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Abstract Background Aflatoxins are regarded as the most potent genotoxic and carcinogenic type of mycotoxins. This meta-analysis was performed to investigate a the relation of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to growth measurements of infants/children, including wasting, underweight, stunting, as well as weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ), and weight-for-height (WHZ) z-scores. Methods Electronic databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to identify related publications. Effect sizes for associations were pooled using the random effects analysis. Subgroup analysis by study design, method used to assess AFB1, and adjustment for covariateswas performed to detect possible sources of heterogeneity. Results Pooled analysis of available data showed that AFB1 exposure was negatively associated growth z-scores, including WHZ (β = -0.02, 95%CI = -0.07 to 0.03), with WAZ (β = -0.18, 95%CI = -0.33 to -0.02), and HAZ (β = -0.17, 95%CI = -0.30 to -0.03) in infants/children. There was a remarkable heterogeneity among studies on WAZ and HAZ (P ≤ 0.001). In prospective cohort studies, AFB1 exposure was found to be significantly associated with the elevated risk of underweight (OR = 1.20, 95%CI = 1.03 to 1.40) and stunting (OR = 1.21, 95%CI = 1.11 to 1.33). Conclusions This meta-analysis highlighted the importance of AFB1 exposure as a potential risk factor for growth impairment in infants/children.

IntroductionThe temperature of the earth has been rising by about 0.74 degrees Celsius over the past century. A gradual increase in the average annual temperature has been reported by many researchers worldwide, while other reports suggest a decrease in this parameter. The assumption is that there will be more areas of the world experiencing higher temperatures. The climate changes are effectively represented by temperature changes, which is considered one of the main indicators in climate studies. The chemical composition of the atmosphere has changed because of the increase in human industrial activities, so it is responsible for unprecedented changes in the global climate in the past century. The increase in greenhouse gas concentration is the cause of this change. The evidence indicates that the increase in atmospheric gas concentration has caused a significant increase in global temperature. The use of thermal data from sensors is widely used in the study of terrestrial phenomena, as indicated by many studies. The temperature of the earth's surface is directly and indirectly linked to all human activities. It is still not possible to calculate the temperature of the earth's surface with perfect and accurate methods, but some sensors with suitable temporal, spectral, and spatial performance are able to take photos of the entire surface of the Earth. The study is more important due to the fact that various species of animals, such as Jebeer (belonging to the Bovidae), are exposed to climate changes in arid and desert areas. Due to its impact on humans, other creatures, and the entire environment, it is imperative to pay attention to climate change nowadays. In this regard, the main aim of the current study is to evaluate the LST (Land Surface Temperature) trends, changes, and temperature threats of the land surface in the Central Plateau of Iran. Time series remote sensing data of the MODIS (MOD11A2) sensor and Terra satellite, in 8 days with spatial resolution of 1km from 2002 to 2018 have been used. Material and Methods The current study has been focused on the central plateau of Iran. The central plateau of Iran lies within the arid lands belt of the northern hemisphere. The current study has been attempting to extract exact information from the images by employing specific techniques. To achieve this goal, the MOD11A2 product of Terra satellite MODIS sensor, the trend of temperature changes and time series construction of the significance of Man Kendall methods and linear correlation parameters such as maximum monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on maximum monthly temperature, median monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on median monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature, minimum annually temperature for daily and nightly temperature were used in TerrSet software and Earth Trends Modeler section to extract significant increasing and decreasing areas. After identifying some parts of provinces with significant temperatures based on analysis and results, we can identify the vital numerical value of the temperature in each pixel of those significant parts in the next stage. This can be achieved by utilizing the difference between the final temperature and the initial temperature. Trend analysis was used to simulate daily and nightly temperature changes for parameters of maximum monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on maximum monthly temperature, median monthly temperature, maximum annually temperature based on median monthly temperature, minimum monthly temperature and minimum annual temperature. Results and DiscussionDaily temperature data in the Central Plateau of Iran, which includes monthly minimum temperature, annual minimum temperature, monthly maximum temperature, annual maximum temperature based on monthly maximum temperature, monthly median temperature and annual maximum temperature based on monthly median temperature, common in Semnan and Isfahan provinces, showed a significant increase in linear correlation according to the results. In Isfahan province, the linear correlation decreased significantly between the maximum annual temperature based on the maximum monthly temperature and the median monthly temperature. There was no significant trend in other provinces. The linear correlation between temperature data in Isfahan and Semnan provinces, including the minimum monthly, minimum annual, maximum annual, and median monthly temperature, decreased significantly. The linear correlation between average annual temperature, average monthly temperature, maximum annual temperature determined by maximum monthly temperature, average monthly temperature, and maximum annual temperature determined by median monthly temperature increased significantly in Yazd and Isfahan provinces. No significant trends were observed in other provinces. To estimate the amount and approximate number of significant increases and decreases, simulations of temperature changes were conducted. The range and approximate range of numbers for significant increase and decrease in temperature were calculated in degrees Celsius. In all analyses, the parts with higher temperatures had a reddish color. The intensity of the red color increased as the temperature increased, and as the temperature decreased, the red color became fainter and turned blue. The central plateau of Iran recorded a maximum temperature of 44C°and a minimum temperature of -7C°according to this study. The central plateau of Iran has three main provinces, which include Isfahan, Semnan, and Yazd. Considering the temperatures mentioned for these three provinces, the temperatures obtained from this study are very similar, which means that the conducted study is approved to a large extent. Animals are considered to be at risk due to temperature changes. Future research should emphasize the impact of climate change and temperature increase on the living conditions of various animals, particularly those found on the central plateau of Iran.

