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Pregnancy as a sensitive period has a critical effect on the mother and infant's life. It is well understood that dietary habits and mother awareness can improve health status and prevent pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and nausea and vomiting. The current study was conducted to investigate the association between dietary habits and self-care behaviors with pregnancy complications. This cross-sectional study was conducted across 300 pregnant women in their third trimester referred to healthcare centers and Yas hospital in Tehran, Iran. Dietary habits and self-care behaviors were assessed by valid and reliable questionnaires. Dietary intake and physical activity were evaluated using valid and reliable Food Frequency Questionnaires and Pregnancy Physical Activity questionnaires, respectively. Women with self-care behaviors had a lower rate of pre-eclampsia (P = 0.9). Regarding food habits, pregnant women who ate their meals faster had a non-significantly higher rate of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Pregnant women who consumed red meat on a daily frequency had a significantly higher rate of nausea and vomiting (OR 1.85; 95% CI 1.05–3.28, P = 0.03). Also, there was a significant positive association between the mother's pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia [(OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.03–3.98, P = 0.03) and (OR 4.23; 95% CI 1.12–16.0, P = 0.03) respectively]. There was no significant association between pregnant women's dietary habits and GDM and pre-eclampsia. However, pregnant women with pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity had increased odds of gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution poses significant risks to human health and the environment, necessitating effective air quality management strategies. This study presents a novel approach to air quality management by integrating an autoencoder (AE) with a convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm in Tehran city of Iran. One of the primary and vital problems in deep learning is model complexity, and the complexity of a model is affected by data distribution, data complexity, and information volume. AE provide a helpful way to denoise input data and make building deep learning models much more efficient. The proposed methodology enables spatial modeling and risk mapping of six air pollutants, namely, particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), particulate matter 10 (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO). For air pollution modelling, data from a spatial database containing the annual average of six pollutants from 2012 to 2022 was utilized. The model considered various parameters influencing air pollution: altitude, humidity, distance to industrial areas, NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index), population density, rainfall, distance to the street, temperature, traffic volume, wind direction, and wind speed. The risk map accuracy was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for six pollutants. Among them, NO2, PM10, CO, PM2.5, O3, and SO2 exhibited the highest accuracy with values of 0.964, 0.95, 0.896, 0.878, 0.877, and 0.811, respectively, in the risk map generated by the CNN-AE model. The findings demonstrated the CNN-AE model's impressive precision when generating the pollution risk map. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing is a cost-effective method for monitoring chlorophyll- a (Chl- a) concentration, an indicator of eutrophication, due to its spatiotemporal effectiveness and availability of historical data. However, its application in shallow, small water bodies poses challenges due to the need for high spatial and temporal resolutions, significant optical interference from other water constituents, and depth-related accuracy issues. This study assessed the performance of Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 satellites in estimating Chl- a concentrations in Chitgar Lake, Tehran. Semi-empirical models, constructed with 73 and 122 common data pairs between observed data and Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 reflectance data, respectively, yielded accurate estimates. Two Band (2BAND) algorithm (green and red band ratio, R2 = 0.8, RMSE (root mean square error) = 1.12 µg.L-1 and NRMSE (normalized root mean square error) = 12.4 %) was identified as the best Landsat-8 based model. Both Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI) algorithm (red and red edge bands composition, R2 = 0.82, RMSE = 1.29 µg.L-1, NRMSE = 7.8 %) and 2BAND algorithm (red and red edge band ratio, R2 = 0.81, RMSE = 1.28 µg.L-1, and NRMSE = 7.7 %) were the best models for Sentinel-2 data, with a Power of 0.8. Overall, remote sensing data from both satellites demonstrated appropriate performance and can accurately estimate Chl- a concentrations in Chitgar Lake as a shallow freshwater body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perception of Citizens about a city is an essential issue in urban planning. Hence, having an understanding of the people's perception can help designers improve city planning. This study aimed to discover the emotional and cultural parameters of urban places by considering the collective memory of citizens. The main gap in the studied subjects was the lack of a combination of cultural and emotional mapping from the perspective of citizens. To fill the mentioned gap, the findings of this study emphasize the importance of engendering emotions and cultural mapping in the citizens in urban spaces. Respectively, a quantitative method was conducted through a comprehensive case study in the form of a questionnaire. Results indicated that emotional mapping is more important than cultural mapping for collective memory. Moreover, emotional parameters were substantial to female participants as cultural factors were for male respondents. Same as gender, Level of education, and age were two factors that affect cultural mapping or emotional mapping choices. Besides, pride, a sense of power, pleasure, excitement, peace, compassion, vitality, and happiness were found important emotions in this study. Our findings revealed that designing urban places based on the culture of each society has a significant role in engendering emotions and drawing the interest of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory condition with increasing global prevalence and is associated with cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of obesity in the Tehran cohort study (TeCS) population. Methods: We used the data collected by systematic random sampling during the recruitment phase of TeCS. The data comprised 4215 households from all districts of the Tehran metropolis, from which 8296 adults aged ≥ 35 years participated between May 2016 and February 2019. Sociodemographic data, medical history, laboratory tests, and anthropometric measurements were gathered from the participants. Participants with missing data were excluded from the final analysis. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS version 23, and distribution maps were created by Stata 14.2. Results: A total of 8211 participants (53.9% women) with an average age of 53.7 ± 12.6 years were studied. The age-weighted prevalence of overweight and obese among women was (37.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 34.5, 40.6] and 35.5% [95% CI: 32.6 -38.6]) compared to men (47% [95% CI: 43.6, 50.3] and 22.9% [95% CI: 20.1 -25.8]). The prevalence of substantially increased risk of metabolic complications (SIRMC) based on waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was 49.2% (95% CI: 46.3 -52.2) and 75.5% (95% CI: 72.7 -78.1) respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of obesity in Tehran (29.3%) was much higher than in previous reports, particularly among older people, women, and socioeconomically underdeveloped districts. After age 55, more than 80% of women had SIRMC compared to 30% of men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to manage infectious disease epidemics such as Covid-19. However, the low rates of vaccination in populations at risk including people using illicit substances, hinders the effectiveness of preventive vaccines in reducing transmission. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of Covid-19 vaccination and its related factors among people who use substances in Tehran, Iran. Methods: Between July and December 2022, 386 people who use substances aged ≥ 18 years old were recruited by convenience street-based sampling in Tehran. The outcome variable in this study was self-reported completion of at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Logistic regression was used to investigate the factors related to Covid-19 vaccination. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 at the 0.05 level of significance. As a measure of risk, 95% Confidence interval (CI) was used. The level of significance was considered at 0.05. Results: Almost three-quarters (n = 286) of the participants reported receiving at least two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine (95% CI, 70.2–79.3). Those participants with high school diplomas were 1.17 times more likely than less educated participants to report having had 2 vaccinations (OR of 1.17, CI 95%: 1.03–1.81). Participants with a higher mean score of having a positive attitude towards Covid-19 vaccination were more likely to have received a vaccination (OR of 1.12, CI 95%: 1.08–1.17). Ethnicity was also an influential variable, people with non-Fars ethnicity were less likely to be vaccinated than those of Fars ethnicity (OR of 0.33, CI 95%: 0.13–0.81). People with higher-than-average monthly income were more likely to report vaccination than those with low monthly incomes (OR of 1.27, CI 95%: 1.09–1.8). Also, participants reporting less access to vaccination centers had a lower chance of reporting having been vaccinated than those who reported high access to vaccination centers (OR of.17, CI 95%:.08-.36). Conclusions: Covid-19 vaccine uptake was found to be relatively high among people using illicit substances in this study. Higher levels of education, Fars ethnicity, higher income levels, having a positive attitude towards vaccination and access to vaccination centers were the most important predictors of Covid-19 vaccination