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Formaldehyde, a known carcinogenic compound, is commonly used in various medical settings. The objective of this study was to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks associated with occupational exposure to formaldehyde. This study was conducted in the pathology labs of four hospitals in Tehran. Cancer and non-cancer risks were evaluated using the quantitative risk assessment method proposed by the United States environmental protection agency (USEPA), along with its provided database known as the integrated risk information system (IRIS). Respiratory symptoms were assessed using the American thoracic society (ATS) questionnaire. The results indicated that 91.23% of exposure levels in occupational groups exceed the NIOSH standard of 0.016 ppm. Regarding carcinogenic risk, 41.03% of all the studied subjects were in the definite carcinogenic risk range (LCR > 10−4), 23.08% were in the possible carcinogenic risk range (10−5 < LCR < 10−4), and 35.90% were in the negligible risk range (LCR < 10−6). The highest index of occupational carcinogenesis was observed in the group of lab technicians with a risk number of 3.7 × 10−4, followed by pathologists with a risk number of 1.7 × 10−4. Furthermore, 23.08% of the studied subjects were within the permitted health risk range (HQ < 1.0), while 76.92% were within the unhealthy risk range (HQ > 1.0). Overall, the findings revealed significantly higher carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks among lab technicians and pathologists. Therefore, it is imperative to implement control measures across various hospital departments to mitigate occupational formaldehyde exposure levels proactively. These findings can be valuable for policymakers in the health sector, aiding in the elimination or reduction of airborne formaldehyde exposure in work environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute Coronary Syndrome is the most common heart disease and the most significant cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Teaching a healthy eating style is one preventive measure to prevent the disease's recurrence. This study aimed to determine the effect of healthy nutrition education with the help of traffic light labels on food selection, preference, and consumption in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Methods: This randomized, single-blinded clinical trial was conducted with 139 participants (66 in the intervention group and 73 in the control group) from January 2021 to August 2021 in Shaheed Rajaie Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The control group received standard training. The intervention group, besides this, received additional bedside training with an educational poster on traffic light labels from the research team during their final hospitalization days. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire on food selection, preference, and consumption. Results: The Brunner-Munzel test showed no significant difference between the two groups in terms of selection (P = 0.127), preference (P = 0.852), and food consumption (P = 0.846) in the baseline, while after the intervention, there were significant differences in selection (P > 0.001), preference (P > 0.001), and consumption (p < 0.004). Comparing the difference between the two groups in the difference between the before and after scores for selection (p < 0.001), preference (p < 0.001), and food consumption (p = 0.011) with the Brunner-Munzel test indicated a significant difference in all outcome variables. Conclusions: Teaching healthy eating styles with the help of traffic light labels affected food selection, preference, and consumption and led to healthier diets in these patients. Clinical trial registration number: Clinical trial registration: It was prospectively registered in the Iran Clinical Trials Registration Center on this date 30/10/2020 (IRCT20200927048857N1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effects of green cumin (Cuminum cyminum) and nettle (Urtica dioica L.) oral drops on the indicators of breast milk adequacy in lactating mothers. Due to the presence of phytoestrogens in the combinations of cumin and nettle, it is stipulated that they may have milk-increasing properties. Methods: A triple-blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 117 lactating mothers who had given birth to healthy infants aged 10–15 days and who received cumin oral drops (n = 39), nettle oral drops (n=39) or placebo (n=39) from August 2020 to March 2021. The participants were recruited from a regional public health care centre affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. The 3 study groups received 15 drops thrice a day for 4 weeks. Infant weight, breastfeeding frequency, number of wet diapers, diaper weight and frequency of infant defecation were evaluated before and after the intervention. Results: At the beginning of the trial, no statistically significant differences were observed between the 3 groups for infant weight (P = 0.891), breastfeeding frequency (P = 0.921), number of wet diapers (P = 0.783), diaper weight (P = 0.841) and frequency of infant defecation (P = 0.898). However, following the intervention, the mean scores of all indicators were significantly higher in the experimental groups than in the placebo group (P <0.001). In addition, all the indicators in the cumin group increased significantly compared to those in the nettle group (P <0.001). Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of cumin and nettle drops in increasing milk and the availability of these native plants in Iran, it is suggested that they, especially cumin, be used postpartum to increase breast milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant healthcare challenge, accounting for nearly 6.1% of global cancer cases. Early detection, facilitated by population screening utilizing innovative biomarkers, is pivotal for mitigating CRC incidence. This study aims to scrutinize the fecal and salivary microbiomes of CRC-positive individuals (CPs) in comparison to CRC-negative counterparts (CNs) to enhance early CRC diagnosis through microbial biomarkers. Material and methods: A total of 80 oral and stool samples were collected from Taleghani Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, encompassing both CPs and CNs undergoing screening. Microbial profiling was conducted using 16S rRNA sequencing assays, employing the Nextera XT Index Kit on an Illumina NovaSeq platform. Results: Distinct microbial profiles were observed in saliva and stool samples of CPs, diverging significantly from those of CNs at various taxonomic levels, including phylum, family, and species. Saliva samples from CPs exhibited abundance of Calothrix parietina, Granulicatella adiacens, Rothia dentocariosa, and Rothia mucilaginosa, absent in CNs. Additionally, Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae were markedly higher in CPs' feces, while the Fusobacteria phylum was significantly elevated in CPs' saliva. Conversely, the non-pathogenic bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila exhibited a significant decrease in CPs' fecal samples compared to CNs. Conclusion: Through meticulous selection of saliva and stool microbes based on Mean Decrease GINI values and employing logistic regression for saliva and support vector machine models for stool, we successfully developed a microbiota test with heightened sensitivity and specificity for early CRC detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pre-hospital medical staff faced numerous challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these challenges specific to pre-hospital services have not been thoroughly explored in Iran. This qualitative study aimed to examine the essence of pre-hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This phenomenological study was conducted from June to August 2021 in Tehran, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with pre-hospital medical staff. Data analysis was performed using Colaizzi's approach, and rigor was ensured by adhering to the consolidated criteria for qualitative reporting research. Results: A total of 17 pre-hospital medical staff were interviewed, and five themes were extracted from the data: workload and resilience, damage, lack of control, under preparedness, and post-traumatic growth. These themes highlight the resilience demonstrated by pre-hospital medical staff, who faced an unprecedented crisis with limited preparedness and significant damage. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that pre-hospital medical staff in Iran encountered challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic due to a lack of preparedness and substantial damage. Despite these adversities, the participants exhibited resilience and experienced post-traumatic growth. The study emphasizes the importance of proper planning and preparedness to enhance the resilience of emergency medical services during pandemics. Furthermore, the results underscore the need to address the challenges faced by pre-hospital medical staff and improve the quality of care provided to patients during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underground train–induced vibrations can cause nearby residents discomfort, damage to buildings, and disturbance for equipment. One of the most effective ways to reduce vibrations is using wave barriers along the propagation path of the waves. Many parameters are involved in determining the efficiency of these barriers: the barrier's dimension, distance from the source of vibration, and material property, to name a few. Simultaneous study of these parameters is complex since numerical analysis of alternatives is time-consuming. Therefore, in this study, by coupling the three-dimensional finite element method and an optimization algorithm, an attempt is made to provide a comprehensive solution to find the optimal wave barriers for Tehran metro line 4 as a case study. The current study evaluates two strategies: using in-filled trenches and topology-optimized barriers. In the first strategy, results show that soft-material trenches with maximum depth close to the observation point have the best performance. Further investigations on jet grout trenches show better performance in stiffer soil and lower train speed. Using dual trenches improves performance only up to 2%, so it does not provide a suitable option. For various practical reasons, there may be no tendency to use soft-material trenches, which perform well in