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Objective: Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is highly prevalent and can result from hypovitaminosis D. Besides the role of vitamin D in normal bone development, studies showed it could reduce oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. This prospective study aims to evaluate the relationship between serum vitamin D, testosterone, and oxidative stress levels in women with FSD. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 40 women with FSD (age range: 18–45 years) were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and control. In the intervention group, patients received vitamin D 300,000 IU intramuscularly (IM) and then 50,000 IU orally once a week for four weeks. We measured the serum vitamin D, testosterone, and oxidative stress levels, as well as the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) at baseline and monthly for three months. Results: Serum testosterone levels significantly increased in the intervention group at the end of the third month (P = 0.014). Also, FSFI scores significantly improved (P

Abstract Introduction In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to analyze the existing literature to evaluate the role of inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) among individuals with cardiac syndrome X (CSX) compared to healthy controls. Methods We used PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase to systematically search relevant publications published before April 2, 2023. We performed the meta-analysis using Stata 11.2 software (Stata Corp, College Station, TX). So, we used standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to compare the biomarker level between patients and healthy controls. The I2 and Cochran’s Q tests were adopted to determine the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results Overall, 29 articles with 3480 participants (1855 with CSX and 1625 healthy controls) were included in the analysis. There was a significantly higher level of NLR (SMD = 0.85, 95%CI = 0.55–1.15, I2 = 89.0 %), CRP (SMD = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.38 to 1.02, p

Background: No vertical transmission has been reported for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2); Yet, Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was detected against SARS-CoV-2 amongst infants. The present study aimed to compare maternal IgG antibody concentration from infected SARS-CoV-2 mothers to newborns in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. As a secondary outcome, the interval between the onset of infection and delivery and COVID-19 severity were compared.Methods: An observational cohort study was conducted on COVID-19 positive pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters in Fars province, Iran between 21 March and 22 October 2021. A questionnaire was completed to record background characteristics of the study participants. Real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction tests were taken from newborns immediately after birth to diagnose COVID-19. Maternal and cord blood specimen were taken to measure IgG concentrations; generalized linear models were used to report the crude and adjusted Rate Ratios with 95% confidence interval (cRR and aRR (95% C.I)), and IBM SPSS Statistics version 22 was used, at the significance level of 0.05.Results: From 37 patients, 15 and 22 patients were in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy, respectively. After adjusting on maternal age, Cord IgG concentration was positively associated with maternal IgG concentration and interval between the onset of infection and delivery in the 3rd trimester (aRR (95% CI); 2.86 (2.27-3.6) and 1.23 (1.01-1.51)); however, no association was observed with COVID-19 severity (aRR (95% CI); 0.88 (0.09-8.66)). A positive association was also seen between high levels of cord IgG and maternal IgG (≥1.1 U/mL) (aRR (95% CI); 2.31 (1.05-5.09)). No significant associations were seen in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy (P>0.05 for all).Conclusions: In late pregnancy, Cord IgG concentration was positively associated with maternal IgG and interval between the onset of infection and delivery. Also, high levels of IgG antibody (≥1.1 U/mL) resulted in significantly higher level of cord IgG (≥1.1 U/mL).

Abstract Obesity can lead to cardiovascular dysfunctions and cause electrocardiographic disruptions. Bariatric surgery plays a significant role in weight loss. To assess its benefits, this study investigated electrocardiographic changes before and after bariatric surgery. The present article describes a retrospective cohort study with a 6-month follow-up period. Electrocardiograms were interpreted and compared before and six months after surgery. The relationships between weight loss, type of surgery, and electrocardiographic alterations were analyzed. A total of 200 patients participated in the study, with 34 (17%) men and 166 (83%) women. The mean age of the participants was 44.6 ± 8.6, and their mean body mass index was 43.8 ± 5.5 kg/m2. The mean of QTc decreased after the surgery, while the Sokolow-Lyon scores increased. The statistical analysis showed that QTc dispersion (> 40) (P

