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Abstract Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is essential for evidence-based healthcare decision-making, yet its integration into Iran’s healthcare system faces political and logistical challenges. Despite HTA’s potential to improve resource allocation, limited awareness, data gaps, and competing priorities hinder its implementation. This commentary emphasizes the need for political support, advocating capacity-building, collaboration, and alignment with long-term health policies. Leveraging international partnerships and monitoring outcomes can enhance HTA’s role in improving healthcare in Iran and contributing to global health advancements.

Abstract Objective This study aims to assess the economic burden of prostate cancer in Iran by analyzing direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and indirect costs. We conducted a cross-sectional cost-of-illness study in Khorramabad, located in western Iran, during 2023, using a prevalence-based, bottom-up approach. Data were collected from 285 prostate cancer patients using questionnaires, interviews, and patient records. Results Our study estimated the economic burden of prostate cancer at $744,990. Direct medical costs accounted for 63.50% of this, totaling $153,330, with therapy being the largest component. Direct non-medical costs were $62,130, and indirect costs from productivity losses were $209,760. The calculated overall cost per patient was $2,614.88. Extrapolating from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease data, which reported approximately 83,000 prostate cancer patients in Iran, the national economic burden is estimated at $217,034,040. This substantial burden highlights the need for improved insurance coverage and early detection. The findings suggest that policymakers and healthcare providers in Iran should develop standardized cost analysis methods and enhance financial protection to alleviate economic strain and improve healthcare outcomes and sustainability.

Abstract Background In goat kids, choosing the appropriate age to administer the first dose of goat pox disease (GTP) vaccine requires knowing when maternal antibody decline concentrations. Objective Determine the persistence of maternal antibodies against goat pox virus (GTPV) in goat kids. Animals Twenty Saanen goat kids from birth to 120 days old. Methods In 2 groups, including: control (receiving colostrum from nonvaccinated does) and treatment (receiving colostrum from vaccinated does). On zero, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42, 56, 70, 100 and 120 days after the birth, virus neutralization test was used to measure the serum concentration of antibodies against GTPV. Results At the age of 56 days, the first seronegative goat kids (n = 2) were recorded in the treatment group. At the age of 120 days, all the goat kids in the treatment group were seronegative. The average virus neutralization index (VNI) of the goat kids became negative at the age of 100 to 120 days. All goat kids in the control group were negative at all times. Conclusions and Clinical Importance One hundred to 120 days of the age seems to be the time to administer the first GTP vaccine in the goat kids with passive immunity against goat pox.

Introduction: Personality traits are the basis of stable patterns and emotional and behavioral functioning that affect the risk of contracting chronic diseases and people's ways of understanding health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the personality traits between cardiovascular patients and the individuals with a history of drug abuse. Methods: The present study was an analytical cross-sectional study on 301 individuals (115 control group, 86 cardiovascular patients and 100 individuals with a history of drug addiction) in the form of convenience and available sampling in Karaj City in 2023. The data were collected using the ZKA personality questionnaire. After collecting the data, they were entered into SPSS version16 software. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis. Results: In the present study, the mean and standard deviation of the total age of the participants was 41.37±14.76. The participation consisted of 179 (59.4%) men and 122 (39.6%) women. In SS1, EX2, AC4, AG2, NE4, SS4, and EX3 aspects, statistically significant differences were observed between the groups of cardiovascular and the control. In the aspects of AC4, AG2, NE4, EX2, NE2, SS4 and NE and SS factors, a significant difference was observed between the individuals with a history of addiction and the control group. Conclusion: Considering the relationship between personality traits and heart diseases and substance abuse, it is recommended that the results of this study be considered for prevention and appropriate intervention by doctors and health professionals, and these results can also be used to develop treatment programs.

Abstract Although many desalination plants have been built in the countries around the Persian Gulf (PG) over the past decade, there exist crucial water demands in this region. Considering the limited water exchange between PG and the open seas, effluents more than the natural capacity of the PG will increase the sea-water salinity continuously. This excess salinity, in addition to threatening the marine ecosystems, endangers the water supply for many population centers. This study provides a comprehensive numerical analysis of the impact of existing and new desalination plants on the PG’s salinity. In addition, the water residence time and pollutant extension have been investigated in the PG. There exist several concerns, especially in recent years about the probable threat of desalination growth in semi-enclosed seas such as PG. The effect of desalination plants on the mean salinity of PG is one the questions investigated in this research. Results demonstrate that the water residence times in the southern and northwestern regions are more than five years. This time is reduced to nearly 26 to 45 months in the eastern regions near the Strait of Hormuz. Generally, the desalination plants have a negligible effect on the salinity of PG in comparison with the climate conditions such as evaporation and water exchanges. Based on the results, a 50% increase in effluent discharge of existing desalination plants increases the average salinity of the PG by only 0.01 psu. However, the annual volume of net evaporation (that exits the clean water directly) is nearly 36 times more than the effluent discharge from the existing desalination plants. Furthermore, this value is almost 0.2% of the amount of water that enters the PG through the Strait of Hormuz. In spite of these findings, the regional effects can be significant in some parts of the PG. For example, the southern and western coasts of PG are generally more vulnerable to pollution than other areas. The main reason is the shallow water depth in these areas and the water recirculation pattern. Some sensitive local areas have been also addressed in this study. Among the studied regions, the coastlines at the northwest of PG and at the north the Qeshm Island are two susceptible areas. The findings of this study underscore the importance of considering a new integrated viewpoint in developing desalination plants within PG.

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is considered a worldwide health problem associated with high morbidity, mortality, and cost of care. In the present study, we examined risk-enhancing factors for ASCVD in healthcare workers of the AZAR cohort population. Methods: Data from a total of 500 participants were used for this cross-sectional study. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric indices, biochemical factors, and blood pressure were assessed. To evaluate the associations of ASCVD with the parameters mentioned above, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results: The total frequency of subjects with severe (≥7.5) and low (

Background: Finding herbal herbicides with biodegradability and selectivity against weeds is an interesting and vital challenge for human health. The study was considered to analyze the phytochemical profile, phytotoxicity and biological activities of Rindera lanata together with a molecular docking perspective. The study was considered to analyze the phytochemical profile, phytotoxicity and biological activities of Rindera lanata together with a molecular docking perspective. Methods: Aerial parts of R. lanata were successively solvent extracted with the Soxhlet apparatus, followed by maceration. Different chromatography methods were employed to isolate and purify the major compounds of the plant. The compounds were assigned by spectroscopic methods, containing 1D and 2D NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). Several in vitro antioxidant assays, together with an antimicrobial assay, alongside the allelopathic property on the germination of Cuscuta campestris seeds, were assessed upon the extracts. As a final point, molecular docking was conducted to evaluate the interactions among the identified compounds with 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), glutamine synthetase (GS), and acetohydroxyacid synthetase (AHAS). Results: Phytochemical analysis of the extracts led to the identification of a new flavonoid 3, 5, 4’-tri-O-methylquercetin (1), apigenin (2), chrysoeriol (3), luteolin-7-O-glucoside (4) and rutin (5). It was exposed that ethyl acetate extract not only illustrated the highest antioxidant effect in all the in vitro assays but also exhibited the maximum antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Effectively, it showed conventional allelopathic activity in preventing germination, seedling length and seedling weight growth of C. campestris seeds, as well as a concentration-dependent enhancement (p≤0.05). Docking analysis results indicated that rutin had a good affinity for HPPD, GS and AHAS enzymes, with docking score values of -11.454, -10.422 and -10.152 kJ/mol, respectively. Conclusion: The present study suggested that isolated flavonoids from R. lanata could be used as the lead compounds in the development of natural herbicides for strong bonds in the active region of HPPD, GS and AHAS enzymes.

