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Background: Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders tend to participate in less physical activity. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to physical activity participation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) based on parental reports. Methods: The sample comprised 370 children and adolescents with ASD, aged 8–20 years. Simple random sampling was selected. We designed a questionnaire and used the survey method for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results revealed several barriers to physical activity participation: interpersonal barriers were the top priority, followed by friends and peers as well as psychological factors as the second and third priorities. Additionally, family, cognition, management and planning, social and cultural factors, and skills were identified as the fourth through eighth barriers, respectively. Conclusions: Understanding these barriers is crucial for developing effective school- and community-based strategies to promote physical activity participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Response to Intervention (RTI) is a preventive approach which is broadly implemented in the West, particularly in the USA for early identification and intervention of students with learning difficulties (LD). However, in the East, especially in the developing countries, neither has this kind of program been used extensively, nor is it even a prerequisite in any educational environment. The challenges of implementing this approach in real-life situations have been investigated in the present article, and the prerequisites, obstacles and outcomes of such a program have been taken into consideration. In this qualitative research, information was gathered by various means including semi-structured one-on-one interviews with six school staff members, three parents, informal conversations with a number of students with LD, and monitoring (with note taking) of the conditions and interactions of these students in the school environment. The findings helped shed light on the causal conditions that underlie the bases of Iran's present educational system; the current situations with which LD students are faced in schools; the necessary strategies and actions for successful implementation of RTI in the country; the factors that can facilitate the needed strategies and actions; and the consequences of the implementation of those strategies. The implications of the findings in educational policy and practice have also been discussed.

The present study aimed to develop the thinking maps training package and compare its training effect with the thinking maps method on the reading performance of second and fifth grade of elementary school male dyslexic students. For this mixed method exploratory study, from among the above mentioned grades' students in Isfahan, 90 students who met the inclusion criteria were selected by multistage sampling and randomly assigned into six experimental and control groups. The data were collected by reading and dyslexia test and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-fourth edition. The results of covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between the reading performance of the experimental (thinking maps training package and thinking maps method groups) and control groups (p < 0.01). Moreover, there were significant differences between the thinking maps training package group and thinking maps method group in some of the subtests (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that thinking maps training package and the thinking maps method exert a positive influence on the reading performance of dyslexic students; therefore, thinking maps can be used as an effective training and treatment method.

Background. In recent decades, epidemics of various infectious diseases have occurred. Despite the health authorities' educational efforts to provide people with adequate information, there is not enough evidence regarding the evaluation and effectiveness of educational methods. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of educational methods provided for the public during epidemics of infectious diseases from people's perspective. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Iran in 2023. The participants included individuals who were older than 15 years and were living in Iran during the recent epidemics. We used a tailored questionnaire consisting of 14 questions to gather information. The validity of the questionnaire was ensured by calculating the content validity index and ratio. Furthermore, its reliability was confirmed through a pilot study. The participants were selected using convenience sampling. In order to collect data, the questionnaire was distributed to the target group both electronically and in person. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24) with normality tests conducted, and any P-value below 0.05 was considered significant. Results. A total of 278 individuals participated in the study, with the majority being women (61.9%). The average age of the participants was 33.9 years old. Most of the participants had a bachelor's degree (43.2%). According to the results of the study, social networks were identified as the most commonly used source for receiving educational materials during infectious disease epidemics (76.8%), and they were also considered to be the most effective source (87.6%). Additionally, based on the participants' opinions, social networks outperformed other information sources (78%). Face-to-face education provided by healthcare workers was identified as the most trusted educational source (81.6%), and the participants recommended this method to others more than any other method (82.4%). Interviews with healthcare experts and in-person education provided by healthcare workers were perceived as the most effective educational methods by the people surveyed (60.4%). Furthermore, the results indicated that as individuals age, their reliance on sources of information like the Internet, social networks, and newspapers tends to decrease. Conclusion. The results of the current study can provide valuable information for policymakers on educating the public during epidemics of communicable diseases, as well as help them make quick, effective, and evidence-based decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The current study aimed at examining the effectiveness of group logotherapy to enhance psychological well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities. Method: The methodology adopted in this study was quasi-experimental incorporating pre-test, post-test, and control group. The population comprised all mothers of children with intellectual disabilities in Bushehr City, Iran. To this end, 26 mothers of children with intellectual disabilities were chosen using multi-stage sampling and were randomly divided into two groups of 13 as experimental and control groups. To gather data, Ryff's psychological well-being inventory was employed, and then the experimental group was treated by eight sessions of logotherapy group counseling each of which lasted 90 min. There was no intervention for the control group and both groups were post-tested. Results: Analyzed by statistical covariance, the results demonstrated that group logotherapy leads to increased psychological well-being and its subscales including positive relationships with others, autonomy, personal growth, and environmental mastery. Conclusion: According to the findings, it is concluded that group instruction with logotherapy approach influences the psychological well-being of mothers of children with intellectual disabilities and one can use this style to help improve parents' mental health.