in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was biodegradation of toluene using a two-phase low-pressure bioscrubber with silicon oil as organic phase. The bioscrubber designed in this study consisted of two parts, the adsorption column and the bioreactor. In order to increase the efficiency of the scrubber, silicone oil was added as organic phases in concentrations of 5%, 7.5% and 10% and tested. The source of the toluene degrading microorganisms was the treatment plant of Tehran refinery. Important operating parameters include inlet concentration (mg/m3), outlet concentration (mg/m3), biomass content (g/l), removal efficiency (%), and elimination capacity (g/m3.h). The results showed that the use of 5% silicon oil increased the efficiency from 22% in the state without organic phase to 55% in the case of using 5% silicone oil. Also, the results showed that at a concentration of 5% organic phase, the lowest efficiency was 47% and the highest 71%, and the use of silicone oil in a concentration of 5% increased the efficiency by 38%. Finally, at a concentration of 10% organic phase, the lowest efficiency was 36% and the highest 64%. The use of silicone oil in a concentration of 10% increased the efficiency by 33%. According to studies, bioscrubber can be one of the most effective methods to remove volatile organic compounds compared to conventional methods. However, there are many challenges in using biological systems that can be overcome in a bioscrubber and have better control over its performance parameters. [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]

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a condition in which a person experiences a rapid loss of hearing, often in one ear. The cause of SSNHL is not always clear, but it is thought to be related to issues with the inner ear, auditory nerve, or other parts of the hearing pathway. Intratympanic injection is a treatment method for SSNHL in which a medication (corticosteroids) is injected directly into the middle ear space through the tympanic membrane. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in two hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Patients with SSNHL were randomized (using the 4-block method) and included in this study. 0.5 cc of dexamethasone or triamcinolone was injected via a 25-gauge spinal needle into the cone of light of tympanic membrane. This procedure was repeated six times. In the present study, the rate of response to treatment was compared in the two groups of triamcinolone and dexamethasone, which showed that in the group where intratympanic injection of dexamethasone was performed, 70.9% of patients responded to treatment (48.4% had a complete response and 22.5% had a partial response), and in the group receiving intratympanic triamcinolone, 72.5% responded to the treatment and improved, 50% showed a complete response and 22.5% showed a partial response, and no significant difference was found in the statistical analysis of the two groups. Also, the comparison of audiometric parameters (SDS and SRT) did not show any significant difference before and after the treatment based on the treatment group, and the treatment response was found in the same group. No significant differences were noted in terms of outcome. Intratympanic dexamethasone injection was associated with a 70.9% response and triamcinolone injection with a 72.5% response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the severe outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), researchers are motivated to develop efficient methods to face related issues. The present study aims to design a resilient health system to offer medical services to COVID-19 patients and prevent further disease outbreaks by social distancing, resiliency, cost, and commuting distance as decisive factors. It incorporated three novel resiliency measures (i.e., health facility criticality, patient dissatisfaction level, and dispersion of suspicious people) to promote the designed health network against potential infectious disease threats. Also, it introduced a novel hybrid uncertainty programming to resolve a mixed degree of the inherent uncertainty in the multi-objective problem, and it adopted an interactive fuzzy approach to address it. The actual data obtained from a case study in Tehran province in Iran proved the strong performance of the presented model. The findings show that the optimum use of medical centers' potential and the corresponding decisions result in a more resilient health system and cost reduction. A further outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is also prevented by shortening the commuting distance for patients and avoiding the increasing congestion in the medical centers. Also, the managerial insights show that establishing and evenly distributing camps and quarantine stations within the community and designing an efficient network for patients with different symptoms result in the optimum use of the potential capacity of medical centers and a decrease in the rate of bed shortage in the hospitals. Another insight drawn is that an efficient allocation of the suspect and definite cases to the nearest screening and care centers makes it possible to prevent the disease carriers from commuting within the community and increase the coronavirus transmission rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Achieving good death is among the objectives of palliative care in patients with cancer. There should be an instrument for evaluating the quality of palliative care provided by family members at the end of life. This study was done to assess the psychometric properties of good death inventory- short form according to the perspective of family of patients with cancer. Method: This methodological study was done in 2022 at two hospitals in Tehran. The translation was done via forward-backward method. Face validity was examined through cognitive interviewing with 10 family members. The content validation, were used by assessment the opinions of 10 palliative care specialists. The construct validity was explored through exploratory factor analysis and examination of convergent validation with care evaluation scale 2.0, as well as inspection of correlation by answering two general questions of satisfaction with treatment and end of life quality of life. The scale's reliability, internal consistency was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient and stability via test-retest. Results: Overall, 204 family members of patients with cancer were included. In the exploratory factor analysis, three factors of peace, hope, and value as well as quality of care were extracted with cumulative variance of 41.8%.A significant and suitable correlation between the total scores of the participants Good death inventory-short form and care evaluation scale2.0 (r = 0.459, P < 0.001) and general satisfaction with end-of-life care (r = 0.423, p < 0.001) as well as the patient's general quality of life (r = 0.539, p < 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the questionnaire was found 0.842, and the stability was confirmed with Intra cluster correlation coefficient = 0.851. Conclusion: the Persian version of good death inventory-short form is a valid and reliable questionnaire which can investigate the factors associated with good death according to patients' family members' perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns, derived through latent class analysis (LCA), with visceral adiposity index (VAI), Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG), inflammation biomarkers, and body composition in overweight and obese Iranian women. For this cross-sectional study, dietary exposure was assessed using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were derived through LCA. Binary logistic was performed to test the associations of dietary patterns with VAI, TyG, inflammation biomarkers, and body composition. Health centers in Tehran, Iran. 376 obese and overweight women, aged > 18 years. Two dietary patterns were identified using LCA modeling: healthy and unhealthy. Women in the unhealthy class were characterized by higher consumption of fast food, sweetened beverages, grains, unhealthy oils, butter and margarine, and snacks. Compared with the healthy class, the unhealthy class was associated with an increased risk of higher fasting blood sugar (FBS) (OR = 6.07; 95% CI: 1.33–27.74, P value = 0.02), c-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.05–2.80; P value = 0.02), and lower fat free mass index (FFMI) (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35–0.88, P value = 0.01), after adjusting for confounders. We found that adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with decreased FFMI and increased FBS and CRP using LCA, but not with the rest of the variables. Further studies should be conducted to confirm the veracity of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A population-based seroepidemiological and molecular survey on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was performed to detect induced antibodies to prior exposure and active infection of children aged 14 years or less in Tehran between 19 September 2020 and 21 June 2021. Moreover, correlations between the children's demographic data and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms with the infection status were investigated. Out of 1517 participants, cardinal symptoms of COVID-19 (fever > 38 °C and/or cough and/or diarrhea) were detected in 18%, and serological history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity were confirmed in 33.2% and 10.7% of the weighted population, respectively. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly higher among 10–14-year-old children. Active infection was significantly higher in symptomatic children and during autumn 2020 and spring 2021. The quantitative reverse transcription real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) positivity was significantly higher among families with a lower socioeconomic status, whereas no association between RT-qPCR or seropositivity was determined with household size, underlying diseases, or gender. In conclusion, high SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence and seroprevalence were detected in children in Tehran in different seasons. Infection prevalence was significantly higher in older children and in those with a positive history of close contact with infected cases and/or lower socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco use is a major health concern worldwide, especially in low/middle-income countries. We aimed to assess the prevalence of cigarette smoking, waterpipe, and pipe use in Tehran, Iran. Methods: We used data from 8272 participants of the Tehran Cohort Study recruitment phase. Tobacco use was defined as a positive answer to using cigarettes, waterpipes, or pipes. Participants who did not report tobacco use during the interview but had a previous smoking history were categorized as former users. Age- and sex-weighted prevalence rates were calculated based on the national census data, and characteristics of current and former tobacco users were analyzed. Results: Age- and sex-weighted prevalence of current tobacco users, cigarette smokers, waterpipe, and pipe users in Tehran was 19.8%, 14.9%, 6.1%, and 0.5%, respectively. Current tobacco use was higher in younger individuals (35–45 years: 23.4% vs. ≥ 75 years: 10.4%, P < 0.001) and men compared to women (32.9% vs. 7.7% P < 0.001). The prevalence of tobacco use increased with more years of education (> 12 years: 19.3% vs. illiterate: 9.7%, P < 0.001), lower body mass index (< 20 kg/m2: 31.3% vs. ≥ 35 kg/m2: 13.8%, P < 0.001), higher physical activity (high: 23.0% vs. low: 16.4%, P < 0.001), opium (user: 66.6% vs. non-user: 16.5%, P < 0.001), and alcohol use (drinker: 57.5% vs. non-drinker: 15.4%, P < 0.001). Waterpipe users were younger (46.1 vs. 53.2 years) and had a narrower gender gap in prevalence than cigarette smokers (male/female ratio in waterpipe users: 2.39 vs. cigarette smokers: 5.47). Opium (OR = 5.557, P < 0.001) and alcohol consumption (OR = 4.737, P < 0.001) were strongly associated with tobacco use. Hypertension was negatively associated with tobacco use (OR = 0.774, P = 0.005). Conclusion: The concerning prevalence of tobacco use in Tehran and its large gender gap for cigarette and waterpipe use warrant tailored preventive policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right now, more than ever in our lives, we need to remain optimistic. The present study aimed to examine the validity and reliability of The Optimism Scale, developed by Balcı & Yılmaz (2002), among Iranian university students and to adapt to Iranian culture. The scale is a single-factor scale with 24 items. The participants were selected using an appropriate sampling method, and the sample consisted of 600 Iranian university students (360 females and 240 males) from Tehran and Tabriz cities. Participants' age ranged from 18 to 24 years (M = 21.58, SD = 1.75). The study findings suggested similarities between Iran and Turkey culture (e.g., religion, language, neighborhood relations). The optimism scale revealed a good construct validity in the Goodness of fit index indicators. The Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient for the scale was 0.76 and Convergent validity with happiness was 0.38. In future studies, the scale's factor structure can be investigated in different samples, such as adolescents and adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and blastocystosis are among the most important parasitic diseases common between humans and cats. In addition, there are concerns about the possible transmission of zoonotic parasites from infected cats to humans. Hence, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Blastocystis sp. in stray and household cats and cat owners. Our study was performed on 132, 33, and 33 fecal samples of stray and household cats, as well as cat owners in Tehran, Iran. Cryptosporidium spp. was identified using a nested PCR targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA) and sequencing the internal amplified fragments. Furthermore, to perform multilocus genotyping of G. duodenalis, the ß-giardin (bg), glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh), and triosephosphate isomerase (tpi) genes were amplified to assess the DNA of G. duodenalis in the fecal samples of cats and cat owners. In addition, Blastocystis was detected by targeting the SSU rRNA gene, and the subtypes of Blastocystis were determined via the sequencing of amplicons. Cryptosporidium felis and Cryptosporidium canis were detected in seven stray cats (5.3%) and one household cat (3%). The bg gene of G. duodenalis was amplified and successfully sequenced in two (1.5%) stray cats and revealed assemblages F and B of G. duodenalis. Sequencing and phylogenic analysis of SSU rRNA gene nucleotide sequences of Blastocystis detected ST5 and ST10 in stray cats (1.5%), ST1 in household cats (9.1%), and ST1, ST2, ST3, and ST7 in owners (30.3%). The low prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Blastocystis in cats and the presence of species/assemblages/subtypes with limited zoonotic potential indicate that cats had a minor role in their owners' infection in the investigated population. However, the presence of zoonotic protozoa in cats suggests the necessity of special attention to high-risk individuals during close contact with cats. Therefore, it is recommended that veterinarians, physicians, and urban managers plan to prevent, control, or treat these parasites to help the urban community live healthily alongside cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of metacognitive therapy in improving metacognitive beliefs and selective attention of people with depressive disorders in Tehran. Present study was a clinical trial with a pretest-posttest design and a control group. The statistical population consisted of all the female students of the universities of Tehran who were diagnosed with depression in 2019. Out of the volunteers, 30 individuals diagnosed with depression were selected and randomly assigned into either the experimental (n = 15) or the control group (n = 15). 8 sessions of metacognitive therapy was applied for the experimental group while the control group stayed on waitlist. Both groups were assessed in pretest and post-test occasions. Beck depression inventory, metacognition questionnaire, and a clinical interview based on DSM-5 were administered. Data analysis was conducted by using multivariate analysis of covariance using IBM SPSS 26. Univariate ANCOVA results of experimental group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in metacognitive beliefs while simultaneously showing significant increase in the selective attention compared to control group. It can be concluded that metacognitive therapy can improve selective attention and decrease metacognitive beliefs and therefore it can decrease the severity of depression in participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applied a mixed model to investigate the factors influencing the quality of married Iranian women's sex experience. The study was conducted using an exploratory mixed method design. The statistical population in the qualitative phase was experts, authorities, and sex therapists working in this field, which were selected through a purposeful sampling taking into account their expertise, practical experience, and teaching. Saturation was obtained after interviewing 11 experts in examining the factors affecting the quality of women's sexual intercourse. In the quantitative phase, using convenience sampling method, 385 married women from district 5 of Tehran were selected and participated in the study. In the qualitative phase, exploratory analysis of the interviews regarding the influential factors affecting the quality of women's sex, 191 codes were identified and by categorizing and axing, 46 markers and 5 main factors were obtained. Thematic analysis on semi-structured interviews showed that 5 categories including physical appearance and diversity seeking, personality factors, individual-social factors, mental and physical health, and communication skills influence the women's quality of sex. In the quantitative phase, a 46-item questionnaire with five subscales was designed based on the 5-factor conceptual model proposed in the qualitative phase, and administered with the sample of married Iranian women. Results showed that the designed conceptual model fits the data well and that the designed model can be used to improve the quality of married Iranian women's sex experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suspended particles containing heavy metals from natural and anthropogenic sources are regarded as one of the world's most significant threats due to their potential adverse health effects. This research aimed to identify the sources of heavy metals in suspended particles in Tehran's District 21 and evaluate the health risks associated with exposure to these pollutants. Using a high-volume sampler, 50 samples were collected from five stations following ASTM D4096 and EPA standards. Per the EPA 2021 sampling schedule, sampling was conducted every six days from April 21, 2021, to April 20, 2022. Heavy metal concentration was measured using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). UNMIX was utilized for heavy metal source attribution. The integrated risk information system (IRIS) method was employed to estimate carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks. The average concentration of heavy metals over a year exhibited the following trend: Li < Ti < W < Pb < Sr < Mg < Fe < Zn < Cr < Al. Aluminum and lithium had the highest and lowest concentrations, 58.87 µg/m3 and 0.01 µg/m3, respectively. Light-duty vehicles, paved road dust, and aircraft emissions were estimated to contribute to 47%, 34%, and 18% of pollution, respectively. Finally, the health risk assessment results revealed that aluminum with an HQ value of 1.13e + 0.1 and lead with a CR value of 1.49e-0.5 pose significant noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of maternal food intake before and during pregnancy on birth weight. Design/methodology/approach: As a prospective cohort study, a total of 585 pregnant women of first trimester, visiting Tehran Metropolitan Area public health centers and private sectors (clinics and hospitals), were interviewed at first phase, and pregestational dietary intake was obtained by a 168-item semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. At the third trimester, dietary recalls were collected via interview. Finally, birth weight information was extracted from health records. Univariate and multivariate analysis was used to explore the effect of maternal and nutritional