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Background: The overall incidence of breast cancer is different all over the world and even within a nation. The present study aims to investigate the stratum-specific incidence trends of breast cancer in southern Iran. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the data of Fars Population-Based Cancer Registry was used during 2001–2018. New cancer cases with ICD-O-3 codes C50.0 to C50.9 were categorized based on age group, morphology, and topography. Age-specific incidence rates of breast cancer were calculated during 2001–2018. Annual overall and truncated age-standardized incidence rates and their 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were also calculated. Afterward, the Annual Percentage Changes (APCs) of the age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates of breast cancer during 2001–2018 were calculated using Joinpoint regression software. Results: An increasing trend was observed in the incidence of breast cancer among women during 2001–2018 (APC of age-standardized incidence rates: 9.5 (95% CI: 7.5, 11.5)).However, the trend was increasing less during the recent years. The APC of age-standardized rates decreased from 15.03 (95% CI: 10.4, 19.8) in 2007 to 6.15(95% CI: 4.0, 8.4) in 2018. The most common morphology of breast cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma (77.3% in females and 75.1% in males) and its trend was similar to the general trend of different types of breast cancer. The most common site of breast cancer was the upper outer quadrant. Most breast cancer cases were female and males accounted for 2.45% of the cases. Among females, 40–55 was the most prevalent age group. Conclusion: The incidence of breast cancer among women living in southern Iran showed an increasing trend from 2001 to 2018. However, the rate of increase exhibited a milder slope during the more recent years. Based on the higher prevalence of breast cancer in the 40–55 age group observed in the present study, it offers valuable insight into the potential reduction of the breast cancer screening age from 50 to 40 years for healthy Iranian women. However, before implementing such a policy change, it is crucial to conduct additional studies that specifically examine the cost-effectiveness, as well as the potential benefits and risks associated with this alteration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy that leads to altered blast cell proliferation, survival, and maturation and eventually to the lethal accumulation of leukemic cells. Recently, dysregulated expression of various micro-RNAs (miRNAs) has been reported in hematologic malignancies, especially ALL. Cytomegalovirus infection can induce ALL in otherwise healthy individuals, so a more detailed evaluation of its role in ALL-endemic areas like Iran is required. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 newly diagnosed adults with ALL were recruited. The expression level of microRNA-155(miR-155) and microRNA-92(miR-92) was evaluated by real-time SYBR Green PCR. The correlations between the miRNAs mentioned above and the severity of disease, CMV infection, and acute graft vs. host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were assessed. B cell and T cell ALL distinction in the level of miRNAs was provided. Results: After the statistical analysis, our results indicated a marked increase in the expression of miR-155 and miR-92 in ALL patients vs. healthy controls (*P = 0.002–*P = 0.03, respectively). Also, it was shown that the expression of miR-155 and miR-92 was higher in T cell ALL compared to B cell ALL (P = 0.01–P = 0.004, respectively), CMV seropositivity, and aGVHD. Conclusion: Our study suggests that the plasma signature of microRNA expression may act as a powerful marker for diagnosis and prognosis, providing knowledge outside cytogenetics. Elevation of miR-155 in plasma can be a beneficial therapeutic target for ALL patients, with consideration of higher plasma levels of miR-92 and miR-155 in CMV + and post-HSCT aGVHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality traits play an important role in financial motivation and profit management as they can influence an individual's attitudes and behaviors with regards to money. In this study, profit management decisions are examined with three behavioral approaches, and the role of financial motivation in profit management decisions with an emphasis on the personality characteristics of financial managers is investigated in a sample of 65 financial managers of listed companies in Stock Exchange. This study is applied descriptive-correlation research. Financial motivation is considered as an independent variable, profit management decisions as a dependent variable, and personal characteristics (emotional intelligence, narcissism, and non-adherence to ethics) as a moderating variable. A purposive sampling method was used for sample selection and multiple regression was used to test the hypothesis. The