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This paper addresses the question of how the Taliban takeover of power in Afghanistan impacts Iran's national security. The paper aims to offer an enhanced understanding of the current developments in Afghanistan and argues that the advancement of Taliban forces as well as the Islamic state's territorial expansion inside Afghanistan poses a genuine threat to the Iranian state's territorial integrity and sovereignty. In terms of Iran's human security, enhanced terrorism, drug, and human trafficking within the state will probably impact the physical security of the Iranian citizens as a result of the Afghan crisis. Using a constructivist methodology, the paper also shows the importance of the national identity of Iran for the construction of security policy which is thus imperative not only for a better understanding of Iran's approach to security but also for creating conducive steps towards reconciliation between Iran and the international community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important environmental issues today is the water crisis and the ensuing security challenges. Of these, transboundary waters pose the most significant security challenges. Resolving these conflicts and agreements over transboundary waters has always faced a variety of challenges, making it difficult to reach a mutually agreed solution. One of the transboundary water conflicts that have been exacerbating in recent years is the conflict between Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan over the use of the Harirud river water resources. (e present paper aims to analyze, using the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution (GMCR), a game theory model, the conflict between the three countries regarding the utilization of the water resources of the border river, Harirud. To this purpose, first, the current state of the conflict was investigated. (en, each of the three countries’ possible options and preferences was defined according to the past and present state of the conflict as well as the possible states. By defining the permissible movements and priorities of each decision maker, the equilibrium of the conflict was obtained. Next, four scenarios were defined, the equilibria were extracted in each scenario, and the results were interpreted. (e implementation of the GMCR model algorithm regarding the Harirud water conflict between the three countries indicated that the current state is the most likely outcome of the conflict as none of the parties involved, given their preferences, and is motivated or able to change their strategy to help the conflict to a more favorable state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the twenty-first century, the eight-hundred-year-old teachings of a Muslim mystic-poet from West-Asia continues to inspire masses with the universal messages of liberty, love, and fraternity. Many of us can still read and enjoy Rumi's appealing poems in the original Persian language without difficulty - a very rare accident in the arena of world literature! The transcendental meaning of 'civilisational identity' has an evident presence in Rumi's poems, and his teachings are still relevant. This essay aims at presenting Rumi's borderless mentality and inclusive approach, which is, in many instances, in contrast with the modern tendencies of fragmentation and exclusivism. The discussions begin with a short 'Introduction', followed by four main headings. 'Civilisation, Imitation of Creation,' provides a brief overview of the transformation of the meaning of 'civilisation' from the classical period to the modern times. It also emphasises on the less visible yet essential role of art and literature in the formation of civilisational identity. 'Rise of Nationalism as Independent Identity' touches upon the establishment of nation-states, followed by an elaboration of the positive and negative aspects of 'Nationalism' as a recent development in human history. 'Trans-National Identity of Liberated Souls' offers a bird's-eye-view of Rumi's life across various lands. It introduces Persianate culture as medium of connection of many nations, and showcases Rumi, through his writings, as a borderless, nationless, profound, inclusive, translucent, and love-oriented intellectual. 'Language: Facilitator or Barrier' focuses on the idea of communication at two levels: speechless communication and communication via tongue, referring to the esoteric and exoteric aspects of expression. Under this heading we shall also see how a shared language of a few countries - that has been a uniting factor in the history - can become a dividing factor when different 'name-stickers' are adopted to accomplish political agendas under the banner of nationalism. And finally, under 'Conclusion,' a concise summary of the paper is provided. The essay is complemented by relevant couplets by Rumi and two contemporary poets from Iran and Afghanistan. Fresh English translations of the couplets are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the absence of a transboundary water agreement between riparian states of Harirud River Basin, downstream states—Iran and Turkmenistan—have adopted a resource-capturing policy through the construction of Doosti Dam in the lower Harirud River Basin when the upstream state—Afghanistan—was engaged in social unrest during 1980s to the early 2000s. While Doosti Dam has a high potential of supplying water for major cities in Turkmenistan and Iran, its flow has declined due to climate changes and drought in the basin. The paper found that Iran accuses Afghanistan of blocking the flow of water through the construction of Salma Dam, whereas some Afghan and Iranian scholars critique Iran's water management approach for water shortages through construction of dams and employment of unsustainable irrigation approaches in the lower Harirud River Basin. Additionally, the hydro-hegemony theory was critiqued as the theory under-estimates the broader role of outside basin players in influencing and reshaping the hydro-politics of a shared watercourse. Finally, it was concluded that the rapid drawdown of the US forces from Afghanistan along with the establishment of a fragile, weak, and politically unrecognized government-Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan—under Taliban administration—helped Iran to reinforce its hydro-hegemonic potential in the basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the security of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in regional context, with special focus on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Security environment of Afghanistan still remains uncertain and volatile having a direct bearing on the security situation of Pakistan and CPEC. Contrary to expectations, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) continues to operate from its secure bases inside Afghanistan under the Taliban regime and expand its influence in the areas bordering Afghanistan. Indian opposition to CPEC is driven by multiple motives apart from being a perennial adversary of Pakistan and a strategic competitor of China. China's central role in BRI and CPEC has ramifications from Indian perspective that is why it opposes BRI and CPEC. Bilateral relations of Pakistan and Iran has seen many ups and down, however, both countries have developed broad unanimity over Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Iran has indicated an interest in joining CPEC. BRI has further strengthened already deep ties between Pakistan and China. Following a qualitative approach and drawing on the Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT), this study underscores the security challenge for BRI in the context of regional security environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Logistics systems constitute the backbone of international trade. For developing countries, establishment of sustainable logistics systems reduces costs, and makes supply chains strong to become able to compete. Without setting indicators for sustainable logistics, it is not possible to understand what policies are necessary for success. Logistics systems situations become worse in especial industries such as Fast-Moving Consuming Goods (FMCG) industry that are facing observable challenges such as old-fashioned goods or product corruption. The objective of this paper is to determine a set of indicators, which can be helpful in enhancement of sustainable logistics systems in developing countries. An initial set of indicators is determined through literature review and justified by asking experts' opinions who have experience of management in logistics systems in developing countries such as Iran and Afghanistan, especially