factors on birth weight. Findings: The results of the analysis show that direct measures of nutrition, measured as food group consumption at first and third trimester of pregnancy, had no significant effect on birth weight once the confounding factors were controlled (p > 0.05). Of control variables included in the analysis, twin pregnancy outcome (p = 0.000), pregnancy number (p = 0.04), prepregnancy weight (p = 0.004) (marginally significant) and gestational age (p = 0.000) (marginally significant) were associated with birth weight. Originality/value: The results of this study show no significant role of mother's nutrition during pregnancy on birth weight, while long-term nutrition outcomes such as prepregnancy weight had significant role. It seems the main reasons behind less important role of pregnancy nutrition on birth weight in this study include the following: food intake deficiency is not a major problem for participants, and cross-sectional data on food intake are less important on outcome of pregnancy weight than long-term nutritional status outcome variables such as mother's weight and height. This finding should be addressed in public health planning for women at childbearing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The high prevalence of insomnia in children and its adverse consequences on children and their family indicate that investigation about treatment of insomnia is necessary. Objectives: This research was conducted to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy program for insomnia, named the KiSS program (Kinder mit Schafstörungen Programm) and reflexotherapy on insomnia in children. Methods: The method of the present research was quasi-experimental in which a pretest, posttest and follow-up design was used in two experimental and two control groups. In order to perform this study among children of 8 to 10 years with insomnia referring to Medical & Psychology Clinic of Shokoufeh in, Tehran, Iran, within July to October 2021, 80 children were selected through the convenience sampling method based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and were assigned randomly into two experimental and two control groups. The Personal Information Questionnaire, Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), Child Symptoms Inventory-4 (CSI-4) were used to collect data. In the experimental groups, the KiSS program and reflexotherapy were performed. In the control groups, the interventions of watching cartoon in group and watching cartoon individually were performed. The data were analyzed with SPSS 22 using descriptive statistical indicators includingmeanandstandard deviation as well as inferential statistics indicators, including mixed-design analysis of variance (ANOVA) method. Results: The results of data analysis showed that the KiSS program reduced mean scores of insomnia in the posttest stage significantly compared to the first control group and the changes in the follow-up stage remained stable. The mean scores of insomnia in reflexotherapy group also decreased significantly in the posttest stage than second control group. However, the effectiveness of the reflexotherapy intervention is temporary, and after two-months follow-up, the insomnia reappear in children. Conclusions: Both the KiSS program and reflexotherapy can be used as uncomplicated and safe nondrug intervention to improve insomnia in children of 8-10 years. Nevertheless, the KiSS program showed more promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Accidents may occur in all occupations. However, firefighting is considered one of the most dangerous occupations considering firefighters' perception of security, work-related injury rate, safety behaviors, attitudes, and norms. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between the organizational safety climate and unsafe behaviors among firefighters. Methodology: This was a descriptive and survey research. The statistical population included all the managers and employees working in a fire department consisting of 16 fire stations in Tehran. A researcher-made checklist and an organizational safety climate questionnaire were used to assess the prevalence of unsafe behaviors and safety climate. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0 software. Results: The employees' mean age, body mass index (BMI), and work, rest, and exercise duration were 32.5±66.83 years old, 25.69±3.7, 9.2±14.1 h/d, 8.15±1.73 h/d, and 5.44±4.46 h/w, respectively. Also, 66% of the employees were overweight and 29% had normal weight. Among the safety climate dimensions, the highest mean was related to management commitment to safety issues (33.7±62.68) and the lowest mean was related to priority over products (6.1±03.63). Unsafe behaviors were mostly associated with lack of using the breathing apparatus in small fires (91.9%) as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) (77.4%) in accidents and not performing operations with inappropriate physical condition (38.7%). The t-test results revealed a significant correlation between the safety climate and prevalence of unsafe behaviors (P≤0.05). Moreover, a significant correlation was observed between the employees' knowledge, participation, attitudes, and environmental safety (P≤0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between emergency preparedness, safety priority, and ignoring risks. Conclusion: Organizational safety climate could affect and predict employees' behaviors. Therefore, it is recommended that fire department managers develop a plan to achieve the required safety climate and improve the safety climate level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Deep learning models accurately predict air pollution levels in Tehran megacity with up to 97 % accuracy. • Strategical Regional separation approach improves precision and accuracy of pollution prediction in megacities. • Disparities in pollution levels observed among different zones within the Tehran megacity. • CNN-Bi-LSTM model demonstrates the highest accuracy in predicting air quality index values. Monitoring pollution in megacities is challenging due to their vast urban expanses and numerous pollution sources. To address this, cutting-edge deep learning models are proposed for monitoring, managing, and forecasting pollution levels. In this study, data concerning six pollutants (O 3 , NO 2 , CO, SO 2 , PM 2.5 , PM 10) and Air Quality Index (AQI) values were collected over a five-year period from three distinct zones within the Tehran megacity. The gathered data were incorporated into a dataset comprising 37,044 records, encompassing the concentrations of examined pollutants and the related AQI across various study points. The primary aim was to enhance the precision of deep learning models using a regional strategic separation approach. A frequency domain filter method was employed to address data noise. Four models—Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Bidirectional LSTM (Bi-LSTM), Convolutional Neural Network with LSTM (CNN-LSTM), and Convolutional Neural Network with Bidirectional LSTM (CNN-Bi-LSTM)—were developed to predict AQI values. Evaluation showed disparities in pollution levels among the studied areas. The CNN-Bi-LSTM model exhibited the highest accuracy at 97 %, but challenges in predicting sudden fluctuations reduced accuracy to 95 % in some cases. However, the model consistently captured the underlying pattern of changes. Segregating megacity regions enhances accuracy in forecasting air pollution conditions. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, land surface temperature (LST) has been considered as an important satellite product for thermal monitoring of the environment. Despite the great development of LST retrieval technology from satellite data, especially from Landsat images, up-to-date thermal information cannot always be obtained. Predicting LST values for future times is a pressing issues to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change, especially in urban environments. This highlights the importance of LST forecasting methods. Accordingly, in this study a combination of Genetic Algorithm and Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) is presented to predict LST based on nine selected spatiotemporal factors affecting LST in the urban areas. The genetic algorithm is used to determine weights of different factors in the LST prediction with respect to the GTWR as the regression model. Then, these weights are used to obtain predicted LST values for experimental points. Landsat-derived LST bands is used to train the genetic algorithm and extract the factors' weights. Tehran city in the summer is selected as the case study in our work. Landsat LST data from 2013 to 2016 are used for training. To assess the performance of our scheme, we apply it in 2017. We find a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a root-mean-square error of 0.5 K with respect to the Landsat data. The results of this study also indicate that LST prediction using weighted factors is superior to using all factors with equal contributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to estimate the incidence of Toxoplasma infection in T. gondiiseropositive patients under allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Methods : The present research was a prospective study on 54 whole blood samples of allogeneic HSCT recipients, who were referring to bone narrow transplantation centers affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran in 2018. All patients were IgG positive against T. gondii. Results : Overall, 54 Toxoplasma positive pre-HCTSP patients were enrolled. 53.7% (n= 29) were male, also 1.9% (n=1) had germ-line type of the disease. The Multiple myeloma patients had higher age in comparison with other disease, but pairwise comparison showed the difference of age between Multiple myeloma patients were statistically significant with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Acute myeloblastic leukemia and Huntington's disease (P< 0.05). The results of PCR assay showed 5.6% (n= 3) of the patients were infected with Toxoplasma. Conclusion : PCR method has detected considerable incidence of Toxoplasma infection for monitoring HSCT recipients at risk for toxoplasmosis, and many patients who showed the incidence of toxoplasmosis had previous infections with the Toxoplasma parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) started in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. It spread widely around the world and was described as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). The knowledge regarding the mortality rate and risk factors of COVID-19 among the pediatric population is lacking. In this regard, we aimed to report the clinical and laboratory characteristics of deceased pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Method. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Mofid Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from February 2020 to April 2021. Recorded documents of 59 pediatric patients (under 18 years old) assumed to have COVID-19 who had died in the COVID-19 ward and COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) were retrospectively evaluated. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (v. 26.0, Chicago, IL). A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. From 711 COVID-19 definite and suspected patients, 59 children died. Of these deceased pediatric patients, 34 were boys (57.62%) and 25 were girls (42.37%), with a total mean age of 5.6 years. The median length of stay in the hospital was 10 days (range 1–215). 91.52% had underlying comorbidities of which neurological diseases accounted for the largest share. 54 patients were admitted to the ICU and 83.05% of them had intubation during their hospitalization. In addition, the most common reasons for death in our study were related to respiratory and multiorgan failure. Conclusion. According to our knowledge, we are the first team to report such a thorough study in the field of COVID-19 pediatric mortality in Iran. Mortality was observed in all age groups of children, especially in those with previous comorbidities, specifically neurological disease. Abnormally elevated tests of ESR, CRP, LDH, AST, and ALT as well as the presence of proteinuria and hematuria were found in more than 50% of patients in our investigations, and ICU admission between both definite and suspected groups had significant differences, so monitoring and considering these factors may help to control and reduce the progression of the disease to death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal dietary intake during pregnancy plays an important role in fetal development and birth outcomes. The aim of the present study was to determine maternal dietary diversity and Nutritional adequacy in relation with anthropometric measurements of newborn at birth as a cohort study in Tehran city.Methods: This prospective cohort study, was conducted by participation of 585 pregnant women referred to public health centers and hospitals covered by Shahid Beheshti, Tehran and Iran Universities in Tehran City. Using face-to-face interviews, general characteristics were obtained by questionnaire. Pre-pregnancy dietary intake was measured by a 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at the first visit, and dietary intake during pregnancy was measured by 2 non-consecutive 24-h food recall (one holiday and one regular day) at 31-34 weeks. Maternal height and weight were measured using standard tools and protocol at the first visit, and maternal weight at the end of pregnancy and data related to neonatal anthropometric indices were collected from mothers and neonates health records in the Sib electrical system. By applying SPSS software (version 23) the association was analyzed by linear regression with adjusting for confounding factors. P-value< 0.05 was considered as significant.Results: Mean ± standard deviation of body mass index (BMI) of pre-pregnancy, pregnancy weight gain, BMI for age z-score (BAZ) at birth of infants were 24.52 ± 4.12, 12.16 ± 6.85 kg and - 0.61 ± 1.48, respectively. Mean ± SD of the Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) and Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) before and during pregnancy were 5.31 ± 1.11, vs.5.23 ± 1.42 and 289.85 ± 113.12 vs. 371.07 ± 197.28, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors DDS in the third trimester of pregnancy was inversely correlated with WAZ (B = -0.16, 95% CI = - 0.23_0.30) and BAZ (B = - 0.24, 95% CI = - 0.06_0. 42) at birth, MAR of pre-pregnancy (B = - 0.001, 95% CI = - 0.002_0.00) and in the third trimester of pregnancy (B = - 0.18, 95% CI = - 0.35_0.004) were negatively associated with WAZ at birth.Conclusion: The findings showed that maternal nutritional status (dietary diversity and nutritional adequacy) before and during pregnancy were correlated with neonatal anthropometric indices at birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of changes in meteorological parameters and fuel composition on the emission rate of air pollutants in the vehicle fleet of the Tehran Metropolis. The results of this study can be used in management decisions to reduce the emission of air pollutants. In this paper, based on the international vehicle emission model and using mathematical equations, the effects of changing meteorological parameters and fuel composition on the emission of pollutants were modeled. The emission rates of CO, VOCs, and NOx pollutants were the most sensitive to the changes in meteorological parameters, respectively. Among all parameters studied in this research, the changes in sulfur level had the greatest effect on the emission of pollutants from the vehicle fleet of Tehran Metropolis. If the fuel was replaced with Euro 5 standard instead of Euro 3, the emission rates of CO, VOCs, NOx, PM, and SOx pollutants from the vehicle fleet of Tehran Metropolis would be reduced by 9%, 6%, 5%, 14%, and 90%, respectively. Managing and reducing the sources of production and emission of air pollution is one of the best ways to reduce the air pollution. In general, since the emission of pollutants from the fleet of Tehran Metropolis in the cold seasons of the year is greater than during hot seasons and the problem of air pollution is exacerbated by air stability, using Euro 5 fuel in cold seasons is one of the efficient ways to reduce the air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tried to identify the interaction between dietary quality indices and apolipoprotein B Ins/Del and EcoR1 polymorphisms on biochemical and anthropometric factors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This cross-sectional study recruited 700 adults with T2DM in Tehran. The genotypes of Ins/Del and EcoR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were explored via polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Dietary quality index-international (DQI-I), healthy eating index-2015 (HEI-2015) and dietary phytochemical index (DPI) were calculated by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). In both crude and adjusted model for confounding factors, we observed significant interactions between DQI-I and Ins/Del SNP on leptin in and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 α (8-iso-PGF2α), DPI and EcoR1 SNP on total cholesterol (TC) and between Ins/Del SNP and HEI-2015 on interleukin-18 (IL-18). Furthermore, in crude model there were close to meaningful interactions between EcoR1 SNP and DQI-I on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and between EcoR1 SNP and HEI-2015 on serum leptin and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. Our finding indicated that the association between DQI-I, HEI-2015 and DPI with IL-18, TC, leptin and 8-iso-PGF2α in patients with T2DM might be dependent on Ins/Del and EcoR1 variants in ApoB gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examined the impact of in utero exposure to Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month, by trimester on height at ages 0 to 18 for a sample of children from Tehran, Iran. If exposure to Ramadan is associated with significant nutritional stress to the fetus, the fetus's adaptive responses to nutritional insufficiency could manifest as changes in height during childhood, long before any effects on aging or disease risk at older ages. Methods: Children who were exposed and not exposed to Ramadan in utero were compared to identify any systematic difference between their parents' and households' characteristics (including height, age, education, and indicators of wealth). Also, the seasonal pattern of food consumption in Tehran was analyzed. Finally, the association of child height with prenatal exposure to Ramadan was measured, controlling for seasonality and parent and household. Results: Ramadan associated fasting in the second trimester of gestation was associated with 0.091 age‐adjusted SDs (ie, 0.60‐0.67 cm) decrease in children's height at age 10 years or older. The negative association was largest in male children and was approximately 1 cm at age 12 years or older among male children. Conclusion: Maternal Ramadan fasting in the second trimester, the critical period for long bone development, was associated with decreased height. Exposure to ritual fasting is important because approximately 75% of all Muslim children are exposed to Ramadan in utero. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In all educational settings, teachers are likely to encounter learners with different emotional and cognitive characteristics, particularly learners who are demotivated or disengaged and as a result misbehave in the classroom. Learned helplessness (LH) is associated with such emotional and motivational deficits in academic performance. This study investigated the feelings of LH experienced by secondary students in the public middle schools of Iran. To this end, we administered the Learned Helplessness Scale (LHS) and the Student Behavior Checklist (SBC) to 154 students in a public middle school in Tehran. We identified 58 students (aged 13–15 years) with school-related LH and randomly assigned them to the control and experimental groups. These students participated in a motivational intervention program based on Dörnyei's motivational strategies (MSs) with social reinforcement integrated into the English language classroom to improve their academic performance and alleviate feelings of helplessness. The results revealed positive effects of the program on the participants' academic achievement and experienced LH. The delayed posttests also showed acceptable durability effects of the program six months after the intervention. It was found that the teacher and his practices in the classroom could be an effective means of alleviating LH in public schools. Further implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, many urban parks are underutilized due to changes and developments of cities, parks location, inappropriate inner conditions of parks, and other factors. Besat Park in Tehran is located in an urban district where people have fewer recreational choices other than going to parks. So, the issue of underutilization in this park might lead to so many other problems. This research is aimed to identify and prioritize the effective factors which can improve the visitors' number of Besat Park. Field observations and interviews with Besat Park users were used in this research. During the observation process, three main factors were scrutinized including activity, access, and legibility. Behavioral mapping was applied to observations in 18 parts of the park which occurred at 6 different times in various seasons. Behavior mapping recordings were based on people's age, gender, and activity. Also, a questionnaire was set up covering the three main factors investigated in behavioral mappings. The results show that activity as the main important factor had negatively affected the level of presence in Besat Park. Even on large scale, the incompatible land uses inhibited neighborhood resident's interaction with the park edges. Inside the park, despite the lack of legibility and impermeability of some routes and districts, only the ones which had other issues in terms of activity, access, and other sub-factors were vulnerable to the mentioned problems. Generally, the factors affecting Besat Park use could be prioritized based on their level of influence respectively as activity, legibility, and access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pertussis remain a global health concern, especially in infants too young to initiate their vaccination. Effective vaccination and high coverage limit the circulation of the pathogen, yet duration of protection is limited and boosters are recommended during a lifetime. In Iran, boosters are given at 18 months and 6 years old using whole pertussis vaccines for which efficacy is not known, and pertussis surveillance is scant with only sporadic biological diagnosis. Burden of pertussis is not well understood and local data are needed.Methods: Hospital-based prospective study implementing molecular laboratory testing in infants aged ≤6 months and presenting ≥5 days of cough associated to one pertussis-like symptom in Tehran. Household and non-household contact cases of positive infants were evaluated by comprehensive pertussis diagnosis (molecular testing and serology) regardless of clinical signs. Clinical evaluation and source of infection were described.Results: A total of 247 infants and 130 contact cases were enrolled. Pertussis diagnosis result was obtained for 199 infants and 104 contact cases. Infant population was mostly < 3 months old (79.9%; 157/199) and unvaccinated (62.3%; 124/199), 20.1% (40/199) of them were confirmed having B. pertussis infection. Greater cough duration and lymphocyte counts were the only symptoms associated to positivity. Half of the contact cases (51.0%; 53/104) had a B. pertussis infection, median age was 31 years old. A proportion of 28.3% (15/53) positive contacts did not report any symptom. However, 67.9% (36/53) and 3.8% (2/53) of them reported cough at inclusion or during the study, including 20.8% (11/53) who started coughing ≥7 days before infant cough onset. Overall, only five samples were successfully cultured.Conclusion: These data evidenced the significant prevalence of pertussis infection among paucy or poorly symptomatic contacts of infants with pertussis infection. Widespread usage of molecular testing should be implemented to identify B. pertussis infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean pine engraver , Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston), is a destructive pest that has caused a significant threat to planted pine forests worldwide through feeding on phloem, disrupting sap flow and transmitting phytopathogens. This study investigated the bottom-up effects of different irrigation and fertilization treatments on the mean numbers of O. erosus immature stages (egg, larva and pupa) and adults in the pine forest of western Tehran, Iran. A total of 72 Pinus eldarica Medw. trees were selected in Chitgar Forest Park. The experiment was arranged as a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The irrigation treatments included non-irrigation, low-irrigation (30 liters of water per month) and high-irrigation (30 liters of water per two weeks) were assigned to main plots. Moreover, fertilizers of nitrogen 100 kg/ha, superphosphate 100 kg/ha and potassium sulfate 65 kg/ha were applied in subplots. Then, the total number of O. erosus life stages was counted under the bark samples (two 10 × 10 cm bark samples) separated from the pine trees. Results showed that irrigation and fertilization significantly affected the mean number of O. erosus from egg to adult stages. Irrigation had a more pronounced effect on the pest population than fertilization. The highest number of different life stages occurred in non-irrigated pines regardless of fertilization. Moreover, fertilizer effects were influenced by irrigation, where high irrigation negatively affected superphosphate + potassium sulfate fertilized pines and significantly increased the mean numbers of different O. erosus life stages compared to low-irrigation treatment. The lowest mean number of egg (11.95 ± 0.17), larva (8.62 ± 0.21), pupa (10.38 ± 0.13) and adult (9.04 ± 0.23) per bark samples occurred in superphosphate + potassium sulfate at low-irrigation plots. Interestingly, nitrogen fertilization increased pest density compared to unfertilized trees. Furthermore, despite the low mean number of different O. erosus life stages in superphosphate + potassium sulfate treatments, the nitrogen combination increased the pest density in both low and high-irrigation plots. These findings highlighted the importance of considering the interaction between irrigation and fertilizer types in the integrated pest management program for O. erosus. [Display omitted] • Irrigation and fertilization significantly affected the mean number of O. erosus under the bark of pine. • The highest number of O. erosus occurred in non-irrigated pines regardless of fertilization. • Low irrigation along with superphosphate + potassium sulfate decreased O. erosus population. • Nitrogen fertilizer resulted in the higher mean number of different life stages of O. erosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with prognosis in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Similar to the global studies, different prevalence rates of this viral infection have been reported in Iran. Therefore, we aimed to report the prevalence of this virus and its significance in HNSCC patients. Methods: Patients who were referred to the five hospitals of Tehran city from May 2018 to May 2019 were enrolled in this study. All patients were diagnosed with HNSCC based on pathologic study. The pathologic disease staging was defined, and DNAs were extracted from the fresh tissue samples via kits. After polymerase chain reaction (PCR), HPV positive samples were evaluated for determining genotypes and data analysis. Results: Of the 46 patients, three patients (6.5%) showed positive HPV results with the following subtypes: 18 (in two patients), 52 (in three patients), 61 (in two patients), 67, and 73. Comparison of variables between the groups with and without HPV showed a significant difference based on the tumor’s lymphatic invasion (P=0.041), peripheral lymph node involvement (P=0.008), and histologic grade (P=0.011), but no statistically significant difference in terms of other variables such as age, primary tumor site, size, pathologic stage, vascular or perineural invasion, metastasis, smoking, and alcohol consumption was found. Conclusion: HPV positivity may be an important contributing factor in the lymphatic invasion, peripheral lymph node involvement, and histologic grade of cases with HNSCC and should be further investigated for its effect on prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In this descriptive cross-sectional study the aim is to assess the plasma concentration of "1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol" and the serious problems come thereinafter amongst operating room (OR) staffs of Tehran's hospitals. Material and methods: Primarily a questionnaire with some ascertained queries in order to understand the individual's life style have been obtained and secondarily we proceed to gather their blood specimens. The ELISA methods is used for evaluation. Results: Totally about 700 employees in surgical ward of hospitals are assessed Amongst whole the statistical society, just 112 individual's plasma 1,25(OH2)D3 concentration are in the normal range (about 16%) and for 569 bodies (81.28%) the concentration is below the regular rate. Generally some clinical disorders like Alopecia (30.85%), skin lesions (17.57%), gastrointestinal diseases (17.28%) and eye problems (13.57%) were the most complains. Conclusion: According to considerable hypovitaminosis occur in OR's staff and detrimental occasions come afterward for personnel themselves and the patients, we certainly recommend them to utilize fruits and dairy products which enriched with vitamin D besides taking multivitamins and effective supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is describe how public libraries in Iranian cultural centers use of information technologies to developing its services. In this research paper, a structured questionnaire was used to collect data in 80 public libraries. Descriptive statistics method and Excel 2007 was used to analyzed data. In this study, libraries used of exit information technology in acceptable range but use of nonprinted resources such as electronic and digital are weakness and only 12.5 percent of libraries contain this material. Librarian's skills are suitable for used of IT in public and technical services but users need to necessary training for use of this facilities. The results of the present study show that information technologies facilities of all public libraries affiliated to the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality are in desirable condition. Librarians and administrators also have full satisfaction of their libraries being equipped with new