Background. Training efficient human resources is one of the main missions of universities. Considering the role of education in the development of professional human resources in the health system, it is essential to evaluate the status of the educational system in Iranian universities. The present study aimed to identify and prioritize the challenges in the educational system of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences as well as to provide solutions for dealing with them based on the viewpoints of investors (i.e., faculty members, students, managers, and teaching staff of the university). Methods. This mixed method study (i.e., qualitative-quantitative study) was conducted in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in the summer of 2023. The total number of the participants was 538, including 138 faculty members, 345 students, and 55 managers and employees in the field of education. The data collection tool in the qualitative phase of the study was an open-question questionnaire, but that in the quantitative phase was a closedquestion one. The prioritization matrix was used to prioritize the challenges, which included four indicators of importance, solvability, cost-effectiveness, and urgency. Results. A lack of the space and suitable facilities for students during their internships and internships, a professors' workload, a lack of the connection between Tabriz university and other universities/educational centers, a failure to select educational authorities based on their qualifications and capabilities, and a lack of professors were the most serious educational challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of Iranian national identity under the Islamic Republic has been the subject of much academic debate in the past two decades but little empirical research has been conducted to assess the government's cultural policy on national identity. This article seeks to scrutinize The Islamic Republic of Iran's cultural policy vis-à-vis the Iranian national identity. We use a content analysis approach to explore the Iranian government's cultural policy toward Iranian national identity. To do so, we analyze the documents of the highest body of cultural policy-making, Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution (SCCR), at two levels to explore their relationship with Iranian identity. The results of our content analysis at level 1 unveil that the Iranian national identity, as a whole, has a marginal role in the SCCR's documents. Content analysis at level 2 (i.e. semiotic analysis) explains why such a peripheral status exists and delineates that cultural policy based on the SCCR's transnational ideology represents a situation whose most paramount features are (a) substituting a part of Iranian identity for the whole of it, (b) defining a transnational sphere as the main subject in adopting cultural policy, and (c) describing Iran as a part of the Islamic Ummah and its forerunner in the universal defiance against the West. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use change has a key role in hydrologic processes and biodiversity. Although many satellite-based studies have been conducted to reveal the interaction between land-use changes in hydrological processes worldwide, the land-use change impact on agricultural water consumption in hyper-arid regions is poorly understood. Here, we investigate increased agricultural water consumption in the Qom province, a hyper-arid region in Iran, using derived imageries from Landsat 5 Tm and Landsat 8 OLI during the last three decades. We used maximum likelihood classification (MLC) and decision tree classification (DTC) to analyze the satellite images. The MLC method showed that croplands have increased from 30,547 ha in 1989 to 39,255 ha in 2019 (i.e., a 29% increase). In this period, the total orchard area increased from 3904 ha to 6307 ha, revealing a growth of 61%. In the DTC method, the increases in the cropland and orchard areas were, respectively, 34% and 60%. Although both MLC and DTC satisfied the accuracy criteria, the former was more consistent than the latter concerning ground data and documented statistics. Satellite-based and MLC results showed an increase in agricultural water consumption from 152 million cubic meters (MCM) in 1989 to 209 MCM in 2019, showing a 38% increase (i.e., 1.27% annually). Our findings send an alarming message for policymakers to reduce the water demand through sustainable agricultural practices in the Qom province, where the agricultural sector uses approximately 90% of annual water demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Head lice is a public health problem of worldwide distribution, particularly among school children and girls. Head lice infestation (HLI) can lead to negative social and psychological outcomes such as distress and anxiety in children and their families. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the role of cognitive‐behavioral factors in its spread and prevention among adolescent girls. Methods: The cross‐sectional study was conducted among 276 school‐aged adolescent girls from September 2022 to January 2023 in Herris, a city located in Northwest Iran. A multistage cluster random sample was used to recruit adolescent girls in secondary schools. Two schools were randomly selected from five secondary schools. Then, students in each school were randomly selected from a school list. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire. Results: The high protective behaviors were significantly associated with the number of family members (ß = 0.158; p value = 0.012). An additional 21.8% of the variation in preventive behaviors was explained by cognitive factors as predictor variables (p value > 0.05). Perceived collective family efficacy, perceived barriers, perceived self‐efficacy, and response efficacy were predictors of head lice preventive behaviors, respectively. Among all variables, perceived collective family efficacy was the strongest predictor. Conclusions: The findings of current research support the determinants of the cognitive‐behavioral factors in the spread and prevention of HLI. It is better to involve these factors in school‐based educational programs by policymakers and healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land elevation exerts a significant influence on soil fertility through affecting macro and micro climatic conditions and geomorphological processes. To evaluate the soil fertility at different elevation classes, namely 1600–2000, 2000–2400, 2400–2800, and > 2800 m, 350 surface soil samples (0–30 cm) were collected from the agricultural lands of northwestern Iran. Soil properties, including soil texture, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), and soil macronutrients (TN, P, and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu), were measured. Finally, the interpretation and classification of the soil samples were made using the nutritional value index (NIV). The comparison of the NIV index based on elevation changes showed that the Gomez method classifies the soil properties in an optimal order as evidenced by its tendency towards the center of the data. However, the Common method is more consistent with the observed trend. After classifying the NIV index using the Common method, it was determined that CaCO3 and soil salinity are not the limiting factor for soil fertility in different elevation classes. However, in all elevations, high pH, low OM at elevations > 2800 m, total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (AP), and micronutrients deficiencies, except Zn at the elevation of 1600–2000 m, are the main limiting factors for soil fertility of agricultural lands. The results provide further insight into the elevation-based land evaluation and may supports grower's decision on nutrient management and crop selection strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis is the main cause of severe infection among immunocompromised patients, including patients with cancer. Hence, this study is aimed at screening the status of Toxoplasma gondii infection among breast cancer patients by serological and molecular methods and determining their associated risk factors in Jahrom County, Fars Province, south of Iran. Methods. One hundred and seven women with breast cancer (aged 34 to 80 years) were screened for anti-T. gondii antibodies (IgG and IgM) during 2019–2020. A questionnaire regarding demographic factors was filled out by participants. Molecular detection was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primer pair targeting the repetitive element (RE) gene of T. gondii. The risk factors and demographic data were analyzed by SPSS software (ver. 20, Chicago, IL, USA) using the Chi-squared test. Results. Anti-T. gondii IgG was detected in 45.8% (49/107) of the patients, which indicates latent infection, but anti-T. gondii IgM and PCR were negative in all samples. Demographic factors revealed a statistically significant increased T. gondii seropositivity among nonmenopause cancer patients (P < 0.0005), patients without previous breast cancer (P = 0.0001), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2- (HER2-) negative patients (P = 0.00002). As such, patients with a history of previous abortions and who were at stages II, III, and IIII of cancer had higher seropositivity rates than patients without a history of previous abortions or who were at stage I cancer, but the statistical analysis was not significant. We did not find a statistically significant association between T. gondii seropositivity and other risk factors of toxoplasmosis (e.g., education level, type of water source, washing raw fruits and