Abstract Background Obesity is a pathology and a leading cause of death worldwide. Obesity can harm multiple organs, including the heart. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery and following weight loss on cardiac structure and functions using echocardiography parameters in patients with morbid obesity. Methods In this cohort study, 30 patients older than 18 with BMI > 40 or BMI > 35 and comorbidity between March 2020 to March 2021 were studied. The patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography before and after six months of the bariatric surgery. Results In total, 30 patients (28 women, 93.3%) with a mean age of 38.70 ± 9.19 were studied. Nine (30%) were diabetic, and 9 (30%) had hypertension. After six months of bariatric surgery, all physical measurements, including weight, Body mass index, and Body surface area, decreased significantly (p

IntroductionThe increase in water demand, especially in the production of agricultural products, has led to increased competition for fresh water. Therefore, improving agricultural water productivity and reducing water stress caused by agricultural production is an important measure to improve the sustainable use of water resources. One of the most important indicators proposed for water management is the concept of water footprint, which can be used as a useful tool to measure and predict the amount of water consumed in the agricultural sector and the required demand. In addition, water stress and water poverty indicators are among the other widely used indicators to evaluate water scarcity. Iran is an arid and semi-arid country that has faced severe water shortage and this has had adverse effects on the economy, ecosystem functions, and the welfare of the country's people. The agricultural sector is one of the most important and largest consuming sectors of water resources in Iran, so more than 92% of freshwater resources are consumed in this sector, so the knowledge of water resources allocated for the production of agricultural products is important for managers. And the country's policymakers are very important. So, one of the main solutions to reduce water shortage is to reduce water consumption in the agricultural sector. Among agricultural products, rice is one of the most important food products, which feeds more than half of the world's population. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to use the indicators of water footprint, water stress, and water poverty to evaluate the water scarcity of water in rice production in Iran. Materials and MethodsAmong the agricultural products, rice is a valuable food and the most important and widely consumed grain. The study area is the rice-producing provinces. which feeds more than half of the world's population. It accounts for about 19% of the world's dietary energy. After wheat, this product is known as one of the most important food items. The average area under rice cultivation (ha), production (ton), yield (tons/ha) as well as the necessary data and information were collected concerning the water resources available for rice production from the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture and the Water Resources Management Company of Iran. The evaluation of water footprint components, including blue, green, and gray water footprints, is based on the method provided by Hoekstra et al. (2011). The water stress index of rice is calculated as a ratio of the total water footprint in rice production to the total water resources available in the region. The amount of water poverty caused by rice production is defined by the product of the total water footprint in rice production and the value of the rice water stress index. Finally, the amount of export and import of virtual water due to rice production in Iran has been estimated. Results and DiscussionOn average, the total footprint of rice is 3037 m-3 t and the total volume resulting from its production is 4313 MCM, with the share of blue, green, and gray water footprints being 91.68, 6.93, and 1.39 %, respectively. The available water resources (AWR) for rice production in the producing provinces are 21,992 MCM, of which 6,872 and 15,210 MCM are related to blue water and green water, respectively. The results of the investigation of the water stress index (RWSI) caused by rice cultivation in Iran, which is the result of dividing the total water footprint in rice production by the available water resources, is on average equal to 0.5 (out of 1.9), which shows Iran is in moderate water stress of rice production. Changes in water stress in rice production on a provincial scale showed that the provinces of Qazvin, Zanjan, Isfahan, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and Sistan and Baluchistan have water stress with a value between 0.6 and 1.2 are high and very high water stress in rice production, while the provinces of Mazandaran, Guilan, Golestan, Fars, and Khuzestan are in the range of less than 0.3 (low water stress) Also, the water poverty caused by rice production is equal to 1073 MCM in Iran, which is the highest and lowest amount of water poverty in Guilan and Khuzestan provinces (290 and 11 MCM). ConclusionWater sustainability in rice production in Iran has been investigated using water stress, water poverty, and water footprint, as well as the amount of exports and imports. Among the components of the water footprint, the highest value is related to the blue water footprint, and the lowest is related to the green water footprint. The high blue water footprint shows that most of the surface water and groundwater is used for rice production, and the low green water footprint shows that the amount of rainfall is not enough for rice cultivation in Iran. According to the results, the amount of gray water footprint in rice production is more than the green water footprint, this issue shows that the low yield of rice in the studied provinces as well as the high consumption of fertilizers and chemical pesticides cause the increase of gray water footprint in rice has been produced. Assessing water scarcity using the water footprint approach can be useful for identifying the risks of high rice production due to the potential of water scarcity. The dependence and high consumption of blue water compared to green water have increased the water shortage related to the production of rice. Therefore, it is necessary to change the pattern of water resource allocation based on the status of water resources and water scarcity indicators.