in logistics management in FMCG industry. The indicators are prioritized using Best-Worst Method (BWM), which is a newly introduced decision-making model. Results of prioritization of finalized dimensions and indicators by use of BWM show that "Governance" has the highest importance among dimensions and "management commitment to sustainability" is the most important indicator among all indicators. The results are applicably acceptable as we can see in business circumstances that only when managers believe in perusing sustainability principles as an important factor under each type of economic circumstance, an efficient vision will be set. Risk management has gained the least weight in this study. Based on experts' opinions, if policies and procedures are set and performed correctly, risks will be less probable by themselves. The results help mangers in assignment of limited budgets to improvement projects related to each indicator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transboundary Helmand River basin (HRB) is the main drainage system for large parts of Afghanistan and the Sistan region of Iran. Due to the reliance of this arid region on water from the Helmand River, a better understanding of hydrological-drought pattern and the underlying drivers in the region is critically required for effective management of the available water. The objective of this paper is therefore to analyze and quantify spatiotemporal pattern of drought and the underlying processes in the study region. More specifically we test for the Helmand River basin the following hypotheses for the 1970–2006 period: (1) drought characteristics, including frequency and severity, systematically changed over the study period; (2) the spatial pattern and processes of drought propagation through the Helmand River basin also changed; and (3) the relative roles of climate variability and human influence on changes in hydrological droughts can be quantified. It was found that drought characteristics varied throughout the study period but largely showed no systematic trends. The same was observed for the time series of drought indices SPI (standard precipitation index) and SPEI (standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index), which exhibited considerable spatial coherence and synchronicity throughout the basin, indicating that, overall, droughts similarly affect the entire HRB with few regional or local differences. In contrast, analysis of the SDI (streamflow drought index) exhibited significant negative trends in the lower parts of the basin, indicating an intensification of hydrological droughts. It could be shown that with a mean annual precipitation of ∼ 250 mm yr -1 , streamflow deficits and thus hydrological drought throughout the HRB are largely controlled by precipitation deficits, whose annual anomalies on average account for ±50 mm yr -1 , or ∼ 20 % of the water balance of the HRB, while anomalies of total evaporative fluxes on average only account for ±20 mm yr -1. Assuming no changes in the reservoir management practices over the study period, the results suggest that the two reservoirs in the HRB only played a minor role for the downstream propagation of streamflow deficits, as indicated by the mean difference between inflow and outflow during drought periods, which did not exceed ∼ 0.5 % of the water balance of the HRB. Irrigation water abstraction had a similarly limited effect on the magnitude of streamflow deficits, accounting for ∼ 10 % of the water balance of the HRB. However, the downstream parts of the HRB moderated the further propagation of streamflow deficits and associated droughts because of the minor effects of reservoir operation and very limited agricultural water in the early decades of the study period. This drought moderation function of the lower basin was gradually and systematically inverted by the end of the study period, when the lower basin eventually amplified the downstream propagation of flow deficits and droughts. Our results provide plausible evidence that this shift from drought moderation to drought amplification in the lower basin is likely a consequence of increased agricultural activity and the associated increases in irrigation water demand, from ∼ 13 mm yr -1 at the beginning of the study period to ∼ 23 mm yr -1 at the end, and thus in spite of being only a minor fraction of the water balance. Overall the results of this study illustrate that flow deficits and the associated droughts in the HRB clearly reflect the dynamic interplay between temporally varying regional differences in hydro-meteorological variables together with subtle and temporally varying effects linked to direct human intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a long-standing dispute between Iran and Afghanistan over the Helmand River. In recent years, between 2002 and 2013, the access to water of the population living in the river basin in Iran has been adversely affected. As the human right to water is recognized at the international level, this paper aims to study the national implementation of the human right to water in both countries. It analyzes Afghanistan's and Iran's legislation, regulation, adopted strategies and policies at the national level. It further assesses if there is an extraterritorial obligation for both countries to respect, protect, and fulfill the human right to water. Finally, it to proposes solutions that would contribute to the fulfillment of the human right to water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An estimated 96% of registered refugees in Iran are Afghan. Almost half of them are young women at the reproductive age. The adequate maternity care is crucial for healthy pregnancy. There is limited knowledge regarding the access and adequacy of maternity care among Afghan women in Iran. The reports from ministry of health (MOH) implicate higher prevalence of perinatal complications in Afghan population. This mainly attributed to the inadequate prenatal care during pregnancy. Therefore, this paper explores the potential barriers to prenatal care among Afghan women in Iran.Methods: Using convenience sampling, thirty pregnant Afghan women were recruited at three community health centers with the highest number of Afghan visitors in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews in Persian language using an interview guide. The interviewers were two bilingual Afghan graduate midwifery students. Each interview lasted for an hour. The questions regarding the concerns and experienced obstacles in seeking prenatal care were asked. The interviews were transcribed into original language (Persian) and analyzed using content analysis and further translated back into English. The main themes were extracted grouping the similar codes and categories after careful consideration and consensus between the researchers.Results: The financial constraints and lack of affordable health insurance with adequate coverage of prenatal care services, particularly the diagnostic and screening tests, were the most frequent reported obstacles by Afghan women. In addition, personnel behavior, transportation issues, stigma and discrimination, cultural concerns, legal and immigration issues were also mentioned as the source of disappointment and inadequate utilization of such services.Conclusions: The findings of present study emphasize the necessity of available and most importantly, affordable prenatal care for Afghan women in Iran. Providing an affordable health insurance with adequate coverage of prenatal and delivery services, could reduce the financial burden, facilitate the access, and ensure the maternal and child health in this vulnerable population. The issues of fear and concern of deportation must be removed for at least illegal Afghan mothers to ensure their access to maternity care and improve the health of both mother and offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing increase in demand for water and the lack of balance between water supply and demand have led to conflicts among the downstream stakeholders of the international Hirmand River. This river is shared between Iran and Afghanistan and is located in the southeast of Iran, in the Sistan region. The Vardkhaneh is divided into two branches, Parian and Sistan, and it is the only main source of water in the Sistan region of Iran. The inner part of Hirmand catchment is considered bankrupt concerning its water resources, so there is a need to take the current status and resulting issues into account in order to resolve conflicts. In Hirmand catchment, four different games of bankruptcy theory, namely proportional (Pr), adjusted proportional (AP), constrained equal award (CEA), and constrained equal losses (CEL), were developed