vegetables, consumption of raw or undercooked meat, and contact with soil, cats, and domestic animal). Conclusion. A high seroprevalence rate of latent T. gondii infection was detected among patients with breast cancer; hence, these patients may be at high risk for reactivation of latent infection. Screening of T. gondii infection is recommended to detect active infection among patients with malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Aging is an emerging, multifaceted, and inevitable global phenomenon, and Iran is no exception. This study investigates the relationship between the Iranian health system's expenditure and the aging rate, and forecasts these variables up to 2026. Methods: This applied study utilized document mining for data collection and quantitative methods for data analysis. The auto-regressive distributed lags (ARDL) model was employed to model health expenditure, while the an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used for forecasting. The study spanned from 1996 to 2021, projecting aging rates and health system expenditure for 2022-2026. Estimations were conducted using EViews 10, with data sourced from the Iranian Statistics Center and the United Nations Population Fund. Results: The study found that, based on 2011's constant prices, a one percent increase in the aging rate corresponds to a 710 billion tomans rise in health system expenditures. Projections suggest that by 2026, the aging rate will have increased by 1.06, resulting in a 753 billion tomans increase in real expenditures, again referenced to 2011's constant prices. The cost attributed to each elderly individual will amount to approximately 1,414 thousand tomans, based on 2011's fixed prices. Conclusion: The findings indicate an expected rise in health system expenditures due to aging. The obtained coefficients are based on Ceteris Paribus; however, factors such as technological advancements, lifestyle shifts, and overall socio-economic changes could significantly alter these figures. The authors suggest that fostering high employment rates with adequate incomes could mitigate the impact of aging by lowering the dependency ratio, thereby enhancing the population's youth ratio and ensuring the solvency of pension funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are important protozoan parasites with worldwide distribution among warm-blooded animals. Moreover, T. gondii is a zoonotic parasite that infects humans. Poultries are important intermediated hosts of T. gondii and N. caninum. However, little is known about the contamination of poultry eggs with these parasites. We aimed to investigate the molecular frequency of T. gondii and N. caninum among the eggs of chicken, domestic duck, and quail from three different geographic regions of Iran. T. gondii and N. caninum were detected by PCR targeting the RE and Nc5 genes, respectively. Findings: Overall contamination rates with T. gondii and N. caninum were 10.7 and 5.9%, respectively. The overall contamination rates of T. gondii among chicken, duck, and quail were 12.2, 15.5, and 4.4%, respectively; while N. caninum was detected in 11.1, 3.3, and 1.1% of the same samples, respectively. The contamination rates were increased with increasing humidity across three different regions. Conclusions: Taken together, this study indicates the contamination of poultry eggs with T. gondii and N. caninum. The possibility of egg-born transmission of T. gondii should not be neglected by consuming raw soft-boiled eggs. Furthermore, contamination of poultry eggs could be an indicator for environmental contamination by these parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil loss (SL) and its related sedimentation in mountainous areas affect the lifetime and functionality of dams. Darbandikhan Lake is one example of a dam lake in the Zagros region that was filled in late 1961. Since then, the lake has received a considerable amount of sediments from the upstream area of the basin. Interestingly, a series of dams have been constructed (13 dams), leading to a change in the sedimentation rate arriving at the main reservoir. This motivated us to evaluate a different combination of equations to estimate the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), Sediment Delivery Ratio (SDR), and Reservoir Sedimentation (RSed). Sets of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) gathered by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD), AQUA eMODIS NDVI V6 data, in situ surveys by echo-sounding bathymetry, and other ancillary data were employed for this purpose. In this research, to estimate the RSed, five models of the SDR and the two most sensitive factors affecting soil-loss estimation were tested (i.e., rainfall erosivity (R) and cover management factor (C)) to propose a proper RUSLE-SDR model suitable for RSed modeling in mountainous areas. Thereafter, the proper RSed using field measurement of the bathymetric survey in Darbandikhan Lake Basin (DLB) was validated. The results show that six of the ninety scenarios tested have errors <20%. The best scenario out of the ninety is Scenario #18, which has an error of <1%, and its RSed is 0.46458 km3·yr−1. Moreover, this study advises using the Modified Fournier index (MIF) equations to estimate the R factor. Avoiding the combination of the Index of Connectivity (IC) model for calculating SDR and land cover for calculating the C factor to obtain better estimates is highly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Comprehensive studies on non-hematologic tumors in patients with inborn errors of immunity are scarce. Using a well-established registry of patients with long-term follow-up, molecular defects associated with these cancers were reported for the first time among these patients. Using the retrospective data available of this national registry of patients with primary immune defects, we clarified that almost all cancer hallmarks are involved in the development of non-hematologic cancers in patients presenting with non-hematologic cancers. Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders, and almost 500 genes associated with these disorders have been identified. Defects in IEI genes lead to diverse clinical manifestations including increased susceptibility to recurrent or prolonged infections, immune dysregulation phenotypes (such as severe atopy, allergy, autoimmunity, and uncontrolled inflammation, lymphoproliferation), as well as predisposition to malignancies. Although the majority of IEI patients present hematologic cancers, the characteristics of other types of cancers are not well described in these groups of patients. By investigating 5384 IEI patients registered in the Iranian national registry the clinical and immunologic phenotypes of patients with non-hematologic cancers were compared with other malignant and non-malignant patients. Solid tumors were reported <20% of malignant IEI patients (n = 27/144 patients) and appeared to be very heterogeneous by type and localization as well as molecular defects (mainly due to DNA repair defect resulted from ATM deficiency). The correlation between the type of malignancy and survival status was remarkable as patients with non-hematologic cancers survive higher than IEI patients with hematologic cancers. Our findings showed that different types of malignancy could be associated with specific entities of IEI. Therefore, the education of physicians about the risk of malignancies in IEI is required for personalized treatment and appropriate management of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthropogenic heavy metal dissemination in the natural environment through riverine sediments is a major ecological and public health concern around the world. This study gives insight into the source apportionment and potential ecological and health risks of heavy metals in river sediments of the Urmia Lake basin, a natural world heritage located in northwestern Iran. A comprehensive sediment sampling was conducted in seven major rivers feeding the basin during the summer and winter of 2021. Samples were analyzed for zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) contents and a suite of chemical and physical properties. Subsequently, Pollution Index (PI), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Ecological Risk (ER), Hazard Quotients (HQ), Hazard Index (HI), and Carcinogenic Risk (CR) indices were determined. The mean concentration of heavy metals in all rivers' sediments exhibited the descending order of Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd during both summer and winter. Multivariate analysis suggested that Zn was primarily initiated from natural processes, Cd and Pb were affected by human activities, and Cu along Ni were derived from natural and anthropogenic factors. The PI unveiled that most sediment samples were unpolluted to slightly polluted by Zn, Cu, and Pb, and slightly to moderately polluted by Cd. PLI and ER indices demonstrated that the sediment poses non to moderate pollution and low to moderate ecological risk, respectively. Using a human health risk approach, we found that the HI values of all heavy metals and THI were less than one for children and adults implying non-carcinogenic risk in the analyzed sediments. Carcinogenic effects of Cd and Pb at all rivers sediments via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact were almost within tolerable risks (1 × 10−6 to 1 × 10−4) for children and adults. PI, PLI, ER, HQ, HI, and CR index values of sediment samples during the summer were higher than those during the winter. This is attributed to the greater heavy metal concentrations and the lower water flow during summer. Our results provide practical information for better management and control of heavy metal pollution in aquatic-sedimentary ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Present study has been carried out to analyze the IL-17R gene expression in PBMCs of patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison to normal controls. BACKGROUND: Premature CAD results in disability and lack of quality of life over the years and consequent mortality. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has global distribution. In 2022, CAD is the leading cause of mortality in the United States and Iran. IL-17 cytokine family plays an important role in promoting inflammation and producing pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinases. METHODS: Entirely, 60 subjects were entered into this examination. The case group consisted of 30 subjects with CAD as well as the control group which consisted of 30 healthy persons. The real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR assay was used to find out, the relative expression (fold) level of IL-17R gene. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that, the relative expression (fold) level of IL-17R gene in the patients group showed an increased level as compared to the control group. The analysis of findings obtained in this study showed that the patient group is significantly different from the control group regarding the IL-17R mRNA level (fold) (p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: It has been concluded that IL-17R plays an important role in the pathogenesis of CAD. It follows that superior understanding of IL-17/IL-17R signaling way will be vital for innovating novel therapeutic targets that will facilitate the designing of new drugs for the management of patients (Ref. 40). Text in PDF www.elis.sk KEY WORDS: gene expression, premature CAD, IL-17R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients, viral load replication in blood plasma (BP) and genital fluid, such as semen plasma (SP), are different. Several factors, including HIV concentration in semen, virus infectiousness, and susceptibility of host cells determine the risk of transmission from HIV male patients to their sexual partners. Previous studies had controversial results on the correlation of BP viral load and SP viral load and the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on BP and SP viral load. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of different ART regimens on BP and SP viral loads. Material and methods: Nineteen HIV-positive male patients, with a mean age of 35.8 years, were included in the study, each of whom had been receiving various ART regimen for at least six months. Both whole blood and semen samples were collected on the same day and subsequently, HIV-1 RNA copy was measured in both samples for each patient. Results: Our results indicated that in patients who were at least six months under ART regimen, mean HIV RNA copy number in BP and SP were 1,371 copy/ml and 273 copy/ml, respectively. Our results demonstrated a significantly higher BP viral load level than SP viral load (p = 0.001). Moreover, a significant correlation between BP viral load and SP viral load was observed (Pearson correlation = 0.97). Conclusions: We conclude that SP viral load of HIV-positive patients with undetectable BP viral load was below detection range. This point should be communicated to sero-discordant couples who want to have a safe pregnancy and healthy offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) cause severe losses in kiwifruit-growing regions. The endophytic bacteria could be biological agents for nematodes management. The aim of this study was the isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria from kiwifruit orchards and the evaluation of their antagonistic ability against RKN in greenhouse conditions. Results: In this study, the population of nematode and the bacterial strains were isolated from kiwifruit roots and leaves in the Mazandaran and Guilan provinces of Iran. Molecular experiments were conducted to identify and confirm the bacterial isolates and RKN species. Also, the effects of bacterial isolates on nematode reproduction factors (number of galls, egg masses, and second-stage juveniles, J2) and growth parameters of kiwifruit plants were determined. The RKN was confirmed as Meloidogyne incognita by molecular identification. Also, the endophytic bacteria were identified based on supplementary experiments and molecular analyses. A total of 31 bacterial endophytes were identified to be including 12 genera of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Exiguobacterium, Sphingomonas, Agrobacterium, Variovorax, Pantoea, Microbacterium, Streptomyces, Chryseobacterium, and Chitinophaga. Generally, Bacillus and Pseudomonas were the dominant genera that included 29.03 and 22.58% of total isolated bacteria, respectively. In vitro screening assays, P. ananatis 121.en and P. chlororaphis 54.en displayed considerable antagonistic ability on J2 mortality of M. incognita and were selected for greenhouse surveys. The isolates displayed a significant reduction in the number of galls and egg masses on roots and juvenile's population in pot soil. Moreover, 121.en and 54.en strains significantly increased growth parameters including root fresh weight and shoot fresh weight than the control kiwifruit seedlings. Conclusions: The bacterial endophytes are safe and have a low risk of managing the RKNs and can be effective microbial bio-fertilizers for improving kiwifruit plant growth under RKNs infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored the experiences of medical science students of part-time hospital work. Twenty-four participants from Guilan University of Medical Sciences in Rasht, Iran were recruited purposively from the fields of nursing (10 students), surgery (4 students), laboratory sciences (4 students), radiology (3 students), and anesthesiology (3 students). Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and were analyzed through conventional content analysis. Data analysis identified three main themes and eight sub-themes: perceived personal benefits (effective learning, improved self-confidence, financial gain), organizational outcomes (operational benefits, unprofessional care delivery), unpleasant clinical environment (job burnout, financial strains, academic discouragement). The data indicate that part-time hospital work, although fostering learning and providing income, also poses challenges such as burnout for the student. Healthcare authorities, managers, and policy makers can use these findings to improve the effectiveness of students’ part-time work in hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Policy-makers should focus on solar energy due to the increasing energy demand and adverse consequences such as global warming. Conflicting criteria influence choosing the most desirable place to construct a Solar Power Plant (SPP). Researchers have popularized multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) methods because of the potential. Although the simultaneous use of several methods increases the robustness and accuracy of the results, existing methods to integrate MCDM methods mainly consider the same weight for all methods and utilize the alternatives ranking for the final comparison. This paper presents a hybrid decision-making framework to determine the best location for SPPs in Iran using a set of criteria extracted from the literature and expert opinions. An initial list of decision-making alternatives is prepared and evaluated using GIS software in terms of criteria. Decision-makers prioritized the identified alternatives using the MCDM methods, including SWARA and different ranking methods (TOPSIS, TODIM, WASPAS, COPRAS, ARAS, and MULTIMOORA). Finally, the CCSD method aggregates the results and identifies the best location. Results highly correlate with the results of previous methods and demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach and its capability to overcome the limitations of previous methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technology users may encounter challenges and inequality in having an access to health information and care during the emergency or in a crisis time. This issue seems to be understudied in most developing countries. The aim of this study was to explore the challenges faced by Iranian people with disabilities faced during the COVID-19 pandemic as far as the use of assistive technology is concerned. A thematic analysis approach was employed to collect and analyse the data. We interviewed 10, 12 and 20 participants with physical, visual, and hearing disability, respectively during the pandemic between May to July 2020. A six-step thematic analysis method was used to identify categories and main themes. The results revealed that people with disability were faced with some challenges in accessing information or receiving it on time during the emergency time. The lack of clear information may increase uncertainty about providing, using or maintaining assistive products. With no clear information or instruction, increased fear of infection, as well as the lack of necessary infrastructure for using available online applications, people with a disability had to rely more on others and seemed to feel disempowered. Assistive technology (AT) users may not receive enough care and attention during health crisis, nor may be included in crisis management programs. Actions to create preparedness plans to meet the needs of AT users in possible future crisis seem to be necessary. Assistive technology users' voice and needs should be given priority in crisis management programs. Web accessibility barriers