Abstract This study investigated the use of heat-activated persulfate (HAP) as a chemical oxidation technique for removing tinidazole (TNZ) antibiotic from aqueous solutions. The impact of various operating parameters, including TNZ initial concentration (20 μM), persulfate (PS) initial dose (0.2–2 mM), solution pH (3–11), solution temperature (20–60 °C), and reaction time (10–120 min), was examined. The results indicated that sulfate radicals were the primary species responsible for TNZ degradation. Higher temperatures and PS concentrations improved the process, while higher pH values and TNZ initial concentrations slowed it down. Additionally, chloride and bicarbonate ions reduced reaction rates, with chloride ions having a more significant effect. Under optimal conditions (including [TNZ]0 = 20 μM, pH = 7, [PS]0 = 1 mM, temperature = 60 °C, and reaction time = 120 min), the removal efficiency achieved was 91.15%, with a mineralization rate of 85.8%. These results suggest that the process is relatively safe. The degradation of TNZ was best described by the pseudo-first-order model compared to other models. Additionally, the process was found to be exothermic and spontaneous, with a negative Gibbs free energy change indicating that it is thermodynamically feasible. The study found HAP to be an effective and cost-efficient technique for removing TNZ antibiotic due to its ease of operation and the absence of the need for additional chemicals or waste handling. Based on these findings, HAP can be considered an advanced oxidation technique for treating antibiotic-contaminated water.

Objective: To determine the temporal trend and epidemiology of animal bite cases in Gerash City, Iran. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 630 cases of people with animal bites between 2011 and 2021 in Gerash City. The collected data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of victims was (30.9±17.5) years. 80.54% Of victims were male, 39.70% were self-employed, and 64.60% were adults (≥18 years). Most cases of bites occurred in 2019 (91 cases), 2020 (74 cases) and 2021 (87 cases), and most of the bites were related to the upper limbs (62.70%). Most of the wounds were superficial (78%), most of the biting animals were domestic animals (91.74%), and most of the victims had Iranian nationality (97.62%). Conclusions: Given the increasing trend of animal bites in Gerash City, health authorities should carry out basic measures such as education and awareness among the public, especially at-risk groups such as adult males. Additionally, since most cases of bites are due to dogs, it seems necessary to plan for vaccination of dogs, especially those with owners.

Water scarcity has received global attention in the last decade as it challenges food security in arid and semi-arid regions. This study employs water scarcity indices to assess water resources in the agricultural sector of Iran's Jazmourian watershed. Overall, we find that the watershed is experiencing a “very high stress” water situation. This is primarily due to intensive water usage for diverse crops, which has resulted in a negative net virtual water balance and contributed to a rise in water stress and poverty levels. The water stress index is 0.88, and the agricultural water stress is 1.25. The agricultural water footprint is 2,018.53 million cubic meters (MCM), with the share of blue, green and gray water footprints being 80.21, 6.08, and 13.72%, respectively. The region possesses 3,210 MCM of available water for crops, with 17.1% sourced from green waters and 82.9% from blue waters. Despite low annual rainfall and limited water resources, the region excessively exploits water for diverse crops. The net virtual water balance is negative, indicating high virtual water export (1,112–1,605 MCM) compared to imports (58–265 MCM). With declining water availability and increasing crop production, the region experiences rising water stress. The spatial analysis of sub-watersheds reveals diverse patterns of water stress and poverty, as detailed in the study. HIGHLIGHTS Water scarcity indices were quantified using water resource availability and the water footprint in the watershed scale.; The agricultural Water Stress Index was estimated based on agricultural water footprint and agricultural water resources.; The AWSI and blue water scarcity increased from 2008 to 2019 in the agricultural production of the Jazmurian watershed.;

Abstract This paper investigates charged black holes within the framework of quintic quasi-topological gravity, focusing on their thermodynamics, conserved quantities, and stability. We construct numerical solutions and explore their thermodynamic properties, supplemented by the study of analytically solvable special cases. By verifying the first law of thermodynamics, we validate our approach and compare our findings to those of Einstein gravity. The physical properties of the solutions are examined across anti-de Sitter, de Sitter, and flat spacetime backgrounds. Our analysis reveals that anti-de Sitter solutions demonstrate thermal stability, while de Sitter and flat solutions lack this property. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results and propose potential avenues for future research in this field.