vibration reduction. Therefore, in the second strategy, the improvement of a hard trench (jet grout) performance by topology optimization is investigated. According to this study, topology optimization is an effective method for improving barrier performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Heavy metals such as cadmium and lead do no degrade and/or metabolize in vital systems, and accumulate in different organs of the body such as muscles, adipose tissue, bones, and joints. In this study, we measured concentration of four elements of copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead in canned fish. Materials and methods: At first, 54 canned fish samples were purchased from local market in Tehran (capital city of Iran). For analysis, 2 g of each sample was weighted and mixed with 65% nitric acid. The mixture was heated at 450 °C, and dry ash was used for voltametric analysis. In this work, direct determination of heavy metals in canned fish was carried out by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) technique at hanging mercury dropping electrode (HMDE). Results and conclusion: Quantitative measurement limits were 0.045, 0.006, 0.004, and 0.013 mg/kg for zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper, respectively. The results showed that mean concentration was 1.41 ±0.948 mg/kg for zinc, 0.050 ±0.038 mg/kg for cadmium, 0.146 ±0.119 mg/kg for lead, and 0.082 ±0.065 mg/kg for copper. The mean value obtained for each heavy metal was compared with the values authorized by the National Standard Organization of Iran, World Health Organization, and Food and Agriculture Organization, through which all concentrations were below the maximum permitted values. Concentration of cadmium, copper, and zinc showed significant relationships with brand of the samples. This indicates significant differences in concentration of these elements among different brands, which needs to be investigated by the competent authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The accident of falling from a height is high among construction workers. Construction workers do not use harnesses. Thus, the present study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the non-use of harnesses among construction workers in Tehran, Iran. Materials and methods: In this study was conducted by interviewing professors and construction workers in order to identify factors affecting the non-use of harness. Factors influencing the non-use of safety harnesses were identified from the workers' point of view. The obtained data were classified and coded using MAXQDA 10 software. After that, the most essential, effective and powerful factors were identified using the degree and intersectionality of social network analysis. Results: According to the interview results, 27 factors were determined as factors affecting the non-use of harnesses by construction workers and divided into four main groups. The four groups were harness design, management factors, harness comfort, and attitudinal factors. Based on the results of the degree centrality, the non-ergonomic design and attitude of the harness inefficiency were identified as the most influential and powerful factors. The betweenness indicator also showed that the non-ergonomic design could mediate other factors in the non-use of the harness. Conclusion: The findings showed that by considering various factors such as considering more comfort in the design of the ergonomic harness, it produced a better product. Also, the use of safety harnesses by workers increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The depositional environment of Asara Shale is discussed in this paper through the detailed analysis of outcrops from the Alborz Basin, NW of Tehran, Iran. The Asara Shale is composed of fine-grained clastic and carbonate (marlstone) strata interbedded with tuff levels. Sedimentary structures include mm- to cm-scale parallel and cross laminations, basal gutter cast, Thalassinoides burrows, bioturbation, clastic/biogenic particle alignment, and normal-size grading. Facies analysis suggests an accumulation dominated by periodic flood energy fluctuations, here related to shallow-marine hyperpycnal discharges. Based on the sedimentary architecture and analysis of the facies associations, five main sedimentary facies have been defined in these outcrops, corresponding to S1, S2, S3, S4, and MM. Suspended‐load‐dominated facies (Facies S) are related to sedimentation from weak turbulent suspensions and consist of massive sandstones (S1), parallel and low-angle-laminated sandstones (S2), ripple-marked sandstones (S3), parallel‐laminated/massive siltstones and mudstones (S4), and microbial mats (MM). Ratios of redox-sensitive elements indicate that the Asara Shale accumulated in an oxygenated depositional environment. This environment is associated with the presence of parallel-crested ripple marks, microbial-induced sedimentary structures (i.e., wrinkle structures), plant fragments, and surface-grazing gastropods. Based on a variety of sedimentary textures and structures, a shallow-water depositional environment is proposed. This study offers new insights into the depositional environment of Asara Shale. Due to the oxic character of this sedimentary basin, and the lack of significant organic matter, it is interpreted that the Asara Shale is not a potential hydrocarbon source for the future explorations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This research was conducted to compare the effectiveness of reality therapy and emotion-oriented therapy on the symptoms of love trauma in women with love failure. Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research using the pre-test-post-test plan with a follow-up test. The statistical population of the research was all the people who were referred to Aramandish and Chaman clinics in Tehran in 2022, 45 people were selected as a statistical sample based on purposeful sampling. Fifteen people were ingroup experiment 1 (Reality therapy Glaser, 1999), 15 people were in experiment 2 (Emotion-Focused Therapy based on Greenberg's theory, 2007) and 15 people were in the control group. The data collection tool was Love Trauma Inventory (LTI, Rosse, 1999). The data were analyzed by Split Plot ANOVA and One-way variance and The Repeated Measurements ANOVAusing SPSS software. Finding: The findings indicated that there was a significant difference between the pre-test, post-test, and follow-ups of the Love Trauma scores in the two groups of experiments 1, 2, and the control group. Likewise, there was a significant difference between the pre-test, post-test and follow-up scores in these groups (P<0.001). But there was no significant difference between the post-test and follow-up scores (P=.073). Results: The results also showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups of experiments 1 and 2 (reality therapy and emotion-oriented therapy). Therefore, it can be concluded that both reality therapy and emotion-oriented interventions can be used for emotional failure syndromes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While emerging literature explores how organizations engage with the past, investigations of how complex relationships to the past influence mobilizing multiple forms of historical representation in practice remain scarce. The current study examines different relationships to the past to shed light on how their complex and at times contradictory connotations relates to the use of multimodal historical cues in organizational practices, based on a qualitative study of art galleries in downtown Tehran, Iran. We describe how fondness for, aversion to and conflicted relationships with the past coexist, and how and why actors use diverse historical cues to express these diverse relationships in practice. We add to current understandings of organizational uses of the past by offering insights into how and why organizations actively evoke and manage positive, negative, and conflicted relationships to the past, and how these relationships draw upon diverse discursive and non-discursive supports to organizational practices aiming at different yet complementary goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient safety is a global concern. Safe and effective care can shorten hospital stays and prevent or minimize unintentional harm to patients. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor and improve patient safety in all medical environments. This study is aimed at improving patient safety in gastroenterology departments. Methods: The study was carried out as action research. The participants were patients, nurses and doctors of the gastroenterology department of Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Tehran in 2021–2022. Data were collected using questionnaires (medication adherence tool, patient education effectiveness evaluation checklist, and medication evidence-based checklist), individual interviews and focus groups. The quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS (v.20) and qualitative data analysis was done through content analysis method using MAXQDA analytic pro 2022 software. Results: The majority of errors were related to medication and the patient's fault due to their lack of education and prevention strategy were active supervision, modification of clinical processes, improvement of patient education, and promotion of error reporting culture. The findings of the research showed that the presence of an active supervisor led to the identification and prevention of more errors (P<0.01). Regarding the improvement of clinical processes, elimination of reworks can increase satisfaction in nurses (P<0.01). In terms of patient education, the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.01); however, the mean medication adherence score was significantly different (P<0.01). Conclusion: The improvement strategies of patient safety in Gastroenterology department included the modification of ward monitoring processes, improving/modification clinical processes, improvement of patient education, and development of error reporting culture. Identifying inappropriate processes and adjusting them based on the opinion of the stakeholders, proper patient education regarding self-care, careful monitoring using appropriate checklists, and presence of a supervisor in the departments can be effective in reducing the incidence rate. A comprehensive error reporting program provides an opportunity for employees to report errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of