Abstract Introduction People need health information to maintain their health. Despite the variety of sources and tools for providing health information, there is little evidence about Iranian people's preferences in using these sources and tools. The objective of this study was to identify the preferred health information sources, tools, and methods for presenting health information in these tools. Methods This national survey was conducted among a sample of 4000 Iranian people between April and September 2021. The data was collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire (α = 0.86) consisting of four sections: participants' demographic information, current sources of obtaining health information, preferred information technology (IT) tools for accessing health information, and the method of presenting this information. Linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between demographic factors and other questions. Results The participants received health information mostly from the "Internet" (3.62), "family or friends" (3.43), "social networks" (3.41), "specific websites" (3.41), and "mobile apps" (3.27). "Social networks" (3.67), Internet "websites" (3.56), and "mobile apps" (3.50) were the most suitable tools for receiving health information. The participants preferred the presentation of health information in the form of "Images" (3.85), "educational videos" (3.69), and "texts" (3.53). Age, education, and marital status had a significant relationship with most of the preferred information sources, tools, and information presentation methods (p

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the safety and well-being of healthcare workers. A scoping review was conducted to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on the safety, health, and well-being of healthcare workers and to shed light on the concerns about their perceived safety and support systems. A literature search was conducted in three different databases from December 1, 2019, through July 20, 2022, to find publications that meet the aim of this review. Using search engines, 3087 articles were identified, and after a rigorous assessment by two reviewers, 30 articles were chosen for further analysis. Two themes emerged during the analysis: safety and health and well-being. The primary safety concern of the staff was mostly about contracting COVID-19, infecting family members, and caring for patients with COVID-19. During the pandemic, the health care workers appeared to have anxiety, stress, uncertainty, burnout, and a lack of sleep. Additionally, the review focused on the suggestions of health care providers to improve the safety and well-being of workers through fair organizational policies and practices and timely, individualized mental health care.