and information accessibility challenges need more research attention in order to create effective and timely information dissemination programs. There seems to be a research gap about AT users during health crisis, and more research in this area is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare body shape variations and meristic plasticity among four populations of Alburnoides idignensis fish from Aab-barik, Aab-Sardeh, Darband and Sarab-e Kayvareh rivers in Tigris River Drainage, Persian Gulf Basin of Iran. Geometric morphometric method was used to compare shape data extracted by recording 15 landmark points on 2-D pictures of 94 specimens collected from the rivers by electrofishing and a seine net. The principal component analysis, Canonical Variate analysis and MANOVA analysis were used to examine shape differences among the populations. Eight meristic traits including number of lateral line scales (LL), scales above and below LL to ventral fin, pre-dorsal scales, dorsal, anal, pectoral and pelvic branched rays were counted under a stereomicroscope and mean number of the data were compared by Kruskal--Wallis and ANOVA in SPSS software. Significant differences were found among the four populations in all meristic traits but the number of LL scales and in their body shape, separating them from each other. Results revealed that the studied populations have some differences in meristic characters and in the shape and size of the head, body, caudal peduncle and ventral and anal fin position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic is a remarkable health crisis that enforced most people to stay at home and quarantine for a period of time and seems to be having negative impacts on physical activity and mental health worldwide. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a deficit in social interaction characteristics, relationships, and stereotyped behaviors. This study examined Iranian parents' perceptions of physical activity for their children with ASD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this study, an explanatory qualitative methodology was used and data were collected via semi-structured phone interviews. The samples included 40 Iranian parents (aged 25-50 years) who had children with ASD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 Edition (DSM-5) criteria (aged 7-12 years). Results: The results showed that the parents observed their children's physical activity to decrease greatly than before the pandemic. Parents experienced weight gain, increased anxiety, increased stereotypic behaviors, and decreased orderliness, communicative interactions, and social skills. The parents stated that, when their children were more active before the COVID-19 pandemic, they were more cheerful, more adaptable, and communicated more verbally. Parents believed that physical activities have positive effects on the development of their children's physical health and behavior. They also reported some barriers to their children's participation in physical activity. Conclusion: Participating in daily physical activity and support from parents were consequential factors in the promotion of their physical and behavioral health and the development of their independent performance and quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of environmental factors controlling soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks can help predict spatial distribution SOC stocks. So, this study was carried out to select the best environmental factors to model and estimate the spatial distribution of SOC stocks in northwestern Iran. Soil sampling was performed at 210 points by multiple conditioned Latin Hypercube method (cLHm) and SOC stocks were measured. Also, environmental factors, including terrain attributes, moisture index, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), were calculated. SOC stocks were modeled using random forest (RF) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) models. Modeling SOC stocks by RF model showed that the efficient factors for estimating the SOC stocks were slope height (slph), terrain surface texture (texture), standardized height (standh), elevation, relative slope position (rsp), and normalized height (normalh). Also, the PLSR model selected standardized height (standh), relative slope position (rsp), slope, and channel network base level (chnl base) to model SOC stocks. In both RF and PLSR methods, the standh and rsp factors were suitable parameters for estimating the SOC stocks. Predicting the spatial distribution of SOC stocks using environmental factors showed that the R2 values for RF and PLSR models were 0.81 and 0.40, respectively. The result of this study showed that in areas with complex land features, terrain attributes can be good predictors for estimating SOC stocks. These predictors allow more accurate estimates of SOC stocks and contribute considerably to the effective application of land management strategies in arid and semiarid area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Humans are exposed to aluminum (Al) and other heavy metals through various sources. Scientists have long investigated the effects of Al and heavy metals on human health, reporting a correlation between Al concentrations and health issues such as Alzheimer's diseases and cancer. Therefore, a risk analysis study is required to assess the risk of non-cancerous diseases. The present study aimed to measure heavy metals in bread with an emphasis on the risk assessment of Al. Methods: Various types of flatbread, cakes, and muffins were randomly collected in Tehran, Iran. The samples were prepared based on the modified AOAC official method. Subsequently, test solutions were analyzed for Al, Pb, Hg, Ni, As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Cu via inductively-coupled plasma/optical emission spectrophotometry (ICP-OES). Significant differences between the bread sample groups were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's least square difference (LSD) test. Results: We calculated the concentration, daily intake (DI), national theoretical maximum daily intake (NTMDI), and the hazard quotient (HQ) of Al in Iran. The lowest concentration of Al was observed in Sangak bread, and the highest level was detected in Taftan bread. In addition, the highest Al concentration was observed in cakes (mean: 40.44). The DI of Al was estimated at 0.26 mg/kg, and the NTMDI for adults was 0.005. The HQ of Al in all the bread samples was less than one. Conclusion: According to the results, the mean acceptable daily intake of Al was 92% of the provisional tolerable daily intake, and the HQ was less than one in the studied bread samples. Therefore, no risk of non-cancer diseases was observed due to the consumption of the bread samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statement of the Problem: Oral health is one of the most important public health problems. The DMF index is used to assess oral health status. Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate oral health status based on DMF index in adults in Fars province. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was performed on 8911 people aged 40 to 70 years under the Kharameh cohort study in 2020. Demographic and oral health factors were collected during interviews and clinical evaluation. T test, ANOVA, and linear regression tests were used for data analysis. Results: The mean and standard deviation of DMF index was 18.06±8.7in all individuals under study. Multiple linear regression results showed that diabetes (OR=1.1 95%CI: 0.9- 1.9 p= 0.0001), smoking (OR=4.4 95%CI: 4-4.9 p= 0.0001) and underweight (OR=2.1 95%CI: 1.1-3.1 p= 0.0001) are the factors affecting the increase in DMF index. Other factors such as high level of education, economic and social class, flossing, and living in a village have been inversely related to the DMF index. Conclusion: The results of this study are a warning about the importance of reducing dental costs to increase the level of access of people with low economic and social levels and increase health literacy in relation to oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A protective effect of vitamin D against COVID-19 infection is under investigation. We aimed to analyze the effect of vitamin D sufficiency on the clinical outcomes of patients infected with COVID-19.Methods: In this cross-sectional study we analyzed the vitamin D levels of COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Razi Hospital (an infectious disease referral center in Mazandaran province in northern Iran) from February to March 2020. Overall, a cutoff point of 30 ng/mL was used for the definition of vitamin D sufficiency.Results: One hundred fifty-three patients were analyzed in this study who had laboratory documentation of a 25(OH) D level at the time of hospitalization. The vitamin D levels of the patients were 27.19 ± 20.17 ng/mL. In total, 62.7% (n = 96) of the patients had a 25(OH) D level of less than 30 ng/mL and 37.25% (n = 57) had a 25(OH) D level of more than 30 ng/mL. In total, 49% (n = 75) of the patients suffered from at least one underlying disease. The univariate and multivariable regression showed that vitamin D sufficiency was not associated with a statistically significant lower risk of adverse clinical outcomes of COVID-19 such as duration of hospitalization and severity of infection (P > 0.05).Conclusions: Sufficient vitamin D levels were not found to be protective against adverse clinical outcomes in patients infected with COVID-19. Chronic disorders in COVID-19 patients were found to have greater relevance than vitamin D levels in determining the adverse outcomes of the infection. Further