as optimization models based on genetic algorithms. For this purpose, the catchment was simulated with 26 scenarios using the WEAP 2022 version software for an average time period. The results of the bankruptcy game modeling showed that water could be effectively allocated to resolve conflicts among stakeholders. It is therefore recommended to use such a model to resolve fights and optimally allocate resources, even in bankrupt catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Irano-Turanian region is one of the largest floristic regions in the world and harbors a high percentage of endemics, including cushion-like and dwarf-shrubby taxa. Onobrychis cornuta is an important cushion-forming element of the subalpine/alpine flora of the Irano-Turanian floristic region. To specify the genetic diversity among the populations of this species (including individuals of O. elymaitica), we employed nrDNA ITS and two noncoding regions of plastid DNA (rpl32-trnL(UAG) and trnT(UGU)-trnL(UAA)). The most striking feature of O. cornuta assemblages was the unexpectedly high nucleotide diversity in both the nDNA and cpDNA dataset. In the analyses of nuclear and plastid regions, 25 ribotypes and 42 haplotypes were found among 77 and 59 accessions, respectively, from Iran, Turkey, and Afghanistan. Network analysis of the datasets demonstrated geographic differentiation within the species. Phylogenetic analyses of all dataset retrieved O. cornuta as a non-monophyletic species due to the inclusion of O. elymaitica, comprising four distinct lineages. In addition, our analyses showed cytonuclear discordance between both nuclear and plastid topologies regarding the position of some O. cornuta individuals. The underlying causes of this inconsistency remain unclear. However, we speculate that chloroplast capture, incomplete lineage sorting, and introgression were the main reasons for this event. Furthermore, molecular dating analysis indicated that O. cornuta originated in the early Pliocene (around 4.8 Mya) and started to diversify throughout the Pliocene and in particular the Pleistocene. Moreover, O. elymaitica was reduced to a subspecific rank within the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a systematic literature review of studies that shed light on the health of migrants in Iran from the perspective of social justice. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and Iranian databases, including IranMedex, Magiran, and SID, in June 2012. All studies that were published until June 2012 describing the health status of migrants-including refugees-in Iran were included. The search results were categorized according to an adapted version of the six dimensions of well-being in Madison Powers'and Ruth Faden's theory of social justice in health. They consisted of access to health care, health, respect, self-determination and attachment, personal security, and social determinants of health. The majority of papers mentioned issues related to infectious diseases (100 papers, 60.2%). Only a few papers mentioned socioeconomic status and access to health services, education, and work. Infectious diseases and high population growth among migrants and the problematic image of migrants as "threat" to the Iranian population's health appear to be the most prominent results in our search. It is imperative to combat the high numbers of infectious diseases among migrants in Iran while simultaneously making efforts to change the public image of migrants as a health and social service threat to Iran. Data concerning social and ethical issues of migrants' health in Iran is scarce, and thus, future research is necessary using other methods and sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Foro Internacional is the property of El Colegio de Mexico AC and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Within the defense community, a debate is emerging over the wisdom of "balancing" the military by shifting focus toward irregular warfare. This paper argues that balance would only be prudent if the military is likely to continue primarily facing irregular conflicts, if current counter insurgency doctrine can lead to success in future contingencies, and if increased focus on counter insurgency will improve national security. Although the military will likely face future insurgencies, such contingencies threaten national security less than conventional wars, and there is little evidence that the military's counter insurgency doctrine will lead to future success. Moreover, balancing the military would degrade its conventional deterrence capabilities, thereby increasing the likelihood of conventional warfare. Therefore, while Iraq and Afghanistan should be the military's immediate priority, reconstituting degraded conventional capabilities should be its next concern. The paper concludes by suggesting several measures that would improve the military's irregular warfare capabilities without sacrificing conventional deterrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scutellaria multicaulis is a medicinal plant indigenous to Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It has been widely used as a prominent herb in traditional medicine for thousands of years. This plant is reported to contain baicalein, wogonin, and chrysin flavonoids, which are a significant group of chemical ingredients which can cure different diseases, such as breast cancer. S. multicaulis leaf extract was used for the bioreduction of silver nanoparticles (SmL-Ag-NPs), and their phytochemical contents and antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic activity were evaluated. Optimal physicochemical properties of SmL-Ag-NPs were obtained by mixing 5% of leaf extract and 2 mM of aqueous AgNO3 solution and confirmed by characterization studies including UV–visible spectrophotometry, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), X-ray crystallography (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. SmL-Ag-NPs exhibited a higher content of total phenol and total flavonoid and potential antioxidant activity. SmL-Ag-NPs also demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB231 cell multiplication with an IC50 value of 37.62 μg/mL through inducing cell apoptosis. Results show that SmL-Ag-NPs is effective at inhibiting the proliferation of MDA-MB231 cells compared to tamoxifen. This demonstrates that SmL-Ag-NPs could be a bio-friendly and safe strategy to develop new cancer therapies with a reduction in the adverse effects of chemotherapy in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium crown rot (FCR), caused by various Fusarium species, is a primary fungal disease in most wheat-growing regions worldwide. A. tauschii, the diploid wild progenitor of the D-genome of common wheat, is a reservoir of genetic diversity for improving bread wheat biotic and abiotic resistance/tolerance. A worldwide collection of 286 A. tauschii accessions was used to evaluate FCR resistance. Population structure analysis revealed that 115 belonged to the A. tauschii ssp. strangulata subspecies, and 171 belonged to the A. tauschii ssp. tauschii subspecies. Five accessions with disease index values lower than 20 showed moderate resistance to FCR. These five originated from Afghanistan, China, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Turkey, all belonging to the tauschii subspecies. Genome-wide association mapping using 6,739 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) revealed that two SNPs on chromosome 2D and four SNPs on chromosome 7D were significantly associated with FCR resistance. Almost all FCR resistance alleles were presented in accessions from the tauschii subspecies, and only 4, 11, and 19 resistance alleles were presented in accessions from the strangulata subspecies. Combining phenotypic correlation analysis and genome-wide association mapping confirmed that FCR resistance loci were independent of flowering time, heading date, and plant height in this association panel. Six genes encoding disease resistance-related proteins were selected as candidates for further validation. The identified resistant A. tauschii accessions will provide robust resistance gene sources for breeding FCR-resistant cultivars. The associated loci/genes will accelerate and improve FCR in breeding programs by deploying marker-assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scorpion venom is a complex secretory mixture of components with potential biological and physiological properties that attracted many researchers due to promising applications from clinical and pharmacological perspectives. In this study, we investigated the venom of the Iranian scorpion Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) by applying mass-spectrometry-based