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Urban finance is one of the most basic urban development policies. This article investigated Tehran Municipality to provide financial sources of income and provide the cooperative financial model. For this purpose, a mixed method was adopted with the priority of the qualitative stage over the quantitative stage. In the qualitative approach, the proficient subject experts were interviewed to meet the objectives of the research until the theoretical adequacy was achieved. Then, the Delphi method was used to confirm or modify the indicators identified from the qualitative content analysis of the interviews. Thus, the pattern of providing financial resources was extracted from the data of the qualitative phase. After that, the questionnaire was given to 300 financial employees of Tehran Municipality to weigh the indicators identified from the qualitative phase. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and Lisrel 8.5 software and the confirmatory factor analysis technique to determine the variables' weight. The findings showed that seven dimensions of justice, transparency, local independence, thrift, income adequacy, sustainability and practicality, and non-shifting of the tax base were extracted in the financing model. The indicators of these dimensions include charges on official documents, charges on added value, charges on buildings and lands, charges on communications and transportation, charges on professional business licenses, charges on parking, charges on centralized collection, charges on property (Real estate), and income from municipal services. Obtaining these results showed that we can achieve a comprehensive theoretical and applied model in this field only when we pay attention to identifying its definitions, concepts, dimensions and components based on the conditions governing the economic environment of the country and Tehran municipality because the financing issue is multifaceted and complex in the municipality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Afghan refugees child labourers face many challenges as they are labelled as refugees. In an attempt to explore these challenges, the present study was conducted in Tehran with a qualitative approach. The present qualitative research was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach with 25 Afghan child labourers in 2022 in Tehran. Child labourers were selected through purposive and snowball sampling and interviewed in a semi-in-depth interview. The data were analysed based on Granheim and Lundman's criteria, as well as those of Guba and Lincoln, to further enrich the findings. A total of 3 categories, 13 sub-categories, and 183 initial codes were extracted from the data analysis, including: "psychological challenges" (history of harassment and abuse, negative effects, high-risk behaviours, and family detachment); "health challenges" (physical problems, inappropriate accommodation, medical/therapeutic problems, and health threats); and "social challenges" (neglected childhood, dual identity, educational limitations, inadequate social support, social isolation, and social humiliation). At the individual level, it is possible to meet the child labourers' health needs and make them aware of the hazards of working in the streets through physical examination at certain intervals and holding training workshops on harassment prevention, anger control, prevention of high-risk behaviours, prevention of infectious diseases such as hepatitis, and strengthening self-confidence to improve health. Also, the Afghan child labourers' work could be intervened at the social and familial level by providing accommodation in more suitable neighbourhoods, providing health insurance for child labourers, creating the chances of studying in schools, preventing dropouts, and strengthening social relations in order to improve children's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to heavy metals can result in various adverse health effects. Tehran is rated as one of the world's most polluted cities. Green space workers are continuously exposed to such pollutants in this city. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the health risks caused by exposure to heavy metals among green space workers. Eighty-eight workers and office personnel in two regions with different air quality levels were chosen for sampling. Air samples were collected using the NIOSH-7300 method and analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) instrument. The hazard quotient (HQ) and the lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) were calculated to assess carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk levels. The results revealed that the rank order of heavy metals was determined as Zn, Pb, Mn, Ni, Co, and Cd. Workers were subjected to higher concentrations of Ni, Pb, Zn, and Co than office personnel. Furthermore, the Cd, Co, and Zn exposure levels stood significantly higher in region 6 than in region 14. Non-carcinogenic risk levels for all participants fell within the acceptable range. Moreover, no employee had a carcinogenic risk level within the acceptable range when exposed to Cd. Also, 2.3% of individuals demonstrated Ni's acceptable carcinogenic risk level. Owing unacceptable risk levels, proper interventions are required to minimize occupational exposure to heavy metals. These interventions include optimizing shift schedules, using personal protective equipment, and conducting regular health assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: pathological complete response (pCR) is achieved in 10%–30% of rectal cancer patients following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and surgery. Residual mucosal abnormalities, which make patients ineligible for nonoperative management, may not be an accurate indicator of the pCR. The purpose of this study was to report the gross findings of rectal cancer patients with pathological complete responses. Methods: This study was conducted at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. A total of 130 patients with rectal adenocarcinoma, treated by neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, followed by surgical resection between March 2007, and March 2017, with a surgical pathology report of pCR, were included. Patients' demographics and pretreatment tumor characteristics were collected from the medical records. Data regarding residual mucosal abnormalities were extracted from postoperative surgical pathology reports. Abnormal findings were reported as "ulcer" or " non‐ulcerative lesion". Results: One hundred and fifteen patients (88.5%; 95% CI: 81.7%–93.4%) had at least one abnormal finding in the gross examination, including ulcer or non‐ulcerative lesion (any mucosal abnormalities other than ulcers, including polyps, telangiectasia, etc.). Patients with higher‐stage tumors had a higher chance of having an ulcerative lesion (p = 0.05). Younger patients tended to have deeper layers of involvement (p = 0.013). Patients with different gross findings were not significantly different regarding baseline characteristics, except for the pretreatment stage, where patients with a higher stage had higher odds of having ulcerative lesions. Conclusions: Most rectal cancer patients achieving a pCR exhibit abnormalities on gross examination. The higher pretreatment stages were significantly associated with gross abnormalities especially ulcers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective relief reduces damages and protects people during natural disasters, such as earthquakes. This research proposes a data-driven model based on sustainability, taking into account the pre and post-crisis simultaneously. Real data was used to validate the model in various earthquake scenarios. The study addresses questions regarding the amount and allocation of relief goods during earthquakes. This research is carried out in two phases: simulation and modeling. The purpose of the simulation phase is to estimate the number of relief goods in different scenarios. Additionally, in the modeling phase, a data-based multi-objective model is presented, considering sustainability, to minimize the lack of relief goods, the number of untreated wounded, and supply chain costs. Using the dynamic simulation system, and after designing the structure of the earthquake effects on urban infrastructure, the actions and effects of the earthquake on vital arteries are investigated in different scenarios, and scenarios with a higher degree of risk are identified. The results showed that the highest and lowest demands for relief goods were related to the "Mosha-day fault" and "North Tehran-night fault" scenarios, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perceived social support (PSS) plays a considerable role in mental health. The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) is one of the most widely used scales, leading to much research evidence. The present study investigated its measurement model, equivalence across gender (male and female) and age groups (older patients= above 60 and non-older patients= below 60), and concurrent validity. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and October 2020, on patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran. The scales were administered to 328 COVID-19 patients (54.6% male, aged 21 to 92) from two general hospitals; participants completed MSPSS (including friends, family, and significant others subscales), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI, include sleep latency, subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep duration, use of sleep medication, daytime dysfunction, and sleep disturbances subscales), and the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10, to assess patients' appraisal of stressful conditions). Results: The MSPSS three-factor structure was confirmed among COVID-19 patients by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The results support the MSPSS internal consistency and configural, metric, and scalar invariance across gender and age groups. Nevertheless, small but significant differences were found across ages based on the latent factor mean of the MSPSS from friends, with a lower mean level in older patients. The coefficients of Cronbach's alpha (ranging from.92 to.96), the ordinal theta (ranging from.95 to.98), and Omega (ranging from.93 to.97) suggested high internal consistency of MSPSS. The concurrent validity of MSPSS was evidenced by its significant negative correlation with PSS-10 (Γb = -.13, p <.01) and also subjective sleep quality (Γb = -.22, p <.01), sleep disturbances (Γb = -.26, p <.001), and daytime dysfunction (Γb = -.26, p <.001). Conclusions: The MSPSS was valid and reliable for measuring individuals' perception of social support between males and females and older and non-older COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shopping centers are among the major economic and commercial places in cities in terms of social function, urban sustainability, environment, etc. Therefore, it is crucial to determine suitable locations for building new shopping centers. In this regard, urban vacant lands can be considered as high-potential locations to transform the urban landscape and enhance socio-economic development. The main purpose of this study is to assess the potential of urban vacant lands based on a spatial multi-criteria decision-making (SMCDM) system for building shopping centers in 22 districts of Tehran. In this study, first, 16 effective spatial criteria for locating the new shopping centers were identified using expert opinions and a literature review. The best-worst method (BWM) and the Min/Max method were used to calculate the weight and standardized values of each criterion. Then, the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) method was used to prepare a potential map of urban vacant lands for the construction of a shopping center under different decision-making scenarios, including very optimistic, optimistic, intermediate, pessimistic, and very pessimistic. Finally, the spatial distribution of potential locations in the 22 districts of Tehran was investigated. The results showed that among the different criteria, the distance from the highway networks and distance from public transportation stations had the most weight, whereas the distance from fault and distance from stream networks had the least weight. The number of vacant lands with a very high potential for building a shopping center in Tehran based on very pessimistic, pessimistic, intermediate, optimistic and very optimistic scenarios was obtained at 29, 95, 105, 122, and 224, respectively. An increase in the degree of optimism in the attitude of decision-makers or investors increased the number of available options in the very high potential category. Under all scenarios, all vacant lands in 10 of Tehran's 22 districts with very high potential for building shopping centers. The results of the proposed model in this study can be useful and practical for a wide range of planners, decision-makers, and investors with different mental attitudes and risk tolerance. Close attention to these results can contribute to achieving sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of green elements, such as plants, trees, and natural outdoor spaces, has been found to have a significant impact on children's physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that access to green spaces can improve children's cognitive development, increase their physical activity levels, and reduce stress and anxiety. Furthermore, green features may increase children's creativity, imagination, and environmental, ecological, and social interaction education. This research aims to comprehend how green elements affect the formation of gathering spots for children in urban areas and which social and functional features influence children's decisions when choosing gathering spots. It specifically examines the social and spatial constraints that limit children's active play in urban spaces in the immediate vicinity of five single-gender girls' elementary schools in Tehran. Moreover, it observes how the priority of children in choosing gathering spots around schools is affected by safety and surveillance concerns. Observations indicate that children's hang-out spots around schools are determined more by safety and surveillance than access to green spaces or natural elements. The research provides insights into the importance of green elements in shaping children's playful behavior. It emphasizes the necessity of considering safety when planning green spaces in schools' vicinities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Clinical reasoning and evidence-based medicine (EBM) are important concepts in modern medicine. Objective. We performed this study to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) status toward clinical reasoning and EBM among the medical interns and gynecology resident physicians of Iran University of Medical Sciences and related factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study (Tehran, Iran, first half of 2022) was conducted based on two researcher-made questionnaires consisting of three components for each including clinical reasoning attitude (CR-A), clinical reasoning knowledge (CR-K), clinical reasoning practice (CR-P), EBM attitude (EBM-A), EBM knowledge (EBM-K), and EBM practice (EBM-P). The related factors were age, gender, educational level, score of general practice education, having research experience, and general practice experience. Results. A total of 60 individuals participated. The mean score was good for CR-A, moderate for CR-K, moderate for CR-P, good for EBM-A, moderate for EBM-K, and moderate for EBM-P. The total score was moderate in both clinical reasoning and EBM. Among the related factors, CR-P was associated with higher educational levels and having experience in general practice (P < 0.05). Research experience was associated with better CR-K and all KAP components for EBM (P < 0.05). Conclusion. The total score and many of the KAP components had moderate status for clinical reasoning and EBM. Planning on the associated factors should be regarded in the future. Such questionnaires are suggested to be validated for use in quasi-experimental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to address the relationship between economic complexities (EC) and the green economy (GE) with fraud in the listed companies on the Tehran stock exchange. The authors study whether EC and GE increase the detection of financial statement fraud. Design/methodology/approach: The authors used a multiple regression model based on the panel data method and fixed effect model to test hypotheses. The sample includes 1,351 companies listed on the Iranian stock exchange from 2014 to 2021. Findings: The results show a negative and significant relationship between EC and GE with financial statement fraud. Originality/value: Since this research is the first to address the mentioned topic in emerging markets, it provides helpful insights for financial statement users, analysts and legal entities. The study fills the literature gap and promotes knowledge regarding its relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Prevention and control of the disease in children with autism spectrum disorders in a country requires policies and decisions as well as accurate statistics and information in this field. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effective factors for correct diagnosis and timely interventions in autism spectrum disorders in children under 7 years of age. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, information on 83 children with autism spectrum disorder under 7 years of age diagnosed in Tehran using the Gilliam 3 Autism Measurement Scale, Connors Measurement Scale, PEP3 diagnostic test, and the researcher-made diagnostic package was examined. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including mean and frequency, and inferential statistics, including chi-square and analysis of variance. Results: After analyzing the data using SPSS software, it was found that the three components of tool, age and severity of disorder are the most important factors contributing to correct diagnosis and timely intervention in autism spectrum disorders in children under 7 years of age. Conclusions: Considering that the results of this study have shown that the three components of tool, age and severity of the disorder are effective for timely diagnosis, it is suggested that families use testing as soon as they see the slightest symptoms in their children at a young age. It is appropriate to diagnose this disorder early, which can lead to partial control of this disease in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This research deals with the problem of innovation and optimization of providing services related to the library stack to facilitate the restoration and accurate arrangement of books and the protection and maintenance of resources. In this regard, the innovative book locator device tool has been evaluated in libraries. Method: To achieve the goal of this research, an experimental method has been used. The type of this research is also applied. Data collection was done through the distribution of two types of questionnaires "pre-test" and "post-test" in two stages with a time interval of two months. To collect this information, 50 employees working in the stack of target libraries participated in the period of December 2020 to February 2022. The target community of this research included 10 important libraries in Tehran which had similar sections and the same row. Therefore 50 book locator devices were produced and their use was tested for 60 days. The main components of this research on the effectiveness of using the book locator device to solve book stack problems are: reducing waste of time, reducing the amount of disorganized resources, reducing depreciation of resources, reducing empty places of books and archival items, and increasing accuracy in the exact arrangement of resources. Questionnaire data was collected using a control group and a Likert scale test. The reliability of the research was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient higher than 0.7. Finally, the answers were analyzed using Excel and SPSS software. Findings: The results of this research showed that more than 71 percent of the statistical population of the research consider the use of the book locator device to reduce the depreciation of books in the library stack to be effective. Also, the use of the book locator device has solved 98 percent of the problems related to displacement and mistakes in the arrangement of books in the library stack. After testing the book locator device, 87 percent of users mentioned that the correct and accurate arrangement of books on the shelf saves time and increases work speed. Additionally, 96 percent of sample individuals reported that, during book returns, the flashing light of the book locator device increases work speed and attracts librarian attention. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that none of the studied libraries have a book locator device and the arrangement of books is done by librarians. 90 percent of people participating in the research evaluated the book locator device as a useful tool which indicates the efficiency of this device in the library environment. In general, the use of the book locator device is an example of innovation and creativity in the stack of libraries and can have general and practical aspects and help to increase the efficiency in the management of library resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of noise and vibrations caused by railways on the lives of residents around the railways in districts 17 and 18 of Tehran, the capital of Iran which amounts to about 700,000 people, are investigated. In the first stage the actual level of noise was measured at various points which showed above standard levels. Afterward, the authors developed a questionnaire and the survey was conducted from 376 residents. The findings of this study show that the most important factor for the residents adjacent to the railway line is the need for action by the country's railway authorities to reduce and control the adverse effects of noise and vibration. Also, the analysis of inferential statistics performed by chi-square test shows that the variables of gender and proximity of residence or workplace or both to the railway do not affect any of the railway noise or vibration dissatisfaction. The age variable also has no effect on noise dissatisfaction but does impact on vibration. Finally, distance from the railway affects both disaffection from noise and vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Socialization and the ability to interact with others is essential. Healthy social growth requires the natural and healthy development of personality and learning social skills. Storytelling is a great way to help intellectual development in children. This study aims to investigate the effect of storytelling on the social-emotional skills of primary school male students in Iran. Methods This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test/follow-up design. The study population included all 12-year-old primary school male students in Tehran (educational district 1) in 2019-2020. Using a purposive sampling method, 40 eligible students were selected and randomly assigned to intervention (n=20) and control (n=20) groups. The intervention group received the storytelling program at 14 sessions of 30 minutes, two sessions per week. The Social-Emotional and Character Development Scale was used to collect the data, which was completed by the students. Analysis of covariance was used to analyze the data. Results There was a significant difference between the two groups in social-emotional skills (P<0.05). The scores increased in the intervention group after storytelling. In the two-month follow-up phase, the changes were stable. Conclusion Storytelling is an effective way to increase primary school male students' social-emotional skills and can be used in educational settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a progressive form of pulmonary hypertension. Although pulmonary hypertension is strongly associated with a high morbidity and mortality rate, this condition's prognosis and mortality rate are still unclear in Iran. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between the histopathologic findings in endarterectomy specimens of CTEPH patients and their mortality rate. Material and method: In this study, 65 patients from Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran, who were diagnosed with CTEPH and underwent endarterectomy were studied from 2008 until 2018. A questionnaire, including two main sections, was filled out for each patient. One section contained basic characteristics of patients, such as age, sex, etc. In contrast, the other section had the histopathologic findings of endarterectomy specimens, such as the presence of media, intima, atherosclerosis, and blood clots. The mortality rate was obtained by following up with patients by calling them or their families on the phone. Ultimately, the data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16 and the ANOVA method. Results: The patients' mean age was 46.2±13.09, consisting of 43.1% women and 56.9% men. Intima, blood clots, media, and atherosclerosis were seen in 89%, 86%, 67%, and 27% of the specimens, respectively. The mortality rate was 27%. Conclusion: The presence of the media of the vessel (muscular part of the vascular wall) in the histopathologic evaluation of samples of CTEPH patients who underwent endarterectomy was associated with an increased risk of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health service utilization among people living with HIV is vital for their survival and quality of life. This study aims to exploring the determinants influencing health service utilization among people living with HIV. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study involving 16 men and women aged 18–64 living with HIV in Tehran. Data were collected between September and December 2021 through semi-structured interviews conducted via telephone and online platforms, utilizing the purposeful sampling method. Data were analyzed by MAXQDA-2018 software using conventional content analysis approaches and the Granheim and Landman method. Results: Two main themes, seven categories, and 21 subcategories were obtained from the interviews. The main themes included facilitators of health service utilization (positive personality traits, social factors, and structural-behavioral determinants) and inhibitors of health service utilization (personal conditions, insufficient knowledge and understanding of the disease, negative consequences of disease disclosure, and difficult access to services). Conclusion: This study underscores the need to invest and expand specialized services for people living with HIV by policy makers, while simultaneously increasing public awareness to reduce the social stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Receiving nutrients from fruits and vegetables are essential for public health. However, a large amount of waste is produced during producing, supplying, and consuming these fruits and vegetables. Water, fertilizers and pesticides used for the production of agricultural products can affect the soil and their cultivation environment and finally lead to environmental pollution. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the amount of fruit and vegetable waste caused by corruption and evaluate its economic loss and health damage. METHODS: The data were collected using the observation technique aided by observation tools and weighing tests to physically analyze and determine the quantity and quality of waste from Tehran's fruit and vegetable distribution centers. In each center, the waste obtained from fruits and vegetables was stored in special waste tanks at the end of the day, and the waste was transported to outside the center by special waste disposal vehicles. The economic loss of unusable fruits and vegetables was calculated according to the weight of their waste in the fields of agricultural product supply. The data were analyzed using statistical software SPSS, ANOVA statistical test, and Excel software. FINDINGS: The results revealed that the amounts of fruit and vegetable wastes were 12 percent and 24 percent, respectively, accounting for a total loss of 54,891,539 USD. The highest quantity of fruit waste (15 percent) was observed in summer, and the economic loss due to fruit waste was higher in this season. Also, the amounts of vegetable waste in summer and spring were equal to 28 percent and 24 percent, respectively, indicating the higher economic loss due to vegetable in these seasons. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the economic loss due to vegetable waste was greater than the economic loss due to fruit waste. The amount of vegetable waste was 24 percent, representing a high economic loss. The generation and disposal of these wastes caused a great economic loss and health problems due to their unpleasant odor, release of leachate into the environment, and landfill pollution. Therefore, it was recommended to follow appropriate production principles and supply operations. Moreover, a comprehensive waste disposal management, as a practical measure, should be used to prevent and control these problems. The use of modern technology in harvesting, transporting and supplying fruits and vegetables could reduce their lesion, and subsequently reduce the economic loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Acinetobacter baumannii strains harboring Meallobetalactamases (MBL) pose a significant threat in the context of nosocomial infections. The present investigation was undertaken with the objective of devising a Multiplex PCR methodology for the concurrent detection of MBL genes within A. baumannii strains prevalent in Tehran City, Iran. Methods: Between October 2020 and February 2021, 100 strains of A. baumannii were procured from burn specimens of hospitalized patients at Motahhari Hospital in Tehran. The identification of A. baumannii strains involved conventional biochemical techniques, coupled with confirmation of the presence of the bla OXA-51 gene. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the Kirby--Bauer disc diffusion test. MBL-producing strains were characterized through a phenotypic approach employing the combined disk test, alongside Multiplex PCR for the simultaneous identification of bla VIM, bla IMP, bla GIM, and bla NDM genes. Statistical analyses were conducted using the chi-square test, with SPSS version 20.0 employed for data processing. Results: Among 100 strains examined, 96.1% exhibited positivity for MBL, as determined by the combined disk test. The study revealed a predominance of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains, with colistin demonstrating the highest level of sensitivity. The genotypic assay unveiled that Multiplex PCR identified bla VIM, bla NDM, and bla IMP in 20 strains, bla VIM and bla NDM in 30 strains, and exclusively the bla NDM gene in 45 strains. Notably, the Multiplex PCR technique exhibited the capacity to concurrently detect MBL genes (bla VIM, bla IMP, bla GIM, bla NDM) in 2 strains. Conclusion: The current investigation underscores prevalence of the bla NDM gene within clinical strains of A. baumannii. Furthermore, Multiplex PCR emerges as a robust and highly sensitive technique for rapid discernment of the MBL genes within in A. baumannii strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoelectric generators have emerged as a potential method for recovering energy from vehicle exhaust. In this study, a hybrid electric vehicle with a thermoelectric generator is dynamically designed and modeled in Simcenter Amesim software. The comprehensive model of the hybrid vehicle system that has been modeled can navigate in all-electric and parallel hybrid modes according to its control method. The driving cycle measured in Tehran city is used in this study, and its results were compared to the other standard driving cycles. In order to analyze the vehicle's dynamic behavior under varied driving situations, two overall scenarios, including constant and changing velocities, were studied. Seven speed profiles were considered in the constant speed mode, and their effects on the amount of energy produced by the thermoelectric generator were shown. It was discovered that with a constant speed of 40 m s−1, the energy production due to temperature difference in the TEG modulus is 96.9 kJ, whereas this amount was 42.8 kJ in the real driving condition. Also, it was demonstrated that increasing vehicle's velocity raises the flow rate and temperature of exhaust gases, enhancing the effect of the thermoelectric generator. In addition, the performance of thermoelectric generators' energy production in standard cycles compared to the surveyed cycle of Tehran city has been investigated. It was observed that the amount of energy ratio, which was 6% in the real driving cycle, could reach 13% in the standard driving cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of marital conflict about workfamily conflict and working women's job burnout. Method: This research is a descriptive-correlation study. The sample includes 200 women working in Tehran hospitals in 1400, who were chosen through convenient sampling method. In order to collect data, a questionnaire about work-family conflict, job burnout, and marital conflict was used. in order to analyze the data, Pearson's coefficient of correlation was used and AMOS-24 and SPSS-25 were used for path analysis. Results: The results indicated that there is a significant positive relationship between marital conflict and job burnout (ß=0.391, P=0.001). Work-family conflict also has a significant positive relationship with marital conflict (ß=0.221, P=0.001). According to regression and path analysis, workfamily conflict cannot prognosticate job burnout on its own and can express job burnout changes through marital conflict (ß=0.086, P=0.001). Conclusion: Due to their traumatic workplace, working women fall under the influence of work stress, which shall lead to job burnout if marital conflict heightens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are stable organic pollutants with proven carcinogenic properties. These substances produced as a result of incomplete burning of fossil fuels. Due to PAHs importance in people's health, we decided to design a study to measure the amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different types of traditional bread produced in Tehran city and calculate their daily intake by consumers. Seventy-five samples of five types of bread including Lavash, Tafton, Sangak, and Barbary and bulk were randomly collected from bakeries in the city of Tehran to investigate the amount of PAHs. All extracted samples were measured by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The separation of PAHs performed based on a solid phase magnetic extraction (MSPE) method with carbon nanotubes prepared from bread samples and the extracted samples were measured by GC-MS. Our finding showed that the mean values of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAH) in the bread samples range from 0.2 to 8.7 μg kg-1. The maximum amount of aromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAH) was in Barbary bread with amount of 8.7 µg kg−1 and the minimum value was in industrial bread (bulk) with 0.2 µgkg−1. Also, the mean value ofPAHs content in Sangak, lavash, and bulk (industrial) bread was 2.25, 2.5 and 1.66 µg kg−1, respectively. The highest and lowest mean value of aromatic hydrocarbon polycyclic compounds (PAHs) were obtained in barbaribread around 2.64 μg kg−1 and 1.59 μg kg-1 in Taftoon, respectively. Also,the result of this study showed that the Daily intake of benzopyrene in bread by consumers was below international recommended levels. According to the results, long time and high-temperature baking, also the thickness of the bread, is the main contributor of high concentration of PAHs in the bread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial evaluation of urban environment quality (UEQ) is a key prerequisite in urban planning and development. The main goal of this study is to present a scenario-based spatial multi-criteria decision-making system for evaluating UEQ. Therefore, stakeholder involvement was conducted and eight environmental criteria and six spatial-functional criteria were identified for five districts of Tehran. The weight of the effective criteria was calculated using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model. Then, the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) model was used to prepare UEQ maps in different scenarios, including very pessimistic, pessimistic, intermediate, optimistic, and very optimistic. Finally, the spatial distribution of the district population in different classes of UEQ was evaluated. Among the spatial-functional and environmental criteria, the sub-criteria of population density and air pollution, respectively, had the greatest impact on UEQ. In very pessimistic, intermediate, optimistic, and very optimistic scenarios, approximately 76.7, 51.8, 36.4, 23.7, and 9.8 km2 of the studied area had unsuitable UEQ conditions, respectively. In the very pessimistic scenario, about 37,000 and 1,500,000 people lived in areas with suitable and unsuitable UEQ conditions, respectively. In the very optimistic scenario, the population increased to over 917,000 in areas with suitable UEQ and decreased to 336,000 in those with unsuitable UEQ conditions in terms of both environmental and spatial-functional criteria. The research results showed that a high percentage of the population in the study area live under unsuitable UEQ conditions, which indicates the need for attention to improving the current UEQ conditions. The proposed approach is timely to gain a better understanding of the adverse impact of climate change on human well-being in marginal societies and how climate-resilient urban planning can play a significant role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simulation and free‐cooling economic optimization of a phase change material (PCM)‐air heat exchanger (PAHX), including containers filled with fictitious SiO2 nano‐enhanced PCM (NEPCM), are investigated. The airside, PCM side and heat balance governing equations are solved numerically by employing analytical solutions during the 3‐month summer from June 22 to September 22. Two climate zones of Tehran and Mashhad have been selected due to temperature contrast, especially at off‐peak times. Particle swarm optimization is employed to determine indoor setpoint temperatures (SPTs) and phase change temperatures (PCTs) to optimize the total cooling energy cost of a residential building. The effects of local climate, airflow rate, nanoparticle concentrations, and SPT range on optimization variables are studied. Two SPTs for day and night and two PCTs for melting and solidifying are between 22°C and 26°C. The mass percentage of nanoparticles is considered to be from 0% to 14%. Based on optimization analysis, Toff‐peak = 22°C, and Tpeak = 26°C are considered the best SPTs for both cities, for Mashhad Ts = 24.05°C, Tl = 18.97°C while for Tehran Ts = 24.83°C, Tl = 25.35°C are considered as the best PCTs. The optimum electrical cost increases significantly with increasing airflow rate and SPT range, while nanoparticle concentration has a low influence of up to about 3% for all desired days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Central venous catheters, frequently used in patients undergoing hemodialysis, place the patients at high risk of catheter-related infections. Therefore, it is essential to select the optimal prevention protocol for these infections. This study aims to compare the efficacy of the Taurolock solution and antibiotic lock in preventing tunneled catheter (permcath) related infections. Methods. This multicenter study was conducted between June 2020 and July 2021 on 86 hemodialysis patients with a central venous catheter from four dialysis centers in Tehran, Iran. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. The first group received Taurolock, and the second group received antibiotic lock (a combination of vancomycin and heparin) at the end of each dialysis session. Peripheral blood and catheter blood samples were collected once before the intervention and monthly thereafter, for up to six months, and blood culture performed for detection of various bacterial strains. Results. The findings showed no significant difference in the infection rate (positive peripheral blood or catheter cultures) between the Taurolock and vancomycin groups (P > .05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in the duration of catheter implantation in individuals with positive and negative cultures (P > .05). Furthermore, no significant correlation was found between comorbidities and catheter-related infection in patients of the two groups (P > .05). Conclusion. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the rate of catheter-related infection. Therefore, vancomycin lock solutions can be good alternatives to Taurolock solution for preventing catheter-related infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires for adults with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have been developed so far. However, an adolescent-specific HRQOL questionnaire for PCOS patients is still lacking. Hence, this study aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess HRQOL in adolescents with PCOS. This mixed-method study was conducted in Tehran, Iran, from 2018 to 2020. The qualitative phase was conducted on 18 target participants, and in the quantitative phase, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on 200 adolescents with PCOS and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) on the other 200 ones. The item-developing process was finalized with 77 questions. Concerning the optimum cutoff of content validity ratio, content validity index, kappa statistic coefficient, and item impact score, a draft with 55 items was finalized. Then, piloting scale was performed on 40 participants and considering the interitem correlation < 0.3, fifteen items were excluded. Based on the EFA, 20 items in six components (emotion and mood, loss of attractiveness due to the hirsutism, loss of attractiveness due to the acne, self-care, support, and menstrual cycle problem) that explain 60.3% of the variance were extracted. The CFA with acceptable values of goodness-of-fit statistics supports this construct validity. Results of reliability, floor, and ceiling effect were acceptable. Conclusion: Our study showed that the short questionnaire of APQ-20 is valid and reliable for assessment of the HRQOL of adolescents with PCOS. Further studies are needed to assess the feasibility and reliability of APQ-20 for assessing the HRQOL of adolescents with PCOS. It constitutes a significant step forward in the measurement of HRQOL of adolescents with PCOS. What is Known: • There is no disease-specific questionnaire for assessment of the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). What is New: • The short questionnaire of APQ-20 is easy to use, valid, and reliable for the assessment of the HRQOL of adolescents with PCOS. • APQ-20 constitutes a significant step forward in the measurement of HRQOL of adolescents with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) among open-heart surgery patients. Methods: We reviewed data from 23 461 patients undergoing open-heart surgeries between 2009 and 2016 in our heart center in Iran. A total of 18 070 patients (77%) had coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), 3 598 (15.3%) valvular surgeries, and 1 793 (7.6%) congenital repair procedures. Finally, 125 patients who received PPI following open-heart surgeries were enrolled in our study. We defined the demographic and clinical characteristics of all these patients. Results: PPI was required in 125 (0.53%) patients with an average age of 58 ± 15.3 years. The average hospitalization time after surgery and waiting time for PPI were 19.7 ± 10.2 and 11.4 ± 6.5 days, respectively. Atrial fibrillation was the dominant pre-operative cardiac conduction abnormality (29.6%). Also, the primary indication for PPI was complete heart block in 72 patients (57.6%). Patients in the CABG group were significantly older (P = 0.002) and were more likely to be male (P = 0.030). The valvular group longer bypass and cross-clamp times and had more left atrial abnormalities. In addition, the congenital defect group was younger and had longer ICU stay times. Conclusions: Based on our study findings, PPI was required in 0.53% of patients following open-heart surgery due to damage to the cardiac conduction system. The current study paves the way for future investigations to identify possible predictors of PPI in patients undergoing open-heart surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of dust concentration and weather conditions – wind speed and relative humidity – on power generation of photovoltaic (PV) panels investigated experimentally in Tehran, Iran, for the period of April 10–September 22, 2018. Two Photovoltaic panels together with data-logging equipment were applied in this experiment. One panel was cleaned every day, while the other was remained unclean after 45 days. A performance ratio called "cleanness index" (CI) which is a temperature-corrected performance ratio of a soiled PV panel to that of a clean one was also used to indicate the dust deposition effect on PV panel performance. The uncertainty range of experimental results was between 5.27% and 5.55%. The results show that cleanness index had positive correlation with wind speed and negative correlations with relative humidity and dust concentration. Thus, in comparison to the clean PV panel, the output-power of the soiled panel reduced, approximately 8–12% per month. Furthermore, in order to numerically predict daily change of cleanness index (ΔCIPre), a linear regression model was developed and the outcome revealed that dust concentration had the most impact, with 21.56%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of four questionnaires for the diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) in the elderly. Methods: In this project, people older than 60 years who lived in Tehran were investigated. A total of 99 literate cases were enrolled in the study, and four questionnaires, including functional assessment staging tool (FAST), abbreviated mental test score (AMTS), minimental state examination (MMSE), and modified Persian test of elderly for assessment of cognition and executive function (PEACE) were completed for them. They were then referred to a neuropsychiatrist, and the status of their cognition and neurobehavior was determined. The specialists were blinded to the results of the tests. Results: Of the 99 participants studied, 39 cases were healthy, eight cases had mild Alzheimer's disease, 38 had amnesic MCI, five cases had secondary dementia, and nine cases had mixed vascular dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The area under the ROC curve for distinguishing the healthy group from the rest of the population was 0.692, 0.629, 0.734, and 0.751 for the FAST, AMTS, MMSE, and NBCSS questionnaires, respectively. Conclusion: MMSE and NBCSS tests had better diagnostic power than the other two tests to distinguish the healthy group from the rest of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Analyzing and understanding image recognition technologies' application patterns is of great importance for health planning systems, especially in the middle‐ and low‐income countries. The literature review reveals that magnetic resonance imaging has been significantly used worldwide compared to other imaging diagnoses. This study aimed to determine the number of unnecessary MRIs in 2015, 2016, and 2017, thus reducing them using the obtained information. Methods and materials: This descriptive‐analytical and Retrospective study was carried out in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The Cochran formula was used to determine the sample volume: where P = q = 0.5 at the significance level of 5%, and N represented the statistical population. Since the number of hospitalized MRIs during these three years was 1,617, 1,499, and 2,090, the sample size was 310, 305, and 325. Finally, 940 cases were included in the study. The samples were randomly selected. MRI request indexes design and data were collected based on the AIM guidelines. Finally, by choosing specific indications based on the brain and spinal MRI guidelines and adding indications to software and data, they were analyzed using the SPSS23 software and chi‐square test. Chi ‐ squares test was used to measure the significance of the data. Results: According to the present study and based on the indications and diagnoses related to brain and spinal cord diseases extracted from inpatients' records, 20% of prescriptions were unnecessary; of all unnecessary requested MRIs, 70.8% related to the brain and 29.2% to the spine. Moreover, the notable point was the lack of MRI response in 18.3% of the cases. In this study, 35% (most) of the unnecessary MRIs were prescribed by physicians with non‐neurological and non‐orthopedic specialties. On the other hand, non‐stamped MRI requests accounted for a significantly higher share of unnecessary MRIs (49.8%). Examining physicians' type of activity and work experience shows that the highest share of unnecessary prescriptions (almost 50%) was related to physicians' non‐stamped records. Conclusion: Factors such as professional certainty, more time for examination, prescription of MRI by a related physician, supervision of professors of the medical department on the prescriptions of less experienced physicians, failure to perform MRI of unstamped files by master or residents by the imaging center, and the need to use indications Guideline‐compliant prescriptions can reduce unnecessary patient and health system. So, it is essential to consider some aspects for reducing unnecessary requests in any subject of the health system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aflatoxins are types of mycotoxins that can cause acute and chronic toxicity in human. In general, there are four types of aflatoxinsB1, B2, G1 and G2, which among them aflatoxin B1 is the most potent carcinogen in animal species and causes liver cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate of aflatoxin concentration in legumes samples marketed in Tehranbya high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Fifty samples of legumes including peas, red beans, lentils, mung bean and cotyledons (n = 10 of pea, n = 10 of red bean, n = 10 of lentils, n = 10 of mung bean and n = 10 of cotyledons) were obtained from different regions (bulk legumes) of Tehran city in Iran and different packaging brands that had the highest supply in Tehran stores and were transported to the laboratory under appropriate conditions to measure aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1, G2 and total). Considering the limit of detection (LOD) of the current study, the aflatoxin level of all samples of peas, red beans, lentils, mung bean and cotyledons samples was lower than LOD. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the consumption of legumes in Tehran city by consumers can be safe, but more research is needed to avoid potential risks, and also routine and periodic monitoring of aflatoxin levels in legumes is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Shading is one of the cases that has effectivity on the household energy consumption. Shadings can be used either in horizontal or vertical form adjacent to the building's window in order to control the sunlight. In this paper, a multi‐objective optimization is conducted to simultaneously reduce the annual electricity consumption and augment the electricity production with the application of photovoltaic shadings installed over the building window. To initiate the multi‐objective optimization, four design variables based on the positioning and geometry of photovoltaic shading are selected and test samples are simulated through EnergyPlus software. The model is three‐floor building located in Tehran, Iran. Next, the Morris sensitivity analysis (MSA) is implemented to calculate the extent to which each design variable affects the objective functions. Afterwards, the relation between the design variables and objective functions is extracted through the regression modeling using GMDH type‐ANN and the equations extracted are then utilized as inputs for genetic algorithm to conduct a Pareto‐based optimization. The results demonstrate that the maximum sunlight reception is attributed to the PV shading in southern direction of the building and its optimal tilt angle is 19.6 considering an annual period. There are slight changes to the tilt angle while seasonal period is considered for the calculations. The results also show that the use of solar shadings can reduce electricity consumption by approximately 4 to 11, 1 to 4, and 10 to 22% for an annual period, winter and summer season, respectively. At the end, the numerical data for the city of Tehran is compared to the cities of Canberra and Macapa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Childhood is the basis of physical and mental development and conscious or unconscious behavior by improper parenting methods of some parents leads to child abuse. Aim: aim of study was to determine the effect of parenting skills training on attitudes toward child abuse in mothers referring to the health centers of SBMU in Tehran. Method:The present study was an interventional and quasi-experimental study with a sample size of 70 mothers with children aged 3-5 years (35 people in each of the two intervention and control groups). 8 centers(4 intervention group centers and 4 control group? centers) were allocated. Sampling was conducted by available and continuous method and entered the study by research criteria (Iranian nationality, literacy, etc.). The intervention group was given 4 training sessions of1.5hours once a week for 1 month and the control group was given a training booklet. The research instruments were the parents' demographic questionnaires and the parent-child role questionnaire with a 32-item Likert scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21and independent and paired t-tests and repeated measures (p<0.05). Results: the mean age of mothers in the intervention were35.5±0.5and control 36 education level, employment status of couples, income and family structure were not significantly different from each other. Also, there was no significant relationship between the four levels of attitude in the two groups of intervention and control before, immediately and one month after the study. Conclusion: Parenting skills training leads to effect on the mother's attitude towards child abuse and this change isn't affected by the type of education based on the findings of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the risks related to the advancement of science and technology has always been accompanied by many uncertainties. As a new field of science, nanotechnology faces numerous uncertainties concerning safety, health, and environmental aspects dealing with which requires a proper risk assessment. Accordingly, this study intended to assess the risk of tasks associated with nanomaterials comparatively, examining the risks in eighteen companies in Tehran. The two proposed risk-assessment methods for the activities involving nanomaterials (NanoTool and Guidance) assisted in assessing the risk of their tasks. The results were analyzed using SPSS.22 and the chi-square test and indicated the different outputs of the two methods despite being designed based on the control banding approach. These differences could be attributed to the different risk-assessment parameters that these methods considered. The statistical analysis results also showed no significant relationship between them. Given the large differences and insignificant association between risk assessment results, the guidance method was less effective than the nanotool method. However, straightforwardness and convivence of implementation in the workplace and various research environments make it a helpful method in initial evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Domestic violence against women is a hidden and global epidemic that has many negative effects. The COVID‐19 pandemic, quarantine, and staying at home can lead to violent and domestic violence against women. Due to the importance of the subject, the present study was conducted to investigate the coping strategies and resilience of women victims of domestic violence in the COVID‐19 epidemic in Tehran, 2020. Methods: The present study is a descriptive‐analytical study on 420 women who suffered domestic violence in Tehran, 2020. Data collection tools included a demographic information form, socioeconomic status questionnaire, WHO standardized domestic violence questionnaire, Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, and Endler and Parker's coping strategies questionnaire. This study was based on the Internet and online. The research poster, the characteristics of the participants, the voluntary participation in the study, the confidentiality of the information, and the link to the online questionnaire were made public through Internet networks. Results: There was no correlation between resilience with general violence (p =.221), types of physical violence (p =.502), psychological violence (p =.178), and sexual violence (p =.386). The results also showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the women who were using or not using a problem‐oriented style with physical violence, using or not using an emotion‐oriented style with physical, psychological, sexual violence, and using or not using an avoidance style with physical violence among the samples (p <.05). Conclusion: The use of coping strategies leads to a reduction in domestic violence against women during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Therefore, designing and implementing training programs to improve coping styles in women can be effective in dealing with such stressful situations and help prevent injuries caused by violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term hour-specific air pollution exposure estimates have rarely been of interest in epidemiological research. However, this can be relevant for studies that aim to estimate the residential exposure for the hours that subjects mostly spend time there, or for those hours that they may work in another location. Here, we developed a model by spatially predicting the long-term diurnal curves of nitrogen dioxide ( NO 2 ) in Tehran, Iran, one of the most polluted and populated megacities in the Middle East. We used the statistical framework of functional data analysis (FDA) including ordinary kriging for functional data (OKFD) and functional analysis of variance (fANOVA) for modeling. The long-term NO 2 diurnal curves had two distinct maxima and minima. The absolute minimum value of the city average was 40.6 ppb (around 4:00 p.m.) and the absolute maximum value was 52.0 ppb (around 10:00 p.m.). The OKFD showed the concentrations, the diurnal maximum/minimum values, and their corresponding occurring times varied across the city. The fANOVA highlighted that the effect of population density on the NO 2 concentrations is not constant and depends on time within the diurnal period. The provided estimation of long-term hour-specific maps can inform future epidemiological studies to use the long-term mean for specific hour(s) of the day. Moreover, the demonstrated FDA framework can be used as a set of flexible statistical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education in medical sciences, including nursing, has encountered numerous challenges following the worldwide outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Additionally, students' satisfaction with the methods of instruction can be accompanied by improved learning outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the nursing students' satisfaction with the quality of courses (SQC) and satisfaction with virtual learning (SVL) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted at a nursing school (105 nursing students) in Tehran, Iran, in the first semester of 2020-2021. The individual characteristics questionnaire, the Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), and the e-Learning Satisfaction Questionnaire (e-LSQ) were used for data collection. More than 88% of the nursing students were satisfied with the quality of the courses. The level of SVL in 57.1% of them was moderate. Among the individual variables, only the academic semester was regarded as a predictor of SQC (p=0.025). There was no significant relationship between the dimensions and the total score of CEQ with students' academic achievement (p<0.05). Additionally, all the CEQ dimensions were significant predictors of the nursing students' SQC (p<0.001). Given the unknown time of eradicating COVID-19, it is necessary to adopt appropriate policies and perform proper planning to continue better nursing education and increase student satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were the molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance and genotyping of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical cases in Tehran, Iran. A total of 100 different types of clinical human samples were collected from a major teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done according to the latest CLSI guidelines. PCR was used to amplify the gyrA gene in quinolone-resistant isolates and sequencing was performed for the detection of probable mutations between the isolates. The occurrence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes (qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS) was also investigated by PCR. Finally, genotyping of the strains was performed by PFGE in a standard condition. The susceptibility pattern revealed a high and low level of resistance against meropenem (20%) and trimethoprim (37%), respectively. PCR and sequencing detected mutation in the gyrA gene in 51% of quinolone-resistant K. pneumoniae. According to the susceptibility report, among nalidixic acid-resistant strains, 60.5%, 50%, and 42.9% of isolates contained qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS, respectively. Among ciprofloxacin-resistant strains, qnrA was the most frequent PMQR gene. The PFGE differentiated the