In order to investigate the effect of chemical and biological nitrogen fertilizer on canola, a field experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research station of the Faculty of Agriculture, Yasouj University, located in Deshtrum region, in 2019. The main factor consisted of nitrogen fertilizer (zero, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg/ha of pure nitrogen from urea source) and the secondary factor consisted of nitroxin biofertilizer contained Azotobacter and Azospirillium bacteria (use and non-use). The results showed that nitrogen fertilizer and nitroxin had a significant effect on all investigated traits. Nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased plant height, number of lateral branches, chlorophyll index and oil yield. The highest grain (8790.60 kg/ha) and biological (23910.93 kg/ha) yield were obtained in 125 kg/ha of nitrogen and the use of nitroxin. With the consumption of 125 kg/ha of nitrogen and nitroxin, the lowest percentage of seed oil, and contrastingly the highest percentage of seed protein (36.65%) was obtained. In general, combined application of biofertilizer with chemical nitrogen increased grain, biological and oil yield. Nitroxin bio-fertilizer could reduce the consumption of chemical nitrogen fertilizer. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the application of 50 kg/ha of nitrogen + bacteria and the application of higher levels of nitrogen (75, 100 and 125 kg/ha) alone in most of the investigated traits.

Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2-to end preventable child deaths by 2030-we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000-2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations.

Abstract Gluteus medius muscle (Gmed) dysfunction has been confirmed as a functional defect in subjects with Genu Valgum Deformity (GVD). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the change in the positions of hip rotation and applying isometric hip external rotation during pelvic drop (PD) can affect muscles activity in subjects with GVD. A total of thirty recreational female athletes with (n = 15) and without (n = 15) GVD participated in this study. Surface electromyography measured Gmed, tensor fascia latae (TFL), and quadratus lumborum (QL) muscles activity when subjects performed PD in three different positions of hip rotations with and without applied isometric hip external rotation force. There were differences in muscle activity between GVD and healthy subjects. The Gmed/TFL and Gmed/QL muscles activity ratio altered while placing the hip in different rotation positions and applying isometric load. The lower extremity muscles’ activity is affected by GVD, and changing the positions of the hip rotation in the PD task can be associated with altered muscle activity in both GVD and healthy Groups. However, applying isometric hip external rotation during PD can be suggested as an effective intervention to increase Gmed activity.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of second language (L2) motivation, willingness to communicate (WTC), and international posture on the relationship between L2 Self-perceived communication competence (SPCC) and L2 frequency of communication (L2 FC) in online informal English learning contexts among tertiary students in Malaysia. The predictor variables were drawn from Gardner's (1985) socio-educational model of language learning and MacIntyre and Charos' (1996) WTC model and adapted to examine the frequency of communication in online contexts. A total of 296 valid responses were collected from university students in Malaysia. The data were collected using online survey and were analysed through partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique. The findings suggested that higher level of L2 SPCC would lead to more frequent L2 use in online contexts. Furthermore, the mediating roles of L2 WTC and international posture were found to be statistically significant. However, the mediating effect of L2 motivation on the relationship between L2 SPCC and communication frequency was not supported in this study. Implications of the research findings for understanding the relationship among the study's variables are also discussed.

Background & Aims: Patient safety is an important component and one of the main elements of quality in health care systems. The patient safety status among the pre-hospital Emergency Medical Staff (EMS) in Iran is unclear and there is almost no information about adverse complications. Assessing the current patient safety culture can be a starting point for improving safety attitudes among health care workers, including pre-hospital EMS who are at the forefront of managing patients in critical conditions. This study aims to survey the attitude towards patient safety among pre-hospital EMS in Mashhad, Iran. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 438 full-time pre-hospital EMS with at least 6 months of operational work experience in Mashhad city in 2019, who were selected by a census method. The assessment tool was the Emergency Medical Services Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (EMS-SAQ). The collected data were analyzed in SPSS v. 16 using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t test, analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation test). The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: It was reported that 13.75% had a positive attitude towards patient safety. The mean total score of EMS-SAQ was 53.55±10.60. The most positive attitude was related to stress recognition (34.2%) and the lowest positive attitude was related to safety climate and perception of management (5.7%). There was no statistically significant relationship between any demographic characteristics and overall attitude towards patient safety (P>0.05). Conclusion: The patient safety culture of the pre-hospital EMS in Mashhad is not positive. This requires further research and also taking measures such as holding briefing sessions for managers and staff, increasing the number of staff, setting up an error reporting system, and including topics related to patient safety in the in-service training courses for the staff.