the healthcare system, including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation of diseases and health education; access to essential therapies; allocation of finance & facilities to health issues, and governance of diseases, including COVID-19 and other diseases. Consequently, the burden of COVID-19 was not only attributable to the multiorgan involvement and detailed presentation of the disease but also to the inadequate management of other diseases resulting from the exclusive allocation of resources and medical personnel to the pandemic crisis. Over the mentioned period, one observed deficiency was the lack of public and official favor for conventional screening protocols. To this end, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening protocols at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, in an effort to identify individuals at risk for CRC and provide them with intensive screening and therapy. Methods: This is an observational study comparing the number of candidates for CRC screening referred to primary, secondary, and tertiary health-care centers under supervision of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran in a 2-year interval before and after COVID-19 pandemics. Patients with intermediate- and high-risk criteria for colorectal cancer were included in the study and were screened by fecal immunochemical test. Patients with positive or indeterminate fecal test results were further evaluated with colonoscopy in research institute for gastroenterology and liver diseases where is a tertiary referral center for CRC screening. Finally, the decrease percentage of screening tests and endoscopic findings during the pandemic period compared to pre-pandemic period was calculated and interpreted. Results: A significant decrease in the number of performed fecal immunochemical tests (FITs), referred positive FITs, and referred patients with positive alarm signs to the Research Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD) center inevitably led to a considerable decrease in the number of endoscopic findings, including high-risk adenomas, sessile serrated polyps, and even early-stage colorectal cancers (CRCs). Conclusion: The disruption of screening protocols caused by the COVID-19 pandemic appears to increase the number of patients with high-grade and end-stage CRCs referred in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a pandemic that can involve the cardiopulmonary system. Long-term cardiac involvement evaluations were less studied in the literatures. In the present study, we aimed to investigate long-term electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings of patients with severe COVID-19 after a year of follow-up. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cohort study was performed on patients admitted to one of the university hospitals in Tehran, Iran, from the beginning of February 2021 to February 2022. Echocardiography and electrocardiogram were done for all patients at admission and after one year of discharge. Patients' demographics, medical history, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic information were recorded and analyzed. Results: Sixty patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of patients was 53.63±12.50 years, and 58.33% were male. After assessing electrocardiography changes and echocardiography results, it was observed that QRS abnormality and inverted T-wave after one year were significantly more than during hospitalization (P<0.05). The pulmonary arterial pressure had increased after one year (24.30±4.79 mmHg to 26.50±7.69 mmHg, p-value=0.026). Conclusion: New cardiac problems in patients with severe COVID-19 disease may appear after one year, and these patients should be evaluated periodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human cultural vision in religious rituals and ceremonies of different religions, denominations and sects is of such a difference that this difference sometimes puts them in complete contradiction with each other. Apparently, every religion speaks of the eternal principles that must be followed by that religion's followers and seeks to raise reasons of the veracity of its own claims as well as the refutation of the claims of other religions in order to prove its own supremacy in the face of the inferiority of the other religions. Today, man needs to have an interpretation and perspective of these diversities and to offer a judgement of their veracity, rightness or deviance may it make the best choice in rational terms. Referring to the ideas of thinkers is one of the methods that can help the humans to identify or mitigate these challenges. Thus, this study aims at assaying the perception of religious other from the point of view of the human scientists. The approach of this research is based on the qualitative method focusing on thematic analysis, data collection through semistructured interviews as well as the analysis of the findings based on the stages of the thematic analysis. The research field is constituted by the professors of the universities of Tehran city. Sampling process continued in a purposeful manner among the professors of philosophy and sociology up to 8 cases until the theoretical saturation. The results of the research show that religious other within Iranian cultural context includes eight sub themes: Sunni, Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, Mandaeans, Yarsans, Derwishes and Baha'is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to use two metaheuristic optimization algorithms--a genetic algorithm (GA) and a teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm--to determine the optimal parameters of a support vector regression (SVR) model for Spatio-temporal modelling of asthma-prone areas in Tehran, Iran. First, a spatial-temporal database consisting of dependent (872 patients with asthma) and independent data (air pollution, meteorology, distance to park, and street parameters) was created. In the next step, Spatio-temporal modelling and mapping of asthma-prone areas were performed using three models: SVR, SVR-GA, and SVR-TLBO. The highest accuracy of the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) was for SVR-GA (0.806, 0.801, 0.823, and 0.811), SVR-TLBO (0.8, 0.797, 0.81, and 0.803), and SVR (0.786, 0.78, 0.796, and 0.791) models in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. Autumn, winter, spring, and summer were most accurate in modelling asthma occurrence, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escherichia coli ST131 is a pandemic clone with high antibiotic resistance, and it is a major causative agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) and bloodstream infections. This study evaluated the distribution and expression of virulence genes and genotyping of E. coli O25b/ST131 by Multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) method among UTI in patients at Tehran hospitals, Iran. A total of 107 E. coli isolates were collected from UTI patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the pabB gene was used to identify E. coli O25b/ST131 and the prevalence of sat and hlyA virulence genes was also analyzed. The microtiter method quantified biofilm formation ability in E. coli O25b/ST131. The Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the expression of sat and hlyA genes. Finally, MLVA was performed for E. coli O25b/ST131 genotyping by targeting seven tandem repeats. SPSS-16 software was used for statistical analysis. Molecular study showed that 71% of isolates carried the pabB gene and were considered E. coli O25b/ST131 strains. Also, 45.8% and 17.8% of isolates carried sat and hlyA genes, respectively. The 57.9% isolates had biofilm formation ability. Expression of the studied virulence genes showed an increase in strong biofilm producing E. coli O25b/ST131 strains. A total of 76 (100%) E. coli O25b/ST131 strains were typed by the MLVA method. High prevalence of E. coli O25b/ST131 isolates in UTI patients can be a serious warning to the treatment due to the high antibiotic resistance rate, expression of virulence genes, and biofilm formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is now considered a highly resistant pathogen to various types of antibiotics. Therefore, tracking the source of its prevalence and continuous control is crucial. This study aimed to determine antibiotic resistance and perform various molecular typing methods on clinical isolates of A. baumannii isolated from hospitalized burn patients in Shahid Motahari Burn Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Hospital isolates were confirmed by phenotypic and molecular methods. Then the sensitivity to different antibiotics was determined using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. In order to perform molecular typing, three-locus dual assay multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) methods were used. Among the 60 isolates collected, the frequencies of multidrugresistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) isolates were 90 and 10%, respectively. The most effective antibiotics were colistin with 100% and tigecycline with 83.33% sensitivity. Isolates were 100% resistant to piperacillin/ tazobactam and cephalosporins, and 68.3% were resistant to carbapenem. The results of multiplex PCR showed five groups that international clone I (IC I) and IC II were the most common. The MLVA method identified 34 MLVA types (MTs), 5 clusters, and 25 singletons. Multilocus sequence typing results for tigecycline-resistant isolates showed seven different sequence types (STs). Increasing antibiotic resistance in A. baumannii isolates requires careful management to control and prevent the occurrence of the pre-antibiotic era. The results of this study confirm that the population structure of A. baumannii isolates has a high diversity. More extensive studies are needed in Iran to better understand the epidemiology of A. baumannii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Brain functional performance is a collection of outstanding mental processing that provides a framework for achieving goals based on targeted behaviors. Disorders in executive functions make it difficult for a person to perform everyday tasks. One of the phenomena highlighted in various media is the violence that adolescents welcome with the production of violent movies. This study aimed to investigate the effect of violent movies on risky decision-making and behavioral inhibition of adolescents and compare the effects of violence with