strains into 31 different genetic clusters so that the highest number (7/66) was in category A. Our results indicated that the frequency of resistance to various antibiotics particularly trimethoprim, nalidixic acid, and cefoxitin are increasing. The presence of qnr (S and A) genes and point mutation of the gyrA gene were likely to be responsible for the resistance toward nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin in our strains. Also, the results obtained from genotyping indicated that the K. pneumoniae strains isolated in this study belonged to the diverse clones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study investigated EFL young learners' responses to reading activities in reading sessions. It was an attempt to examine students' responses towards the implementation of individual and collaborative reading activities in teaching reading as a foreign language in reading sessions. To this purpose, 16 Iranian EFL young learners at a primary bilingual school in Tehran together with their English teachers contributed to the study. They were both randomly selected from available teachers and students in Tehran. The learners were around eight years old. The study lasted for 12 weeks. The method used in this study was qualitative. Teachers' reflective journals, some participant observations, and face-to-face interviews with teachers were the instruments used in this study. The data elicited from the interview transcripts and observations transcription were analyzed inductively. The narrative analysis of interview transcription was coded into themes. The results indicated that collaborative and individual reading activities in reading sessions have a positive effect on young learners' reading comprehension. Moreover, the students showed noticeable responses to the implementation of collaborative reading activities in reading sessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy has been one of the most important topics of political and social discussion in recent decades. A significant proportion of the country's revenues is derived from energy resources, making it one of the most important and strategic macro policy and sustainable development areas. Energy demand modeling is one of the essential strategies for better managing the energy sector and developing appropriate policies to increase productivity. With the increasing global demand for energy, it is necessary to develop intelligent forecasting methods and algorithms. Different economic and non-economic indicators can be used to estimate the energy demand, including linear and non-linear statistical methods, mathematics, and simulation models. This non-linear relationship between these indicators and energy demand has led researchers to search for intelligent solutions, such as artificial neural networks for non-linear modeling and prediction. The purpose of this study was to use a deep neural network with fuzzy wavelets to predict energy demand in Iran. For the training of the presented components, a hybrid training method incorporating both an inline PSO and a gradient-based algorithm is presented. The provided technique predicts energy consumption in Tehran, Mashhad, Ahvaz, and Urmia from 2010 to 2021. This study shows that the presented method provides high-performance prediction at a lower level of complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Aberrant alterations in DNA methylation are known as one of the hallmarks of oncogenesis and play a vital role in the progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). SMG1 is a member of the Phosphoinositide 3-kinases family, acting as a tumor suppressor gene. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the expression level and methylation status of SMG1 in AML. Materials and Methods: In this follow-up study on AML patients admitted to Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, the methylation status of SMG1 [performed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)] and its expression level (performed by qRT-PCR) were evaluated in three phases: newly diagnosed, under treatment and complete remission. The correlation of the methylation status of SMG1, its expression level, and clinical/paraclinical data was analyzed by SPSS ver.25. Results: This study on 18 patients and five control individuals showed that the CpG-islands of the SMG1 promoter in newly diagnosed cases is hypomethylated compared to the normal group (P=0.002) The fold change of SMG1 expression levels in new cases is 0.464 ± 0.468, while the fold change of SMG1 expression levels in under-treatment and in-remission patients is 0.973 ± 1.159 and 0.685 ± 0.885, respectively. In under-treatment patients, white blood cell (WBC) count decreases 114176.36 cell/μl with each unit of increase in fold change of SMG1 (P<0.0001), and Hb unit increases 2.062 g/dl with each unit of increase in fold change (P<0.0001) Also, in the remission phase, the Hb unit increases 1.395 g/dl with each unit increase in fold change (P=0.019). Conclusion: The robust results of our study suggest that the methylation and expression of have a high impact on the pathogenesis of AML. Also, the methylation and expression of SMG1 can play a prognostic role in AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION. How to reduce the fatality of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still challenging. A proper nutritional support has been always a matter of attention in critically ill patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We assessed COVID-19 patients who had received intralipid infusion due to medical indications and compared them with those who did not receive it regarding fatality rate and prognosis. As a part of a data mining project using data of observational cohort of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the educational centers of Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, an inferential case series was performed. A total of 19 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were selected from the cohort. Briefly, 13 patients survived and 6 patients died, and 12 patients were admitted in intensive care unit (ICU). All dead cases were ICU admitted. The association of intralipid infusion and survival rate was examined using Fisher exact test. No association was observed between intralipid infusion and survival. CONCLUSIONS. No significant protecting effect was observed for patients who received intralipid for medical indications. Since intralipid was administered according to medical indications, surviving of all the non-ICU admitted patients despite having underlying diseases was remarkable. Despite the fact, due to several bias factors that could not be controlled in such a retrospective study, the results might be accidental. We suggest to assess such an effect retrospectively in other centers as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to validate an English version of the mental health literacy scale into Persian, in Iran. Statistical population consisted of all residents of 22 municipal districts of Tehran, Iran, in 2018. Multistage sampling methods were used (sample size = 1026). All participants filled the Mental Health Literacy scale; 12‐item General Health Questionnaire; Multidimensional Health Locus of Control scale and a demographic checklist. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the intra‐class correlation coefficient was used for analysing data. All analyses were run with SPSS and AMOS Graphics version 18. Exploratory factor analysis revealed five components (24 items) explaining 21.68%, 20.24%, 8.97%, 6.48% and 5.36% of the variance respectively (totally explained variance = 62.74%). Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable goodness‐of‐fit (CMIN/DF = 3.19, GFI = 0.887, CFI = 0.893, IFI = 0.894, TLI = 0.877, RMSEA = 0.065). The values of Cronbach's alpha showed satisfactory internal consistency. Two clinical correlates of mental health literacy were investigated. The structure of the mental health literacy scale was to some extent different from the one in O'Connor et al. study, but it was consistent with the definition of MHL presented by Jorm et al. This is the first Persian version of the MHL in the general population in Iran and undoubtedly needs to be checked on more studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation and ranking of rural settlements based on the stages of texture deterioration is critical for rural renovation. However, far too little attention has been paid to topic in the literature. This study focuses on the evaluation and ranking of rural settlements based on the stages of texture deterioration. To do so, we use the Overall Weighing (OW) method (a combination of objective weighing methods including Entropy, CRITIC, IDOCRIW, and subjective weighing method including Rank Sum) and the combinative distance-based assessment (CODAS) method as powerful methods in Multi-criteria decision making. The research method is descriptive-applied where data is collected both library and field. The objective data were collected from 260 rural households and fifteen local managers in the deteriorated villages on the Tehran metropolitan fringe through questionnaire forms. Similalry, the subjective data was collected from fifteen elites and scientific experts. The results indicate high rural migration rate factor is superior compared to other indices. Besides, Hesar Kouchak village has a more unfavorable situation than other villages that is followed by other villages including Mazdaran, Qala Boland, Mashhad Firoozkooh, Kabirabad, Yahar, Quinak Rakhshani, Jafarabad Baqraf, Hesar Mehtar, Zavareh Bid, Ramin, Atashan, Vastar, Hasanabad Baqraf, and ultimately Salehabad Sharqi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to compare the effect of ovarian suspension and hyaluronic acid gel to prevent re-adhesions after laparoscopic endometrioma surgery.Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Rasoul-e-Akram and Pars Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, 2016-18. Fifty patients with bilateral endometrioma and pelvic adhesions, the candidates of laparoscopic surgery, were included. In each patient, at the end of ovarian cystectomy and adhesiolysis, one of the ovaries was randomly sutured to the abdominal wall, and the HYAcorp Endogel covered the other; the adhesion rate was compared between the groups by ultrasonography, three-month after surgery.Results: Mean age of patients was 32.6 years. Presurgical variables were similar between right and left ovaries and the study groups (P > 0.05). Postsurgical ultrasonography showed that ovarian soft markers, including < 1/3 ovarian adhesions (minimal adhesions) in 80.5% of ovaries of the Endogel group and 35.5% of the ovarian suspension group (P < 0.001) with higher ovarian mobility in the Endogel group (65% vs. 22%) (P = 0.001). In addition, site-specific tenderness and ovarian fading margin were lower in the Endogel group (P < 0.001). Trial registration Clinical trial registry number: IRCT2015081723666N1, 12.19.2015, Date of registration: 01/02/2016; https://en.irct.ir/trial/20174?revision=20174 . Date and number of IRB: 2015, I.R.IUMS.REC.1394.24703.Conclusion: Hyaluronic acid gel can be more effective than ovarian suspension in preventing ovarian adhesions after laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Despite the high incidence of AKI in patients with COVID-19, the characteristics and consequences of this condition have not been well studied. Methods. This retrospective cohort study investigated the clinical characteristics, treatment methods, and outcome of COVID-19 patients aged 18 years and older who were hospitalized in Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, from February 20th, 2020 to June 20th, 2020. Results. Out of the total 367 patients with COVID-19, 104 (28%) patients were diagnosed with AKI at the time of admission or during hospitalization, 86 (23%) and 18 (5%) patients were diagnosed with the AKI on admission (early AKI) and after the first 24 h (late AKI), respectively. Concerning the AKI stages, 20 (19%) and 18 (17%) patients were in stages 2 and 3, and the cause of AKI in 52 (50%) patients was renal. Moreover, out of all patients with AKI, 25 (24%) and 29 (28%) patients had transient (Kidney function improvement within 48 h) and persistent AKI (kidney function improvement between 48 h to 7 days). Furthermore, 32 (31%) patients developed acute kidney damage (AKD) (no improvement in AKI after 7 days). The survival rate of AKI patients was lower in higher stages of AKI, and in cases that the reason for kidney dysfunction was renal or unknown. However, there was no difference in the mortality rate between the early and late AKI. Conclusion. Since about one-third of the patients with AKI eventually develop AKD, it is of great importance to closely monitor all COVID-19 patients, especially the high-risk ones, for the appropriate diagnosis and treatment of AKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the factors affecting productivity management and rank its improvements within government service organizations. In terms of the type of data, this is a descriptive, applied, and inferential survey, and it is both qualitative and quantitative. This paper follows a three-step process. The theoretical sampling method was thus used to select a sample of 15 productivity experts from within the university and managers from government organizations in Tehran province for semi-structured interviews. It is a specialized sampling method. The interviews were analyzed using NVivo Plus software. Additionally, 102 items were derived from the interviews, based upon open coding, and classified into 21 sub-indexes and two main indices. As part of the second stage, the quantitative aspect of the research, Shannon Entropy, was used to determine the importance of various factors affecting productivity management. The third stage of ranking productivity improvement strategies in public service organizations utilized the MABAC method. The results showed that the indices of accountability, work experience, interdepartmental challenge, expertise and skill, flexibility, interdepartmental communication, training, workload, structure transparency, information and communication technology, organizational culture, safety and health, research and development, leadership style, innovation, and creativity, respectively, gained the highest degree of importance among the factors affecting the productivity management of government service organizations. Further, research findings indicate that improving service efficiency, improving service standards, improving service effectiveness, developing a program to improve service productivity, encouraging leadership involvement, and establishing periodic monitoring are the most effective strategies for improving productivity in government service organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the research was to investigate irrigation management on turf grass sod in sports stadiums. The type of research is descriptive correlation that is done through the survey method. The statistical population of the research is managers, experts and technicians of sports stadiums in Tehran that they are 142 persons. The sample size was determined 103 persons by Krejcie and Morgan tables that gathering by sampling method in the stratified sampling method. The research tool was a questionnaire that its validity and reliability were obtained by the panel of special experts and through pretest (α = 0.8485), respectively. Research findings showed that the quality of turf grass was at a medium level and irrigation management of turf grass was at a relatively high level. According to factor analysis, the content of the effective factors of the quality of turf grass was categorized into five main components, which have been named the educational–extensional, management–supervision, technological–environmental, external organization, economic–investment, that esplanade 66/531 percent of the variation. The results of the research show that a significant positive correlation between irrigation management, the educational–extensional, management–supervision, technological–environmental, external organization and economic–investment factor with the quality of turf grass sod in sports stadiums. The results of analysis regression were indicated to five variables the educational and extensional factor, management and supervision factor, technological and environmental factor, irrigation management, and economic and investment factor well explain for 68/5% changes in the quality of turf grass sod in sports stadiums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of flipped instruction on the Iranian upper-intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' appropriate use of request and refusal. The participants of the study included 60 upper-intermediate EFL learners from a language institute in Tehran, Iran, who were selected through the Quick Placement Test (QPT) from a total of 80 learners who were originally picked up based on convenience sampling in the form of two intact classes. Then, the two classes were randomly assigned to two groups namely, flipping group and control group. The two groups were subjected to 12 treatment sessions wherein instruction on the appropriate use of request and refusal was offered to the flipping group through explicit flipped instruction and to the control group through non-flipped instruction. The instruments used to collect the data included the Quick Placement Test (QPT) and Written Discourse Completion Test (WDCT). The results showed that flipped instruction significantly affected the EFL learners' appropriate use of request and refusal. According to the findings, EFL teachers are recommended to use flipping methods in an attempt to enhance EFL learners' appropriate use of request and refusal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim in the present study was to estimate the psychometric properties of the full-length Adelaide driving self-efficacy scale (ADSES) for use among community-based resident older adults in Tehran, Iran. We recruited older adults (60+ years) from various sampling units nested in the Tehran district's general urban population (20 subjects/questionnaire-item). The questionnaire was translated and back-translated by using recommended pathways. Multiple forms of validity and reliability, including Cronbach alpha, were estimated. Also, we measured intra-class correlation coefficient, and did confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A total of 243 participants (mean age: 65.8, 95%CI 65.4–66.3) met our inclusion criteria. For ADSES, the alpha coefficient was 0.77, the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.98), and the average item-test correlation was 0.67. Upon CFA, we found a 0.95 comparative fit index, a coefficient of determination = 92.6%, and standardized size of the residual = 0.04. Our Persian language ADSES was found to have adequate validity and factor structure parameters for evaluating driving self-efficacy among community-based older adults in a non-western context. Our questionnaire is an essential first step toward evaluating driving self-efficacy among older adults, especially where no such tool is available, to help develop driving self-efficacy as a healthy aging measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Commitment to Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) is one of the essential strategies to reduce the long-term complications of cardiovascular disease. The attributes of patients' commitment have not been defined distinctly. Thus, the present study aimed to describe the attributes of commitment to CR from the participants' perspective. Materials and Methods: This qualitative study was carried out in Tehran from 2018 to 2019. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 30 participants, including 13 CR specialists, 13 patients, and four caregivers, through purposeful sampling. The analysis was performed through the conventional content analysis using the Elo and Kyngäs approach. Results: Commitment to CR has one theme titled the attitudinal-motivational aspect that consists of four categories including attitudinal-cognitive, attitudinal-behavioral, attitudinal-emotional, and motivational as the core features. The commitment to CR is devotion, internal desire, and voluntary obligation to initiate and continue CR cooperatively, all of which are accompanied by the purposeful initiation of the treatment plan. Conclusions: The patient's commitment to CR is an intrinsic interest in achieving health that stems from the acceptance of the disease and the need for treatment. Besides, the rehabilitation team facilitates purposeful interpersonal relationships between the patient and the treatment group. It provides the basis for the patient's active efforts to meet the challenges of the treatment process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]