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Background: Head louse infestation, pediculosis, is a serious health problem worldwide. Infected children usually suffer from itching, allergies, and secondary infections besides psychological disorders such as depression and lack of selfconfidence leading to school failure. This study aimed to investigate the status of pediculosis and its determinant factors among schoolchildren in Amol City, Northern Iran. Methods: This study included 228 schools frequented by about 20017 students. Pediculosis was determined by careful examination of students’ hair on the scalp, back of the neck, and around the ears. The diagnosis was based on observation of live adults, nymphs, and nits. A questionnaire was used to record the personal and demographic characteristics of participants. Results: This study revealed that the prevalence of pediculosis among schoolchildren during all schooling seasons (autumn, winter, and spring) correlated with sex: the prevalence being higher among girls than boys (p= 0.00). In addition, the highest rates of pediculosis occurred during the autumn season (p= 0.00). The public schools accommodated higher numbers of louse-infected students than the private ones (p= 0.00). While head louse occurred at higher frequencies in long hair over the schooling year, dandruff had anti-louse effects (p= 0.00) during cold seasons, autumn, and winter. Socioeconomic status and educational level of parents played determinant roles in head louse prevalence (p= 0.00). Schoolchildren coming from socioeconomically well-situated families had lower rates of head louse infestation . Conclusion: Our results showed that head pediculosis was a serious health problem among schoolchildren in Amol city and its prevalence and severity tended to be multifactorial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the important effects of global warming is the increase in extreme atmospheric phenomena, the most important of which are sudden changes in temperature, excessive heat, abnormal cold, heavy rains and floods, drought, and dust caused by the drying up of wetlands. Change s in climatic components due to climate change have impacted the intensity and frequency of extreme rainfall events and, subsequently affecting society and the natural environment. Therefore, examining the future modifications of different precipitation indices is more necessary to implement management plans, especially for Iran, which needs progress in climate modeling studies aiming at improving knowledge about climate change and its effects on the whole country. In this study, changes in the trend and breaking point of rainfall -based indices were studied using the CMIP6 series model under three optimistic, medium, and pessimistic scenarios in Mazandaran province for two periods: the near future (2021-2060) and the far future (2061-2100). Methods: In this research, the spatiotemporal trend and breaking point of the precipitation in Mazandaran province (15 stations) were investigate d in the future period from the precipitation data of SSP scenarios (126, 245, and 585) in the two 2021-2060 and 2061-2100 periods. Using the R-Climdex software in the R software environment, the precipitation limit indices were determined for different scenarios and periods. Then, the trend and breaking point were examined using the Mann -Kendall, Sen, and Pettitt tests. Precipitation indexes were defined by an expert group under the supervision of the World Meteorological Organization as limit indexes and climate change indexes. After receiving the output of models and their micro scaling, data were grouped in the future period based on three scenarios in all studied stations. The daily rainfall indexes were extracted using R programming developed by Zhang and Yang at the Canadian Meteorological Service Climatic Research Branch. Therefore, 11 and 16 indices out of 27 existing indexes were related to precipitation and temperature, respectively. Results: Under the optimistic scenario (SSP126), the indexes of the number of consecutive wet days, days with heavy rain, and very wet days in the eastern half of the province will increase significantly. Based on the pessimistic scenario (SSP585), the profile of wet days and the annual amount of rainfall will decrease in different areas of the province. In terms of the occurrence of the breaking point, the daily intensity of precipitation and wet days will have a breaking point in the order of increasing in the 2060s, rising in 2061, and decreasing in 2051 in the eastern half of the region only in the pessimistic scenario of the profile of consecutive wet days. Under the other scenarios, however, no sudden changes will be observed in the data series. According to the median scenario, there will be no changes in precipitation indexes regionally, and only the daily intensity index of precipitation will increase in a limited number of coastal stations in the near future. Under a pessimistic scenario, however, changes in limit indexes will often be reduced so that the index of the number of wet days (with 1 mm rainfall) will decrease in the near future in most parts of the province with high intensity. The annual amount of rainfall on wet days in coastal and western regions, as well as two indexes of the number of days with heavy and very heavy rain, will decrease in the high stations of the western areas. However, the risk of flooding events may be reduced in the near future, and the probability of widespread droughts increases due to the reduction of wetness profiles in pessimistic condition s. In the distant future, precipitation indexes will not change significantly, and only the number of days with heavy rainfall will decrease in the high areas of the eastern province. In terms of sudden changes, there will be no sudden change or significant breaking point s in the data series of all the precipitation indexes until 2100 by moving toward an optimistic and median scenario. Moving toward a pessimistic scenario, there will be an incremental change point for indexing the number of consecutive days at a few provincial stations for the 2070-2060s. The daily intensity of precipitation and the number of wet days (with 1 mm precipitation) will also experience a sudden incremental change in 2061 and a decrease in 2051 in the eastern half of the province, indicating a sudden increase in the intensity of downpours and a reduction of the number of days with low rainfall. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that the study of the occurrence of severe meteorological events, including rainfall, as one of the main issues in the field of water resources, agriculture, and natural hazards in Mazandaran province, is necessary for long -term planning in various fields. Knowledge of the future perspective of extreme rainfall events can be used in soil, water, and agriculture management planning, especially in the economic development plans of the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expectation is one of the most important themes of strange songs. These songs include important themes of human life, work and suffering, and at the same time, they have a long-standing connection with love and enamored of love. Popular literature is a science for recognizing people's conventions and beliefs, which includes myth, beliefs, tales, and songs. Folk songs are considered an important part of oral literature due to the protection of the cultural-national identity and the transmission of the feelings and opinions of our ancestors. In Mazandarani's poems, there are themes such as hidden expectation, which is rooted in the culture and daily life of the people of this country, but it has not been addressed so far. This research, with a descriptive-analytical method, aims to investigate the concept of expectation in Mazandaran popular literature couplets. By studying more than 1000 couplets of Mazandarani, 310 couplets, i.e. about 31%, have been seen within the expectation. Based on the library and field research findings, it can be said that songs with the concept of waiting in general, and waiting for the lover to return in particular have the highest frequency. Besides, the lover waits for spring to come and the flowers to bloom in order to see the lover, however, the lover waits for the return of the beloved from military service, while the family members wait for their loved ones to return to the city and the country. Finally, the hardworking farmer waits for the harvest and also the end of grief. In such a context, stories, the suffering of exile and reaching peace and freedom have a special place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of cooperatives is one of the important activities of the fisheries sector and its knowledge performance and economic funds can be effective in deciding on investment in this sector as well as economic planning. The aim of this study was to determine the role of cooperatives in the optimal economic use of dual-purpose dams in aquaculture in Mazandaran province from 20 selected cooperatives in 2016-2017. To ensure the completeness of the questionnaire, before starting the main stages of the research, five units were randomly referenced and the questionnaire was reviewed and finalized with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The results showed that the fishing industry of Mazandaran province is one of the productive activities and has an effective role in transforming the methods of exploiting provincial facilities. The comprehensive data analysis method presents the relative efficiency of each production point by calculating the ratio of the total weighted product to the total weighted input. According to the obtained average technical efficiency, it was found that most sealing cooperatives used inputs and facilities as efficiently as possible and according to the calculated average technical efficiency (above 83% on average), if these factors are used better, they can increase the technical efficiency of the units by 20.8%. In this regard, and based on the linear programming method provided for these units, it is possible to plan for the production and target values of each unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Entrepreneurial Strategies in Agriculture is the property of Sari Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University (SANRU) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common aminoacidopathy with an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern. A global PKU prevalence is estimated about 6.002 in 100,000 newborns. In Iran, the prevalence of PKU is estimated at about 1 in 4,698, and it shows an increasing trend from north (0.0015%) to south (0.02%) of the country. Untreated PKU causes mental retardation, microcephaly, and seizure. PAH gene mutations located at chromosome 12q23 are responsible for the classical type of this disease. The spectrum of PAH mutations is varied in different ethnicities and different parts of the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of PAH mutation in the Mazandaran province, which could be useful for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. Methods: A total of 66 individuals from 33 families from two provinces (9 families from Golestan and 24 families from Mazandaran) from north of Iran participated in this study. After genomic DNA extraction, PAH gene analysis was carried out using DNA sequencing of both coding and non-coding regions by ABI 3130XL genetic analyzer. Results: Twenty-six different mutations were identified in the PAH gene in this study. Four mutations including IVS10-11 (c.1066-11G>A), c.727C>T (p.Arg243X), c.898G>T (p.Ala300Ser), and c.601C>T (p.His201Tyr) were the most common mutations with 37.48% frequency in Mazandaran province. Most frequent mutations in Golestan province were IVSI0-11 (c.1066-11G>A), c.722delG (p.Arg241fs), c.842C>T (p.Pro281Leu), and IVSII+5 (G>A) with frequency 58.57%. Conclusions: The results from the present study verify heterogeneity of the PAH gene and may help to diagnose tests for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of the PKU disease in Iranian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Suicide is one of the biggest medical and social problems in the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the geographical epidemiology of suicide (completed- attempted) in the townships covered by Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences during the years 2012 - 2016. Materials and Methods: In this ecological study, information was collected using the checklist of the monthly report of the suicide prevention program in the hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. Spatial correlation of suicide age-sex groups was calculated using Moran's index (I). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chisquare test. Results: 376 cases (1.67%) had completed suicides and 22089 cases (98.33%) had suicide attempts. Of the total number of people who committed suicide, 68.5% (15389 cases) were urban and 31.5% (7076 cases) were rural. The highest number of suicide attempts was reported from Amol city 3549 cases (16.07%) and the highest number of completed suicides was reported from Sari city 65 cases (17.29%). In cases of completed suicide, the most common method of suicide in Sari and Amol counties was the use of rice pills and in the cities of Gulogah and Nowshahr was hanging. In cases of suicide attempts, the use of psychiatric drugs was the most reported in Ghaemshahr and Amol counties. Conclusion: According to the geographical pattern, the number of suicides (completeed and attempted) was higher in most age and sex groups in densely populated cities. The use of rice pill consumption method in completed suicide and violent and lethal methods was high in some areas of the province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Seasonal activity patterns of mosquitoes are essential as baseline knowledge to understand the transmission dynamics of vector-borne diseases. This study was conducted to evaluate the monthly dynamics of the mosquito populations and their relation to meteorological factors in Mazandaran Province, north of Iran. Methods: Mosquito adults and larvae were collected from 16 counties of Mazandaran Province using different sampling techniques, once a month from May to December 2014. “Index of Species Abundance” (ISA) along with “Standardized ISA” (SISA) was used for assessing the most abundant species of mosquitoes based on the explanations of Robert and Hsi. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (R) was used to assess the relationships between the monthly population fluctuations and meteorological variables. Results: Overall, 23750 mosquitoes belonging to four genera and nineteen species were collected and identified. The highest population density of mosquitoes was in July and the lowest in May. The ISA/SISA indices for Culex pipiens were both 1 for larvae and 1.25/0.973 for adults in total catch performed in human dwellings. For Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, the ISA/SISA were 1.68/0.938 in pit shelter method. A significant positive correlation was observed between population fluctuations of Cx. tritaeniorhynchus and mean temperature (R: 0.766, P< 0.027). Conclusions: The results indicated that the mosquitoes are more active in July, and Cx. pipiens and Cx. tritaeniorhynchus were the most abundant species. Considering the potential of these species as vectors of numerous pathogens, control programs can be planed based on their monthly activity pattern in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Culture & Folk Literature / Farhang va Adabiyyāt-i ̒āmah is the property of Tarbiat Modares University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background and Objectives: Suicide is a conscious act or behavior that a person does to die. Suicide is one of the most important health issues in the world. The present study was designed to investigate the epidemiology of suicide (complete-attempt) in the townships covered by Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences during the years 2012 - 2016. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed on 22465 people who suicided (completeattempt) during the years 2012 to 2016. The information was extracted from the checklist of the monthly report of the Suicide Prevention Program of the hospitals of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. After summarizing, it was reported as the number and percentage and analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: 376 people (1.67) had completed suicide and 22089 people (98.33%) had attempted suicide. The mean age and standard deviation of those who suicided was 27.07±10.30 years. The highest number of completed suicides occurred in the age group of 25 to 34 years (114 people (30.32%), married people 256 people (68%), and men 226 people (60%). The highest number of suicides was in the age group of 15 to 24 years (10163 people (46%), married people 12703 people (58%), women 14748 people (67%) and housewives 8614 people (39%). Conclusion: In general, various demographic factors, family and economic problems can increase the risk of suicide. Also, the chance of suicide in married people, housewives and the age group of 15 to 34 years is high. More serious decisions need to be made to prevent suicide in vulnerable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the historical background of societies and the various aspects of life that has evolved over time, affects the architecture of rural housing today. It's an important factor in processing the answer to today's needs. Considering the features of rural architecture and recognizing its features as the origins of the architectural tradition of any land, is one of the necessities. Its preservation is a fundamental principle. Therefore, this research has tried to collect various aspects of life and housing in rural settlements of Mazandaran in a historical survey based on library resources. Using the historical interpretation method, this paper examines the aspects of the relationship between different dimensions of life, shaping and spatial structure of housing with the social, economic, and geographical factors of native societies. According to the findings of this analysis, effective variables can be identified and categorized. The results of the research show that geographical location, financial resources, location capability, geographical and social security and, finally, family structure are factors that affect the habitat patterns. They also affect vernacular houses in different areas of the villages of the region. These determine five species of mountainous, forest, plain, rural citadel, and rocky habitats. The impact of these factors on the three modes of fixed-dwelling, two-spatial and nomadism has been studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk is an important nutritional food and it fully satisfies the nutritional needs of humans for up to 6 months. Due to the presence of nutrients, milk is a very suitable medium for the growth of a variety of bacteria. Hence some people with the addition of some materials were tried to avoid milk deterioration. The common adulterations in raw milk are the addition of neutralizing agents, water, salt, detergent, hydrogen peroxide, formalin, and others. In this study, a total of 120 milk samples were collected from milk collection centers of Mazandaran province. Parameters such as acidity, pH, dry matter, density, protein, fat and freezing point were tested. Also, the addition of detergent, formalin, salt, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium bicarbonate were analyzed on the samples. The results of the experiments showed that there is no significant difference in the amount of acidity, pH, dry matter, density, protein, the fat and freezing point of raw milk between warm and cold seasons. Also, the results revealed that there were some adulterations in cold season in the milk samples including, hydrogen peroxide 1.6%, and detergents 1.6%. But in the warm season, the amount of fraud in raw milk was higher than in the cold season. These frauds included the addition of formalin 1.6%, detergent 3.3%, hydrogen peroxide 3.3% and sodium bicarbonate 11.6%. There was no adulteration of salt and water added in raw milk samples. Overall, there was a significant difference between the incidence of milk adulteration in warm and cold seasons (P<0.05). The necessity of continual pursuit of importance regarding the inspection and sampling of milk collection and distribution centers and carry out the appropriate tests in order to check frauds aimed to discuss health and complications from taking it to feel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Tinea gladiatorum as the major health concern among combat athletes and the most common cause of a decrease in the quality of their sports activities. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the molecular epidemiology of tinea gladiatorum in contact sports in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran. Materials/Methods: In total, 631 suspected athletes out of 4240 ones were screened for tinea gladiatorum in this cross‐sectional study from May 2018 to February 2019. The infection was confirmed by direct microscopy and culture tests. The causative agents were identified by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism method on ITS rDNA region. The indoor environmental factors were evaluated in 81 sports halls in terms of temperature (°C), humidity (%), density (m2/athletes) and the number of ventilators. Results: Tinea gladiatorum was confirmed in 6.5% (278/4240) of the athletes. Tinea corporis was the most common type of tinea (192/278; 69.0%), and 175 cases (27.7%) had more than one type of tinea. Moreover, Trichophyton tonsurans (192/203; 94.5%) was the most aetiological agent in all athletes followed by Microsporum canis (6/203; 2.9%), Trichophyton rubrum (2/203; 0.9%) and Trichophyton interdigitale (1/203; 0.4%). There was no significant association between the prevalence of tinea gladiatorum and the indoor environmental factors. Conclusion: T. tonsurans is the most common agent of tinea gladiatorum in Northern Iran. Since no positive culture of dermatophyte was obtained from mats, it seems that skin‐to‐skin contact would be the most probable mode of transmission among wrestlers. Accordingly, periodical checkups should be considered by health care providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Information of Previous studies on the prevalence of MS, including our study conducted 12 years ago, used to shape global prevalence map of MS. According to those results, Iran placed in medium-prevalence MS region in the world Atlas of MS 2013.This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MS in Mazandaran province after 12 years and the need for possible changes in the global map of the prevalence of MS.Methods: We included all MS patients living in Mazandaran province in 2018 in this descriptive cross-sectional study. We updated our pre-existing registration questionnaires which included demographic information and medical data of MS patients by interview. We obtained the demographic profile of Mazandaran province from the most recent census in 2016 and the National Civil Registry of the Mazandaran province for calculating prevalence of MS.Results: The total number of MS patients in Mazandaran was 2418 (25.8% male and 74.2% female) with a female to male ratio of 2.9. Based on the local population of 3,332,556, (50.4% male and 49.6% female), this study showed a prevalence of 72.5 per 100,000 for MS in this region. The prevalence of this disease by gender was 37.1 per 100,000 for men and 108.5 per 100,000 for women. The mean (SD) age of the patients at the time of the study was 38.5 (10.1) years with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 75 years. The most common type of MS was Relapsing-Remitting MS with 86%.Conclusions: All recent studies showed significant upward trend in the prevalence of MS around the world. Based on the results of our study and many other studies in Iran, the Atlas of MS prevalence map needs to be update. Iran's status should be changed to the high-prevalence of MS in the new Atlas. Due to the increasing prevalence of MS, we suggest an adjustment in the Global MS Prevalence Scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate variability and fluctuations dramatically affect terrestrial ecosystems and their variations. Several studies have been conducted on the relationship between them in terms of use of vegetation indices. In this study, GIS-based spatiotemporal analyses were used to model the relationship between vegetation variations based on the EVI-MODIS and its response to land surface temperature (LST) and rainfall in Mazandaran province during the period of 2000–2016 in the north of Iran. The LST parameter was derived from the 17-year MODIS data, and rainfall parameter was achieved via meteorological station data in the region. Correlation and linear regression analyses at 0.95% confidence level (P value = 0.5) were used to study the relationship between spatiotemporal enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and two climatic parameters. The results indicated that the EVI had a rising trend over the study period. This was mostly due to the increase in paddy fields. The result also shows significant spatial correlation between EVI with LST values, which was direct during winter and inverse during summer. The tabulate area analysis showed that throughout the winter months, the spatial distribution of pixels matched the highest EVI values in pixels with a maximum temperature (20–27 °C), while during June to September, the maximum EVI values were related to areas where the LST was less than 25 °C. Although we found no significant simultaneous relationship between EVI/MODIS and rainfall in studied area, but by 1.5–2.5 months lag time in spring season, the relation between them reaches peak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Animal bite is a public health problem in Iran and in the world, and despite the great progress in preventing and treating these cases, it has had high economic, social, and psychological consequences. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and geographical status of animal bites in Mazandaran province in 2007-2016. Methods: This was a retrospective and longitudinal study conducted in 2018. The population of the study was all animal bitten people in the geographical area of Mazandaran province in 2007-2016. The data collection tool was a checklist based on the documentation available at the animal bite registration offices in disease prevention health centers. Frequency and percentage descriptive statistics and SPSS software were used for data analysis. Arc GIS software was also used to draw the geographical map. Results: A total of 32469 cases of the animal bite were reported in 2007-2016 in Mazandaran province. The prevalence of the disease was 45.2% in the urban area and 54.8% in the rural area. Most cases were in 2015 with 7621 patients and the least in 2013 with 3305 patients. Among the counties of Mazandaran province, Sari was the first with 4623 cases of the animal bite. Conclusion: Given the high incidence of animal bite in Mazandaran province, it is necessary to provide appropriate intervention programs for prevention and reduction of the animal bite, especially in summer and spring and rural population and emphasize on immunization of domestic dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural community in Mazandaran is characterized by agricultural traits and rice cultivation. Indeed, agriculture plays an important role in the social, cultural, economic and environmental relations of rural communities