melodrama movies Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted with a pretest-posttest design with a control group among 60 adolescents (30 girls and 30 boys) living in Tehran City, Iran. They were selected using the available sampling method. For this purpose, neurological tests of Iowa Gambling and go-no go were used. Results: The results showed that violent movies caused a significant increase in risky decision-making (P<0.05). In addition, these types of movies caused a significant decrease in behavioral inhibition among adolescents (P<0.05). Conclusion: Movies with ill-mannered stories and content that glorify violence harm adolescents' decision-making and deterrence, leading them to make risky decisions and weaken their inhibition power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities usually have some contamination as effluents from chemical industries and radionuclides from nuclear reactors. For assessing the probable radioactive contamination in vicinity of Tehran Research Reactor, The gross alpha and beta radioactivity concentrations in soil, pine and cedar leaves and some selected fruits (fig, apple, berry and pomegranate) were investigated using an alpha/beta spectrometer during 2021–2022. Also, the concentrations of artificial and natural radionuclides in samples were investigated by the method of gamma spectroscopy. The gross alpha activity concentrations in soil, pine and cedar leaves and some selected fruits samples are from 0.05 to 0.35 Bq/gr and 0.07–0.31 Bq/gr and 0.04–0.18 Bq/gr, respectively. The gross beta activity concentrations in soil, pine and cedar leaves and some selected fruit samples are from 0.73 to 4.25 Bq/gr and 0.21–3.97 Bq/gr and 1.01–2.71 Bq/gr, respectively. Average activities concentration of natural radionuclide 232Th, 238U and 40K in soil, pine and cedar leaves and some selected fruits are 31.89–16.23–582.73 Bq/kg and 1.84–0.99–84.60 Bq/kg and 1.98–1.09–72.08 Bq/kg respectively. From artificial radionuclides, just 137Cs is recognized in soil sample and the range of 137Cs concentration in surface soils was observed to vary in the range 0.85–2.21 (Bq/kg). The result showed that the Tehran Research Reactor activities not have increased the environmental radioactivity and radiation level in the area. • The Gross alpha and beta radioactivity concentrations in soil were investigated using an alpha/beta spectrometer in the time of 2021–2022. • The Gross alpha and beta radioactivity concentrations in pine and cedar leaves were investigated using an alpha/beta spectrometer in the time of 2021–2022. • The Gross alpha and beta radioactivity concentrations in some selected fruits (Fig, Apple, Berry and Pomegranate) were investigated using an alpha/beta spectrometer in the time of 2021–2022. • The concentrations of artificial and natural radionuclides in samples were investigated by the method of gamma spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human adenovirus (HAdV) is an important viral agent in children which can lead to severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). Reports on molecular epidemiology of HAdVs in Iran are limited. This case-control study is conducted to compare the HAdV infection rate and molecular epidemiology among two groups of children with and without respiratory symptoms in Tehran, Iran during 2018-2019.Methods: Nested PCR was performed on 120 oropharyngeal swabs taken from children aged five and younger with SARI who were hospitalized as the case group, and 120 oropharyngeal swabs were collected from children of the same age without respiratory symptoms as the control group. For positive samples Sanger sequencing was done and a phylogenetic tree was drawn afterward.Results: Out of 120 cases, 8 (6.6%) tested positive for eachHAdV types including 6 (75%) HAdV-B7, 1 (12.5%) HAdV-C2, and 1 (12.5%) HAdV-C6. Among the control group, out of 120 samples, 8 (6.6%) were positive comprising 5 (62.5%) HAdV-C5, 2 (25%) HAdV-F41, and 1 (12.5%) HAdV-C6.Conclusion: The present study indicated a different viewpoint of HAdV molecular epidemiology in which the genotypes were compared in children with and without respiratory symptoms. HAdV prevalence was equally common in cases and controls but different genotypes were detected in these two groups. HAdV-B7 was the main type among children with SARI, dissimilar to children with no respiratory symptoms where HAdV-C5 was the predominant type. Detecting HAdV-F in oropharyngeal swabs was a rare finding, which requires further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature conservation efforts cannot succeed without stakeholder participation. The inherent complexity of nature-based ecotourism has made the development of sustainable ecotourism operations a challenge, so it is essential to increase community stakeholder participation. Hence, this study investigates local community participation in Lar National Park (LNP) and the Jajrud Protected Area with the Sustainable Use of Natural Resource Areas (JPA) in Iran and evaluates how this influences the sustainability of ecotourism. This study found that in LNP, sustainable ecotourism development involving local communities is increasing because of the high level of attachment and interest to this part of pristine nature. In the JPA, the relationship between local community participation and ecotourism sustainability is significant too. As a result, natural habitats have been degraded and sustainability has decreased. To conserve these critically endangered natural areas, managers and decision-makers must increase community participation and education to encourage local communities to engage more in developing sustainable ecotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper investigates the problem of capital portfolio selection under uncertain conditions and uses a robust optimization approach for modeling. The model provided in this paper is a three-objective model that aims to maximize returns, maximize liquidity, and minimize risk. The data extracted from the site of the Tehran Stock Exchange are as follows. These data are related to twenty shares from July 2020 to July 2021. The robust approach used in this research has been analyzed by the real data of the Tehran Stock Exchange and then the optimal portfolio for different robust costs has been formed by solving the robust model. In the following section, the relevant model is solved through real stock market data and using the goal programming approach, and the results are investigated and analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main food safety concerns is the extensive fraud in food production that necessitates the development of rapid and accurate diagnostic detection methods. Recently, the near-infrared spectroscopy has been used as a non-destructive method in combination with multivariate analysis methods to evaluate the quality of foods. Spices are very useful in our daily lives. They improve the flavor, color and nutritional value of the foods. Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and its main ingredient is a polyphenol, which is called curcumin and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry. For commercial profit, this spice can be mixed with a variety of cheap and harmful additives. In this research, the ability of near-infrared spectroscopy as a cost effective, fast and non-destructive method in combination with chemometrics was investigated to monitor and control the adulteration of turmeric with wheat flour, pistachio hull waste and dry bread. For this purpose, the near-infrared spectrum from 54 adulterated mixtures and 102 samples purchased from Tehran supermarkets was measured in the range of 12,000–4000 cm−1. The spectra were pre-processed and principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) were used for qualitative and quantitative analysis, respectively. PCA in the first dataset, including all three sets of turmeric spectrum, explains 99% of the variance of spectral data. These results showed a very good discrimination in all three types of fraud based on different concentrations. According to the PCA model, most of the samples in the second dataset were either turmeric samples adulterated with dry bread powder or pure turmeric samples. Therefore, the PLSR model was used to quantify the turmeric samples adulterated with dry bread powder. In PLSR, the root mean square error and determination coefficient (R2) of calibration for validation and prediction were 0.265–0.306 and 97.9–98.6%, respectively. Therefore, this method is highly useful to detect adulteration in turmeric. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, due to the growing importance of sustainable development in urban areas, the decision to prioritize different transportation options in an area where users have to combine different transportation modes has received much attention in the scientific community. In this research, different modes of transportation including pedestrians, taxis, buses, and bicycles are considered as a combination of two different transportation modes in Tehran's densely populated area. With the aim of prioritizing travel options in order to achieve sustainable urban development, public transport users were first asked about their travel means preferences. Next, by obtaining the opinions of urban transportation experts of Tehran Municipality regarding sustainable development of urban transportation, a set of transportation options in this area were prioritized on the basis of some criteria optimized using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. The results indicate that air pollution and noise pollution, with the score of 0.33 and 0.24, respectively, were the two most important criteria for choosing a trip mode in dense population areas according to the opinion of transportation and traffic experts of Tehran. The AHP analysis indicated that the use of combined bicycle-walk mode with a score of 0.282 is the most preferred option, while bus-bicycle mixed mode with a score of 0.116 is the least preferred. Survey data indicate that there is a significant difference between people's general preferences in choosing their urban transportation options and the sustainable urban development approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Source tracking of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter is useful for control measures. In this study, Campylobacter-associated diarrhea and homology in antimicrobial resistance of humans and poultry meat isolates were investigated. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 stools of patients and 100 poultry meat samples were analyzed. Susceptibility of the isolates was detected by disk diffusion, Etest, and agar dilution methods. Mismatch amplification mutation assay was used for the detection of mutations in the gyrA quinolone resistance determining region (QRDR). Results: Campylobacter spp., including C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, were detected in 35% of the chicken meat and 6.75% of the stool samples, respectively. The QRDR mutation was detected in most of the stool and chicken meat samples. Although the frequency of resistance to tetracycline (53.5% and 62.8%), erythromycin (39.2% and 37.1%), and gentamicin (32.1% and 31.4%) was relatively similar, higher frequency of resistance to ciprofloxacin (51.4% vs 28.6%) and nalidixic acid (42.15% vs 28.6%) among the chicken meat, and ampicillin (50% and 17.1%) among the human stool was detected. Conclusion: High percentage of poultry meat samples is contaminated with different Campylobacter species, which shows homology with the patients' isolates in Tehran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Accidents may occur in all occupations. However, firefighting is considered one of the most dangerous occupations considering firefighters' perception of security, work-related injury rate, safety behaviors, attitudes, and norms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between the organizational safety climate and unsafe behaviors among firefighters. Methodology: This was a descriptive and survey research. The statistical population included all the managers and employees working in a fire department consisting of 16 fire stations in Tehran. A researcher-made checklist and an organizational safety climate questionnaire were used to assess the prevalence of unsafe behaviors and safety climate. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software. Results: The employees' mean age, body mass index (BMI), and work, rest, and exercise duration were 32.5±66.83 years old, 25.69±3.7, 9.2±14.1 h/d, 8.15±1.73 h/d, and 5.44±4.46 h/w, respectively. Also, 66% of the employees were overweight and 29% had normal weight. Among the safety climate dimensions, the highest mean was related to management commitment to safety issues (33.7±62.68) and the lowest mean was related to priority over products (6.1±03.63). Unsafe behaviors were mostly associated with lack of using the breathing apparatus in small fires (91.9%) as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) (77.4%) in accidents and not performing operations with inappropriate physical condition (38.7%). The t-test results revealed a significant correlation between the safety climate and prevalence of unsafe behaviors (P≤0.05). Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between the employees' knowledge, participation, attitudes, and environmental safety (P≤0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between emergency preparedness, safety priority, and ignoring risks. Conclusion: Organizational safety climate could affect and predict employees' behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended that fire department managers develop a plan to achieve the required safety climate and improve the safety climate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries where conventional trains are still in use, passengers endure lengthy hours on board. These passengers could opt for air travel, which offers a much shorter duration. Therefore, environmental factors significantly contribute to the overall comfort of passengers and the modal share of railways. In this cross-sectional research, a questionnaire has been developed to quantify passenger evaluations of factors such as light, temperature, noise, and vibrations. An 11-hour journey between Tehran, the capital of Iran, and the second major city is selected, along with two trains (five-star and four-star). Passengers responded to paper questionnaires, and 382 fully completed ones were collected and analyzed. Satisfaction from light was highest while thermal comfort was lowest. A statistically significant difference was observed between the comfort levels of passengers on the two trains. The results also indicated that certain personal or health conditions affect passenger feelings. For example, individuals suffering from low blood pressure tend to feel cold, or those who wear reading glasses are not satisfied with the illumination. Furthermore, older individuals are more sensitive to vibrations, but those traveling with their families are less sensitive to it. The findings of this research can assist in better compartment allocation for passengers and enhance overall passenger satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to recent reports, human errors may cause major systemic disasters at different levels of an organization. Therefore, human reliability assessment is an essential and systematic approach to the analysis and reduction of human errors in industries. The aim of this study is to propose a new approach for analyzing human reliability in order to minimize the defects and shortcomings of conventional methods in this field. The relevant hypotheses of the twelve-step approach indicate that all evaluations are performed at a continuous time and in a varying environment, and all variables are independent of each other. In the proposed approach, a combination of techniques (such as HTA, SHERPA, Markov, etc.) is used for identifying human errors and measuring human reliability. To measure the function of this new approach, a case study between four milling machine operators in workshops of Saipa Automobile Company for six months was considered. Finally, the results show the ease of use and enough clarity of the proposed approach for analysts' use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is an essential contributor to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).   In this regard, finding a prognostic indicator is valuable because the treatment will be more effective if critical patients with high inflammation are diagnosed earlier. We aimed to evaluate some hematologic markers for COVID-19 and assess their association with the severity of the disease. A total of 154 COVID-19 patients were laboratory-confirmed and admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran, from February 12, 2020, to April 4, 2020, and 55 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. The severity of the patients' illnesses was classified into three subgroups according to the types of oxygen therapies (moderate (61), severe (28), and critical (43)) and examined the different ratios of total white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet to monocyte ratio (PLR), macrophage to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), derived NLR ratio (dNLR), and some biochemical tests. COVID-19 patients had higher levels of NLR, MLR, PLR, and dNLR than healthy subjects. receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the curve revealed that NLR and dNLR had a high diagnostic value to differentiate COVID-19 patients from healthy subjects (area under the curve [AUC]=0.923 and 0.910, respectively) and predict mortality (AUC=0.726 and 0.735, respectively). NLR and dNLR may be reliable markers to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. NLR and dNLR had a high diagnostic value for differentiating COVID-19 patients from healthy subjects, and they could predict the severity and outcome of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecotourism in protected areas facilitates responsible travel to natural places that conserve the environment, deliver economic benefits to local communities, and offer interpretation and education to visitors. Proper planning and sufficient monitoring of ecotourism sustainability indicators is needed to manage visitor activities in protected areas. Therefore, identifying the major impacts and mitigating them in the early stages of ecotourism development could contribute significantly to the achievement of sustainable development. There is a current gap between the situation in the field and academic contributions to this problem in protected areas of Iran. In the present study, we evaluated ecotourism sustainability levels in four different types of protected areas in Iran, including Lar National Park, Jajrud Protected Area with Sustainable Use of Natural Resource Areas, Tangeh Vashi National Natural Monument, and Kavdeh Wildlife Refuge. We developed a comprehensive list of ecotourism sustainability indicators, including 38 indicators in the environmental–physical dimension, 42 indicators in the demographic–social dimension, and 30 indicators in the economic–institutional dimension. Harnessing local community expertise, we adopted a Delphi approach to determine sustainability levels and factors impacting sustainability. Ecotourism in Lar National Park was most sustainable because of the high levels of restrictions protecting the area and the difficulty in access. Conversely, ecotourism sustainability was lowest at Tangeh Vashi National Natural Monument, which allowed for an uncontrolled influx of visitors. We discuss further factors that impact sustainability, such as population growth, expanding urbanization, an increase in physical and economic activities, and extended annual periods of ecotourism activities. Although the presented ecotourism sustainability indicators are specific to Iran, this study can also be seen to provide a template to plan for sustainable ecotourism in other countries. Altogether, our results suggest conducting a type-by-type analysis of the particular circumstances of various protected areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV2) has imposed catastrophic impressions on the world. After all the focused researches conducted in the COVID-19 area, many features remain obscure. We have surveyed 1,363 outpatients with suspected COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran. The analysis emphasized on characteristics of patients with positive PCR or serology of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: The nasopharyngeal swabs were tested for SARS-CoV2 PCR. Serum specimens were tested for SARS-CoV2 IgG and IgM. Clinical presentations of the patients, history of chronic diseases or drug use, contact with a possible COVID-19 patient and previous infection with SARS-COV2 were investigated. Results: Of the total 1,363 investigated patients, 22% had positive SARS-CoV-2 PCRs, 82% had positive