Abstract The aim of the current research is to present a model of customer participation with brands in social networks with an emphasis on cultural differences. The research method is applicable in terms of purpose, mixed (qualitative-quantitative) in terms of execution method, exploratory in terms of nature, and descriptive and survey type in terms of information gathering and analysis method. The statistical population in the qualitative part includes 10 experts from the scientific community and academic specialists and experts of the top 500 companies in Iran based on the ranking of the Industrial Management Organization, who were selected purposefully; and in the quantitative part, it includes the managers of the top 500 companies in Iran based on the ranking of the industrial management organization, and the statistical sample will be selected from among the companies that have active accounts in social networks and considered as the statistical population; and based on Cochran's formula, 217 people were selected as a sample by random sampling method. Data analysis in the qualitative section is based on the content analysis method; and in the quantitative section, SPSS and PLS software are used. The results of the qualitative part show that this research includes 14 dimensions and 30 components, and the results of the quantitative part show that the dimensions and components of customer engagement with brands have an impact on social networks with an emphasis on cultural differences. Also, the results show a strong and very good fit of the model. Extended Abstract Introduction Organizations, with the intense competition in the markets and the understanding of the importance of keeping customers for organizations and at the same time as the customer orientation movement peaked, were gradually pushed to create and maintain long-term relationships with customers. Also, the emergence of new technologies such as information technology has had tremendous effects on various dimensions of the organization and has caused the emergence of an issue such as customer participation (Hosseini, 2020). Customer participation is a tool that can be used with the aim of helping organizations to establish interaction and retain customers. Using electronic customer participation and benefiting from its results can help to improve the quality level of the provided services more effectively, and subsequently, increase customer loyalty, trust and satisfaction (Mohammadi & Sohrabi, 2017). The brand includes instructions that lead to the desired perceiving of brand by the customer's mind and belief. It is important to note that the definition of the brand position and the mental image of the brand are completely different. The brand is an important thing in the development and promotion of the brand in the target market, because it will increase interest in the brand, more willingness to buy in the target market, and also increase brand loyalty (Koch & Gyrd-Jones, 2019). Brand is considered a promise and commitment from the organization to stakeholders, and a symbol that is presented to identify and differentiate products from competitors' products (Mirzaei et al, 2019). Culture, as a basis for determining values, is one of the most important factors affecting management. The nature of decision-making is also rooted in culture. Ignoring this role will result in lack of internal coherence and external compliance. In large organizations around the world, it is different who makes the decision, when the decision is made, and to what extent the decision is made in a rational way; therefore, when discussing individual methods in decision-making, the issue of culture should not be neglected (Shi'ezadeh et al, 2017). Based on this, the current research is looking for an answer to this question: What is the pattern of customer participation with brands in social networks, considering cultural differences? Theoretical Framework Customer involvement Customer participation is a key link to several measures of company success, including increasing revenue and customer loyalty and profitability. Significant links has been found between customer participation and business success (Taghiabadi et al, 2023). Brand Brand is a factor to create differentiation. It is not easy to make this distinction. In the past, quality was considered an advantage and distinction, but today, quality is a matter of course. Many similar products with different brands do the same thing for the consumer; therefore, the consumer looks for signs among a multitude of brands to encourage him to choose. This distinguishing sign is not functional features; rather, it is emotional and symbolic features, and brand personality can create such a distinction (Rasouli & Bayat, 2020). Social Networks Social networks are Internet-based communication and collaborative channels that have been widely used since 2005 for different purposes (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). Cultural differences Culture can cause the formation and emergence of appropriate or inappropriate performance (Kasemsap, 2013). It determines how to perceive, think and react appropriately to internal and external environments (Shao, 2019). Culture in the last decade has been widely used in various research fields and has been recognized as one of the important factors guiding strategy formulation and implementation (Kavala et al, 2020). Lopez et al, (2021) investigated the role of online brand community on customer relationship with the brand. The results showed that participation through the online brand community directly has a positive and significant effect on community participation and the desire to create cooperation with the brand name and positive word of mouth, and also has a positive indirect effect on brand loyalty. These results show that interaction through establishing online communities based on customer participation has a positive effect on product sales through online platforms. Khademi et al, (2021) in their study investigated the cooperation in branding through the cooperative motivation of customers in digital media. The results of the research showed that customer participation motivation in social networking sites has a positive and significant effect on customer participation in brand communities, customer participation on brand trust and brand loyalty. Meanwhile, brand trust has a positive and significant effect on brand loyalty, and brand trust and loyalty also have a positive and significant effect on brand co-creation. Finally, brand trust moderates the relationship between customer involvement and brand loyalty. Research methodology The research method is applicable in terms of purpose, mixed (qualitative-quantitative) in terms of execution method, exploratory in terms of nature, and descriptive and survey type in terms of information gathering and analysis method. The statistical population in the qualitative part includes 10 experts from the scientific community and academic specialists and experts of the top 500 companies in Iran based on the ranking of the Industrial Management Organization, who were selected purposefully; and in the quantitative part, it includes the managers of the top 500 companies in Iran based on the ranking of the industrial management organization, and the statistical sample will be selected from among the companies that have active accounts in social networks and considered as the statistical population; and based on Cochran's formula, 217 people were selected as a sample by random sampling method Research findings Data analysis in the qualitative section is based on the content analysis method, and in the quantitative section, SPSS and PLS software are used. The results of the qualitative part show that this research includes 14 dimensions and 30 components, and the results of the quantitative part show that the dimensions and components of customer engagement with brands have an impact on social networks with an emphasis on cultural differences. Also, the results show a strong and very good fit of the model. Conclusion The current research has been done with the aim of providing a model of customer participation with brands in social networks with an emphasis on cultural differences. The results of this research are in agreement with the results of Savadkoohi Qudjanki & Zarbakhsh Bahri (2022), Yazdani Kachuei et al, (2022), Lopez et al, (2021), Khademi et al, (2021), Nasrollahi et al, (2020), Mashhadizadeh & Saedi (2020), and Li et al, (2020). Lopez et al, (2021) showed that participation through online brand community directly has a positive and significant effect on community participation and the desire to create cooperation with the brand and positive word of mouth, as well as a positive indirect effect on brand loyalty. These results show that interaction through establishing online communities based on customer participation has a positive effect on product sales through online platforms. According to the results of the research, the following suggestions are presented: It is suggested that in order to have a successful branding, you must constantly create positive experiences for your customers because branding is the result of fulfilling your promises; the result of gaining customers' trust that your brand will do its best to fulfill what they want or expect from you. This trust leads to your brand being chosen again by them. It is suggested to choose a diversified product development strategy because it is a combination of existing products and existing brands, in which case some product characteristics such as color, taste, shape, size and packaging will change. Even the components of the product may change slightly.

Abstract Purpose The classification of trauma patients in emergency settings is a constant challenge for physicians. However, the Injury Severity Score (ISS) is widely used in developed countries, it may be difficult to perform it in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). As a result, the ISS was calculated using an estimated methodology that has been described and validated in a high-income country previously. In addition, a simple scoring tool called the Kampala Trauma Score (KTS) was developed recently. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of KTS and estimated ISS (eISS) in order to achieve a valid and efficient scoring system in our resource-limited setting. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study between December 2020 and March 2021 among the multi-trauma patients who presented at the emergency department of Imam Reza hospital, Tabriz, Iran. After obtaining informed consent, all data including age, sex, mechanism of injury, GCS, KTS, eISS, final outcome (including death, morbidity, or discharge), and length of hospital stay were collected and entered into SPSS version 27.0 and analyzed. Results 381 multi-trauma patients participated in the study. The area under the curve for prediction of mortality (AUC) for KTS was 0.923 (95%CI: 0.888–0.958) and for eISS was 0.910 (95% CI: 0.877–0.944). For the mortality, comparing the AUCs by the Delong test, the difference between areas was not statistically significant (p value = 0.356). The diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) for the prediction of mortality KTS and eISS were 28.27 and 32.00, respectively. Conclusion In our study population, the KTS has similar accuracy in predicting the mortality of multi-trauma patients compared to the eISS.

Abstract Currently, the stable, uniform, and highly efficient production of raw materials for pharmaceutical companies has received special attention. To meet these criteria and reduce harvesting pressure on the natural habitats of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), cultivation of this valuable plant is inevitable. In the present study, to introduce the glycyrrhizic acid (GA)- and glabridin-rich genotypes from cultivated Iranian licorice, forty genotypes from eight high-potential wild populations were cultivated and evaluated under the same environmental conditions. The GA content varied from 5.00 ± 0.04 mg/g DW (TF2 genotype) to 23.13 ± 0.02 mg/g DW (I5 genotype). The highest and lowest glabridin content were found in the K2 (0.72 ± 0.021 mg/g DW) and M5 (0.02 ± 0.002 mg/g DW) genotypes, respectively. The rutin content in the leaves of the studied genotypes varied from 1.27 ± 0.02 mg/g DW in E4 to 3.24 ± 0.02 mg/g DW in BO5 genotypes. The genotypes from the Ilam population were characterized by higher vegetative growth and yield traits in the aerial parts and roots. The average root dry yield was 2.44 tons per hectare (t/ha) among the studied genotypes and a genotype from Ilam (I5) yielded the maximum value (3.08 ± 0.034 t/ha). The highest coefficient of variation among the genotypes was observed for leaf width (CV = 34.9%). The GA and glabridin-rich genotypes introduced in this study can be used in the future breeding programs to release new bred licorice cultivars.