results indicated a significant positive relationship between financial motivation and profit management decisions. However, there is no significant relationship between financial motivation and profit management decisions with two approaches of adherence and non-adherence to accounting standards. Moreover, the moderating variables of personal characteristics have no significant effect on profit management decisions. Therefore, in Iran, since financial managers are selected by the company's CEOs, CEOs have a significant impact on their performance in order to achieve their goals. Hence, maintaining job security and organizational position and promoting organizational interests may cause personality characteristics of financial managers and accounting standards to have no effect on profit management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Burnout is a prolonged psychological response to a longstanding interpersonal stressor at work. It can progress to other mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression. In today's society, burnout has become widespread, and it is currently a serious challenge in health systems. This study intended to investigate the impact of mindfulness training on burnout and depression, anxiety, and stress of nonmedical staff in a hospital in Shiraz-Iran. Method: Fifty nonmedical staff in a Shiraz-Iran hospital were enrolled in this two groups' randomized controlled trial. The intervention group was trained by a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program, and the control group received no intervention. The outcome was assessed by the Copenhagen burnout inventory (CBI) and DASS-21 questionnaire on three occasions including before T0, immediately after T1, and 3 months after the intervention T2. Results: Comparing the score changes between intervention and control groups showed that the reduction of work‑distaste‑related burnout, client‑related burnout, anxiety, and stress scores in the intervention group was significantly more than in the control group in the time interval from T0 to T1. The scores in the intervention group in three subscales of CBI, including work‑characteristic‑related burnout, work‑distaste‑related burnout, and client‑related burnout, decreased significantly immediately after the training (T1) compared to before (T0). Also, the scores did not change significantly after 3 months following training. Conclusions: Mindfulness training can be used as an effective way to improve occupational burnout, anxiety, and stress in occupations other than health professionals. Its effect is stable for at least a few months. It is recommended that future studies focus on investigating the feasible way to integrate this training into the working environment. Forthcoming studies should also determine whether the impact of this intervention will last longer and find possible ways to extend its influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earthworms' abundance is usually one of the main indicators of healthy and productive soils. However, agricultural management practices affect the earthworm population and activities. Although there is a lot of information that shows the relation between land use/land cover change and earthworms activity, very little is known about these effects under tea cultivation. Thus the current study was done to determine the effects of long-term tea cultivation on the earthworm's population and abundance in the tea plantations of Iran to distinguish effects of these practices on soil properties concerning earthworms. Hence, 58 locations of tea cultivations were randomly selected in Guilan and Mazandaran province. Earthworm were sampled by manually excavating and sorting four 30x30 cm pits by 30 cm deep in each location. Earthworms were enumerated in the field and taken to the lab for identification. Once identified, the earthworms will dry in the oven at 60°C for 48h and the dry weight registers. Some physicochemical properties of the mineral soils were determined in the laboratory. The finding indicated that the earthworms were only observed in the two from 58 locations: Bazkiagorab (Lahijan) and Shekarposhteh (Tonekabon). Three species as Perelia kaznakovi, Aporrectodea trapezoides, and Dendrobaena veneta were recorded from Bazkiagorab but only P. kaznakovi was identified in Shekarposhteh. The total population of all identified earthworms was 22 and 3 m-2 in the Bazkiagorab and Shekarposhteh, respectively. Results of the physicochemical analysis showed that 35% and 51% of the soils had a pH less than 4.5 and organic carbon less than 2%, respectively. Available phosphorus and potassium in 80% and 65% of the soils were less than 25 and 150 mg/kg, respectively. It can be concluded that monoculture and long-term tea cultivations had a negative effect on the earthworm population, in addition, it has strongly acidified the soil. It is recommended that native nitrogen-fixing trees mixed planted with tea, and more attention should