in this province. Considering two types of agriculture, this study aims at the relationship between them and a sustainable system which farmers believe can be achieved in farming. The research method was both quantitative and qualitative. In the quantitative part, a questionnaire was used to collect the data. The farmers that were selected were those who had experience with modern agriculture under the influence of agricultural development programs. In the qualitative part, interviews were conducted with a sample of 20 farmers until data saturation. In this research, a sample of three villages around the city of Amol was selected where the farmers had experience with both traditional and modern agricultural systems. The findings show that, in terms of sustainability, there is a fundamental difference between traditional and modern agricultural practices. Based on the results of the analysis, traditional agriculture has a direct impact on sustainability, and farmers are aware of this. However, where the economy is prevailed by profit attitudes and the other sectors are not involved in agriculture, circumstances are not in line with sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Three reinforcing dimensions of the Ab-bandans' governance were positively related to one other. • Enhancing collective action among farmers is more contributed to the improvement of the governance of Ab-bandans. • It is not possible to apply a single policy instrument without considering the impact of other policy instruments. • Farmers' willingness to participate in water management processes can be seen as a panacea for the governance of Ab-bandans. • The top-down paradigm of government should be changed into a bottom-up paradigm and participatory governance. Abstract Man-made water reservoirs called Ab-bandan in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran are used to collect precipitation for irrigating rice fields. In spite of their importance , Ab-bandans face governance difficulties such as the lack of a specific law, the lack of long-term and strategic planning, and low recognition of these reservoirs at the national level. Therefore, water policy instruments are argued to be needed in order to overcome the barriers and improve water governance. This paper aims to identify and assess relevant policy instruments for the improvement of the governance of Ab-bandans by conducting an exploratory sequential research design. Based on interviews with 30 regional experts, 31 policy instruments are identified and grouped into three reinforcing dimensions of water governance; effectiveness, efficiency, and trust and engagement. Afterwards, these policy instruments are assessed by a larger sample of participants through snowball sampling (n = 169). Confirmatory Factor Analysis reveals that, in survey participants' opinion, 28 out of 31 policy instruments identified properly represent three reinforcing dimensions of water governance. The results indicate that the enhancement of collective action among farmers is the policy instrument which contributes more to the improvement of governance. Furthermore, the dimensions are positively related to one another. Therefore, the policy instruments are interdependent and should be addressed in a holistic way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of knowledge management on the empowerment of employees of the Ministry of Sport and Youth in Mazandaran province. The research method was field survey and has been done on field -based. The statistical population of this study is all employees of the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Mazandaran province, which were selected using the Morgan table in 129 simple random samples. The knowledge empowerment and management questionnaire was used to collect information. Regarding the analysis and analysis of the multivariate regression test, the SPSS23 software was used. The findings of the research showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between the components of knowledge management and empowerment and knowledge management has an impact on empowerment of employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of rainfall in Mazandaran province of Northern Iran is high. Mazandaran has man-made water reservoirs called Ab-bandan , to collect rainfall for irrigating rice farms during the growing seasons. However, rice farms face water scarcity because only a small amount of rainfall is being stored in Ab-bandans , while either the remaining water runs off into the sea, or causes water-logging or flooding. This research addresses Ab-bandan s governance gaps in the Mazandaran province, using the ‘Multi-level Governance Framework’ introduced by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). A modified Delphi technique with face-to-face interviews and a ranking round is used to identify Ab-bandan s governance gaps. The identified gaps are classified into seven categories by applying the OECD's framework. In each of the categories there is one most important gap: the lack of a specific law for Ab-bandans , lack of long-term and strategic planning, low recognition of Ab-bandans at the national level, insufficient budget, lack of water user associations, lack of research in practice, and lack of using technology. The findings show that lack of a specific law for Ab-bandan s in the country's water law is the most acute gap of all. In addition, the analysis highlights the fact that the policy category is the most critical one. The identified gaps are interlinked and exacerbate each other, therefore, a holistic perspective is needed to understand and resolve them. This study recommends a reform in the country’s water law, improved linkage between levels of government, co-operation among organizations involved in Ab-bandan s management, and participation of local stakeholders in planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mosquitoes transmit a variety of diseases to humans. Their abundance and distribution are related to the characteristics of larval habitats. Mosquito larvae were collected from 120 natural and artificial habitats in 30 villages of 16 counties using standard 350 ml dippers and pipette, on a monthly basis from May–December 2014 in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Larval habitat characteristics were recorded separately, based on the conditions of the habitats (permanent or temporary, stagnant or running), type of habitats (natural or artificial), vegetation, exposure to sun, type of bed, water condition (clear or turbid), expanse (m), depth (cm, m) and temperature (°C) of habitats. The relationship between larval density and environmental variables was assessed by Chi-square tests. Totally, 19,840 larvae from three genera and 16 species were collected and identified. Anopheles maculipennis s.l. and Culex pipiens were the dominant species and collected with the highest density in plain areas. The highest number of larvae were collected from natural habitats (60.34%), including; river edge, marsh, pit and wetlands; with temporary and stagnant water, expanse of 0–5 m, depth of 1–25 cm, without plant, shadow-sun, muddy floor, turbid water, temperature 20–25°C and in sunny conditions. River edge and rice fields for An. maculipennis s.l and, wetlands and discarded tires for Cx. pipiens were the main larval habitats in the province. Statistical analysis revealed significant relation between occurrence of An. maculipennis s.l., Cx. pipiens, Culex torrentium, Culex mimeticus and Cs. annulata with each of the environmental variables (P < 0.001). These findings are essential in expanding our knowledge of the vectors ecology specially the type of habitat preference and will be beneficial in larval control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Flood is the most common disaster in the world and has acute or chronic health consequences including psychological sequels. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the main consequences. This study aimed to explore the psychological impacts (PTSD) in two flooded cities of Mazandaran Province, Neka and Behshahr, in the southeastern Caspian region that experienced flooding in 2012. A cross-sectional community-based study was performed on randomly selected samples of 400 individuals using GIS-based sampling from 139931 residents of the two flooded cities. The PTSS-10 questionnaire was used for data collection. The results showed that the overall stress disorder mean score among the participants was 2.59 out of 6. PTSD prevalence in the affected population was 64%. It was also found that stress scores significantly increased in younger people, male gender, the divorced, the widows or the widowers, and those who lost their properties ( p < 0.05). Study findings showed that flood is a considerable stressor which develops PTSD. This finding should be taken into account in all four phases of disaster management cycle, and subsequently, specialized post-disaster mental health services must be provided for the afflicted population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sassanid era is one of the most brilliant in the Iranian civilization in terms of various arts development. The coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, especially Mazandaran, has long been the site of artistic manifestation with countless examples of art works kept in different museums inside and outside the country. The Sassanid art particularly depict life and glory of the kings. With a deep insight into the works, one can easily find the use of a vast array of birds, animals, plants, gods and mythological beings in symbolic ways. After reviewing and researching all the works created in the Sassanid period, a common feature attracts opinions, and that is the similarity and harmony of decorative motifs in all of these works, especially bas-reliefs, metal wares, fabrics and seals. The purpose of this research is to investigate the images of sacred animals on the Mazandaran artifacts of the Sassanid period, in response to the question of what is the relationship between the designs of sacred animals and the motifs on discovered metal works of Mazandaran. The results of this study clearly show that in most of the concepts and representations in the works produced in every part of this civilization, a common goal was pursued, and it is a struggle against evil forces. The symbolic emblems of sacred animals in Iran can be found in close connection with the beliefs and religions of that era, some of which are manifested in the form of boar and lion in the body of gods and goddesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper represents an index model developed for the assessment of risk caused by river floods. The main purpose of this model is to evaluate the flood risk in the western coastal region of Mazandaran Province/Iran. The model assesses the risk at triple components, i.e. the flood occurrence probability, vulnerability and consequences, through identification and evaluation of effective criteria categorized into seven indexes (environmental, technical, economic, social, depth, population and sensitivity ones) that are involved in all stages of flooding (source, pathway and receptor). The flood risk in the developed model is defined by a dimensionless magnitude called as risk score between 0 and 100 for each zone of the area under assessment by calculating and combining of two newly defined factors: occurrence and vulnerability factor and impact factor. The model was applied in a case study, the Nowshahr flood in 2012. The results showed that: (i) the flood risk zoning was compared with observed data for aspect of the damages, and general agreement between them was obtained; (ii) for urban zones, which surrounded by two rivers, would easily be in critical condition and rescue operations face difficulties; and (iii) it is necessary to review the location of the emergency services, according the flood risk zoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Rabies is a zoonosis which is considered as a public health priority. This study was conducted to evaluate the epidemiological characteristic of animal-bite cases attending Rabies Prevention Center affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences between 2004 to 2011. Material and methods: In this cross-sectional study, all cases of animal bite recorded at the Rabies Prevention Center from 2009 to2011were studied. Data was analyzed according to demographic, epidemiological and clinical information through descriptive and analytic statistics using SPSS V. 20. Results: During the study period the registered cases of animal bite were 25869 in Mazandaran province. The rate of five-year animal bite was 203.4 per100000 (79.9% in male and 20.1% in female, 62.4% occurred in rural and 37.6% occurred in urban areas). The cases were mostly aged 20-30 years of old. Most cases were bitten by dogs (83.9%) which occurred on hands (46.3%). Conclusion: High incidence of animal bites in Mazandaran province requires effective planning and providing more training to reduce the rate of this health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Cancer is the third leading cause of death in Iran. Mazandaran and Golestan provinces, especially in northern countries, have a high incidence of gastrointestinal cancer. Therefore, we aimed to find the geographic distribution of standardized mortality rates of this disease and to mark differences between the cities on a map. Materials and methods: The data related to the cases of death from gastrointestinal cancer during the years 2001 to 2005 were recorded in the provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran. Generalized Poisson regression model was used for data standardization; then, the mapping was done. Results: 5715 people died from cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, 65.18 percent in Mazandaran and 34.82 percent in