Abstract Nanostructures exhibit unusual properties due to the dominance of quantum mechanical effects. In addition, the geometry of a nanostructure can have a strong influence on its physical properties. Using the tight-binding and force-constant approaches with the help of the non-equilibrium Green’s function method, the transport and thermoelectric properties of cross-shaped (X-shaped) composite heterostructures are studied in two cases: Mixed graphene and h-BN (HETX-CBN) and all graphene (HETX-C) cross-shaped structures. Our numerical results show that an X-shaped structure helps to manipulate its electronic and phononic properties. The transport energy gap can be tuned in the range of ~ 0.8 eV by changing one arm width. Due to the drastic decrease in the electronic conductance of HETX-CBN and the dominance of the phononic thermal conductance, the ZT performance is degraded despite the high Seebeck coefficient value (in the order of meV). However, HETX-C has better ZT performance due to better electronic conductance and lower phononic/electronic thermal ratio, it can enhance the ZT ~ 2.5 times compared to that of zigzag graphene nanoribbon. The thermoelectric properties of the system can be tuned by controlling the size of the arms of the device and the type of its atoms.

Abstract Background Vitamin D, one of the most essential micronutrients, is crucial in various health outcomes. However, previous studies showed conflicting results and uncertainty about vitamin D supplementation's optimal dosage and duration. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the vitamin D supplements efficiency on serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihdroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) in adults. Methods A systematic analysis of eligible and relevant randomized-controlled trials (RCT) published before April 2023 assessing the effect of vitamin D supplementations applied. The studies were identified by searching several databases, including Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Cochrane Register of controlled trials. Results Five eligible RCTs with 346 participants in the intervention and 352 participants in the control group were assessed in our project. According to the results, there was a substantial change in 25(OH)D (SMD: 2.2, I 2 : 92.3, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.38–3.02, P-value: 0.048) and 1,25(OH)2D (SMD:1.23, I 2 : 86.3, 95% CI: 0.01- 2.44, P-value

Natural and human-made crises can significantly impact the development of countries’ tourism industries. The susceptibility of countries to these crises depends on their policies, planning, and management in facing diverse challenges. This article aims to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry in G7 countries by comparing rankings and positions on indices in 2016 and 2020. Data collected from the RANking COMparison (RANCOM), Proximity Indexed Value (PIV), and Double Normalization Compromise Ranking of Alternatives from Distance to Ideal Solution (DNCRADIS) models have been utilized for data analysis. The research findings indicate noticeable differences in using different models, as the rankings and positions of G7 countries for the years 2016 and 2020, except for two countries, the United States and France, have been different. The research results demonstrate that the COVID-19 crisis had significant impacts on the tourism industries of G7 countries. Countries like the United States, France, and the United Kingdom appear as leading nations in the tourism industry, while Japan and Canada faced challenges, and Germany and Italy experienced changes in their positions. Based on these results, officials and planners in the tourism industry of G7 countries can make appropriate decisions for the development and improvement of tourism under similar crisis conditions. Moreover, these findings can serve as a valuable guide for other countries in managing similar crises in the tourism industry.

Abstract Background Electrocardiogram (ECG) remains an important medical diagnostic and screening tool. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of online classes instead of traditional face-to-face or blended methods in medical students’ ECG learning. Methods Two hundred and fifteen medical students (including 105 (48.8%) males and 110 (51.2%) females) were studied from February 2021 to February 2022. Regardless of their grade, participants were divided into three groups: online, face-to-face, and blended. Then all participants sat for an ECG interpretation exam, and their results were compared. Results Twenty-six (12.1%) participants were residents, and 189 (87.9%) were interns. Thirty-five (16.3%), 85 (39.5%), and 95 (44.2%) participants were taught ECG through face-to-face, online, and blended methods, respectively. Regarding participants’ preferences on teaching methods, 118 (54.9%) preferred face-to-face learning, and the remaining 97 (45.1%) chose online learning (p