proteomic and lipidomic approaches to assess the diversity of components present in the venom. The data revealed that the venom's proteome composition is largely dominated by Na+- and K+-channel-impairing toxic peptides, following the enzymatic and non-enzymatic protein families, e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme, serine protease, metalloprotease, hyaluronidase, carboxypeptidase, and cysteine-rich secretory peptide. Furthermore, lipids comprise ~1.2% of the dry weight of the crude venom. Phospholipids, ether-phospholipids, oxidized-phospholipids, triacylglycerol, cardiolipins, very-long-chain sphingomyelins, and ceramides were the most intensely detected lipid species in the scorpion venom, may acting either independently or synergistically during the envenomation alongside proteins and peptides. The results provide detailed information on the chemical makeup of the venom, helping to improve our understanding of biological molecules present in it, leading to a better insight of the medical significance of the venom, and improving the medical care of patients suffering from scorpion accidents in the relevant regions such as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient water allocation in a transboundary river basin is a complex issue in water resources management. This work develops a framework for the allocation of transboundary river water between the countries located in the river basin to evaluate the characteristics of allocation approaches. The allocation of river water is obtained based on initial-water conditions, cooperative, and non-cooperative game-theoretic approaches. The initial-conditions water allocation approach assigns 34, 40, and 26% of the Harirud River flow to Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, respectively. The game-theoretic cooperative approach assigns 36, 42, and 22% of the river flow to Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, respectively. The non-cooperative game-theoretic approach establishes that the most stable water allocation was 42, 38, and 20% of the Harirud River flow for Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, respectively. Human and agricultural water-stress criteria are used to evaluate the water allocations in the Harirud River basin. The criterion of human water stress has the largest influence in Iran, and the criterion of agricultural water stress has the smallest influence in Afghanistan. This work's results indicate the initial-conditions water allocation approach favors Turkmenistan, whereas the cooperative and the non-cooperative game-theoretic approaches favors Iran and Afghanistan, respectively. The results show that the priorities of each country governs water allocation, and cooperation is shown to be necessary to achieve sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anopheles stephensi Listen (1901) is a major vector of malaria in Asia and has recently been found in some regions of Africa. The An. stepehnsi species complex is suspected to have three sibling species: type, intermediate, and mysorensis, each with its own vector competence to the malaria parasite and ecology. To identify the members of the species complex in our An. stephensi insectary colony, we used the morphological features of eggs and genetic markers such as AnsteObp1 (Anopheles stephensi odorant binding protein 1), mitochondrial oxidases subunit 1 and 2 (COI and COII), and nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 locus (ITS2). Methods: Eggs were collected from individual mosquitoes (n = 50) and counted for the number of ridges under stereomicroscope. Genomic DNA was extracted from female mosquitoes. After the amplification of partial fragments of AnsteObp1, COI, COII and ITS2 genes, the PCR products were purified and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed after aligning query sequences against the submitted sequences in GenBank using MEGA 7. Results: The range of ridges number on each egg float was 12–13 that corresponds to the mysorensis form of An. stephensi. The generated COI, COII and ITS2 sequences showed 100%, 99.46% and 99.29% similarity with the sequences deposited for Chinese, Indian and Iranian strains of An. stephensi, respectively. All the generated AnsteObp1 intron I region sequences matched 100% with the sequences deposited for An. stephensi sibling species C (mysorensis form) from Iran and Afghanistan. Conclusions: This manuscript precisely describes the morphological and molecular details of the 'var mysorensis' form of An. stephensi that could be exploited in elucidating its classification as well as in differentiation from other biotypes of the same or other anopheline species. Based on our findings, we recommend AnsteObp1 as a robust genetic marker for rapid and accurate discrimination (taxonomic identification) of the An. stephensi species complex, rather than the COI, COII, and ITS2 marker, which could only be utilized for interspecies (Anopheles) differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Windblown transport and deposition of dust is widely recognized as an important physical and chemical concern to climate, human health and ecosystems. Sistan is a region located in southeast Iran with extensive wind erosion, severe desertification and intense dust storms, which cause adverse effects in regional air quality and human health. To mitigate the impact of these phenomena, it is vital to ascertain the physical and chemical characteristics of airborne and soil dust. This paper examines for the first time, the mineralogical and chemical properties of dust over Sistan by collecting aerosol samples at two stations established close to a dry-bed lake dust source region, from August 2009 to August 2010. Furthermore, soil samples were collected from topsoil (0–5cm depth) at several locations in the dry-bed Hamoun lakes and downwind areas. These data were analyzed to investigate the chemical and mineralogical characteristics of dust, relevance of inferred sources and contributions to air pollution. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis of airborne and soil dust samples shows that the dust mineralogy is dominated mainly by quartz (30–40%), calcite (18–23%), muscovite (10–17%), plagioclase (9–12%), chlorite (∼6%) and enstatite (∼3%), with minor components of dolomite, microcline, halite and gypsum. X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyses of all the samples indicate that the most important oxide compositions of the airborne and soil dust are SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, Na2O, MgO and Fe2O3, exhibiting similar percentages for both stations and soil samples. Estimates of Enrichment Factors (EFs) for all studied elements show that all of them have very low EF values, suggesting natural origin from local materials. The results suggest that a common dust source region can be inferred, which is the eroded sedimentary environment in the extensive Hamoun dry lakes lying to the north of Sistan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of SHILAP Revista de Lepidopterologia is the property of Sociedad Hispano-Luso-Americana de Lepidopterologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In some respects, the Western perspective on Iran and Afghanistan is a Euro-centric one, emphasizing the restrictive character of the Iranian regime and the threat caused by the hotly debated nuclear program, in the current discourse on the situation in Afghanistan, Iran does not play any role and its position is largely unknown. The following essay focuses on the history of Afghan-Iranian relations and highlights Iran's position and self-image in the wider region. As the title suggests, bilateral relations between the two countries are characterized by continuity and shifts. In addition, the paper sheds light on Iran's skillful handling of international affairs and politics, though the strategic maneuverings of Iranian policy makers have not always helped to reach the envisaged targets. Regarding Afghanistan, the Iranians have been sophisticated players, but the essay argues that Iran's relations with its eastern neighbor are shaped by both domestic factors and circumstances on the global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emerging political stability in Afghanistan, Afghan refugees residing in Iran are scheduled to repatriate to Afghanistan. Many Afghan men have married Iranian women and their repatriation has caused a major dilemma for their Iranian wives. The dilemma stems from the Iranian citizenship laws which disadvantage Iranian women in transfer of their citizenship to their non-Iranian husbands and their children. Thousands of children born of these Iranian mothers and non-Iranian fathers are not recognized as