Seed fatty acid composition can influence seed quality, followed by seed germination and optimal seedling establishment. Therefore, to find out the role of seed fatty acids in changing the cardinal temperatures of six sesame cultivars germinated at different temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 °C) and water potentials (0, −0.2, −0.4, −0.6, −0.8, −1, and −1.2 MPa), an experiment was conducted. The dent-like, beta, and segmented models were used to analyze the data. The results showed that different cultivars at optimal temperatures show different reactions to environmental conditions; for example, the germination rate in Halil and Dashtestan2 cultivars followed the dent-like model, Darab1, Oltan, and Yellow-White followed the beta model, and Naz followed the segmented model. Based on the results, the average temperature in all water potentials of the base, sub-optimal, supra-optimum, and ceiling was determined as 12.6, 33.3, 38, and 43.9 °C, respectively, once the superior dent-like model was used. Using the superior beta model, the average temperatures in the base, optimum, and ceiling were 8.5, 31.2, and 50.5 °C. In contrast, when the segmented superior model was used, they were determined to be 7.6, 34, and 44.1 °C, respectively. According to the results, it can be stated that the Halil cultivar with more oleic acid and less linoleic acid has a higher base temperature and is more adapted to high temperatures for later cultivations. The Naz cultivar with a long biological clock is suitable for earlier cultivations. The ceiling temperature of these cultivars was also affected by the osmotic potential and decreased significantly with the increase in osmotic levels. Dashtestan2 cultivar with a high germination rate could be chosen for cultivation in water and high-temperature stress areas.

There is a wealth of research investigating language learners' adoption of digital technology in higher education. To date, however, research primarily focuses on the implementation of technology in formal learning either inside or outside of the classroom, and the associations between factors influencing learners' informal English learning in online contexts are not adequately discussed. Therefore, the present study aims to identify and test the main factors related to students' informal online English learning (IOEL) that could predict their usage intention. To better understand the drivers of technology use for informal L2 learning among university students, this study proposed a model based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to investigate students' behavioural intention toward IOEL with particular reference to Malaysian L2 learners. The partial least square approach of the structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to test the proposed research model and the corresponding hypotheses. The results indicate that nine out of ten of the hypotheses were supported, which implies that the extended model can effectively predict L2 learners' IOEL technology adoption in online contexts. The results also showed that perceived interaction and perceived ease of use were the two main predictors influencing learner's technology acceptance for IOEL.

Seed coating is considered one of the best methods to promote sustainable agriculture where the physical and physiological properties of seeds can be improved to facilitate planting, increase growth indices and alleviate abiotic and biotic stresses. Several methods of seed coating are used to attain good application uniformity and adherence in the seed coating process. Seed coating has been tested in seeds of various plant species with different dimensions, forms, textures, and germination types. Plant beneficial microorganisms (PBM), such as rhizobia, bacteria, and fungi inoculated via seed inoculation can increase seed germination, plant performance and tolerance across biotic (e.g., pathogens and pests) and abiotic stress (e.g., salt, drought, and heavy metals) while reducing the use of agrochemical inputs. In this review, the microbial seed coating process and their ability to increase seed performance and protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses are well discussed and highlighted in sustainable agricultural systems.

Abstract Objective Assessing amniotic fluid determines an important dimension of fetal health. Significant relationships of oligohydramnios, which occurs in 1–2% of pregnancies, with abnormal pregnancy outcomes such as intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), fetal anomalies, umbilical cord compression, fetal distress, preterm childbirth, meconium-stained amniotic fluid, perinatal mortality and cesarean section necessitate the measurement of amniotic fluid volume in many prenatal fetal health assessments. Amniotic fluid volume may significantly fluctuate between different gestational ages. Reduced uteroplacental perfusion can cause oligohydramnios by decreasing fetal renal blood flow and urine output. The appropriate management of isolated term oligohydramnios (ITO) is controversial. This study was performed aimed to assess the effect of maternal intravenous hydration on amniotic fluid index in oligohydramnios. Result Forty-eight hours after completing fluid therapy, statistically significant differences were observed in the mean AFI in the intervention group (4.06 ± 0.33) and the control group (3.61 ± 0.35) (P