technologies. The interesting point in this context is to conform the nature and form of the provision of services in public libraries to the needs of users in different categories of sex, age and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are four copy numbers of α-globin genes (16p13.3) in the human genome and the number of defective α-globin genes dictates the severity of α-thalassemia (α-thal). Mutations that occur in the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), and especially at the polyadenylation (polyA) sites, affect the translation, stability and export of mRNA. A patient with hypochromic microcytic anemia was referred to the Kariminejad-Najmabadi Pathology & Genetics Center, Tehran, Iran by the health network. Molecular analysis of genomic DNA for the evaluation of mutations on the α- and β-globin genes was performed. Direct sequencing of the hemoglobin (Hb) subunit α2 (HBA2) gene revealed a two nucleotide deletion between +816 and +817 in the 3′UTR, located at the polyA site, which seems to be a novel pathogenic variant. This novel variant expands the genetic spectrum of α-thal in the 3′UTR of the HBA2 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase of Land Surface Temperature (LST) and the formation of heat island in megacities have become an emerging environmental concern. The main objective of this study is to predict the intensity of Tehran's heat island in the year 2033 based on historical changes of land cover and LST. For this purpose, Landsat satellite images were integrated with meteorological stations' measurements from 1985 to 2017. The Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models were used to predict the land cover changes and to the modelling of the Surface Urban Heat Island Intensity (SUHII), Surface Urban Heat Island Ratio Index (SUHRI) was used. Subsequently, using statistical analysis of the effect of historical land cover changes on LST variations, SUHII for 2033 was predicted. Our findings show that within this period, the built-up lands increased significantly from 39% in 1985 to 65% in 2017. The intensity of heat island increased with an increase in the value of SUHII from 0.02 to 0.19. Our predictive analysis reveals that the intensity of the Tehran's heat island will increase to 0.32 by 2033. Our conclusions draw attentions to the increasing LST now and in the future in Tehran so that urban planners and local authorities take adequate actions for controlling its environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged many healthcare systems around the world. While most of the current understanding of the clinical features of COVID-19 is derived from Chinese studies, there is a relative paucity of reports from the remaining global health community. In this study, we analyze the clinical and radiologic factors that correlate with mortality odds in COVID-19 positive patients from a tertiary care center in Tehran, Iran. A retrospective cohort study of 90 patients with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positive COVID-19 infection was conducted, analyzing demographics, co-morbidities, presenting symptoms, vital signs, laboratory values, chest radiograph findings, and chest CT features based on mortality. Chest radiograph was assessed using the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) scoring system. Chest CTs were assessed according to the opacification pattern, distribution, and standardized severity score. Initial and follow-up Chest CTs were compared if available. Multiple logistic regression was used to generate a prediction model for mortality. The 90 patients included 59 men and 31 women (59.4 ± 16.6 years), including 21 deceased and 69 surviving patients. Among clinical features, advanced age (p = 0.02), low oxygenation saturation (p<0.001), leukocytosis (p = 0.02), low lymphocyte fraction (p = 0.03), and low platelet count (p = 0.048) were associated with increased mortality. High RALE score on initial chest radiograph (p = 0.002), presence of pleural effusions on initial CT chest (p = 0.005), development of pleural effusions on follow-up CT chest (p = 0.04), and worsening lung severity score on follow-up CT Chest (p = 0.03) were associated with mortality. A two-factor logistic model using patient age and oxygen saturation was created, which demonstrates 89% accuracy and area under the ROC curve of 0.86 (p<0.0001). Specific demographic, clinical, and imaging features are associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 infections. Attention to these features can help optimize patient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present descriptive-analytical study aimed to rank the barriers of the application of the value chain in the context of rural entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach: The statistical population was composed of 125 entrepreneurs from the provinces of Tehran, Hamedan, and Golestan, Iran. Data were analyzed by the TOPSIS technique. Findings: The results suggest that the lack of a correct financing mechanism and the lack of targeted policymaking and government support of the rural entrepreneurship are the main factors hindering the cycle of the value chain to develop rural entrepreneurship. The entrepreneurs who work in the service sector identified the lack of training of entrepreneurial skills as the main barrier and in contrast, those working in the animal farming sector listed the lack of government support policies as the main barrier. According to the entrepreneurs working in the agricultural sector, the lack of specialized advisors about job issues and the lack of financial resources are the main deterrents of rural entrepreneurship. Practical implications: Different organizations (such as Jihad-e Agriculture Organization, banks, and the Office of Industry, Mine and Trade) cooperate to facilitate the access of agricultural entrepreneurs to low-interest bank loans and credits that have long enough repayment periods. Theoretical implications: Training institutions, such as academia and private educational institutions, focus on the training of entrepreneurial skills and concepts in different aspects such as business running, marketing, and the recognition of risks and target markets at the elementary and advanced levels. Originality/value: The paper provides insight for rural entrepreneurs to recognize the barriers to the application of the value chain in the establishment of entrepreneurial businesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) through food, water, and air occurred during the life, which may change telomere length (TL) in peripheral blood leukocytes. The present study was designed to investigate the association between TL and serum levels of PCBs and OCPs in Tehran male's population. Whole blood samples were randomly taken from 300 adult males, aged between 25 and 40 years. TL was determined by real-time PCR to measure the number of the telomere (T) repeats to the number of a single-copy gene (S). We applied the multivariate linear regression model to compare the effect of each lipid adjusted serum levels of PCBs and OCPs congener on the TL, with adjustment for age, body mass index, education, smoking, and food patterns. Each doubling of the nondioxin-like PCBs, dioxin-like PCBs, and OCPs levels were associated with 1.9% [95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.70 to 5.40%], 2.5% (95% CI 0.30–8.3%), and − 2.4% (95% CI − 0.70 to − 6.2%) variation in the TL, respectively. The percent difference in the TL with exposure to nondioxin-like PCBs, dioxin-like PCBs, and OCPs for participants with older than age 37 years were 6.45% (95% CI 2.81–16.50%), 4.52% (95% CI 1.60–10.54%), and − 7.44% (95% CI − 1.55 to − 15.51%), respectively. Exposures to nondioxin-like PCBs (except for PCB 28 and 52) with high chlorine in structure and dioxin-like PCBs were related to longer TLs. Conversely, serum levels of OCPs can be associated with oxidative stress and systemic inflammation that lead to telomere shortening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shigella continues to be important causes of acute pediatric diarrhea worldwide. Shigella produces numerous virulence factors involved in colonization and invasion into epithelial cells which eventually result in the disease. The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of virulence genes and to investigate antibiotic resistance profiles among Shigella isolates obtained from pediatric patients in Iran. Methods: A total of 141 Shigella isolates were collected between March 2017 and September 2018 from stool of children under 14 who were suspected to have shigellosis. Shigella isolates were identified using standard microbiological and serological tests and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out via Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. In addition, the presence of seven virulence determinants including ipaH, ipaB, ipaC, ipaD, ipgD, sen, and virA were evaluated using PCR. Results: S. sonnei (78.7%) was the most prevalent shigella spp. among children with shigellosis followed by S. flexneri (19.9%) and S. boydii (1.4%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that most of the isolates were considered as multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. Our findings also showed a high resistance rate against trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in Shigella isolates. The prevalence of ipaH, ipaC, sen, ipaD, virA, ipaB, and ipgD were 100%, 95.7%, 95.7%, 94.3%, 93.6%, 92.9%, and 80.