Iranian citizens. They are considered Afghan nationals and are, thus, not entitled to benefit from state-funded education and health services. These children's uncertain futures have magnified the unequal status of Iranian women as mothers and served as an impetus to demand change in the Iranian citizenship laws. This paper seeks to explain gendered citizenship in Iran and explores the socio-legal challenges faced by these women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration is part of the Afghan social and cultural landscape. In spite of the unprecedented wave of returns following the fall of the Taliban regime and the establishment of a government backed by the international community, multidirectional cross-border movements will not come to an end. This paper focuses on the case of Hazara male migrants moving between the mountains of Central Afghanistan and the cities of Iran. For many young men, migration offers the opportunity to broaden their social networks beyond narrow kinship and neighborhood ties. It may be conceived as a necessary stage in their existence, a rite of passage to adulthood and a step toward manhood: the perilous journey may be understood as a spatial and partially social separation from the families and homes which contributes to cut the links with the period of childhood; their stay in Iran, during which they have to prove their capacity to face hardship and to save money while living among itinerant and temporary working teams, represents a period of liminality; at their return to their village of origin, they will be reincorporated as adult marriageable men, although they will keep commuting between Afghanistan and Iran for part of their life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural and food industry exports are one of the strategies for export development and sustainable economic growth in developing countries. Since Iran has been among the top ten countries in the export of tomatoes and tomato paste in recent years, the purpose of this article was to compare the global market structure of these two products as two links in the tomato supply chain and calculate the revealed comparative advantage of their exports in the world and the target countries. According to the results, the global market structure of both products in the period 2010-2018, despite the high share of the top four market powers, has been an open oligopoly for most of the years, which indicates a small share of the most competitors and high competition between them. However, due to the large share and stability of market leadership, it is unlikely that small countries will be able to capture the share of large countries. Therefore, it is suggested that Iran, with an average share of 1.61 percent in the tomato market and 5.30 percent in the paste market, prioritize a number of markets in which it has more competitiveness for market penetration, market development, and branding. On average, exports of tomatoes and tomato paste to Turkmenistan, Iraq, and Afghanistan have had the greatest comparative advantage for Iran. It is proposed to prioritize competition, market development, and branding in a number of markets in which it has competitiveness and stability based on the revealed comparative advantage index, including Turkmenistan and Afghanistan. It is worth mentioning that due to the higher comparative advantage of tomato paste compared to tomato, its higher added value, more branding, and storage and transportation capabilities, it is recommended, with the development of investment in food processing industries and the completion of supply chain and marketing. Development of the export market of tomato paste should be a priority of the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomically important characters and subgeneric subdivision of Dichagyris are presented with several historical and nomenclatural considerations. Subdivision of D. vallesiaca is revised based on the type material of the known subspecies. The D. psammochroa group is revised, with description of a new species, D. kurbatskyi from Kazakhstan, and one new subspecies, D. psammochroa kopetdaghimena from the Kopet-Dagh massif. The D. taftana group is revised, with the description of a new species (D. guentereberti from Afghanistan) and two new subspecies (D. taftana elborsasta and D. taftana safavida, from different areas of Iran). The eastern sister species of D. humilis, D. hypotacta from Afghanistan and Pakistan, is described. Major phylogenetic clades of Dichagyris s. str. are associated to western Palaearctic and/or Central Asiatic mountainous regions. Core areas of allopatric speciation of Dichagyris s. str. are discussed with taxonomic considerations and outlook on the subgenera Yigoga and Albocosta, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses the biographical method to investigate the contribution of the refugee experience in the process of transformation in young Afghan asylum seekers in Greece. It examines the participants' extremely adverse socio-political background in their country of origin; the marginalization that existed in the long-term intermediate refugee station, Iran; the arduous and perilous journey to the West and their experiences in their new host country Greece. What emerges is that the participants' initial frame of reference is problematic, in the sense that they can no longer function effectively in the new social environment (the host country). Thus, they learn a new frame of reference and there is a transformation of their wider mental habits. By means of a comparative reflective approach of old and new frames of reference and mentalities, the participants re-evaluate among other things, religion, gender and intergenerational relations, and generally the adoption of human rights as a prerequisite "sine qua non", for the restoration of respect for human existence.

Background: HIV and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infections are responsible for a significant burden of mortality and morbidity, particularly in developing countries. This study sought to determine the prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C among injecting drug users in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Methods: This review conforms to the Preferred Reporting Guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science/Knowledge, SID.ir, and MAGIRAN were searched. Studies that were published from 2003 up to 2018 were considered for analysis. Studies were screened for inclusion in duplicate, and also, that data were narratively synthesized. Results: We report on data from 79 articles. The total number of participants in studies that assessed the prevalence of HIV among injecting drug users included 68,926 participants, while those from studies that assessed HCV prevalence were 23,016 participants. Overall HIV and HCV prevalence among injecting drug users in the three selected countries were 9.1% (95% CI 6.9–12.0%) and 48.3% (95% CI 43.9–52.7%), respectively. Iran had the highest HIV prevalence of 11.0% among injectable drug users (95% CI 8.4–14.2%), while Afghanistan had the lowest HIV prevalence of 3.1% (95% CI 1.5–6.3%) among three selected countries. In Pakistan, the prevalence of HIV was 8.6% (95% CI 4.8–15.0%). Regarding HCV prevalence, Pakistan had the highest while Afghanistan had the lowest, 54.4% (95% CI 33.5–73.9%) and 37.3% (95% CI 35.2–39.4%), respectively. HCV prevalence in Iran was 47.7% (95% CI 43.4–52.0%). Conclusion: Injecting drug users form a special cohort of persons at risk of HIV and Hepatitis C infections. The prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis noted from our findings is significantly high. Awareness of the grave risk of spreading HIV and Hepatitis C associated with sharing needles is recommended among this sub-group of drug users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Refugees are often further susceptible to food insecurity in host countries. This study was carried out to review food insecurity statuses of Afghan refugees in Iran. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search was carried out using keywords of "food insecurity", "food security", "Iran", "Afghan", "immigrant" and "refugee" in English databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as Persian databases, including Scientific Information Database, Noor, Magiran and Irandoc, from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2019. Prevalence of food insecurity reported in each study was recorded based on the types of questionnaires and food insecurity criteria. Meta-analysis was carried out using random effect model with publication bias and heterogeneity tests using STATA Software. Results: Overall, four studies were reviewed; of which, one was carried out in two provinces of Tehran and Mashhad. Household food insecurity access scale, United States Department of Agriculture and Radimer/Cornell questionnaires were used as the measurement tools in 2, 1 and 1 studies, respectively. Prevalence of mild, moderate and severe food insecurities was reported as 11.6-16.1, 27.4-46.5 and 20-61%, respectively. Based on meta-analysis, prevalence of food insecurity in Afghan refugees in Iran was 89% (95% CI: 69-110%). Food insecurity was significantly more prevalent in Afghan immigrants with illegal residential statuses and female-headed and bigger family size households. Being Sunnis, living in various cities (Tehran and Mashhad) and duration of staying in Iran were associated with food insecurity in Afghan refugees. Conclusions: The high prevalence of food insecurity in Afghan refugees in Iran reveals the necessity of policies to limit the prevalence of food insecurity in these refugees in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer, including esophageal and gastric, is one of the most common cancers in the world. Hence, the determination of risk factors of UGI helps to reduce the economic and social burden of this cancer in communities. In Iran, the consumption of opium because of its neighborhood with Afghanistan are considerable. In this study, we examine the causal effect of opium use on the time to UGI cancer death. Based on the Golestan Cohort Study (GCS) in northeastern of Iran, about 50000 adults were enrolled to the study for four years (2004–2008) and followed annually until July 2018. We used "parametric g-formula" to study the causal effect of opium use on the time to death due to UGI. In this study, the information of 49946 individuals due to missingness were analyzed. So the median of follow-up time was 144 months and the prevalence of opium use was 17% (about 8489 persons). During the follow-up period, 593 (1.2%) death from upper gastrointestinal cancer were reported. The study showed that the effect of opium use on the time to UGI death was statistically significant (adjusted risk-ratio based on parametric g-formula = 1.31, 95% CI: [1.04, 1.65]). Additionally, the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) in UGI cancer deaths of opium use was estimated 5.3% (95% CI: [0.6%, 11.3%]). Our results showed a causal effect of opium use on the intensity of upper gastrointestinal cancer death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine mechanisms through which personal values are associated with entrepreneurial intentions by integrating the theory of human values into the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Data were collected using a questionnaire from a sample of 452 agriculture students who were selected from two public universities in two Persian-speaking countries, namely Iran and Afghanistan. The results of structural equation modeling showed that individualistic personal values, that is, openness to change and self-enhancement values, are not directly related to entrepreneurial intentions. However, these personal values were indirectly related to entrepreneurial intentions through attitude toward entrepreneurship and perceived behavioral control. The results also showed no significant difference between the two countries in terms of the relationship between the personal values and three TPB anchors (i.e., attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) or the relationship between TPB anchors and entrepreneurial intentions. The study indicates how personal values play a role in explaining entrepreneurial intentions and establishes the utility of the TPB model in seeking a value–intention linkage in the field of entrepreneurship in developing countries. As a practical implication, the study suggests that educators of potential entrepreneurs should try to stimulate personal values more often because this fosters entrepreneurial intentions and their antecedents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Impact of hemodialysis adequacy on patient survival is extensively studied. The current study compares the survival of chronic hemodialyzed, undocumented, uninsured, Afghan immigrant patients with that of a group of insured Iranian patients matched for underlying disease, age, weight, level of education, marital status, income, and number of comorbid conditions. Methods. Eighty chronic hemodialysis patients (mean age 42.8 ± 10.5 years) entered this historical cohort study in Mashhad, Iran, between January 2012 and January 2015. Half of the patients were undocumented, uninsured, Afghan immigrants (Group A) matched with forty insured Iranian patients (Group B). To compare the survival rate of the two patient groups, Kaplan–Meir survival analysis test was used. Results. Group A patients were underdialyzed with a weekly Kt/V which was significantly less in comparison with that of Group B (1.63 ± 0.63 versus 2.54 ± 0.12, p value = 0.01). While Group A's number of hemodialysis sessions per week was fewer than that of Group B (1.45 ± 0.56 versus 2.8 ± 0.41, p value = 0.04), the mean of Kt/V in each hemodialysis session was higher in them, in comparison with Group B (1.43 ± 0.25 versus 1.3 ± 0.07, p value = 0.045). In Group B and Group A patients, one-year survival was 70% versus 50%, two-year survival was 55% versus 30%, and three-year survival was 40% versus 20%, respectively (p values = 0.04, 0.02 and 0.04, respectively). In Cox regression analysis, hemodialysis adequacy and uninsurance were factors impacting patients' survival (OR = 1.193 and 0.333, respectively). Conclusions. Undocumented, uninsured, inadequately hemodialyzed, Afghan patients had a significantly lower one-, two-, and three-year survival as opposed to their Iranian counterparts, probably due to lack of insurance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the crisis pertaining to the plight of refugees at Moria, a refugee camp on Lesvos Island in Greece. Topics covered how the history and culture of Iran is directly tied to the history and culture of the Afghan people, the passage of the refugees across Aegean Sea and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the situation of Greek refugees.

Background: Sexual abuse and harassment are among the major threats to labor children, especially girls, which can be associated with anxiety and loneliness. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of Gestalt play therapy on anxiety and loneliness in Afghan female labor children with sexual abuse histories. Methods: This was a Single Case Research Design (SCRD) study of the AB model. The statistical population of the study consisted of all 8-11-year-old sexually-abused Afghan children in Karaj City, Iran, in 2018. Three 8-11-year-old female labor children with a sexual abuse history supported by Imam Ali Society (AS) were selected using a random sampling method. The intervention was performed in ten 45-minute sessions for 3 months, and the follow-up phase was conducted one month after the treatment. The required data were collected using the Child Abuse Scale, Asher Loneliness Scale, and Spence Children's Anxiety Scale. Graphical analysis, recovery percentage, and reliable change index were used to analyze the collected data. Results: The loneliness posttest scores improved, compared to the baseline values in the study participants. Their total recovery frequency was 0.56% in the loneliness, and the scores of reliable change index were >1.96 for all 3 study participants. In addition, the obtained results represented that this therapy decreased anxiety in these children and was clinically significant. Their total recovery frequency was equal to 0.57% in the loneliness, and the scores of reliable change index were >1.96 for all 3 study participants. Moreover, the follow-up test results indicated that the effects of intervention continued one month after the last session of play therapy. Conclusion: Gestalt play therapy has effectively reduced loneliness and anxiety in sexuallyabused children. Thus, this therapy could be used as a therapeutic intervention in health centers to improve the feeling of loneliness in labor children and reduce their stress and psychological problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information related to the Fiscal Year 1981 budget of the U.S. Department of Defense. The 1981 budget has shown a tremendous increase from 1980 and indications are that the total figures will go up further during congressional debate. The crises in Iran and Afghanistan and election year politics are key factors which fuel the upward rise. There are many controversial programs and serious policy and budgetary questions within the $158.7 billion in new Total Obligational Authority requested for the Pentagon.