Golestan. Standardized mortality rates in the central parts of the provinces showed a little less. From the city of Chaloos to the border of the city of Gorgan, standardized mortality ratio (SMR) of most of the regions was between 0.9 and 1. From the border of the city of Gorgan to end of eastern geographical boundaries of Golestan Province, the obtained standardized mortality ratio was more than 1. The regression model could partly eliminate heterogeneity of standardized mortality ratio. Conclusion: Changes in mortality rates from cancers of the gastrointestinal tract in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces on the map represent a high-risk area, which remarks the impact of geographical and social-economic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: According to recent studies melatonin has been known as a potent anti-oxidant with anti-oncostatic and cytoprotective properties. The gastrointestinal tract is the major source of melatonin in periphery. Therefore, many scientists suppose a protective role for melatonin in gastrointestinal tract. Also, there is a high rate of gastric adenocarcinoma in Mazandaran province of Iran, so this study investigated the expression of melatonin receptor in gastrointestinal patients with focusing on MT2 as an important melatonin receptor which its role in many cancers has been shown peviously. Materials and methods: Gastric adenocarcinoma patients from Mazandaran province of Iran were selected for this study and normal individuals as control. After extracting RNA from 30 gastric cancer tissues and 30 normal tissues and preparing cDNA, the expression of melatonin receptor (type 2) has been assayed with Real-time PCR. Results: Our experiment has been shown for the first time in Mazandarn province, high expression of melatonin receptor type 2 in gastric cancer tissues compared to control.Also it was revealed that this expression in marginal of cancer patients was more than cancer tissues and negative control. Conclusion: In this study for the first time we found the expression of melatonin receptor in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues which was in consistent with other studies as breast and colon cancer and a high expression in marginal tissues indicates a refractory mechanism and defending role of melatonin in GI system .Also high experession of this receptor in gastric cancer people of Mazandarn province may help to know better the etiology of high incidence of this kind of cancer in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Annually outbreak of cholera is reported in our country. Awareness of the general population about cholera is the cornerstone of disease prevention. The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of general population in Mazandaran province about cholera. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in April 2013. The study population included 425 people of general population attending health centers in Mazandaran province who were randomly selected. They completed a questionnaire containing 10 questions about cholera in the presence of researcher. SPSS ver. 16 was used to analyze the data. Results: The participants were 222 (52.2%) female and 203 (47.8%) male with the mean age of 34±11.50 years. The awareness level were, 27.5% poor (score≤3), 33.2% moderate (score 4 and 5), 34.8% good (score 6 and 7) and 4.5% very good (score≥8). We observed low levels of awareness among those aged under 20 and over 60 years old. However, no significant difference was seen in two genders. Conclusion: This study revealed a low level of awareness among general population on cholera. Therefore, educational programs are recommended to enhance the knowledge of people on cholera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and a leading cause of cancer deaths in women throughout the world. Breast cancer is accounted for 16 percent of all cancers. This study was performed to investigate the epidemiology of breast cancer in Mazandaran Province. Materials and methods: This longitudinal descriptive study included all cases with breast cancer recorded in Health Department of Medicine in Mazandaran and Babol University of Medical Sciences between 2009 and 2010. The data was collected from public and private pathology centers which was classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) International Classification of Diseases for Oncology ICD-O. SPSS ver.18 was used to analyze the data. Results: We found 251 patients with breast cancer in 2009 and 237 cases in 2010. Crude incidence rate of breast cancer among the women in Mazandaran province was 17.45 and 16.32 per thousand in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The ASR rates of breast cancer was 26.6and 24.9 per hundred thousand in the studied periods, respectively. Most cases occurred in women aged 50-54 years (17%, annual rate). The most common type of breast cancer morphology in 2009 and 2010 was infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Conclusion: The results showed similar incidence rate of breast cancer in Mazandaran province to other provinces in Iran. Efficient approaches should be taken for cancer registry systems especially breast cancer. Moreover, an appropriate structure with skilled specialists could have an important role in the discovery and recording of cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections that almost 10 perecent of people might experience it once in a lifetime. UTI is common among both sexes but is usually more prevalent among female. This study aimed at recocnizing the organisms causing UTI in Imam Khomeini hospital, Sari. Materials and methods: In this descriptive analytical study, we used the urine samples of 2100 patients attending Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari. The samples were cultured on blood agar and McConky, and biochemical tests were also done. Moreover, urin sedimnents were analyzed after being centrifuged. After 24 hr inacubation in 37°C, gram staining was done on colonies. Then antibiogram test was carried out using disk diffusion. Patients' information (age, sex, etc.) was also recorded. Results: A total of 2100 suspisious cases were studied of whom 525 were detected with UTI. They were 39% male and 61% female. The most prevalent bacteria were E.coli (41.9%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (24.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14%), and Klebsiella pneumonia (8.95%). Most of the isolated bacteria were resistant to Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole but the least rate of resistance was seen with Amikacin. Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance was observed in a different pattern in patients with UTI. Hence, further reseach should be done to investigate the bacterial resistance to antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Road accidents are a major cause of mortality throughout the world especially in undeveloped and developing countries. Mazandaran Province in Iran has one of the busiest roads with a high rate of accidents and fatalities. Environmental and social conditions influence this problem. This study aimed at exploring the social and geographical pattern of mortality due to road accidents and hazardous regions of Mazandaran province were also determined. Materials and methods: This ecological study used the data from 2007-2010 recorded in Mazandaran province. The Information regarding the age, sex and place of accidents were collected. To analyze the data descriptive and inferential statistics were done using SAS (version 9.2). Results: A total of 2828 fatalities were found during the study period from which 78.7% were men and 21.3% were women. The mean age of men and women were 39.06 and 39.1 years, respectively. Mortality rate was higher in urban roads and among men (P<0.001). A significant correlation was seen between population density and mortality rates (P<0.032). Geographical pattern showed a higher risk of accidental mortalities in central to western regions of the province. Conclusion: The correlation between mortality rate and population density indicates lack of access to emergency services, delays in treatment of the injured person, and long distances to reach the nearest hospital. Therefore, more preventative programs should be carried out in hazardous areas to reduce the fatality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three major causes of the importance of entrepreneurship are creating wealth, building productive employment, and developing technology. It is believed that a revolution is needed for entrepreneurship to take place in societies nowadays. Thus the present study is aimed at determining and explaining the effects of six psychological variables on the Independent entrepreneurship process throughout Mazandaran province. According to the definition provided by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring, there were 1511 entrepreneurs throughout Mazandaran province out of which 291 were chosen as the sample subjects of the present study. The data collection instrument was a related questionnaire with the reliability level of 0.84. The collected data related to the six understudy variables were analyzed using a Path Analysis Regression Model. The results explained and determined the Independent entrepreneurship process, and also showed that the above-mentioned variables affected the Independent entrepreneurship process directly, indirectly, and also interactional. Respectively, the most affecting variable was Working Independently (-2.65). Other variables affecting the Independent entrepreneurship process were variables of Creativity and Innovation (-2.09), Risk Taking (1.22), perseverance (1.085), Internal Control (1.04), and Learning spirit (-0.2), respectively. Finally, based on these results, some suggestions were given on how the managers and authorities of Mazandaran Province can improve the Independent entrepreneurship process by attending to these six psychological variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Workers' exposure to respirable silica particles especially free crystalline silica in workplace could result in some dangerous diseases such as silicosis or lung fibrosis. This study was carried out to evaluate the workers' exposure to free crystalline silica particles in some industries using the infrared spectrophotometery method. Materials and methods: In this cross sectional study respirable silica dust was collected from workers' breathing zone using personal sampling device and a cyclone separator with a PVC filter. Then samples containing silica were analyzed by infrared spectrophotometery method based on NIOSH method 7602. Results: The mean of exposure to respirable silica particles within the workers' breathing zone in four industries was considerably higher than the threshold limit value recommended by ACGIH. Workers' exposure to crystalline silica particles ranged from 0.03 mgm-3 to 0.57 mgm-3 and there was a significant difference between the mean of respirable particle concentrations within the workers' breathing zone. Conclusion: Individuals working in asphalt production, foundry, sand and gravel mining and brick manufacturing are exposed to crystalline silica particle more than the standard level. Hence, in order to prevent silica related diseases more emphasize on health and safety issues are of great importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine tourism is an important component of ecotourism in the Mazandaran. It offers a wide range of passive and active recreational activities in Caspian sea`s South-west beaches. This paper is intended to describe situation and history of the PWCs (JET SKI) in Mazandaran and determine Jet Ski development strategies in south of Caspian Sea as a major ecotourism hub in Iran. This paper provides a strategy framework for both Iranian Governmental and private sectors to develop the marine tourism in the region. Then it Determination of appropriate Jet Ski development strategies in Mazandaran (South of Caspian Sea's). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Iran, the prevalence of beta-thalassemia trait is approximately 4–8% in most areas, and in Mazandaran province 10% of the population are carriers. Twenty four beta-globin gene mutations were identified in 1635 persons with beta-thalassemia trait using reverse dot blot and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The predominant mutations included IVSII-1 (G-A) (61%), codon 30 (G-C) (7.5%), codon 22 (−7bp) (6.2%), codon 8 (−AA) (5.4%) and IVSI-5 (G-C) (3.6%). These mutations were in different haplotypes, with IVSII-1 being the most heterogeneous. Other less frequent mutations included IVS-II-745 (C-G), codon 44 (−C), codon 39 (C-T), codon 5 (−CT), IVS I-110 (G-A), IVSI-130 (G-C), Fr8/9 (+G), IVSI-1 (G-A), and IVSI (−25bp). All rare mutations except IVSI-130 were encountered in a unique haplotype. The diversity of these mutations reflects the historical admixture of genes in the region. The high prevalence of IVSII-1 (G-A) compared to other parts of the country and the world suggests a founder effect. Our data provide a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses an 1848 Persian versified vocabulary by Amir Timur Qājār Sāravi, also known as Amir-e Māzandarāni. It is written in the Tabari or Māzandarāni language, native to the Caspian province of Māzandarān, Persia, and was commissioned by Ar-dashir Mirzā, prince-governor of Māzandarān during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar, Shah of Persia. It is a Neṣāb, part of a genre of Persian literature begun in the 13th century which originally offered comparative terms in the scholarly fields of religion, history, and science in both Arabic and Persian languages. The author uses the Neṣāb as an historical source to track the development of Persian languages and dialects by using a comparative phonological analysis.