Environmental factors strongly contribute to shaping the morphology of organisms. The present study mainly aims to examine how some physical factors in a habitat influence morphological variations in Baetis vernus along the Karaj River. Sampling was conducted using a kick net sampling device with a mesh size of 500 μm at 10 sampling sites (three replicates) by recording 11 environmental variables in autumn (2018) and spring (2019). The species was identified through gender classification (male and female). Graticule was used to measure 42 morphological properties of 30 (male and female) samples identified at each site. Following the statistical analysis of the data, the results showed significant changes in environmental factors such as temperature (autumn), depth (spring), and elevation (autumn and spring) (p

Many plants, including anise, have tiny, non-uniform seeds with low and light nutrient reserves. The seeds also show a weak establishment, especially under stressful conditions where their accurate planting in the soil and optimal yield are tough. This study sought to improve anise seeds’ physical and physiological characteristics under drought stress. To this end, two factorial experiments under laboratory and greenhouse conditions were performed in a completely randomized design with 4 and 3 replications, respectively. Five levels of seed inoculation (inoculation with T36 and T43 of Trichoderma harzianum, and CHA0 and B52 of Pseudomonas fluorescent, and non-inoculation which means that control seeds were not treated with microbial inoculant), three levels of coating (K10P20, K10P10V5, and non-coating), and three levels of drought stress (0, –3, and –6 bars) were considered as the factorial experiment [vermiculite (V), kaolin (K), and perlite (P) numbers refer to the amount of material used in grams]. The laboratory experiment revealed that the combined treatments of bio-agents with coating increased the physical and germination characteristics of anise seeds compared to the control treatment. The greenhouse experiment showed that drought stress reduced the initial growth indices. Still, the combination treatments of biological agents and coating (fillers) could alleviate the destructive effects of drought stress to some extent and improve these indices. The best treatment was provided by T36 and K10P20 in both experiments, which significantly increased morphological indices.

Macrobenthos community like other animals are affected by their peripheral environment and their diversity is dependent on their sensitivity to the environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the impacts of some environmental factors on abundance and biodiversity of macrobenthos community in Karaj River. Samples were taken from 10 stations in two seasons and 11 environmental factors were measured. A total number of 8032 macrobenthos belonging to 10 orders and 38 families were identified. Baetidae and Chironimidae were the most abundant in autumn and spring, respectively and changes in altitude (2 seasons) and temperature (autumn) and depth (spring) were the most driving factors in determining pattern of abundance and combination of species. Biodiversity pattern and seasonal changes in the variety of benthic invertebrates in the Karaj River were also determined by the abovementioned environmental factors. Altitude, temperature and depth had effects on the habitat which was further responsible for changes in biodiversity, abundance, species’ structure and combination.

Cheetah is one of the endangered wildlife species in different countries around the world, including Iran, and has been included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Today, Iran is the only place where Asiatic Cheetahs can be found, and the latest estimates indicate that only 30 to 40 Asiatic Cheetahs remain. The present study aimed to prioritize the ecosystem functions and services for Asiatic Cheetahs in Iran from the perspectives of experts and professionals. After a literature review, based on the 2018 Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES), among Provisioning, Cultural, and Regulation and Maintenance functions, the Cultural and Regulation and Maintenance functions and 14 services were extracted for Asiatic Cheetahs in Iran. Next, by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Delphi method, the priority of functions and services was investigated in two stages. The results showed that the most important functions and services were, respectively, as follows: Cultural (4.37), Regulation and Maintenance (4.32) functions, and services related to the Bequest value (4.95) of Asiatic Cheetahs; Existence value (4.93); Educational (4.58); Aesthetic (4.47); Entertainment (recreation and ecotourism) (4.44); Symbolic (4.40); Scientific (3.67), Cultural (3.55), Biodiversity (4.82); and Disease control (3.82). The necessary measures for preventing the extinction of Asiatic Cheetahs include the construction of wildlife corridors in habitats of Cheetahs, promoting participation of communities and non-governmental organizations in the sustainable management of Cheetah habitats, and designing coins with Cheetah to attract public attention and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]