There is a relationship between mental and physical health. Depression and anxiety are linked with the development of several chronic diseases. The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among adult hypertensive outpatients in Afghanistan. Methods. Two hundred thirty-four consecutive hypertensive patients from December 2015 to August 2016 were recruited to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, which has scores for classifying the participants having anxiety and depression symptoms. Results. Of the total 234 patients, 81 (34.6%) were males and 153 (65.4%) were females. The mean age was 54.6±12.7 for the hypertensive patients with anxiety and 63.8±15.0 for the hypertensive patients with depression while this figure was 49.5±10.2 for the adult participants in general population in Kabul city (Saeed, 2013). The prevalence of anxiety and depression (42.3% vs. 58.1%) among hypertensive persons is compared with the same mental disorders among Afghan refugees (39.3% vs. 22.1%) in Dalakee Refugee Camp (in Iran) (Hosseini Divkolaye and Burkle, 2017). Of the total participants, 99 had anxiety (42.3%), 136 had depression (58.1%), and 66 had (28.2%) comorbid anxiety-depression. Multivariate analysis was used. For anxiety age, female gender, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and 2 or more chronic diseases had a significant association. For depression, age and diabetes mellitus had a significant association, and for comorbid anxiety, depression, age, diabetes mellitus, and 2 or more chronic diseases had a significant association. Conclusion. This study shows that anxiety and depression are highly prevalent among hypertensive patients in an outpatient clinic in Afghanistan. There was an association between some sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and anxiety and depression. More studies are needed on a national level to inform the development of strategies for the prevention and control of psychological distress among patients with chronic diseases in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The year 2016 has marked the highest number of displaced people worldwide on record. A large number of these refugees are women, yet little is known about their specific situation and the hurdles they have to face during their journey. Herein, we investigated whether sociodemographic characteristics and traumatic experiences in the home country and during the flight affected the quality of life of refugee women arriving in Germany in 2015-2016.Methods: Six hundred sixty-three women from six countries (Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Eritrea) living in shared reception facilities in five distinct German regions were interviewed by native speakers using a structured questionnaire. Sociodemographic data and information about reasons for fleeing, traumatic experiences, symptoms, quality of life, and expectations towards their future were elicited. All information was stored in a central database in Berlin. Descriptive analyses, correlations, and multivariate analyses were performed.Results: The most frequent reasons cited for fleeing were war, terror, and threat to one's life or the life of a family member. Eighty-seven percent of women resorted to smugglers to make the journey to Europe, and this significantly correlated to residence in a war zone (odds ratio (OR) = 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.4-4.6, p = 0.003) and homelessness prior to fleeing (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1-4.3, p = 0.04). Overall the described quality of life by the women was moderate (overall mean = 3.23, range of 1-5) and slightly worse than that of European populations (overall mean = 3.68, p < 0.0001). The main reasons correlating with lower quality of life were older age, having had a near-death experience, having been attacked by a family member, and absence of health care in case of illness.Conclusions: Refugee women experience multiple traumatic experiences before and/or during their journey, some of which are gender-specific. These experiences affect the quality of life in their current country of residence and might impact their integration. We encourage the early investigation of these traumatic experiences to rapidly identify women at higher risk and to improve health care for somatic and mental illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endemic plants of the Khorassan-Kopet Dagh (KK) floristic province in northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, and northwestern Afghanistan are often rare and range-restricted. Because of these ranges, plants in the KK are vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Species distribution modelling (SDM) can be used to assess the vulnerability of species under climate change. Here, we evaluated range size changes for three (critically) endangered endemic species that grow at various elevations (Nepeta binaloudensis, Phlomoides binaludensis, and Euphorbia ferdowsiana) using species distribution modelling. Using the HadGEM2-ES general circulation model and two Representative Concentration Pathways Scenarios (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5), we predicted potential current and future (2050 and 2070) suitable habitats for each species. The ensemble model of nine algorithms was used to perform this prediction. Our results indicate that while two of species investigated would benefit from range expansion in the future, P. binaludensis will experience range contraction. The range of E. ferdowsiana will remain limited to the Binalood mountains, but the other species will have suitable habitats in mountain ranges across the KK. Using management efforts (such as fencing) with a focus on providing elevational migration routes at local scales in the KK is necessary to conserve these species. Additionally, assisted migration among different mountains in the KK would be beneficial to conserve these plants. For E. ferdowsiana, genetic diversity storage employing seed banks and botanical garden preservation should be considered.