IgG, 38% had positive IgM, and 31% had both positive IgM and IgG values. Positive serologic tests were significantly associated with a positive PCR test obtained previously in the course of the current disease (P value<0.001). IgG and IgM antibody values were significantly associated with underlying disease, cough, fever, chills, fatigue, and myalgia (all P values <0.001). Dyspnea was significantly associated with IgG levels (P value = 0.01), yet it was not associated with IgM serology (P value = 0.2). Positive serology tests were not associated with symptoms of coryza. GI symptoms were not associated with positive IgG test (P value = 0.1), yet it did show an association with positive IgM test (P value = 0.02). Cough, fever, chills, myalgia fatigue, dyspnea, and GI symptoms were all significantly associated with positive PCR (all P values <0.001), and symptoms of coryza did not show a significant relationship (P value = 0.8). Conclusion: Assessing antibody titers in outpatients is invaluable due to the epidemiological importance of investigations in mild or even asymptomatic cases. Since the number of such studies in non-hospitalized patients is not high, the current study can be used as a comparison model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic is an overwhelming crisis across the world. Human Coronavirus OC43 (HCoV‐OC43) is a Betacoronavirus responsible mostly for mild respiratory symptoms. Since the presentations of HCoV‐OC43 and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐COV‐2) are believed to resemble a lot, the aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of HCoV‐OC43 in the current pandemic and the rate of coinfection for the two viruses. One hundred and seventeen patients referred to Children's Medical Center, Tehran, Iran with respiratory symptoms were included. Real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) methods were performed for the detection of HCoV‐OC43 and SARS‐COV‐2. Totally, 23 (20%) had a positive RT‐PCR for HCoV‐OC43 and 25 (21%) were positive for SARS‐COV‐2. Two patients (2%) had a positive PCR for both HCoV‐OC43 and SARS‐COV‐2. The two groups showed significant differences in having contact with family members with suspected or confirmed COVID‐19 (p = 0.017), fever (p = 0.02), edema (p = 0.036), vomiting (p < 0.001), abdominal complaints (p = 0.005), and myalgia (p = 0.02). The median level of lymphocyte count in patients with HCoV‐OC43 was significantly lower than patients with SARS‐COV‐2 infection (p = 0.039). The same frequency of SARS‐COV‐2 and HCoV‐OC43 was found in children with respiratory symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The rate of coinfection of SARS‐COV‐2 with HCoV‐OC43 in our study was 0.08. Further research into the cocirculation of endemic coronaviruses, such as HCoV‐OC43 and SARS‐CoV2, in different regions, is highly recommended. Attempts to determine the geographic distribution and recruit more flexible test panel designs are also highly recommended. Highlights: The same frequency of SARS‐COV‐2 and HCoV‐OC43 was found in children with respiratory symptoms during the COVID‐19 pandemic.The rate of co‐infection of SARS‐COV‐2 with HCoV‐OC43 was 0.08. The frequency of fever, headache, edema, vomiting, abdominal complaints and myalgia was significantly higher in the HCoV‐OC43 group compared with the SARS‐COV‐2 group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutrition-related factors have been of great interest as one of risk factors of biliary stones. This study evaluated the association of dietary patterns with biliary stone among Iranians. Methods: This is a hospital-based case-control study, which was conducted in a general hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 110 patients with gallstone or common bile duct (CBD) stone confirmed by Ultrasonography within the last 6 months before collecting data were recruited. Controls were age-matched patients admitted to the other wards of the same hospital for a broad spectrum of disorders including traumas and orthopedic conditions, or elective surgeries, or throat/ear/nose disease and had no gallbladder disorders, participated in this study. We used a valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire to assess dietary intakes of participants. Dietary patterns were determined by factor analysis. Results: By design, age was similar in both groups (57.66 ± 16.39 years vs. 56.00 ± 10.64 years in cases and controls, respectively). Two dietary patterns were extracted; "Unhealthy" (high consumption of artificial juice, processed meats, refined grains, sweets and desserts, pickles, snacks, and red meats), and "Healthy" (high consumption of vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, fish, legumes, and nuts, as well as low consumption of hydrogenated fats and salt). Participants in the highest tertile of "Healthy" dietary pattern were significantly less likely to have the gallstones disease (OR: 0.33, 95% CI = 0.120.89) compared to the reference group (low tertile of "Healthy" dietary pattern) (P = 0.02). Conclusions: High consumption of vegetable oils, vegetables, fruits, fish, legumes, and nuts, as well as low consumption of hydrogenated fats and salt in context of healthy dietary pattern are inversely associated with risk of gallstones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Duna Pb-Ba-(Ag) mine is located ca. 155 km north of Tehran in the central Alborz structural zone, northern Iran. The ore mineralization occurs as stratabound, epigenetic, E-W and WSWENE trending veins and veinlets in fracture-controlled as well as massive and open-space filling textures within a Permian dolomitic limestone host rock. Field observations as well as mineralogical and petrographic studies show dolomitization, silicification and possibly haematisation in the host rock. In the mineralization zone, galena and barite are the main minerals, followed by pyrite, quartz, chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, sphalerite, calcite and supergene minerals such as covellite, malachite, azurite, cerussite, anglesite, and Fe-oxides. The chemical analyses of the highgrade ore samples show an average grade of 18.66 wt. % for Pb, 19.99 wt. % for Ba, and 120 ppm for Ag together with substantial quantities of Zn (0.15 wt. %), As (690 ppm), Cu (0.86 wt. %), Sb (0.25 wt. %), and Sr (0.56 wt. %). The amount of silver in some samples from the tunnel and discordant layers is up to 7030 ppm. The positive Eu/Eu* ratio and the weak negative Ce/Ce* anomaly in the ore samples were most likely inherited from magmatic water. The presence of minerals such as pyrite and chalcopyrite together with the co-precipitation of sphalerite and chalcopyrite suggest a high-temperature for mineralizing fluids. The homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions from barite in concordant layers span between 135 and 165 ºC with salinities between 18.54 and 23.65 wt. % NaCl equivalent, while the homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions from barite of discordant layers span between 113 and 285 ºC with salinities between 7.34 and 23.65 wt. % NaCl equivalent. The structural, geological, geochemical, and mineralogical studies together with the paragenesis of the ore minerals and fluid inclusion data allow consideration of the Duna Pb-Ba-(Ag) mine as a two stage mineralization scenario; 1st stage /older/MVT-type (Early Cimmerian tectonic phase), and the second stage/younger/Irish-type (Laramide orogenic movements). The structural data, high temperature of the fluid inclusions, positive Eu/Eu* ratio and high silver content, especially in the discordant layers, indicate the involvement of a magmatic water mixed with meteoric and connate fluids comparable to the Irishtype mineralization in the second stage, which formed along brecciated zones of the thrust faults. The second stage of mineralization was most likely influenced by the Akapol granitoid intrusive mass, which overprinted the 1st stage/older/MVT-type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve competitive advantages, companies mostly use innovation strategies and active participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR). Synergy between corporate social responsibility and innovation is manifested with strategic elements of competitiveness. However, the relationship between CSR and innovation is ambiguous. The present study is aimed to investigate the effects of innovation and corporate social responsibility on financial risk in companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) over the period 2014 - 2019. This research is applied in terms of purpose and correlational descriptive in terms of nature and methodology. In this research, the library method is used for data collection and the data are obtained from financial statements, explanatory notes and the stock exchange journal. Based on the systematic elimination method, 150 companies are selected as a statistical sample and descriptive and inferential statistics are used to describe and summarize the collected data. After the initial tests in the data analysis, a multivariate regression test is performed to verify and reject the hypotheses using E-Views software. We find that innovation has a negative and significant impact on financial risk. Also, the corporate social responsibility has a negative and significant impact on its financial risk. Imitative innovation fosters short-term performance at the expense of long-term technical progress and stakeholder trust, which creates high financial risk. While corporate social responsibility assists companies create a positive image of a "good citizen," it may serve as reputational "insurance." However, a potential contradiction is formed when imitative innovation and corporate social responsibility are observed simultaneously. On the one hand, corporate social responsibility is expected to compensate for the shortcomings of imitative innovation, such as attain the trust of stakeholders and create positive interaction. On the other hand, corporate social responsibility reveals managers' opportunistic behaviors when imitative innovation exactly reflects managers' agency problem by avoiding long-term innovation investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Changes in the gendered division of domestic labour are often assumed to influence childbearing intention, but existing evidence is varied and less examined in the Asian context. This paper aims to investigate the association between the gendered division of domestic labour and the intention to have another child. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Tehran on 455 married women aged 18-40 years who were selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling. Results: Domestic labour is still a feminine role and the majority of women are satisfied with the division of domestic labour. Women's satisfaction with the division of domestic labour is a predictor of their tendency to have another child, but the actual division of domestic labour has not a significant effect on women's desire to childbearing, in the multivariate model. Conclusion: Women's desire for having another child is positively impacted by their satisfaction with the gendered division of labour in their household. To achieve more fertility, gender equality in the family and identifying the factors affecting women's satisfaction with the division of domestic labour is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deposition of atmospheric pollution as particulate matter (PM) has become a serious issue in many urban areas. This study measured and estimated the amount of atmospheric PM deposition onto oriental plane (Platanus orientalis L.) trees located in Tehran Megapolis, Iran. PM deposited on the leaves of urban trees during spring and summer was estimated using leaf wash measurements. In addition to direct measurements, the dry deposition velocity and the yearly whole-tree PM deposition were estimated using both field measurements and a theoretical model of deposition flux. We estimated air quality improvement as a result of the trees at respiratory height (1.5 m), tree height (10 m), and boundary layer height (1719 m). Foliar PM deposition during spring and summer was estimated to average 0.05 g/leaf and 41.39 g/tree using direct measurements. The annual PM deposited on the leaves, trunk, and branches of an average urban tree was calculated to be 78.60 g/tree. Trees were estimated to improve air quality at 1.5 m, 10 m, and 1719 m from ground level by 25.8%, 5.8%, and 0.1%, respectively. Hence, oriental plane trees substantially reduce PM at respiratory height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: The association between the rs9939609 polymorphism of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between FTO rs9939609 polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) in Iranian people. Methods: A case-control study was conducted on 125 patients with CRC and 250 healthy subjects in Tehran, Iran. Demographic data and blood samples were collected from all participants. Genotyping of rs9939609 polymorphism was performed by the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) method. Results: The occurrence of AA genotype of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism in the colorectal cancer patients was significantly higher compared to that of healthy subjects (16.4 vs. 2.9%, respectively, P=0.02). The association between the frequency of risk allele of the FTO polymorphism and CRC (B=1.67, P=0.042) remained significant after adjustment for age. Further adjustment for gender (model 2) and marital status (model 3) did not change this result (B=1.67, P= 0.042 and B=1.67, P=0.043, respectively). The results remained significant after additional adjustment for ethnicity (B=1.57, P= 0.047). Conclusion: We found a positive association between the A allele of the rs9939609 polymorphism and CRC. Future studies are required to identify the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Today, urban entrepreneurship is considered one of the vital strategies that directed cities toward self-control by reducing the unemployment rate and its arising problems, creating sustainable revenue and preparing the ground for citizens' independence. This paper aims to present an integrated foresight framework and establish the boundary conditions for urban entrepreneurship of women breadwinners. The study explains how particular women solve workplace-specific poverty and foster urban wealth by developing startups, new businesses or ventures. Design/methodology/approach: The current research uses a qualitative method and uses the grounded theory approach. Data were collected by selecting 24 outstanding women entrepreneurs using snowball sampling and semi-structured interviews in Tehran Metropolitan. Findings: The results of the study reveal that the main aspects of the model of urban entrepreneurship consist of causal factors, intervening factors and contextual conditions. By shaping the policies and organizing educational plans, training courses and empowering of women, as well as the establishment of supportive units for the development, identification of the opportunities, developing protective rules, the factors as mentioned above lead to cultural, social and economic development, tendency toward entrepreneurship and development of entrepreneurship among women. Originality/value: This study undertakes a first of its kind cross-disciplinary conceptual analysis at the level of how women breadwinners foster urban wealth using developing new businesses, startups or ventures. Despite the importance of urban entrepreneurship, theories for understanding the nexus of urban contexts remain underdeveloped. Therefore, there is still a theoretical gap and lack of research; hence, the current study tries to shed light on the topic and fill this gap in the body of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has gradually spread worldwide, becoming a major public health event. This situation requires designing a novel antiviral agent against the SARS-CoV-2; however, this is time-consuming and the use of repurposed medicines may be promising. One such medicine is favipiravir, primarily introduced as an anti-influenza agent in east world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of favipiravir in comparison with lopinavir-ritonavir in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this randomized clinical trial, 62 patients were recruited. These patients had bilateral pulmonary infiltration with peripheral oxygen saturation lower than 93%. The median time from symptoms onset to intervention initiation was seven days. Favipiravir was not available in the Iranian pharmaceutical market, and it was decided to formulate it at the research laboratory of School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The patients received favipiravir tablet at a dose of 1600 mg orally twice a day for day one and then 600 mg orally twice a day for days 2 to 6. In the second group, the patients received lopinavir-ritonavir combination tablet at a dose of 200/50 mg twice a day for seven days. Fever, cough, and dyspnea were improved significantly in favipiravir group in comparison with lopinavir-ritonavir group on days four and five. Mortality rate and ICU stay in both groups were similar, and there was no significant difference in this regard (P = 0.463 and P = 0.286, respectively). Chest X-ray improvement also was not significantly different between the two groups. Adverse drug reactions occurred in both groups, and impaired liver enzymes were the most frequent adverse effect. In conclusion, early administration of oral favipiravir may reduce the duration of clinical signs and symptoms in patients with COVID-19 and hospitalization period. The mortality rate also should be investigated in future clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Pancreatobiliary system disorders commonly include inflammatory diseases and tumors. Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is challenging and is mostly achieved when the disease has extensively progressed, and metastasis has occurred. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate cytopathology in the diagnosis of Pancreatobiliary malignancies, which can improve diagnostic adequacy and accuracy. Methods: A total of 116 cytopathologic results of the Pancreatobiliary system, performed in the Pathology Department of Taleghani Hospital, Tehran, Iran during 2017-2018 were selected and examined in this observational study. The frequency of different results was determined and compared with other variables. Results: The most common location of the lesions was the pancreas (47%). The lesions were categorized as malignant, benign, negative, suspicious for malignancy (SFM), and atypical in 28%, 10%, 24%, 14%, and 9% of the cases, respectively. In other cases, lesions were considered non-diagnostic. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) was conducted in 25% of patients. Compatibility of the initial and final diagnoses was 100%, 50%, and 60% in cases with "malignant", "benign", and "negative" diagnoses, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values of cytopathology in the diagnosis of Pancreatobiliary lesions were 75.8%, 92.3%, 95.9%, and 61.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that half of the lesions of the Pancreatobiliary system were positive, SFM, and atypical. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and endoscopic ultrasoundguided FNA (EUS-FNA) were effective modalities in diagnosing Pancreatobiliary malignancies. The most important point in our experience is the increase in diagnostic sensitivity in the presence of ROSE. Therefore, the simultaneous use of ROSE and EUSFNA can reduce the need for re-sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sphenoid sinus can be considered a key element in advanced sinus and skull base surgery. Due to its importance, many researchers tried to document its characteristics and evaluate possible differences among different races and populations. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted between March 2017 and December 2018 on 60 fresh adult cadavers in Tehran Forensic Medicine Center, Tehran, Iran. The evaluated variables were distances between nasal spines, posterior wall of the sphenoid, pituitary gland, and the distance between the anterior and posterior ethmoid artery and optic nerve, which were calculated using a flexible ruler through the direct length in millimeter. Another important variable was dehiscence, which was evaluated in optic and carotid artery canals. Results: After dissecting 120 sphenoid sinuses, the carotid artery was dehiscent in 24 (20%) cases, and optic nerve dehiscence was observed in 15 (12.5%) cadavers. The mean distance between the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus and the anterior nasal spine was determined at 73.3±1.3 mm (rang: 58.3-87 mm), and the mean distance between the anterior part of the middle of the pituitary gland and the anterior nasal spine was estimated at 81.1±1.6 mm. Conclusion: According to our finding, the dehiscence of the key structural organs may be more prevalent in the Persian sphenoid sinus, which should be considered carefully in the management of related pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ajowan is an important medicinal plant that grows mainly in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. To evaluate salinity tolerance of 25 Iranian ajowan ecotypes, threestep screening was conducted at germination, seedling, and adult plant growth stages using 0, 50, 100 and 150 mM of NaCl. The significant effects of salinity were observed at the three studied growth stages of ajowan ecotypes. Germination percentage, seed vigor, and biomass dry weight of investigated ecotypes decreased with the increase in NaCl levels. Different responses were observed among ajowan ecotypes in terms of activity of antioxidant enzymes of catalase and peroxidase, with the increasing salinity stress levels .Under the salinity stress, the proline content increased in the majority of the investigated ecotypes. Salinity stress had adverse effects on single plant seed yield and yield components. Results of the calculated correlation coefficient and path coefficient analysis showed that activity of catalase antioxidant enzyme and 1,000-seed weight were the most important characteristics that can be suggested as selection criteria for seed yield of ajowan under salinity stress conditions. The overall results suggest that nine Iranian ajowan ecotypes including Arak, Felaverjan, Ghoom, Hamedan, Karaj, Ghaen, Tehran, Yazd, and Shiraz were the salinity-tolerant ecotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, owing to population growth, increasing environmental pollution, and lifestyle changes, the number of asthmatics has significantly increased. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the asthma-prone areas in Tehran, Iran considering environmental, spatial factors. Initially, we built a spatial database using 872 locations of children with asthma and 13 environmental factors affecting the disease—distance to parks and streets, rainfall, temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5), ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Subsequently, utilizing this spatial database, a random forest (RF) machine learning model, and a geographic information system, we prepared a map of asthma-prone areas. For modeling and validation, we deployed 70% and 30%, respectively, of the locations of children with asthma. The results of spatial autocorrelation and RF model showed that the criteria of distance to parks and streets as well as PM 2.5 and PM 10 had the greatest impact on asthma occurrence in the study area. Spatial autocorrelation analyses indicated that the distribution of asthma cases was not random. According to receiver operating characteristic results, the RF model had good accuracy (the area under the curve was 0.987 and 0.921, respectively, for training and testing data). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Similar to the global studies, different prevalence rates of this viral infection have been reported in Iran. Therefore, we aimed to report the prevalence of this virus and its significance in HNSCC patients. Methods: Patients who were referred to the five hospitals of Tehran city from May 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled in this study. All patients were diagnosed with HNSCC based on pathologic study. The pathologic disease staging was defined, and DNAs were extracted from the fresh tissue samples via kits. After polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HPV positive samples were evaluated for determining genotypes and data analysis. Results: Of the 46 patients, three patients (6.5%) showed positive HPV results with the following subtypes: 18 (in two patients), 52 (in three patients), 61 (in two patients), 67, and 73. Comparison of variables between the groups with and without HPV showed a significant difference based on the tumor’s lymphatic invasion (P=0.041), peripheral lymph node involvement (P=0.008), and histologic grade (P=0.011), but no statistically significant difference in terms of other variables such as age, primary tumor site, size, pathologic stage, vascular or perineural invasion, metastasis, smoking, and alcohol consumption was found. Conclusion: HPV positivity may be an important contributing factor in the lymphatic invasion, peripheral lymph node involvement, and histologic grade of cases with HNSCC and should be further investigated for its effect on prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of ambient particulate matter (PM) poses more dangers to human health than that of other common air pollutants such as Carbon dioxide (Co2) and ozone. Epidemiologic studies show a direct correlation between PM and the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The immune system seems to play a critical role in the process of these diseases. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effect of Tehran particulate matter in two aerodynamic diameters (PM2.5 and PM10) on alveolar macrophages (AM) from C57/BL6 mice. To evaluate the inflammatory effects of PMs, cultured alveolar, and peritoneal macrophages were treated with PM2.5 & PM10 (concentrations of 5 .g/mL and 10 .g/mL). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-10 (representatives of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, respectively) were assessed in the culture supernatant by ELISA. Expression of arginase and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) genes was carried out by quantitative real-time PCR. Different functional types of cultured alveolar macrophages (M1, M2) were also determined in this study. Our results suggest that PM2.5 induces M1 inflammatory phenotype in comparison with PM10. We found Also, an increase in TNF-α and M1-related gene expression (iNOS), as well as a decrease in both IL-10 and M2 phenotype genes (Arginase). Moreover, a reduction in phagocytic capacity and increased apoptosis function of macrophage cells were detected. PM2.5 as a major component in hydrocarbons has a considerable effect on polarizing the alveolar macrophages to an inflammatory phenotype and eliciting lung inflammation in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime occurrence is an ever-increasing social problem of Tehran city. Crime management for this city requires social action, public participation or community-oriented policing. In this regard, Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) systems can be of great support to community policing efforts. By employing such systems, members of the society can act as active, intelligent, responsible, location-aware, mobile, and distributed sensors in order to monitor and report local crimes and generate crime data. Analysis of such data can be substantially helpful in crime management within Tehran. Therefore, the objective of this study is to develop a VGI-based system as a means for crime management in District # 22 of Tehran. Using this system, citizens and police departments can accurately report and analyze various information such as precise location, type, photo, date and time. Citizens' feedbacks indicate that the system is easy-to-use (highly 55%, very highly 31%), suitable for reporting and presenting crime data (highly 90%) and reducing crime rates (highly 40%, very highly 35%), all the while providing an attractive user interface (highly 25%, moderately 45%). However, most citizens stated that the system is highly dependent in its need for prior knowledge (highly 75%). On the other hand, evaluation results by police departments show that the system facilitates the entire crime management process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to assess the incidence rate of adverse drug reactions (ADR) to chemotherapeutic agents and related problems in hospitalized pediatric patients diagnosed with cancer who referred to Mahak hospital in Tehran. Methods: All information about 125 children younger than 18-years-old who experienced ADR during their chemotherapy period (from March 2008 to March 2020) in Mahak Pediatric Cancer Treatment and Research Center (MPCTR) was collected and analyzed in SPSS-25. Results: Most of patients (approximately 65%, n=81) were male and the mean age of both genders was approximately 6.6 years of old. In addition, leukemia was the most common cancer type followed by Central Nervous System tumor. In terms of adverse events, skin and subcutaneous disorders occurred in 74 cases of 125, whereas nervous system, Immune system disorders and musculoskeletal related disorders were the least common events each occurring only in four cases. According to Naranjo's Probability Scale, most ADRs were evaluated as probable in relation with administrated drug (61.60%) and 56.80% of reactions were determined as mild. Furthermore, the commonest ADRcausative drugs were L-asparaginase followed by carboplatin (together more than 56% of all cases. Conclusion: The overall incidence of ADR amongst children diagnosed with cancer in our retrospective study was 3.68 %. Additionally, leukemia treatment regimen including L-asparaginase seems to be significantly vulnerable to induce ADRs in pediatric ward. Finally, there is a crucial need for monitoring pediatric patients during treatment process in order to reduce the risk of ADR occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impacts of intellectual capital on the liquidity of assets and stocks and the bankruptcy likelihood. Multivariate regression models with combined data used to test the hypotheses. Using a sample of 147 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2010–2017, the results indicate that intellectual capital has a positive effect on the liquidity of assets and the liquidity of stocks, and that it has an inverse relation with the bankruptcy likelihood. Moreover, we found that the liquidity of assets has a negative effect on the bankruptcy likelihood. However, the liquidity of stocks has no significant effect on the bankruptcy likelihood. In general, the findings of this study provide evidence of the effective role of intellectual capital in improving the liquidity of assets and the impacts of both the intellectual capital and the liquidity on reducing the bankruptcy likelihood. This study provides evidence of the prominent role of intellectual capital in the intelligent management of corporate liquidity and reducing the likelihood of bankruptcy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]