be paid to nutrient Best Management Practices in tea plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing amount of CO2 emissions from the household sector of Iran led us to analyze the inequality and understand the possible driving force behind the CO2 emissions. The study of inequality provides information to policy-makers to point policies in the right direction. By considering the differences in the socio-economic factors of provinces, the study aims to analyze the inequality in CO2 emissions and different kinds of energy consumption, including oil, gas and electricity, for the household sector of Iran's provinces between 2000 and 2017. For this aim, the Theil index and Kaya factor, as a simple and common method, were considered to evaluate the inequality in both CO2 emissions and energy consumption, and determine the driving factor behind CO2 emissions. According to the results, inequality in oil and natural gas consumption were increasing, electricity was almost constant; however, CO2 emissions experienced a decreasing trend for the study period. The Theil index changed from 0.4 to 0.65 for oil, from 0.18 to 0.22 for natural gas, from 0.17 to 0.15 for electricity, and from 0.2 to 0.14 for CO2 emissions between 2001 and 2017. In addition, the results of the inequality study indicated that most of the inequalities belong to within-group inequalities in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. The results of the Kaya factor indicate that the second factor, energy efficiency, with a 0.21 value was the main driving factor of inequalities in CO2 emissions; however, the first factor, energy consumption, can be a potential factor for inequality in the following years, as it increased from 0.00 to 0.11 between 2001 and 2017. It seems that by removing the energy subsidy policy in 2010 and 2013, low-standard and energy-wasting old vehicles were the most effective factors of energy inefficiency in the household sector, which need more accurate policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It has been shown that clinical practice may be a risk factor for job burnout. On the other hand, annual income may have a protective effect on job burnout. Clinical faculty in contrast to basic sciences faculty members have higher income but are involve in clinical practice. Comparison between these two groups can clarify which factors have greater influence on burnout. As a second aim for this study, reliability and validity of the Persian version of Maslach burnout inventory general survey (MBI-GS) were evaluated as well. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Shiraz Medical School in Iran and a total of 241 faculty members were randomly selected and burnout was measured by the Persian version of the Maslach burnout inventory general survey (MBI-GS). Results: Comparison of burnout between the two groups indicated that clinical faculty showed significantly higher scores in the exhaustion dimension compared to the basic sciences faculty (p value = 0.017) but no significant differences were found between the two groups in other dimensions. Job satisfaction and income satisfaction were negatively correlated with exhaustion and cynicism dimensions, and job satisfaction was positively associated with professional efficacy (p value > 0.05). Internal consistency of the questionnaire was acceptable (α=0.77). Scaling success rate for discrimination and convergent validity were 100% except for convergent validity in the cynicism subscale. Correlation of all questions with their dimensions was equal to or more than 0.4 with the exception of item 13 in the cynicism subscale. Conclusion: Clinical faculty had higher burnout than basic sciences faculty especially in the exhaustion dimension. It has also been shown that income and job satisfaction are the most important factors which can predict professional burnout in medical faculty members. It is important for administrative and organizational decision makers to improve job engagement and decrease job abandonment. This study largely confirmed the 3-dimensional structure of the Persian version of MBI-GS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Five epigenetic regulator mutations are considered in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) that have prognostic and therapeutic values. Objective: We aimed to evaluate these mutations in MPNs among the Iranian population Methods: We selected 5 mutations in 4 epigenetic regulatory genes [TET2, DNMT3A, IDH1 (rs147001633& rs121913499), and JAK2)] and evaluated 130 patients with MPNs including 78 Philadelphia chromosome negative (49 ETs, 20 PVs, and 9 PMFs) and 52 Philadelphia chromosome-positive patients as well as 51 healthy controls. Results: Eight patients (6.5%) carried the DNMT3A mutation, 35 (27%) were positive for TET2 mutation and 64 (49.3%) had the JAK2V617F mutation. In the healthy controls, 16 (31.4%) cases had the TET2 mutation (15 Heterozygote + 1 Homozygote) and one had heterozygote JAK2 