Introduction: Worldwide, refugees show a poorer mental and physical health than the populations among which they resettle. Little is known about the factors influencing health after resettlement. We examined the development of mental and physical health of refugees. As experienced living difficulties might decrease with obtaining a residence permit, we expected this to play a central role in health improvement after resettlement. Methods: A two-wave study conducted in the Netherlands among a cohort of 172 recent (n = 68) and longstanding (n = 104) permit holders from Afghanistan, Iran and Somalia between 2003 and 2011. Multivariate mediation analyses were conducted for the effect of changes in living difficulties on the association between change in status and changes in health. Health outcomes were self-reported general health, number of chronic conditions, PTSD and anxiety/ depression. Results: Recent permit holders had larger decreases in PTSD score (-0.402, CI -0.612; -0.192) and anxiety/depression score (-0.298, CI -0.464; -0.132), and larger improvements in self-rated general health between T1 and T2 (0.566, CI 0.183; 0.949) than longstanding permit holders. This association was not significant for changes in number of chronic conditions. Mediation analyses showed that the effect of getting a residence permit on health improvements transited through an improvement in living conditions, in particular employment and the presence of family/social support. Conclusion: These results suggest that change in residence permit is beneficial for health mainly because of the change in living difficulties. These results add up to the evidence on the role of social circumstances for refugees upon resettlement, and point at labour participation and social support as key mechanisms for health improvements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal and liver diseases (GILDs) are major causes of death and disability in Middle East and North Africa (MENA). However, they have different patterns in countries with various geographical, cultural, and socioeconomic status. We aimed to compare the burden of GILDs in Iran with its neighboring countries using the results of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study in 2010. METHODS Classic metrics of GBD have been used including: age-standardized rates (ASRs) of death, years of life lost due to premature death (YLL), years of life lost due to disability (YLD), and disability adjusted life years (DALY). All countries neighboring Iran have been selected. In addition, all other countries classified in the MENA region were included. Five major groups of gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases were studied including: infections of gastrointestinal tract, gastrointestinal and pancreatobilliary cancers, acute hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other digestive diseases. RESULTS The overall burden of GILDs is highest in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Egypt. Diarrheal diseases have been replaced by gastrointestinal cancers and cirrhosis in most countries in the region. However, in a number of countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Egypt, and Yemen, communicable GILDs are still among top causes of mortality and morbidity in addition to non-communicable GILDs and cancers. These countries are experiencing the double burden. In Iran, burden caused by cancers of stomach and esophagus are considerably higher than other countries. There is an overall overestimation of liver cancer and underestimation of other gastrointestinal and pancreatobilliary cancers. The diseases that are mainly diagnosed in outpatient settings have not been captured by GBD. CONCLUSION Improving the infrastructure of health care system including cancer registries and electronic recoding of outpatient care is a necessity for better surveillance of GILDs in MENA. In contrast to expensive treatment, prevention of most GILDs is feasible and inexpensive. The health care systems in the region can be strengthened for prevention and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: For nearly three decades, the two neighboring countries of Iran and Pakistan hosted millions of Afghans. Today, Afghans still represent the largest group of refugees in the world. This feature has greatly influenced provision of health care for this population. Due to a paucity of research on the health status of Afghan refugees in Iran, this study aim to make a vista on the pattern of different common diseases among Afghan refugees in Iran and use it as an index for performance evaluation of future health services to them. Methods: This is a retrospective cross sectional study, in which we collected the demographic and medical data between 2005 and 2010 from referrals to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) offices in Iran. We also considered a comparative review of the burden of disease estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Afghanistan and Iran. Results: Total numbers of referrals were 23,152 with 52.6% Female and 47.66% male. 29% were 0-14 years of age, 54% were 15-59, and 17% were 60+. The most common health referral for females and males (0-14) was perinatal diseases (15.16%, 15.2%, respectively). In the females (15-59) it was ophthalmic diseases (13.65%), and for males it was nephropathies (21.4%), and in both sexes (60+) age range it was ophthalmic diseases (21.3%, 19.9%, respectively). The largest ethnic group of afghan refugees in this study was Hazara (55%) followed by Tajik (14%), Fars (12%), Sadat (9%), and 10% others. Ophthalmic diseases were the major cause of referrals by Hazara, Tajik, Fars, and Sadat groups with 26%, 20%, 26%, and 27% respectively. Referrals by pashtun group were mostly for neoplasms (17%), among Uzbek group it was nephropathies (26%), and in Baluch group Hematopoietic disorders (25%). Conclusion: These data indicate higher referral rate for women 15-59 years of old and people in 60+ with ophthalmic diseases, neoplasms, and nephropathies. Even given certain intrinsic limitations of such a study, we believe these unique findings are worth further explanation. This implies the need for public health researchers to pursue prospective studies in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Security Strategies Journal / Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi is the property of Strategic Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article focuses on the growing diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S. It mentions that after the governments of the U.S. and Great Britain condemned Iran's nuclear development and plan, the Iranian government refused to attend the January 2010 London Conference on Afghanistan. The U.S. president Barack Obama has announced that improving foreign relations with Iran is one of the most important issues of the government. It further discusses about the relation shared by Iran and Afghanistan and also mentions about the factors that led to trouble relations between Iran and the U.S.

Despite the importance of water management in Islamic culture, the role of religion has been underemphasized by scholars. Using the three criteria of equity, responsibility and sustainability, this study aims to assess whether Islamic water management principles are incorporated into the revision of the transboundary Helmand River Basin under the administration of the Taliban regime. In August 2021, Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, with a goal of ruling Afghanistan based on Islamic Sharia law, presumably including the management of the transboundary watercourses. One such basin is the Helmand, shared with the downstream Islamic Republic of Iran, with whom Afghanistan will likely revisit the transboundary Helmand River Treaty, possibly based on Islamic water management principles. We examine how principles of Islamic code may influence future negotiations, including the construction of dams on the upper Helmand River Basin initiated under the former administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Storia delle Donne is the property of Firenze University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article examines the impact of India's growing involvement with the Muslim countries in Pakistan's neighborhood—Iran, the Central Asian republics, and Afghanistan—on the contemporary U.S.-Pakistan strategic alliance, in particular the cooperation of these two allies in waging the war in Afghanistan. Driven largely by its need for expanded access to the region's energy resources, India has been moving rapidly to cement its ties with these countries. This article argues that U.S. and Pakistani objectives in Afghanistan are far from fully convergent, and that they are perhaps least convergent when it comes to India. India's lengthening strategic shadow in the region, it maintains, especially when coupled with its growing strategic partnership with the United States, is bound to have an important bearing on the evolution of the war in Afghanistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Amongst Muslim majority countries, torture is reported most in Afghanistan and Iran. In addition, despite the significant impact of sexual violence on individuals and public health, the issue has been poorly researched amongst victims of torture., Objectives: The original intention of this paper was to review the health impact of sexual torture amongst Iranian and Afghan refugees in high-income countries; however, a comprehensive search of relevant databases did not produce any results. The aim of this review was then altered to examine those health-related studies that explored the impact of torture in this population. Special attention was given to the discussion of gender and sexual violence in those studies., Methodology: Web of Science, PILOTS, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, Popline and the online catalogue at DIGNITY were searched for health studies that examined the health impact or predictors of adverse health outcomes in Afghan, Iranian and Kurdish refugee survivors of torture., Outcome: Seven papers were identified and examined in this review. The results were limited by the diverse methodologies, by the use of psychiatric tools that had not been validated in this population, and by small sample sizes. Since there is a high prevalence of sexual torture in Iranian and Kurdish refugees, the issue merits greater attention in this population. Studies are most limited amongst the Afghan population. Moreover, there is a great need for further culture-andgender- specific health research in torture survivors from Muslim backgrounds., (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims)