virus, and develop vaccines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The institutions of religion and state had a deep connection during the Sasanian period. Fire temples played an important role in national unity with governmental support throughout Iran, aiding the central government by conducting religious ceremonies. Fire altars, as part of the Sasanian fire temples, were essential for worship and one of the most important tools of worship in Zoroastrianism, serving as the place and throne of the great god; therefore, they are considered among the most sacred parts of fire temples. Sasanian fire altars varied in shape and material, serving different purposes. Most Sasanian fire altars were made of stone or gypsum, with a few cases made of clay. Some fire altars were cone-shaped with spoon or simple designs. An interesting point to note is that in the province of Fars (including the present-day provinces of Fars and Bushehr, and parts of the neighboring areas) during the Sasanian period, all discovered fire altars were made of stone. Except for a few cases possibly dedicated to Azar-Bahram, all the other discovered fire temples had gypsum fire altars. With this description, there may be a specific meaning hidden in the choice of fire altar material during the Sasanian period. The question raised here is about the geographical location of fire temples in relation to the material of fire altars whether a clear connection could be established between the Sasanian-Period Fars and the construction materials of fire altars or not. This fundamental research was conducted by examining field data, archaeological studies, accidental discoveries from various locations, and utilizing library information. Additionally, one of the known types of fire altars, in the form of a curtain, is depicted on some Sasanian coins. Ultimately, it seems that since Fars was the seat of the Sasanian Empire, they displayed fire on stone fire altars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the main natural hazards affecting large areas' economies and the environment. Therefore, it is necessary to study the different aspects of the drought on the land with several indices like the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) index which can clarify the existing conditions for decisions and planning. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial pattern of drought by SPI index in the Fars Province located in the Southern part of Iran. In this paper, according to the data from 42 stations in Fars Province, during 1990-2019, the pattern of drought hazard is evaluated. In the presented model, several drought hazard criteria were used including the maximum severity of drought in the period, the trend of drought, and the maximum number of sequential arid years. The final drought risk map was obtained with an arithmetic mean of 3 criteria: intensity, continuity, and trend. The three criteria maps and final hazard map were interpolated by the Inverse Distance Weightage (IDW) method and classified into five hazard classes none, slight, moderate, severe, and very severe. The obtained maps showed that the intensity, trend, and continuity of drought increases from the southeast to the northwest. The final vulnerability map shows that moderate hazard areas (36% of the region) observed in the Southern parts of the region are less widespread than areas under severe and very severe hazard (64% of the region) observed in the northern and central parts of the region. Preparation of these hazard maps may prove to be helpful for regional managers, and policymakers for environmental and agricultural strategies, not only in Iran but also in other countries facing this hazard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A well-designed Agricultural Extension System (AES) can facilitate transitions towards sustainable agriculture. However, in most developing countries, AES has failed to promote sustainable agricultural development. The New Agricultural Extension System (NAES) was initiated to facilitate agricultural development in Iran. However, there is still no definite reflection on the influences of NAES on agricultural development. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the performance of NAES. To ensure an integrative and holistic analysis of the NAES's performance, the Complexity Theory (CT) and Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) approaches were used. To gather data, survey research was conducted in Fars Province, southern Iran. A multi-stage random sampling was used to identify the designated extension agents. The findings indicated that effective implementation of the NAES needs facilitated interaction through network mediation (X = 71.6), creation of an enabling context for the delivery of extension services (X = 66.6), improved communication and marketing infrastructures (X = 72), development of a value chain (X = 71.4), acceptance of self-organization (X = 67.8) and adoption of complexity-aware management (X = 66). The results also identified the hindering effects of demographic, structural and psychological factors on the practical application of CT and AIS principles. Some recommendations and implications are offered to improve the effectiveness of NAES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near the northwestern-southeastern foothills of the Marvdasht plain in Fars province, lie a range of ancient necropoleis which date from the reign of Darius I, the Achaemenid king and until the first century after the Muslim conquest. The well-known necropoleis of Naqsh-e Rostam and Persepolis have the most complex tombs among them. However, there are other burials in this region, although smaller and simpler or even imitative, which have considerable archeological importance, since they provide information for the social and political understanding of their time of creation, often known as the dark ages. The present study aims to introduce and analyze the structural-chronological features of the rock-cut tomb of Khūrigān, one of the recent discoveries near Naqsh-e Rostam. Regarding the architectural and stylistic characteristics of the tomb and its context, as well as considering its archeological landscape and using historical information, the period from the last century of the Achaemenid reign until the beginning of the Sassanid dynasty is considered for the general chronology of this tomb; however, through applying a more detailed perspective, we can attribute the chronology of this tomb to the first half of the 3rd until the 1st century BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most common methods to observe the indicators of hydatid cyst disease in human societies is to check the annual occurrence rate of confirmed cases in health centers or cases that have undergone surgery. Kenny disease applied Cystic Echinococcosis (CE). The main goal of this study is to systematically review statistical data related to CE between 2003 and 2023 in Fars province, one of the most populated provinces in the southwest of Iran. The results show that the highest prevalence of serology and surgery in this province is related to the age group below 50 years. Among the 299 positive cases detected by ELISA in serology, the prevalence rate among men is 55.85% and 44.14% among women. In 905 surgical cases, 51.60% were men, and 48.4% were women. In general, the obtained results show no significant relationship between the genders of people, but there is a relationship between age and the prevalence of the disease. The changes in this disease during these 20 years have not fluctuated much, and from this point of view, better measures can be taken to control this disease. Teaching the life cycle and transmission methods of this parasitic disease to humans in human societies is very important in preventing this parasitic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in population and decrease in agricultural land per capita requires intelligent management to increase production per unit area and higher productivity of land use to ensure food security. In this regard, evaluation of soil fertility and productivity is a prerequisite for sustainable agricultural development. The present study sought to investigate the soil fertility status of GIS-based Fuzzy-AHP(FAHP) techniques to assess the soil fertility status of wheat crops in Shadkam plain of Fars province. For this purpose 210 study samples from topsoil were collected and the most important chemical parameters affecting soil fertility were analyzed. According to the results, the most important limiting characteristics were OC, available phosphorus and soil pH. The application of FAHP method determined 4130.01 ha, 10.82% of land very high fertility class, 7615.30 ha, 19.95% high fertility class, 23942.30 ha, 62.77% moderately fertility class, and 2452.10 ha, 6.42% low fertility class. Thus, the fuzzy-AHP model is found to be of high accuracy for predicting soil fertility in the study area. Overall, it can be concluded that the preparation of a soil fertility map separately can be an effective tool and first step in soil fertility studies and the optimal use of fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akabane disease is an arthropod-borne viral disease that affects ruminants. This teratogenic pathogen causes severe economic losses in ruminants worldwide and in Iran; however, it has not received enough attention in Fars province, Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the influence of age, gender, climate, farming system, and history of abortions on the seroprevalence of the Akabane disease in sheep and goats in Fars province. In the present study, Fars province was divided into three climates, and three cities were randomly selected from each climatic region. In each city, two epidemiologic units were selected, and all sheep and goats in each unit were sampled. Overall, 540 serum samples (391 sheep and 149 goats) were collected and examined with the commercial ELISA kit. The results showed that 83 out of 540 (15.4%) samples were seropositive and had antibodies against the Akabane virus (AKAV). The effect of gender and age on the rate of the AKAV was not significant. Animals in warm climates were 4.218 times more likely to have antibodies against the AKAV than animals in cold climates. Females were 1.32 times more likely to exhibit seropositivity. The odds of AKAV infection were higher in animals with an abortion history than in healthy animals. The findings of the present study indicated that the prevalence of the AKAV was high in small ruminants in Fars province. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct more studies to control the risk factors involved in the spread of this virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oribatid mite Ghilarovus humeridens Krivolutsky, 1966 (Oribatida, Zetomotrichidae), the type species of the genus originally described from Turkmenistan, is recorded in Iran for the first time. A supplementary description of this species is given with detailed illustrations based on Iranian materials. The main morphological traits of G. humeridens are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the second most common and deadliest cancer in the world. Despite the control of the progressive course of LC in developed countries, studies indicate an increase in the incidence of the disease in developing countries. We designed a stepwise approach-based surveillance system for registering LC in our region (fars lung cancer registry "FaLCaRe" Project). Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed and agreed upon by the steering committee using the Delphi method. Variables in nine fields were divided into three groups based on their importance: core, expanded core, and optional. The web-based data bank software was designed. The informative site about LC and team services was designed and launched for professional and community (www.falcare. org) educational purposes. Results: 545 variables in nine fields were designed (20 core variables). Primary data of 39 LC patients (24 men and 15 women) with a mean age of 62 years were analyzed. Twenty-six patients had a history of smoking. Moreover, 39% and 26% of patients had a history of hookah smoking and opium use, respectively. Adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent pathologic findings in cases. More than 80% of patients were diagnosed in stages 3 and 4 of cancer. Conclusion: FaLCaRe Project with the capabilities seen in it can be used as a model for national LC registration. With continuous valid data registry about LC, it is possible to make decisions at the national level for control and management its consequences while drawing the natural history of the LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptus (Leptus) hajiqanbari sp. nov. (Acari: Erythraeidae), detached from unknown Noctuidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Jahrom City, Fars Province, Iran, is described and illustrated based on the larva. This species belongs to the anomalus species group and iguacuicus species subgroup which can be identified based on the characters as follows: Palpal femur with one seta, palpal genu with two setae, four setae between coxae II and III and sensillary setae setulose throughout the length. A key to species of iguacuicus species subgroup is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hard ticks are essential biological vectors of pathogens with impacts on humans and animals. This study tried to identify the dominant species of hard ticks, assess their biodiversity, and compare the infestation rates in mountainous to semi-mountainous regions in Fars province, southwestern Iran, during 2021-2022. In total, 4104 domestic animals, such as sheep, goats, cows, camels, and dogs, were examined; 3169 ticks belonging to three genera, Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, and Dermacentor, were collected. Hyalomma anatolicum was the most dominant species (34.39%), and Dermacentor marginatus was the least frequently found species. Biodiversity analysis by Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, Evenness, and Margalef indices. Generally, species richness, Evenness, and Shanon - Wiener indices were higher in mountainous than semi mountainous area and also results showed a higher diversity and richness in sheep from mountainous regions, especially in Firouzabad. Dogs and camels in Larestan had the lowest diversity and richness. Also, cattle in Marvdasht presented the highest species uniformity. The results reveal that biodiversity and the infestation rate are higher in sheep, thereby increasing the risk of tick-borne diseases. Thus, closer monitoring of livestock, education of farmers, and effective management of ticks are required to reduce the impact of tick infestations and associated diseases within this region., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval and consent to participate: This research has been approved with ethics code of IR.SUMS.AEC. 1402.025 at ethics committee of SUMS. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: The authors fully consent to the publication of the article. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Land subsidence induced by rapid groundwater depletion in Fars Province (Iran) has led to serious problems for agricultural lands, structures and infrastructures, also its destructive effects on the Achaemenid Empire monuments has raised national concerns. Over the past three decades, mainly due to the increasing reliance of the economy on agriculture, the number of water wells has grown rapidly (7100 new wells with the annual withdrawal of 1.1 billion m3) and therefore the groundwater storage has decreased 10 billion m3 and groundwater level has declined averagely 11 m. To cease groundwater depletion and land subsidence, Iran's sustainable groundwater management programme that is currently being implemented to sustain aquifers is considered as the main remedy solution. To analyse the efficiency of the programme implementation in sustaining the aquifers of the province so far, the status of aquifers levels before the programme implementation (before 2015) is compared to its current status (after 2015). The results indicate that by implementing the programme, 22 out of 100 aquifers, mostly located in the southern half of the province, have been sustained. Although, mainly due to inappropriate management and limited financial support, 25 aquifers are still in critical condition, some of which are the most important aquifers in the province. However, implementing sustainable groundwater management in basins facing land subsidence due to groundwater overexploitation is important since it can minimize or stop land subsidence by sustaining aquifers and preventing groundwater drawdown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is endemic in the southern parts of Iran. The current study aimed at molecular and serological evaluation of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in dogs in Fars province, southern Iran. Blood samples were collected from 60 dogs in the three villages in Fars Province. Serum samples were tested for antibodies against L. infantum by direct agglutination test (DAT). DNA was extracted from each dog's buffy coat and tested by PCR, targeting the Leishmania ITS‐2 region. From a total of 60 studied dogs, 25 (41.7%) were female, and 35 (58.3%) were male. Dogs' age ranged from 1 to 7 years, with a mean age of 2.97 (±1.4) years. Anti‐Leishmania antibodies were detected in sera samples of 28 (46.7%) dogs, (titre ≥ 1:320). Out of 28 seropositive cases, 13 (46.4%) were female, and 15 (53.6%) were male. Association between seropositivity and dogs' clinical signs was statistically significant (p <.05). Leishmania DNA was detected in the buffy coat of 3 of 60 studied dogs which were all seropositive by DAT. The PCR products were sequenced and molecular analysis showed that two of the isolates were Leishmania infantum, and one was L. tropica. The high proportion of seropositive dogs indicates the important role of these animals in the epidemiology of the disease in the region. Infected dogs with or without signs, especially those that are molecularly positive, can act as an active reservoir of the disease in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: HIV-infected patients have immunological and clinical features that might affect the pathogenesis, as well as the outcome of the HIV/HEV co-infection. The current study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of anti-HEV antibodies and HEV antigens among HIV-infected patients in Fars Province, Southwest Iran. Methods: Blood samples (5 mL) were collected from 251 HIV-confirmed patients. Respective data, including patients' demographic information, were obtained for each patient. The presence of HEV antigens and anti-HEV antibodies (IgG) were assessed by commercial ELISA kits, based on the manufacturers' instructions. Results: Out of 251 cases, 158 (62.9%) were male and 91 (36.3%) were female. Patients' age varied from 14 to 83 (mean: 40 ± 9.7) years. Out of 251 HIV positive cases, 26 (10.4%) were positive for anti-HEV IgG antibodies and 6 (2.4%) were positive for HEV-antigens. Also, 2 (0.8%) of the patients were positive for both anti-HEV IgG antibodies and antigens. Statistical analysis revealed no significant association between sex and seropositivity to either HEV antigen or antibodies. Moreover, no significant association was seen between age and seropositivity to HEV antigen or antibody (P = 0.622 and 0.945, respectively). Conclusion: Our results showed a relatively low prevalence of HEV-antibodies in HIV-infected patients, indicating that HIV positive patients may not be at greater risk of HEV infection than the general population. Moreover, HEV-antigen was detected in a few cases of HIV-infected individuals which indicate an acute or chronic HEV infection in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollution of water resources with nitrate is currently one of the major challenges at the global level. In order to make macro-policy decisions in water safety plans, it is necessary to carry out nitrate risk assessment in underground water, which has not been done in Fars province for all urban areas. In the current study, 9494 drinking water samples were collected in four seasons in 32 urban areas of Fars province in Iran, between 2017 and 2021 to investigate the non-carcinogenic health risk assessment. Geographical distribution maps of hazard quotient were drawn using geographical information system software. The results showed that the maximum amount of nitrate in water samples in 4% of the samples in 2021, 2.5% of the samples in 2020 and 3% of the samples in 2019 were more than the standard declared by World Health Organization guidelines (50 mg/L). In these cases, the maximum amount of nitrate was reported between 82 and 123 mg/L. The HQ values for infants did not exceed 1 in any year, but for children (44% ± 10.8), teenagers (10.8% ± 8.4), and adults (3.2% ± 1.7) exceeded 1 in cities, years, and seasons, indicating that three age groups in the studied area are at noticeably significant non-carcinogenic risk. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation showed that the average value of non-carcinogenic risk was less than 1 for all age groups. Moreover, the maximum HQ values (95%) were higher than 1 for both children and teenager, indicating a significant non-carcinogenic risk for the two age groups., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The present study aimed to find out the levels of anti-HBsAb among vaccinated children in a rural community in Fars Province, Southern Iran. Blood samples were taken from 550 children, aged 1–12 years (mean 6.4 ± 3.5), in 2017 from three villages in the area. A structured questionnaire was used to get the sociodemographic data of the subjects along with determinants concerning the Hepatitis B. Sera samples were examined for anti-HBsAb, using an ELISA commercial kit. Anti-HBsAb were detected in 468 (85.1%) of the subjects. Of the seropositive subjects, 37 (45.1%) were female and 45 (54.9%) were male. In the age group of 0–5 years, 88.7% of the subjects were seropositive. This rate was 84.3% and 78.1% in the age group of 6–10 years old and older than 10 years, respectively. There was a significant association (p <.05) between the anti-HBsAb and age. Findings of the current study revealed that children living in a rural community in