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The current study revealed that S. sonnei was the predominant species isolated from children with shigellosis in Iran. Our results also indicated a high distribution of type III secretion system effector protein-encoding genes and high multidrug-resistance among shigella spp. in Iran. Therefore, it is suggested that antimicrobial susceptibility testing be performed prior to antibiotic prescription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the rise in population, lifestyle changes, high traffic rates in urban areas and environmental pollution, respiratory diseases have become much more prevalent on both regional and urban scales. Respiratory diseases affect over 300 million people worldwide and are thus among the major threats to humans' general well-being. The identification of underlying factors and the specification of accompanying risk areas for the temporal exacerbation of respiratory diseases are effective steps in managing the damage caused by such disorders. Here, we demonstrate a strategy for modelling the risk zone of respiratory diseases temporally, using a location-based social network (LBSN) and an artificial neural network (ANN). The main contribution of this paper is to consider the environmental and infrastructural factors and identify their relationships with the geographical locations of respiratory attacks. The study also utilizes Telegram, which is the most popular and conventional social media platform, in order to observe temporal changes in the location of respiratory attacks in Iran, in the form of a developed Telegram bot known as @respiratoryassociation. The relations between the factors behind and the location of respiratory attacks are determined using a multilayer perceptron (MLP) ANN. All the required data have been collected on a daily basis over a 5-year period from December 2013 to December 2018 in Tehran, Iran. The results indicated air pollution, especially pollution from carbon monoxide (CO) and suspended particulate matter (PM) as the most decisive factors. Following air pollution, the amount of exposure to the polluted area was determined as the second most decisive factor, which in turn increased as a result of escalations in traffic jams. Land use was determined as the third most decisive factor. Furthermore, the results revealed that the ANN performed satisfactorily, implying that the model can be used to examine the spatio-temporal behaviour of the time series of respiratory diseases with respect to environmental and infrastructural factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to disinfection by-products (DBPs) could have occurred in swimming pool water disinfected with chlorine. The purpose of this study was to investigate the concentrations of two categories of DBPs including trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) in swimming pool water treated with different disinfection types. This study was conducted in ten swimming pools located in Tehran, Iran. Water samples were collected from swimming pools disinfected with various methods: chlorine (Cl2), ozone/chlorine (O3/Cl2), and ultraviolet radiation (UV)/Cl2. Each sample was analyzed to determine the concentrations of subgroups of THMs and HAAs. The concentrations of chloramine, urea, total organic carbon, chloride, and bromide were determined as well. The mean concentration of HAA5 was 945 μg/L, which was significantly higher than the overall mean concentration of THMs (548.5 μg/L) (p = 0.04). The mean concentrations of THMs or HAAs in different pools stratified by disinfectant types were significant (p < 0.05). Among subgroup compounds of THMs and HAAs, the highest mean concentrations were related to chloroform (TCM) (247 µg/L) and trichloroacetic acid (351 µ g/L). The concentrations of THMs and HAAs in Pools I–J disinfected by UV/Cl2 were lower. Due to the high concentrations of THMs and HAAs, frequent monitoring of chlorine and DBPs, as well as pretreatment of pool water by UV and then O3, are needed in swimming pools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, occupational related diseases and accidents are considered one of the main causes for mortality worldwide. However, Kiken Yochi Training (KYT) is one of the interventions to reduce the incidence of unsafe behaviors at workplace, yet there are few evidence-based studies on its effectiveness. This study was aimed to identify the unsafe behaviors among workers in the construction industry in Iran and determine the influence of Kiken Yochi Training intervention on their reduction. In this study, the unsafe behaviors of workers in Atieh Sazan construction Company, Tehran, Iran, were investigated. For this purpose, 452 workers were randomly selected and 11733 observations regarding unsafe behaviors were reported. In the second phase, Kiken Yochi Training was applied over three months, then observations were recorded once again. Socio-demographic questionnaire and Tarrant's checklist were used. 25.69% of the recorded behaviors in the first phase and 18.57% after the intervention, were unsafe. Unsafe use of equipment and inappropriate ergonomic status were among the most common risky behaviors. The average percentages of unsafe behaviors before and after the intervention were reduced by about 36%. Kiken Yochi Training was effective in diminishing the unsafe behaviors among workers. There was a significant relationship between the number of unsafe behaviors, age, experience, type of occupation, educational status, and having a previous accident (P value <0.01). In the present study, it was concluded that the occurrence of unsafe behaviors among construction industry workers could be reduced by promoting awareness and raising knowledge. Moreover, it was recommended to have continuous monitoring, training sessions based on behavioral safety principles establishment, a safety culture in addition to reliance on academic experiences development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objectives Healthcare workers including dentists and dental students are at risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens. Thus, it is imperative to assess their knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the infection control protocols. Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated 164 dental students of Shahid Beheshti University using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic, knowledge (n=15), attitude (n=27) and performance (n=8) questions regarding hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS. Data were collected and analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U test. Results The mean score of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS was 18.66 (out of 30), 31.59 (out of 54) and 6.29 (out of 8), respectively. The students had low knowledge level about the routes of transmission, the standard infection control protocols, and infection treatment. They also had poor attitude towards treating the infected patients. There was no significant difference in knowledge, attitude and practice between different academic grades of dental students or males and females. Conclusion The findings did not show satisfactory level of knowledge or attitude of Shahid Beheshti dental students regarding hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS infections. Thus, more educational programs emphasizing on bloodborne infections are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Considering the obvious reasons for the necessity of men's sexual and reproductive health education, the present qualitative study aims to identify and contextualize the barriers to sexual and reproductive health education to men in Iran. Materials and Methods: This qualitative research was conducted using conventional procedures of content analysis. A total of 34 participants consisting of authorities in health organizations, healthcare providers, clergies, and adult men in a general population were interviewed in two large cities of Iran including Tehran and Mashhad in 2016. Purposive sampling continued until data saturation was ensured. Data were collected through individual in-depth semi structured interviews. All interviews were tape recorded and transcribed in verbatim. Finally, the data were analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants' experiences were categorized into three main themes including (1) individual barriers, (2) sociocultural barriers, and (3) structural barriers along with seven subthemes including low perceived threat, unwillingness to learn, sociocultural taboos, family's lack of knowledge and malperformance, policy-making barriers, executive barriers, and health system deficiency barriers. Conclusions: Considering the results obtained, many barriers to men's sexual and reproductive health education could be eliminated through overcoming the individual and structural barriers and sociocultural taboos, as major obstacles. The findings suggest overcoming these barriers and promoting men's health require raising awareness overcoming sociocultural taboos. In this regard, policy makers should provide sexual and reproductive health education programs and create opportunities and facilities along with appropriate learning environments for men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine-resolution urban population mapping is vital for many applications, including urban planning and disaster management. However, these data are rarely available. Despite the well-established correlation between urban population distribution and the physical parameters of residential areas and urban mobility, there needs to be a comprehensive model that effectively utilizes these relationships. This article proposed a novel model for population estimation, adaptive weighted least squares (AWLS), based on the correlations between urban morphology (e.g., physical parameters and shape of residential areas) and attractiveness (e.g., points of interest) and weighing them in the least square regression. This hierarchical model first uses the AWLS method to account for local correlations. Then, it disaggregates the population into lower-level spatial units specifically city blocks and parcels. The efficacy of the method is demonstrated in three neighborhoods in Tehran, Iran, with differences and similarities in terms of morphology and attractiveness. This method significantly improved population estimation accuracy, outperforming common global and local estimation models (11% and 8% in Neighborhood A, 14% and 13% in Neighborhood B, and 5% and 5% in Neighborhood C). This model successfully disaggregated the census tract (CT) population into city block and parcel levels, providing valuable data for crisis management. • A vector-based model using spatial criteria was developed to estimate population at city block and parcel levels. • The correlation between the shape regularity of city blocks and population was investigated through a proposed RBSI index. • Incorporating POI features and urban mobility improves population estimation accuracy. • The AWLS model was proposed to solve the high estimation error of global models in low residential density city blocks. • The AWLS model's output in the region-based model improved small-area population estimation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]