Additive manufacturing has ushered in a new paradigm of bottom-up materials-by-design of spatially non-uniform materials. Functionally graded materials have locally tailored compositions to provide optimized global properties and performance. In this letter, we propose an opportunity for the application of graded magnetic materials as lens elements for charged particle optics. A Hiperco50/Hymu80 (FeCo-2 V/Fe-80Ni-5Mo) graded magnetic alloy was successfully additively manufactured via Laser Directed Energy Deposition with spatially varying magnetic properties. The compositional gradient is then applied using computational simulations to demonstrate how a tailored material can enhance the magnetic performance of a critical, image-forming component of a transmission electron microscope.

Introduction: Posterior impaction of the maxilla leads to spontaneous rotation of the mandible and these rotations are often accompanied by soft tissue and skeletal changes. The present research aims to determine the effects of posterior impaction of the maxilla on mandible’s Autorotation in patients with anterior open bite. Materials and Methods: Using a 3D reconstructed model of 25 patients with anterior open bites, this descriptive study is conducted. The construction model of the posterior segment of the mandible design was subjected to 2, 3, 5, and 7mm posterior impaction of the maxilla around the ANS axis without any mandibular intervention, using the available CT scan and ProPlan CMF software. Following this, the autorotation and anterior open bite correction were assessed. A basic linear regression test was used to examine the effects of various variables on the anterior open bite closure at various impaction rates. Results: The rise, in impact rate led to an increase in the byte closure rate. With 2, 3, 5 and 7mm posterior impaction of the maxilla, the bite closure was not significantly affected by maxilla length, mandible length, U1-SN angle, ANS-PNS angle with the maxillary occlusal plane, or mandibular incisor angle with the mandibular plane. Nevertheless, during the 5mm posterior maxillary impaction procedure, there was a 0.2mm increase in the open bite closure for every 1 degree increase in IMPA; this number is statistically significant. (p

Digital platforms on the internet are invaluable for collecting user feedback, suggestions, and opinions about various topics, such as company products and services. This data is instrumental in shaping business strategies, enhancing product development, and refining service delivery. Suggestion mining is a key task in natural language processing, which focuses on extracting and analysing suggestions from these digital sources. Initially, suggestion mining utilized manually crafted features, but recent advancements have highlighted the efficacy of deep learning models, which automatically learn features. Models like Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) have been employed in this field. However, considering the relatively small datasets and the faster training time of LSTM compared to BERT, we introduce TransLSTM, a novel LSTM-Transformer hybrid model for suggestion mining. This model aims to automatically pinpoint and extract suggestions by harnessing both local and global text dependencies. It combines the sequential dependency handling of LSTM with the contextual interaction capabilities of the Transformer, thus effectively identifying and extracting suggestions. We evaluated our method against state-of-the-art approaches using the SemEval Task-9 dataset, a benchmark for suggestion mining. Our model shows promising performance, surpassing existing deep learning methods by 6.76% with an F1 score of 0.834 for SubTask A and 0.881 for SubTask B. Additionally, our paper presents an exhaustive literature review on suggestion mining from digital platforms, covering both traditional and state-of-the-art text classification techniques.

This study explores the effects of multiple shape factors on nanofluids within Marangoni mixed convection flows through porous media. Nanofluids, containing nanoparticles in a base fluid, show unique thermal properties, making them valuable in cooling systems, energy storage, and medical devices. Marangoni mixed convection, driven by surface tension gradients, adds complexity to fluid dynamics and heat transfer in porous media. Analytical and numerical analyses examine how various particle geometries, nanoparticle volume fractions, and porous medium configurations influence transport phenomena. Entropy analysis calculates thermodynamic irreversibilities. Findings reveal relationships between shape factors, heat transfer rates, velocity profiles, temperature distribution, and entropy generation rates, offering insights for optimizing nanofluid-based systems. The study also investigates magnetic forces, heat source/sink effects, and viscous dissipation on thermal energy transfer in Graphene oxide/water and Molybdenum disulfide/water nanofluids. Using similarity transformations, Partial Differential Equations are converted into Ordinary Differential Equations, solved with HAM and NDSolver by using the Wolfram tools. Results graphically depict velocity, temperature, entropy, and skin friction values, providing practical insights for engineering applications.

Background color is a crucial factor influencing the growth performance and feed utilization in crustaceans. However, little is known about its impacts on the culture performance of Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). In this study, we examined the impacts of six different background colors (white-W, black-BK, green-G, red-R, yellow-Y, and blue-BL) on growth, inter-molt period, and coloration and total carotenoids content of carapace of juvenile E. sinensis. The culture experiment comprised two trials: a 68-day individual culture, and a 30-day group culture. Individual culture results: No significant effects of background color were found on weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), molting interval, carapace length and width, and survival rate (SR) of the juvenile crabs (P > 0.05). However, during the second molting cycle, the BL group exhibited the highest WGR, and the G group showed the lowest hepatopancreas index (HSI). Meanwhile, markedly lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) was obtained for the W group compared to the G and BK groups. Group culture results: Significantly higher SR was recorded for the BK group, and the highest limb loss rate was detected for Y group indicating the significant effects of background color on survival and aggressiveness of juvenile E. sinensis. Moreover, background color impacted the carapace coloration indices where the W, BK and Y groups showed the highest brightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) values, respectively. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed a positive linear relationship between the L* value and background color (y =0.1638x+27.961, R2=0.613). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that background color significantly affects culture performance and carapace color. Black background color was shown to enhance the survival rate and reduce the limb amputation rate under group culture condition. These results provide new insights on the optimization of farming technology for juvenile E. sinensis.

Abstract Contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) is a serious complication that occurs subsequent to the administration of contrast media for therapeutic angiographic interventions. As of present, no effective therapy exists to prevent its occurrence. This single‐center double‐blind randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the effect of edaravone, an antioxidant, in a group of high‐risk patients undergoing coronary angiography. Ninety eligible patients with chronic kidney disease Stages 3–4 were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 45) or the intervention group (n = 45). In the intervention group, one dosage of edaravone (60 mg) in 1 L of normal saline was infused via a peripheral vein 1 h prior to femoral artery‐directed coronary angiography. Patients in the control group received an equal amount of infusion in their last hour before angiography. Both groups received intravenous hydration with 0.9% sodium 1 mL/kg/h starting 12 h before and continuing for 24 h after angiography. The primary outcome measure was the onset of CIN, defined as a 25% increase in serum creatinine levels 120 h after administration of contrast media. The occurrence of CIN was observed in 5.5% (n = 5) of the studied population: 2.2% of patients in the intervention group (n = 1) and 8.9% of controls (n = 4). However, this difference was not statistically significant. Administration of a single dosage of edaravone 1 h prior to infusion of contrast media led to a reduction in the incidence of CIN. Further investigations, employing larger sample sizes, are warranted to gain a comprehensive understanding of its efficacy.

Objective: Trauma-related injuries are the leading cause of death and disability in the active population, withdevastating economic, health, and social consequences for nations. TThis study aimed to assess the economicburden of injuries in Iran.Methods: In this study, the economic impact of trauma in Iran in 2019 was estimated using a prevalence-basedapproach. The prevalence was estimated based on available statistics in Iran and the GBD website. Directmedical expenditures were calculated using a top-down approach. The cost of lost production due to injuriesand premature death was also estimated using the DALY value. Microsoft Excel 2019 and Stata softwareversion 13.0 were used for the analysis.Results: In Iran, approximately 16,500,000 individuals were estimated to have sustained injuries in a singleyear. The average direct medical expenses for each trauma patient were around $226. Fractures contributedto 39% of the financial impact of trauma. The overall economic burden of trauma in Iran was calculatedto be $10,214,403,423. Approximately 66% of this economic burden was attributed to lost productivity andpremature death resulting from trauma, while direct medical costs made up 34%.Conclusion: The economic burden of trauma in Iran is expected to significantly rise in the future. It maybe necessary to enhance awareness of injury-related mortality and disability, improve therapies, and expandevidence-based interventions to reduce the economic impact of injuries.

Objective: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of moral distress (MD) and itsassociated factors among emergency department nurses.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 172 nurses from the emergency departments ofmedical training centers affiliated with Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. The census method wasused to collect the data, which included demographic variables and Corley’s MD questionnaire. The Data wereanalyzed using SPSS software (version 22), using an independent T-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), andmultiple regressions.Results: Out of 172 nurses, 60.5% were women, with an average age of 32.52±6.88 years. The resultsdemonstrated an average MD score of 69.73±25.68. In terms of frequency and intensity, around 53.5% ofthe participants experienced MD at a low level (0-72), while the remaining 46.5% reported experiencing itat a medium level (14-73). A significant association was found between MD and age (p=0.037), workplacehospital (p=0.005), and history of mental disorders (p=0.005). Furthermore, linear regression analysis revealeda statistically significant association between MD, marital status, and occupational type (p

Background and purpose: Since 2013, Iran's health system reform has been implemented at the national level with goals such as increasing people's access to health services, reducing direct payments to patients, and improving the quality of services. As this initiative has been associated with significant changes in the financing of hospitals, this study aims to investigate the changes in income and expenses of public hospitals in Mazandaran province, as two important indicators of key hospital financial performance, before and after the implementation of the reform. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study that was conducted in 2018. Since this study deals with the impact of the intervention carried out by the public sector by comparing the changes before and after the implementation of the intervention, it is therefore considered a type of quasi-experimental study. The statistical population includes all government hospitals in Mazandaran province. The sampling method was census and covered all 24 public hospitals of Mazandaran province. The time frame of the study covers from 2009 to 2016, that is, 4 years before and 4 years after the implementation of the reform. Secondary data that is routinely recorded in the information system of the country's hospital system has been used in this study. To collect the data, a researcher-made checklist was used based on the objectives of the study and the availability of data in the routine information recording system of hospitals, which mainly included the variables of staff cost, non-staff cost, cash income, insurance income, and working year. After collecting the data from the comprehensive and centralized Electronic Information System (HIS), which contains all the financial and functional information of all hospitals in the province, the data were extracted and analyzed using SPSS software and appropriate statistical methods. Results: In general, after the implementation of the reform, the average costs in the studied hospitals increased from 249,613 to 771,552 million Tomans (2.61 times) and the average incomes increased from 152,738 to 534,804 million Tomans (3.50 times). Therefore, both the average cost and the average income in the 4-year periods before and after the implementation of the initiative have generally increased, but the growth rate of costs and incomes in the period before the implementation of the reform was lower than the period after its implementation, although, in the same period, the gap between expenses and incomes has been widening. In the period after the implementation of reform, due to the rapid increase in income at the beginning of the implementation, the gap between cost and income has decreased relatively, but gradually the rate of income growth has decreased compared to the rate of cost growth, and as a result, the gap between the cost and income of the hospitals studied in the end of the study period has experienced an unprecedented gap. It has also been found that during the years of the study, the staff cost has continued to rise with more or less trends, while the non-staff cost has started to decrease sharply and unprecedentedly since 1995. Conclusion: Although the implementation of the reform has increased the financial turnover of government hospitals, due to the increase in the average cost compared to the increase in their average income, the implementation of this plan has increased the financial pressure on the hospitals and widened the income deficit compared to their cost. Therefore, the gap between cost and income and the rising trend of this gap in government hospitals can be a challenge for funding hospitals and guaranteeing the relative access of people to these services now and in the future.

Several factors, including natural and human-induced, can affect river discharge. This study aims to examine the influence of land use changes and climate change on the monthly average streamflow time series in the Talar River basin, in northern Iran. To investigate the impact of human factors, namely land use change and point source operations, on monthly average streamflow, the DBEST method was used to detect any breakpoint in the streamflow time series caused by gradual changes in land use and climate. The SWAT model was used to simulate the basin at Kiakola and Shirghah stations, between 2001 and 2020. The land use maps were created for the years 2001 and 2019. Calibration and validation at the Kiakola station showed that the Nash-Sutcliffe model (NSE) had an efficiency of 0.8 and 0.76, respectively, while at the Shirghah station, the same values were 0.84 and 0.75. Findings revealed that human activities, specifically the combined impact of land use change and point source operations, had a 60% influence on the monthly average streamflow of the Talar River. They further showed that the combination of land use and harvesting played the most significant role in the basin's outflow on a monthly scale. HIGHLIGHTS DBEST was the application executed in the R environment using the 'DBEST' package.; The SWAT model with SUFI-2 calibration method was used to simulate the streamflow.; Findings revealed that human activities, specifically the combined impact of land use change and point source operations, had a 60% influence on the monthly average streamflow.; The findings of this research can provide support for water resource management decisions in Talar river basin.;

Introduction: The use of narcotic and stimulant substances has become an important and challenging social issue due to its adverse effects and negative consequences for society and the entire family system. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sexual satisfaction, quality of life, and marital conflicts in patients addicted to Methamphetamine.Methods: The research employed a descriptive-correlational method. The study’s statistical population comprised all individuals addicted to stimulants who were referred to Shiraz Psychiatric Hospital in September 1400. According to Morgan’s table, a sample of 80 individuals was selected using convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Larson Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire, the Frenz and Power Quality of Life Questionnaire, and the Sanaei Marital Conflict Questionnaire. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using Pearson’s correlation method.Results: The results showed a significant positive correlation between sexual satisfaction and quality of life, including its various aspects. This suggests that an increase in sexual satisfaction is associated with an enhancement in the quality of life. Conversely, the study found a significant negative correlation between sexual satisfaction and marital conflict along with its components. This indicates that an increase in sexual satisfaction by one unit results in a decrease in marital conflicts by approximately 0.478 units.Conclusion: The study’s findings support the idea that enhancing sexual satisfaction can potentially improve one’s quality of life. This improvement, in turn, can contribute to a reduction in marital conflicts in various ways.

Abstract The purpose of this research is to provide a customer loyalty model based on the five senses with the mediating role of perceived value in the insurance industry (case study of life and investment insurance). The research method is applicable in terms of purpose, and descriptive-survey in terms of the conducting method. According to the subject nature of the research model and professors' opinions, the statistical population of the research is the insurance buyers; and due to the limited statistical population, 384 people were selected using Cochran's formula; and the random sampling method is simple. The collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire, taken from the qualitative part of the research. SPSS and PLS software were used for analysis. Also, confirmatory factor analysis was used to show the reliability of the questionnaire. The results showed that the five senses with the mediating role of perceived value have a positive and direct effect on customer loyalty, and the fit of the proposed model for the relationship of the variables has been confirmed. Extended Abstract Introduction In order to create a positive relationship with customers, businesses must effectively manage marketing strategies as a tool to meet customer needs and build customer loyalty. While customer retention is an essential element in strengthening the company's profitability; loyalty is created with the aim of creating a long-term relationship between companies and their customers (Hwang et al, 2019). The main reason for the importance and loyalty of customers for service companies is that with the increase of loyal customers, the number of visits and purchases increases, which leads to a larger market share for that company. In fact, in order to survive in tough competition and keep existing customers, predicting the potential of loyal customers has become one of the main tasks of strategic managers (Khan et al, 2019). Another factor in customer loyalty research literature is the perceived value of customers, which is assigned to the perception that a person has about a product or service. It is possible that this belief is based on the thought of the experience of the individual's point of view, which is measured according to the ratio of the cost paid for that product or service and the value received (Ashraf et al, 2018). These beliefs, based on past studies of factors, have been effective on customer loyalty An era in which companies, regardless of whether they sell traditional consumer goods or provide services, consider effecting and influencing customers in new, stimulating, innovative and creative ways. Marketing enters this era in a situation where tested ideas and concepts are being revised. Traditional marketing is slowly disappearing and giving way to new methods such as sensory marketing. Sensory marketing emphasizes the use of five human senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch) in the field of marketing. The ultimate goal of sensory marketing is to create a sensory experience with the help of the five human senses (Hamacher & Buchkremer, 2022). According to the mentioned points, the researcher is trying to answer the main question of how to present the customer loyalty model based on the five senses with the mediating role of perceived value in the insurance industry. Literature The perceived value of the brand is necessary, through a complex process and a comprehensive approach, to lead towards the desired repeated purchase behavior, and finally the perceived value is the consumer's overall assessment of the desirability of a product based on the perceptions he has of the receipts and payments (Salehi Seghiani et al, 2019). Loyalty is the total amount of feelings and attitude that makes the customer buy again certain goods and services from the company (Shahid et al, 2022). In general, customer loyalty is always defined as a sales frequency with a relative volume of purchases from the same branch (Jenneboer et al, 2022). The goal of most organizations is to achieve customer satisfaction. Customer satisfaction with the services provided leads to recommending the product or service to other customers (Chisam et ai, 2022). In the customer's interaction with the company, environmental information is received by the five senses. Compatibility or lack of compatibility of the characteristics of the environment with the sensory tastes of the customer can cause satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the customer. Bahrami et al, (2022) investigated the impact of citizenship behavior and cooperative behavior of customers on their perceived value and satisfaction. The findings showed that citizenship behavior and cooperative customer behavior have a positive and significant effect on the perceived value of customers. The perceived value of customers has a positive and significant effect on their satisfaction. Also, the mediating role of perceived value in the relationship between citizenship behavior-customer satisfaction and cooperative behavior-customer satisfaction was confirmed. Asgari & Fazeli (2022) investigated the impact of mixed sensory marketing on customer loyalty in Iran's clothing industry. The results of the research showed that all sensory marketing components, except the interaction component, have a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty. Research methodology This research is applicable in terms of purpose, and descriptive-survey in terms of implementation method. According to the subject nature of the research model and professors' opinions, the statistical population of the research is the insurance buyers, which in the current research is a study on life insurance and investment. According to the obtained statistics, the number of the population was about 384 people, due to the limited statistical population, Cochran's formula was used and the random sampling method is simple. The tool for data-collecting is the questionnaire made by the researcher, which is related to the investigation of the relationship between the dimensions of the five senses and the perceived value on customer loyalty in the insurance industry, and is taken from the qualitative section; which includes 4 dimensions for perceived value (economic value, social value, perceptual value and emotional value), 5 dimensions for five senses (sense of sight, sense of hearing, sense of touch, sense of smell, and sense of taste), and 3 dimensions for customer loyalty (behavioral loyalty, attitudinal loyalty, and emotional loyalty). Research findings Data analysis was done using SPSS and PLS software. The present research has seventeen hypotheses, all of which were confirmed, and the results showed that the five senses with the mediating role of perceived value have a direct and significant effect on customer loyalty, and the fit of the proposed model for the relationship of the variables has been confirmed. Conclusion The current research was conducted with the aim of presenting the customer loyalty model based on the five senses with the mediating role of perceived value in the insurance industry (case study of life and investment insurance). This finding is consistent with research findings of Bahrami et al, (2022), Behruzi & Sohrabi (2022), Asgari & Fazeli (2022), Lv et al, (2020), Hwang et al, (2019), and El-Adly (2018). Lumi et al, (2022) showed that the perceived image and value of customers has a positive and significant effect on the satisfaction and eventually on the attitudinal loyalty of customers, and this causes them to increase the intention to buy again. Ezati & Mazhari (2021) showed that brand equity, brand identity and brand loyalty have a positive and significant effect on repurchase intention. According to the research results, it is suggested: - Customer loyalty can play an important role in the success of organizations; finding out the effective factors on customer loyalty will help managers and employees of organizations to get closer to customers and respond to their needs faster and better. - By specifying the goals of the organization; organizational processes, the support of the managers of the organization to the employees, the system of payments and benefits, and the promotion system in the organization are among the things that can affect the perceived value. Adequate knowledge of buyers and target customers should be done because in order to be able to create excellent and superior value for them, it should be done continuously to ensure the customer's interests.