mutation. There was no statistically significant difference between patient groups for any of these mutations, except for JAK2. The JAK2 mutation rate was 18 (90%), 25 (51%), 7 (77.8%), 14 (26.9%) in polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, primary myelofibrosis, and chronic myelocytic leukemia, respectively. Patients aged 60 and older were more likely to carry the TET2 mutation (23% vs. 39% in younger and older than 60 years old individuals, p=0.025). IDH1 was not detected at all and PV had the highest TET2 mutation 7(35%). Two PMF patients had a history of bone marrow transplantation that were negative for IDH1and DNMT3A and one was positive for TET2 mutation. Conclusion: In the normal Iranian population, the heterozygote form of TET2 mutation is significant, especially in the elderly. No association was found between JAK2 and TET2 mutations. Both of them are more prevalent in the age group of 60 years and older. DNMT3A mutation has a low prevalence and occurs in both positive and negative MPNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Killer‐cell immunoglobulin‐like receptors (KIRs) are important because of their key roles in NK cell development and function. Some KIR genes have been associated with the incidence of haematological malignancies. This study was designed to determine whether the inheritance of specific KIR genes is associated with susceptibility to acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) in Persians living in south‐western Iran. KIR genes and KIR2DS4 variants were typed by polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐specific primer (PCR‐SSP) in 167 patients with AML and 169 healthy controls. Our results showed 10% of patients—mostly females—were classified as M3. Flt3 mutations were detected in 26% of patients, most of whom had internal tandem duplication (ITD). The frequency of activating KIRs (aKIRs)—mainly KIR3DS1—was higher in patients, whereas inhibitory KIRs (iKIRs)—particularly KIR3DL1 and KIR2DL1—were more common among controls. The incidence of the KIR2DS4fl allele was higher among patients with non‐M3 AML than controls. We also found a higher frequency of 4 or more iKIR genes in the controls and a higher frequency of 4 or more aKIR genes in the patients. Individuals with more iKIR than aKIR belonged predominantly to the control group. Individuals with the telomeric AA genotype who had inherited the KIR2DS4fl allele were more frequent in the patient group. According to our results, increased frequency of aKIRs in patients with AML may lead to the hyperactivation of NK cells against malignant cells with reduced or lack of HLA class I molecules followed by NK cell exhaustion which allow malignant cells to progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the main causes of mortality in patients with cancer. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in breast cancer patients receiving outpatient cancer therapy. Materials and Methods: This multi-center prospective cohort study was conducted on patients with breast cancer, initiating an outpatient chemotherapy regimen in five medical centers in Iran. Eligible patients were enrolled in the study consecutively between January 2013 and January 2015. The primary outcome was lower extremity DVT based on duplex/doppler ultrasonography two months after the first course of chemotherapy (visit 2) and after the end of the course (visit 3). All patients were followed-up from the onset of chemotherapy until the first occurrence of lower extremity DVT, death, or the end of the course. Results: A total of 427 eligible breast cancer patients were recruited in the study, 403 of whom attended at least one follow-up visit. The mean (SD) duration of follow-up was 4 (1.3) months. During the follow-up, only one patient showed DVT on duplex/doppler ultrasonography in visit 2. Therefore, the two-month and overall cumulative incidence risk of DVT was 0.25% (95% CI: 0.00-0.74%). However, the mean D-dimer level showed no significant change (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our findings showed the low risk of DVT in breast cancer patients receiving outpatient cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed morphology of 12 Iranian endemic and subendemic species of Veronica was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Seven qualitative and quantitative characters were measured using SEM micrographs and stereomicroscopy. The seed shape of most species is ovate and plano-convex. The size of seeds ranges from 1.25 × 0.75 mm in V. khorassanica to 2.5 × 1.75 mm in V. viscosa Boiss. The ornamentation of seed coat is reticulate-verrucate in V. khorassanica, V. czerniakowskiana, V. mazanderanae and V. rubrifolia, reticulate-rugate in V. acrotheca, V. aucheri, V. viscosa and V. intercedens, rugose in V. microcarpa, V. chionantha and V. rechingeri, and reticulate-porate in V. gaubae. The testa cells are polygonal in ten species and irregular in two species. Micromorphological characters of