studies are needed to determine the role of vitamin D level in predicting the outcomes of COVID-19 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The imbalance in nurse‐to‐patient ratio and limited physical space may lead to care provision by a nurse of the opposite gender. On the other hand, the relationship with the opposite gender in Iran is limited due to cultural and religious beliefs. The aim of this study was to investigate patients' attitudes toward receiving care from the opposite gender nurse. Material and Method: This descriptive cross‐sectional study was carried out on 200 patients admitted to different hospital wards. The patients were recruited using convenience sampling. Data collection tools comprised of a demographic questionnaire and a researcher‐made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 16) and running descriptive statistics (i.e., χ2, independent t test, and linear regression analysis). Results: Male and female patients had 31.8% and 42.6% negative attitudes toward receiving care from the opposite gender, respectively, indicating a statistically significant difference (p =.05). Patients' attitudes had a significant and positive relationship with age, level of education, and experience of receiving care from a nurse of the opposite gender. Conclusion: A significant percentage of patients had a negative attitude toward receiving care from the opposite‐gender nurse. Since people's attitudes affect their relationships, it is necessary to provide conditions for assigning the same gender nurse for patients and improving patients' attitudes toward nurses of the opposite gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteological structure of Alburnoides holciki Coad & Bogutskaya, 2012 from Hari River was described. Three specimens were cleared and stained for osteological examination and its detailed osteological characteristics and differences with available osteological data of other members of the family Cyprinidae, subfamily Leuciscinae, were provided. The genus Alburnoides had no unique osteological characteristics that can be used for genus identification. However, there are much variation in the osteological structures of the specimens, especially, the caudal skeleton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are among the most important plant pathogens. Biological control is one of the safety and effective methods for control of these nematodes. The aim of the present study was the isolation and identification of endophytic bacteria from tomato fields in some areas of Iran in order to evaluate their biocontrol potential against root-knot nematode. In the present study, the population of Meloidogyne was collected from infected cucumber roots of a greenhouse, and the bacteria were isolated from tomato samples collected from the fields in West-Azarbaijan province of Iran. The effects of the bacterial isolates on hatching and mortality of nematode second-stage juveniles were evaluated, and the effects of six selected isolates on infection of a susceptible cultivar of tomato with nematode were evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Results: The root-knot nematode was identified as Meloidogyne incognita. Results showed that the all isolates exhibited considerable inhibitory effects on nematode hatching. The bacterial isolates also caused the mortality of juveniles. Six bacterial isolates with notable biocontrol potential were selected, and supplementary experiments and molecular identification of selected bacterial isolates were performed. Isolates 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, and 11 were identified as follows: Bacillus wiedmannii (MW405861), Pseudoxantomonas mexicana (MW405860), Pseudomonas thivervalensis (MW405862), Serratia liquefaciens (MW405864), Pseudomonas chlororaphis (MW405863), and P. fluorescens (MW405825), respectively. Based on the results of the greenhouse experiment, the selected isolates exhibited good results in terms of reduction of galls and egg masses of nematode. However, B. wiedmannii and S. liquefaciens had the best results in reduction of all investigated factors compared to other isolates. P. mexicana, P. chlororaphis, and P. fluorescens resulted moderate effects. P. thivervalensis was less effective than the others and in some cases had no effect on nematode reduction. Conclusions: The results showed that endophytic bacteria are good candidates for management of root-knot nematodes. The use of such agents instead of chemicals will be very valuable to the control of nematodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses that the Special Olympics is the largest social rehabilitation organization through sports for people with Intellectual disabilities in the world. Topics discussed include the mission of Special Olympic is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities; and Special Olympics Iran is proud to have been part of the global Special Olympics movement.

Urmia Lake, as the largest lake in Iran borders, has a special role in the ecosystem of the region. The water level in this lake declines in recent year remarkably, so monitoring the lake water quality is important from an environmental view. In this research, the changes in the qualitative variables of the lake water (including electrical conductivity (EC), pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)) are compared with the changes in the lake's water level based on the Mann-Kendall nonparametric test. Further, abrupt change points in the time series of quality variables were detected by the Pettitt test. Studies were carried out on samples collected from five different stations during 2005–2015. The results showed that the water level of Urmia Lake had a significant decreasing trend and also, except for TDS, the other investigated quality variables had negative trends during the studied period. It was observed that in general, the values of the Z statistic in the stations located in the eastern part of the lake were more than the stations located in the western part, and also the stations located in the northern parts had a higher trend than those in the south of the bridge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequent primary immunodeficiency disorder mainly characterized by recurrent bacterial infections besides other immunological defects including loss of or dysfunction of B cells and decreased immunoglobulin levels. In this study, our aim is to evaluate clinical, immunological, and molecular data of patients with a primary clinical diagnosis of CVID and autoimmune phenotype with a confirmed genetic diagnosis. Methods: Among 297 patients with CVID, who were registered in the Iranian Primary Immunodeficiency Registry at Children's Medical Center Hospital in Iran, 83 patients have been genetically examined and 27 patients with autoimmunity and confirmed genetic mutations were selected for analysis. Whole-exome sequencing and confirmatory Sanger sequencing methods were used for the study population. A questionnaire was retrospectively filled for all patients to evaluate demographic, laboratory, clinical, and genetic data. Results: In the 27 studied patients, 11 different genetic defects were identified, and the most common mutated gene was LRBA, reported in 17 (63.0%) patients. Two patients (7.7%) showed autoimmune complications as the first presentation of immunodeficiency. Eleven patients (40.7%) developed one type of autoimmunity, and 16 patients (59.3%) progressed to poly-autoimmunity. Most of the patients with mono-autoimmunity (n = 9, 90.0%) primarily developed infectious complications, while in patients with poly-autoimmunity, the most common first presentation was enteropathy (n = 6, 37.6%). In 13 patients (61.9%), the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders preceded the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency. The most frequent autoimmune manifestations were hematologic (40.7%), gastrointestinal (48.1%), rheumatologic (25.9%), and dermatologic (22.2%) disorders. Patients with poly-autoimmunity had lower regulatory T cells than patients with mono-autoimmunity. Conclusion: In our cohort, the diagnosis of autoimmune disorders preceded the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency in most patients. This association highlights the fact that patients referring with autoimmune manifestations should be evaluated for humoral immunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to estimate the cure proportion and effects of related factors on colorectal cancer in Iranian patients after surgery. Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer death. The relative survival of CRC varies worldwide given the quality of care, including surgical techniques. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 490 patients, aged 20-94 years, with colorectal cancer. All the colorectal cancer patients undergoing surgery in Faghihi hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences were prospectively followed-up for 8 years from 2008 to March 8, 2016. We used parametric cure model (mixture and non-mixture) to estimate the cure proportion and the adjusted hazard ration (HR) for colorectal cancer mortality after surgery. Data were analyzed by the "flexsurvcure" package in R software (version 3.4.2). Results: The median age of patients was 57.5 (interquartile range =18) years. Specifically, 56.33% of the patients were male. The median time of follow-up in patients was 618 days. The cumulative survival proportion varied from 0.90 to 0.49 which indicated a reduction followed by a flat line in the probability of survival by sex. The flexible survival for adjusted cure proportion (%) was 68.3. Only obesity was associated with a decreased risk of mortality (HR=0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.97). Conclusion: The overall eight-year survival proportion and adjusted cure proportion for CRC were 49% and 68.3%, respectively. Knowing the cure proportion and its related factors in patients with CRC, better services can be provided. Thus, early detection and screening strategies are required to reduce mortality and increase survival of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is focused on developing an Energy Service Company (ESCO) risk assessment model for use by energy savings certificates (ESC) market regulators. This model enables market regulators to determine the appropriate point in time for ESCOs to sell their certificates with the aim of minimizing risk as well as maximizing economic gain yet remain motivated for reducing the cost of energy efficiency technologies. To this end, the interactions between an ESCO and other parties (such as suppliers) in the market in addition to the principles of the energy efficiency performance contract are taken into consideration. Then, appropriate probability distributions have been fitted to the stochastic variables to be applied in the Net Present Value (NPV) function, based on sampled company data. A case study considers a one MW Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) implementation in Iran's petrochemical industry. The finding of this study shows if the ESCO is allowed to sell the certificates during the first seven years as well reduce 30% of the investment cost, the expected Net Present Value over Investment Cost (NPV/I) savings will cover more than one cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the undeniable role of websites in the success of interactions between citizens and governments, evaluating e-government web sites is a worthwhile topic. This research has developed a multi-attribute-decision-making technique rely on Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis and hesitant fuzzy weighted geometric Heronian mean decision-making methods, for evaluating e-government websites. Proposed framework overcome the limitations of previous investigations such as the possibility of aggregation of expert opinions using group decision-making and modeling the hesitancy of the experts (due to the incompleteness of their knowledge or their doubts in evaluating different aspects of the model) through hesitant fuzzy sets. The designed framework was used in Iran to evaluate e-government websites. In this regard, after a careful and systematic review of previous researches, a list of dimensions and evaluation criteria was presented in the form of a comprehensive model. Then, an expert-based process was proposed to localize the model according to the conditions of the case study. The results of the research show that the final rankings of the decision-making method used in the hesitant environment rarely changed for different operators. So as the experts have confirmed, the model used in this study has acceptable stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Musculoskeletal symptoms are a presenting manifestation in a number of lymphoproliferative disorders including leukemia, especially in children. Among these primary symptoms, midfoot arthritis seems to be an important alarm for malignancy in children. The aim of this study is evaluation association of midfoot arthritis with malignancy in children. Method: In this cross-sectional study, all medical records of patients with arthritis were identified and reviewed. All clinical and laboratory data were recorded in the information form and data were analyzed by SPSS 25 software. Results: A total of 557 cases of arthritis were evaluated, of which 18 (3.2%) cases have primary symptoms of midfoot arthritis. Four of 18 patients (22.2%) had B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, that midfoot arthritis was their first manifestation. Also, their laboratory findings confirmed that platelet, lactic acid dehydrogenesis, and uric acid values were significantly higher in these children. Based on statistical evaluation, there was no significant difference between age and sex in these patients. Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that "midfoot arthritis" may be the first manifestation of leukemia in children even with a near-normal hematologic values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financial performance is an indicator of financial stability, health and condition of any organisation. It could be utilised as a proper measure of the firm's credibility and its ability to pay off debts. Financial institutions use this measure to determine the lending policy and applicants' credits. This study proposes a model based on the CCSD weighing method and hybrid FCM-ARAS approach for clustering and evaluating the financial performance to enable banks to identify target groups and design appropriate and relevant policies. Based on previous studies and the views of senior financial managers of a public bank in Iran, eight economic criteria were evaluated. The presented method was used to assess the financial performance of 58 manufacturing companies applying for loans from a federal bank in Iran. However, the CCSD method was used to calculate criteria weights, and a hybrid FCM-ARAS approach was developed and applied to financial evaluation and clustering the companies. The use of the CCSD method can eliminate errors caused by subjective models and human judgments, and increase the accuracy of the assessment. In this study, the debt ratio and equity to total assets and ROA were identified as the main criteria to assess financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a life-threatening disease, which still remains a major public health concern in Iran, as the country is an endemic region for TB. On the other hand, carcinoma of the lung is the most common and lethal cancer. As the lung cancer involves respiratory system, it has many common connections with TB, too, and it is likely that immunosuppressant drugs, like the ones used in cancer treatments, increase the risk of TB development. Objectives: To assess the possible association of TB and lung cancer, the current study evaluates the incidence of TB among patients with lung cancer. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, patients with diagnosis of lung cancer were selected from the referral centers between 2011 and 2016. The TBamongthe patients was diagnosed, using radiographic pulmonary infiltration, M. tuberculosis culturing, and sputum smear. The diagnostic tests were done twice to certitude the results. Results: From 845 cases entering the study, 9 patients (1.1%) were diagnosed with TB and the smear test was positive in 5 patients. The cases aged between 40 and 67 years old, with the mean age of 53.92-8.02. Women had a significantly more average age than men and adenocarcinoma was the most common type of lung cancer with a rate of 57.63%. Conclusions: According to results of current study, there was a relationship between lung cancer and TB, while the incidence of TB in patients with lung cancer was more than the normal average rate of TB incidence in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism industry in Iran has grown rapidly following the relaxation of sanctions in the wake of the recent landmark nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). However, despite the significance of tourism in the country, no study has previously provided an examination of research trends of tourism and hospitality studies on Iran. This review provides an overview of 180 papers identified in academic and bibliometric databases between 2000 and 2016. Through content analysis, the empirical findings indicate that the number of publications is continuously increasing since the nuclear accord, and the dominant research themes/foci identified among the Iranian tourism research community are tourism development followed by tourism marketing and ecotourism. The majority of the articles used empirical techniques and there is a tendency toward multiple-authorship. The history and scope of sanctions on Iran since the establishment of the theocratic Islamic Republic of 1979 and its consequences on the scientific research are also explained. Implications for the further development of tourism and hospitality research in Iran particularly in the light of softening of sanctions are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Qualitative research methods can help investigators ascertain the depth of people's needs and their perceptions. This study was designed to describe mothers' experiences and perceptions of lay doula services during labor and delivery. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted using a qualitative approach and conventional procedures of content analysis. The participants consisted of 13 nulliparous women at three hospitals affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2016. Data were collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Purposive sampling continued until data saturation was ensured. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed in verbatim. Results: Participants' experiences were categorized into 11 subthemes and five major themes including (1) achieving self-esteem and empowerment, (2) more trust in God, (3) promoting mental health of the mother, (4) willingness toward normal childbirth, and (5) lay doula as a listener and perceiver. Conclusions: In our study, the mothers evaluated the presence of a lay companion as an effective helper during childbirth and someone who promoted a remarkable willing toward normal childbirth. Healthcare professionals must be cognizant of the needs, values, beliefs, preferences, and emotional well-being of disadvantaged women during labor and delivery in poverty-stricken areas of Iran. Also, this study highlighted that it is important to include the perspective of support persons (such as husbands) in research design of future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of deforestation on soil fertility indices – are still not well understood in the forest lands of Iran characterised by Mediterranean type climate. Consistent with this, 8 soil pedons and 32 soil cores were described and sampled from four different soil types of forest and adjacent cultivated soil along a Mollisols transect. The results revealed a considerable depletion in the values of soil organic carbon (by 60–88%), total N (by 67–88%), available K (by 20–45%), cation exchange capacity (by 9–21%), and the diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) fraction of Fe (by 40–72%), Mn (by 10–60%), and Zn (by 49–80%) after deforestation. In contrast, soil pH (by 0.36–0.9 units), C:N ratio (by 3–84%), available P (22–139%), and DTPA Cu (by 4–55%) tended to increase due to deforestation. Cultivated soils showed a drop of 70–82% in the values of the soil productivity index than to those of the forest soil, indicating a degrading and declining effect of deforestation on soil productivity capacity. It was found that the majority of soil fertility indices were affected negatively by deforestation and more than half of the organic matter was lost to deforestation, which, in turn, could lead to deterioration in soil quality or land productivity capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

• The relationship of SH with SWCI is greater than the VHI and elevation. • The IHI-LT is the best SHI to evaluate SH with remote sensing data. • To save time and costs, you can use the IHI-LM instead of the IHI-LT. The deterioration of soil health (SH) in agricultural lands is a global challenge that poses a threat to food and resource security. We developed a practical framework to facilitate the large-scale SH assessment in agricultural fields of northwestern Iran. A total of 350 soil samples were collected and soil properties were determined. Eight linear and non-linear Soil Health Indexes (SHIs) were developed. Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and multiple remote sensing indexes were obtained from satellite images. SHI prediction models were developed using an integrated approach and through a model selection procedure, the most relevant indexes were identified. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) positive correlation between the IHI-LT and elevation (r = 0.56), Vegetation Health Index (VHI) (r = 0.69), and Surface Water Condition Index (SWCI) (r = 0.79). The multiple regression model including the above indexes strongly explained the spatial variability of the Integrated Soil Health Index (IHI) with both total (LT) and minimum (LM) dataset approaches (R2 = 0.72; AIC = −1607.27; RMSE = 0.03; ρc = 0.65). The developed models can be utilized for large-scale assessment of soil health conditions, reducing the cost and effort of conventional ground-truth soil sampling and analysis. Furthermore, this approach may aid in monitoring and mitigating the soil degradation in agricultural lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of elderly people is increasing in different societies, including Iran. Considering that the prevalence of physical, mental and social problems increases with age and care for elderly imposes a heavy economic burden on the community, this study aimed to evaluate the physical, psychological and social problems and their relation to demographic factors among the elderly people in Zahedan. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 315 elderly people (173 men and 142 women) in Zahedan, Iran, during 2010-2012. Subjects were randomly selected from all urban elderly people. Data were collected through a questionnaire and then analyzed using the SPSS software. Results: Results showed that 54.9% of the participants were male, 42.9% illiterate, 1.6% single and 61.3% with physical problems. The most common physical problems were related to cardiovascular diseases (43.8%). Moreover, 89.5% of the subjects felt emotionally relaxed and 36.9% were not satisfied with their lives. Conclusion: It seems that the elderly people, especially elderly women, have many physical, mental and social problems, so these problems affect their quality of life and to remove or reduce the problems, cooperation of elderly, family and society is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Correction: Food safety and Risk 10, 3 (2023) b B https://doi.org/10.1186/s40550-023-00103-1 b Following publication of the original article [[1]], the authors requested to update the affiliation of author Seyedeh Zahra Khademi to "Department of Biology, Payam Noor University (PNU), P.O. Box 19395-4697, Tehran, Iran" Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum contaminations in poultry eggs: molecular surveillance in three different geographical regions of Iran. [Extracted from the article]

The distribution of nematodes was studied in rice fields in Guilan province, Iran, from 2014 to 2016. Nematode biodiversity of 250 soil and root samples was examined. Thirty nematode species were identified morphologically, including plant parasites, microbivores and mycetophagous and predator species. Molecular techniques were also used for further identification of three plant parasitic species. Indicators of population were also estimated. Spiral nematodes (Helicotylenchus crenacauda Sher, 1966 and H. digitiformis Ivanova, 1967) and stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus agri) were the predominant parasitic species identified. Among other species, three mononchid species were identified namely Mononchus aquaticus, Mylonchulus sigmaturus and M. polonicus. The species M. polonicus was found and reported in Iran for the first time. The two plant parasitic species T. agri and Xiphinema index were reported in association with rice in Iran for the first time. To evaluate the distribution and incidence of Aphelenchoides besseyi (rice white-tip nematode) in different regions of Guilan province, a total of 255 fresh seed samples were collected/inspected, of which, about 40% of them were infested with A. besseyi. Of the 16 studied counties, the highest percentage of infected seeds came from fields around the city of Astara (69.2%) and the second highest infection was observed near the city of Anzali (60%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hypolipidemic effects of vegetable oils have been demonstrated in a number of studies, but there is no study, which compares the effects of canola oil (CO) and rice bran oil (RBO) on diabetic patient. We aimed to compare the effects of CO and RBO consumption on blood lipids in women with type 2 diabetes. Methods Seventy-five postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes participated in this single-center, randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial in Shiraz, Iran. Participants were randomly allocated to three groups including a control group (balance diet + 30 g/d sunflower oil) and two intervention groups (balance diet + 30 g/day CO or RBO). At baseline and after 8 weeks, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. Results At 8 weeks, mean of serum levels of TG (mg/dL), TC (mg/dL), and LDL-C (mg/dL) significantly decreased in the CO group (−23.66, P < .001; −11.92, P < .001; and −6.33, P = .013, respectively) and RBO group (−38.62, P < .001; −17.25, P < .001; and −8.90, P = .002, respectively) compared with the controls (7.01, 4.06, and 2.90, respectively). Also, in comparison with CO group, the changes of TG, LDL-C, and non-HDL-C levels were significantly more in the RBO group ( P = .007, P = .012, and P = .011, respectively). Levels of serum HDL-C remained unchanged in all groups at the end of study. Conclusions Substitution of RBO or CO for sunflower oil could attenuate lipid disorders in type 2 diabetes women. Moreover, RBO could improve lipid profile more efficiently than CO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic environments are the ultimate sink for most of anthropogenic pollutants. The Zayandeh Roud River is the most important river in the central Iranian Plateau, supplying water to a large population. In order to determine the potential occurrence and in vivo effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) with estrogenic or anti-androgenic properties we analyzed the wild populations of an extensively distributed endemic fish species, Petroleuciscus esfahani . For this purpose, specimens were caught from two sites upstream and two sites downstream of the expected major anthropogenic pollution sources. P. esfahani full-length cDNAs for vitellogenin ( vtg ), with 4177 base pairs (bp) encoding a 1339 amino acids (aa), and for β-actin ( actb ), with 1776 bp encoding a 375 aa, were amplified and cloned. Hepatic vtg mRNA expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Condition factor, gonadosomatic index and sex ratio were calculated and compared with vtg expression. Gonad histology was performed to study the possible presence of intersex condition. Detection of vtg transcripts in male individuals from the two downstream sampling sites supports the hypothesis of exposure to EDCs in these regions. Higher vtg expression in male individuals, together with reduced gonad size and condition factor, in specimens from the site located downstream of the major steel mill plant suggest a major endocrine disruption in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]