Land subsidence, which is mainly caused by over-extraction of groundwater, is one of the most important problems in arid and semi-arid regions. In the present study, seven factors affecting the land subsidence, i.e., types of subsoil, land use, pumping, recharge, thickness of the plain aquifer, distance to the fault, and groundwater depletion were considered as input data for the ALPRIFT framework and intelligence models to map both Subsidence Vulnerability Index (SVI) and prediction of land subsidence, respectively. The hybrid of particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) (Hybrid PSO-GA) was then used to optimize the weights of the input layers and the estimation of the land subsidence. The capability of the PSO-GA at predictions of land subsidence compared with the typical GA model, and Gene Expression Programming (GEP). The statistical indices R2, RMSE, and MAE were used to assess the accuracy and reliability of the applied models. The results showed that the Hybrid PSO-GA model had R2, RMSE, and MAE equal to 0.91, 1.11 (cm), and 0.94 (cm), respectively. In comparison with the GA, and GEP models, the Hybrid PSO-GA model improved the prediction of land subsidence and reduced RMSE by 24.30 and 16.80%, respectively. HIGHLIGHTS Hybrid particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm (PSO-GA) as a meta-heuristic hybrid model was suggested to estimate land subsidence.; The hybrid PSO-GA model had improved land subsidence estimation compared to GA and GEP models.; Hybrid PSO-GA, a population-based optimization method, reliably estimated land subsidence.;

Abstract In this study, a new nanocomposite was created by combining copper-doped nickel ferrite (NiCuFe2O4) nanoparticles with MCM-48 (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 48) on a graphene oxide (GO) substrate functionalized with poly(ρ-phenylenediamine) abbreviated as (PρPD). This nanocomposite was developed to investigate its potential for enhancing the function of a supercapacitor in energy storage. Following NiCuFe2O4@MCM-48 preparation, Hummer’s technique GO was applied. In-situ polymerization of NiCuFe2O4@MCM-48/GO nanoparticles with ρ-phenylenediamine (ρPD) in the presence of ammonium persulfate (APS) produced PρPD, a conductive polymer. Structural characterization of the nanocomposite includes FTIR, XRD, VSM, TGA-DTG, EDX, and FE-SEM. Results from BET indicate a pore size increase of up to 5 nm. Fast ion penetration and higher storage in capacitor material are explained by this. Additionally, the nanocomposite’s electrochemical performance was evaluated using GCD and CV tests. The NiCuFe2O4@MCM-48/GO/PρPD nanocomposite has a specific capacitance of 203.57 F g−1 (1 A g−1). Furthermore, cyclical stability is essential for energy storage applications. The nanocomposite retains 92.5% of its original capacitance after 3000 cycles, indicating outstanding electrochemical stability.

Abstract This study aimed at modelling the underlying predictor of ASCVD through the Bayesian network (BN). Data for the AZAR Cohort Study, which evaluated 500 healthcare providers in Iran, was collected through examinations, and blood samples. Two BNs were used to explore a suitable causal model for analysing the underlying predictor of ASCVD; Bayesian search through an algorithmic approach and knowledge-based BNs. Results showed significant differences in ASCVD risk factors across background variables’ levels. The diagnostic indices showed better performance for the knowledge-based BN (Area under ROC curve (AUC) = 0.78, Accuracy = 76.6, Sensitivity = 62.5, Negative predictive value (NPV) = 96.0, Negative Likelihood Ratio (LR−) = 0.48) compared to Bayesian search (AUC = 0.76, Accuracy = 72.4, Sensitivity = 17.5, NPV = 93.2, LR− = 0.83). In addition, we decided on knowledge-based BN because of the interpretability of the relationships. Based on this BN, being male (conditional probability = 63.7), age over 45 (36.3), overweight (51.5), Mets (23.8), diabetes (8.3), smoking (10.6), hypertension (12.1), high T-C (28.5), high LDL-C (23.9), FBS (12.1), and TG (25.9) levels were associated with higher ASCVD risk. Low and normal HDL-C levels also had higher ASCVD risk (35.3 and 37.4), while high HDL-C levels had lower risk (27.3). In conclusion, BN demonstrated that ASCVD was significantly associated with certain risk factors including being older and overweight male, having a history of Mets, diabetes, hypertension, having high levels of T-C, LDL-C, FBS, and TG, but Low and normal HDL-C and being a smoker. The study may provide valuable insights for developing effective prevention strategies for ASCVD in Iran.

Background: Uncontrolled bleeding is still the major factor leading to preventable deaths following trauma. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of mini sponge-based wound stasis, cellulose-based local hemostatic, and traditional gauze dressings for the control of hemorrhages resulting from grade 4 liver injuries in rats. Methods: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three equal groups. In the first group, a liver laceration was treated with gauze packing. The second group received XStat minisponge dressing (MDS), and the third group was administered a combination of MDS dressing and Surgicel hemostatic agent. After gaining access to the intra-abdominal cavity, a liver laceration measuring 10 mm in length, 5 mm in depth, and extending to the middle lobe was created. The dressings were removed after 2 and 10 min to assess the amount of bleeding, and any bleeding was documented again after 48 h. Intraperitoneal adhesions were evaluated during euthanasia. Results: At 2 min post-injury, the gauze packing group had an average bleeding volume of 0.97 ± 0.15 mL, compared to 1.08 ± 0.25 mL in the MDS group (P = 0.26) and 1.02 ± 0.18 mL in the MDS + Surgicel group (P = 0.69). At 10 min, the bleeding volumes were 0.13 ± 0.05 mL, 0.22 ± 0.01 mL (P = 0.09), and 0.14 ± 0.05 mL (P = 0.19), respectively. At 48 h, significant differences were observed in bleeding volumes (gauze: 0.55 ± 0.18 mL, MDS: 1.15 ± 0.21 mL, MDS + Surgicel: 0.82 ± 0.06 mL, P

This study investigates the heat and mass transmission behavior in an unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) movement of nanofluids over an inclined permeable surface, with applications in enhancing thermal management systems such as automotive cooling and industrial heat exchangers. The model specifically examines the consequence of thermal diffusion (Soret effect) and buoyant forces on Cu and TiO2 nanoparticles dispersed in engine oil. The governing equations, comprising velocity, energy, and concentration equations, are recast into nonlinear ODEs manipulating similitude adaptations. These ODEs are then solved through a standard perturbation method under appropriate boundary conditions. The key findings indicate that enhancing thermal radiation diminishes the velocity and temperature profiles, while raising chemical reaction rates decrease concentration levels. Additionally, higher Soret parameter values are associated with increased velocity and concentration. Quantitatively, TiO2-engine oil nanofluids exhibit a 15% higher velocity compared to Cu-engine oil nanofluids, highlighting the superior performance of TiO2 in dynamic thermal systems. Furthermore, numerical outcomes for the local skin contention, Nusselt numeral, and Sherwood digit are tabulated to illustrate the consequence of material properties. The outcomes of this study are particularly beneficial in optimizing the design of heat exchangers, improving fuel efficiency in automotive engines, and enhancing industrial processes where precise thermal control is critical.

ABSTRACT: Adrenomedullin has various physiological roles including appetite regulation. The objective of present study was to determine the effects of ICV injection of adrenomedullin and its interaction with NPY and CCK receptors on food intake regulation. In experiment 1, chickens received ICV injection of saline and adrenomedullin (1, 2, and 3 nmol). In experiment 2, birds injected with saline, B5063 (NPY1 receptor antagonist, 1.25 µg), adrenomedullin (3 nmol) and co-injection of B5063+adrenomedullin. Experiments 3 to 5 were similar to experiment 2 and only SF22 (NPY2 receptor antagonist, 1.25 µg), SML0891 (NPY5 receptor antagonist, 1.25 µg) and CCK4 (1 nmol) were injected instead of B5063. In experiment 6, ICV injection of saline and CCK8s (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 nmol) were done. In experiment 7, chickens injected with saline, CCK8s (0.125 nmol), adrenomedullin (3 nmol) and co-injection of CCK8s+adrenomedullin. After ICV injection, birds were returned to their individual cages immediately and cumulative food intake was measured at 30, 60, and 120 min after injection. Adrenomedullin (2 and 3 nmol) decreased food intake compared to control group (P < 0.05). Coinjection of B5063+adrenomedullin amplified hypophagic effect of adrenomedullin (P < 0.05). The ICV injection of the CCK8s (0.25 and 0.5 nmol) reduced food intake (P < 0.05). Co-injection of the CCK8s+adrenomedullin significantly potentiated adrenomedullin-induced hypophagia (P < 0.05). Administration of the SF22, SML0891 and CCK4 had no effect on the anorexigenic response evoked by adrenomedullin (P > 0.05). These results suggested that the hypophagic effect of the adrenomedullin is mediated by NPY1 and CCK8s receptors. However, our novel results should form the basis for future experiments.

Examining the movement of MHD hybrid nanofluid flows along linearly extending regions provides valuable insights for improving heat transfer efficiency. Many researchers have investigated various factors, such as the Forchheimer number, porosity, radiation, aligned magnetic field and mixed convection, in the context of incorporating hybrid nanofluids into these flows. The existing literature lacks discussion on the effect of radiation absorption along with porosity, magnetic parameter and an aligned magnetic field on the Forchheimer flow of a 3-D rotating Ag−CuO/H2O hybrid nanofluid through a linearly expanded sheet. The current research endeavours to address this gap and offer valuable insights into these particular factors.BVP-5C shooting scheme through MATLAB is utilized to solve the system that governs nonlinear PDEs by converting them to nonlinear ODEs. The influences of dimensionless parameters, including radiation absorption (1 ≤ Q ≤ 2), Forchheimer number (0 ≤ Fr ≤ 9), porosity parameter (0 ≤ K ≤ 4), magnetic parameter (0 ≤ M ≤ 4), aligned magnetic field (0 ≤ α ≤ π/2), on the velocity along x and y-axes, temperature profile and concentration distributions are discussed. Also, skin friction, heat and mass transfer rate impacts are demonstrated traverse tables. Velocity along both x and y-axes is decreasing as Forchheimer number increases. As the values of radiation absorption and porosity parameter rise, there is a corresponding decrease in the temperature field. Greater Forchheimer number and aligned magnetic field leads to increase in the concentration profile of Ag−CuO/H2O hybrid nanofluid. The Nusselt number demonstrates an upward trend when Forchheimer number, porosity parameter, radiation absorption, magnetic parameter and aligned magnetic field experience an increase, whereas the Sherwood number exhibits a contrary behaviour with these identical parameters. The current study demonstrates a compatibility rate of 99.9% with the preceding research across diverse values of the stretching ratio parameter.

Relationship between microorganisms with chemical signals is called quorum sensing (QS). This process has been found in most microorganisms (gram negative and gram positive bacteria and also fungi). QS is required for different activities of microorganisms such as, virulence factor secretion, motility, competence, biofilm and sporulation. There are different molecules as signals in disparate microorganisms. Biofilm formation is one of the significant functions of QS. Biofilms are groups of microorganisms that are tied to a surface (biotic or abiotic). One of the remarkable roles of biofilm is creation persistent bacteria. Biofilm formed in most of pathogen microorganisms and play the main role in their pathogenicity. Many studies had been done about QS, biofilm formation and ways against biofilm formation. These studies could help to the removal of microorganisms that formed biofilm. Here we describe QS and biofilm formation in some important microorganisms and suggested ways to eradicating biofilm formation of them.

The research examines how silica aerogel and paraffin behaved as phase-change materials in thermal energy storage systems using CuO nanoparticles. The significance is in meeting the need for effective energy storage techniques in response to increasing air pollution levels and rising conventional fuel expenses. The study used molecular dynamics simulations to examine the atomic and thermal properties of a silica aerogel/paraffin/CuO nanostructure within a cylindrical duct. This modeling setup allows for a comprehensive exploration of the interactions among different materials within the thermal energy storage system, offering insights into their combined effects on thermal performance and efficiency. Key results include a nanostructure reaching a maximum (Max) velocity (Velo), temperature (Temp), and density of 0.0096 Å/fs, 626 K, and 0.1365 atom/Å3. The thermal performance represented a sample exhibiting a thermal conductivity and heat flux of 1.74 W/m.K and 66.43 W/m2. The significance of this study utilizing the proposed model lied in its potential to advance our understanding of thermal energy storage systems and their applications. Through an examination of the atomic and thermal behavior of silica aerogel/PCM when CuO nanoparticles were present in a cylinder duct, this study made a valuable contribution to the advancement of energy storage solutions that were both more efficient and effective. The findings of this study may serve as a potential for innovative developments in thermal energy storage and aid in the creation of more environmentally friendly and functional energy solutions.

Purpose: This study extends the current understanding of customer engagement by examining the impact of relationship bonding and relationship quality on customer engagement in value creation for online taxis.Method: A quantitative research design was used to validate the hypotheses proposed in this research. Customer engagement has become an important metric for measuring the quality of relationships between brands and their customers. Despite this, there has been limited research into how relationship bonds affect the effectiveness of building such a relationship in online taxi services. A survey was conducted using the convenience method among 600 users of online transportation services in the city of Urmia, Iran to test the theoretical model. Structural equation modelling in software Amos 23 were used in this study to test the research hypotheses. Findings: Findings showed that relationship bonding (financial, social, and structural) positively affects the quality of online relationships. Moreover, it was found that the quality of online relationships had a positive impact on all four aspects of customer engagement value (lifetime value, influence value, customer knowledge value, and customer referral value).Conclusion: In order to demonstrate the promotion of customer engagement through relationship bonds and online relationship quality, the study adds new data to the literature on online taxis services. Online taxi services are able to offer open innovation structures to help them increase customer engagement, gather innovative ideas and integrate them into their operations. In this regard, in order to enrich ideas, customers who have successfully come up with new ideas should be rewarded.

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a significant global health burden, particularly affecting vulnerable populations residing in slum areas which is characterized by overcrowding, poverty, and limited access to healthcare services, create an environment conducive to the transmission and spread of HIV. Despite the recognition of this issue, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the prevalence of HIV in slums. The aim of this study was to systematically synthesize the existing global evidence on HIV prevalence in slum populations. Methods A rigorous systematic literature review was conducted by searching multiple electronic databases, including Medline via PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences, and Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), covering the period from January 1, 1990, to March 31, 2023. The quality and risk of bias for each included study were assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. The pooled prevalence with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using a random-effects model with the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation. The degree of heterogeneity among the studies was evaluated using the I2 test. Publication bias was also assessed using Egger's test. Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed to explore potential factors contributing to the observed heterogeneity. Results A systematic examination of the relevant literature resulted in the inclusion of a total of 22 studies for the purpose of this meta-analysis. These studies collectively assessed a sizable cohort consisting of 52,802 participants. Utilizing a random-effects model, an estimation of the overall prevalence of HIV in the slum area was determined to be 10% (95% CI: 7–13%). Further delineation through subgroup analysis based on the gender revealed a higher prevalence of HIV among women, standing at 13% (95% CI: 8–19%, 18 studies: I2 = 98%), as opposed to men, where the prevalence was found to be 8% (95% CI: 6–12%, 16 studies: I2 = 95%). A geographical breakdown of the included studies revealed that Africa exhibited the highest prevalence, with a figure of 11% (95% CI: 9–13%, 18 studies: I2 = 98%). Subsequently, studies conducted in the American continent reported a prevalence of 9% (95% CI: 7–11%, 2 studies: I2 = 57%). The Asian continent, on the other hand, displayed the lowest prevalence of 1% (95% CI: 0–3%, 2 studies: I2 = 94%). Notably, studies employing rapid tests indicated a prevalence of 13% (95% CI: 9–17%, 6 studies: I2 = 94%), while those relying on self-reported data reported a lower prevalence of 8% (95% CI: 5–11%, 6 studies: I2 = 99%). Moreover, studies utilizing ELISA reported a prevalence of 9% (95% CI: 6–12%, 10 studies: I2 = 96%). Finally, it was determined that studies conducted in upper-middle-income countries reported a higher prevalence of 20% (95% CI: 16–24%, 5 studies: I2 = 45%), whereas studies conducted in lower- and middle-income countries reported a prevalence of 8% (95% CI: 6–10%, 12 studies: I2 = 98%). Conclusion The current study elucidates the troublingly high prevalence of HIV infection within slums area. Also, this finding underscores the urgent necessity for targeted and tailored interventions specifically aimed at curtailing the spread of HIV within slums. Policymakers must take cognizance of these results and devote their efforts towards the implementation of effective strategies to mitigate gender disparities, address poverty alleviation, and empower the inhabitants of these marginalized areas.

Abstract Background Iran is a country with a high prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and seven endemic provinces. In this study, we tried to identify unobserved classes of knowledge among Iranians toward VL and assess the predictors of each latent class. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected participants from endemic and non-endemic areas of VL in Iran in 2020 and 2021. The collected data included demographic characteristics and questions about knowledge, attitude, and practice toward VL. We performed latent class analysis using a procedure for latent class analysis (PROC LCA) in SAS to identify the class membership of knowledge of participants toward VL. Results Five latent classes were identified: very low (38.9%), low (15.5%), moderate (6.2%), high (14.1%), and very high (25.2%) knowledge about VL. Living in endemic areas significantly increased the odds of belonging to the low (adjusted OR (AOR = 7.23; 95% confidence interval (CI):4.52–11.58), high (AOR = 2.71; 95%CI: 1.73–4.23), and very high (AOR = 8.47; 95%CI: 5.78–12.41) classes compared to the very low class. Also, having academic education increased the odds of membership in the very high class (AOR = 2.36; 95%CI: 1.61–3.47) compared to the very low class. Conclusion This study revealed that more than 50% of the participants fell into the latent classes of very low and low knowledge toward VL. Some educational workshops in the endemic areas could be effective in enhancing knowledge about VL.

In this work, a biosensor based on a structurally chiral medium (SCM) under the effect of a low-frequency electric field has been designed to detect blood hemoglobin. The introduced structure is irradiated with a circularly polarized light under an electro-optical Pockels effect. A photonic band gap is observed in the transmission spectrum of the right-handed circularly polarized waves, which indicates the circular Bragg phenomenon. The sensor consists of a sample layer sandwiched between two identical SCMs. Sensor performance is evaluated using the transfer matrix method (TMM). The results show that the defect mode is sensitive to any change in the refractive index of the defect layer where the defect layer is infiltrated with samples with different concentrations of blood hemoglobin. Also, it is shown that applying a low-frequency electric field increases the sensitivity of the mentioned sensor. It is observed that the sensitivity can be expanded up to 142.66 nm/RIU by changing the various parameters of the SCM.

Over the past decades, the use of natural additives has increased as an alternative to artificial ingredients in the food industry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of pomegranate peel (PP) as a natural food additive. Many factors, including genotype, could affect the quality of PP as a by-product of juice production with many nutritional, functional and anti-infective properties. In this study, the most significant phytochemical characters of thirty Iranian pomegranate peels (IPP) from different genotypes, including total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC), and nine phenolic compounds were determined. The HPLC-DAD-MS results of PPEs revealed nine phenolic compounds in the IPP extracts. Punicalagin β, punicalagin α, and ellagic acid were the main components constituting 20.8–48.7, 13.9–30.1, and 1.6–13.4 μg/mg DW, respectively. The peel of IPP23 (Kabdar-Shirin-e- Behshahr) contained the highest quantity of polyphenolic compounds. Also, TPC and TFC of the peel extracts ranged between 66.38 and 181.41 mg GAE/ g DW and 38.5 to 144.13 mg RE/ g DW, respectively. Eventually, antioxidant potential estimated by the DPPH assay ranged between 4.1 and 14.4 μg/ml. The results showed that the antioxidant property of pomegranate peel extracts is significantly higher than the standard of gallic acid. Also, the peel of the genotypes that had high phenolic compounds were introduced as superior genotypes. The results of HCA showed that, among the studied genotypes, the peel of IPP23 can be introduced as a potential source of natural preservatives in the food industry.

Code smell indicates inadequacies in design and implementation choices. Code smells harm software maintainability including effects on components’ bug proneness and code quality has been demonstrated in previous studies. This study aims to investigate the importance of code smell metrics in prediction models for detecting bug-prone code modules. For improvement of the bug prediction model, in this study, smell-based metrics of code have been used. For the training of our model, we employed 14 different open-source projects from the PROMISE repository. Every project file consists of source code as well as smell code metrics and was written in Java. We examined different evaluation metrics such as F1_score, accuracy, precision, recall, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the area under the precision-recall curve of the five methods within the version, within the project, and across the projects. We classify the code components as buggy or non-buggy using Naïve Bayes, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Logistic Regression, and k-Nearest Neighbor classifiers. RF and SVM have given better results within the version as well as within the project.

Abstract Migdal-Eliashberg theory is one of the state-of-the-art methods for describing conventional superconductors from first principles. However, widely used implementations assume a constant density of states around the Fermi level, which hinders a proper description of materials with distinct features in its vicinity. Here, we present an implementation of the Migdal-Eliashberg theory within the EPW code that considers the full electronic structure and accommodates scattering processes beyond the Fermi surface. To significantly reduce computational costs, we introduce a non-uniform sampling scheme along the imaginary axis. We demonstrate the power of our implementation by applying it to the sodalite-like clathrates YH6 and CaH6, and to the covalently-bonded H3S and D3S. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of maximizing the density of states at the Fermi level in doped H3S and BaSiH8 within the full-bandwidth treatment compared to the constant-density-of-states approximation. Our findings highlight the importance of this advanced treatment in such complex materials.

Abstract Background The evaluation of health technologies plays a crucial role in the allocation of resources and the promotion of equitable healthcare access, known as health technology assessment (HTA). This study focuses on Iran’s efforts to integrate HTA and aims to gain insights into stakeholder perspectives regarding capacity needs, demand and implementation. Methods In this study, we employed the HTA introduction status analysis questionnaire developed by the International Decision Support Initiative (iDSI), which has been utilized in various countries. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions divided into three sections: HTA need, demand and supply. To identify key informants, we conducted a literature review and consulted with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME), as well we experts in policy-making, health service provision and HTA. We selected stakeholders who held decision-making positions in the healthcare domain. A modified Persian version of the questionnaire was administered online from September 2022 to January 2023 and was pretested for clarity. The analysis of the collected data involved quantitative methods for descriptive analysis and qualitative methods for thematic analysis. Results In this study, a total of 103 questionnaires were distributed, resulting in a favourable response rate of 61% from 63 participants, of whom 68% identified as male. The participants, when assessing the needs of HTA, rated allocative efficiency as the highest priority, with a mean rating of 8.53, thereby highlighting its crucial role in optimizing resource allocation. Furthermore, healthcare quality, with a mean rating of 8.17, and transparent decision-making, with a mean rating of 7.92, were highly valued for their impact on treatment outcomes and accountability. The importance of budget control (mean rating 7.58) and equity (mean rating 7.25) were also acknowledged, as they contribute to maintaining sustainability and promoting social justice. In terms of HTA demand, safety concerns were identified as the top priority, closely followed by effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, with an expanded perspective on the economy. However, limited access to local data was reported, which arose from various factors including data collection practices, system fragmentation and privacy concerns. The priorities of HTA users encompassed coverage, payment reform, benefits design, guidelines, service delivery and technology registration. Evidence generation involved the participation of medical universities, research centres and government bodies, albeit with ongoing challenges in research quality, data access and funding. The study highlights government support and medical education as notable strengths in this context. Conclusions This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of Iran’s HTA landscape, considering its capacity, demand and implementation aspects. It underlines the vital role of HTA in optimizing resources, improving healthcare quality and promoting equity. The study also sheds light on the strengths of evidence generation in the country, while simultaneously identifying challenges related to data access and system fragmentation. In terms of policy priorities, evidence-based decision-making emerges as crucial for enhancing healthcare access and integrating technology. The study stresses the need for evidence-based practices, a robust HTA infrastructure and collaboration among stakeholders to achieve better healthcare outcomes in Iran.