seeds are useful in specific and subspecific delimitations of Iranian Veronica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, large amounts of seeds are produced in Iran's tea gardens, which currently have no use. Seed powder is the residue of tea seeds after oiling, which is in the form of a cake or powder. It is 60-70% organic matter and more than 15% protein and contains 12-18% saponin. By turning it into organic fertilizer and other plant products, it is possible to help the gardener's economy and better management of the tea garden. Preliminary research has shown the positive and stimulating effects of tea seed products on some plants. Research has shown that consumption of these products, in addition to increasing plant yield, has fungicidal effects and increases plant resistance to other plant pathogens. This powder has no residual harmful effects and is economical and easy to obtain. It is also used on farms as an organic insecticide and does not harm the growth of plants and their roots. Compared to other poisons, it is safer, more efficient, and more convenient. It also can regulate the concentration of heavy metals, improve plant root growth, control and eliminate pests and diseases, and increase resistance to diseases. Considering that a lot of seeds are produced in tea gardens every year, which have already been used to produce tea seedlings. However, with the development of seedling production by cuttings and the introduction of improved cultivars, these seeds are currently of no use. If it is possible to find an application for them, it will help the gardener's economy, and develop and manage the tea garden better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tea mealy bug, Pseudococcus viburni Signoret (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) causes significant reduction of crop yield and it is considered as one of the most important tea pests in northern Iran. In recent years, the population of P. viburni increased because of favorable weather conditions, established on tea buds, lateral leaves and other vegetative parts and imposed damages in the form of yellowing of leaves and weakness. The growth of bushes stopped and estensive leave fall occurred. Because of economic importance of tea in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces, it is necessary to reduce the damages in a safe way. Therefore, a plot of garden with an area of five hectares was selected in Korfistan village of Rudsar city to investigate the effect of tea mealybug damage on the yield of green tea leaves. In 2021, the intensity of infection was about 45%. The yield of green leaves decreased from 43,818 kg to 24,382 kg by 44.36% losses when no control measure was taken. Once the control operation using summer oil was done after the first round harvest, the yield of green leaves in the second harvest increased from 29212 kg to 36573 kg, equivalent to 25.2%. The total yield of green leaves decreased from 73030 kg to 60955 kg in two subsequent years, respectively. Failure to comply with garden management or delay in control operations caused a 16.5 percent decrease in green leaf yield in 2021 compared to 2020. Among the control methods, the use of safe methods is of great importance in the production of healthy tea, because the direct use of tea leaves by humans as a daily drink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Abstract: The pistachio green stink bug, Brachynema germari, has 3–5 generations per year and causes severe damages to pistachio crops in Iran. Physiological digestive processes, such as digestive carbohydrases, can be used to design new strategies in IPM programs for controlling this pest. The enzyme α-amylase digests starch during the initial stage of digestion. Complete breakdown of carbohydrates takes place in the midgut where α- and β-glucosidic activities are highest. Alpha-amylase and α- and β-glucosidase activities were found in the midgut and salivary glands of pistachio green stink bug adults. Overall enzyme activities were significantly higher in the midgut than in salivary glands. The highest α-amylase and α- and β-glucosidase activities were in section v3, whereas the lowest activities were in section v4. V max was higher and K m was lower in the midgut than in the salivary glands for these enzymes. In the pistachio green stink bug, the optimal pH was pH 5–6.5 and the optimal temperature was 30°C to 35°C for these enzymes. Alpha-amylase activity in the midgut and salivary glands decreased as the concentrations of MgCl2, EDTA and SDS increased. Enzyme activities in both midgut and salivary glands increased in the presence of NaCl, CaCl2, and KCl. NaCl had a negative effect on alpha-amylase extracted from salivary glands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Ocular involvement may occur via several mechanisms in patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT) mainly chronic anemia, iron overload and iron chelator toxicity. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of abnormal ocular findings and their relationship with hematologic parameters in TDT patients.Methods: In this cross-sectional study from January 2018 to January 2019, a total of 79 patients with TDT over the age of 18 who were on iron-chelation therapy (ICT) were consecutively investigated. All patients were registered at the Thalassemia Comprehensive Center affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Southern Iran. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed by an expert ophthalmologist. Clinical and hematologic parameters were collected from the patients´ medical records.Results: The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of the patients was 28.4 ± 5.6 years (range: 18-43). Twenty-four patients (30.4%) were male and 29 (36.7%) were splenectomized. The mean ± SD of the best-corrected visual acuity (VA) was 0.960 ± 0.086 decimal, (range: 0.6-1), 0.016 ± 0.046 logMar, (range: 0-0.2). The frequency of patients with VA > 0.1 logMar was 3 (3.8%). The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 14.88 ± 3.34 (6-25) mmHg. Fundus abnormalities were observed in 8 patients (10.1%), consisting of increased cup-disk ratio (3.8%), vessel tortuosity (2.5%), retinal pigment epithelium degeneration (2.5%), myelinated nerve fiber layer (1.3%), and internal limiting membrane wrinkling (1.3%). No significant association was observed between fundus abnormalities, VA, or IOP with hematologic parameters (P > 0.05). TDT patients with diabetes mellitus had significantly higher IOP (P = 0.010) but similar frequency of fundus abnormalities with non-diabetic patients (P > 0.05).Conclusions: The frequency of ocular abnormalities in our patients was lower than the previous reports. The frequency of fundus abnormalities were similar in diabetic and non-diabetic thalassemia patients indicating close monitoring and proper management of the disease and comorbidities in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The study of digestive enzymes, especially in important pests like Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), which are a key constraint on rice production in a wide area of the globe and also in Iran, could be a successful procedure in the development of a safe and useful control strategy. Glycosidase are a type of digestive enzymes which have a critical role in the final stages of carbohydrate digestion; they hydrolyze α-D-(1,4)-glucose linkage such as p-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucoside in di and oligosaccharide components. Laboratory reared 4th instar larvae were randomly selected; midgut and salivary gland were removed by dissection under a stereo microscope and glucosidase activities were assayed by Ferreira and Terra''s procedures. The activities of α- and β-glucosidase in the midgut and salivary gland were 0.009, 0.0063, 0.005 and 0.003 μmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The optimal pH and temperature for enzyme activity were determined to be 9 and 45 °C for the glucosidases measured, values which are in agreement with other reports, especially in lepidopteran insects, which give values between 8–12 and 20–50 °C. The enzyme activity increased with the addition of NaCl, MgCl2 and CaCl2 and decreased due to the use of different concentrations of KCl, Urea, EDTA, SDS and Urea both in midgut and the salivary glands. Control of pests by using resistant varieties is one of the most important practices that are dependent on inhibitors in plants. Hence, characterization of digestive enzymes, especially the effect of inhibitors on enzyme activity, could be useful, on the one hand for a better understanding of enzyme roles in the nutrition physiology of insects, and on the other hand to reach safe and useful controls of insect pests. To cite this article: A. Zibaee et al., C. R. Biologies 332 (2009). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Systemic therapy is one of the cornerstones of cancer treatment. In 1972, following representations by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) recognized medical oncology as a new subspecialty of internal medicine. Subspecialty of Hematology and Medical Oncology was emerged in Iran in 1983. In the past, modern medical treatments and education were started in Dar Al-fonun school and then in Tehran University; now six universities in Iran are training in Subspecialty of Hematology and Medical Oncology. There are also ten active hematopoietic stem cell transplantation centers, thirty-one provincial medical schools, use their specialized services. Future goals for Hematology and Medical Oncology in Iran include expansion and reinforcement of multidisciplinary teams across the country, early detection and prevention of cancer, providing educational program and conducting cancer researches. To achieve these goals, it is necessary to establish Cancer Hospitals in each province that link together through a network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]