southern Iran have appropriate protection against HBV even more than 10 years after being vaccinated. The decline in seropositivity rate of anti-HBsAb with age may further point out the need for a booster dose of HBV vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the endemic values of cutaneous leishmaniasis in different cities of Fars province, Iran. Methods: Totally, 29 201 cases registered from 2010 to 2015 in Iranian Fars province were selected, and the endemic values of cutaneous leishmaniasis were determined by retrospective clusters derived from spatiotemporal permutation modeling on a time-series design. The accuracy of the values was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. SPSS version 22, ArcGIS, and ITSM 2002 software tools were used for analysis. Results: Nine statistically significant retrospective clusters (P<0.05) resulted in finding seven significant and accurate endemic values (P<0.1). These valid endemic scores were generalized to the other 18 cities based on 6 different climates in the province. Conclusions: Retrospectively detected clusters with the help of ROC curve analysis could help determine cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic values which are essential for future prediction and prevention policies in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the recent decades, poor spatial coverage of rain gauges and weather radars, mostly in less developed countries, has caused satellite-based precipitation products to gain more popularity. However, they are considered less precise compared to traditional rain gauges and weather radars. Therefore, their thorough evaluations are essential before implementing these products in practice. In this study, IMERG satellite-based precipitation product was evaluated in the Fars province, Iran, using daily rain gauges as reference data to find the relationships between the uncertainties in the product and various factors such as elevation, temperature, and rainfall intensity by employing continuous and categorical statistical metrics. The findings revealed that: a) The IMERG product overestimates light rainfall and underestimates heavy rainfall, while showing the best performance in the range 40–80 mm/day. b) The accuracy of the product tends to vary in different months of the year and it is less biased in ones with milder temperatures. c) Higher correlation in mid-elevated areas (up to 0.96), positive bias in low-elevated areas (up to 2.5) and negative bias in high-elevated areas (down to −0.4) were observed. d) A considerable improvement in the IMERG estimates was observed for longer time scales for almost all validation indices. Overall, IMERG products show potential for hydrological and atmospheric decision-making, but further improvements in retrieval algorithms and developing local correction models, considering the trends found in this study, are needed for increased reliability. • The IMERG satellite precipitation products were evaluated over Fars province, Iran. • The performance of the IMERG product is influenced by rainfall magnitude. It overestimates light rainfall and underestimates heavy rainfall. • Accuracy of IMERG estimates varies with the month of measurement. Greater bias is seen in colder months (fall and winter) and warmer months (spring), suggesting higher precision during milder months. • Positive bias in low altitude areas and mostly negative bias in high altitude areas indicate that product reliability is influenced by elevation. • The IMERG product showed consistent and significant improvement when upscaled from daily to weekly and monthly timescales. It accurately captured average monthly and annual rainfall of the province. However, the underestimation of rainfall in high altitude areas has a great impact on the IMERG product's estimates of mean annual rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blowfly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) identification is a pre-requisite to the field of sanitary biology, medical, veterinary, and forensic entomology. The specimens were collected using fly traps in eight regions of Fars province, Iran. A total of 10 species belonging to four genera were recorded out of which Calliphora pattoni Aubertin, 1931 and Chrysomya phaonis (Seguy, 1928) are new records for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 300 km long arc of the Fars province is located to the south east of the NW-SE trending and SW vergent orogen of the Zagros Mountains. This region is one of the largest hydrocarbon reserves worldwide, and also as a territory of high quality outcrops. Geological cross-sections of the Zagros belt are usually based on very large scale geological maps (1:1.000.000 or 1:250.000), and on few subsurface data and aim at describing the decoupling relationship between cover and basement rocks and the subduction/collision history of the Arabian – Eurasia plates. In this paper, we present a 253 km long cross-section across the Fars province on the basis of detailed geological maps (1:100.000 scale), field and subsurface data. Our purposes are to: 1) investigate the link between shortening inferred from our original cross-section (from a maximum of 9,1% to a minimum of 4,4%. for different sectors of the belt) and rift-related and flexure-related extensional faults, which in turn, control thickness and lateral facies variations; 2) describe the geometries of folds and thrusts and their relationship with pre-thrusting normal faults, that were inverted during shortening as transpressional or strike slip faults. Moreover, we present for the first time new field data showing evidences of syn-collisional normal faults likely related to the bending of the Arabian plate in the Fars area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to determine the mental health status of population aged 15 and over in the province of Fars in 2015. Methods: The statistical population of this cross-sectional field survey consisted of residents of urban and rural areas of Fars in Iran. Through systematic random cluster sampling, 1200 individuals were selected from the residents of urban and rural areas of Shiraz, Jahrom and Kazeroun. The 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire was applied as the screening tool. The data were analyzed using SPSS, version 18.0 for windows. Results: This study showed that using the traditional scoring method, 22.5% of the subjects (26.9% of females and 18% of males) were suspected of having mental disorders. The prevalence of suspected psychiatric disorders in urban areas (24.3%) was more than the prevalence of these disorders in rural areas (18.6%). The prevalence of suspected anxiety and the somatization of symptoms was higher than the prevalence of social dysfunction and depression, and the prevalence of these components was higher in women than men. The findings of this study also showed that the prevalence of suspected mental disorders increased significantly with age. The prevalence of suspected cases of these disorders was higher among women, the age group of 65 and older, people living in urban areas, divorced and widowed, illiterate, and retired compared to other groups. Conclusion: The results of this study show that more than a fourth of the sample were suspected of mental disorders, and the prevalence of these disorders has decreased from 22.9% in 1999 to 22.5% in 2015. Therefore, it seems necessary for the provincial public health authorities to take the needed steps for providing requirements encompassing prevention and promotion of mental health in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parishan International Wetland, an Iranian Ramsar Site in Fars Province, is one of the two demonstration sites for the UNDP/GEF Conservation of Iranian Wetlands Project. The aim of this study was to examine the factors influencing water bird abundance, density, the number of species, and species richness in Parishan wetland from 1991 to 2010. We used remote sensing techniques to study some environmental factors affecting waterbirds community. Spearman's Correlation Coefficient and linear regression were also used to examine the impact of environmental factors on the community of waterbirds. The results showed that only the nearest wetland area was significantly correlated with abundance and density of species (p < 0.01). Also, the vegetation cover surface of wetland (P < 0.01); the deepest depth of wetland (P < 0.01); and the areas shallower than 1m (P < 0.05) were significantly correlated with the number and richness of species (Margalef Index). The Resulting models of the backward multiple regression test also indicated that the nearest wetland area was a good predictor of abundance (P value < 0.01) and density of waterbirds (P value < 0.05). Furthermore, the vegetation cover surface of wetland, was a good predictor of the number of species (P value<0.01) and of the richness species based on Margalef Index (P value<0.01). The area of the Parishan wetland has fallen very low in 2010 and reducing the area of the wetland has led to a sharp decrease in the number of birds in the wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique was used to evaluate aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) levels in 168 samples of raw milk (135 samples and 33 samples from bulk tanks of farms and milk collection centers, respectively) and 12 samples of pasteurized milk in Fars province, Southern Iran. AFM1 was found in 55.56% of the samples with a mean concentration of 21.31 ng/L. The concentration of AFM1 in raw milk samples from farms was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than that in samples from collection centers and pasteurized milk. The concentration of AFM1 was not influenced by season, location, or type of farm. The concentrations of AFM1 in all samples were lower than the Iranian national standard limit (100 ng/L), but in 30% of raw cow milk samples they were higher than the maximum tolerance limit accepted by the European Union (50 ng/L); therefore, more effort is needed to control AFM1 levels in milk produced in Southern Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral zoonotic disease with potentially fatal systemic effects on man. We aimed to determine the presence of CCHF virus among collected ticks from domestic livestock from October 2012 to September 2013.Methods: A total of 1245 hard and soft ticks were collected from naturally infested ruminants in Marvdasht County, Fars Province, south of Iran. Nine tick species and one unidentified species in four disparate genera were detected. A total of 200 ticks were randomly selected and analysed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of CCHF virus genome.Results: The viral genome was detected in 4.5% (9 samples) of the studied tick population. The infected ticks belonged to the species of Hyalomma marginatum' Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus sanguineus. The viruses detected in these three tick species were clustered in the same lineage as Matin and SR3 strains in Pakistan and some other Iranian strains. These results indicate that the ticks were wildly infected with a genetically closely related CCHF virus in the region.Conclusion: Regular controls and monitoring of livestock to reduce the dispersion of ticks and providing information to those involved in high-risk occupations are urgently required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Podothrips erami Minaei sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Fars Province in southern Iran. This is the first record of the genus from Iran. The new species is bicolored and conforms with P. denticeps Hood and P. distinctus Ananthakrishnan in bearing a lateral forward-directed tooth behind the compound eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nickel-rich regolith outcrops discontinuously in varying thickness between the Sedimentary Zagros Orogenic (SZO) and Metamorphic Sanandaj-Sirjan (MSS) belts in Fars province, southwest Iran. It is the only known Ni-bearing regolith in the country. The laterites occur as residual and transported regolith in the Bavanat region. Profiles of the residual regolith from bottom to top include protolith, hard and soft saprolite, and oxide horizon. The parent rock is a highly serpentinized harzburgite containing relicts of olivine and orthopyroxene. From the hard saprolite to the oxide horizon, the proportions of hematite, goethite, talc, dolomite, and quartz increase, while chlorite, olivine, serpentine, and pyroxene decrease. Hematite and goethite are the dominant mineral phases in the oxide horizon. Part of the profile of transported regolith, especially oxide horizon has moved downslope due to landslide, slip, creep, and likely faulting. The Ni concentration varies gradually along the laterite profiles, with a maximum grade of 1.2 wt% in the oxide horizon. SEM-EDS data show that Ni released from serpentine group minerals in the parent rock was concentrated in the hematite of the oxide horizon. The isotopic fractionation of Ni along the soil profiles is controlled by the circulation of meteoric water and the intensity of weathering with formation of secondary minerals. [Display omitted] • Nickel laterites derived from the serpentinized harzburgite in the Bavanat region. • Residual soils show a complete succession of different horizons of the laterites. • Nickel was concentrated in iron oxides and secondary silicates of the oxide horizon. • Topography controls the Ni isotopic signatures in the laterite profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The incidence and mortality rates of cancer are increasing worldwide, particularly in the developing countries. Valid data are needed for measuring the cancer burden and making appropriate decisions toward cancer control. We evaluated the completeness of death registry with regard to cancer death in Fars Province, I.R of Iran. METHODS: We used data from three sources in Fars Province, including the national death registry (source1), the follow-up data from the pathology-based cancer registry (source 2) and hospital based records (source 3) during 2004 - 2006. We used the capture-recapture method and estimated underestimation and the true age standardized mortality rate (ASMR) for cancer. We used log-linear (LL) modeling for statistical analysis. RESULT: We observed 1941, 480, and 355 cancer deaths in sources 1, 2 and 3, respectively. After data linkage, we estimated that mortality registry had about 40% underestimation for cancer death. After adjustment for this underestimation rate, the ASMR of cancer in the Fars Province for all cancer types increased from 44.8 per 100,000 (95% CI 42.8 - 46.7) to 76.3 per 100,000 (95% CI 73.3 - 78.9), accounting for 3309 (95% CI 3151-3293) cancer deaths annually. CONCLUSION: The mortality rate of cancer is considerably higher than the rates reported by the routine registry in Iran. Improvement in the validity and completeness of the mortality registry is needed to estimate the true mortality rate caused by cancer in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marginal zones of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf have a higher prevalence of thalassemia compared to other regions of Iran. This disease has disabled many people and resulted in increasing health care costs. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of β-thalassemia (β-thal) and to evaluate the outcome of applied preventive strategies over a 14-year period in Fars Province, Southern Iran. This cross-sectional study comprised all new cases of β-thal recorded during 1997-2011. The data were obtained from the Non-Communicable Diseases Surveillance Department of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran, and are presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Fars Health Network System screened 840 686 males and females applying for marriage certificates. Among the carriers, 50.5% cancelled their marriages, 42.5% married, and 7.0% did not show up at the clinics. The rate of cancelled marriages has reduced since 2000, when marriage candidates were given the option of prenatal diagnosis. From 2000 to 2011, a total of 3539 married couples were referred for prenatal diagnosis. Of these, 806 fetuses were found to carry thalassemia and 800 aborted. It is impressive to note that while 101 cases of thalassemia were recorded in 1997, this figure was reduced to two cases by 2011. This study has established that an integrated primary health care approach, with good infrastructure for implementing successful strategies, can significantly reduce the incidence of β-thal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petri disease is responsible for grapevine decline and occurs wherever grapevines (Vitis vinifera) are cultivated. Phaeoacremonium species are among the principal hyphomycetes associated with Petri disease. During 2009, a field survey was conducted throughout different vineyards in the Fars province of Iran in order to determine the fungal pathogens associated with the vine decline observed in the region. Samples were taken from grapevines showing yellowing, interveinal chlorosis, leaf necrosis, reduced growth, wilting, wood necrosis and streaking, and xylem discoloration symptoms in cross section. Isolations were made from symptomatic wood tissues from cordons and trunks on malt extract agar supplemented with 1 mg ml-1 streptomycin sulphate (MEAS) and potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics two species of Phaeoacremonium, Phaeocremonium mortoniae and Pm. inflatipes, were isolated and identified from grapevines showing yellowing, slow dieback, stunted growth, and reduced foliage in Bavanat (Fars province, south-western Iran). Pathogenicity tests were conducted on rooted grapevine cuttings (cv. Askari) under greenhouse conditions. Based on the results of pathogenicity tests, both tested Phaeoacremonium species were pathogenic and caused significant vascular discoloration in inoculated cuttings four months after inoculation. The fungi were reisolated from the margins of the lesion and healthy tissue, completing Koch's postulates. Based on our knowledge, this is the first report of Pm. mortoniae and Pm. inflatipes causing grapevine Petri disease in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a viral hemorrhagic disease and a zoonosis disease that has been developed in people who deal with animals such as cattle and butchers. The diagnosis of CCHF is performed by detection of human antibodies (IgG and IgM) against CCHF virus. Five Patients with CCHF occurred in Fath Abad's village (in Fars province) in the summer of 2011. All patients were men and aged 25-46 years old. Three patients were farmer and two other ones were butchers. The samples were sent to the National Reference Laboratory for Arboviruses and Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (Pasteur Institute of Iran) in Tehran. The result of laboratory test for all patients was positive. None of the patients had died. Since the CCHF is rare, present study was aimed to assess the causes of the disease's epidemic and clinical and laboratory symptoms stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is increasing in Iran since the last decade. Both are associated with high mortality and morbidity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, degenerative joint disease, gallbladder disease, depression and cancer. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their relation to hypertension in adult population of Fars Province. Subjects and Methods: A total of 401 adult males were included in the study, out of which 372 underwent all required tests. Body weight and height were measured by a scale and a non-stretchable tape respectively. Body mass index was calculated according to World Health Organization (2002) definition. Waist circumference and waist hip ratio were measured in a standing position. Body fat % was measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis. The partial correlation coefficient was used to quantify the association between all anthropometric indicators with hypertension. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the influence of all anthropometric indicators on the variance of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Results: The mean body mass index was 26.12kg/m², waist hip ratio was 0.93.7, waist circumference was 90.10cm and fat percentage was 25.2%. The mean systolic blood pressure was 130.78mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was 79.56mmHg. Eighty seven subjects (23.4%) had systolic blood pressure higher than cut-off value and 39 subjects (10.5%) had diastolic blood pressure higher than cut -off value. Descriptive analysis showed that 30.1% population was overweight and 13.7% were obese. Partial correlation for all the anthropometric indicators (waist - hip ratio, body mass index and % body fat) showed a positive correlation with both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Waist circumference only correlated with systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Adult male population of Fars province had a high prevalence of hypertension, overweight and obesity which can be handled through healthy diet and physical exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Assessment of factors affecting soil erosion processes is very important for managerial activities. However, full factorial design of an experiment is time consuming and expensive when there are a large number of factors and corresponding levels. Using the Taguchi method, this study assessed several factors affecting soil erosion. To the best of our knowledge, no study has been conducted to apply the Taguchi method in order to investigate the effects of different factors on soil erosion or sediment yield. The factors used in this study consisted of silt content, slope, aspect and vegetation cover, each of which had four levels in the study area in Lar Township, Iran. A L16 orthogonal array was selected according to the aforementioned factors and levels and experimental tests were performed according to the Taguchi’s orthogonal array. Analysis of the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio was used to evaluate the experimental results. The optimum conditions for quantifying soil erosion were determined. A test experiment was also conducted in small-sized plots under the optimum conditions, and the prediction of other combinations of factors/levels was evaluated. The results showed that the Taguchi method could predict soil erosion with an average relative error of 12.4%. The percentage contribution of each factor was also determined. Silt and slope aspect made the greatest (49.4%) and the lowest (1.3%) contribution, respectively. The results showed that the Taguchi method is able to model the soil erosion process well (R 2 >0.95) and can therefore be applied in future studies conducted in various fields. Additionally, comprehensive conclusions can be drawn if this method is applied under different plot sizes and considering further potential affective factors with different agroclimatic circumstances. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: In Iran thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) based neonatal screening program is included in health care services from 2005 for detection of patients with primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH). This study was performed for a critical evaluation of the screening program primary congenital hypothyroidism in Fars province, Iran. Methods: From November 2006 to September 2007, TSH serum concentrations of 63031 newborns, 3 to 5 days old born in Fars province, were measured by heel prick. The newborns with TSH ≥5mIU/L were recalled for measurement of serumT4 and TSH in venous blood samples Findings: Of 127 recalled subjects, 43 were confirmed to be hypothyroid, showing a prevalence of 1:1465 with F:M ratio of 1.05:1. The most common clinical and radiological findings were prolonged jaundice (73%), large anterior fontanel (56%), wide posterior fontanel (55%), absence of distal femoral epiphysis (20%), and umbilical hernia (11%). Scintigraphy of the thyroid with 99mTC revealed eutopia (67.4%), hypoplasia (23.3%), agenesis (4.7%) and ectopia (2.3%). Conclusion: It is concluded that a cut off value of TSH≥5mIU/L overestimates recalling the number of patients with CH. The most common cause of congenital hypothyroidism is not dysgenesis of the gland and perhaps dyshormonogenesis in Iran is more common than what is reported in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a research conducted in order to describe the new species of fungal spore-feeding thrips from Iran and their generic classification. It discusses the importance of a key that is provided todistinguish the four genera recorded in Iran of the spore-feeding thrips. The study revealed the first time occurrence of Allothrips bournieri, a species of family Phlaeothripidae.

The present study is based on the material collected from Fars province (central part of Iran) during 2006-2008. A total of 31 braconid species have been recorded, from which 11 species are new to the fauna of Iran. The identified species belong to 10 subfamilies, including Agathidinae, Alysiinae, Blacinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Euphorinae, Microgastrinae, Opiinae, Orgilinae and Rogadinae. The small cosmopolitan subfamily Blacinae is newly recorded in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Penman–Monteith (PM) equation is the most common method of estimating reference crop evapotranspiration (ET o) for different climates of the world. This equation needs full weather data, however, few stations with complete weather data exist in Fars Province, in the south of Iran. Therefore, other equations based on more readily available weather data, such as temperature and rainfall, can be used instead of the PM equation in Fars Province. Four calibrated equations have been proposed in previous studies for Fars Province using weather data up to 2000. These equations were the Hargreaves equation (H), a new equation based on monthly temperature and rainfall (R), the Thornthwaite equation (T) and the Blaney–Criddle equation (B). Using weather data for 2001 to 2006 from 14 stations in Fars Province and outside the province, this study determined the best equations for estimating ET o in each month and each station, rather than using the PM equation. The results revealed that equations H, R, T and B showed a good correlation to the PM equation, and can be used to estimate monthly ET o in the study area. Also, the best equation for each location in Fars Province in each month of the year can be determined by using prepared distribution maps. Furthermore, the results showed that there was no specific relationship between the climate at the station and the best equation for estimating ET o. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Drought is a lack of moisture in nature, consistent or unnatural. The term consistent refers to a state of shortage, and unnatural refers to the deviation from an index of the regional natural condition. The objective of this research was to examine and forecast the intensity, duration, frequency and extent of droughts in Fars province. For this purpose, and in order to survey droughts in the province, a standard precipitation index (SPI) was determined as a selective index, considering its capacity to facilitate accurate positional analysis between various regions of the drought extent. For this, precipitation data within the same statistical period of 32years (1968 to 1999) in 5 time scales of 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48months from some 26 stations located within and out of the province were used, and the trends were assessed by using a time series analysis. At the next stage, RUN theory and Markov Chain were combined, on this basis to create transition probability and a steady matrix, and then the conditions of long term droughts in the province in terms of number and duration were forecast for the subsequent 10years. The characteristics of the extent of drought were determined by using the Geographic Information System (GIS) with the help of geo-statistical methods. The results of the drought station surveys for the mentioned characteristics showed that the highest drought intensity (in terms of % deviation from normal) was at the Gozoon station and the longest duration of drought in months was at the Polkhan station; droughts both of long duration and with the highest frequency during the statistical period were observed at the Jahrom and Darshahy stations. The map of the extent of droughts showed higher intensity in the south and central regions of the province, while northern parts of the province were less sensitive to the effects of droughts. Also, the results of the maps of drought duration in various periods showed that droughts in the south of the province were of higher intensity and longer duration than elsewhere. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present research, the prey of asilid species (Diptera, Asilidae) from Fars province, Iran was identified during the years 2006-2008. The prey consisted mainly of Hymenoptera (Sphecidae, Vespidae, Apidae, Chrysididae, Megachilidae and Scoliidae), followed by Diptera (Tabanidae, Syrphidae, Therevidae, Tachinidae and Dolichopodidae), Orthoptera (Acrididae and Gryllidae), Coleoptera (Buprestidae, Alleculidae and Cerambycidae), Hemiptera (Cicadellidae and Coreidae), Neuroptera (Myrmeleontidae) and Odonata (Aeshnidae). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism can play an important role in the economic growth of developing countries like Iran. The economy of this country depends mainly on income from oil exports which is affected by large price fluctuations. In order to empower the tourism industry in Iran, a detailed investigation can be helpful for improving the present situation of this industry. Every tourist who comes to Iran can be regarded as a valuable source for attracting more tourists; therefore offering high quality facilities to them is a good advertisement. In this regard, this paper examines the quality of facilities and services offered to tourists visiting Fars province. Although Fars is one of the most facilitated provinces in the country, service industries which include accommodation, eating and drinking establishments, and other hospitality services are far from international standards. In this study, the quality level of the facilities and services provided for tourists visiting the region is illustrated. The results show that significant investment is required to develop Iran's tourist infrastructure to international standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the fauna of the Anthocoridae (Heteroptera) in Shiraz and its environs (south Iran, Fars province) and record their local prey and host plants by sampling specimens from different crops and weeds. Twelve species are recorded in this study. An identification key to the species of the Anthocoridae is presented including illustrations of the male genitalia for most species. Orius niger (Wolff, 1811) was the most abundant species. Orius niger and Anthocoris minki pistaciae Wagner, 1957 are recommended as good candidates for further studies of their potential in biological control of insect pests. Dufouriellus ater (Dufour, 1833) is recorded for the first time from Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fars province in the south of Iran was surveyed for Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera) during 2006-2007. Twenty six species, belonging to 19 genera and 7 subfamilies: Apocleinae (5 species), Asilinae (7 species), Dasypogoninae (2 species), Laphriinae (2 species), Laphystiinae (1 species), Leptogastrinae (1 species) and Stenopogoninae (8 species), were recorded. Of these, 5 species are new to the fauna of Iran. Additionally 2 subfamilies, 10 genera, and 22 species were recorded for the first time from Fars province. Distributional data for each species are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection and delineation of basement faults are fundamental exercises in petroleum geology. This is because such structures can guide later deformation and the associated structures within the younger overlying sediments. This work presents aeromagnetic data interpretation and a comparison with the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to detect basement structures covering the NW part of the petroliferous Fars province, Zagros belt. Anticlinal axes deflect in the NW-part of the province. The reason for this deflection is debated. We identified basement faults from the airborne geomagnetic data. Tilt filtering was applied on the magnetic data to enhance such faults. Two NE-trending cross-sections perpendicular to the anticlinal axes were prepared to show the effect of the basement faults in the sequence stratigraphy. The results of this research indicate a major NW and another NE trending deep-seated fault. Most of the extracted magnetic lineaments correspond to these faults. These faults were confirmed by the high displacement of the layers and changes of the thickness in the sequence stratigraphy. The result of this research suggests that the deep-seated basement faults are the main controlling factor of structural style in the NW part of Fars province in terms of a thick-skinned tectonics. • In the Fars Province, Iran, subsurface faults delineated geophysically. • Those structures are linked with surface deflection of regional folds. • The work has a far-reaching implication in the petroleum geoscience of this terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Number of cores per citrus tree (sample size) needed to estimate the citrus nematode count (second-stage juveniles and males) in the soil was investigated. Coefficient of variation of mean (CV) was used as a measure of reliability and Taylor's power law model was used as a descriptor of nematode spatial distribution. The study was replicated twice during early winters 2018 and 2019 in two citrus orchards of Fars province, southern Iran. For each of the six selected trees, 10 cores (10–15 cm in diameter × 30 cm in depth) were systematically sampled from beneath each tree canopy; six and four cores from the outer and inner parts of irrigation dripline, respectively. Second-stage juveniles (J2s) and males of the nematode in soil were extracted using a Bearman tray method for 48 h. Besides 10 single samples from each core, the sampling patterns were designated in two forms of real and virtual compositions. Real compositions included of an average of two or three composite samples from outer and/or inner part of irrigation dripline. The virtual compositions corresponded to the real compositions and were formed by combining nematode count data rather than soil samples. Parameters of Taylor's power law model were estimated by fitting the model to the data and used for sample size calculations for this nematode. The results of the two trials revealed that in terms of reliability, and cost an average of two composite samples from the outer (six cores) and inner (four cores) areas of the irrigation dripline could be recommended as the best sampling plan for estimating the nematode population in infested orchards. • Different sampling patterns for citrus nematode were evaluated to find the best one. • Taylor power law model was used to describe variability of nematode count in soil. • Sample size was optimized using CV of the mean as a measure of precision. • Cost of sampling is the second criteria to choose the best sampling pattern. • To achieve higher reliability, larger sample sizes with higher costs are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Allele frequency data at 15 short tandem repeat loci, D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, THO1, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, VWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA have been determined for unrelated individuals in a population sample of Iranian Fars individuals. With exception of the D13S317 (P-value=0.0458) and TPOX (P-value=0.0477), no deviation from HWE were found in the study population using the exact test. The most discriminating loci were FGA (PD=0.965) and D2S1338 (PD=0.964). These data can be used for estimating the frequency of short tandem repeat profiles in a population of Fars province individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Predicting the mass of solid waste generation plays an important role in integrated solid waste management plans. In this study, the performance of two predictive models, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) was verified to predict mean Seasonal Municipal Solid Waste Generation (SMSWG) rate. The accuracy of the proposed models is illustrated through a case study of 20 cities located in Fars Province, Iran. Four performance measures, MAE, MAPE, RMSE and R were used to evaluate the performance of these models. The MLR, as a conventional model, showed poor prediction performance. On the other hand, the results indicated that the ANN model, as a non-linear model, has a higher predictive accuracy when it comes to prediction of the mean SMSWG rate. As a result, in order to develop a more cost-effective strategy for waste management in the future, the ANN model could be used to predict the mean SMSWG rate., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)