Background: Diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is challenging due to nonspecific biomarkers. High serum levels of neurofilament protein light subunit (NFL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and have been reported in several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether their plasma levels could serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for NPSLE. Methods: There were 90 SLE patients enrolled in this cross-sectional study (87.8% women and 12.2% men with a mean age of 41.67±11.05 years). We assessed the mental status of patients, also we measured the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR (SLICC/ ACR) Damage Index or SDI scores. Serum levels of NFL, HMGB1, MMP9, and ds-DNA were investigated to find a role in the pathophysiology of NPSLE. Results: Among the 90 patients with SLE, 63 (70%) met the criteria of NPSLE syndrome. Our results have shown a notable difference concerning SEDIAC-2k score, SDI score, PANS, MoCA, and Beck anxiety depression, between the two groups (p < 0.05). Although serum level of all measured serum biomarkers (NFL, MMP-9, HMGB1, dsDNA) were higher in patients with NPSLE, the difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, our results showed that the serum level of NFL was correlated with the serum level of HMGB-1 and MMP-9. (r: 0.411, P=0.003). Conclusion: Serum level of NFL, HMGB-1 and MMP-9 may be used to detect abnormal mental status in patients with SLE.

Abstract In this study, a split-type photocatalytic membrane reactor (PMR), incorporating suspended graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as photocatalyst and a layered polymeric composite (using polyamide, polyethersulfone and polysulfone polymers) as a membrane was fabricated to remove tetracycline (TC) from aqueous solutions as the world's second most used and discharged antibiotic in wastewater. The photocatalyst was synthesised from melamine by ultrasonic-assisted thermal polymerisation method and, along with the membrane, was characterised using various methods, including Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The PMR process was optimised, using Design-Expert software for tetracycline removal in terms of UV irradiation time, pH, photocatalyst loading, tetracycline concentration, and membrane separation iteration. It was revealed that a membrane-integrated reactor as a sustainable system could effectively produce clean water by simultaneous removal of tetracycline and photocatalyst from aqueous solution. The maximum removal of 94.8% was obtained at the tetracycline concentration of 22.16 ppm, pH of 9.78 with 0.56 g/L of photocatalyst in the irradiation time of 113.77 min after six times of passing membrane. The PMR system showed reasonable reusability by about a 25.8% drop in TC removal efficiency after seven cycles at optimal conditions. The outcomes demonstrate the promising performance of the proposed PMR system in tetracycline removal from water and suggest that it can be scaled as an effective approach for a sustainable supply of antibiotic-free clean water.

In this study, the MODIS satellite imaging sensor, which is a sensor with a visible band of 36 and an infrared band, was used to produce satellite images of water surface temperature and chlorophyll-a in the Pesrian Gulf and Oman Sea. In addition, field measurements of phytoplankton species density were performed to investigate the pattern of dispersal of red tide events during 2008–2009. Finally, the effect of the current and temperature on the dispersal and expansion of the red tide in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf was investigated. Satellite images showed that the M. polykrikoides's red tidal expansion path in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman was in line with the overall water circulation path in the Persian Gulf. In the Gulf of Oman, the structure of oceanic meso-scale eddies has also played a role in red tide dispersion, and it helps to disperse the red tide to the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent Iranian coastal waters in the Persian Gulf. Moreover, the results of this study showed that decreasing water temperature increased the intensity of the red tidal phenomenon.

Background and purpose: A part of the expenses of every household in all societies of the world is health expenditures, which can sometimes be disastrous for families. This study was conducted to investigate the change in the share of health expenditure from the total Household costs in Mazandaran province and the possible impact of health system reforms on it in Iran during the recent two decades, especially the Health Transformation Plan. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective descriptive-analytical study, based on quantitative and secondary data. The data required for this study was taken from the Statistics Center including household income and expenditure for a period of 18 years from 2001 to 2018. Descriptive statistics indicators and trend charts were used to describe the quantitative data, and to analyze household health expenditures, the t-test was applied in SPSS software. Results: The results of the study showed that on average, the share of health expenditures in the total household expenses was 12.04% for urban households and 11.36% for rural households that is more than the stated and expected limit of 10%. The trend of changes in the percentage of health expenditures from the total household expenses at the time of the research compared to the base year has been variable and in some years it has decreased and in some years it has increased. Conclusion: The health system reforms have not ultimately led to the reduction of household health expenditure to less than the expected level and its increasing trend in Mazandaran province.This means the risk of catastrophc health expenditure among households still exist. Even with the implementation of subsequent plans, the achievement of the previous plan has been neutralized. Considering the importance of financial issues in universal health coverage and also the limited resources of the health sector, more detailed policies and plans should be designed and implemented to target vulnerable groups so that families' financial hardship is prevented as well as the possibility of universal coverage is increased to the maximum.

Abstract A Ruddlesden–Popper 2D perovskite PEA2PbX4 (X = I, Br, and Cl) is proposed for metasurface applications. Density functional theory is used to analyze the optical, electrical, mechanical properties, moisture and thermodynamic stability of PEA2PbX4. The refractive index of PEA2PbX4 varies with the halides, resulting in 2.131, 1.901, and 1.842 for X = I, Br, and Cl, respectively. Mechanical properties with Voigt-Reuss-Hill approximations indicate that all three materials are flexible and ductile. Based on the calculations of formation energy and adsorption of water molecules, PEA 2 PbI4 has superior thermodynamic and moisture stability. We present a novel metasurface based on 2D-PEA2PbI4 and analyze symmetry protected-bound states in the continuum (sp-BIC) excitation. The proposed structure can excite multiple Fano quasi-BICs (q-BICs) with exceptionally high Q-factors. We verify the group theoretical analysis and explore the near-field distribution and far-field scattering of q-BICs. The findings indicate that x-polarized incident waves can excite magnetic toroidal dipole-electromagnetic-induced transparency-BIC and magnetic quadrupole-BIC, while y-polarized incident waves can excite electric toroidal dipole-BIC and electric quadrupole-BIC. The influence of meta-atom and substrate losses, array size limitations, and fabrication tolerances are also discussed. The proposed structure can be employed for applications in the THz region, such as polarization-dependent filters, bidirectional optical switches, and wearable photonic devices.

Aim: To assess the correlation between stroke patients’ satisfaction with participation and activity (measured by SATIS-Stroke) and their functional independence [measured by modified Rankin Scale, (mRS)] after 30 days of hospital discharge. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted on 135 stroke patients, tracking them for 1 month after stroke. Demographic data, including sex, age, marital status, education level, living conditions, and annual budget, were collected. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0. Results: Over the 30-day follow-up period, all 135 stroke patients completed the SATIS questionnaire and recorded mRS scores. Initially, the mean mRS score was three during hospitalization, which improved to a mean score of 2 by the end of hospitalization and follow-up. The average SATIS score was 73. Conclusion: The SATIS questionnaire demonstrated a significant correlation with mRS, indicating its effectiveness in predicting stroke patients’ clinical status and satisfaction with daily activities and lives. The study also evaluated the questionnaire’s predictive value regarding age, gender, income, and marital status. Notably, the questionnaire exhibited a higher predictive value among older females and patients with higher income levels.

Abstract Objective: The cardioprotective effects of nuts are well established. However, the positive impacts of nuts in preventing CVD at a younger age, a condition known as premature coronary artery disease (PCAD), is still debated. Therefore, we aim to determine the association between nuts and PCAD occurrence and its severity in different Iranian ethnicities. Design: This case–control study was conducted within the framework of the Iran-premature coronary artery disease (I-PAD) study, an ongoing multi-centric study on Iranian patients of different ethnicities. Setting: This multi-centric case–control study was conducted in among 3253 persons under the age of 70 years in women and 60 years in men from different ethnicities in Iran. Participants: Information on nut consumption was collected using a validated FFQ. Subjects were selected from among the candidates for angiography. Cases were those whose coronary angiography showed stenosis of more than 75 % in at least one vessel or more than 50 % of the left main artery, while the control group participants had normal angiography results. Results: In the crude model, compared to the first quartile, the highest quartile of nut consumption was significantly associated with a lower risk of PCAD (OR = 0·26, 95 % CI (0·21, 0·32); P for trend = 0·001). In the top quartile of nut intake, a substantial decrease in PCAD was observed after controlling for putative confounders (OR = 0·32; 95 % CI (0·24, 0·43); P for trend = 0·001). Additionally, a 75 % decrease in the risk of severe PCAD was observed in the participants in the highest quartile of nut intake. Conclusion: A significant inverse association was observed between nut intake and the risk and severity of PCAD in the Iranian population. Large-scale clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.